Compare › A1 vs P2S

A1 vs P2S

$150 more buys you an enclosure, faster speeds, and the ability to print engineering materials

Which one should I buy?

Get the A1 ($399) if you print PLA and PETG and want to save money. Get the P2S ($549) if you want an enclosure for ABS/ASA. It's only $150 more and faster too.

A1

  • $150 cheaper, meaningful savings for PLA-only use
  • Open design, easy filament loading and print monitoring
  • AMS Lite still gives you 4-color capability
  • Simpler machine with less to go wrong

P2S

  • Enclosed, handles ABS, ASA, and PA without warping
  • 600mm/s max speed, 20% faster than the A1
  • CoreXY kinematics, better for tall and heavy prints
  • AMS 2.0, more reliable multi-material feeding
  • Newer platform with longer software support expected

Specs at a glance

FeatureA1P2S
Price$399$549
Build volume256 × 256 × 256 mm256 × 256 × 256 mm
Max speed500 mm/s600 mm/s
KinematicsBed-slingerCoreXY
EnclosureNoYes
Chamber tempAmbientPassive ~50°C
Max nozzle temp300°C300°C
AMS typeAMS LiteAMS 2.0
LidarNoNo
Auto calibrationYesYes

A small price gap, a big capability gap

At $150 apart, the A1 and P2S are the closest cross-tier comparison in the Bambu lineup. The build volume is identical. The speed difference (500 vs 600mm/s) is real but rarely the deciding factor. What actually matters is the enclosure.

If you ever want to print ABS or ASA, even occasionally: the A1 will frustrate you with warping and layer separation. The P2S passive chamber hits ~50°C and solves this completely.

Get the A1 if...

  • You only print PLA, PETG, or TPU
  • You want the cheapest capable Bambu printer
  • You prefer open access for monitoring
  • You already own an A1 and are considering an upgrade (don't bother)

Get the P2S if...

  • You want to print ABS, ASA, or PA
  • You want faster prints and CoreXY stability
  • You're buying your first printer and want room to grow
  • You want AMS 2.0 for more reliable multi-material

Usually yes. The P2S is the better all-rounder for only $150 more. If you know with certainty you'll only ever print PLA, the A1 is fine. But most people's filament interests expand over time, and the P2S enclosure future-proofs you without breaking the bank.

More comparisons