Best First PrinterBest Value
At a glance
Bambu Lab · FDM (filament)
- Score
- 9.2/10
- Rank
- #1/51
- Build
- 16.8 L
- Speed
- 500 mm/s
- Layer
- 0.05 mm
Bambu Lab A1
Bambu Lab A1
- Scores 9.2 out of 10, #1 of 51 current FDM printers.
- 16.8 L of build space (256³ mm), 0.8× the 21.6 L average.
- Best at beginner-friendliness: 10/10, against an average of 7.4.
- The catch: Open frame: ABS warping is a real problem without modification.
Specs from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
By Shadman Rahman · Prices checked
The verdict
Buy the A1. #1 of 51 FDM printers.
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.
Why buy the A1
- #1 of 51Joint best FDM printer for overall score9.2/10 vs 8.1/10 average
- #1 of 51Joint best FDM printer for beginner-friendliness10/10 vs 7.4/10 average
- #6 of 51Top 6 FDM printers for speed9/10 vs 7.9/10 average
The numbers behind it
Right side is the average of the 51 current FDM printers we track. Teal wins the row.
A1Bambu Lab · FDM
vsAverage51 FDM printers
| A1 | Spec | Average of 51 |
|---|---|---|
| 16.8 L | Build volume | 21.6 L (wins) |
| 500 mm/s (wins) | Top speed | 476 mm/s |
| 0.05 mm (wins) | Finest layer | 0.054 mm |
| 9.1 kg | Weight | 14.7 kg |
Scores out of 10
| A1 | Spec | Average of 51 |
|---|---|---|
| 9 (wins) | Value | 8.5 |
| 10 (wins) | Beginner | 7.4 |
| 9 (wins) | Print quality | 8.4 |
| 9 (wins) | Speed | 7.9 |
| 9 (wins) | Reliability | 8.1 |
| 9.2 (wins) | Overall | 8.1 |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 256 × 256 × 256 mmA1
- 450 × 450 × 470 mmCR-M4, largest current FDM
What owners say
The A1 without AMS is the best single-color printer you can buy at this price. Bar none.
r/3DprintingSame great hardware as the Combo, just without the color changer. Perfect for most people.
Make Anything (YouTube)
Pros & Cons
Pros
- +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
- +AMS Lite upgradeable later when multi-color becomes interesting
Cons
- −Open frame: ABS warping is a real problem without modification
- −No multi-color in the box: the Combo costs more and includes it
- −The upgrade to A1 Combo is tempting enough that many buyers regret not doing it upfront
Full specs
| Build volume | 256 × 256 × 256 mm |
|---|---|
| Layer resolution | 0.05 to 0.35 mm |
| Top speed | 500 mm/s |
| Weight | 9.05 kg |
| Type | FDM (filament) |
Features
- Auto bed leveling
- WiFi
- Camera
- Vibration compensation
- Direct drive
- Full-size A1 bed
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.
Compare the A1 with (23)
- A1 vs Anycubic Kobra 2 Max
- A1 vs Bambu Lab A1 Combo
- A1 vs Bambu Lab A1 Mini
- A1 vs Bambu Lab H2D
- A1 vs Creality Ender 3 V3 KE
- A1 vs Creality Hi Combo
- A1 vs Creality K1 Max
- A1 vs Creality K2 Plus
- A1 vs Elegoo Centauri Carbon
- A1 vs Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo
- A1 vs Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra
- A1 vs Elegoo Neptune 4
- A1 vs Elegoo Neptune 4 Max
- A1 vs Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra
- A1 vs Flashforge Adventurer 5M
- A1 vs Flashforge Adventurer 5M Pro
- A1 vs Kingroon KP3S Pro V2
- A1 vs Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K S2
- A1 vs Prusa Core One
- A1 vs Prusa MK4S
- A1 vs QIDI iBox Mono2
- A1 vs Qidi Q2
- A1 vs Voxelab Aquila X2
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the build volume of the Bambu Lab A1?
The Bambu Lab A1 has a build volume of 256 x 256 x 256 mm.
Is the Bambu Lab A1 good for beginners?
The Bambu Lab A1 scores 10/10 for beginner-friendliness. It's a great choice for beginners.
What are the pros and cons of the Bambu Lab A1?
Pros: 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. AMS Lite upgradeable later when multi-color becomes interesting. Cons: Open frame: ABS warping is a real problem without modification. No multi-color in the box: the Combo costs more and includes it. The upgrade to A1 Combo is tempting enough that many buyers regret not doing it upfront.
Also worth considering
fdmBambu Lab A1 Combo
Bambu Lab
9.2/10
Reddit Favorite
Multi-color printing out of the box, reliable enough for beginners, fast enough for anyone who's tired of watching a print head crawl.
Build
256mm
Speed
500mm/s
Layer
0.05mm
fdmBambu Lab A1 Mini
Bambu Lab
9.2/10
Best Value
Bambu quality on a budget. Desk footprint small enough that it fits next to your monitor without crowding anything out.
Build
180mm
Speed
500mm/s
Layer
0.05mm
