The Anycubic Kobra 3 Max (professional) and Elegoo Centauri 2 (entry) come from different brands and sit in different tiers, so this is less a head-to-head than a question of how much printer you need. Both are open-frame printers with 4-slot multicolor and automatic calibration. The Kobra 3 Max costs $300 more and gets you 426% more build volume and a top speed of 600 mm/s (vs 500); the Centauri 2 answers with support for PLA-CF and PETG-CF.
Just released — full support runway ahead
Best for: Makers who need a very large print area for props, architectural models, or batch production — and want multicolor without paying professional-tier prices.
Full details →First-generation product — recently released, still early days
Best for: Budget buyers who mainly print PLA, PETG and TPU and want fast CoreXY multicolor for as little as possible, without paying for an enclosure they won't use.
Full details →| Anycubic Kobra 3 Max | Elegoo Centauri 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | $599 | ★ $299 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Professional | Entry |
| Motion | BedSlinger | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | ★ 420 × 420 × 500 mm | 256 × 256 × 256 mm |
| Max Speed | ★ 600 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ✅ 4 slots | ✅ 4 slots |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Oct 1, 2026 | Jun 24, 2026 |
| Cycle length | ~716 days | — |
| Cycle advice | Buy | Buy |
| Deals advice | Buy | Buy |
| Next model | — | — |
The Kobra 3 Max was released on Oct 1, 2026, 42 days ago. Its previous release cycle ran about 716 days, so it is 6% of the way through — roughly 674 days before a successor would be due at that pace.
The Centauri 2 was released on Jun 24, 2026, 141 days ago. It is a first-generation product, so there is no earlier cycle to predict its successor from.
Both are early enough in their cycles that timing should not decide this one. The Kobra 3 Max has roughly 674 days of runway on past cadence and the Centauri 2 launched 141 days ago. Pick on features and price.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The Centauri 2 lists at $299 and the Kobra 3 Max at $599 — $300 apart, so the Kobra 3 Max costs 100% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $7 for the Kobra 3 Max versus $18 for the Centauri 2 — so the pricier Kobra 3 Max actually gives you more build space per dollar.
Our pick for most buyers is the Centauri 2, for a lower price ($300 less) and support for PLA-CF and PETG-CF, plus a higher editor score (8.2 vs 8.0). Go for the Kobra 3 Max instead if you print large parts — its 420 × 420 × 500 mm build volume holds 426% more than the Centauri 2's 256 × 256 × 256 mm.
How we judge timing and deals: read our methodology →
One of the largest build volumes available at a consumer price — ideal for life-size props, large terrain tiles, and batch production.
Few printers offer multicolor at this scale. The ACE 2 Pro enables filament switching across the full 420×420 bed area.
Delivers large-format multicolor at a fraction of professional large-format printer costs.
The Centauri 2 Combo includes the 4-color CANVAS system with RFID filament detection, auto refill and tangle detection. It is one of the cheapest CoreXY multicolor packages from a major brand.
It uses the same 256×256×256 mm CoreXY motion system, 500 mm/s top speed, 350°C hardened nozzle and 121-point auto leveling as the Centauri Carbon 2, for $50–100 less.
The camera, air filter, LED lighting and smart exhaust grill are optional add-ons, so you pay only for the features you need.