Anycubic Kobra X Brings Built In Multicolor 3D Printing to the $279 Price Point

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ARTICLE – Multicolor 3D printing has often sat just out of reach for most desktop users. The hardware existed, but the workflow could demand patience, waste bins filled with purged filament, and price tags kept many casual makers on the sidelines. For years, adding color capability meant buying separate filament switching systems, routing tubing between components, and accepting that a significant portion of each spool would end up as purge waste. The category has matured, but the barrier to entry has remained higher than many hobbyists and makers prefer.

Anycubic is making a direct play at that gap with the Kobra X, a printer designed to put four color capability into the box without requiring external add ons for four color prints. The Kobra X arrives with integrated multicolor printing as a core feature and launches with an early bird price starting at $259 for customers who secured the $10 deposit during the warm-up period. For users who have watched multicolor systems evolve over the past few years, this represents a shift in how the category approaches accessibility and entry cost.

Early Bird Period: Jan. 15, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2026
Early Bird Price: $279
Early Bird Price with Deposit: $259 (Includes 3 Exclusive Perks Worth $220)
Where to buy: Anycubic Store

Four Colors Out of the Box, Nineteen When You Need More

The Kobra X ships with native support for four color printing using Anycubic’s in house ACE GEN 2 print head. This means buyers can start producing multicolor models without purchasing additional hardware for four color jobs. The integration keeps the system self contained, with color switching handled internally rather than through external modules or manual filament swaps. For users who want multicolor output without assembling a multi component system, the Kobra X presents a more direct path.

For users whose projects eventually outgrow four colors, Anycubic built in an expansion path. Connecting up to four ACE 2 Pro units extends the system to handle nineteen colors total. Anycubic positions this expansion architecture as a way to scale color capacity over time without replacing the base printer. Users who start with four colors can add capacity later as their projects demand, rather than committing to a higher tier system from the start.

The tiered approach separates the Kobra X from systems that require users to commit to a full color count from the beginning. Makers whose projects stay within four colors can use the printer as shipped, while those who eventually need more capacity have a defined upgrade path. This structure can reduce the initial decision complexity for users who are uncertain about their long term color requirements.

Reduced Waste Through Smarter Retraction

Color switching in multicolor FDM printing typically requires purging the previous color before the next one can flow cleanly. That purge material adds up across prints with frequent color changes, and for users running color intensive jobs regularly, the waste can become a noticeable cost. Anycubic says the Kobra X addresses this through the ACE GEN 2 print head design, which enables faster color switching with shorter retraction distances.

Anycubic Lab data indicates the Kobra X uses a 30 mm filament retraction distance during color changes, compared to 160 mm on the previous Kobra 3 V2. According to Anycubic, this translates to an 81.25 percent reduction in purge length during multicolor printing scenarios. The reduction applies specifically to purge length during color transitions, and users running frequent color changes may notice the difference over time.

Multi Material Printing Capabilities

Beyond color variety, the Kobra X supports multi material printing that combines filaments with different physical properties. Single material jobs are designed to work with PLA, PETG, TPU, and PVA, along with other standard FDM filaments in the same class. Multi material printing extends the system beyond purely visual color changes into functional combinations where different materials serve different purposes within a single print.

Soft and hard combinations become possible by pairing TPU with PLA or PVA in a single print. A phone case with rigid structure and flexible grip zones, for example, could become a single job rather than a multi part assembly. The printer also supports soft to soft combinations using TPU at different hardness levels, including 95A and 68D variations.

These combinations can open functional prototyping possibilities for makers designing wearables, enclosures with integrated gaskets, or parts where material flexibility varies across zones. Multi material capability moves the Kobra X beyond purely aesthetic multicolor printing into territory where the physical properties of different filaments can serve distinct purposes within a single object. Users working on functional prototypes or end use parts may find this flexibility useful.

Speed Specifications

Anycubic rates the Kobra X at a recommended print speed of 300 mm per second with a maximum of 600 mm per second. The motion system supports acceleration up to 20,000 mm per second squared. The build volume measures 260 × 260 × 260 mm.

Speed matters in multicolor workflows because color transitions already add time to print jobs. Each switch requires retraction, purging, and reloading before the new color can begin extruding. A motion system that moves efficiently between operations can help offset some of the time overhead that multicolor printing introduces compared to single color jobs.

Smart Features

The Kobra X supports intelligent remote printing. Anycubic says AI detection supports print monitoring during jobs.

Anycubic highlights first layer performance as a design focus, using the tagline “The Perfect First Layer” in launch materials. Anycubic has not detailed the specific mechanisms involved, but the tagline signals that first layer performance is a design priority for the Kobra X.

Quiet Operation

Anycubic includes active noise reduction and Silent Mode rated at 45 dB or below as part of the base system. The 45 dB rating places the printer in the range of typical ambient room noise, though actual perceived volume can vary depending on environment and print settings.

Multicolor prints tend to run longer than single color jobs, which means the printer may be active for extended periods.

Who the Kobra X Is For

Anycubic positions the Kobra X for makers who want built in four color printing without assembling a multi component system. Built in four color printing removes the need for additional hardware for four color jobs.

Users who want scalability over time can expand with ACE 2 Pro units rather than replacing the base printer. The multi material support extends use cases beyond purely visual multicolor work into functional applications where different filament properties serve different purposes. For makers who expect their needs to grow, the expansion architecture provides a defined path without requiring a full system replacement.

The combination of built in multicolor capability, expansion options, and multi material support positions the Kobra X as a system that can serve users at different stages of their 3D printing practice. Users who start with basic multicolor projects can grow into more complex work without outgrowing the hardware platform.

Pricing and Availability

Early Bird Period: Jan. 15, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2026
Early Bird Price: $279
Early Bird Price with Deposit: $259 (Includes 3 Exclusive Perks Worth $220)
Where to buy: Anycubic Store

Anycubic structured the Kobra X launch around a tiered pricing system that rewards early commitment.

1. Deposit Period (Dec. 26, 2025 – Jan. 14, 2026)
Customers who paid a $10 deposit during this 20-day window unlock a $30 discount on the final purchase price. The deposit applies to both Early Bird and Fantastic Weeks pricing tiers.

2. Early Bird (Jan. 15, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2026)