The Best Anycubic 3D Printers in 2023: Ranked

Not sure which Anycubic 3D printer is best for your particular needs? In this article, I’ll run through the best Anycubic 3D printers, including those I own and have hands-on experience with, to help you decide which suits you best.

I’ll compare each of Anycubic’s resin and FDM printers based on my personal experience testing many of them.

Overall, the Anycubic Photon Mono 2 is the best Anycubic resin 3D printer. It’s ideal for low-cost resin printing, as it’s a consistent and reliable resin printer. For bigger resin prints, the Photon M3 Max is excellent.

I also recommend the Anycubic Kobra as the best Anycubic FDM 3D printer. I’ve tested both the Kobra and Vyper and the Kobra is better overall. There’s also the brand-new Kobra 2, as well as the Kobra Max for large prints.

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Best Anycubic Resin 3D Printers

Anycubic Mono 2 – best Anycubic resin printer for beginners

• Price: Check latest price at Anycubic here / Amazon here
• Build Volume: 165 x 143 x 89 mm
• Screen resolution: 4K+ LCD
• XY resolution: 34 microns
• Screen size: 6.6″
• Average Printing Speed: 50 mm/hr
• Connectivity: USB

The Anycubic Mono 2 is a 4K resin printer ideal for those on a very tight budget. You will be sacrificing a little in terms of build quality, but you’ll get crisp, detailed prints for under $200 with excellent 35-micron XY resolution! 

It’s compact, so it’s perfect if you don’t have your own dedicated workshop, though this limits how many minis and small figurines you can print, due to a fairly small 165 x 143 x 89 mm build volume.

I also recommend it if you’re a beginner to resin printing. It’s very easy to set up, so I’m confident you won’t be put off even if you haven’t set up a resin printer before.

If you’re choosing between the Mono 2 and Mono 4K, the main differences are the Mono 2’s 20% larger build volume. It’s also fitted with a laser-engraved build plate to improve layer adhesion, compared to the brushed metal on the Mono 4K.

The Mono 2 has an upgraded matrix light array for more uniform curing than the Mono 4K, and the 4K+ LCD is 4096 x 2560 pixels, compared to the Mono 4K’s 3840 x 2400 pixels, resulting in more detail, especially on smaller models like miniatures. Overall, get the Mono 2 over the Mono 4K – especially if you’re a beginner.

However, if the Mono 2 isn’t big enough for you, go for the Anycubic Photon M3 – it’s only a slight downgrade in XY resolution to 40 microns. For even more build volume, there’s the Photon M3 Plus and Max.

Photon M3 Range – best Anycubic resin printer for minis

Photon M3

• Price: Check latest price at Anycubic here / Amazon here
• Build Volume: 180 x 170 x 102 mm
• Screen resolution: 4K+ LCD
• XY Resolution: 40 microns
• Screen size: 7.6″
• Speed: 50mm/hr

The base Anycubic Photon M3 brings high-quality 4K resin printing at an affordable price. It’s compact and designed for creating decorative pieces such as figurines, tabletop gaming minis, and models on a budget.

The 180 x 170 x 102 mm build volume is large enough for all but the biggest resin projects, and the 40-micron XY resolution means rich detail and features. 4K+ LCD resolution is good, but in recent times has been dwarfed by the affordable 6K and 8K printers that have released. 

Though, the M3’s combination of decent size, very competitive quality, and low price make it one of the most popular resin printers in the world.

Photon M3 Plus

• Price: Check latest price at Anycubic here / Amazon here
• Build Volume: 245 x 197 x 122 mm
• Screen resolution: 6K LCD
• XY Resolution: 34 micron
• Screen size: 9.25″
• Speed: 100 mm/hour

The Photon M3 Plus is ideal for batching printing minis, large figurines and display pieces, and large resin prototypes. 

Notable differences between the M3 Plus and standard M3 is the M3 Plus’ larger 197 x 122 x 245 mm build volume, and sharper 34 micron XY resolution. It also has a 6K LCD vs the 4K+ on the M3, and an automatic resin refill system, and Wi-Fi connectivity.

Photon M3 Max

• Price: Check latest price at Anycubic here / Amazon here
• Build Volume: 298 x 164 x 300 mm
• Screen resolution: 7K LCD
• XY resolution: 46 micron
• Screen size: 13.6″
• Speed: 60 mm/h

The Anycubic Photon M3 Max has a massive 298 x 164 x 300 mm, positioning it as a large-format printer suitable for small businesses and enthusiasts to keep up with commercial demands and batch production. 

The M3 Max ups the resolution to 7K, and while you expect to lose resolution over such a large print area, it still offers 46-micron XY resolution. However, this comes with a drop in print speed down to 60 mm/h.

Photon M3 Premium

• Price: Check latest price at Anycubic here
• Build Volume: 219 x 123 x 250 mm
• Screen resolution: 8K LCD
• XY Resolution: 28.5 microns
• Screen size: 10″
• Speed: 95 mm/hr

Finally, we have the newest M3, the Photon M3 Premium. This is the first M3 printer with an 8K LCD, pushing XY resolution to 28.5 microns. The build volume is 219 x 123 x 250 mm, slightly bigger than M3 Plus. 

Elsewhere, it has an improved cooling setup that’s designed to make the LCD last longer, double-threaded rods for added stability, and print speed up to a speedy 95 mm/h. 

Finally, it houses a brand new LightTurbo 2.0 light source tech to improve uniformity when curing layers during the printing process. If you’re tempted by the M3 Plus, I suggest going for the M3 Premium instead, as it suits similar applications but packs in far more features and produces higher-quality results.

Anycubic Mono M5s – best Anycubic resin printer for the highest quality prints

• Price: Check latest price at Anycubic here / Amazon here
• Build Volume: 200x218x123mm
• Screen resolution: 12K LCD
• XY resolution: 19 x 24 micron
• Screen size: 10.1″
• Average Printing Speed: 70 mm/hr (general resin) / 105 mm/hr (high speed resin)
• Connectivity: USB, WIFI

The Photon M5s is a new Anycubic printer, with 12K resolution that promises the highest level of detail and surface finish out of the Mono range.

The printer also offers a fantastic 19 x 24 micron XY resolution capable of printing details on par with the thickness of an individual strand of hair. In some of my other resin printer reviews, I’ve said that even 2K LCD screens produce great quality details, and that the differences between 4K and 8K screens is not enormous until close up. But, this level of quality really does make the difference on the M5s. 

The M5s is therefore ideal for batch-producing miniatures and figurines. It’s also one of the fastest resin printers on the market today with a speedy 105 mm/hr.

Other new features include an array of sensors, including some on the build plate itself, that constantly monitor for common failures such as the print peeling off the film, layer separation, and resin running out mid-print. The Photon M5s also gathers up data to pinpoint the cause of these failures, offering up troubleshooting tips to avoid them for future prints. 

Additionally, the Photon M5s’s leveling-free feature has the printer automatically adjust the height of the build plate thanks to a mechanical sensor on the cantilever arm. This reduces failures and cuts down on wasted resin.

Anycubic Photon D2 – best Anycubic DLP printer

• Price: Check latest price at Amazon here
• Build Volume: 130.56 x 73.44 x 165mm

The Anycubic Photon D2 swaps out the LCD screen found on the majority of Anycubic resin printers for a DLP projector. 

The major advantage is longevity (projector lasts 20,000 vs 2,000 hours for an LCD screen), consistent performance, and quiet printing – as the technology doesn’t use active fan cooling.

Despite the 2K resolution, due to the differences between DLP and LCD technologies, this isn’t the downgrade you think it is. The D2 can produce good-looking dentistry and jewelry molds, as well a prototypes and figurines.

Though, the D2 excels in anti-aliasing, producing excellent surface finishes with barely noticeable layering. For parts with large, uniform surfaces, the Photon D2 works beautifully, particularly for applications like dentistry and jewelry making.

However, it doesn’t have WiFi, a resin feeder, smart sensors, leveling-free calibration, or a large build volume, so it is not good as a general desktop hobbyist resin printer.

Anycubic Photon Mono X 6K

• Price: Check latest price at Anycubic here / Amazon here
• Build Volume: 200 x 195.84 x 122.4 mm
• Screen resolution: 6K LCD
• XY resolution: 34 microns
• Screen size: 9.25″
• Average Printing Speed: 15-60 mm/hr
• Connectivity: USB

The Mono X has since been outclassed by more advanced resin printers, but is still very impressive.

It has a large 7.55”x4.72”x9.84” print area, which compared to the original Photon Mono, is very good, and makes it ideal for larger resin prints such as tall figurines.

The Anycubic Mono X prints at up to 60mm/hr, and prints accurately with the high-quality 6K screen. 

The Photon Mono X’s brushed aluminum platform greatly enhances the adhesion between the printer and platform, while the efficient UV cooling system achieves high levels of heat dissipation, increasing the tool life and reducing maintenance costs. 

I also like how user-friendly the Mono X is. The touch screen menu makes it easy to control and monitor printing jobs, while the resin vat is marked so that you can accurately see how much resin is left at any time. 

Finally, it’s also a really stable and sturdy printer. The double linear guide rail, screw motor and anti-backlash nut give the Z-axis fantastic stability and help to prevent printing layer lines.

Best Anycubic FDM 3D Printers

Anycubic Kobra Range – best FDM Anycubic printer

Anycubic Kobra

• Price: Check latest price at Anycubic here / Amazon here
• Build Volume: 220 x 220 x 250mm
• Max nozzle temperature: 260℃
• Max heated bed temperature: 110℃
• Filament compatibility: PLA/ABS/PETG/TPU 

The Anycubic Kobra is designed to be easy to use for first-time makers, but with capabilities that still suit seasoned hobbyists.

I was very impressed when I tested and reviewed the Anycubic Kobra, and I recommend it over the Vyper overall. You can also read my full in-depth comparison of the Anycubic Kobra and Vyper.

Auto leveling saves beginners from potentially getting calibration wrong, and the direct drive extruder is ideal for flexible filaments and fewer retraction issues.

It also has a PEI-coated magnetic build plate that promotes excellent layer adhesion and easy print removal.

It’s super easy to assemble, and I built mine in under 20 minutes. So if you are a beginner, you’ll have no trouble with the Kobra. There’s also a responsive 4.3” touchscreen for easy printer navigation.

Overall, it’s cheap, reliable, and the best FDM 3D printer that Anycubic offer.

Kobra Plus and Max

• Price for Kobra Plus: Check latest price at Anycubic here / Amazon here
• Price for Kobra Max: Check latest price at Anycubic here / Amazon here
• Build Volume: 300 x 300 x 350 mm (Plus) / 400 x 400 x 450 mm (Max)
• Max nozzle temperature: 260 °C (Plus) / 260 °C (Max)
• Max heated bed temperature: 100 °C (Plus) / 90 °C (Max)
• Filament compatibility: PLA, ABS, TPU, PETG

The Kobra Plus switches to a Bowden extruder that makes flexible printing trickier, and has a carborundum glass bed, and a much roomier 300 x 300 x 350 mm. 

Even larger is the Kobra Max, with a massive 400 x 400 x 450 mm build volume. This is for those that want all the convenience of the base Kobra, but for huge printing projects, such as cosplay masks or other large prints.

Kobra Go

• Price: Check latest price at Anycubic here
• Build Volume: 220 x 220 x 250mm
• Max nozzle temperature: 260 °C
• Max heated bed temperature: 110 °C
• Filament compatibility: PLA / ABS / PETG & TPU

Lower down the price range, there’s the ultra-budget Kobra Go. Anycubic opted for a Bowden extruder to lower costs, a smaller 2.4” display – but it has an upgraded version of the Trigorilla mainboard with CG6609 stepper drivers. 

At under $200, it’s the lowest cost Kobra by a major margin, suitable if you’re on a budget and want to test it out before committing to a pricier printer. 

Kobra Neo

• Price: Check latest price at Anycubic here / Amazon here
• Build Volume: 490x445x443mm
• Max nozzle temperature: 260℃
• Max heated bed temperature: 110℃
• Filament compatibility: PLA/ABS/PETG/TPU

Also priced lower than the base Kobra is the Kobra Neo, a middle-ground printer that maintains the direct drive extruder setup. 

Improvements over the Kobra include a double-sided PEI-coated magnetic spring steel and a refreshed motherboard but downgrades to a 2.4″ LCD with a rotary knob to offer a more affordable version of the base Kobra.

Kobra 2

• Price: Check latest price at Anycubic here / Amazon here
• Printing Dimensions: 250 x 220 x 220 mm
• Max nozzle temperature: 260℃
• Max heated bed temperature: 110℃
• Filament compatibility: PLA/ABS/PETG/TPU
• Average Printing Speed: 150 mm/s
• Data Input: Micro SD card

Most recently, the Anycubic Kobra 2 has hit the market, improving the Kobra in almost every way while still keeping that easy-of-use but high-quality printing experience intact. 

It features a new auto bed leveling system with auto z-offset adjustment for even better calibration than the original Kobra. Elsewhere, the cooling is upgraded with a chunky blower fan that aids tricky print features like overhangs. 

Last but not least, the Anycubic Kobra 2 is five times faster, reaching speeds up to 250 mm/s with little to no loss in print quality, a real novelty in this price range. If you’re looking to save time, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced maker, the Anycubic Kobra 2 brings high-speed printing to the budget category at a price most of us can afford.

Anycubic Vyper

• Price: Check latest price at Anycubic here / Amazon here
• Build Volume: 245 x 245 x 260mm
• Max nozzle temperature: 260°C
• Max heated bed temperature: 110°C
• Filament compatibility: PLA/ABS/PETG/TPU/Wood

The Anycubic Vyper is a simple to use, beginner-friendly 3D printer. I owned one for a while and tested the Vyper for a review last year, and I thought it was good overall.

Auto-leveling wasn’t common among low-cost printers back then which made it stand out, and you can fully assemble it and get printing within 30 minutes.

The Vyper is also fairly powerful, with a 32-bit motherboard and Cortex-M3 control chip. It’s also pretty quiet, thanks to the TMC2209 driver, which also delivers precise voltage output control. 

Another interesting feature is the PEI spring steel magnetic platform. The spring steel coating helps prevent warping and makes it easy to remove prints. I mostly printed PLA with my Anycubic Vyper, but it is also compatible with ABS, PETG, and TPU.

For stability, the Vyper has a Z-axis double screw that can automatically compensate for the difference of the hotbed to further increase the precision of Z-axis zeroing. 

In terms of cooling, the Vyper uses a double fan two-way heat dissipation system.

Not only does this mean models cool rapidly, but it also allows you to achieve a higher printing speed than other printers while retaining the same quality – up to 100mm/s. 

I still recommend the Kobra over the Vyper however.

I’ve tested both at 3DSourced, and the Kobra is more reliable, upgradable, versatile, and a better low-cost 3D printer kit overall. For a more in-depth comparison, you can read our breakdown of the Anycubic Kobra vs Vyper 3D printers. 

But, if you’re a beginner and want an easy to assemble and use 3D printer, the Vyper is great.

FAQs

Which Anycubic 3D printer should I buy?

The best Anycubic FDM printer to buy is the Anycubic Kobra, while the best resin Anycubic printer right now is the Anycubic Photon Mono 2. Both offer solid print quality and performance at a budget-friendly price, and are easy to use for both beginners and experienced makers. The Anycubic Mono M5s is the best resin printer if you’re after the highest quality prints.

Does Anycubic make good 3D printers?

Yes, Anycubic is among the most respected big-name 3D printer manufacturers. They offer high-quality budget-friendly printers known for good build quality and ease-of-use, and feature on many of our ‘best’ lists.

What is the best budget Anycubic 3D printer?

The best budget Anycubic FDM printer is the Anycubic Kobra, a low-cost, sophisticated printer capable of high quality prints packed with desirable features such as automatic bed leveling, a direct drive extruder, and mid-sized build volume.

The best budget Anycubic resin printer is the Anycubic Photon Mono 2, one of the easiest up-and-print models on the market today that produces highly-detailed and feature-rich prints with very little effort.

How active is Anycubic’s user community for tips and troubleshooting?

With over 40k users in the Anycubic Official User Group on Facebook and around 18k on the Anycubic reddit group, the Anycubic user community is extremely active. 

Owners regularly share tips and tricks and offer troubleshooting advice for specific problems. These groups cover everything from upgrades and troubleshooting, to sharing successful prints and the optimal settings.

What technical support does Anycubic offer if I have issues?

Anycubic Support Center offers firmware and software downloads, guide videos covering everything from unbox to set by way of part replacement, user manuals, FAQs, warranty details, and free STL model files. 

There’s also after-sale service if you encounter defects, failures, and other issues. Owners that have used the service report mixed results, often citing slow response times. However, there are typically no issues replacing faulty products, and Anycubic will quickly send out replacement parts as required.

What software is compatible with Anycubic 3D printers?

Ultimaker Cura, Simplify3D, PrusaSlicer, Slic3r, and Octoprint are all compatible with Anycubic FDM printers. The most commonly used FDM slicers are Cura or PrusaSlicer (or Octoprint for remote management.

Anycubic resin 3D printers are compatible with Anycubic’s Photon Workshop slicer, along with ChiTuBox, and Lychee Slicer. ChiTuBox and Photon Workshop are most commonly used by Anycubic printer owners, and I personally use ChiTuBox.

Can Anycubic 3D printers be upgraded?

Yes, Anycubic FDM 3D printers can be upgraded to improve performance and print quality. The entire Anycubic Kobra family is especially well-suited to upgrades.

The basic Anycubic Kobra is widely seen as the most upgradeable, chiefly because of its popularity and open design. 

Typical upgrades include a filament runout sensor, improving the fan duct, spool holder upgrade, dampening feet, a monitoring camera using a Raspberry Pi SBC, and a printer enclosure to make printing filaments like ABS easier.

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