Anycubic Kobra S1 review: No-fuss CoreXY for speed and reliability

VoxelMatters has spent some time testing the Kobra S1 from Anycubic’s Kobra S1, the Chinese desktop 3D printer manufacturer‘s first CoreXY printer. If the design looks familiar, well – let’s just say some inspiration was taken from certain other CoreXY systems. However, the Kobra S1 carves out its own niche by focusing on reliability and ease of use rather than extreme performance tweaking, making it feel more like a consumer appliance – ready to go out of the box – rather than a DIY tinkerer’s project.

Technical specs

The Kobra S1 sports a 250x250x250mm build volume, packed into a square, compact form factor that keeps everything neat. The rotatable 4.3-inch touchscreen is a standout feature – extremely responsive, well-laid menus with no lag. The electronics are fully enclosed within the base, creating a clean aesthetic. However, this means that accessing the PSU or other internals could be a hassle if repairs are needed. The hotend assembly wiring is also tightly packed, which may make part replacements slightly trickier.

While Anycubic advertises speeds of 600mm/s with 20,000mm/s² acceleration, the real focus here is on consistent, hassle-free printing rather than pushing hardware to the absolute limit. In testing, HyperPLA performed well at 300mm/s, PLA printed reliably at 200mm/s, and ABS managed an impressive 200mm/s – an unusual feat given that most machines require much slower speeds for ABS. PETG landed between 150-180mm/s, with performance varying based on opacity; more transparent PETG performed better while opaque variants struggled slightly with extrusion and cooling. Outer wall speeds are what we’re reporting here; infill speeds are generally 50-100mm/s faster.

Hardware and build quality

The PEI-coated flexible build plate provides strong adhesion and easy removal, while the 320°C max hotend temperature and 120°C heated bed enable the printing of higher-temperature materials like ABS and Nylon.

The LeviQ 3.0 auto bed leveling is really impressive – first-layer issues were practically nonexistent, aside from occasional adhesion problems caused by oily fingerprints or insufficient bed temperature. Strain sensors in the nozzle help ensure consistent first layers. The direct drive extruder performs well and is on par with other CoreXY printers in this class. Fans are powerful enough for most use cases, though we haven’t stress-tested them with extreme speeds.

Anycubic has opted for proprietary components, including a custom nozzle that can’t be swapped with standard replacements – making it a less appealing choice for modders, but a great option for those who just want a plug-and-play experience.

ACE Pro and Slicer Next

One of the biggest selling points is the ACE Pro color engine, which allows for four colors (or eight if stacked) – currently the cheapest multi-color CoreXY system on the market. However, multicolor printing is painfully slow. A one-hour print took over nine hours due to filament swapping, and the wastage is significant. A 10.9g 3DBenchy produced 183g of purge waste – 17 times more filament wasted than used. If multicolor printing is your thing, maximizing the build plate usage is key because single models waste an unreasonable amount filament. On the plus side, the ACE Pro also functions as a filament backup, seamlessly switching to another spool if one runs out.

The Anycubic Slicer Next software feels like OrcaSlicer with a fresh coat of paint – easy to navigate and familiar to users of Bambu Studio, OrcaSlicer, and Cura. Anycubic seems actively committed to updates. The UI is cluttered for some, but we loved it, especially for managing multiple Anycubic printers, checking cameras, and controlling ACE Pro directly. The built-in camera on the S1 is surprisingly good. The high FPS makes real-time monitoring a reality, and it’s so well-integrated into the design that we almost forgot it was there.

Final thoughts

The Kobra S1 excels at fast and reliable printing without much tuning. The touchscreen UI is fast, intuitive, and free of lag. Auto bed leveling and Z-offset features mean you’ll never need to manually level the bed. First-layer consistency is excellent, thanks to LeviQ 3.0. Wi-Fi printing and OTA firmware updates add to the modern convenience. The printer is one of the best-value multi-color CoreXY systems available today. Built-in filament drying and RFID detection make material handling seamless.

On the downside, proprietary components limit customization, and the multicolor printing process produces excessive filament waste. It’s not built for heavy modding or firmware tweaks, and the enclosed electronics, while aesthetically pleasing, make repairs more difficult. For a first attempt at a CoreXY printer, Anycubic did a lot right – especially for users who want plug-and-play ease without diving into the complexities of Klipper tuning. If you’re looking for a reliable, fast, and affordable CoreXY machine, the Kobra S1 is a strong contender.