Mid-cycle — watch for announcements before buying
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 →Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest
Best for: Budget-conscious makers who need active chamber heating for ABS, ASA, and PA printing. Look for clearance deals — the Q2 is the better long-term buy if available.
Full details →| Anycubic Kobra 3 | Qidi Tech Q1 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Prosumer | Entry |
| Motion | BedSlinger | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | 220 × 220 × 250 mm | 245 × 245 × 240 mm |
| Max Speed | 500 mm/s | 600 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ✅ 4 slots | ❌ No |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ✅ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Materials | PLA, PETG, ABS, TPU | PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU, PA, PA-CF, PC |
| Released | Oct 15, 2024 | Mar 20, 2024 |
| Cycle length | ~450 days | ~518 days |
| Cycle advice | Caution | Wait |
| Deals advice | Caution | Buy |
| Next model | Kobra 3 Pro or Kobra 4 (Expected late 2026) | — |
The Kobra 3 Combo with ACE Pro is one of the most affordable 4-color filament switching setups available — often underpricing Bambu's A1 Combo.
Anycubic's ACE Pro handles filament feeding, drying, and switching in a single unit — a thoughtful integration for multicolor.
Full automatic bed leveling and offset calibration reduce setup friction.
The Q1 Pro's heated chamber was groundbreaking at its price point. ABS, ASA, and PA prints come out without warping that plagues open-frame printers.
Same speed class as Bambu Lab printers at a fraction of the price for enclosed printing.