Multi-color 3D printing has become one of the most exciting developments in desktop manufacturing. The downside? Until recently, getting into multi-color printing usually meant investing in a premium printer and an expensive filament management system.

The AnyCubic Kobra X takes a different approach. Starting around $299, it offers built-in four-color printing, automatic calibration, LeviQ 3.0 bed leveling, and the ability to expand up to 19 colors using the ACE Pro system.

The question is simple:

Can an entry-level printer really deliver a premium multi-color experience?

To find out, I put the Kobra X through a series of real-world tests.

Specifications

• Build Volume: 260 × 260 × 260 mm
• Built-in 4-color printing
• Expandable to 19 colors with the ACE Pro
• LeviQ 3.0 automatic bed leveling
• Automatic calibration
• Multi-material support (PLA + TPU / PLA + PVA)
• Starting price: approximately $299

On paper, it’s one of the most feature-rich printers available at this price point.

Setup Was Surprisingly Easy

Assembly only took a few minutes.

Once powered on, the printer walks you through its setup process, automatically creating a bed mesh using the LeviQ 3.0 leveling system before running its calibration routines.

For beginners, this is a huge advantage.

One of the biggest reasons prints fail is a poor first layer. Automating that process removes one of the largest barriers for new makers.

Speed Test

Rather than using a generic benchmark model, I designed a small four-color dragon specifically for this review.

I printed the exact same dragon on both the AnyCubic Kobra X and the Bambu Lab A1, allowing each slicer to use its default settings.

Printer	Print Time
AnyCubic Kobra X	6 hr 34 min
Bambu Lab A1	12 hr 15 min

 

The Kobra X completed the print in nearly half the time.

Of course, every print is different. Model geometry, layer height, support settings, and slicer profiles all influence print speed, but the Kobra X clearly demonstrated that it’s capable of producing quality prints without sacrificing efficiency.

Multi-Color Printing

The Kobra X’s biggest selling point is its built-in four-color printing.

Unlike printers that require purchasing an additional filament management system, the Kobra X can handle four colors right out of the box.

For my test I used:

• Light Gray
• Spring Leaf
• Bronze
• Interstellar Violet

Once the print started, the printer automatically handled every color change throughout the process.

What About Purge Waste?

Whenever people discuss multi-color printing, the same question always comes up:

How much filament gets wasted?

The answer is simple.

Every filament-swapping multi-color printer creates purge waste. That’s simply how the technology works.

To compare both systems fairly, I weighed both the purge material and the finished dragon.

Purge Waste

Bambu Lab A1

• Purge: 5.1 oz
• Model: 0.2 oz

AnyCubic Kobra X

• Purge: 3.0 oz
• Model: 0.2 oz

While there is still purge waste, the Kobra X generated noticeably less than the comparison print in this particular test.

Users can often reduce waste further by optimizing slicer settings, adjusting purge volumes, and purging into supports or the model itself.

Print Quality

Speed means very little if print quality suffers.

Fortunately, that wasn’t the case.

Both dragons came out looking excellent.

Layer consistency was solid, color transitions were clean, and the printer maintained impressive quality despite the faster print time.

The only noticeable difference I observed was that one section of the Bambu dragon’s wing appeared slightly thinner where two colors met.

Overall, both printers produced attractive, detailed models.

First Layer Performance

Throughout testing I intentionally paid close attention to first-layer consistency.

The LeviQ 3.0 leveling system consistently produced excellent first layers with minimal user intervention.

Combined with the printer’s automatic calibration routines, the overall experience felt much more refined than many entry-level printers I’ve tested over the years.

Multi-Material Printing

The Kobra X also supports printing with multiple material types.

That means projects can combine rigid PLA with flexible TPU, opening the door for grips, bumpers, wearables, and other functional designs.

While this won’t be a feature everyone uses every day, it’s nice to see it included at this price point.

Final Thoughts

The AnyCubic Kobra X isn’t trying to compete with every high-end printer on the market.

Instead, it’s focused on making multi-color printing easier to access.

For around $299, you get:

• Built-in four-color printing
• Expandability up to 19 colors
• Fast print speeds
• Automatic calibration
• Excellent first-layer performance
• Good overall print quality

Could you spend more money?

Absolutely.

But after testing the Kobra X, I think the more important question is whether it delivers enough capability for its intended audience.

Based on my testing, I’d say it does.

The Kobra X lowers the barrier to entry for multi-color printing without sacrificing the features that matter most. If you’ve been looking for an affordable way to add color to your projects, it’s definitely worth a closer look.

🧰 Gear Used: 🛒 Anycubic Kobra X - https://bit.ly/4aEpTR1

Download the Tiny Dragon STL: https://makerbuildit.com/products/tiny-four-color-dragon
Tiny Dragon STL on MakerWorld: https://makerworld.com/en/models/3033531-tiny-four-color-dragon