Bambu Lab P2S
- Price
- $549
- Score
- 9.2/10
- Wins
- 4/5
Bambu Lab P2S vs Creality K1 Max
- The Bambu Lab P2S wins, 9.2 vs 8 out of 10.
- K1 Max prints 1.6× the volume (300³ ÷ 256³ = 1.61) for $245 ($794 − $549) more.
- K1 Max is faster, 600 vs 500 mm/s.
- Pick the P2S 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 P2S.
9.2/10 vs K1 Max's 8/10, and it wins 4 of 5 categories. Best enclosed CoreXY under $600 right now. New buyers: this is the answer, skip the P1S comparison. P1S owners: the nozzle system and AMS 2 Pro drying tip the scales toward upgrading, but only if you use those features regularly.
Specs, side by side
Teal wins the row.
P2SBambu Lab · FDM
vsK1 MaxCreality · FDM
| P2S | Spec | K1 Max |
|---|---|---|
| $549 (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 |
| 14.9 kg | Weight | 18 kg |
Features
| P2S | Feature | K1 Max |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Enclosed CoreXY | No |
| Yes | AMS 2 Pro compatible | No |
| Yes | 5-inch touchscreen | No |
| Yes | 1080p AI camera | No |
| Yes | Quick-swap nozzle system | No |
| Yes | PMSM servo extruder (8.5kg force) | No |
| No | Large build volume | Yes |
| No | AI camera | Yes |
| No | Auto bed leveling | Yes |
| No | Direct drive | Yes |
| No | WiFi | Yes |
Value math
$549 ÷ 16.8 L and $794 ÷ 27.0 L. Lower is more printer for the money.
| P2S | Spec | K1 Max |
|---|---|---|
| $32.72 | $ per liter | $29.41 (wins) |
| $1.10 (wins) | $ per mm/s | $1.32 |
Scores out of 10
| P2S | Spec | K1 Max |
|---|---|---|
| 9 (wins) | Value | 8 |
| 9 (wins) | Beginner Friendliness | 7 |
| 10 (wins) | Print Quality | 8 |
| 9 | Speed | 10 (wins) |
| 9 (wins) | Reliability | 7 |
| 9.2 (wins) | Overall | 8 |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 256 × 256 × 256 mm
- 300 × 300 × 300 mm
What owners say
The quick nozzle swap makes me jealous even as an X1C owner.
P2S owner, r/BambuLabGoldilocks gets a glow up. The P2S refreshes a best seller with meaningful upgrades.
P2S owner, Tom's HardwareFor new buyers, the P2S is recommended without hesitation. Meaningfully better than the P1S in every way.
P2S owner, 3DTechValleyPrinted 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
P2S
- +Quick-swap nozzle: no tools, no waiting for cool-down, no thread damage from hot-tightening
- +1080p AI camera pauses the print when it detects layer failures, not just notifies you
- +AMS 2 Pro dries filament while printing so you don't need a separate drybox for standard materials
- −No LiDAR sensor: that capability is still exclusive to the X-series
- −P1S owners have no trade-in path; the upgrade cost is the full $549
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 P2S better than the Creality K1 Max?
By the numbers, the Bambu Lab P2S scores higher (9.2/10). 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 P2S or Creality K1 Max?
The Bambu Lab P2S is more beginner-friendly (9/10 vs 7/10) with easier setup and a gentler learning curve.
Is the Creality K1 Max worth $245 more than the Bambu Lab P2S?
The Bambu Lab P2S actually scores higher (9.2/10) despite costing $245 less. The Creality K1 Max only makes sense if you specifically need large-prints.
What's the main difference between Bambu Lab P2S and Creality K1 Max?
Build volume (256x256x256mm vs 300x300x300mm) and print speed (500 vs 600 mm/s). The Bambu Lab P2S is best for speed; the Creality K1 Max targets large-prints.