Monoprice vs Anycubic - Budget Printer Showdown

Both compete aggressively in the $200-300 space. Monoprice Voxel is cheaper and smaller. Anycubic Kobra 2 is larger with better features. Which is the better value?

Quick Specs

Feature	Monoprice Voxel	Anycubic Kobra 2
Price	$249	$299
Build plate	120×120×120mm	220×220×220mm
Auto-leveling	Yes (basic)	Yes (good)
Print speed	120mm/s	150mm/s
Warranty	1 year	1 year
Bed material	Textured steel	Textured steel

The Size Difference (Biggest Factor)

Monoprice Voxel has a tiny 120×120mm build plate. Anycubic has standard 220×220mm.

What fits on Voxel:

• One small model per print
• Phone case (tight fit)
• Multiple chess pieces at once (maybe 3-4)

What fits on Kobra 2:

• Large models
• 10-15 small parts at once (batch efficiency)
• Phone case with room to spare

Real impact: If you print 1-2 small items per week, Voxel is adequate. If you print multiple items or larger objects, Kobra 2’s larger plate pays dividends.

Over a year:

• Voxel: 1-2 prints per session, maybe 20 project prints
• Kobra 2: Potential 5-10 prints per session, same 20 projects completed in half the time

Print Quality (Equivalent)

At equivalent settings, both produce similar quality. The Kobra 2’s larger build plate and slightly higher speed don’t impact quality—they just enable more diverse projects.

First layer success:

• Voxel: 85-90% (manual fine-tuning sometimes needed)
• Kobra 2: 85-90% (equivalent auto-leveling)

Surface finish:

• Both: Comparable with correct settings
• No meaningful difference

Ease of Use

Monoprice Voxel:

• Smaller size means less overwhelming setup
• But tight workspace (hard to reach parts for maintenance)
• Auto-leveling takes confusion out of first print

Anycubic Kobra 2:

• Larger = more approachable for beginners
• Easier maintenance and part access
• Auto-leveling is slightly more sophisticated

Winner: Kobra 2 (easier to work with despite larger size)

Community and Support

Monoprice Voxel:

• Smaller community
• Support is okay but slower
• Parts availability is limited

Anycubic Kobra 2:

• Larger community (Anycubic has multiple popular models)
• Forum activity is decent
• Parts more widely available

Winner: Kobra 2 (more community resources)

Reliability and Longevity

Monoprice Voxel:

• Build quality is decent
• Fewer moving parts (compact = less to fail)
• Expected lifespan: 2-3 years with moderate use

Anycubic Kobra 2:

• Build quality is solid
• More complex heating/leveling system = more potential failure points
• Expected lifespan: 3-4 years with moderate use

Verdict: Kobra 2 slightly better, but both are reliable for the price.

Total Cost of Ownership (3 years)

Monoprice Voxel:

• Printer: $249
• Filament (1kg/week): $2,340
• Maintenance: $100
• Electricity: $150
• 3-year total: $2,839

Anycubic Kobra 2:

• Printer: $299
• Filament (1kg/week via batch efficiency = 0.7kg/week): $1,638
• Maintenance: $150
• Electricity: $200
• 3-year total: $2,287

Interesting result: Kobra 2’s larger plate saves on filament (batch printing = less waste), offsetting higher initial cost.

Who Should Buy Each?

Buy Monoprice Voxel if:

• Space is extremely limited (apartment with little shelf space)
• You print very small items exclusively
• Budget is absolute priority ($50 savings matters)
• You don’t mind printing same project multiple times to batch

Buy Anycubic Kobra 2 if:

• You want versatility (different size projects)
• Batch printing appeals to you
• You have space (120×120mm+ footprint isn’t huge)
• You want more community support

The Honest Take

The Voxel is the “gimmick” printer—it’s cute, compact, and actually works. But the tiny build plate is genuinely limiting after a few projects.

The Kobra 2 is the “practical” printer—standard size, standard capability, boring but reliable.

For first-time buyers, Kobra 2 is the better choice. The $50 difference is negligible vs. the time you’ll save with a larger build plate.

Verdict: Anycubic Kobra 2 wins overall value. Monoprice Voxel is interesting only if space is critical.