Since the beginning of this decade, I have used, tested and reviewed 3D printers. I have seen many 3D printer makers come and go. Especially those that were trying to grab the lower-end budget market. Two names have thrived and become the leaders of this market.
Elegoo and Anycubic have always been in the race to be the lowest, but I do not mean this negatively. Both Chinese companies have tried to include as many advanced features in 3D printers under $300. The company’s focus was on auto bed leveling and power interruption notifications, as well as material runout sensor. Best 3D PrintersIt was not until Anycubic or Elegoo entered their competition that the machines of lower quality were included.
Spec Sheet for Elegoo and Anycubic
| Anycubic Kobra 2 | Elegoo Neptune 4 | Anycubic Kobra 2 Pro | Elegoo Neptune 4 Pro | Anycubic Kobra Max 2 | Elegoo Neptune 4 Max | |
| Build volume (mm) | 220x220x250 | 225x225x265 | 220x220x250 | 225x225x265 | 420 x 422 x 500 | 420x420x480 |
| Nozzle maximum temperature | 260C | 300C | 260C | 300C | 260C | 300C |
| Build plate maximum temperature | 110C | 100C | 110C | 110C (segmented) | 90C | 80C |
| Official max speed | 300mm/s | 500mm/s | 500mm/s | 500mm/s | 500mm/s | 500mm/s |
| Speeds Typical | 180mm/s | 180mm/s | 300mm/s | 250mm/s | 180mm/s | 180mm/s |
| Supported material | PLA, ABS TPU PETG | PLA, ABS TPU PETG, nylon | PLA, ABS TPU PETG | PLA, ABS, TPU, PETG, nylon | PLA, ABS, TPU, PETG | PLA, ABS, TPU, PETG, nylon |
| Connectivity | USB, WiFi, App | USB, LAN | USB, WiFi, App | USB-LAN | USB, WiFi, App | USB, Wi-Fi |
| Slicer | Anycubic Slicing Tool | Elegoo Cura | Anycubic Slicing Tool | Elegoo Cura | Anycubic Slicing Tool | Elegoo Cura |
You can see that the models of Anycubic or Elegoo are essentially identical. Each one has a 0.4mm direct drive extruder as well as an auto bed leveling sensor and a filament runout sensor. Both the Kobra 2 standard and Neptune 4 standard are comparable. The Pro and Max versions are also similar. It doesn’t matter which printer you choose, the experience will be similar.
Some may see this as a negative, but I think it’s a great opportunity for anyone who wants to get started with 3D printing. The Neptune 4 series and Kobra 2 Pro versions are four 3D printers that cost under $300 and can print quickly and well. The quality of the prints may not be as high as that of the Best fast 3D Printers You can’t go wrong with these printers, even if they cost more than $600. You can also get the Max versions that are capable of printing large models quickly and accurately, at speeds up to 600 dpi. It is an incredible value.
You can choose between Elegoo or Anycubic, but both are good 3D printers. To give you more information on them, we’ve listed them below along with why we like each.
You can also Like
- Great price
- Massive construction area
- Decent print quality
You don’t like
- Unstable in high speed
- Slicer is awful
Anycubic has a reputation for making printers that are simple to operate without being prohibitively costly. This is evident in its updated Kobra 2 Max. This machine’s sheer size is something that needs to be considered. To maintain speed, the bed-slinger is equipped with powerful motors. They caused my most sturdy table to wobble.
The gyroscope helps to combat this. But if your print is particularly tall, you may encounter some imperfections. The software, as with every Anycubic Printer, is not as advanced as the more expensive competition. You’ll be able to get some great prints if you make the right compromises.
- Material type Filament
- Build area (mm). 420 x 422 x 500
- Official max printing speed (mm/s): 500
- Dimensions (mm). 740 x 735
- Price: $$$
You can also Like
- Fast-forward to
- Simple to install
- Excellent cooling
You don’t like
- When moving at high speeds, the car can be wobbly
Elegoo 4 is a budget-friendly entry-level machine series that makes it easy to print high-quality prints for a low price. The Neptune 4 Pro, the most expensive of these entry level printers, has some advanced features, including full automatic bed leveling, filament run-out sensors, and even a part fan that can cool parts at high speeds.
- Material type Filament
- Build area (mm). 225 × 225 x 265
- Official max printing speed (mm/s): 500
- Dimensions (mm). 389 × 389 × 457
- Price: $
You can also Like
- Excellent value
- Huge part-cooling fan
- Fast for the price
You don’t like
The Kobra 2 has a similar speed to the AnkerMake M5. It can print at speeds up to 250 millimeters/second, but the best results were achieved around 150mm/s. The printer also has a bed leveling feature and a filament runout detector, both of which work extremely well.
Kobra 2 is a great printer, but its biggest selling point remains the price. This printer has the speed of a much faster printer, but at a fraction of that price. It is my top recommendation for anyone looking to buy their first printer or who has a limited budget.
- Material type Filament
- Build area (mm). 225 × 225 x 250
- Official max printing speed (mm/s): 300
- Dimensions (mm). 389 × 389 × 457
- Price: $
Anycubic Kobra 2 Pro printers are among the few under $300 printers capable of printing at the speeds advertised. Let me clarify: it can print the 300mm/s that they recommend but not the 500mm/s that they say is its maximum. Print quality is still poor at 300mm/s. However, if you are printing something like brackets or prototypes, 300mm/s with 0.3mm layer thickness would be sufficient.
This machine is only down because of the software. I hope that they can fix it somehow.
- Material Type: Filament
- Build area (mm). 220 × 220 x 250
- Official max printing speed (mm/s): 500
- Dimensions (mm). 435 × 463 × 486
- Price: $
One word of warning
All of these printers deserve your attention and money. However, there is one major problem: the software. Elegoo has its own version of Cura, while Anycubic has Prusaslicer profiles that aren’t always the best. The slicer solutions of both companies are not perfect and can be frustrating for beginners.
Elegoo and Anycubic need to invest some resources in making slicers that they are proud of, or work with Cura and Prusaslicer – two of the most popular. The best 3D slicers Produce quality profiles which are easy to understand and use by users. The biggest barrier for budget 3D printers is money.
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