Creality K1 Max vs Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2
Researched by Riley Hart · prices checked Nov 4, 2026
As of Nov 4, 2026, the Creality K1 Max costs $549 and the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 costs $349, so the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 is $200 cheaper. The Creality K1 Max has a published review score and ranks #16 in our 3D printers ranking; the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 is not scored yet. Pick the Creality K1 Max for large single color prints on a budget. Pick the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 for budget enclosed printing with room to add color. They split the points we can measure, 2 each.
Who wins, point by point
They split the points we can measure, 2 each. Built from today's prices, the specs and independent tests for these two robots.
| K1 Max | Centauri Carbon 2 | Winner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price today | $549 | $349 | Centauri Carbon 2 |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months | Tie |
| Build volume | 300 x 300 x 300 mm | 256 x 256 x 256 mm | K1 Max |
| Top print speed | 600 mm/s | 500 mm/s | K1 Max |
| Max nozzle temp | 300°C | 350°C | Centauri Carbon 2 |
- You care most about build volume (300 x 300 x 300 mm vs 256 x 256 x 256 mm)
- You care most about top print speed (600 mm/s vs 500 mm/s)
- Best for large single color prints on a budget
- You want to spend less (saves $200)
- You care most about max nozzle temp (350°C vs 300°C)
- Best for budget enclosed printing with room to add color
- Build volume
- 300 x 300 x 300 mm
- Max speed
- Up to 600 mm/s
- Multicolor
- No
- Enclosure
- Yes
Big 300 mm enclosed speed printer with LiDAR and AI camera
Full Creality K1 Max review, pros and cons →- Build volume
- 256 x 256 x 256 mm
- Max speed
- Up to 500 mm/s
- Multicolor
- Upgrade ready
- Enclosure
- Yes
Low cost enclosed printer that adds 4 colors with CANVAS
Full Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 review, pros and cons →Side by side
| Creality K1 Max | Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $549 | $349 |
| 3 year cost | $549 | $349 |
| Our score | 7.6/10 | Not scored yet |
| Rank in 3D printers | #16 | #35 |
| Status | on sale | on sale |
| Warranty | Up to 12 months (Creality store) | 12 months; 6 months on the extruder kit; consumables not covered |
| Build volume | 300 x 300 x 300 mm (Tom's Hardware, TechRadar) | 256 x 256 x 256 mm |
| Print speed | Up to 600 mm/s (Creality); Tom's Hardware printed a Benchy in 17 min 38 s at 300 mm/s | Up to 500 mm/s, 20,000 mm/s² acceleration |
| Multi color | No, single filament | Upgrade ready; up to 4 colors with the CANVAS unit (sold separately or in the Combo) |
| Enclosure | Yes, fully enclosed with a flat glass lid and carbon filter (Tom's Hardware) | Yes, enclosed chamber with auto controlled grille |
| Auto leveling | Yes, automatic with LiDAR plus automatic input shaping (Tom's Hardware) | Yes, full auto calibration with auto Z offset (121 points per Notebookcheck) |
| Max nozzle temp | 300 C (TechRadar) | 350 °C, hardened steel nozzle |
| Heated bed | Yes, up to 100 C (TechRadar), smooth PEI steel flex plate | Yes, up to 110 °C |
| Filament types | PLA, PETG, PET, TPU, ABS, ASA, PA, PC and carbon fiber variants (TechRadar) | PLA, PETG, TPU, PET, PC, ASA and fiber filled such as PA6-CF |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, LAN, USB flash drive; Creality Cloud (Tom's Hardware, TechRadar) | Elegoo Matrix app, ElegooSlicer, USB drive |
| Camera | Yes, AI camera for monitoring and timelapse (Tom's Hardware) | Yes, with AI spaghetti detection (Notebookcheck) |
| Noise | Not measured; Tom's Hardware called it not a quiet machine and not for a bedroom | Under 45 dB in silent mode (Elegoo claim); 44 to 47 dB average measured by Notebookcheck |
| Assembly | Ships ready to print with no assembly (Creality) | n/a |
| Weight | 18 kg net; 435 x 462 x 526 mm (Tom's Hardware, TechRadar) | About 20 kg (Notebookcheck) |
| Best for | large single color prints on a budget | budget enclosed printing with room to add color |
| Skip if | you want multi color or a quiet printer | you need more than 4 colors |
Specs are maker claims unless a reviewer is named. Prices from the stores we link, checked daily.
What reviewers found
Creality K1 Max
- Tom's Hardware: Editor's Choice. Printed a Benchy in 17 min 38 s versus about 55 min on an Ender 3 S1. ABS dog dish stand took 9 h 41 min, PETG spool holder 3 h 12 min, TPU dragon 7 h 55 min. Cons were a poor filament path, clumsy Klipper setup and a plate that needs glue. Source
- TechRadar (26.5/30): Recommended. Scored 26.5 out of 30 on its print test with 0.1 mm average dimensional error. Praised AI features and material range, but disliked having to remove the PTFE tube to load filament and the single filament limit. Source
Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2
- Notebookcheck: PLA and PETG printed cleanly on stock profiles. Measured 44 to 47 dB on average, color swaps took about 70 seconds, and multi color prints made heavy purge waste. Connectivity was inconsistent. Source
- Hackster: Called it strong value for a multi material printer. CANVAS swaps were fast and reliable and print quality matched the original Centauri Carbon, but it is limited to four spools and swaps still purge. Source
Questions buyers ask
Which is better, the Creality K1 Max or the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2?
The Creality K1 Max has a published review score and ranks #16 in our 3D printers ranking; the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 is not scored yet. Pick the Creality K1 Max for large single color prints on a budget. Pick the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 for budget enclosed printing with room to add color.
Which is cheaper?
The Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 at $349, versus $549 for the Creality K1 Max, checked Nov 4, 2026.
What is the difference between the K1 Max and the Centauri Carbon 2?
Build volume: 300 x 300 x 300 mm (Tom's Hardware, TechRadar) on the K1 Max, 256 x 256 x 256 mm on the Centauri Carbon 2. Print speed: Up to 600 mm/s (Creality); Tom's Hardware printed a Benchy in 17 min 38 s at 300 mm/s on the K1 Max, Up to 500 mm/s, 20,000 mm/s² acceleration on the Centauri Carbon 2. Multi color: No, single filament on the K1 Max, Upgrade ready; up to 4 colors with the CANVAS unit (sold separately or in the Combo) on the Centauri Carbon 2.
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