Bambu Lab P1S
- Price
- $449
- Score
- 9/10
- Wins
- 3/5
Bambu Lab P1S vs Creality K1 Max
- The Bambu Lab P1S wins, 9 vs 8 out of 10.
- K1 Max prints 1.6× the volume (300³ ÷ 256³ = 1.61) for $345 ($794 − $449) more.
- K1 Max is faster, 600 vs 500 mm/s.
- Pick the P1S if your prints fit in 25.6 cm.
Specs and US prices from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
Creality K1 Max
- Price
- $794
- Score
- 8/10
- Wins
- 1/5
The verdict
Buy the P1S.
9/10 vs K1 Max's 8/10, and it wins 3 of 5 categories. Buy this if you print ABS, ASA, or anything that smells or warps in open air. The enclosure and filtration aren't optional extras, they're the whole point. If you only print PLA, save $50 and get the A1 Combo.
Specs, side by side
Teal wins the row.
P1SBambu Lab · FDM
vsK1 MaxCreality · FDM
| P1S | Spec | K1 Max |
|---|---|---|
| $449 (wins) | Price | $794 |
| 16.8 L | Build volume | 27.0 L (wins) |
| 500 mm/s | Top speed | 600 mm/s (wins) |
| 0.05 mm | Finest layer | 0.05 mm |
| 14.13 kg | Weight | 18 kg |
Features
| P1S | Feature | K1 Max |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Enclosed | No |
| Yes | Multi-material (AMS) | No |
| Yes | WiFi | Yes |
| Yes | Camera | No |
| Yes | HEPA filter | No |
| Yes | Active chamber heating | No |
| No | Large build volume | Yes |
| No | AI camera | Yes |
| No | Auto bed leveling | Yes |
| No | Direct drive | Yes |
Value math
$449 ÷ 16.8 L and $794 ÷ 27.0 L. Lower is more printer for the money.
| P1S | Spec | K1 Max |
|---|---|---|
| $26.76 (wins) | $ per liter | $29.41 |
| $0.90 (wins) | $ per mm/s | $1.32 |
Scores out of 10
| P1S | Spec | K1 Max |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Value | 8 |
| 8 (wins) | Beginner Friendliness | 7 |
| 10 (wins) | Print Quality | 8 |
| 9 | Speed | 10 (wins) |
| 10 (wins) | Reliability | 7 |
| 9 (wins) | Overall | 8 |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 256 × 256 × 256 mm
- 300 × 300 × 300 mm
What owners say
The P1S is the printer I tell people to buy when they say 'I want something that just works.'
P1S owner, r/3DprintingRefreshing a best seller. The P1S is the strong choice for anyone wanting to print ABS without headaches.
P1S owner, Tom's HardwarePrinted a full Mandalorian helmet in one piece. This thing is a beast.
K1 Max owner, r/3DprintingA fully enclosed Core XY powerhouse machine at an incredible price.
K1 Max owner, 3DPrintBeginner
Pros & Cons
P1S
- +HEPA filter actually handles ABS fumes, not just PLA smell
- +CoreXY at 500mm/s inside an enclosed chamber
- +Reliability track record is as good as anything at this price
- −$449 without AMS, which adds another $100-150 on top
- −Enclosure lid has to come off to reach prints mid-job
K1 Max
- +300mm cube enclosed: print a Mandalorian helmet without splitting it
- +600mm/s speed means the size doesn't slow you down as much as you'd expect
- +AI camera catches spaghetti before it ruins a 6-hour print
- −Gets loud pushing near 600mm/s, noticeable in a quiet room
- −Early firmware had issues; patch it before you do anything else
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 P1S better than the Creality K1 Max?
By the numbers, the Bambu Lab P1S scores higher (9/10). But "better" depends on your use case, the Creality K1 Max may be the smarter buy if you need large-prints.
Which is better for beginners, Bambu Lab P1S or Creality K1 Max?
The Bambu Lab P1S is more beginner-friendly (8/10 vs 7/10) with easier setup and a gentler learning curve.
Is the Creality K1 Max worth $345 more than the Bambu Lab P1S?
The Bambu Lab P1S actually scores higher (9/10) despite costing $345 less. The Creality K1 Max only makes sense if you specifically need large-prints.
What's the main difference between Bambu Lab P1S and Creality K1 Max?
Build volume (256x256x256mm vs 300x300x300mm) and print speed (500 vs 600 mm/s). The Bambu Lab P1S is best for engineering; the Creality K1 Max targets large-prints.