Bambu Lab A1 Combo
- Speed
- 500 mm/s
- Score
- 9.2/10
- Wins
- 4/5
Bambu Lab A1 Combo vs Creality Ender 3 V3 SE
- The Bambu Lab A1 Combo wins, 9.2 vs 8 out of 10.
- A1 Combo prints 1.4× the volume (256³ ÷ 220×220×250 = 1.39) for more money.
- A1 Combo is faster, 500 vs 250 mm/s.
- Pick the Ender 3 V3 SE if your prints fit in 25 cm.
Specs from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
Creality Ender 3 V3 SE
- Speed
- 250 mm/s
- Score
- 8/10
- Wins
- 1/5
The verdict
Buy the A1 Combo.
9.2/10 vs Ender 3 V3 SE's 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.
A1 ComboBambu Lab · FDM
vsEnder 3 V3 SECreality · FDM
| A1 Combo | Spec | Ender 3 V3 SE |
|---|---|---|
| 16.8 L (wins) | Build volume | 12.1 L |
| 500 mm/s (wins) | Top speed | 250 mm/s |
| 0.05 mm | Finest layer | 0.05 mm |
| 9.65 kg | Weight | 7.8 kg |
Features
| A1 Combo | Feature | Ender 3 V3 SE |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Auto bed leveling | Yes |
| Yes | Multi-color (AMS Lite) | No |
| Yes | WiFi | No |
| Yes | Camera | No |
| Yes | Vibration compensation | No |
| No | Direct drive extruder | Yes |
| No | PEI build plate | Yes |
Scores out of 10
| A1 Combo | Spec | Ender 3 V3 SE |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Value | 10 (wins) |
| 10 (wins) | Beginner Friendliness | 9 |
| 9 (wins) | Print Quality | 7 |
| 9 (wins) | Speed | 6 |
| 9 (wins) | Reliability | 8 |
| 9.2 (wins) | Overall | 8 |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 256 × 256 × 256 mm
- 220 × 220 × 250 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 V3 SE sets a new baseline for cheap 3D printing.
Ender 3 V3 SE owner, All3DPBest [money] I ever spent on a hobby. Prints great out of the box.
Ender 3 V3 SE owner, r/ender3
Pros & Cons
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
Ender 3 V3 SE
- +Auto-leveling that works on the first try, not the fourth
- +Direct drive means you can print TPU without fighting the extruder
- +r/ender3 has 200,000 members who've fixed every problem you'll ever have
- −250mm/s max is half what CoreXY printers do at this price in 2024
- −Open frame, no WiFi, no camera: this is a no-frills machine
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 Creality Ender 3 V3 SE?
By the numbers, the Bambu Lab A1 Combo scores higher (9.2/10). But "better" depends on your use case, the Creality Ender 3 V3 SE may be the smarter buy if you need beginners.
Which is better for beginners, Bambu Lab A1 Combo or Creality Ender 3 V3 SE?
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 A1 Combo worth paying more for over the Creality Ender 3 V3 SE?
The Bambu Lab A1 Combo scores higher overall (9.2/10 vs 8/10). The extra money gets you ams lite ships in the box, not as a separate purchase.
What's the main difference between Bambu Lab A1 Combo and Creality Ender 3 V3 SE?
Build volume (256x256x256mm vs 220x220x250mm) and print speed (500 vs 250 mm/s). The Bambu Lab A1 Combo is best for beginners; the Creality Ender 3 V3 SE targets beginners.