{"id":42978,"date":"2026-10-10T19:08:42","date_gmt":"2026-10-10T17:08:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/3dwork.io\/?p=42978"},"modified":"2026-10-25T16:45:48","modified_gmt":"2026-10-25T15:45:48","slug":"anycubic-kobra-4-combo-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/3dwork.io\/en\/anycubic-kobra-4-combo-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Anycubic Kobra 4 and Kobra 4 Combo: Review and In-Depth Analysis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Anycubic Kobra 4<\/strong> is the perfect example of where consumer FDM printing is heading in 2026: a fast machine with automatic leveling and one-button calibration that, in its Kobra 4 Combo<\/strong> version, adds the new ACE 2 Pro<\/strong> multicolor and filament drying module. At 3Dwork we’ve had the whole setup on our desk for several weeks. We assembled it, calibrated it, broke it and got it running again, and we printed everything from single-color parts to four-color jobs so we could tell you, with no filter, what it does well and what it does just okay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Official<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This is a long review because the machine has a lot to offer: we cover both versions in a single article (standard and Combo), we dig deep into the ACE 2 Pro because it is the real protagonist, we measure real noise, we show the filament waste exactly as it comes out, we collect the problems other users report, and we add safety and maintenance sections that almost nobody covers. If you were looking for the most complete Kobra 4 analysis, you’ve found it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As always, before we go on, remember that you can join our community on the 3Dwork Telegram channel<\/a>, full of makers passionate about 3D printing, laser and CNC. You can also find us on Instagram<\/a>, YouTube<\/a> and TikTok<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the Anycubic Kobra 4 (and how does it differ from the Combo)?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Kobra 4 is the FDM printer with which Anycubic pushes speed and automation in its desktop range. Before getting into our tests, it’s worth being clear about what it ships with, because many of its selling points are in the official spec sheet and they explain well what to expect from the machine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In terms of format, it is a Cartesian bed slinger<\/em>: the bed moves along the Y axis and the print volume is 260 \u00d7 260 \u00d7 260 mm<\/strong>. It is built to be genuinely fast, with a recommended speed of 300 mm\/s<\/strong>, peaks of up to 600 mm\/s<\/strong> and accelerations of up to 20,000 mm\/s\u00b2<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"260<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Aesthetically it follows the standard design of this generation: white base, compact toolhead and a touchscreen mounted on the front. It is an open-frame machine, with the ease of assembly and maintenance that comes with that. The chassis is a gantry structure with a brushed aluminum<\/strong> frame and a plastic base. Motion is split like this: the X axis runs on a linear rail<\/strong>, the Y axis uses a dual linear rod<\/strong> setup to move the bed, and the Z axis rests on two guide rods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Anycubic<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Those two Z-axis guides are driven by a single motor<\/strong>, a detail worth keeping in mind: several machines with similar specs use a dual motorized lead screw, whereas here Anycubic simplifies things and relies on the leveling system for flatness. The extruder is short-path direct drive (direct drive<\/em>), something you’ll appreciate with flexible filaments, and everything runs on its own firmware, Kobra OS<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On accuracy, the strong selling point is the LeviQ 3.0<\/strong> automatic leveling system. Anycubic states a leveling repeatability better than 0.02 mm<\/strong> on the X, Y and Z axes, backed by 49-point<\/strong> probing and multi-point modeling that automatically corrects even the smallest deviations, with no manual compensation needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"LeviQ<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One point that tends to cause confusion deserves a clarification: that 0.02 mm figure is the leveling repeatability, not a dimensional tolerance of the printed part. Anycubic does not publish that last figure and we are not going to make it up; what you can expect from real-world quality we’ll see in the tests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On top of leveling there is dynamic flow calibration<\/strong>, which coordinates extrusion speed and force in real time to adjust the flow rate and sharpen edges, improving the finish without any user intervention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Wall<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It also includes vibration compensation<\/strong>: using a built-in accelerometer, the system detects resonance frequencies and removes the ghosting (ghosting<\/em>) that usually shows up on walls when printing at high speeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The toolhead uses what Anycubic calls a Quick-Release Hotend<\/strong>, the same design and motion system already used on the Kobra X. The standard nozzle is 0.4 mm hardened steel<\/strong>, with 0.25, 0.6 and 0.8 mm options, and it withstands up to 300 \u00b0C<\/strong>. Swapping it is literally tool-free: you remove the silicone sock, release the retaining latch and fold down the heatsink to pull out the whole nozzle assembly, which also makes clearing a clog much faster if one appears. Anycubic does not publish the extruder gear ratio or the exact type of gears, so we won’t invent a figure that isn’t in the official spec sheet; what it does confirm is that it integrates a strain gauge<\/strong> in the toolhead itself, the sensor LeviQ 3.0 uses to measure pressure against the bed during leveling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Kobra<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The bed is a steel plate with a textured PEI<\/strong> coating on a magnetic base: you remove it and flex it to release the parts, and it reaches a maximum temperature of 100 \u00b0C<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Kobra<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The aspect we most wanted to check is its even heat distribution<\/strong>. Anycubic claims it keeps a constant temperature across the whole surface, edges included, with better overall flatness, and it isn’t just marketing: we’ve seen independent thermal images confirming that heat does reach the edge of the plate. We’ll put it to the test with large parts in the print quality section. Overall, the machine declares a rated power of 1450 W<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the interface side, the machine is controlled from a 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen<\/strong> running Kobra OS<\/strong> firmware, although you can also start jobs over USB, from the in-house slicer (Anycubic Slicer Next) or from the mobile app. Connectivity is dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4G\/5G) plus LAN<\/strong>, with the option to switch between IoT cloud mode and local mode, each with its own security layer so you don’t depend on external servers if you don’t want to. The menu is available in several languages, including Spanish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Kobra<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For monitoring it uses a 720p HD camera<\/strong> with a proprietary AI algorithm that watches the print in real time: it mainly detects the classic spaghetti<\/em> failure (when a part detaches and the hotend keeps extruding over the bed) and foreign objects on the print surface, and it can also record timelapses of every job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Kobra<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In terms of smart features it adds several layers of protection against failures: power loss resume<\/strong>, filament break detection with automatic resume<\/strong> when you change the spool, filament tangle detection<\/strong> and the object-skip & area leveling<\/strong> function, which lets you mark one of several parts on the same plate as failed and keep printing the rest without losing the entire job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the official side on the table, the difference between the two versions is simple to summarize, but important to get right when buying:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Kobra 4<\/strong> (standard): the printer on its own. It prints in a single color and shares all the motion hardware, hotend, bed and electronics with the Combo.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Kobra 4 Combo<\/strong>: adds the external ACE 2 Pro<\/strong> module, which handles up to four spools for multicolor printing and also actively dries the filament while you print. This is the unit we tested in depth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Unlike the Kobra X, which fed all four filaments directly into the toolhead with a cutter very close to the nozzle, the Kobra 4 goes back to a traditional single-input toolhead and hands all color management to the external ACE 2 Pro. It is a design decision with pros and cons that we’ll look at in detail: it simplifies the toolhead and repairs, but it penalizes filament waste on color changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The ACE 2 Pro in depth: multicolor and active drying<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The Anycubic Kobra 4 Combo includes the ACE 2 Pro for effortless 4-color printing. Expand your palette to 8 vibrant colors by combining two ACE 2 Pro units.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The ACE 2 Pro (Anycubic Color Engine 2 Pro) is the heart of the Combo and deserves its own analysis. It is an external module that combines two functions that until now were usually separate: multicolor handling of up to four spools and an active filament dryer that works while<\/em> you print.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The ACE 2 Pro introduces four independent brushless<\/em> motors, compared with the brushed motors of the first-generation ACE Pro. You notice it in two ways: the feed speed rises to 50 mm\/s (double the original’s 25 mm\/s) and each full color change drops to about 56 seconds. Anycubic rates these motors for a service life of 5,000 hours or more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Active drying and humidity control are, for us, the module’s most interesting feature. The ACE 2 Pro dries filament up to 65 \u00b0C and, most importantly, can do it during the print itself, not just at rest. It combines active humidity control (a solenoid valve vents the humid air and closes when it’s done) with passive control (a silicone sealing ring on the lid isolates the compartment from the environment). In our tests we left it at 45 \u00b0C for PLA, which is more than enough; the internal sensor showed around 44% humidity inside the compartment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"ACE<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    The module detects end of filament and tangles, and includes automatic refill (Auto-Refill<\/em>): when a spool runs out, it switches to another of the same material and color without stopping the print. With original Anycubic spools with an RFID chip, it also automatically identifies material and color (requires an internet connection) and estimates the remaining filament on each spool on screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    ACE 2 Pro specifications:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Parameter<\/th>Value<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    Spools<\/td>4 (up to 8 by chaining 2 units with a hub)<\/td><\/tr>
    Feed speed<\/td>50 mm\/s<\/td><\/tr>
    Color change time<\/td>\u2248 56 s<\/td><\/tr>
    Active drying<\/td>Up to 65 \u00b0C, also during printing<\/td><\/tr>
    Humidity control<\/td>Active (solenoid valve) + passive (silicone seal)<\/td><\/tr>
    Sensors<\/td>End of filament, tangle, temperature and humidity<\/td><\/tr>
    Material identification<\/td>RFID with Anycubic spools (requires connection)<\/td><\/tr>
    Automatic refill<\/td>Yes (Auto-Refill when a spool runs out)<\/td><\/tr>
    Noise level<\/td>48 dB (55 dB with active drying)<\/td><\/tr>
    Motors<\/td>4 independent brushless (\u2265 5,000 h)<\/td><\/tr>
    Dimensions \/ weight<\/td>368 \u00d7 291.5 \u00d7 236.5 mm \/ 3.7 kg<\/td><\/tr>
    Drying power draw<\/td>30\u201350 W additional, continuous<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    A note for anyone who wants to go big: the system supports chaining up to two ACE 2 Pro units with an 8-channel hub to print in eight colors. That said, you cannot mix a first-generation ACE Pro with an ACE 2 Pro in the same setup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Technical specifications: Kobra 4 vs Kobra 4 Combo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The whole mechanical base is identical between both versions. What changes is the ACE 2 Pro module that comes with the Combo. These are the official figures we were able to cross-check against Anycubic’s documentation and the machine itself:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Specification<\/th>Kobra 4<\/th>Kobra 4 Combo<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    Technology<\/td>FDM \/ FFF, Cartesian (bed slinger), open frame<\/td>Same<\/td><\/tr>
    Print volume<\/td>260 \u00d7 260 \u00d7 260 mm<\/td>260 \u00d7 260 \u00d7 260 mm<\/td><\/tr>
    Recommended \/ maximum speed<\/td>300 \/ 600 mm\/s<\/td>300 \/ 600 mm\/s<\/td><\/tr>
    Maximum acceleration<\/td>20,000 mm\/s\u00b2<\/td>20,000 mm\/s\u00b2<\/td><\/tr>
    Extruder<\/td>Direct drive<\/td>Direct drive<\/td><\/tr>
    Nozzle<\/td>Quick-change hardened steel, 0.4 mm (optional 0.25 \/ 0.6 \/ 0.8 mm)<\/td>Same<\/td><\/tr>
    Max. hotend temperature<\/td>300 \u00b0C<\/td>300 \u00b0C<\/td><\/tr>
    Bed<\/td>Spring steel with textured PEI, magnetic and flexible<\/td>Same<\/td><\/tr>
    Max. bed temperature<\/td>100 \u00b0C<\/td>100 \u00b0C<\/td><\/tr>
    Leveling<\/td>Automatic LeviQ 3.0, 49-point mesh, automatic Z-offset<\/td>Same<\/td><\/tr>
    Display<\/td>3.5″ capacitive touch<\/td>3.5″ capacitive touch<\/td><\/tr>
    Connectivity<\/td>Wi-Fi (2.4 \/ 5 GHz), LAN and USB<\/td>Same<\/td><\/tr>
    Camera<\/td>720p with AI detection and physical privacy shutter<\/td>Same<\/td><\/tr>
    Multicolor system<\/td>No (single color)<\/td>Yes, ACE 2 Pro: 4 colors, expandable to 8<\/td><\/tr>
    Active filament drying<\/td>No<\/td>Yes (ACE 2 Pro, up to 65 \u00b0C)<\/td><\/tr>
    Dimensions<\/td>Approx. 455 \u00d7 445 \u00d7 461 mm<\/td>Same printer + ACE 2 Pro 368 \u00d7 292 \u00d7 237 mm<\/td><\/tr>
    Weight<\/td>Approx. 9.9 kg<\/td>Approx. 9.9 kg + 3.7 kg (ACE 2 Pro)<\/td><\/tr>
    Software<\/td>Anycubic Slicer Next (Orca-based); compatible with Cura\/PrusaSlicer\/Orca via G-code<\/td>Same<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    As you can see, in essence we’re dealing with the same printer. The whole debate around the Combo version revolves around the ACE 2 Pro, so we’ve dedicated an entire section to it further down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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