Anycubic Kobra 3 vs Snapmaker U1 3D Printer
Technical comparison · Fused filament fabrication (FFF/FDM)
Kobra 3 and U1 3D Printer are not direct competitors: very different prices (~3.3×). Kobra 3 costs less (~€260) and is the entry-level choice; U1 3D Printer offers more capability at a higher price (~€849). Judge them by budget, not head-to-head.
| Parameter |
Kobra 3
Anycubic
F1 · Entry
|
U1 3D Printer
Snapmaker
F2 · Intermediate
|
|---|---|---|
| Awards | — | |
| Identity | ||
| Launch year | 2024 | 2026 |
| Use tier | F1 — Entry | F2 — Intermediate |
| Price | ||
| Price (€) | ~220–300 € | 849 € |
| Price updated on | 06/2026 | — |
| Universal specs | ||
| Dimensions (W×D×H) (cm) | 45.3 × 50.5 × 48.3 cm | 58.4 × 49.9 × 73 cm |
| Weight (kg) | 9.2 kg | 18.2 kg |
| Work area (mm) | 250 × 250 mm | 270 × 270 mm |
| Z-axis height (mm) | 260 mm | 270 mm |
| Power (W) | 400 W | 1150 W |
| Voltage (V) | 230 V | — |
| Maximum speed | 600 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Declared precision | 0.05 mm | 0.04 mm |
| Category specs | ||
| Footprint X×Y (short side) (mm) | 250 mm | 270 mm |
| Build height Z (mm) | 260 mm | 270 mm |
| Kinematics | Cartesian | CoreXY |
| Max nozzle temperature (°C) | 300 °C | 300 °C |
| Max bed temperature (°C) | 110 °C | 100 °C |
| Max print speed (mm/s) | 600 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Enclosed chamber | False | False |
| Filament sensor | True | True |
| Auto bed leveling | Mesh | Mesh |
| Standard nozzle diameter (mm) | 0.4 mm | 0.4 mm |
| Multi-extruder | False | True |
| Native Klipper | True | True |
| Input shaper | True | True |
| Multicolor printing | — | True |
| Multicolor requires accessory | — | False |
| Max colors | 1 | 4 |
| Ecosystem | ||
| Cloud dependency | No | No |
| Software notes | Operated via AnycubicSlicer and compatible with the proprietary cloud app. It leverages a Klipper-based firmware, natively integrating Input Shaping algorithms to reduce vibrations at high speeds. | The primary software is Snapmaker Orca, an optimized version of the popular OrcaSlicer, which provides native management of the four toolheads and factory-calibrated material profiles. The printer can also be seamlessly managed via the Snapmaker mobile app for remote monitoring, taking advantage of the built-in 1080p camera. The internal firmware is built on Klipper, Moonraker, and Fluidd, which Snapmaker has made open-source, allowing experienced users to customize the machine and integrate it into complex workflows. |
MakerSpecs Awards
Best value Entry
At €260 it offers the best performance-to-price ratio among the 6 entry-level Fused filament fabrication (FFF/FDM) machines, with a technical score of 90/100.
How we assign awards →Nessun riconoscimento in questa fascia.
The differences that matter
- Price: Kobra 3 260 € vs U1 3D Printer 849 € — Kobra 3 wins (+227%)
- Max colors: Kobra 3 1 vs U1 3D Printer 4 — U1 3D Printer wins (+300%)
- Multi-extruder: U1 3D Printer yes, Kobra 3 no
- Max print speed: Kobra 3 600 mm/s vs U1 3D Printer 500 mm/s — Kobra 3 wins (+20%)
- Work area: Kobra 3 250×250 mm vs U1 3D Printer 270×270 mm — U1 3D Printer wins (+17%)
Which one to choose
Choose Kobra 3 if…
you value price, max print speed and max bed temperature.
Choose U1 3D Printer if…
you value max colors, multi-extruder and work area.
MakerSpecs is an independent atlas. We don't sell products: this comparison links to both sheets, where you'll find complete data and official links.