A1 vs P1P
Two different philosophies at similar prices
Which one should I buy?
A1 for new buyers. P1P is discontinued. If you want enclosed CoreXY, get the P2S ($549) instead.
A1
- $100 cheaper new ($399 vs ~$499 used P1P) and still in production
- Touchscreen for on-printer control. No app required for basic operation
- Quick-swap nozzle system, faster material and size changes
- Simpler bed-slinger design with fewer moving parts to maintain
P1P
- CoreXY kinematics, bed only moves in Z, more stable for tall prints
- Compatible with full AMS, humidity control and up to 16-color daisy-chain
- Accepts P1S enclosure panels, upgrade path to ABS/ASA printing
- CoreXY motion system handles higher speeds on tall prints with less ringing
Specs comparison
| Feature | A1 | P1P |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399 | ~$499 (discontinued, used) |
| Build volume | 256 × 256 × 256 mm | 256 × 256 × 256 mm |
| Kinematics | Bed-slinger | CoreXY |
| Max speed | 500 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Touchscreen | 2.4" color | None (app control) |
| Quick-swap nozzle | Yes | No |
| Enclosure | No | No (P1S panels sold separately) |
| AMS compatible | AMS Lite | Full AMS |
| Lidar | No | No |
The real differences
The A1 is a bed-slinger: the bed moves in Y, the print head moves in X and Z. The P1P is CoreXY: the bed only moves in Z; the print head moves in X and Y. CoreXY is generally better for tall prints because the bed doesn't shake. For most prints under 150mm tall, the difference is minimal. The A1's bed-slinger design is simpler and has fewer failure modes.
The A1 uses AMS Lite, a simplified multi-filament system that works well for 4-color printing. The P1P supports the full AMS, which has built-in humidity control and can daisy-chain to 16 colors. If multi-color printing is a priority, the P1P + AMS ecosystem has more capability.
The A1 has a touchscreen for on-printer control. The P1P is app-only. The P1P is also designed to accept P1S enclosure panels, so you can add an enclosure for ABS/ASA printing. The A1 has no enclosure upgrade path.
Get the A1 if...
- You want a touchscreen for on-printer control
- You want quick-swap nozzles
- Simpler operation matters more than CoreXY
- You want a lower price and a new unit
Get the P1P used if...
- You want CoreXY reliability for tall prints
- You plan to add P1S enclosure panels later
- You primarily print tall objects
- Or consider the P2S ($549) new instead