The Bambu Lab H3C (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 CoreXY printers with automatic calibration. The H3C costs $2,200 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with PA, PC and PA-CF on its materials list) and 105% more build volume; the Centauri 2 answers with support for PLA-CF and PETG-CF.
First-generation product — recently released, still early days
Best for: Studios, engineers and power users who print many colours or materials per job, such as soluble supports, rigid-plus-TPU parts or CMYKW colour mixing, and want each material on its own dedicated tool rather than purging through a single nozzle.
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 →| Bambu Lab H3C | Elegoo Centauri 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | $2,499 | ★ $299 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Professional | Entry |
| Motion | CoreXY | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | ★ 330 × 320 × 325 mm | 256 × 256 × 256 mm |
| Max Speed | ★ 1400 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ★ ✅ 9 slots | ✅ 4 slots |
| Enclosure | ★ ✅ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Nov 3, 2026 | Jun 24, 2026 |
| Cycle length | — | — |
| Cycle advice | Buy | Buy |
| Deals advice | Caution | Buy |
| Next model | — | — |
The H3C was released on Nov 3, 2026, 9 days ago. It is a first-generation product, so there is no earlier cycle to predict its successor from.
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 H3C launched 9 days ago 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 H3C at $2,499 — $2,200 apart, so the H3C costs 736% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $73 for the H3C versus $18 for the Centauri 2 — the Centauri 2 is the better value per litre as well.
If you are buying before Dec 5, 2026, the active sale tips value toward the Centauri 2.
Our pick for most buyers is the H3C, for an enclosed chamber (with PA, PC and PA-CF on its materials list) and 105% more build volume, plus a higher editor score (9.0 vs 8.2). Go for the Centauri 2 instead if you want to spend less — it is $2,200 cheaper ($299 vs $2,499).
How we judge timing and deals: read our methodology →
Swaptek keeps nine tools docked, loaded and pre-heated, each with its own filament path and heater. Bambu quotes 6-second material switches and very small purge volumes per swap, so multi-material prints waste far less filament than single-nozzle AMS printing.
Each tool can carry a different nozzle size or material. That makes it possible to print a 0.2 mm detail section, a 0.4 mm structural part and a soft 75A TPU section in one job.
The AMS 3H stores and feeds filament inside a sealed unit, and a built-in dryer handles moisture-sensitive PA, PC and TPU. Older AMS units can connect for up to 24 spools.
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.