# Bambu Lab A1 vs P1S: which should you buy?

Buy the Bambu Lab A1 ($299) if you will print PLA and PETG and want the easiest, quietest printer. Buy the P1S ($399) if you want an enclosure for ABS and ASA, faster CoreXY motion and a printer that holds heat. Both have the same 256 mm cube build volume.

Updated Oct 27, 2026. HTML version: https://robotsforthat.com/guides/bambu-lab-a1-vs-p1s/

## Short answer

As of October 27, 2026, the Bambu Lab A1 costs $299 ($399 with the 4 color AMS lite) and the P1S costs $399 ($549 with the AMS). Both print a 256 mm cube at up to 500 mm/s. The A1 is open frame and best for PLA, PETG and TPU; the P1S is enclosed with a carbon filter and is the one to buy for ABS and ASA. Most beginners printing toys and household parts should get the A1. Tom's Hardware found the P1S noisy, while Bambu rates the A1 as quiet as 49 dB.

|  | Bambu Lab A1 | Bambu Lab P1S |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299 | $399 |
| With 4 color unit | $399 (AMS lite) | $549 (AMS) |
| Build volume | 256 x 256 x 256 mm | 256 x 256 x 256 mm |
| Max speed | Up to 500 mm/s | Up to 500 mm/s |
| Enclosure | No, open frame | Yes, with carbon filter |
| Best materials | PLA, PETG, TPU, PVA | PLA, PETG, TPU, ABS, ASA |
| Camera | Up to 1080p, low frame rate | 720p at 0.5 fps |
| Warranty | 2 years | 2 years |
| Recall history | Early units recalled in 2024 | None found |

## The main difference: the enclosure

The A1 is an open bed slinger: the bed moves back and forth under the nozzle. The P1S is a CoreXY printer in a closed box with a chamber fan and an activated carbon filter. That box is what lets the P1S print ABS and ASA, which warp and crack in open air, and it keeps fumes and hot parts contained.

Bambu Lab rates the A1 for PLA, PETG, TPU and PVA, and says ABS, ASA and similar plastics only suit small, low infill parts on it. All3DP printed ASA and PC on the P1S with little corner warping.

## Print quality and speed

Both top out at 500 mm/s and both calibrate themselves. TechRadar scored the A1 29 of 30 in its print quality test, and Tom's Hardware printed a speed Benchy on it in 19 min 15 s. Tom's Hardware said the P1S hits a sweet spot with affordable CoreXY speed and simple auto leveling.

For everyday PLA prints, reviewers found both excellent. The P1S gains on tall prints and tough plastics.

## Multicolor

The A1 Combo ($399) adds the AMS lite, which holds 4 spools on an open stand beside the printer. The P1S AMS Combo ($549) uses the full AMS on top of the printer, and up to 4 AMS units can be linked for 16 colors. Both waste filament on every color change.

## Noise, camera and safety

Bambu Lab rates the A1 as quiet as 49 dB. Tom's Hardware found the P1S noisy. All3DP criticized the P1S camera, which records at 720p and 0.5 frames per second.

About 12,800 early A1 printers sold from December 2023 to January 2024 were recalled in June 2024 over a heatbed cable that could short, spark or burn (CPSC recall 24-264). Bambu Lab says A1 printers sold after January 30, 2024 already include the fix. We found no recall for the P1S.

## Which should you buy?

Buy the A1 if you are new to printing, will mostly print PLA and PETG, and want a quieter printer for a desk or office. It is $100 cheaper and the Combo is the cheapest way into 4 color printing from Bambu.

Buy the P1S if you want ABS or ASA for outdoor or heat resistant parts, have kids or pets near the printer, or print in a garage where an enclosure helps. Bambu Lab also sells the newer P2S from $549 alongside it.

## Questions people ask

### Is the P1S worth $100 more than the A1?

Yes if you will print ABS or ASA or want an enclosure for safety. No if you print PLA and PETG, where reviewers found the A1 just as good and quieter.

### Can the A1 print ABS?

Bambu Lab says ABS and ASA on the A1 suit only small, low infill parts, because it has no enclosure. Pick the P1S for ABS.

### Is the Bambu Lab A1 safe after the recall?

The 2024 recall covered about 12,800 units sold December 2023 to January 2024. Bambu Lab says units sold after January 30, 2024 have an upgraded heatbed cable.

### Do they have the same build size?

Yes. Both list a 256 x 256 x 256 mm build volume.

## Sources

1. [Bambu Lab US store: A1](https://us.store.bambulab.com/products/a1)
2. [Bambu Lab US store: P1S](https://us.store.bambulab.com/products/p1s)
3. [TechRadar: Bambu Lab A1 review](https://www.techradar.com/pro/bambu-labs-a1-review)
4. [Tom's Hardware: Bambu Lab P1S review](https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/bambu-lab-p1s)
5. [All3DP: Bambu Lab P1S review](https://all3dp.com/1/bambu-lab-p1s-review/)
6. [CPSC: Bambu Lab recalls A1 3D printers](https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2024/Bambu-Lab-Recalls-A1-3D-Printers-Due-to-Electric-Shock-and-Fire-Hazards)