Bambu Lab A1 Combo
- Price
- $399
- Score
- 9.2/10
- Wins
- 3/5
Bambu Lab A1 Combo vs Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra
- The Bambu Lab A1 Combo takes the crown with 9.2/10 vs 7.8/10.
- It pulls ahead in Beginner Friendliness, Speed, Reliability.
- That said, the Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra saves you $159.
Specs and US prices from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra
- Price
- $240
- Score
- 7.8/10
- Wins
- 0/5
The verdict
Buy the A1 Combo.
9.2/10 vs Mars 4 Ultra's 7.8/10, and it wins 3 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
vsMars 4 UltraElegoo · RESIN
| A1 Combo | Spec | Mars 4 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| $399 | Price | $240 (wins) |
| 16.8 L (wins) | Build volume | 1.9 L |
| 500 mm/s | Top speed | 100 mm/s |
| 0.05 mm | Finest layer | 0.01 mm (wins) |
| 9.65 kg | Weight | 6.8 kg |
Features
| A1 Combo | Feature | Mars 4 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Auto bed leveling | No |
| Yes | Multi-color (AMS Lite) | No |
| Yes | WiFi | Yes |
| Yes | Camera | No |
| Yes | Vibration compensation | No |
| No | 9K mono LCD | Yes |
| No | Tilt release | Yes |
| No | Air purifier | Yes |
Value math
$399 ÷ 16.8 L and $240 ÷ 1.9 L. Lower is more printer for the money.
| A1 Combo | Spec | Mars 4 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| $23.78 (wins) | $ per liter | $123.47 |
Scores out of 10
| A1 Combo | Spec | Mars 4 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Value | 9 |
| 10 (wins) | Beginner Friendliness | 7 |
| 9 | Print Quality | 9 |
| 9 (wins) | Speed | 6 |
| 9 (wins) | Reliability | 8 |
| 9.2 (wins) | Overall | 7.8 |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 256 × 256 × 256 mm
- 153 × 77 × 165 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, All3DPTilt release at this price is a game changer. My FEP films last twice as long.
Mars 4 Ultra owner, r/resinprinting9K detail on D&D minis is breathtaking. Worth every penny of the $199.
Mars 4 Ultra owner, Uncle Jessy (YouTube)
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
Mars 4 Ultra
- +9K resolution is a meaningful jump from 7K: finer surface texture, sharper edges on small parts
- +Tilt release means FEP films last longer; $50 less per year in consumables is real money
- +Built-in air purifier takes the edge off the smell without requiring an external solution
- −153x77mm plate is tight for anything larger than small character models
- −Still needs a wash and cure station: budget $50-80 extra
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.
Buy these with it
A printer does nothing without these. Grab them in the same order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Bambu Lab A1 Combo better than the Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra?
By the numbers, the Bambu Lab A1 Combo scores higher (9.2/10). But "better" depends on your use case, the Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra may be the smarter buy if you need miniatures.
Which is better for beginners, Bambu Lab A1 Combo or Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra?
The Bambu Lab A1 Combo is more beginner-friendly (10/10 vs 7/10) with easier setup and a gentler learning curve.
Is the Bambu Lab A1 Combo worth $159 more than the Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra?
The Bambu Lab A1 Combo scores higher overall (9.2/10 vs 7.8/10). The extra $159 gets you ams lite ships in the box, not as a $75 upsell.
What's the main difference between Bambu Lab A1 Combo and Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra?
Technology: the Bambu Lab A1 Combo is FDM (filament) and the Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra is RESIN (resin). FDM prints bigger functional parts; resin delivers finer surface detail.