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A1 mini vs P2S

Last updated daily price tracker

The cheapest entry vs a proper all-rounder. $250 at current street prices, and an enclosure, apart.

Which one should I buy?

Get the A1 mini ($199) to start cheap and print PLA. Get the P2S ($449) if you know you'll want to print ABS or ASA, or if you want more build volume and speed from day one.

Specs: Bambu Lab A1 mini tech specsBambu Lab P2S tech specs, checked November 3, 2026

Where to buy

Day-one accessories
Build platesFilament dryers

Daily price historyLinks to Amazon are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Strengths: A1 mini vs P2S

A1 mini

  • $250 cheaper at its current $199, most affordable Bambu printer
  • Compact footprint, fits easily on a small desk
  • Simple and approachable for first-time 3D printer owners
  • AMS Lite for 4-color PLA printing

P2S

  • Enclosed, with ABS, ASA and PA on Bambu's filament list
  • 256 mm cube build volume vs 180 mm cube, about 2.9x the capacity
  • 600mm/s vs 500mm/s, faster throughput
  • CoreXY. No moving bed, better for tall prints
  • Box AMS (AMS 2 Pro, AMS HT) connects directly; the A1 mini needs the A Series AMS Hub

Specs at a glance

FeatureA1 miniP2S
Price$199 $219$449 $549
Build volume180 × 180 × 180 mm256 × 256 × 256 mm
Max speed500 mm/s600 mm/s
KinematicsBed-slingerCoreXY
EnclosureNoYes
ChamberNone (open)Passive (~50°C)
Max nozzle temp300°C300°C
AMS typeAMS Lite (box AMS via hub)AMS, AMS 2 Pro, AMS HT (up to 20 slots)
LidarNoNo
Auto calibrationYesYes

US store prices, struck-through = Bambu's "Typical Price" (median store price on at least 7 of the last 90 days, excluding promotions)

Build volumes of the A1 mini, 180 by 180 by 180 millimeters, and the P2S, 256 by 256 by 256 millimeters, overlaid to the same scale 180 mm 256 mm 180 mm 256 mm 180 mm 256 mm front view side view A1 mini, 5.8 L P2S, 16.8 L Build volumes of the A1 mini, 180 by 180 by 180 millimeters, and the P2S, 256 by 256 by 256 millimeters, overlaid to the same scale 180 mm 256 mm 180 mm 256 mm front view 180 mm 256 mm 180 mm 256 mm side view A1 mini, 5.8 L P2S, 16.8 L
Fig. 1A1 mini 180 × 180 × 180 mm (solid) and P2S 256 × 256 × 256 mm (dash-dot) to the same scale: the P2S is 76 mm wider, 76 mm deeper and 76 mm taller (16.8 L against 5.8 L).
Top outlines of the A1 mini, 347 by 315 millimeters, and the P2S, 392 by 406 millimeters, schematic, side by side to the same scale 347 mm 392 mm 315 mm 406 mm A1 mini P2S Top outlines of the A1 mini, 347 by 315 millimeters, and the P2S, 392 by 406 millimeters, schematic, side by side to the same scale 347 mm 315 mm A1 mini 392 mm 406 mm P2S
Fig. 2Top outlines to the same scale: A1 mini 347 × 315 mm, P2S 392 × 406 mm (width × depth); the P2S is 45 mm wider and 91 mm deeper.
  • Bambu does not label the axes of these outer dimensions (A1 mini 347 × 315 × 365 mm, P2S 392 × 406 × 478 mm); read as width × depth × height. Schematic outline; only the outer dimensions are Bambu's figures. While printing, the bed moves front to back and can stick out beyond this outline; Bambu gives no figure for it.
  • Source: Bambu bambulab.com/en-us/a1-mini/tech-specs, retrieved 2026-10-16; Bambu bambulab.com/en-us/p2s/specs, retrieved 2026-10-16

Two different entry points into Bambu

The A1 mini is Bambu's cheapest printer. It's excellent for PLA hobbyists, miniature painters, and anyone who wants a reliable plug-and-play machine without spending much. The P2S is Bambu's newer enclosed P-series printer; the older P1S ($349) is the cheapest enclosed Bambu. The P2S can do everything the A1 mini can and more, with a bigger build plate and support for engineering materials.

The key question is whether you know what you want to print. PLA and small objects? A1 mini. Anything bigger, faster, or requiring an enclosure? P2S.

Get the A1 mini if...

  • Budget is the top priority
  • You print miniatures, figurines, or small objects
  • You have limited desk space
  • It's your first 3D printer and you want the simplest start

Get the P2S if...

  • You think you might eventually print ABS or ASA
  • You want the full 256mm build volume from the start
  • You're not sure what you'll print, more capability is safer
  • You want box-AMS reliability over AMS Lite without an extra hub

Full specs and review:A1 mini pageP2S page

Will I regret the A1 mini?

Some do, some don't. Users who only print small PLA objects love the A1 mini and never feel limited. Users who discover they want to print larger parts or ABS often upgrade within a year. If you genuinely don't know yet, the extra for the P2S is cheap insurance ($250 at current prices). If you know exactly what you'll print and it's small PLA work, the A1 mini is a great choice.

More comparisons

What changed

Newest first, from this page's version history. Only changes to text you can read here; date refreshes and reshuffled reading links are left out.

  1. Bambu US store price update: A1 mini $199 (was $219), P2S $449 (was $549), P1S $349 (was $399).
  2. A1 mini price back at $219 and the P1S reference at $399; the gap to the P2S is $330 again.
  3. A1 mini price now $209 (was $219), so the gap to the P2S is $340; the P1S reference price is now $369 (was $399).

Earlier changes

Earlier changes

6 older entries, Jul 5, 2026 to Oct 3, 2026.

ShowHide
  1. Spec table: the P2S chamber value is back, now listed as passive at ~50°C (was enclosed, not actively heated).
  2. AMS rows updated: the P2S connects a box AMS (AMS, AMS 2 Pro or AMS HT, up to 20 slots) directly, while the A1 mini needs the A Series AMS Hub (was AMS 2.0).
  3. Build volume comparison corrected: the P2S has about 2.9x the capacity of the A1 mini (was 42% more); ABS, ASA and PA are now cited from Bambu's filament list.
  4. Corrected: the older P1S ($399), not the P2S, is the cheapest enclosed Bambu printer.
  5. A1 mini now at its $219 street price (list $299), so the gap to the P2S ($549) is $330 (was $250).
  6. Spec table: the P2S chamber is now listed as enclosed, not actively heated (was passive ~50°C).
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A1 mini vs P2S
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