First-generation product — recently released, still early days
Best for: Budget-conscious makers who want built-in 4-color multicolor printing under $400 — primarily for PLA and PETG. Open frame, so not suited for ABS or engineering filaments without the add-on enclosure.
Full details →Mid-cycle — watch for announcements before buying
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 →| Flashforge AD5X | Anycubic Kobra 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Prosumer | Prosumer |
| Motion | CoreXY | BedSlinger |
| Build Volume | 220 × 220 × 220 mm | 220 × 220 × 250 mm |
| Max Speed | 600 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ✅ 4 slots | ✅ 4 slots |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Materials | PLA, PETG, ABS, TPU, PLA-CF, PA-CF, PETG-CF | PLA, PETG, ABS, TPU |
| Released | Jun 15, 2025 | Oct 15, 2024 |
| Cycle length | — | ~450 days |
| Cycle advice | Buy | Caution |
| Deals advice | Caution | Caution |
| Next model | — | Kobra 3 Pro or Kobra 4 (Expected late 2026) |
The AD5X undercuts comparable multicolor setups on price with IFS built directly into the printer — no separate accessory needed.
No cloud dependency or mandatory account. OrcaSlicer is community-standard open-source slicer software — familiar to most experienced makers.
Ships ready for PLA-CF and PETG-CF without requiring a nozzle upgrade — a genuine differentiator at this price point.
The Kobra 3 Combo with ACE Pro is one of the most affordable 4-color filament switching setups available — often underpricing Bambu's A1 Combo.
Anycubic's ACE Pro handles filament feeding, drying, and switching in a single unit — a thoughtful integration for multicolor.
Full automatic bed leveling and offset calibration reduce setup friction.