Anycubic Kobra S1 Combo 3D Printer Review
OUR VERDICT 9/10
The Anycubic Kobra S1 Combo delivers a polished experience, combining an enclosed CoreXY design with multicolor printing capabilities. I’ve had the printer for over a month now and used it for many larger prints in my videos; setup was straightforward, and it consistently produced clean prints with very little effort on my part. The ACE system can occasionally be a bit fiddly when loading or retracting filament, but overall I’ve been impressed with how capable the printer is and the value it offers.
PROS
CONS
- - Good print quality and reliability for the price
- - Setup was straightforward and easy to operate
- - Ace Pro doubles as a filament dryer
- - Very good value compared with other multicolor printers
- - Slicer software still needs improvement
- - ACE filament loading can be fiddly and sometimes results in tangled filament
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The Kobra S1 Combo is Anycubic’s latest enclosed CoreXY 3D printer, and it’s clearly aimed at makers who want multi-color printing without the high cost of flagship machines. From the moment it was announced, it looked like a promising option for makers who want strong performance and flexibility while staying within a reasonable budget.
When I was offered the chance to review the Anycubic Kobra S1 Combo, I was eager to get some hands-on time with it. On paper it looked like a printer that could compete with machines from brands like Bambu Lab and Creality, while still coming in at a much more accessible price. The enclosed CoreXY design and multi-material ACE system immediately made it feel like a more premium machine than you might expect at this price point.
After using the Kobra S1 Combo for the past month, including several larger prints for my videos, I’ve been impressed with the overall experience. It’s fast, produces very good print quality, and aside from a few minor quirks with the ACE system, it’s been a reliable and enjoyable printer to review.
Printer Specifications
| Print Volume | 250 × 250 × 250 mm |
| Printing Speed | Recommended 300 mm/s. Maximum 600 mm/s |
| Acceleration | Recommended 10,000 mm/s². Maximum 20,000 mm/s² |
| Multicolor Printing | Supports 4- or 8-color Printing |
| Nozzle / Bed Temperature | 320°C / 120°C |
| Nozzle Diameter | Standard 0.4 mm (supports 0.2 / 0.6 / 0.8 mm) |
| Leveling | LeviQ 3.0 auto leveling, Z-axis offset |
| Supported Materials | PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA |
| Machine Dimensions | Kobra S1: 400*410*490mm³. ACE Pro: 365.94*282.84*234.5mm³ |
| Weight (Combined) | 25.9 kg |
Price
The Anycubic Kobra S1 Combo has a retail price of $749 USD on Anycubic’s official website. For a printer with an enclosed CoreXY design and multi-color printing capabilities, that pricing feels very competitive. It’s also considerably cheaper than higher-end alternatives like the Bambu Lab X1 Carbon, which typically costs roughly twice as much, making the Kobra S1 a far more accessible option for makers who want similar features without the premium price.
Key Features
Multi-Material Printing
For people making figurines, display pieces, or product prototypes, this opens up a lot of creative possibilities. I’ve actually been using the Kobra S1 as my main printer for the last month while working on some larger prints for an upcoming Pokémon video, and overall I’ve been impressed with the quality of the figures and the reliability when tackling these bigger projects.
The ACE system can occasionally be a bit fiddly when loading or retracting filament, especially with lighter cardboard spools, but that’s something that can happen with many multi-material systems and isn’t totally unique to this printer.
High-Speed Printing
In my testing it handled higher speeds well, finishing prints quicker than older bedslinger printers I’ve used while still keeping the results clean. Even on some of the larger prints I’ve been working on, it managed to maintain good detail and consistent layers without any noticeable issues.
I’ve mostly been using the Kobra S1 for multi-color prints, where extra filament swaps can really add time to a project, so the faster printing speeds have been something I’ve definitely appreciated. Even on some larger models I’ve been working on, I’ve been impressed with how quickly it can complete prints while still delivering solid results.
Automatic Bed Leveling
Anycubic printers have always leaned toward being beginner-friendly, and the automatic bed leveling continues that trend. Instead of manually adjusting the bed, the printer handles calibration on its own, which makes getting a good first layer much easier. I was also impressed with the bed adhesion, even on prints where I’d normally worry about them lifting or not sticking properly, everything stayed firmly in place without any issues.
User-Friendly Setup
Getting the printer up and running is fairly straightforward, with most of the setup guided through the touchscreen interface. The menus are easy to navigate and the calibration process walks you through everything, so it doesn’t feel overwhelming even if you’re newer to 3D printing.
Some of the things that help make it easier to use include:
A clear touchscreen interface
Guided setup and calibration
Ready-to-use print profiles
Overall, it didn’t take long before I had it printing, and the process felt smooth from the initial setup through to starting the first few prints.
Print Quality
From the prints I’ve done so far, the Kobra S1 has handled common materials like PLA and PETG without much trouble. The layer lines look clean, and the dimensions have been accurate enough for both display models and a few functional parts I’ve printed.
I mainly used the multi-material setup for multicolor prints, which worked well for the figures I’ve been printing. Being able to combine colors in one job saves a lot of manual filament swapping and makes more complex models easier to produce.
Like any printer, good calibration and decent filament still make a difference, but overall the print quality has been better than I expected for a machine in this price range.
Performance
When it comes to performance, the Kobra S1 Combo has actually been pretty reliable in my experience. After setting it up and running the initial calibration, I was able to start printing straight away without having to spend ages adjusting settings. Most of the prints I did with PLA came out clean and consistent, which made it easy to just load a file and let the printer do its thing.
The ACE Pro system is definitely one of the standout features of the printer. It holds multiple spools for multi-color printing and also acts as a filament dryer, which is a nice bonus. It works well most of the time, although occasionally it can take a second to recognise the filament when loading it, but once it starts printing it handles color swaps without any real problems.
Another thing I noticed is that the printer is surprisingly quiet, especially with the enclosure closed. Quiet mode runs at around 44 dB, which is similar to the noise level of a fridge or a PC running. The built-in camera is also useful since it lets you quickly check on prints through the app if you’re not near the printer.
Design
The Anycubic Kobra S1 Combo has a clean and modern design that feels more polished than many older open-frame printers. It’s fully enclosed with a clear front door and lid, which makes it easy to watch prints and helps keep the internal temperature stable. The ACE Pro unit sits on top of the printer and holds multiple spools for multi-color printing, and it also works as a filament dryer, which is a useful extra feature.
One thing to note is that the waste filament chute, often called the “poop chute,” is located at the back of the printer. This means you can’t place the machine flush against a wall, which can be a bit awkward in tighter spaces. This setup is fairly common with multi-material printers, and there are STL files online that let you print small bins to redirect the waste to the side.
Software
To print your own models on the Anycubic Kobra S1, you’ll need to use Anycubic Slicer Next, the company’s free slicing software for Windows, Mac, and Linux. The software is based on OrcaSlicer, so the layout will feel familiar if you’ve used other slicers before.
The interface is fairly straightforward and doesn’t take long to get used to, even if you’re new to 3D printing. You can send prints directly over the network and monitor the printer through the built-in camera from the workbench tab. There’s also the Anycubic mobile app, which lets you check on prints remotely, view progress, and manage jobs from your phone while the printer is running. However, the software still lacks some advanced features found in other slicers, and the multi-color tools could use further improvement.
Pros and Cons
PROS
- Multi-material and multi-color printing
- Fast CoreXY printing speeds
- Automatic bed leveling
- Straightforward setup and easy to use
- Good value compared with many multicolor printers
- ACE Pro doubles as a filament dryer
- Built-in camera for remote monitoring
- Quiet operation
CONS
- Multi-color prints create filament waste and slow down print time
- Slicer software still needs improvement
- ACE filament loading can be fiddly and sometimes results in tangled filament
- Some features take a little learning if you’re new to multi-color printing
Should You Buy the Anycubic Kobra S1 Combo?
BUY IF:
You want an affordable multicolor 3D printer
You plan to print multi-color figures, models, or display pieces
You want a printer that’s easy to set up and beginner friendly
You’re looking for strong features for the price
DON’T BUY IF:
You only plan to print single-color parts
You don’t want to deal with the learning curve that comes with multi-material printing
You don’t want to deal with the extra filament waste that comes with multicolor printing (in which case you can just get the base Kobra S1 model)
