Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest
Best for: Budget makers who want 4-color multicolor printing without committing to the Bambu or Prusa ecosystem — and are comfortable with a less mature software experience.
Full details →Next model already announced — wait for the new release
Best for: Professional makers, studios, and engineers who need large-format printing with genuine multi-material capability, open-source hardware, and Prusa's long-term support.
Full details →| Anycubic Kobra 3 | Prusa Research XL | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Prosumer | Professional |
| Motion | BedSlinger | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | 255 × 255 × 260 mm | 360 × 360 × 360 mm |
| Max Speed | 600 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ✅ 4 slots | ✅ 5 slots |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ✅ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Released | May 15, 2025 | Nov 20, 2023 |
| Cycle length | ~212 days | ~730 days |
| Cycle advice | Wait | Wait |
| Deals advice | Buy | Buy |
| Next model | — | XL Pick & Place Toolhead (Late 2026) |
The V2 expands to 255×255×260 mm — 34% more printable volume than the original Kobra 3 — for larger parts and more batch production.
The V2 includes a 720p camera for real-time print monitoring and AI spaghetti detection, adding reliability features previously absent from the Kobra 3 line.
The Kobra 3 V2 Combo with ACE Pro is one of the most affordable 4-color setups available — often underpricing Bambu's A1 Combo.
Unlike filament-switching AMS/MMU systems, the XL physically swaps print heads. Each material has its own nozzle, eliminating purge towers entirely and enabling true multi-material prints.
One of the largest build volumes available in a CoreXY printer at this price point — suited for large props, architectural models, and batch production.
Every component is documented, parts are stocked for years, and the community has developed hundreds of modifications and improvements.