Upper-range FDM 3D printer under 1000 €! (2025 Edition)

Who says that professional print quality has to cost a fortune? In this overview, we present 3D printers that can easily keep up with the big names in terms of precision, speed and features - and still remain under €1000. Here you will be introduced to machines that are equipped for demanding materials and complex projects and make it easier for you to take the step into professional production - even without a four-figure investment (or just over). Ultimately, you decide which machine best meets your requirements!

Anycubic Kobra S1 Combo

The Anycubic Kobra S1 Combo is the all-round carefree package for anyone who wants more: more colours, more materials, more control. Here comes the ultra-fast Kobra S1 with its stable CoreXY system and 320 °C hot end - ready for high-performance materials such as ABS, ASA and carbon fibre. Thanks to intelligent features such as vibration and flow compensation, precise, clean prints are possible even at up to 600 mm/s. And in whisper-quiet silence.

The icing on the cake? The ACE Pro Colour Engine! Up to 8 colours in multicolour printing while the filament is actively drying - automatically, without any extra effort. The ACE Pro not only ensures rich colours, but also keeps your materials in perfect shape at all times. Seamless material change, anti-tangle system and smart error detection make the workflow more relaxed than ever.

►An overview of the features of the Anycubic Kobra S1 Combo:

95 % pre-assembled for a smooth start,
Closed CoreXY structure and stable Kobra OS system,
Build volume of 250 x 250 x 250 mm,
Dual-gear extrusion technology with aerospace-grade ceramic composite extruder,
320 °C all-metal hot end,
Heated build plate for temperatures of up to 120 °C,
1 + 1 + 1 cooling system,
Built-in activated carbon air filter system effectively neutralises printing odours,
LeviQ 3.0 auto-levelling system and vibration compensation,
4.3-inch flip touchscreen with intuitive user interface,
AI-controlled functions such as intelligent error detection, belt tension monitoring and intelligent resume function in the event of a power failure or end of filament,
App control with control via mobile phone or computer, remote monitoring and timelapse videos,
Noise level below 48 dB.

Highlights	Limits
¤ Ultra-fast printing with speeds of up to 600 mm/s, ¤ Closed CoreXY system, ACE Pro multi-material system for up to 8-colour printing, 320 °C all-metal hot end for a wide range of materials, ¤ Integrated AI features and automated calibration, ¤ Integrated activated carbon filter system.	An additional ACE Pro module is required for 8-colour printing, ¤ No active chamber heating system, ¤ Software and ecosystem connection for full functionality of multi-material printing

Bambu Lab A1 Combo

The Bambu Lab A1 Combo combines multicolour and multi-material printing in a clever all-in-one solution. Here, the robust A1 3D printer and the smart AMS lite material system work together seamlessly to complete colourful printing projects with ease. The A1 impresses with its sturdy metal design, precise linear rails and an intelligent calibration system. Features such as active flow rate compensation, fully automatic bed levelling and vibration control ensure that your prints are right first time. With the quick-swap hotend, which can cope with temperatures of up to 300 °C, you are also on the safe side with demanding filaments such as ABS or PETG. And the whole thing remains pleasantly quiet - under 48 dB!

The AMS lite makes the difference when it comes to colour and material variety. Up to four filament spools are managed automatically: Colour changes and material switching run seamlessly, while the system keeps an eye on filament consumption and switches to the next spool in good time. Bambu-Lab filaments are recognised immediately via RFID and the appropriate profile is loaded automatically. But third-party materials can also be used without any problems thanks to flexible spool compatibility - even cardboard spools fit in here!

►Properties of the Bambu Lab A1 Combo at a glance:

Robust metal frame made of steel and extruded aluminium,
Quick-swap all-metal hotend with a 0.4 mm quick-change nozzle made of stainless steel for temperatures of up to 300 °C,
Fully automatic calibration with automatic Z-offset, automatic bed levelling, automatic vibration calibration, automatic belt tensioning, Pressure Advance and automatic motor noise suppression at high speeds,
Active flow rate compensation for automatic adjustment of the extruded filament quantity,
Intuitive user interface,
LAN mode for remote control and real-time monitoring via smartphone app or Bambu Studio,
Automatic loading and unloading of the filament at the touch of a button,
Continuous monitoring of filament consumption and automatic switch to a new spool as soon as the current one is empty,
Excellent spool compatibility.

Highlights	Limits
¤ Incredibly simple operation, ¤ Multicolour/multimaterial printing out-of-the-box, ¤ High print quality thanks to precise linear rails, active flow rate compensation and a 300 °C quick-swap hotend, ¤ Quiet operation below 48 dB, ¤ Seamless integration with MakerWorld & Bambu Studio.	¤ Open build space, ¤ Limited use with high-performance materials, ¤ AMS lite limited to 4 spools, ¤ Limited filament recognition for third-party suppliers by AMS lite.

Qidi Tech Plus4

The Qidi Tech Plus4 brings a real professional feeling to your workbench. With a generous build volume of 305 x 305 x 280 mm, you have enough space for large prototypes, functional components or complex multi-part projects - and with impressive precision. Equipped with an active chamber heater and a powerful 400 watt heating system, the Plus4 maintains consistently stable temperatures and processes demanding materials such as ABS, nylon, PC or fibre-reinforced filaments with ease.

The redesigned toolhead system with hardened nozzle and improved airflow ensures clean extrusion, even with high-temperature and fibre filaments. The new cooling system increases efficiency and prevents clogging, while the optimised drive system with two spindle motors and linear guides ensures ultra-precise layering.

►Properties of the Qidi Tech Plus4 at a glance:

Simple set-up in just 10 minutes,
Klipper firmware V0.12.0 version,
Build volume of 305 x 305 x 280 mm,
Versatile toolhead upgrade for processing all types of high-temperature, high-performance and fibre filaments,
Direct Drive Extruder,
Integrated Throat Nozzle design for better heat transfer,
Powerful 400 Watt heater reaches a chamber temperature of 65 °C within approx. 8 minutes,
Active chamber heating and double-layer insulation of the chamber for more stable and even temperatures,
Comprehensive filament detection system with filament runout detection and filament tangle detection,
5 inch HD touch display.

Highlights	Limits
¤ Large build volume for large models, active 400 watt chamber heater, ¤ Optimised toolhead system for high-temperature and fibre filaments, ¤ Precise drive system.	¤ Heavy and less mobile, ¤ No multicolour printing, ¤ Less high-speed, as the focus is on quality.

Prusa MK4S - Kit

The Prusa MK4S kit is a real workhorse that combines high print quality with state-of-the-art technology. During assembly, you will get to know every detail - from the high-flow nozzle to the 360° cooling. The DIY kit not only makes screwing fun, but also makes subsequent maintenance or upgrades child's play.

Equipped with the Nextruder and automatic calibration, the MK4S delivers precise prints after set-up and, thanks to the 300 °C hot end, also processes demanding materials such as ASA, TPU or carbon-filled filaments with ease. With the open bed-slinger design, you always have easy access to all components. The build volume of 250 x 210 x 220 mm offers enough space for versatile projects. WLAN, LAN and Prusa Connect bring your print jobs securely to the device - or you can control it directly on the device via the intuitive colour display.

►Features of the Prusa MK4S at a glance:

Open bed-slinger design,
Build volume of 250 x 210 x 220 mm,
Optimised fan and brass CHT high-flow nozzle 0.4 mm,
Direct Drive Nextruder with planetary gear system and 10:1 gear ratio,
Innovative 360° cooling for overhangs of up to 75° without additional supports,
Online & offline use, completely removable Wi-Fi module,
Perfect surface finish,
3.5 inch 65K colour display.

Highlights	Limits
DIY kit for technology enthusiasts to build themselves, ¤ Nextruder with high-flow nozzle ensures precise and fast extrusion, innovative 360° partial cooling, ¤ Processes a wide range of materials, ¤ Connection via WLAN, LAN or USB ¤ Open-source and community-driven.	¤ Kit requires time and care, ¤ Open print space - ABS or ASA can be printed, but the ambient temperature is not controlled, which can lead to warping, ¤ No integrated multicolour printing - possible upgrade with MMU3 module.

Technical specifications:

If you're still unsure which of these powerful 3D printers is best suited to your next project, now it's getting really exciting. Because while at first glance all four models shine with impressive features, the real differences are - as is so often the case - in the details.

Here we compare the most important technical data: from build volume and printing speed to material compatibility. Whether you value maximum precision, multicolour printing, high-speed performance or robust components - the following overview will show you at a glance what the printers can really do!

	Anycubic Kobra S1 Combo	Bambu Lab A1 Combo	Qidi Tech Plus4	Prusa MK4S
Device size	400 x 410 x 490 mm	465 x 410 x 430 mm	505 x 487 x 550 mm	500 x 550 x 400 mm
Net weight	18 kg	8.3 kg	30 kg	7 kg
Build volume	250 x 250 x 250 mm	256 x 256 x 256 mm	305 x 305 x 280 mm	250 x 210 x 220 mm
Max. printing speed	≤ 600 mm/s	500 mm/s	600 mm/s
Max. acceleration	≤ 20000 mm/s²	10 000 mm/s²	≤ 20 000 mm/s²
Max. printing temperature	320 °C	300 °C	≤ 370 °C	290 °C
Max. heated bed temperature	120 °C	100 °C	≤ 120 °C	120 °C
Extruder	Dual Gear Direct Drive	Dual Gear Direct Drive	Dual Gear Direct Drive	Direct Drive Nextruder
Device display	4.3 inch capacitive touchscreen	3.5 inch IPS touchscreen	5 inch touchscreen	3.5 inch 65K colour display
Interfaces	USB, WiFi, Cloud	WiFi, Bambu-Bus, Micro-SD	WiFi 2.4G, Ethernet, USB	USB stick, LAN, Prusa Connect
Voltage, power	100-120~ V (500 W) 200-240~ V (1500 W)	100-240 V, 50/60 Hz 110 V (350W) 220 V (1300W)	100-240 V, 50/60 Hz 450W + 400W (chamber heating)	PLA consumption: 80 W ABS consumption: 120 W
Supported filaments	PLA, PETG, TPU, ABS, ASA	PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, PET, PA, PC, PVA (dry), BVOH (dry), PP, POM, HIPS + Bambu PLA-CF / PAHT-CF	PLA, ABS, ASA, PETG, TPU, PA, PC, CF, GF, etc.	PLA, PETG, Flex, PVA, PC, PP, CPE, PVB (without housing) ABS, ASA, HIPS, PA (with housing)

Now only one question remains: Have you found your favourite yet? Four impressive 3D printers, four strong personalities - each with their own strengths, just waiting to turn your next project into a real highlight. Perhaps you already have a clear idea of which printer is perfect for your workflow. Or maybe you're still wavering as to whether it should be the all-rounder, the high-speed wonder or the multi-talented machine? Take your time, think about what is most important to you on your next 3D printing adventure - and then make the choice that will best take you and your ideas forward!