Rank #5 in Best 3D Printers for Beginners 2026: 10 Ranked, and the Numbers That Don't Add Up
ELEGOO Centauri Carbon, Enclosed CoreXY
Price and rating as shown on Amazon when we collected them. Both change.
ELEGOO's Centauri Carbon is fifth in this guide. It is a fully assembled, enclosed CoreXY printer at £209, listed with auto bed levelling, a 256 x 256 x 256 mm build volume and a 320 °C nozzle, and it carries 4.2 stars from 42 ratings.
The finding on this page is a numbers one. Those 42 ratings sit beside a star breakdown of 8, 6, 12 and 74 — four bars that add up to exactly 100, not 42, so one of the two figures on the same listing cannot be right. What does hold together is the size: the machine's own listed dimensions, 39.8 x 40.4 x 49 cm, are large enough to contain the 256 mm cube the bullet text advertises, which is more than can be said for some of the machines ranked above it. Everything below comes from the Amazon listing's own text and figures. We have not tested this printer.
How those 42 ratings break down
An average hides its own shape. This is the spread behind the 4.2 stars.
Specification
Exactly as published on the Amazon listing, field for field.
| Price | £209.00 |
|---|---|
| Rating | 4.2 out of 5 from 42 ratings |
| Declared build volume | 256 x 256 x 256 mm |
| Machine dimensions | 39.8 x 40.4 x 49 cm; 17.5 kg |
| Star spread as listed | 1★ 8, 2★ 6, 3★ 12, 5★ 74 — the four bars total 100, against the 42 ratings shown (as listed) |
| Claimed print speed | Up to 500 mm/s and 20,000 mm/s² acceleration |
| Nozzle | 320 °C, described in the listing as brass-hardened steel (as listed) |
| Amazon category rank | 6 in 3D Printers; 1,651 in Business, Industry & Science |
What buyers actually say
Quoted from customer reviews on Amazon
Verified purchase“So I actually ended up sending this back and buying directly from elegoo as that saved me about £70. But as far as the printer goes it's absolutely superb!”
Verified purchase“I have just bought my Elegoo 3 D printer, I looked at setting up on you tube, Followed the instructions in the box, and was printing in less than ten minuets, I love this printer. It connects to my laptop, so I can see it printing. How cool is that.. 10 out 10, the delivery was great. although early evening, not too good there, But the driver was a good man and very helpful, so I will forgive him. I'm over the moon with the whole purchase, Thanks Amazon,”
What it is up against
The rivals it was ranked against in Best 3D Printers for Beginners 2026: 10 Ranked, and the Numbers That Don't Add Up.
Questions people ask
Does the ELEGOO Centauri Carbon need assembling?
No. The listing says it arrives fully assembled and pre-calibrated, with auto bed levelling and touchscreen controls, so nothing has to be built before the first print.
What is the build volume of the ELEGOO Centauri Carbon?
The bullet text states 256 x 256 x 256 mm, and the machine's own listed dimensions are 39.8 x 40.4 x 49 cm, which is big enough to hold that cube.
How fast does the ELEGOO Centauri Carbon print?
The listing claims up to 500 mm/s with 20,000 mm/s² acceleration from its CoreXY structure and high-flow hotend. Those are the listing's figures, not measured ones.
What materials can the ELEGOO Centauri Carbon handle?
The listing says the 320 °C nozzle and enclosed chamber are aimed at advanced filaments such as carbon fibre reinforced filament.
How many ratings does the ELEGOO Centauri Carbon have?
The listing shows 4.2 stars from 42 ratings, while its four histogram bars read 8, 6, 12 and 74 — a total of 100. The two figures on the same page do not agree.
Is the ELEGOO Centauri Carbon suitable as a first printer?
Three of the four reviews shown describe easy set-up: one calls it their first 3D printer, one reports no assembly needed, and one was printing in under ten minutes.
Comments
Reader comments are not checked against the manufacturer's claims above.
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