First-generation product — recently released, still early days
Black Friday 2026 — first Black Friday for the Centauri 2; Elegoo is already running sale pricing on the standalone and Combo.
| Model/Config | Build Volume | Speed | Multicolor | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centauri 2 Combo (with CANVAS) | 256×256×256 mm | 500 mm/s | 4 colors (CANVAS included) | Lowest-cost 4-color CoreXY from Elegoo. |
| Centauri 2 (standalone) | 256×256×256 mm | 500 mm/s | No (CANVAS sold separately) | Fast single-color CoreXY at $299. |
Key strengths
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.
The Elegoo Centauri 2, launched on 24 June 2026, is a cheaper open-frame version of the Centauri Carbon 2. It keeps the same CoreXY platform with a 256×256×256 mm build volume, 500 mm/s top speed, 350°C hardened-steel nozzle and 121-point auto leveling. It drops the enclosure, camera, chamber lighting, air filter and auxiliary cooling fan, which Elegoo now sells as optional add-ons. It costs $299 standalone. The Combo, with Elegoo's 4-color CANVAS system, launched at $349 and is listed at $379 on Elegoo's US store. Both are $50–100 below the equivalent Centauri Carbon 2 package.
The Centauri 2 launched in June 2026 and no successor has been announced, so there is no reason to wait for a new model. The question is price. Elegoo already runs frequent sales on it, so buy during Black Friday or the post-holiday sales rather than at full list price.
Both share the same CoreXY platform, 256×256×256 mm build volume, 500 mm/s speed and 350°C nozzle. The Centauri Carbon 2 adds a full enclosure, built-in camera, lighting, air filter and auxiliary cooling for about $50–100 more. If you mostly print PLA, PETG and TPU, the Centauri 2 saves money. If you want ABS, ASA or nylon, or you print in a shared room, get the Centauri Carbon 2.
The Centauri 2 is CoreXY, so it handles tall, fast prints with less wobble than the A1's bed-slinger design, and its 350°C hardened nozzle copes with carbon-fibre-filled PLA and PETG. The Bambu A1 Combo has a more mature AMS Lite ecosystem, better software and a much larger community. Pick the Centauri 2 for hardware value. Pick the A1 for the smoothest multicolor experience.
Not reliably. It is open-frame, so ABS, ASA, PA and PA-CF will tend to warp and give off fumes in the room. Stick to PLA, PETG, TPU and carbon-fibre-filled PLA or PETG. For engineering filaments, an enclosed printer such as the Centauri Carbon 2 or Creality K2 is the better choice.
Yes. It is pre-assembled with 121-point auto leveling and auto Z offset, and the Combo detects RFID filament automatically. Elegoo's software ecosystem is younger than Bambu's, so expect a little more trial and error with multicolor profiles.