The Geeetech Mizar Pro is a major rival you ought to consider if you’re tempted by the Kobra Go. It retails for ~$199, which is just $10 over the price of the Kobra Go.

Like the Kobra Go, the Mizar Pro has automatic bed leveling, auto print resume, Bowden extrusion, and belt tensioners. The bed size is similar to the Go, with just 10 mm extra on the Z-axis. It has a PC-coated spring steel print bed which has similar properties to the PEI-coated bed on the Kobra Go.

For $10 more though, the Mizar Pro offers a filament sensor, a 3.5-inch color touchscreen, and comes partially assembled. It isn’t much of a difference over the Kobra Go, but $10 extra on convenience features is not such a bad deal, particularly if you don’t fancy the multi-hour assembly task.

The Neptune 3, released just a few months earlier than the Kobra Go, sells for ~$209. It is admittedly priced a little over the Kobra Go, but there are a few extra things you get for the price difference.

Let’s start with the similarities. Both machines have a PEI-coated magnetic print bed, belt tensioners, auto bed leveling, use Bowden extrusion, and sport similar hot end temperatures.

A Little Salty

Elegoo Neptune 3 Review: Premium on a Budget

The Neptune 3 differs from the Go in a few aspects. It comes partially assembled for a start, which means you can be up and running in a few minutes rather than hours, and has a 4.3-inch touchscreen, which some find more intuitive than the knob-driven approach from the Kobra Go. In our opinion, the additional 30 mm extra on the Z-axis isn’t that much of a step up, but it is certainly good to have. Not to mention a filament sensor is included, which is an add-on on the Kobra Go.

We have already reviewed the Elegoo Neptune 3, and it performed pretty decently in our tests and is certainly good value for money.

The price difference is ~$21, which is not bad for the additional conveniences offered.

This is where things begin to get really interesting. The $239 Sovol Sv06 is $50 pricier than the Kobra Go, but even so, Sovol might still be punching above its weight in terms of value.

The Go and the SV06 share some similarities; they have the same build volume, a PEI-coated magnetic print bed, belt tensioners, auto bed leveling, and a puny knob-controlled screen. Surprisingly, the Sovol Sv06 is also missing a filament sensor.

Further Reading

Sovol SV06 Review: Low Cost, High Potential

The SV06 starts to flex its specs after this point. The big selling point here is its direct extruder that comes alongside an all-metal hot end capable of temperatures of 300 °C, meaning it’s possible to print more exotic filaments like PC, Nylon, and glass or carbon fiber-reinforced filaments with it.

The printer has implemented planetary gears for its extruder, which the company claims increases the push force on the filament. It comes partially assembled too, so no need to leave a few hours in your week spare here too. Sovol has also given the SV06 dual Z-axis screws, and a G34 auto Z-axis align function. The G34 auto-align usually works by pushing the Z steppers individually, so the X-axis is parallel to the print bed.

Only testing will reveal if these features work as intended, but in terms of specs alone, the Sovol SV06 at just $50 extra looks great value alongside the Kobra Go.

The launch of Anycubic Kobra Neo surprised us, but we feel it might be great competition for Kobra Go. It retails at $249, a whole $60 over the Kobra Go.

The Neo has the same bed size as the Go, has an automatic bed leveling system, PEI-coated magnetic print bed, belt tensioners, similar heating temperatures, and the same 2.4-inch knob-controlled screen we see on the Go.

For the extra money though, you get a direct extruder similar to the one found on the original Kobra, which we’ve reviewed and rate highly. Unlike the Go, the Kobra Neo comes partially assembled, meaning it should be comfortably up and printing in under an hour. The filament sensor is also part of the standard equipment with the Kobra Neo.

The spec sheet also mentions double-sided PEI coating for the Neo, whereas the Kobra Go is one-sided. It has the exact same PEI coating on both sides, so if you end up destroying one side of the build plate, you can just flip it over and use the other side.

If you want to stay within the Anycubic family, the Neo is likely to prove a better option – if you can spare the budget. Especially with the inclusion of its strong-performing direct extruder.

You could argue it’s a bit wild comparing the Anycubic Kobra Go, a Cartesian-XZ printer, to a delta, but we like to live life dangerously. The Flsun Q5 comes in at $253, a not insignificant $64 over a new Kobra Go.

Delta 3D printers can be on the more expensive side, but the Q5 is pretty affordable. Like the Kobra Go, it has automatic bed leveling and Bowden extrusion, but the Go is a little bigger when considering build volume. The Q5 has a diameter of 200 mm on the build plate and a maximum build height of 200 mm. The glass build plate may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

More on the Q5

Flsun Q5: Specs, Price, Release & Reviews

The Q5 does have a distinct advantage though; it has speed. Delta printers are designed to print faster than a standard Cartesian, with its layout able to fling the print head around at higher than average speeds. Additionally, the Flsun Q5 can be assembled in minutes, and features a 2.4-inch touchscreen.

For some, the Kobra Go will be far more appealing, but for those wanting something a little more out of the ordinary and intriguing, the Flsun Q5 could be a fun, if slightly more expensive alternative.