Anycubic Kobra S1 vs Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2: print cost head-to-head

Specs side by side

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.

Verdict by dimension

• Cheaper to buy

  Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2

  Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 costs $399 vs $499 for the Anycubic Kobra S1 — a lower upfront price also means less amortization per print.

• Cheaper to run

  Anycubic Kobra S1

  Anycubic Kobra S1 draws 180 W on average vs 210 W for the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 — lower power means a smaller energy line in every print.

• Longer useful life

  Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2

  Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 is rated at 22,000 h vs 20,000 h for the Anycubic Kobra S1, so amortization spreads over more printing hours.

• Larger build volume

  Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2

  Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 ships with 256 × 256 × 256 mm build volume vs 250 × 250 × 250 mm on the Anycubic Kobra S1 — bigger plates or batched parts fit without splitting.

• More recent release

  Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2

  Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 is from 2026 while the Anycubic Kobra S1 is from 2024 — more recent firmware, motion-system and ecosystem updates.

Both target Enthusiasts buyers, so the decision usually comes down to brand ecosystem and after-sale service.

Over a 5-year horizon, the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 amortizes 1.1× more print-hours than the Anycubic Kobra S1.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Anycubic Kobra S1 better than the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2?

Neither is strictly better — it depends on what you print. The Anycubic Kobra S1 is cheaper to run, the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 has the larger build volume, and the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 is the more recent release. Match the winner on the dimension you care about most.

What's the difference between the Anycubic Kobra S1 and the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2?

The Anycubic Kobra S1 is priced at $499 with a 250 × 250 × 250 mm build volume; the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 is $399 with 256 × 256 × 256 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 S1 or the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2?

The Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 is cheaper to buy at $399 vs $499 for the Anycubic Kobra S1. Factoring energy and amortization, the Anycubic Kobra S1 also has the lower per-print running cost — run your own numbers in the calculator to be sure.