ELEGOO · 3D Printers
ELEGOO Centauri 2 review: a $299 CoreXY with flawless prints and a noisy PSU
An open CoreXY printer with 350°C hotend and 256 mm cube volume, $299 ($379 Combo with four-colour CANVAS). How-To Geek scored it 9/10; it is louder than pricier printers.
Excellent
Best for Budget buyers who want fast, high-quality PLA and PETG prints
List price$299
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Preview review. Compiled from manufacturer specifications and published information. We will update the scores after hands-on testing.
Our verdict
The Centauri 2 strips the Centauri Carbon 2 down to the essentials and keeps the print quality: How-To Geek got basically flawless prints with no tuning and scored it 9/10. It is noisier than pricier printers (the power supply whines at idle), has no camera or enclosure, and its runout sensor wastes filament. At $299 it is one of the best budget CoreXY printers.
What we like
- Basically flawless prints with no tuning (How-To Geek)
- CoreXY speed up to 500 mm/s, 350°C hotend, 110°C bed
- 256 mm cube build volume
- Factory anti-vibration feet reduce ringing
- Optional four-colour Combo for $379
What could be better
- Noisy motors, belts and power supply (idle whine)
- No camera, enclosure, lights or ventilation
- Runout sensor at the end of the Bowden tube wastes more filament
- Hard-to-remove promotional sticker
- Not suited to ABS/ASA without an enclosure
Score breakdown
Overall = 35% Print speed + 25% Print quality + 20% Setup and ease of use + 20% Value. How we test
What is it?
The Centauri 2 is a cheaper, open version of the Centauri Carbon 2. It keeps the CoreXY motion, 350°C hotend and 256 mm cube volume, but drops the enclosure, camera, lights and ventilation.
It costs $299 on the official store, or $379 for the Combo with the four-colour CANVAS system.
Tests
How-To Geek (August 2026, 9/10) printed with ELEGOO Slicer’s default settings:
- Every print came off basically flawless, including thin parts and a support-heavy Batman pen holder that released cleanly with no tuning.
- The factory vibration-dampening feet reduced ringing artefacts.
The downside was noise. Belts, motors and especially the power supply were louder than pricier printers; the PSU whined at idle enough that the reviewer moved the printer and switched it off between jobs.
What you give up
Tom’s Hardware, reviewing the Combo, asks whether losing the camera, lights, enclosure and ventilation is worth saving $60 over the Carbon 2. The runout sensor sits at the far end of the Bowden tube, so more filament is left unused when a spool runs out.
Who should not buy it
- Anyone printing ABS, ASA or nylon: get an enclosed printer.
- Anyone who prints in a bedroom or office.
vs rivals
- vs Bambu Lab A1: quieter and more polished, but a bed-slinger design rather than CoreXY.
- vs Creality Ender-3 V3 SE ($179): much cheaper, much slower bed-slinger.
- vs Centauri Carbon 2 ($399): enclosure, camera and lights for $100 more. See Centauri 2 vs Centauri Carbon 2.
Final thoughts
If you print PLA and PETG and don’t mind some noise, the Centauri 2 gives near-premium results for $299.
Sources
- How-To Geek: ELEGOO Centauri 2 review (9/10, August 2026)
- Tom’s Hardware: Centauri 2 Combo review
- ELEGOO official store: Centauri 2 (price)
Full specifications
| Type | Open CoreXY FDM |
|---|---|
| Build volume | 256 × 256 × 256 mm |
| Speed | Up to 500 mm/s |
| Temperatures | Hotend 350°C, bed 110°C |
| Size and weight | 398 × 404 × 490 mm, 13.7 kg |
| Price | $299 · Combo (4-colour CANVAS) $379 |
| Released | 2026 |
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ELEGOO Centauri 2
List price $299. Prices change often, so check the current deal.
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ELEGOO Centauri 2 compared
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