Bambu Lab A1
- Speed
- 500 mm/s
- Score
- 9.2/10
- Wins
- 4/5
Bambu Lab A1 vs Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra
- The Bambu Lab A1 takes the crown with 9.2/10 vs 7.8/10.
- It pulls ahead in Value, Beginner Friendliness, Speed, Reliability.
- The Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra still puts up a fight in Print Quality.
Specs from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra
- Speed
- 150 mm/h
- Score
- 7.8/10
- Wins
- 1/5
The verdict
Buy the A1.
9.2/10 vs Saturn 4 Ultra's 7.8/10, and it wins 4 of 5 categories. If you know you don't care about multi-color, this is the cleanest buy in 3D printing. The A1 Combo costs a bit more and includes multi-color; most people should just spend the extra.
Specs, side by side
Teal wins the row.
A1Bambu Lab · FDM
vsSaturn 4 UltraElegoo · RESIN
| A1 | Spec | Saturn 4 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| 16.8 L (wins) | Build volume | 5.9 L |
| 500 mm/s | Top speed | 150 mm/s |
| 0.05 mm | Finest layer | 0.01 mm (wins) |
| 9.05 kg | Weight | 11 kg |
Features
| A1 | Feature | Saturn 4 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Auto bed leveling | No |
| Yes | WiFi | Yes |
| Yes | Camera | No |
| Yes | Vibration compensation | No |
| Yes | Direct drive | No |
| Yes | Full-size A1 bed | No |
| No | 12K mono LCD | Yes |
| No | Tilt release | Yes |
| No | Air purifier | Yes |
| No | Larger build plate | Yes |
Scores out of 10
| A1 | Spec | Saturn 4 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| 9 (wins) | Value | 8 |
| 10 (wins) | Beginner Friendliness | 6 |
| 9 | Print Quality | 10 (wins) |
| 9 (wins) | Speed | 7 |
| 9 (wins) | Reliability | 8 |
| 9.2 (wins) | Overall | 7.8 |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 256 × 256 × 256 mm
- 218 × 123 × 220 mm
What owners say
The A1 without AMS is the best single-color printer you can buy at this price. Bar none.
A1 owner, r/3DprintingSame great hardware as the Combo, just without the color changer. Perfect for most people.
A1 owner, Make Anything (YouTube)Batch-printing a full Warhammer army on this thing is a dream come true.
Saturn 4 Ultra owner, r/resinprintingIf you've outgrown the Mars, the Saturn is the obvious next step.
Saturn 4 Ultra owner, 3D Printing Nerd (YouTube)
Pros & Cons
A1
- +Full 256mm build volume, same as the Combo but cheaper
- +Bambu's reliability, slicer, and support at an entry-level price
- +500mm/s speed that's calibrated and ready without tweaking
- −Open frame: ABS warping is a real problem without modification
- −No multi-color in the box: the Combo costs more and includes it
Saturn 4 Ultra
- +218x123mm plate fits a full Warhammer squad in one run, not two
- +12K resolution holds up just as well as the Mars at 14K for most print sizes
- +Tilt release is worth it at this plate size: peel forces on large prints are brutal without it
- −Resin consumption goes up fast when you're filling a plate this size
- −Post-processing for a full plate run takes 45-60 minutes minimum
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 better than the Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra?
By the numbers, the Bambu Lab A1 scores higher (9.2/10). But "better" depends on your use case, the Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra may be the smarter buy if you need resin.
Which is better for beginners, Bambu Lab A1 or Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra?
The Bambu Lab A1 is more beginner-friendly (10/10 vs 6/10) with easier setup and a gentler learning curve.
Is the Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra worth paying more for over the Bambu Lab A1?
The Bambu Lab A1 actually scores higher (9.2/10) despite costing less. The Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra only makes sense if you specifically need resin.
What's the main difference between Bambu Lab A1 and Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra?
Technology: the Bambu Lab A1 is FDM (filament) and the Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra is RESIN (resin). FDM prints bigger functional parts; resin delivers finer surface detail.