Late in cycle — a new model is likely coming soon
Best for: Makers who need enclosed CoreXY printing for PA-CF and ASA on a budget — and want a capable alternative to Bambu without the ecosystem lock-in.
Full details →First-generation product — recently released, still early days
Best for: Budget-conscious makers who want multicolor printing at the lowest possible entry price and don't need a large build volume or premium features.
Full details →| Creality K1C | Anycubic Kobra X | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Prosumer | Entry |
| Motion | CoreXY | BedSlinger |
| Build Volume | 220 × 220 × 250 mm | 260 × 260 × 260 mm |
| Max Speed | 600 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ❌ No | ✅ 4 slots |
| Enclosure | ✅ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Materials | PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU, PA-CF | PLA, PETG, ABS, TPU |
| Released | Jan 20, 2024 | Mar 1, 2026 |
| Cycle length | ~450 days | — |
| Cycle advice | Wait | Buy |
| Deals advice | Buy | Caution |
| Next model | K1C 2 or K2 successor (Expected mid-2026) | — |
The K1C ships with a hardened steel nozzle rated for carbon-fiber filaments — a significant cost advantage over printers that require aftermarket nozzle upgrades.
Few printers under $400 offer genuine enclosure capability. The K1C delivers ABS and ASA-capable chamber temperatures.
Competitive speed with Bambu's P-series at a fraction of the price.
At $279–299 with ACE 2 Pro included, the Kobra X is one of the most affordable ways to get into multicolor FDM printing.
A slightly larger cube-format build volume than the Kobra 3 V2's 255×255×260 mm bed — practical for most everyday prints.
The second-generation ACE 2 Pro offers improved filament switching reliability over the original ACE Pro, with support for up to 4 colors per print.