7 Best Anycubic 3D Printers in 2024

If you have a 3D printer or are active in the space, then you’ve definitely heard about Anycubic.

Anycubic is one of the fastest-growing 3D printing companies, known for their budget-friendly 3D printers. While the prices of Anycubic’s products might seem too low to be real, they are, in fact, legitimate.

And, despite the stigma around Chinese products, Anycubic’s printers all fare pretty well when it comes to build quality, customer support, and printing performance.

As Anycubic makes tens of different 3D printers now, it’s a bit difficult to know which one is the best Anycubic 3D printer. But don’t worry because I’ve spent tens of hours researching and actually personally testing the many Anycubic printers I have in my print farm to determine the true best Anycubic 3D printer.

The Anycubic Mono X 6K is my favorite machine from this manufacturer, offering terrific print quality, great value, and many useful features like a touchscreen interface. The Photon M3 Plus is another terrific option with a high-detail 6K LCD screen and a huge build volume.

Read on to hear about more of Anycubic’s best 3D printers!

FDM 3D Printers

In this category, I’ll go over the best FDM (filament) Anycubic 3D printers, including the Vyper, Kobra Neo, and Kobra Max!

3D Printer Type: FDM | Materials: PLA, ABS, PETG & TPU | Build Volume: 245 x 245 x 260 mm

First up, the Anycubic Vyper was one of the company’s first FDM 3D printers and easily one of my favorite machines in my shop.

Honestly, the Vyper is the FDM printer everyone wanted, equipped with many features that previously were considered “upgrades” in the budget 3D printing space. For example, the Vyper has built-in belt tensioners that you can use to tighten the belt to prevent issues like layer shifting. On most printers, belt tensioners are an after-market upgrade, but Anycubic said, “why not” and added the feature in the stock version of the Vyper.

I also am a huge fan of the automatic bed leveling on the Vyper, which makes it super easy to achieve a good first layer for prints. The auto bed leveling (ABL) sensor on the Vyper is actually built into the nozzle, too, making the printhead look a lot cleaner. Sadly, though, this system does make nozzle swaps and hot end replacements a bit more difficult.

The Vyper also has super reliable extrusion, which isn’t common for a machine in this price range. This stems from the Titan-style Bowden extruder on the Vyper, which uses a 3:1 gear ratio to maximize extrusion force so that problems like under-extrusion never happen. And, because it’s Bowden, the printhead weighs less, so you can use a faster print speed!

I also can’t forget about the Vyper’s 32-bit motherboard, equipped with top-of-the-line TMC2209 stepper motor drivers. These keep your 3D printer super quiet during printing, so all you hear are the fans. Sleep tight!

Some other notable features on the Vyper include the full-color touchscreen LCD, the filament runout sensor (helpful for long prints), and the spring steel PEI print bed.

The Vyper is truly the perfect FDM 3D printer that everyone wants. It’s got literally every feature of an FDM 3D printer known to man, all for less than $400, which is extremely impressive. Good job, Anycubic!

Pros

Cons

3D Printer Type: FDM | Materials: PLA, ABS, PETG & TPU | Build Volume: 220 x 220 x 250 mm

About a year ago, Anycubic released the Kobra, and, taking a hint from Creality, they released a newer “Neo” version of the printer known as the Kobra Neo. The Kobra Neo is an excellent budget FDM 3D printer with an even lower price tag compared to the Vyper.

Before we go over the main features of the Kobra Neo, you might be wondering about the difference between the original Anycubic Kobra and the newer Kobra Neo. Surprisingly, the Neo is actually less expensive than the original Kobra, with almost all of the same features. The only difference is a smaller LCD screen (not touchscreen), and a double-sided PEI build plate rather than a single-sided PEI print bed.

As for the features of the Kobra Neo, I don’t even know where to start; but I will! The Neo has a decently large build volume of 220 x 220 x 250 mm, just like the Creality Ender 3. This should easily be enough for printing most projects!

The Neo also has an auto bed leveling sensor that uses Anycubic’s LeviQ technology to create a 25-point mesh of your print bed. The result: a super-level first layer that leads to successful prints!

The Kobra Neo is also direct drive, with a well-designed printhead that conceals the ABL sensor and the 3:1 gear assembly that makes the Neo’s extrusion super reliable. Additionally, because the Kobra Neo is direct drive, you can achieve high-quality prints in flexible filaments like TPU.

Other features on the Kobra Neo include the filament runout sensor, integrated belt tensioners, and a built-in tool drawer.

Overall, the Kobra Neo is the perfect 3D printer if you’re looking for a good bang for your buck. It’s got auto bed leveling, a decent build volume, a filament runout sensor, and so much more!

Pros

Cons

3D Printer Type: FDM | Materials: PLA, ABS, PETG & TPU | Build Volume: 400 x 400 x 450 mm

Our last Anycubic FDM 3D printer is the Kobra Max, another derivative of the original Anycubic Kobra. Hence the name, the Kobra Max offers more build volume than the original Kobra, plus a few other neat features that I’ll go over.

The first thing I should mention about the Kobra Max is its maximum printing dimensions: a whopping 400 x 400 x 450 mm. This makes the Kobra Max a large-format 3D printer and with this much build volume, you’ll be able to print basically anything you can find on Thingiverse, even large cosplay models!

The Kobra Max is more than just a hot end strapped to a big build plate, though. Its powerful Titan-style extruder makes it stand out from many other low-budget large-format 3D printers, making the extrusion of the Kobra Max super reliable.

While the Bowden configuration means you won’t be able to print flexible parts easily, it’s a price I’ll pay for a big print space. And, Bowden extruders also enable you to use a faster print speed because of the lightweight print head.

On this note, despite the large print space, Anycubic does a good job of ensuring no print quality is sacrificed. Moreover, the bed runs on not one but two Y-axis gantries, each with an integrated belt tensioner. There’s also an ABL sensor on the printhead to ensure the nozzle stays the same distance from the bed at all points across the huge print area.

Other features on the Kobra Max include a filament runout sensor, an easy-to-use touchscreen LCD, and a side-mounted filament spool holder (for stabilization).

So, if you’ve got big 3D printing ideas, then you need a printer that can match your energy. The Kobra Max is my favorite large-format 3D printer, with more print space than I’ll ever need, a stable frame, and many other features!

Pros

Cons

Resin 3D Printers

In this category, I’ll go over the best Anycubic resin 3D printers, including the Photon Mono X 6K, Mono 4K, M3 Plus, and D2. Remember: these machines use SLA printing technology and are best for making detailed or small models.

3D Printer Type: MSLA | Materials: 405 nm UV Resins | Build Volume: 197 x 122 x 245 mm | Print Speed: 80mm/h | Print Resolution: 34 microns

Our first resin 3D printer from Anycubic is their Photon Mono X 6K, easily my favorite resin 3D printer from this company and across the entire market, really!

As indicated by the name, the Photon Mono X 6K can print models with 6K pixel resolution due to its LCD screen. If you’ve never seen a resin 3D print before, you’ll be blown away by how well a model made on the Mono X 6K looks. It’s got ungodly amounts of detail!

The Mono X 6K also has a pretty large usable build volume, measuring 197 x 122 x 245 mm. This is on the higher end of most resin 3D printers, and it will be enough to print basically anything you want. You’ll also be able to fit a few miniatures on the build plate at once!

The print speed of the Mono X 6K is also pretty impressive. This comes in handy when printing large models, which would usually take a super long time on a regular resin printer.

The Anycubic Photon Mono X 6K also has an easy-to-use, full-color touchscreen interface. I was able to figure out how to use the printer within minutes, even without watching a tutorial video.

So, if you want a high-end, low-cost resin 3D printer, I highly suggest the Anycubic Photon X 6K!

Pros

Cons

3D Printer Type: MSLA | Materials: 405 nm UV Resins | Build Volume: 132 x 80 x 165 mm | Print Speed: 50 mm/h | Print Resolution: 35 microns

Next, the Anycubic Photon Mono 4K is one of the most popular Anycubic 3D printers, and a large part of the company’s success can be attributed to this printer.

While technology advancements have made the Mono 4K a bit outdated in terms of features and printing abilities, it’s still a steal for a resin 3D printer, costing under $200. And for this low price, you get 4K printing, which is super useful when printing heavily-detailed models. Plus, the Mono 4K maintains a pretty low X/Y precision, so your prints will be very accurate (compared to the digital design).

The Anycubic Photon Mono 4K also has a touchscreen, full-color interface that makes it easy to navigate the different functions of the printer.

And, even though it doesn’t have the biggest build volume, the Mono 4K still gives you enough volume to print miniatures and other small parts.

So, if you want a high-value resin 3D printer or are looking to save some money, I suggest looking into the Photon Mono 4K!

Pros

Cons

3D Printer Type: MSLA | Materials: 405 nm UV Resins | Build Volume: 245 x 197 x 122 mm | Print Speed: 100 mm/h | Print Resolution: 34 microns

Next, the Photon M3 Plus is a large-format resin 3D printer from Anycubic. As the M3 Plus is a resin 3D printer, the term “large-format” means a slightly smaller build volume than it would for an FDM machine. But nonetheless, the 245 x 197 x 122 mm offered by this printer should be more than enough for printing multiple miniatures at once or other designs, like a sculpture.

Of course, I wouldn’t have included the Photon M3 Plus if it was just a large-format SLA printer, and it’s got tons of other sweet features that make it worth the sub-$500 price tag.

Most notably, the 6K resolution LCD screen makes the M3 Plus very capable when it comes to printing high-detail models. I really love 6K resin printers because they have the X/Y precision of a typical 4K SLA printer but a higher pixel resolution, yielding prints sometimes better than those made on an 8K resin 3D printer.

The Anycubic Photon M3 Plus also has an auto-leveling system, so you don’t have to worry about positioning the build plate properly; the printer will do this for you!

But perhaps my favorite part about the Photon M3 Plus isn’t its size, LCD screen, or auto leveling system. No! It’s the resin-filling system, which is super innovative. Moreover, the M3 Plus has Anycubic’s Smart Resin Filling technology, which ensures the VAT always has enough resin but never too much (could spill).

So, if you want a large-format resin 3D printer, definitely give the Anycubic Photon M3 Plus a view!

Pros

Cons

3D Printer Type: DLP | Materials: 405 nm UV Resins | Build Volume: 131 x 73 x 165 mm | Print Speed: 50 mm/h | Print Resolution: 51 microns

Lastly, the Photon D2 is one of Anycubic’s only DLP resin printers, and it’s one of my favorite Anycubic 3D printers!

If you’re unfamiliar with the term, DLP is a type of printing technology where the projector casts light to a set of mirrors that solidify the resin in the VAT to form the desired 3D model. While DLP might sound a lot like SLA, the prints are slightly different, with DLP prints typically having a little more texture and detail.

The resolution of the projector on the Photon D2 is about 2.5K, which isn’t as much as the other Anycubic resin printers we discussed. However, as the D2 is a different printing technology, the resolution can’t be compared 1:1, and the D2 still yields exceptional almost-4K-looking 3D prints.

The Photon D2 has a maximum print volume of 131 x 73 x 165 mm, which is pretty average for an SLA/DLP printer but definitely enough to print miniatures and other small designs. Because of the printer’s small build size and high-detail capabilities, it’s perfect for anyone looking to print small figurines or other heavily-detailed models.

Also, it’s worth pointing out that the D2 is very quiet when it’s printing, which is something I love as I usually fall asleep near my printers anyways!

So, if you want to try out DLP 3D printing, you might be interested in the Anycubic Photon D2. On top of being one of the only consumer-level DLP 3D printers, it’s got terrific printing abilities and has been known to be pretty reliable too.

Pros

Cons

Who is Anycubic?

Anycubic is a 3D printing company that specializes in making budget-friendly 3D printers and 3D printing supplies for consumers.

Like most 3D printing companies, Anycubic is based in China and follows a very iterative approach to coming up with new products. As such, basically, every Anycubic 3D printer is a piggyback off of a previous version with a few new or improved features.

This has led to the development of a few different series of 3D printers in Anycubic’s ecosystem, including the Mega series, Photon series, Kobra series, and more!

Over the past few years, Anycubic went from being the unknown kid on the block to one of the big bosses of the consumer 3D printing industry. While they’re still less popular than their biggest rival, Creality, they’ve grown a lot in their popularity within the 3D printing space and the list of products they sell.

Anycubic 3D printers continue to excite 3D printing enthusiasts as they offer decent printing quality and reliability for a very low cost.

FDM or Resin 3D Printer?

Anycubic sells both FDM and resin 3D printers, and each printing technology offers different pros and cons. Check out the sections below to see which you should use:

FDM

FDM printers, like the Anycubic Vyper, are what most people think of when someone says “3D printer”. FDM 3D printing involves stringed filament being pushed into a heating element which lays out molten plastic to make a 3D model.

This type of 3D printer is best if you’re looking to use a wide variety of filament materials, from PLA and ABS to PC and TPU. Additionally, parts made on FDM 3D printers are also relatively strong.

Resin (SLA)

The other 3D printing technology is SLA (and also DLP), commonly called resin 3D printing, and it’s a bit more high-tech than FDM printing. Resin 3D printers, like the Anycubic Photon Mono 4K, use a precise laser screen (called the LCD) to heat up liquid resin material in a way to form the desired 3D model. With SLA 3D printers, post-processing, including washing and curing the 3D model, is required.

Resin 3D printers are best when you’re printing high-detail models, such as miniatures or figurines. While resin prints require a bit of work (post-processing) and are somewhat weak, the layer lines on these types of prints are almost invisible, and the overall part quality is insane.

Considerations for Anycubic 3D Printers

When it comes to picking out a 3D printer, any Anycubic machine is a terrific option. But there are a few factors you should consider for each Anycubic 3D printer before clicking “Buy”. I’ve gone over the main ones below.

FDM or Resin

First off, you should consider if the printer is either FDM or resin (SLA).

We’ve gone over the differences between these two printing technologies in the previous section. But, if you don’t want to read that, then just know that FDM 3D printers are better for making general parts and parts that are strong, while resin printers are better for those a little more experienced in the 3D printing space who want to make detailed or small models.

Features

The features are perhaps the most important element of any machine, and different Anycubic 3D printers offer different features. Make sure you pick out a printer that brings you the features that are most practical for you.

For example, if you want a 3D printer that can print special filament materials, make sure you choose an Anycubic printer that has a high-temperature hot end. Or, if you want to print objects with a lot of detail, like miniatures, look for an Anycubic resin printer with 4K, 6K, or 8K LCD resolution.

Other potential features include automatic bed leveling, dual linear rails, a direct drive printhead, belt tensioners, and more!

Value

Value is something that should be considered for any purchase, especially a 3D printer, because of its relatively high price. I like to think of “value” as the features-per-dollar. In other words, the value of a 3D printer is how well the machine lives up to its price tag.

Luckily, Anycubic is well known for making budget 3D printers that perform super well, so finding value in an Anycubic 3D printer shouldn’t be difficult.

Community Support

Lastly, the community support of a 3D printer is extremely important. The community support defines how active the community following behind a specific 3D printer is, which matters for fixing, upgrading, and modifying your 3D printer.

Because Anycubic is very popular, most of their 3D printers have terrific community support. However, some Anycubic machines, such as the Anycubic i3 Mega, have more community support than others, which is something you should consider, especially if you plan on using your printer a lot.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a 3D printer, whether it’s an FDM or resin (SLA/DLP) machine, you can turn to Anycubic. The company has a ton of experience in the 3D printing space and all of their machines are great for any maker, regardless of age or experience.

The best Anycubic 3D printer, in my opinion, is the Anycubic Vyper. This FDM 3D printer has basically every feature someone could ever want, including a spring steel PEI build plate (easy print removal), automatic bed leveling, a Titan-style extruder, and more. Your prints are sure to come out nice, and the Vyper won’t let you down!

For resin printing, I love the Photon Mono X 6K. Its high-detail LCD screen ensures that even the smallest, most-detailed models come out with amazing print quality. It’s also got dual-linear rails, a decently large build plate, and great X/Y precision.

But, if you want to print big, the Kobra Max and the Photon M3 Plus are two spectacular large-format Anycubic 3D printers.

Enjoy!

Scroll to Top