Anycubic Kobra S1C Combo Review: A Fast, Multi-Color CoreXY 3D Printer

The Kobra S1C features an enclosed CoreXY design, which owners frequently highlight for its polished and professional aesthetic. This enclosed structure serves a functional purpose, maintaining stable internal temperatures critical for printing materials like ABS and preventing warping. The build quality generally receives praise, with the unit feeling substantial and well-constructed. The quick-swap nozzle design is a practical touch, facilitating maintenance and material changes. However, some users note the unit's weight and lack of convenient gripping points, making initial unboxing and placement challenging. The printer's overall appearance aligns with a high-end device, offering a clean setup compared to more open-frame alternatives.

A recurring theme among owners is the remarkably easy and fast setup process. Many report being able to unbox and initiate their first print within an hour, contrasting favorably with other 3D printers requiring extensive calibration. The fully automated features, including one-click auto-leveling, vibration compensation, and flow rate calibration, significantly reduce the manual effort typically associated with preparing a 3D printer. This makes the S1C accessible for beginners, with several reporting successful first prints without troubleshooting. However, some technophobes still find the overall 3D printing learning curve steep, even with the simplified setup of this machine.

The Kobra S1C delivers strong performance, particularly its 600mm/s speed and CoreXY motion system, which produces smooth surfaces and detailed prints without visible ringing or layer shifting. Owners consistently praise the print quality. The integrated filament drying system is a significant advantage, especially in humid environments, effectively preventing moisture-related issues like bubbles and clogs. The multi-color capability, when functioning, enhances creative possibilities. However, this multi-color functionality frequently presents challenges. The ACE Pro unit, designed for multi-color filament feeding, struggles with matte filaments, often misinterpreting slipping as tangles. Users also report that the ACE Pro is primarily compatible with 1kg spools and that multi-color prints can be exceptionally slow due to the purge routines required for filament changes. Some users experienced the ACE Pro locking up or failing to connect entirely.

The Kobra S1C features a smart ecosystem with app and LAN control, enabling remote operation. While the app allows convenient monitoring and control, some users describe it as clunky initially, requiring a learning curve. The companion app generally functions, but does not always offer a refined user experience compared to other platforms. The printer’s firmware receives praise for its intuitive menu system and touchscreen interface. However, the requirement to use Anycubic brand filament for optimal ACE Pro performance is a significant limitation mentioned by some, as aftermarket filaments, particularly matte types, caused issues with the multi-color unit.

The Kobra S1C Combo represents a substantial investment, typically falling well north of $500. Owners generally consider it a good value for the feature set, particularly the combination of high speed, enclosure, auto-leveling, and multi-color capability. Reliability is high for monochromatic prints; many users report hundreds or even thousands of hours of operation without issues. The primary reliability concern centers on the ACE Pro unit’s temperamentality with specific filament types and its tendency to jam or report false tangles. While the printer itself is robust, the multi-color attachment introduces a degree of frustration and potential for print failure, which some long-term users suggest might be better addressed by an alternative ACE unit version.