🖨 3D Printer Radar

Anycubic Kobra 4vsPrusa Research XL+

💰Anycubic Kobra 4 is $1920 cheaper (507% less)
📐Prusa Research XL+ has 165% more build volume
⚡Anycubic Kobra 4 tops out at 600 mm/s vs 500 mm/s
Cross-ecosystem comparison: These printers use different software ecosystems. Accessories, filament profiles, and community support are not interchangeable between brands. Consider the total ecosystem cost, not just the printer price.
Anycubic Kobra 4
Buy/Wait:Buy

Early in release cycle — no urgency to wait

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 →
Prusa Research XL+
Buy/Wait:Upgrade Kit

Next model announced — but an upgrade kit is available for existing owners

🔧 Upgrade kit available — from XL

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.

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Anycubic Kobra 4Prusa Research XL+
Pricing
Starting Price★ $379$2,299
Print Specs
TierEntryProfessional
MotionBedSlingerCoreXY
Build Volume260 × 260 × 260 mm★ 360 × 360 × 360 mm
Max Speed★ 600 mm/s500 mm/s
Multicolor✅ 4 slots★ ✅ 5 slots
Enclosure❌❌
Auto Calibration✅✅
Open Source❌★ ✅
Upgrade Kit—🔧 From XL
Buy Timing
ReleasedMay 18, 2026Aug 13, 2026
Cycle length~368 days~997 days
Cycle adviceBuyUpgrade Kit
Deals adviceBuyBuy
Next model—XL Pick & Place Toolhead (Late 2026)

Quick Winner

💰
Budget pick
Anycubic Kobra 4
$379 starting
📐
Large prints
Prusa Research XL+
360×360×360 mm
⚡
Fastest prints
Anycubic Kobra 4
600 mm/s
🔓
Open ecosystem
Prusa Research XL+
Open source

Bottom Line

💰Anycubic Kobra 4 saves you $1920 — choose it if budget is your primary constraint
🔓Prusa Research XL+ is the pick for open firmware, community mods, and long-term repairability

Materials

Anycubic Kobra 4 only
—
Both
PLAEasy to print, no enclosure needed — everyday parts
PETGTougher, slightly flexible, moisture-resistant
TPUFlexible rubber-like — phone cases, gaskets, wheels
Prusa Research XL+ only
ABSHeat and impact resistant — needs enclosure
ASAUV-stable ABS alternative — outdoor parts, needs enclosure
PANylon — strong and wear-resistant, needs dry storage
PA-CFCarbon-fibre nylon — very stiff, abrasive to standard nozzles
PCPolycarbonate — extremely tough, challenging to print

Why buy each?

Anycubic Kobra 4

260×260×260 mm build volume

A cube-format build volume slightly larger than the Kobra 3 V2's 255×255×260 mm bed — practical for most everyday prints.

ACE 2 Pro multicolor in the Combo

The Combo includes one ACE 2 Pro for 4-color printing. A second unit and an 8-color filament hub expand it to 8 colors.

49-point auto-leveling

LeviQ 3.0 probes 49 points and applies compensation automatically, with no manual adjustment required.

Prusa Research XL+

Tool-changer multicolor — no purge waste

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.

360×360×360 mm build volume

One of the largest build volumes available in a CoreXY printer at this price point — suited for large props, architectural models, and batch production.

Fully open source and serviceable

Every component is documented, parts are stocked for years, and the community has developed hundreds of modifications and improvements.