Anycubic Kobra S1 vs Prusa Research XL 5-toolhead 3D Printer
Technical comparison · Fused filament fabrication (FFF/FDM)
Kobra S1 and XL 5-toolhead 3D Printer are not direct competitors: very different prices (~7.3×). Kobra S1 costs less (~€549) and is the entry-level choice; XL 5-toolhead 3D Printer offers more capability at a higher price (~€3999). Judge them by budget, not head-to-head.
| Parameter |
Kobra S1
Anycubic
F2 · Intermediate
|
XL 5-toolhead 3D Printer
Prusa Research
F2 · Intermediate
|
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Launch year | 2025 | 2023 |
| Use tier | F2 — Intermediate | F2 — Intermediate |
| Price | ||
| Price (€) | 549 € | 3999 € |
| Price updated on | 06/2026 | — |
| Universal specs | ||
| Dimensions (W×D×H) (cm) | 40 × 41 × 49 cm | 70 × 90 × 72 cm |
| Weight (kg) | 18 kg | 33.7 kg |
| Work area (mm) | 250 × 250 mm | 360 × 360 mm |
| Z-axis height (mm) | 250 mm | 360 mm |
| Power (W) | — | 235 W |
| Voltage (V) | — | 230 V |
| Maximum speed | 600 mm/s | 400 mm/s |
| Declared precision | 0.05 mm | 0.2 mm |
| Category specs | ||
| Footprint X×Y (short side) (mm) | 250 mm | 360 mm |
| Build height Z (mm) | 250 mm | 360 mm |
| Kinematics | CoreXY | CoreXY |
| Max nozzle temperature (°C) | 320 °C | 290 °C |
| Max bed temperature (°C) | 120 °C | 120 °C |
| Max print speed (mm/s) | 600 mm/s | 400 mm/s |
| Enclosed chamber | True | 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 | False |
| Input shaper | True | True |
| Multicolor printing | True | True |
| Multicolor requires accessory | True | False |
| Max colors | 8 | 5 |
| Ecosystem | ||
| Cloud dependency | No | No |
| Software notes | The Kobra OS firmware is based on Klipper and controlled via a proprietary touch interface. The official slicer is Anycubic Slicer Next (derived from OrcaSlicer, available for Windows and macOS), but it also supports third-party OrcaSlicer. Remote control is possible via the Anycubic app (iOS/Android) over a local network, with no mandatory cloud connection for daily operations. | The machine is managed through PrusaSlicer, with dedicated profiles for multi-toolhead configuration and automatic calculation of purge towers or wipe-to-infill strategies. The firmware includes Input Shaper and Pressure Advance for vibration compensation at high speeds. Network connectivity allows job submission and remote monitoring via Prusa Connect, though this is not a requirement for using the machine. |
The differences that matter
- Price: Kobra S1 549 € vs XL 5-toolhead 3D Printer 3999 € — Kobra S1 wins (+628%)
- Work area: Kobra S1 250×250 mm vs XL 5-toolhead 3D Printer 360×360 mm — XL 5-toolhead 3D Printer wins (+107%)
- Max print speed: Kobra S1 600 mm/s vs XL 5-toolhead 3D Printer 400 mm/s — Kobra S1 wins (+50%)
- Enclosed chamber: Kobra S1 yes, XL 5-toolhead 3D Printer no
- Build height Z: Kobra S1 250 mm vs XL 5-toolhead 3D Printer 360 mm — XL 5-toolhead 3D Printer wins (+44%)
Which one to choose
Choose XL 5-toolhead 3D Printer if…
you value work area, build height z and multi-extruder.
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.