The Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 and Flashforge AD5X are cross-brand rivals: both are prosumer-tier printers, listed $40 apart. Both are open-frame CoreXY printers with 4-slot multicolor and automatic calibration. The AD5X costs $40 more and gets you a top speed of 600 mm/s (vs 500) and extra engineering materials (PA-CF); the Centauri Carbon 2 answers with 58% more build volume and extra engineering materials (ASA).
First-generation product — recently released, still early days
Best for: Elegoo users and budget-conscious makers who want multicolor FDM from a brand known for resin printers — or those looking for a capable CoreXY with high-temperature nozzle capability at $449.
Full details →First-generation product — no release history to base predictions on
Best for: Budget-conscious makers who want built-in 4-color multicolor printing under $400 — primarily for PLA and PETG. Open frame, so not suited for ABS or engineering filaments without the add-on enclosure.
Full details →| Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 | Flashforge AD5X | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | ★ $359 | $399 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Prosumer | Prosumer |
| Motion | CoreXY | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | ★ 256 × 256 × 256 mm | 220 × 220 × 220 mm |
| Max Speed | 500 mm/s | ★ 600 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ✅ 4 slots | ✅ 4 slots |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Jan 26, 2026 | Jun 15, 2025 |
| Cycle length | — | — |
| Cycle advice | Buy | Caution |
| Deals advice | Buy | Buy |
| Next model | — | — |
The Centauri Carbon 2 was released on Jan 26, 2026, 290 days ago. It is a first-generation product, so there is no earlier cycle to predict its successor from.
The AD5X was released on Jun 15, 2025, 515 days ago. It is a first-generation product, so there is no earlier cycle to predict its successor from.
On timing alone, the Centauri Carbon 2 is the safer buy right now — it launched only 290 days ago, while the AD5X has no release history pointing to a successor yet.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The Centauri Carbon 2 lists at $359 and the AD5X at $399 — $40 apart, so the AD5X costs 11% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $21 for the Centauri Carbon 2 versus $37 for the AD5X — the Centauri Carbon 2 is both cheaper and roomier, so it wins on value outright.
Our pick for most buyers is the Centauri Carbon 2, for 58% more build volume and a lower price ($40 less), plus a higher editor score (8.4 vs 8.0) and better buy-now timing. Go for the AD5X instead if print speed matters — it is rated for 600 mm/s against 500 mm/s.
How we judge timing and deals: read our methodology →
The Centauri Carbon 2 marks Elegoo's entry into multicolor FDM printing — bringing the brand's value-focused approach to a segment dominated by Bambu and Anycubic.
The high-temperature nozzle enables printing of PA, PA-CF, and PC on an open-frame CoreXY — a notable differentiator at this price point.
Elegoo's proprietary CANVAS system provides 4-color filament switching at a competitive all-in price of $449.
The AD5X undercuts comparable multicolor setups on price with IFS built directly into the printer — no separate accessory needed.
No cloud dependency or mandatory account. OrcaSlicer is community-standard open-source slicer software — familiar to most experienced makers.
Ships ready for PLA-CF and PETG-CF without requiring a nozzle upgrade — a genuine differentiator at this price point.