Bambu Lab A1 Combo
- Speed
- 500 mm/s
- Score
- 9.2/10
- Wins
- 5/5
Bambu Lab A1 Combo vs QIDI X-Smart 3
- The Bambu Lab A1 Combo wins, 9.2 vs 8 out of 10.
- A1 Combo prints 3.3× the volume (256³ ÷ 175×175×165 = 3.32) for more money.
- X-Smart 3 is faster, 600 vs 500 mm/s.
- Pick the X-Smart 3 if your prints fit in 16.5 cm.
Specs from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
QIDI X-Smart 3
- Speed
- 600 mm/s
- Score
- 8/10
- Wins
- 0/5
The verdict
Buy the A1 Combo.
9.2/10 vs X-Smart 3's 8/10, and it wins 5 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
vsX-Smart 3QIDI · FDM
| A1 Combo | Spec | X-Smart 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 16.8 L (wins) | Build volume | 5.1 L |
| 500 mm/s | Top speed | 600 mm/s (wins) |
| 0.05 mm | Finest layer | 0.05 mm |
| 9.65 kg | Weight | 9.5 kg |
Features
| A1 Combo | Feature | X-Smart 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Auto bed leveling | Yes |
| Yes | Multi-color (AMS Lite) | No |
| Yes | WiFi | Yes |
| Yes | Camera | Yes |
| Yes | Vibration compensation | No |
| No | Enclosed CoreXY | Yes |
| No | Chamber heating (35C) | Yes |
Scores out of 10
| A1 Combo | Spec | X-Smart 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 9 (wins) | Value | 8 |
| 10 (wins) | Beginner Friendliness | 8 |
| 9 (wins) | Print Quality | 8 |
| 9 (wins) | Speed | 8 |
| 9 (wins) | Reliability | 8 |
| 9.2 (wins) | Overall | 8 |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 256 × 256 × 256 mm
- 175 × 175 × 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, All3DPEnclosed CoreXY that fits on a small desk. QIDI nailed the compact premium market.
X-Smart 3 owner, r/3DprintingThe X-Smart 3 is the printer I recommend when people ask for a quiet, enclosed machine that's not huge.
X-Smart 3 owner, Edge of Tech (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
X-Smart 3
- +Fully enclosed CoreXY in a footprint smaller than most open-frame printers
- +35C chamber heating helps layer adhesion on ABS and PETG without a full 60C setup
- +QIDI's slicer is better than Creality's for enclosed use cases
- −175mm cube is the real ceiling: anything larger needs to be split and assembled
- −QIDI's community is a fraction of Bambu's or Creality's size
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 QIDI X-Smart 3?
By the numbers, the Bambu Lab A1 Combo scores higher (9.2/10). But "better" depends on your use case, the QIDI X-Smart 3 may be the smarter buy if you need compact.
Which is better for beginners, Bambu Lab A1 Combo or QIDI X-Smart 3?
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 A1 Combo worth paying more for over the QIDI X-Smart 3?
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 QIDI X-Smart 3?
Build volume (256x256x256mm vs 175x175x165mm) and print speed (500 vs 600 mm/s). The Bambu Lab A1 Combo is best for beginners; the QIDI X-Smart 3 targets compact.