The Elegoo Centauri 2 (entry) and Prusa Research CORE One L+ (professional) 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 a 500 mm/s rated top speed and automatic calibration. The CORE One L+ costs $1,700 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with ABS, ASA, PA, PA-CF and PC on its materials list) and 77% more build volume; the Centauri 2 answers with 4-slot multicolor and support for PLA-CF and PETG-CF.
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 →Early in release cycle — no urgency to wait
🔧 Upgrade kit available — from CORE One L
Best for: Engineers and professional makers who need large-format enclosed printing with active chamber heating — and want Prusa's open-source ethos and long-term support over a closed-ecosystem competitor.
Full details →| Elegoo Centauri 2 | Prusa Research CORE One L+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | ★ $299 | $1,999 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Entry | Professional |
| Motion | CoreXY | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | 256 × 256 × 256 mm | ★ 300 × 300 × 330 mm |
| Max Speed | 500 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ★ ✅ 4 slots | ❌ No |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ★ ✅ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ★ ✅ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | 🔧 From CORE One L |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Jun 24, 2026 | Aug 13, 2026 |
| Cycle length | — | ~279 days |
| Cycle advice | Buy | Buy |
| Deals advice | Buy | Caution |
| Next model | — | — |
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.
The CORE One L+ was released on Aug 13, 2026, 91 days ago. Its previous release cycle ran about 279 days, so it is 33% of the way through — roughly 188 days before a successor would be due at that pace.
Both are early enough in their cycles that timing should not decide this one. The Centauri 2 launched 141 days ago and the CORE One L+ has roughly 188 days of runway on past cadence. 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 CORE One L+ at $1,999 — $1,700 apart, so the CORE One L+ costs 569% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $18 for the Centauri 2 versus $67 for the CORE One L+ — 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 CORE One L+, for an enclosed chamber (with ABS, ASA, PA, PA-CF and PC on its materials list) and 77% more build volume, plus a higher editor score (8.6 vs 8.2). Go for the Centauri 2 instead if you want to spend less — it is $1,700 cheaper ($299 vs $1,999).
How we judge timing and deals: read our methodology →
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.
A large enclosed build volume with genuine active chamber heating — making the CORE One L+ reliable for ABS, ASA, PA, and PC across the full build plate.
All firmware, hardware designs, and slicing profiles are open source. Prusa backs the CORE One L+ with long-term parts availability and community support.
For institutional, government, and production customers, a dedicated Critical Infrastructure Edition is offered — Prusa's commitment to secure supply for professional users.