Bambu Lab A1 Combo
- Speed
- 500 mm/s
- Score
- 9.2/10
- Wins
- 3/5
Bambu Lab A1 Combo vs Elegoo Saturn 3 Ultra
- The Bambu Lab A1 Combo takes the crown with 9.2/10 vs 8/10.
- It pulls ahead in Beginner Friendliness, Speed, Reliability.
- That said, the Elegoo Saturn 3 Ultra costs less and wins on Print Quality.
Specs from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
Elegoo Saturn 3 Ultra
- Speed
- 150 mm/h
- Score
- 8/10
- Wins
- 1/5
The verdict
Buy the A1 Combo.
9.2/10 vs Saturn 3 Ultra's 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
vsSaturn 3 UltraElegoo · RESIN
| A1 Combo | Spec | Saturn 3 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| 16.8 L (wins) | Build volume | 7.0 L |
| 500 mm/s | Top speed | 150 mm/s |
| 0.05 mm | Finest layer | 0.01 mm (wins) |
| 9.65 kg | Weight | 10.5 kg |
Features
| A1 Combo | Feature | Saturn 3 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Auto bed leveling | No |
| Yes | Multi-color (AMS Lite) | No |
| Yes | WiFi | Yes |
| Yes | Camera | No |
| Yes | Vibration compensation | No |
| No | 12K mono LCD | Yes |
| No | Tilt release | Yes |
| No | Air purifier | Yes |
| No | Larger build plate | Yes |
Scores out of 10
| A1 Combo | Spec | Saturn 3 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Value | 9 |
| 10 (wins) | Beginner Friendliness | 6 |
| 9 | Print Quality | 10 (wins) |
| 9 (wins) | Speed | 7 |
| 9 (wins) | Reliability | 8 |
| 9.2 (wins) | Overall | 8 |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 256 × 256 × 256 mm
- 218 × 123 × 260 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, All3DPPrinted 32 minis in one run at 12K. The Saturn 3 Ultra has ruined other printers for me.
Saturn 3 Ultra owner, r/PrintedMinisThis is the resin printer I recommend to anyone who is serious about the hobby.
Saturn 3 Ultra owner, 3D Printing Nerd (YouTube)
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
Saturn 3 Ultra
- +218x123mm plate holds a full 10-model squad in one run at 12K resolution
- +Tilt release on a plate this size dramatically reduces FEP tears
- +Terrain, dungeon tiles, and large busts all fit without splitting
- −A full plate run goes through resin fast: budget for 500ml+ per session
- −Post-processing for a full plate takes the better part of an hour
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 Saturn 3 Ultra?
By the numbers, the Bambu Lab A1 Combo scores higher (9.2/10). But "better" depends on your use case, the Elegoo Saturn 3 Ultra may be the smarter buy if you need resin.
Which is better for beginners, Bambu Lab A1 Combo or Elegoo Saturn 3 Ultra?
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 Elegoo Saturn 3 Ultra?
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 Elegoo Saturn 3 Ultra?
Technology: the Bambu Lab A1 Combo is FDM (filament) and the Elegoo Saturn 3 Ultra is RESIN (resin). FDM prints bigger functional parts; resin delivers finer surface detail.