This printer is no longer sold new. It has been replaced by the Creality Ender 3 V4.
Best for: Budget-conscious beginners who want CoreXY speed without the Bambu ecosystem or Prusa premium — and are comfortable with a more hands-on setup experience.
Full details →First-generation product — no release history to base predictions on
Best for: Makers who want an enclosed CoreXY at a prosumer price for PLA, PETG, ABS, and ASA — and prefer the Anycubic ecosystem. For reliable PA or PC printing, consider the Kobra S1 Max or Qidi Q2 which offer active chamber heating.
Full details →| Creality Ender 3 V3 KE | Anycubic Kobra S1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Entry | Prosumer |
| Motion | CoreXY | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | 220 × 220 × 240 mm | 250 × 250 × 250 mm |
| Max Speed | 500 mm/s | 600 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ✅ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Materials | PLA, PETG, TPU | PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU, PA |
| Released | Sep 15, 2023 | Jan 1, 2025 |
| Cycle length | ~854 days | — |
| Cycle advice | Superseded | Caution |
| Deals advice | Clearance | Caution |
| Next model | — | — |
The KE brings CoreXY motion to the Ender 3 family — historically a bed-slinger platform — delivering 500 mm/s without the Bambu premium.
The Ender 3 series has one of the largest 3D printer communities in the world, with thousands of documented modifications and upgrades.
If you outgrow the KE, the Creality K1C and K2 Plus are natural next steps within the same brand ecosystem.
The Kobra S1 combines an enclosed build chamber with 600 mm/s CoreXY motion — offering improved heat retention over open-frame printers for ABS and ASA.
Brings Anycubic's value-focused approach to the enclosed CoreXY segment — competing with Qidi Q2C and Bambu P2S at a lower price point.
A practical cubic build volume well-suited for functional mechanical parts, enclosures, and prototypes.