Bambu Lab A1 Combo
- Price
- $399
- Score
- 9.2/10
- Wins
- 2/5
Bambu Lab A1 Combo vs Bambu Lab P1S
- The Bambu Lab A1 Combo wins, 9.2 vs 9 out of 10.
- Same build volume (256³ mm) and the same 500 mm/s top speed.
- The P1S costs $50 ($449 − $399) more, and that money buys features, not size or speed.
Specs and US prices from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
Bambu Lab P1S
- Price
- $449
- Score
- 9/10
- Wins
- 2/5
The verdict
Buy the A1 Combo.
9.2/10 vs P1S's 9/10, and it wins 2 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.
A1 ComboBambu Lab · FDM
vsP1SBambu Lab · FDM
| A1 Combo | Spec | P1S |
|---|---|---|
| $399 (wins) | Price | $449 |
| 16.8 L | Build volume | 16.8 L |
| 500 mm/s | Top speed | 500 mm/s |
| 0.05 mm | Finest layer | 0.05 mm |
| 9.65 kg | Weight | 14.13 kg |
Features
| A1 Combo | Feature | P1S |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Auto bed leveling | No |
| Yes | Multi-color (AMS Lite) | No |
| Yes | WiFi | Yes |
| Yes | Camera | Yes |
| Yes | Vibration compensation | No |
| No | Enclosed | Yes |
| No | Multi-material (AMS) | Yes |
| No | HEPA filter | Yes |
| No | Active chamber heating | Yes |
Value math
$399 ÷ 16.8 L and $449 ÷ 16.8 L. Lower is more printer for the money.
| A1 Combo | Spec | P1S |
|---|---|---|
| $23.78 (wins) | $ per liter | $26.76 |
| $0.80 (wins) | $ per mm/s | $0.90 |
Scores out of 10
| A1 Combo | Spec | P1S |
|---|---|---|
| 9 (wins) | Value | 8 |
| 10 (wins) | Beginner Friendliness | 8 |
| 9 | Print Quality | 10 (wins) |
| 9 | Speed | 9 |
| 9 | Reliability | 10 (wins) |
| 9.2 (wins) | Overall | 9 |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 256 × 256 × 256 mm
- 256 × 256 × 256 mm
What owners say
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, All3DPThe P1S is the printer I tell people to buy when they say 'I want something that just works.'
P1S owner, r/3DprintingRefreshing a best seller. The P1S is the strong choice for anyone wanting to print ABS without headaches.
P1S owner, Tom's Hardware
Pros & Cons
A1 Combo
- +AMS Lite ships in the box, not as a $75 upsell
- +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
P1S
- +HEPA filter actually handles ABS fumes, not just PLA smell
- +CoreXY at 500mm/s inside an enclosed chamber
- +Reliability track record is as good as anything at this price
- −$449 without AMS, which adds another $100-150 on top
- −Enclosure lid has to come off to reach prints mid-job
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 Bambu Lab A1 Combo better than the Bambu Lab P1S?
By the numbers, the Bambu Lab A1 Combo scores higher (9.2/10). But "better" depends on your use case, the Bambu Lab P1S may be the smarter buy if you need engineering.
Which is better for beginners, Bambu Lab A1 Combo or Bambu Lab P1S?
The Bambu Lab A1 Combo is more beginner-friendly (10/10 vs 8/10) with easier setup and a gentler learning curve.
Is the Bambu Lab P1S worth $50 more than the Bambu Lab A1 Combo?
The Bambu Lab A1 Combo actually scores higher (9.2/10) despite costing $50 less. The Bambu Lab P1S only makes sense if you specifically need engineering.
What's the main difference between Bambu Lab A1 Combo and Bambu Lab P1S?
Build volume (256x256x256mm vs 256x256x256mm) and print speed (500 vs 500 mm/s). The Bambu Lab A1 Combo is best for beginners; the Bambu Lab P1S targets engineering.