Anycubic Kobra S1 vs Bambu A1 Cost Comparison (2026)

Kobra S1 is cheaper upfront (£200-£250 vs £300-£350) and per hour (£0.04-£0.05 vs £0.05-£0.07), but Bambu A1 prints 2-3x faster (up to 500mm/s vs 200mm/s), making cost per print similar or lower. For high-volume printing, Bambu A1's speed advantage makes it more cost-effective long-term. Use our cost calculator to compare your specific usage.

Upfront Cost Comparison

Anycubic Kobra S1

  • Price: £200-£250
  • Build volume: 220×220×250mm
  • Max speed: 200mm/s
  • Features: Direct drive, auto bed leveling

Bambu Lab A1

  • Price: £300-£350
  • Build volume: 256×256×256mm
  • Max speed: 500mm/s
  • Features: CoreXY, AMS Lite support, faster printing

Winner: Kobra S1 saves £100-£150 upfront, but Bambu A1 offers larger build volume and significantly faster printing.

Running Cost Per Hour

Metric Kobra S1 Bambu A1 Winner
Power consumption 120-180W (avg 150W) 180-250W (avg 220W) Kobra S1
Cost per hour £0.034-£0.050 £0.050-£0.070 Kobra S1
Print speed Up to 200mm/s Up to 500mm/s Bambu A1
Build volume 220×220×250mm 256×256×256mm Bambu A1

*Costs assume UK electricity rates (£0.28/kWh). Power consumption varies by print settings and material.

Cost Per Print Comparison

While Kobra S1 costs less per hour, Bambu A1's faster printing means similar or lower cost per print:

100g PLA Print

Kobra S1

  • Print time: 4 hours
  • Material cost: £1.28
  • Electricity: £0.17
  • Total: £1.45

Bambu A1

  • Print time: 1.5-2 hours
  • Material cost: £1.28
  • Electricity: £0.12-£0.22
  • Total: £1.40-£1.50

Winner: Tie or slight advantage to Bambu A1 (saves 2-3 hours print time)

200g PLA Print

Kobra S1

  • Print time: 8 hours
  • Material cost: £2.56
  • Electricity: £0.34
  • Total: £2.90

Bambu A1

  • Print time: 3-4 hours
  • Material cost: £2.56
  • Electricity: £0.25-£0.44
  • Total: £2.81-£3.00

Winner: Bambu A1 (saves 4-5 hours print time, similar cost)

Monthly Operating Cost Comparison

For the same output volume, monthly costs are similar, but Bambu A1 achieves it in less time:

Usage Level Kobra S1 Bambu A1 Difference
Hobby (2kg PLA/month) £25.60 material + £6.80 electricity = £32.40 £25.60 material + £7.50-£10.50 electricity = £33.10-£36.10 +£0.70-£3.70
Moderate (4kg PLA/month) £51.20 material + £13.60 electricity = £64.80 £51.20 material + £15.00-£21.00 electricity = £66.20-£72.20 +£1.40-£7.40
Heavy (8kg PLA/month) £102.40 material + £27.20 electricity = £129.60 £102.40 material + £30.00-£42.00 electricity = £132.40-£144.40 +£2.80-£14.80

Note: Bambu A1 costs slightly more per month for the same output, but prints in 50-60% less time, allowing for higher throughput if you have multiple projects.

Total Cost of Ownership (1 Year)

Assuming moderate use (4kg PLA/month, 50 hours printing/month):

Kobra S1

  • Upfront cost: £225
  • Material (48kg/year): £614.40
  • Electricity (600 hours/year): £163.20
  • Total Year 1: £1,002.60

Bambu A1

  • Upfront cost: £325
  • Material (48kg/year): £614.40
  • Electricity (300 hours/year): £180.00-£252.00
  • Total Year 1: £1,119.40-£1,191.40

Verdict: Kobra S1 costs £117-£189 less in Year 1, but Bambu A1 prints the same volume in half the time. For print farms or high-volume users, Bambu A1's speed advantage can justify the higher cost through increased throughput.

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Kobra S1 if:

  • • Budget is your primary concern (£100-£150 savings upfront)
  • • You print occasionally (hobby use, 1-2 prints per week)
  • • Print speed isn't critical
  • • You want lower running costs per hour

Choose Bambu A1 if:

  • • You print frequently (multiple prints per week)
  • • Print speed matters (faster turnaround)
  • • You need larger build volume (256mm vs 220mm)
  • • You run a print farm or business
  • • You want AMS Lite multi-material support

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper: Kobra S1 or Bambu A1?

Kobra S1 has lower upfront cost (£200-£250 vs £300-£350 for Bambu A1) and lower cost per hour (£0.04-£0.05 vs £0.05-£0.07). However, Bambu A1 prints 2-3x faster, so cost per print is similar or lower. For high-volume printing, Bambu A1's speed advantage makes it more cost-effective long-term.

What is the running cost difference between Kobra S1 and Bambu A1?

Kobra S1 costs £0.04-£0.05/hour vs Bambu A1 at £0.05-£0.07/hour. However, Bambu A1 prints faster (up to 500mm/s vs 200mm/s), so a 100g print costs £1.45 on Kobra S1 (4 hours) vs £1.40-£1.50 on Bambu A1 (1.5-2 hours). Monthly costs are similar for the same output volume.

Is Bambu A1 worth the extra cost over Kobra S1?

Bambu A1 costs £100-£150 more upfront but prints 2-3x faster. For hobbyists printing occasionally, Kobra S1 offers better value. For frequent printing or print farms, Bambu A1's speed advantage justifies the higher upfront cost through reduced time per print and higher throughput.

Looking to Buy Anycubic Kobra S1?

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Related Cost Guides

Anycubic Kobra S1 Running Cost

Complete running cost breakdown

How Much Does It Cost to Print on Kobra S1?

Cost per print breakdown