Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 vs Snapmaker U1
Researched by Riley Hart · prices checked Nov 4, 2026
As of Nov 4, 2026, the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 costs $349 and the Snapmaker U1 costs $699, so the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 is $350 cheaper. The Snapmaker U1 has a published review score and ranks #19 in our 3D printers ranking; the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 is not scored yet. Pick the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 for budget enclosed printing with room to add color. Pick the Snapmaker U1 for fast multi color with little waste. The Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 wins 2 of 5 points we can measure (2 tied).
Who wins, point by point
The Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 wins 2 of 5 points we can measure (2 tied). Built from today's prices, the specs and independent tests for these two robots.
| Centauri Carbon 2 | U1 | Winner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price today | $349 | $699 | Centauri Carbon 2 |
| Warranty | 12 months | 1 year | Tie |
| Build volume | 256 x 256 x 256 mm | 270 x 270 x 270 mm | U1 |
| Top print speed | 500 mm/s | 500 mm/s | Tie |
| Max nozzle temp | 350°C | 300°C | Centauri Carbon 2 |
- You want to spend less (saves $350)
- You care most about max nozzle temp (350°C vs 300°C)
- Best for budget enclosed printing with room to add color
- You care most about build volume (270 x 270 x 270 mm vs 256 x 256 x 256 mm)
- Best for fast multi color with little waste
- 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 →- Build volume
- 270 x 270 x 270 mm
- Max speed
- Up to 500 mm/s toolhead
- Multicolor
- Yes
- Enclosure
- No
4 head tool changer for fast multi color with little purge waste
Full Snapmaker U1 review, pros and cons →Side by side
| Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 | Snapmaker U1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $349 | $699 |
| 3 year cost | $349 | $699 |
| Our score | Not scored yet | 7.3/10 |
| Rank in 3D printers | #35 | #19 |
| Status | on sale | on sale |
| Warranty | 12 months; 6 months on the extruder kit; consumables not covered | 1 year in the US for machines and modules (Snapmaker US store) |
| Build volume | 256 x 256 x 256 mm | 270 x 270 x 270 mm (Snapmaker) |
| Print speed | Up to 500 mm/s, 20,000 mm/s² acceleration | Up to 500 mm/s toolhead speed, 20,000 mm/s2 acceleration (Snapmaker) |
| Multi color | Upgrade ready; up to 4 colors with the CANVAS unit (sold separately or in the Combo) | Yes, 4 independent toolheads; tool swaps took about 10 to 12 s for Tom's Hardware and about 5 s for TechRadar, with very low purge waste |
| Enclosure | Yes, enclosed chamber with auto controlled grille | No, semi open; optional Top Cover sold separately for ABS, ASA, PA and PC (Snapmaker) |
| Auto leveling | Yes, full auto calibration with auto Z offset (121 points per Notebookcheck) | Yes, mesh bed leveling and automatic toolhead offset calibration (Snapmaker) |
| Max nozzle temp | 350 °C, hardened steel nozzle | 300 C, 0.4 mm stainless steel nozzles (Snapmaker) |
| Heated bed | Yes, up to 110 °C | Yes, up to 100 C, flexible PEI plate (Snapmaker, TechRadar) |
| Filament types | PLA, PETG, TPU, PET, PC, ASA and fiber filled such as PA6-CF | PLA, PETG, TPU, PVA, PCTG; PET, ABS, ASA, PA, PC with the Top Cover; carbon and glass fiber blends also need a hardened nozzle (Snapmaker) |
| Connectivity | Elegoo Matrix app, ElegooSlicer, USB drive | Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz), USB flash drive (Snapmaker); Tom's Hardware also lists LAN. Klipper firmware, OrcaSlicer support |
| Camera | Yes, with AI spaghetti detection (Notebookcheck) | Yes, 2 MP chamber camera (Snapmaker); both reviewers hit an early bug where it did not work with Orca |
| Noise | Under 45 dB in silent mode (Elegoo claim); 44 to 47 dB average measured by Notebookcheck | No dB figure; TechRadar found it much quieter than competing multi filament machines |
| Weight | About 20 kg (Notebookcheck) | 18.2 kg; 584 x 499 x 730 mm (Snapmaker) |
| Assembly | n/a | Setup takes 15 to 30 minutes (TechRadar) |
| Best for | budget enclosed printing with room to add color | fast multi color with little waste |
| Skip if | you need more than 4 colors | you mostly print single color parts |
Specs are maker claims unless a reviewer is named. Prices from the stores we link, checked daily.
What reviewers found
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
Snapmaker U1
- Tom's Hardware: Editor's Choice. Tool swaps took about 10 to 12 s versus about 90 s on Bambu Lab. A PLA spiders print took 3 h 20 min with 4.4 g of purge waste, where a P1P took about 2 hours longer and used about 25 g more. A multicolor lettering print wasted just 0.76 g. Source
- TechRadar (4.5/5): Scored 4.5 out of 5 with average dimensional error of 0.056 mm. Tool changes took about 5 s and multi color prints ran two to three times faster than before; a robot tortoise finished in under a day versus 36 hours previously. Cons were add ons needed for some materials and early connectivity bugs. Source
Questions buyers ask
Which is better, the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 or the Snapmaker U1?
The Snapmaker U1 has a published review score and ranks #19 in our 3D printers ranking; the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 is not scored yet. Pick the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 for budget enclosed printing with room to add color. Pick the Snapmaker U1 for fast multi color with little waste.
Which is cheaper?
The Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 at $349, versus $699 for the Snapmaker U1, checked Nov 4, 2026.
What is the difference between the Centauri Carbon 2 and the U1?
Build volume: 256 x 256 x 256 mm on the Centauri Carbon 2, 270 x 270 x 270 mm (Snapmaker) on the U1. Print speed: Up to 500 mm/s, 20,000 mm/s² acceleration on the Centauri Carbon 2, Up to 500 mm/s toolhead speed, 20,000 mm/s2 acceleration (Snapmaker) on the U1. Multi color: Upgrade ready; up to 4 colors with the CANVAS unit (sold separately or in the Combo) on the Centauri Carbon 2, Yes, 4 independent toolheads; tool swaps took about 10 to 12 s for Tom's Hardware and… on the U1.
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