Creality K1C (2025) vs Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2
Researched by Riley Hart · prices checked Nov 4, 2026
As of Nov 4, 2026, the Creality K1C (2025) costs $499 and the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 costs $349, so the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 is $150 cheaper. Pick the Creality K1C (2025) for fast single color prints in tough materials. Pick the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 for budget enclosed printing with room to add color. The Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 wins 3 of 5 points we can measure (1 tied).
Who wins, point by point
The Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 wins 3 of 5 points we can measure (1 tied). Built from today's prices, the specs and independent tests for these two robots.
| K1C (2025) | Centauri Carbon 2 | Winner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price today | $499 | $349 | Centauri Carbon 2 |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months | Tie |
| Build volume | 220 x 220 x 250 mm | 256 x 256 x 256 mm | Centauri Carbon 2 |
| Top print speed | 600 mm/s | 500 mm/s | K1C (2025) |
| Max nozzle temp | 300°C | 350°C | Centauri Carbon 2 |
- You care most about top print speed (600 mm/s vs 500 mm/s)
- Best for fast single color prints in tough materials
- You want to spend less (saves $150)
- You care most about build volume (256 x 256 x 256 mm vs 220 x 220 x 250 mm)
- You care most about max nozzle temp (350°C vs 300°C)
- Best for budget enclosed printing with room to add color
- Build volume
- 220 x 220 x 250 mm
- Max speed
- Up to 600 mm/s
- Multicolor
- No
- Enclosure
- Yes
Fast enclosed printer with an AI camera for one color prints
Full Creality K1C (2025) 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 K1C (2025) | Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499 | $349 |
| 3 year cost | $499 | $349 |
| Our score | Not scored yet | Not scored yet |
| Rank in 3D printers | #42 | #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 | 220 x 220 x 250 mm | 256 x 256 x 256 mm |
| Print speed | Up to 600 mm/s (300 mm/s typical), 20,000 mm/s² acceleration | Up to 500 mm/s, 20,000 mm/s² acceleration |
| Multi color | No, single color; Creality says the 2025 version is set to add multi color with its CFS unit later | Upgrade ready; up to 4 colors with the CANVAS unit (sold separately or in the Combo) |
| Enclosure | Yes, fully enclosed with glass door, carbon filter and chamber fan | Yes, enclosed chamber with auto controlled grille |
| Auto leveling | Yes, hands free auto leveling with auto Z offset | Yes, full auto calibration with auto Z offset (121 points per Notebookcheck) |
| Max nozzle temp | 300 °C, hardened steel nozzle | 350 °C, hardened steel nozzle |
| Heated bed | Yes, up to 100 °C, PEI flexible plate | Yes, up to 110 °C |
| Filament types | PLA, PETG, PET, TPU, ABS, ASA, PA, PC, PLA-CF, PA-CF, PET-CF | PLA, PETG, TPU, PET, PC, ASA and fiber filled such as PA6-CF |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, USB drive, Creality Cloud app | Elegoo Matrix app, ElegooSlicer, USB drive |
| Camera | Yes, AI camera for spaghetti detection, time lapse and remote view | Yes, with AI spaghetti detection (Notebookcheck) |
| Noise | 45 dB or less in silent mode at 1 m (Creality claim) | Under 45 dB in silent mode (Elegoo claim); 44 to 47 dB average measured by Notebookcheck |
| Assembly | Comes assembled; Creality claims about 3 minutes to power on | n/a |
| Weight | 12.4 kg net | About 20 kg (Notebookcheck) |
| Best for | fast single color prints in tough materials | budget enclosed printing with room to add color |
| Skip if | you want multi color prints today | 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 K1C (2025)
- Tom's Hardware: Editor's Choice. A speed Benchy took 13 min 53 s at 300 mm/s and ABS and nylon parts printed with no warping. Cons were the poor filament path and needing glue stick on the PEI plate. Source
- Tech Advisor: Called it a strong, reliable printer for beginners with impressive print quality and a useful built in camera, but noisy at high speed and frustrating for filament changes. 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 K1C (2025) or the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2?
Pick the Creality K1C (2025) for fast single color prints in tough materials. 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 $499 for the Creality K1C (2025), checked Nov 4, 2026.
What is the difference between the K1C (2025) and the Centauri Carbon 2?
Build volume: 220 x 220 x 250 mm on the K1C (2025), 256 x 256 x 256 mm on the Centauri Carbon 2. Print speed: Up to 600 mm/s (300 mm/s typical), 20,000 mm/s² acceleration on the K1C (2025), Up to 500 mm/s, 20,000 mm/s² acceleration on the Centauri Carbon 2. Multi color: No, single color; Creality says the 2025 version is set to add multi color with its CFS… on the K1C (2025), 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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