Bambu Lab A1 Combo
- Price
- $399
- Score
- 9.2/10
- Wins
- 1/5
Bambu Lab A1 Combo vs Bambu Lab P2S
- Tied at 9.2 out of 10.
- Same build volume (256³ mm) and the same 500 mm/s top speed.
- The P2S costs $150 ($549 − $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 P2S
- Price
- $549
- Score
- 9.2/10
- Wins
- 1/5
The verdict
Tied at 9.2/10. Buy the A1 Combo, $150 less.
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
vsP2SBambu Lab · FDM
| A1 Combo | Spec | P2S |
|---|---|---|
| $399 (wins) | Price | $549 |
| 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 | 14.9 kg |
Features
| A1 Combo | Feature | P2S |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Auto bed leveling | No |
| Yes | Multi-color (AMS Lite) | No |
| Yes | WiFi | No |
| Yes | Camera | No |
| Yes | Vibration compensation | No |
| No | Enclosed CoreXY | Yes |
| No | AMS 2 Pro compatible | Yes |
| No | 5-inch touchscreen | Yes |
| No | 1080p AI camera | Yes |
| No | Quick-swap nozzle system | Yes |
| No | PMSM servo extruder (8.5kg force) | Yes |
Value math
$399 ÷ 16.8 L and $549 ÷ 16.8 L. Lower is more printer for the money.
| A1 Combo | Spec | P2S |
|---|---|---|
| $23.78 (wins) | $ per liter | $32.72 |
| $0.80 (wins) | $ per mm/s | $1.10 |
Scores out of 10
| A1 Combo | Spec | P2S |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Value | 9 |
| 10 (wins) | Beginner Friendliness | 9 |
| 9 | Print Quality | 10 (wins) |
| 9 | Speed | 9 |
| 9 | Reliability | 9 |
| 9.2 | Overall | 9.2 |
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 quick nozzle swap makes me jealous even as an X1C owner.
P2S owner, r/BambuLabGoldilocks gets a glow up. The P2S refreshes a best seller with meaningful upgrades.
P2S owner, Tom's HardwareFor new buyers, the P2S is recommended without hesitation. Meaningfully better than the P1S in every way.
P2S owner, 3DTechValley
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
P2S
- +Quick-swap nozzle: no tools, no waiting for cool-down, no thread damage from hot-tightening
- +1080p AI camera pauses the print when it detects layer failures, not just notifies you
- +AMS 2 Pro dries filament while printing so you don't need a separate drybox for standard materials
- −No LiDAR sensor: that capability is still exclusive to the X-series
- −P1S owners have no trade-in path; the upgrade cost is the full $549
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 P2S?
They tie at 9.2/10. The Bambu Lab A1 Combo suits beginners and multi-color, while the Bambu Lab P2S is aimed at speed and enclosed.
Which is better for beginners, Bambu Lab A1 Combo or Bambu Lab P2S?
The Bambu Lab A1 Combo is more beginner-friendly (10/10 vs 9/10) with easier setup and a gentler learning curve.
Is the Bambu Lab P2S worth $150 more than the Bambu Lab A1 Combo?
The Bambu Lab A1 Combo actually scores higher (9.2/10) despite costing $150 less. The Bambu Lab P2S only makes sense if you specifically need speed.
What's the main difference between Bambu Lab A1 Combo and Bambu Lab P2S?
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 P2S targets speed.