Bambu Lab P2S
- Price
- $549
- Score
- 9.2/10
- Wins
- 5/5
Bambu Lab P2S vs QIDI X-Smart 3
- The Bambu Lab P2S wins, 9.2 vs 8 out of 10.
- P2S prints 3.3× the volume (256³ ÷ 175×175×165 = 3.32) for $200 ($549 − $349) more.
- X-Smart 3 is faster, 600 vs 500 mm/s.
- Pick the X-Smart 3 if your prints fit in 16.5 cm.
Specs and US prices from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
QIDI X-Smart 3
- Price
- $349
- Score
- 8/10
- Wins
- 0/5
The verdict
Buy the P2S.
9.2/10 vs X-Smart 3's 8/10, and it wins 5 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
vsX-Smart 3QIDI · FDM
| P2S | Spec | X-Smart 3 |
|---|---|---|
| $549 | Price | $349 (wins) |
| 16.8 L (wins) | Build volume | 5.1 L |
| 500 mm/s | Top speed | 600 mm/s (wins) |
| 0.05 mm | Finest layer | 0.05 mm |
| 14.9 kg | Weight | 9.5 kg |
Features
| P2S | Feature | X-Smart 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Enclosed CoreXY | Yes |
| 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 | Chamber heating (35C) | Yes |
| No | Auto bed leveling | Yes |
| No | WiFi | Yes |
| No | Camera | Yes |
Value math
$549 ÷ 16.8 L and $349 ÷ 5.1 L. Lower is more printer for the money.
| P2S | Spec | X-Smart 3 |
|---|---|---|
| $32.72 (wins) | $ per liter | $69.07 |
| $1.10 | $ per mm/s | $0.58 (wins) |
Scores out of 10
| P2S | Spec | X-Smart 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 9 (wins) | Value | 8 |
| 9 (wins) | Beginner Friendliness | 8 |
| 10 (wins) | Print Quality | 8 |
| 9 (wins) | Speed | 8 |
| 9 (wins) | Reliability | 8 |
| 9.2 (wins) | Overall | 8 |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 256 × 256 × 256 mm
- 175 × 175 × 165 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, 3DTechValleyEnclosed CoreXY that fits on a small desk. QIDI nailed the compact premium market.
X-Smart 3 owner, r/3DprintingThe X-Smart 3 is the printer I recommend when people ask for a quiet, enclosed machine that's not huge.
X-Smart 3 owner, Edge of Tech (YouTube)
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
X-Smart 3
- +Fully enclosed CoreXY in a footprint smaller than most open-frame printers
- +35C chamber heating helps layer adhesion on ABS and PETG without a full 60C setup
- +QIDI's slicer is better than Creality's for enclosed use cases
- −175mm cube is the real ceiling: anything larger needs to be split and assembled
- −QIDI's community is a fraction of Bambu's or Creality's size
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 QIDI X-Smart 3?
By the numbers, the Bambu Lab P2S scores higher (9.2/10). But "better" depends on your use case, the QIDI X-Smart 3 may be the smarter buy if you need compact.
Which is better for beginners, Bambu Lab P2S or QIDI X-Smart 3?
The Bambu Lab P2S is more beginner-friendly (9/10 vs 8/10) with easier setup and a gentler learning curve.
Is the Bambu Lab P2S worth $200 more than the QIDI X-Smart 3?
The Bambu Lab P2S scores higher overall (9.2/10 vs 8/10). The extra $200 gets you quick-swap nozzle: no tools, no waiting for cool-down, no thread damage from hot-tightening.
What's the main difference between Bambu Lab P2S and QIDI X-Smart 3?
Build volume (256x256x256mm vs 175x175x165mm) and print speed (500 vs 600 mm/s). The Bambu Lab P2S is best for speed; the QIDI X-Smart 3 targets compact.