Bambu Lab A1 Mini
- Price
- $199
- Score
- 9.2/10
- Wins
- 4/5
Bambu Lab A1 Mini vs Creality Ender 5 S1
- The Bambu Lab A1 Mini wins, 9.2 vs 7.4 out of 10.
- Ender 5 S1 prints 2.3× the volume (220×220×280 ÷ 180³ = 2.32) for $200 ($399 − $199) more.
- A1 Mini is faster, 500 vs 250 mm/s.
- Pick the A1 Mini if your prints fit in 18 cm.
Specs and US prices from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
Creality Ender 5 S1
- Price
- $399
- Score
- 7.4/10
- Wins
- 0/5
The verdict
Buy the A1 Mini.
9.2/10 vs Ender 5 S1's 7.4/10, and it wins 4 of 5 categories. If your prints fit in 180mm, stop reading and buy this. It's $199 with Bambu reliability baked in. The only real decision is whether to add an AMS Lite now or later.
Specs, side by side
Teal wins the row.
A1 MiniBambu Lab · FDM
vsEnder 5 S1Creality · FDM
| A1 Mini | Spec | Ender 5 S1 |
|---|---|---|
| $199 (wins) | Price | $399 |
| 5.8 L | Build volume | 13.6 L (wins) |
| 500 mm/s (wins) | Top speed | 250 mm/s |
| 0.05 mm | Finest layer | 0.05 mm |
| 5.5 kg | Weight | 10.2 kg |
Features
| A1 Mini | Feature | Ender 5 S1 |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Auto bed leveling | Yes |
| Yes | WiFi | No |
| Yes | Camera | No |
| Yes | Compact footprint | No |
| Yes | All-metal hotend | No |
| No | Cube frame | Yes |
| No | Direct drive | Yes |
| No | PEI build plate | Yes |
| No | Sprite extruder | Yes |
| No | CR Touch | Yes |
Value math
$199 ÷ 5.8 L and $399 ÷ 13.6 L. Lower is more printer for the money.
| A1 Mini | Spec | Ender 5 S1 |
|---|---|---|
| $34.12 | $ per liter | $29.44 (wins) |
| $0.40 (wins) | $ per mm/s | $1.60 |
Scores out of 10
| A1 Mini | Spec | Ender 5 S1 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 (wins) | Value | 7 |
| 10 (wins) | Beginner Friendliness | 8 |
| 8 | Print Quality | 8 |
| 9 (wins) | Speed | 6 |
| 9 (wins) | Reliability | 8 |
| 9.2 (wins) | Overall | 7.4 |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 180 × 180 × 180 mm
- 220 × 220 × 280 mm
What owners say
For $199, this thing is a miracle. Print quality rivals machines 3x the price.
A1 Mini owner, r/BambuLabThe Mini is my most-used printer. It just works, every single time.
A1 Mini owner, Thomas Sanladerer (YouTube)The rigid frame makes a real difference. First layers are incredibly consistent.
Ender 5 S1 owner, r/ender5Underrated machine. If you print tall objects, the Ender 5 S1 shines.
Ender 5 S1 owner, Teaching Tech (YouTube)
Pros & Cons
A1 Mini
- +Full Bambu ecosystem at $199, not a cut-down version
- +Footprint smaller than a sheet of A4 paper
- +Prints reliably straight from the box, no tinkering required
- −180mm cube is genuinely limiting for anything beyond small parts
- −No enclosure means ABS is a non-starter
Ender 5 S1
- +Cube frame is mechanically stiffer than bed-slinger designs: first layers are more consistent
- +Sprite direct drive handles TPU and flexible filaments properly
- +220x220x280mm Z-height is the standout dimension for tall prints
- −250mm/s is embarrassingly slow in 2024: this is not a speed machine
- −No WiFi means manual file management every time
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 Mini better than the Creality Ender 5 S1?
By the numbers, the Bambu Lab A1 Mini scores higher (9.2/10). But "better" depends on your use case, the Creality Ender 5 S1 may be the smarter buy if you need beginners.
Which is better for beginners, Bambu Lab A1 Mini or Creality Ender 5 S1?
The Bambu Lab A1 Mini is more beginner-friendly (10/10 vs 8/10) with easier setup and a gentler learning curve.
Is the Creality Ender 5 S1 worth $200 more than the Bambu Lab A1 Mini?
The Bambu Lab A1 Mini actually scores higher (9.2/10) despite costing $200 less. The Creality Ender 5 S1 only makes sense if you specifically need beginners.
What's the main difference between Bambu Lab A1 Mini and Creality Ender 5 S1?
Build volume (180x180x180mm vs 220x220x280mm) and print speed (500 vs 250 mm/s). The Bambu Lab A1 Mini is best for beginners; the Creality Ender 5 S1 targets beginners.