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Anycubic Kobra 3 vs Anycubic Kobra S1: print cost head-to-head

Side-by-side specs, energy and amortization numbers for the Anycubic Kobra 3 and the Anycubic Kobra S1, plus a quick verdict on the dimensions that move per-part cost.

Specs side by side

Anycubic · 2024

Anycubic Kobra 3

Price
$329
Average power
150 W
Useful life
18,000 h
Build volume
250 × 250 × 260 mm
Best for
Beginners

Anycubic · 2024

Anycubic Kobra S1

Price
$499
Average power
180 W
Useful life
20,000 h
Build volume
250 × 250 × 250 mm
Best for
Enthusiasts

Sample calculation

Same input on both columns: 50 g PLA part, 6 h print time, 8% failure rate. Energy cost held at $0.18/kWh, amortization uses each printer's regional price — so both the machine and its price drive the numbers.

Anycubic Kobra 3

  • Energy$0.16
  • Amortization$0.11
  • Unit Cost$1.48
  • Final Consumer Price$6.44

Anycubic Kobra S1

  • Energy$0.19
  • Amortization$0.15
  • Unit Cost$1.56
  • Final Consumer Price$6.78

Verdict by dimension

  • Cheaper to buy

    Anycubic Kobra 3

    Anycubic Kobra 3 costs $329 vs $499 for the Anycubic Kobra S1 — a lower upfront price also means less amortization per print.

  • Cheaper to run

    Anycubic Kobra 3

    Anycubic Kobra 3 draws 150 W on average vs 180 W for the Anycubic Kobra S1 — lower power means a smaller energy line in every print.

  • Longer useful life

    Anycubic Kobra S1

    Anycubic Kobra S1 is rated at 20,000 h vs 18,000 h for the Anycubic Kobra 3, so amortization spreads over more printing hours.

  • Larger build volume

    Tie

    Both printers land within the noise threshold for this dimension.

  • More recent release

    Tie

    Both printers land within the noise threshold for this dimension.

Over a 5-year horizon, the Anycubic Kobra S1 amortizes 1.1× more print-hours than the Anycubic Kobra 3.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Anycubic Kobra 3 better than the Anycubic Kobra S1?
Neither is strictly better — it depends on what you print. The Anycubic Kobra 3 is cheaper to run, the Anycubic Kobra 3 has the larger build volume, and the Anycubic Kobra 3 is the more recent release. Match the winner on the dimension you care about most.
What's the difference between the Anycubic Kobra 3 and the Anycubic Kobra S1?
The Anycubic Kobra 3 is priced at $329 with a 250 × 250 × 260 mm build volume; the Anycubic Kobra S1 is $499 with 250 × 250 × 250 mm. Beyond price and volume, they differ in power draw, rated life and release year — see the verdict table above.
Which is cheaper, the Anycubic Kobra 3 or the Anycubic Kobra S1?
The Anycubic Kobra 3 is cheaper to buy at $329 vs $499 for the Anycubic Kobra S1. Factoring energy and amortization, the Anycubic Kobra 3 also has the lower per-print running cost — run your own numbers in the calculator to be sure.

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