The Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 and Prusa Research CORE One+ are both prosumer-tier printers, but the CORE One+ costs 2.8× as much — so the question is what the extra money buys. Both are CoreXY printers with automatic calibration. The CORE One+ costs $640 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with PA and PC on its materials list) and an open-source design; the Centauri Carbon 2 answers with 13% more build volume.
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 →Early in release cycle — no urgency to wait
🔧 Upgrade kit available — from CORE One+, MK4S
Best for: Makers who want CoreXY speed and precision with Prusa's open-source ethos, community support, and long-term repairability — without Bambu's closed ecosystem.
Full details →| Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 | Prusa Research CORE One+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | ★ $359 | $999 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Prosumer | Prosumer |
| Motion | CoreXY | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | ★ 256 × 256 × 256 mm | 250 × 220 × 270 mm |
| Max Speed | 500 mm/s | ★ 600 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ✅ 4 slots | ★ ✅ 8 slots |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ★ ✅ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ★ ✅ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | 🔧 From CORE One+, MK4S |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Jan 26, 2026 | Aug 13, 2026 |
| Cycle length | — | ~209 days |
| Cycle advice | Buy | Buy |
| Deals advice | Buy | Caution |
| 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 CORE One+ was released on Aug 13, 2026, 91 days ago. Its previous release cycle ran about 209 days, so it is 44% of the way through — roughly 118 days before a successor would be due at that pace.
Both are early enough in their cycles that timing should not decide this one. The Centauri Carbon 2 launched 290 days ago and the CORE One+ has roughly 118 days of runway on past cadence. Pick on features and price.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The Centauri Carbon 2 lists at $359 and the CORE One+ at $999 — $640 apart, so the CORE One+ costs 178% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $21 for the Centauri Carbon 2 versus $67 for the CORE One+ — the Centauri Carbon 2 is both cheaper and roomier, so it wins on value outright.
If you are buying before Dec 5, 2026, the active sale tips value toward the Centauri Carbon 2.
Our pick for most buyers is the CORE One+, for an enclosed chamber (with PA and PC on its materials list) and an open-source design, plus a higher editor score (9.0 vs 8.4). Go for the Centauri Carbon 2 instead if you want to spend less — it is $640 cheaper ($359 vs $999).
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 CORE One+ matches Bambu CoreXY speed (600 mm/s) while keeping everything open source — firmware, hardware, slicing profiles.
Unlike Bambu's closed ecosystem, every component of the CORE One+ can be modified, repaired, or community-improved.
The CORE One+ (Gen 2) can be ordered with Prusa's INDX toolchanger in 4- or 8-tool versions, shipping from 15 October 2026. Each material gets its own nozzle, with about 12 seconds per material change and almost no purge waste. The MMU3 remains compatible as a 5-color add-on.