A1 vs X1E
Consumer vs enterprise: these barely compete
Quick answer: Get the A1 ($299 street, list $399) in almost every case. Get the X1E only if you run an engineering production environment that needs PA-CF or PC; it costs over 6x more ($2,499) and is discontinued as of March 2026.
Which one should I buy?
Almost certainly the A1 ($299 street). The X1E is an industrial engineering printer costing over 8× more ($2,499), built for PA-CF and PC production, not hobbyist printing. It is also discontinued as of March 2026.
A1
- 8× cheaper at its current $299 street price, far better value for PLA/PETG/TPU printing
- Touchscreen and quick-swap nozzle, easier consumer experience
- No enclosure needed for everyday materials, simpler setup
- AMS Lite compatible for 4-color prints without complexity
X1E
- Active 60°C chamber heating, required for PA-CF, PC, and PPS engineering materials
- Industrial-grade HEPA + VOC filtration, meets workplace safety requirements
- Fully enclosed dry filament path, prevents moisture absorption in hygroscopic materials
- Enterprise fleet management, built for multi-printer production environments
If you're comparing these two, you almost certainly want the A1. The X1E is an enterprise engineering printer targeting PA-CF, PC, and PPS production. The A1 is a consumer printer for PLA/PETG. They don't meaningfully compete.
Specs comparison
| Feature | A1 | X1E |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299 $399 | $2,499 |
| Build volume | 256 × 256 × 256 mm | 256 × 256 × 256 mm |
| Kinematics | Bed-slinger | CoreXY |
| Max speed | 500 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Enclosure | No | Yes (full industrial) |
| Chamber heating | No | Active 60°C |
| Materials | PLA, PETG, TPU | PA-CF, PC, PPS, PLA, PETG, ABS |
| Target user | Consumer/Hobbyist | Enterprise/Engineering |
- Active 60°C chamber heating (required for PA-CF, PC, PPS)
- Industrial-grade HEPA + VOC filtration
- Fully dry filament path (keeps hygroscopic materials dry)
- Enterprise fleet management features
- Hardened motion system and nozzles
The A1 is excellent at what it does: PLA, PETG, and TPU for hobbyists. It's not designed for engineering materials and doesn't need to be. Practically no one should be choosing between these, if you're a hobbyist, get the A1.
Full specs and review: A1 page · X1E page