Bambu Lab P1S
- Price
- $449
- Score
- 9/10
- Wins
- 3/5
Bambu Lab P1S vs Prusa MK4S
- The Bambu Lab P1S wins, 9 vs 7.8 out of 10.
- P1S prints 1.5× the volume (256³ ÷ 250×210×220 = 1.45) and costs $480 ($929 − $449) less.
- P1S is faster, 500 vs 200 mm/s.
- Pick the Prusa MK4S if your prints fit in 22 cm.
Specs and US prices from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
Prusa MK4S
- Price
- $929
- Score
- 7.8/10
- Wins
- 0/5
The verdict
Buy the P1S.
9/10 vs Prusa MK4S's 7.8/10, 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
vsPrusa MK4SPrusa Research · FDM
| P1S | Spec | Prusa MK4S |
|---|---|---|
| $449 (wins) | Price | $929 |
| 16.8 L (wins) | Build volume | 11.6 L |
| 500 mm/s (wins) | Top speed | 200 mm/s |
| 0.05 mm | Finest layer | 0.05 mm |
| 14.13 kg | Weight | 7 kg |
Features
| P1S | Feature | Prusa MK4S |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Enclosed | No |
| Yes | Multi-material (AMS) | No |
| Yes | WiFi | No |
| Yes | Camera | No |
| Yes | HEPA filter | No |
| Yes | Active chamber heating | No |
| No | Open source | Yes |
| No | PrusaSlicer | Yes |
| No | Nextruder | Yes |
| No | Auto bed leveling | Yes |
| No | Input shaping | Yes |
| No | Ethernet | Yes |
Value math
$449 ÷ 16.8 L and $929 ÷ 11.6 L. Lower is more printer for the money.
| P1S | Spec | Prusa MK4S |
|---|---|---|
| $26.76 (wins) | $ per liter | $80.43 |
| $0.90 (wins) | $ per mm/s | $4.64 |
Scores out of 10
| P1S | Spec | Prusa MK4S |
|---|---|---|
| 8 (wins) | Value | 6 |
| 8 | Beginner Friendliness | 8 |
| 10 (wins) | Print Quality | 9 |
| 9 (wins) | Speed | 6 |
| 10 | Reliability | 10 |
| 9 (wins) | Overall | 7.8 |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 256 × 256 × 256 mm
- 250 × 210 × 220 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 HardwareMy MK3 ran for 5 years without a single failed print. The MK4S continues that legacy.
Prusa MK4S owner, r/prusa3dIf reliability is your #1 priority, nothing beats Prusa. Nothing.
Prusa MK4S owner, Thomas Sanladerer (YouTube)
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
Prusa MK4S
- +Prusa's QC is genuinely better than anyone else's: every printer is test-printed before shipping
- +PrusaSlicer is open source and powerful, no subscription, no cloud required
- +Customer support answers in hours, not weeks
- −200mm/s max is a third of what CoreXY machines do at half the price
- −$929 for an open-frame bed-slinger is a hard sell in 2025
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 Prusa MK4S?
By the numbers, the Bambu Lab P1S scores higher (9/10). But "better" depends on your use case, the Prusa MK4S may be the smarter buy if you need reliability.
Which is better for beginners, Bambu Lab P1S or Prusa MK4S?
Both score 8/10 for beginners. Go with the Bambu Lab P1S to save $480.
Is the Prusa MK4S worth $480 more than the Bambu Lab P1S?
The Bambu Lab P1S actually scores higher (9/10) despite costing $480 less. The Prusa MK4S only makes sense if you specifically need reliability.
What's the main difference between Bambu Lab P1S and Prusa MK4S?
Build volume (256x256x256mm vs 250x210x220mm) and print speed (500 vs 200 mm/s). The Bambu Lab P1S is best for engineering; the Prusa MK4S targets reliability.