Elegoo Centauri 2 Combo review: A budget-friendly printer made even more budget-friendly

The Elegoo Centauri 2 Combo is a budget printer that has been stripped down from its larger brother, the Centauri Carbon 2. It lacks a camera, lights, enclosure, and ventilation, but the $60 saved might not be worth the trade-off for some users. The printer is currently priced at $319, while the single-color version of the Centauri Carbon is $309, the Centauri Carbon 2 is $329, and the Centauri Carbon 2 Combo is $379.

Despite the downsides, the printer offers a fast Core XY design with the robust CANVAS four-color system, a 256 mm cubed build volume, and the ability to reach 350°C on its toolhead, with a heated bed at 110°C. These features make it suitable for a variety of technical filaments, even without an enclosure. However, the printer's open frame design does not provide the same level of protection and reliability for less forgiving high-temperature filaments like PET-GF and PCTG.

For beginners, a four-color machine might seem like a toy, but it could be a valuable addition to their printing repertoire. The printer's design, layout, and overall build quality are all commendable, but it ultimately falls short when compared to other, more advanced Centauri options. While the print quality is excellent and the printer is easy to use, the Centauri 2 Combo doesn't quite make the cut for our list of the Best 3D printers.