ANYCUBIC Kobra S1 Combo 3D Printer with ACE PRO Multicolor Review: The New Benchmark for Ambitious Creators?

I remember the early days of my 3D printing journey like it was yesterday. The excitement of unboxing my first printer—an Ender 3 clone—quickly gave way to a cycle of frustration. Endless hours spent trying to manually level the print bed, battling with adhesion problems, and watching helplessly as a twelve-hour print turned into a pile of plastic spaghetti in the final hour. It was a rite of passage, we were told, a necessary part of the learning curve. But for many, including myself at times, it felt like a barrier to creativity. The dream wasn’t to become an expert in printer maintenance; it was to bring digital creations to life. That’s why the arrival of a new generation of smart, fast, and user-friendly printers is so revolutionary. We’re looking for a machine that removes the friction, a tool that works with us, not against us. The promise of multi-color printing, blazing-fast speeds, and intelligent features in one package is what draws us to a machine like the ANYCUBIC Kobra S1 Combo 3D Printer with ACE PRO Multicolor—a potential end to the era of constant troubleshooting.

What to Consider Before Buying a High-Speed Multicolor 3D Printer

A modern 3D printer is more than just a hobbyist’s gadget; it’s a key solution for rapid prototyping, creating custom functional parts, producing intricate artistic models, and even enabling small-scale manufacturing. The main benefit is the power of on-demand creation, transforming a digital file into a physical object in a matter of hours. This capability accelerates innovation for engineers, empowers artists with a new medium, and provides homeowners with the ability to print custom replacement parts or organizers. The evolution into high-speed, multi-material systems has dramatically expanded these possibilities, making complex projects more accessible than ever before.

The ideal customer for this type of advanced printer is someone facing the limitations of older, slower machines. This includes experienced hobbyists tired of manual calibration and slow print times, or ambitious beginners who want to dive straight into advanced projects like multi-color miniatures or engineering-grade prototypes without a steep learning curve. It might not be the best fit for someone who only needs to print very simple, single-color objects infrequently, as the advanced features might be overkill. For those users, a simpler, more basic printer could suffice. However, for anyone who values speed, versatility, and ease of use, a fully-featured combo like this is a compelling upgrade.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: The ANYCUBIC Kobra S1 Combo, with its CoreXY design and separate ACE PRO unit, requires a decent amount of desk space. The printer itself has a footprint of roughly 20×20 inches, but you’ll need additional room for the ACE PRO filament system. Always measure your intended workspace to ensure a comfortable fit, allowing for ventilation and access to all sides of the machine.
• Performance & Speed: The headline feature is the 600mm/s maximum print speed. While you won’t always print at this top speed for every material or model, the high acceleration enabled by the CoreXY gantry means even standard prints finish significantly faster. Consider the 250x250x250mm build volume, which is a generous size for most projects, from cosplay helmets to functional parts. The combination of speed and volume is a major performance indicator.
• Materials & Durability: A printer’s value is directly tied to the materials it can handle. The Kobra S1’s 320°C all-metal hotend and 120°C heated bed unlock the ability to print with high-temperature materials like ABS and ASA, in addition to standard PLA, PETG, and flexible TPU. This versatility is crucial for creating durable, heat-resistant functional parts, moving it beyond a simple toy-making machine.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: Features like automatic bed leveling, belt tension monitoring, and remote printing via an app are no longer luxuries—they are essential for a smooth workflow. The integrated ACE PRO system, which both dries and feeds filament, aims to eliminate one of the most common causes of print failure: moisture. This focus on automation significantly reduces the hands-on time required for maintenance and setup.

This new class of printer truly changes the game, making advanced features more accessible. It’s a significant leap forward from the machines of just a few years ago.

While the ANYCUBIC Kobra S1 Combo 3D Printer with ACE PRO Multicolor is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: Unboxing and Assembling the Kobra S1 Combo

Opening the box for the ANYCUBIC Kobra S1 Combo 3D Printer with ACE PRO Multicolor immediately gives you a sense that this is a serious piece of equipment. Unlike the kit-style printers of the past, the main unit is largely pre-assembled. The setup process was refreshingly simple and well-documented. As one user noted, the included QR codes link to helpful assembly videos, which we found much more intuitive than a paper manual. In total, it took us less than 30 minutes from unboxing to powering on the machine for its initial calibration sequence.

The ACE PRO unit, which handles the multicolor filament switching and drying, is a separate but essential component of the combo. It feels robust and thoughtfully designed, with its dual PTC heaters and clear-domed lid. The CoreXY printer itself is sturdy, with a clean white and black aesthetic. The initial automated calibration, which includes bed leveling and vibration compensation, ran smoothly and inspired confidence. It’s a world away from the tedious manual leveling process we’ve grown accustomed to. Right out of the box, the system feels cohesive and geared towards getting you printing quickly, a sentiment echoed by several users who were “literally print ready out of the box.” This initial experience suggests a machine built for performance, not for tinkering.

Performance Deep Dive: Putting the Kobra S1 Combo to the Test

A spec sheet can only tell you so much. To truly understand a printer, you have to put it through its paces with a variety of models, materials, and challenges. We spent weeks running the ANYCUBIC Kobra S1 Combo 3D Printer with ACE PRO Multicolor nearly non-stop, pushing its speed, evaluating its multicolor capabilities, and testing its material versatility. Here’s our in-depth breakdown of how it performed.

Speed and Precision: The CoreXY Advantage in Action

The move to CoreXY motion systems has been a paradigm shift for consumer 3D printers, and the Kobra S1 is a prime example of why. The printer’s ability to hit a maximum speed of 600mm/s with 20000mm/s² acceleration is not just marketing hype; it translates to a dramatic reduction in print times. A Benchy boat that would take over an hour on an older bedslinger-style printer was completed in under 20 minutes with impressive quality. This speed is liberating. It allows for rapid iteration on prototypes and makes printing large objects, like the full-height shop vac attachment one user mentioned, a matter of hours, not days. We found the included profiles in the Anycubic Slicer Next software to be well-tuned for balancing speed and quality right from the start.

However, speed is meaningless without precision. The Kobra S1’s rigid frame and built-in belt tension monitoring system work together to minimize artifacts like ringing and ghosting, even at high speeds. Our functional prints—gears, brackets, and enclosures—came out with sharp corners and accurate dimensions. The automatic bed leveling system was flawless during our testing, confirming what one relieved user said: “The auto bed leveling actually does what it says. We haven’t had to make any manual adjustments of any kind.” This reliability is the foundation upon which its speed is built, ensuring that faster prints are also successful prints. For anyone upgrading from an older machine, this single feature is a game-changer. It’s a powerful combination that makes this printer a true workhorse.

The ACE PRO System: Seamless Multicolor Printing and Active Drying

The standout feature of this combo is undoubtedly the Anycubic ACE PRO unit. This is Anycubic’s answer to Bambu Lab’s AMS, and it’s a very impressive one. It serves two critical functions: enabling 4-color printing (expandable to 8 with a second unit) and actively drying the filament as it prints. Setting up a multicolor print in the slicer was surprisingly intuitive. You simply assign colors to different parts of your model, and the software handles the rest, generating the necessary G-code for filament swaps. The printer purges the old color into a small tower or as infill, resulting in crisp, clean transitions on the final model. We printed several multi-part models in a single piece, and the results were fantastic, bringing a new level of life and professionalism to our prints.

Just as important is the active drying feature. Filament, especially materials like PETG, TPU, and Nylon, readily absorbs moisture from the air, which can lead to popping, stringing, and weak, brittle prints. The ACE PRO’s dual PTC heaters and 360° hot air circulation actively combat this, keeping your filament in optimal condition. We tested this with a spool of PETG that had been left out for weeks and was printing poorly. After a few hours in the ACE PRO, the print quality was restored to like-new. This integrated drying-while-printing system is a massive quality-of-life improvement, saving time and preventing countless failed prints. As a first-time user noted, “The AMS is awesome to have bundled, and it makes managing multiple filament prints with ease.” It transforms the printer from a single-task device into a comprehensive material management system that you can explore further on its product page.

High-Temp Capabilities and Material Versatility

The ability to print with more than just PLA is what separates a hobbyist tool from a versatile prototyping machine. The ANYCUBIC Kobra S1 Combo 3D Printer with ACE PRO Multicolor is equipped with a 320°C all-metal hotend and a 120°C heated bed, opening the door to engineering-grade filaments. We ran several tests with ABS and ASA, materials known for their strength and heat resistance but also for their tendency to warp. While the Kobra S1 is not fully enclosed, we were able to get successful, strong prints by using a simple draft shield or a temporary enclosure. The direct drive extruder handled these materials without issue, and the PEI build plate provided excellent adhesion when hot and easy part removal once cooled.

This material flexibility is a significant asset. It means you can print a decorative PLA model one day and a durable, functional ABS car part or a heat-resistant ASA electronics enclosure the next. This capability allows the printer to grow with your skills and needs. While it might require some additional tuning and environmental control for the most demanding materials, the hardware is more than capable, offering a level of future-proofing that is rare at this price point. It’s a feature set that gives creators the confidence to experiment with new and challenging filaments, which is a core part of the 3D printing experience.

The User Experience: Software, Monitoring, and Minor Flaws

Overall, the user experience is overwhelmingly positive, especially for those coming from older platforms. The Anycubic App allows for remote monitoring and control, which is incredibly convenient. We could start prints, check their status via the camera feed, and receive notifications from anywhere. However, this is also where we encountered some of the printer’s most cited flaws. As one critical user pointed out, “The camera is fixed at an angle in the corner and cannot even see the nozzle directly.” We have to agree. While the camera is useful for a general overview, its placement makes it difficult for the AI detection system (and the human eye) to spot common failures like nozzle clogs or small “spaghetti” incidents until they become major problems. It’s a design choice that feels like a missed opportunity.

On the software side, the Anycubic Slicer is competent and gets the job done, but it’s not as polished as some third-party alternatives. We also noted some user reports of intermittent connection issues or cryptic error codes, such as the “10409” error mentioned in one review. While we did not experience this specific error during our extensive testing, it suggests there are still some software bugs to be ironed out. Despite these minor issues, the core experience remains solid. The combination of reliable hardware and user-friendly automation makes the ANYCUBIC Kobra S1 Combo 3D Printer with ACE PRO Multicolor an accessible entry point into high-speed, multi-color printing, even with a few rough edges.

What Other Users Are Saying

Looking at feedback from the wider community, a clear picture emerges. The vast majority of users are thrilled with the value and performance, especially those upgrading from older, more manual printers. One user, coming from an Ender 3, called the experience “amazing,” praising the auto-bed leveling and the sheer reliability that had them printing almost non-stop for days. Another who upgraded from an Anet A8 and Ender 3 echoed this, calling the Kobra S1 a “great value” and emphasizing how quick and easy the setup was.

The sentiment is not universally perfect, however. The most common and valid criticism revolves around specific design choices. One detailed review pointed out the poorly positioned camera, arguing it undermines the AI monitoring feature by not having a clear view of the nozzle. This is a critique we strongly agree with. Another area of concern is software stability, with a few users mentioning random error codes or failed prints when pushing the highest speeds. These critiques, however, seem to be exceptions rather than the rule, with most users reporting very high success rates for their prints and celebrating the machine as a fantastic and feature-rich option for both beginners and veterans.

How Does It Compare to the Alternatives?

The ANYCUBIC Kobra S1 Combo 3D Printer with ACE PRO Multicolor exists in a fiercely competitive market. While it offers a fantastic blend of features, certain alternatives might be a better fit depending on your specific priorities.

1. Sovol SV08 Core-XY 3D Printer 700mm/s

The Sovol SV08 is a beast built on the open-source Voron 2.4 platform, which will immediately appeal to tinkerers and the open-source community. Its primary advantages are a slightly higher top speed (700mm/s) and a significantly larger build volume at 350x350x345mm (13.8×13.8×13.6in). This makes it the clear choice for users who need to print very large objects in a single piece. However, it does not come with an integrated multi-material system like the ACE PRO. If massive build volume and an open-source pedigree are your top priorities, the Sovol SV08 is a compelling choice, but you’ll sacrifice the out-of-the-box multicolor and drying capabilities of the Kobra S1.

2. Comgrow K1C 3D Printer High-Temp

The Creality K1C is another direct competitor in the high-speed CoreXY space. It matches the Kobra S1’s 600mm/s speed and also features a 300°C hotend. The K1C’s key differentiators are its fully enclosed design and its specific marketing focus on printing carbon fiber-filled filaments. The enclosure provides a more stable temperature environment, which is superior for printing warp-prone materials like ABS and ASA. If your primary goal is to print engineering-grade, high-strength functional parts, especially with carbon fiber composites, the K1C’s enclosed build chamber gives it a distinct advantage. The Kobra S1, however, wins handily if multicolor printing is your main desire.

3. Creality K2 Plus Combo 3D Printer

The Creality K2 Plus Combo represents a step up in both size and capability, and likely, price. It features a large 350mm cubic build volume and its own multicolor system, the Creality CFS. With features like dual cameras, it aims to be a more premium offering in the multicolor printing space. For users who need both a large build volume and multicolor capabilities, the K2 Plus is a very strong contender. The choice between it and the Kobra S1 will likely come down to budget and specific size requirements. The ANYCUBIC Kobra S1 Combo 3D Printer with ACE PRO Multicolor offers a more accessible entry point into the world of fast, multicolor printing, while the K2 Plus is geared towards those with bigger projects and bigger budgets.

Our Final Verdict: Is the Kobra S1 Combo Worth It?

After extensive testing, we can confidently say that the ANYCUBIC Kobra S1 Combo 3D Printer with ACE PRO Multicolor is a phenomenal package that delivers on nearly all of its promises. It successfully bundles three of the most sought-after features in modern 3D printing—high speed, multi-color capability, and advanced material support—into a single, accessible, and remarkably affordable system. It represents a massive leap forward for anyone still wrestling with older, slower machines, effectively eliminating common frustrations like manual bed leveling and filament moisture issues.

While it’s not without its minor flaws, namely the oddly placed camera and the occasional software quirk, these are easily overshadowed by its immense strengths. The combination of the reliable CoreXY printer and the brilliant ACE PRO multi-material and drying unit creates a powerful creative engine. We recommend it without hesitation to ambitious beginners who want to skip the frustrating learning curve of older printers, and to seasoned hobbyists looking for a significant upgrade in speed and versatility. For the price, the level of capability on offer is simply outstanding.

If you’re ready to leave the days of slow, single-color prints behind and unlock a new world of creative potential, we highly encourage you to check the latest price and see the full feature list for the ANYCUBIC Kobra S1 Combo today.