Anycubic Photon Mono M5sDiscontinued
- Speed
- 150 mm/h
- Score
- 7.8/10
- Wins
- 1/5
Discontinued.
Anycubic Photon Mono M5s vs Bambu Lab A1 Combo
- The Bambu Lab A1 Combo takes the crown with 9.2/10 vs 7.8/10.
- It pulls ahead in Value, Beginner Friendliness, Speed, Reliability.
- That said, the Anycubic Photon Mono M5s costs less and wins on Print Quality.
Specs from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
Bambu Lab A1 Combo
- Speed
- 500 mm/s
- Score
- 9.2/10
- Wins
- 4/5
The verdict
Buy the A1 Combo.
9.2/10 vs Photon Mono M5s's 7.8/10, and it wins 4 of 5 categories. One printer. This one. The A1 Combo does multi-color, does speed, does software polish, all at a price that embarrasses the competition. The open frame is the only real compromise and most people won't care.
Specs, side by side
Teal wins the row.
Photon Mono M5sAnycubic · RESIN
vsA1 ComboBambu Lab · FDM
| Photon Mono M5s | Spec | A1 Combo |
|---|---|---|
| 5.9 L | Build volume | 16.8 L (wins) |
| 150 mm/s | Top speed | 500 mm/s |
| 0.01 mm (wins) | Finest layer | 0.05 mm |
| 9.5 kg | Weight | 9.65 kg |
Features
| Photon Mono M5s | Feature | A1 Combo |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 14K mono LCD | No |
| Yes | Anti-warping release | No |
| Yes | Dual cooling | No |
| Yes | App monitoring | No |
| No | Auto bed leveling | Yes |
| No | Multi-color (AMS Lite) | Yes |
| No | WiFi | Yes |
| No | Camera | Yes |
| No | Vibration compensation | Yes |
Scores out of 10
| Photon Mono M5s | Spec | A1 Combo |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Value | 9 (wins) |
| 6 | Beginner Friendliness | 10 (wins) |
| 10 (wins) | Print Quality | 9 |
| 7 | Speed | 9 (wins) |
| 8 | Reliability | 9 (wins) |
| 7.8 | Overall | 9.2 (wins) |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 218 × 123 × 220 mm
- 256 × 256 × 256 mm
What owners say
14K detail on a Saturn-size plate. The M5s punches well above its price.
Photon Mono M5s owner, r/resinprintingAnti-warping release is a real feature, not marketing. My failure rate dropped significantly.
Photon Mono M5s owner, VOG (YouTube)The A1 Combo is the printer I recommend to literally everyone who asks.
A1 Combo owner, r/3DprintingMulti-color out of the box at this price is insane. Changed how I think about printing.
A1 Combo owner, Make Anything (YouTube)Bambu did it again, this is the new gold standard for consumer 3D printing.
A1 Combo owner, All3DP
Pros & Cons
Photon Mono M5s
- +14K resolution on a Saturn-size plate is the highest resolution in this build volume class
- +Anti-warping release mechanism measurably reduces failed prints on larger models
- +218x123mm plate handles busts, terrain, and multi-model runs
- −Pricier than the Elegoo Saturn 3 Ultra at comparable specs
- −Discontinued: Anycubic support and firmware updates are ending
A1 Combo
- +AMS Lite ships in the box, not as a separate purchase
- +Bambu Studio slices and sends in under a minute
- +500mm/s speed that actually holds up at 0.2mm layers
- −Open frame means ABS is borderline without an enclosure
- −AMS Lite tops out at 4 colors; want more, buy a different system
Buy these with it
A printer does nothing without these. Grab them in the same order.
Buy these with it
A printer does nothing without these. Grab them in the same order.
- ELEGOO PLA filament, 1kgThe easy filament to start on. Prints at low temperatures and warps less.
- ELEGOO PETG filament, 1kgTougher and more heat tolerant than PLA, for parts that get handled or sit in the sun.
- SUNLU filament dryer S1 PlusWet filament causes stringing and rough surfaces. A dryer fixes that before you blame the printer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Anycubic Photon Mono M5s better than the Bambu Lab A1 Combo?
By the numbers, the Bambu Lab A1 Combo scores higher (9.2/10). But "better" depends on your use case, the Anycubic Photon Mono M5s may be the smarter buy if you need resin.
Which is better for beginners, Anycubic Photon Mono M5s or Bambu Lab A1 Combo?
The Bambu Lab A1 Combo is more beginner-friendly (10/10 vs 6/10) with easier setup and a gentler learning curve.
Is the Bambu Lab A1 Combo worth paying more for over the Anycubic Photon Mono M5s?
The Bambu Lab A1 Combo scores higher overall (9.2/10 vs 7.8/10). The extra money gets you ams lite ships in the box, not as a separate purchase.
What's the main difference between Anycubic Photon Mono M5s and Bambu Lab A1 Combo?
Technology: the Anycubic Photon Mono M5s is RESIN (filament) and the Bambu Lab A1 Combo is FDM (resin). FDM prints bigger functional parts; resin delivers finer surface detail.