The best multicolor 3D printer under $400 for most people is the Anycubic Kobra X at $299.99: it prints four colors out of the box on a 260 mm cube. Choose the Bambu Lab A1 Mini Combo at $369 if you want the most polished software and MakerWorld. The Elegoo Centauri 2 Combo at $296.10 is the cheapest of the four.
Prices come from Amazon listings checked on October 27, 2026. We have not tested these printers, so this guide combines their specs with independent reviews from Tom’s Hardware, All3DP and TechRadar, and with the questions readers asked in our own community.
Multicolor printing also wastes filament and takes longer than single-color printing. We cover that below, because it affects the real cost more than the sticker price.
The Short Verdict
- The bottom line: Buy the Kobra X for the best value, or the A1 Mini Combo if software and ecosystem matter more than build size.
- Killer feature, Kobra X: Four colors built in, a 260 mm cube and a 300°C hardened steel nozzle for $299.99.
- Killer feature, A1 Mini Combo: Bambu Studio and MakerWorld, plus quick-change nozzles, at $369.
- 2026 Value Score (our score): Kobra X 8.5/10. Centauri 2 Combo 8/10. A1 Mini Combo 7.5/10. AD5X 6.5/10.
↗ Check Anycubic Kobra X — $299.99 on Amazon✓ Check Amazon for Prime delivery and return terms · Price checked Oct 27, 2026
↗ Check Bambu Lab A1 Mini Combo — $369 on Amazon✓ Check Amazon for Prime delivery and return terms · Price checked Oct 27, 2026
Which Multicolor 3D Printers Cost Under $400?
Four printers with four-color systems sit under $400 on Amazon right now. All four are open frame, so they suit PLA, PETG and TPU and not ABS or ASA.
The table compares them on the specs that matter for a first multicolor printer.
| Feature | Kobra X | Centauri 2 Combo | A1 Mini Combo | AD5X |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price (Oct 27, 2026) | $299.99 | $296.10 | $369.00 | $349.00 |
| Colors out of the box | 4 (up to 19 with extra ACE Pro 2 units) | 4 (CANVAS) | 4 (AMS lite) | 4 (IFS) |
| Build volume | 260 × 260 × 260 mm | 256 × 256 × 256 mm | 180 × 180 × 180 mm | 220 × 220 × 220 mm |
| Frame | Open frame | Open frame, no enclosure | Open frame | Open frame (DIY enclosure kit sold separately) |
| Max nozzle temperature | 300°C | 350°C | 300°C | 300°C |
| Stated top speed | 600 mm/s | 500 mm/s | 500 mm/s | 600 mm/s |
| Software | Anycubic Slicer Next | Elegoo slicer and Nexprint Model Hub | Bambu Studio and MakerWorld | Flashforge slicer |
| Biggest weakness (our read) | Default purge settings cause color bleed | Little independent testing so far | Smallest build volume | Buggy slicer and high purge waste in Tom’s Hardware review |
| Best for | Value and a big build plate | Cheapest CoreXY multicolor | Easiest software and ecosystem | Buyers who accept slicer risk |
Sources: Amazon listings (price, titles and listed specs), plus reviews from All3DP, Tom’s Hardware, Tom’s Hardware and Notebookcheck. Speeds are manufacturer top speeds, and typical print speeds are lower.
✓ Check Amazon for Prime delivery and return terms · Price checked Oct 27, 2026
✓ Check Amazon for Prime delivery and return terms · Price checked Oct 27, 2026
Is the Anycubic Kobra X the Best Value Multicolor Printer Under $400?
Yes, for PLA, PETG and TPU buyers on a budget. At $299.99 it gives you native four-color printing, a 260 mm cube and a hardened steel nozzle. TechRadar rated it 4.5/5, and All3DP leaned positive with caveats.
All3DP found that the stock flushing values are too conservative and cause color bleed. Raising them fixes the bleed but cuts into the purge savings Anycubic advertises, so treat the waste claim as a best case.
In one All3DP test the Kobra X finished 1 hour 20 minutes faster than the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo, with less than half the flushed waste.
The downsides are mostly polish. All3DP lists an unresponsive touchscreen, awkward RFID setup, fiddly nozzle swaps and a slicer with a reputation for crashes.
The ACE Gen 2 filament system is not on the newer Kobra 4, and All3DP questions whether spare parts will stay available. Our own Anycubic Kobra X review covers it in more depth, and our Kobra X vs Elegoo Centauri Carbon comparison compares it with the enclosed Carbon.
↗ Check Anycubic Kobra X — $299.99 on Amazon✓ Check Amazon for Prime delivery and return terms · Price checked Oct 27, 2026
Is the Bambu Lab A1 Mini Combo Worth $369?
Yes, if you value polished software and MakerWorld more than build size. It prints four colors through the AMS lite but has a 180 mm cube, the smallest on this list. Tom’s Hardware called it a fast, quiet, easy-to-use budget printer in its launch review.
That review also praised the quick-change nozzles, direct drive and automatic bed leveling. It noted that the AMS takes up space and can fling purged waste, and that the AMS lite cannot feed TPU.
Multicolor prints are slow on this printer. In that review a four-color print took 22 hours 25 minutes against 4 hours 19 minutes for the same model in one color.
Amazon’s listing showed an availability date instead of “in stock” when we checked on October 27, so confirm the delivery date before you order. Our Bambu Lab A1 Mini hands-on review and A1 vs A1 Mini comparison cover it in more detail.
↗ Check Bambu Lab A1 Mini Combo — $369 on Amazon✓ Check Amazon for Prime delivery and return terms · Price checked Oct 27, 2026
Is the Elegoo Centauri 2 Combo the Cheapest Multicolor CoreXY Printer?
Yes, at $296.10 it is the cheapest of the four, and below the $350 launch price Notebookcheck reported. It is a stripped-down Centauri Carbon 2: the same 256 mm cube, a 350°C nozzle and four-color CANVAS, but no enclosure, camera or filtration.
That makes it a PLA, PETG and TPU printer, and Notebookcheck says harder filaments such as ABS, ASA and PA-CF are not recommended.
Do not confuse it with the Centauri Carbon 2, which is enclosed and cost $449 in TechRadar’s review. TechRadar scored the Carbon 2 Combo 4.5/5 and listed purge waste and exposed filament as its weak spots.
The Centauri 2 reviews we found were overviews and not full print tests, so we cannot speak to its reliability yet. Our Kobra X vs Centauri Carbon comparison puts the Kobra X against the Carbon.
↗ Check Elegoo Centauri 2 Combo — $296.10 on Amazon✓ Check Amazon for Prime delivery and return terms · Price checked Oct 27, 2026
Should You Buy the Flashforge AD5X at $349?
Only if you accept software risk or can confirm that recent updates fixed it. It has four colors through the IFS, a 220 mm cube, a 300°C nozzle and a quick-change nozzle. Tom’s Hardware called it “a good 3D printer with a bad slicer experience”.
The reviewer says the slicer crashed about every third print when left open, and that purge waste is a major drawback: 23 color swaps on a 33-frog plate wasted 11 g, more than one frog weighs.
The AD5X has no camera or lighting, and the enclosure is a DIY kit you buy separately. Typical speeds in the review were 45 to 200 mm/s depending on material, far below the 600 mm/s spec sheet figure.
That review was written when the printer sold for around $399, so check recent owner reviews for software fixes. Our A1 Mini Combo vs AD5X comparison and Adventurer 5M vs AD5X guide compare it with the alternatives.
↗ Check Flashforge AD5X — $349 on Amazon✓ Check Amazon for Prime delivery and return terms · Price checked Oct 27, 2026
What Do Buyers Ask Before Picking a Multicolor Printer?
We asked our r/3DPrinterComparison community which printer a first-time buyer should get this Black Friday, and the replies show what matters to real shoppers. Here are the patterns, paraphrased from that thread.
- Budget around €400 with kids: One shopper wanted multicolor for useful parts and fidgets made with two children. Open-frame printers have hot, moving parts, so keep them out of small hands.
- MakerWorld is a real reason to pay more: An owner of an old Ender 3 V2 Neo said Bambu’s MakerWorld multicolor models were the reason to pick the A1 over cheaper options.
- Reliability fears: A Neptune 3 Pro owner tired of watching the first layer worried that cheaper brands would need as much tinkering. Auto leveling fixes the first-layer problem on all four printers here.
- Waste can justify a higher price: A commenter argued that less filament waste can pay back a higher purchase price if you print multicolor from day one.
- Long-term support worries: The same commenter was wary of Anycubic’s habit of replacing models quickly. That matches All3DP’s concern about spare parts for the Kobra X.
How Much Filament Does Multicolor Printing Waste?
A lot more than single-color printing, and the amount varies by printer. Tom’s Hardware measured 11 g of waste for 23 color swaps on the AD5X, and its A1 Mini review saw purge waste on a 166 g four-color print fall from 200 g to 115 g after tuning.
The waste adds to your real cost and your print time, so it matters more on small, colorful models than on large single-color ones.
- Use fewer colors and fewer color changes in each model.
- Lower the flush volumes in your slicer step by step, as the A1 Mini reviewer did, and stop when colors start to bleed.
- On the Kobra X, expect to raise the stock flush values, because All3DP found the defaults too low.
Is It Worth Spending a Little More Than $400?
A few printers sit just above the line and may be worth stretching for. We list them with Amazon prices from October 27, 2026.
- Bambu Lab A1 Combo + LED Lamp Kit — $419: the full-size A1 with AMS lite, and the one most community members mentioned.
- Creality K2 Combo (A) — $521: a 260 mm cube with the CFS multicolor system.
- Bambu Lab P1S Combo — $549: an enclosed printer with AMS for people who want ABS and ASA later.
Our best multi-color 3D printers under $800 guide and Bambu Lab A1 Combo review cover the next price tiers.
The Reality of Long-Term Ownership
We have not run these printers for months, so this section covers what reviewers and specs tell us. Treat it as a checklist, not a verdict from hands-on use.
Maintenance and wear
All four printers use a 0.4 mm nozzle that wears with abrasive filaments, and the Kobra X ships with a hardened steel one. All3DP calls its nozzle swap fiddly, while the A1 Mini and AD5X have quick-change nozzles.
Multicolor systems add feeders and tubes that can jam, and reviewers mention occasional filament track errors fixed by unloading and reloading.
Hidden costs
Filament dryers are not included, and multicolor printing works best with dry filament. Our ACE 2 Pro dryer review covers the Kobra X’s dryer.
Budget for purge waste, a DIY enclosure and camera if you buy the AD5X, and extra spools. The open frames also rule out ABS and ASA without an add-on.
The software question
Software decides how pleasant a multicolor printer is. Bambu Studio and MakerWorld are the most mature, All3DP notes crash reports for Anycubic’s slicer, and Tom’s Hardware found Flashforge’s buggy.
Updates can fix this, so read the latest owner reviews before you buy.
The tinkerer’s hack
- Kobra X: raise the flush values until color bleed stops, then lower them slowly.
- A1 Mini: tune the purge settings. The Tom’s Hardware reviewer cut waste on one print by about 40%.
- All four: set up the filament paths and test with a two-color print before you commit to a big job.
Pros and Cons: Multicolor 3D Printers Under $400
Anycubic Kobra X
- $299.99 with a 260 mm cube
- Four colors built in, up to 19 with ACE Pro 2 units
- Hardened steel nozzle
Cons
- Color bleed on default settings
- Slicer crash reports
- Spare-part questions
Bambu Lab A1 Mini Combo
- Bambu Studio and MakerWorld
- Quick-change nozzles
- Quiet and easy to use
Cons
- 180 mm cube
- AMS flings waste and cannot feed TPU
- Availability date showed on Amazon
Elegoo Centauri 2 Combo
- $296.10, the cheapest
- 350°C nozzle and a 256 mm cube
- CoreXY with CANVAS
Cons
- No enclosure, camera or filtration
- Few independent tests
- Not the same as the Carbon 2
Flashforge AD5X
- Four colors with a 300°C nozzle
- Quick-change nozzle
- Fast on paper
Cons
- Slicer problems in Tom’s Hardware review
- High purge waste
- No camera or lighting
↗ Check Anycubic Kobra X — $299.99 on Amazon✓ Check Amazon for Prime delivery and return terms · Price checked Oct 27, 2026
↗ Check Bambu Lab A1 Mini Combo — $369 on Amazon✓ Check Amazon for Prime delivery and return terms · Price checked Oct 27, 2026
Which Multicolor Printer Should You Buy?
Buy the Kobra X for the best value and the biggest build plate, and be ready to adjust flush values. Buy the A1 Mini Combo if you want the most mature software and MakerWorld, and can live with a 180 mm cube.
Buy the Centauri 2 Combo if you want a CoreXY at the lowest price and accept an open frame. Skip the AD5X unless the slicer problems have been fixed or you find it cheaper.
Should You Buy Now or Wait for Black Friday?
Black Friday is November 27, 2026 and Cyber Monday is November 30. Amazon has not announced its sale dates, and recent years suggest a start around November 19. No further price drop is guaranteed for any of these printers.
The Kobra X and Centauri 2 Combo are already below the prices reviewers reported at launch. Watch our Black Friday 3D printer deals page for the sale prices.
Multicolor 3D Printer FAQ
What is the best multicolor 3D printer under $400?
For most buyers it is the Anycubic Kobra X at $299.99, because it offers four colors and a 260 mm cube. The Bambu Lab A1 Mini Combo at $369 is the better pick if you value software and MakerWorld over build size.
Is multicolor 3D printing hard for beginners?
It is harder than single-color printing. Colors must be assigned in the slicer, and the printer purges filament at every change. Printers with mature software, such as Bambu’s, make this easier.
Do multicolor 3D printers waste a lot of filament?
Yes. Tom’s Hardware measured 11 g of waste for 23 color swaps on the AD5X, and 115 g to 200 g of purge on a 166 g print on the A1 Mini. Fewer colors and tuned flush volumes reduce it.
Can these printers print ABS or ASA?
Not reliably. All four are open frame, so they suit PLA, PETG and TPU. For ABS and ASA you would need an enclosed printer or a DIY enclosure.
Is the Elegoo Centauri 2 the same as the Centauri Carbon 2?
No. The Centauri 2 is a cheaper, open version without the enclosure, camera or filtration. The Carbon 2 is enclosed and costs more.
Are open-frame printers safe around kids?
They have hot nozzles, a heated bed and moving parts that are exposed. Keep the printer out of reach and supervise any child near it.
Should I wait for Black Friday to buy?
Prices may fall, but Amazon has not announced its dates and no drop is guaranteed. Set a price alert and buy if a printer reaches a price you are happy with.
Final Verdict: Which Multicolor Printer Under $400?
Pick the Kobra X for value or the A1 Mini Combo for software, and treat the other two as situational. Whatever you choose, budget for purge waste and dry filament.
↗ Check Anycubic Kobra X — $299.99 on Amazon✓ Check Amazon for Prime delivery and return terms · Price checked Oct 27, 2026
↗ Check Bambu Lab A1 Mini Combo — $369 on Amazon✓ Check Amazon for Prime delivery and return terms · Price checked Oct 27, 2026
How we wrote this: We have not tested these printers, and our ratings are our own editorial scores, not an average of buyer reviews. Specs come from the Amazon listings and the reviews linked above, and the community points are paraphrased from our own subreddit thread. Prices were checked on October 27, 2026 and can change.
Affiliate disclosure: This article contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
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