# Bambu Lab A1 vs Bambu Lab A1 mini

As of Oct 27, 2026, the Bambu Lab A1 costs $299 and the Bambu Lab A1 mini costs $219, so the Bambu Lab A1 mini is $80 cheaper. Pick the Bambu Lab A1 for beginners who want full size multi color prints. Pick the Bambu Lab A1 mini for first time buyers printing small PLA parts.

Prices checked Oct 27, 2026. HTML version: https://robotsforthat.com/vs/bambu-lab-a1-vs-bambu-lab-a1-mini/

## Side by side

| | Bambu Lab A1 | Bambu Lab A1 mini |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299 | $219 |
| 3 year cost | $299 | $219 |
| Our score | Not scored yet | Not scored yet |
| Rank in 3D printers | #9 | #7 |
| Status | on sale | on sale |
| Warranty | 2 years (Bambu Lab US store product page) | 2 years (Bambu Lab US store product page) |
| Build volume | 256 x 256 x 256 mm | 180 x 180 x 180 mm |
| Print speed | Up to 500 mm/s toolhead speed, 10,000 mm/s2 acceleration (Bambu Lab) | Up to 500 mm/s toolhead speed, 10,000 mm/s2 acceleration (Bambu Lab) |
| Multi color | Up to 4 colors with one AMS lite (Combo version); AMS units need the AMS HUB accessory | Up to 4 colors with the AMS lite (Combo version); AMS, AMS 2 Pro or AMS HT need the AMS HUB accessory |
| Enclosure | No, open frame; Bambu Lab does not recommend enclosing it | No, open frame |
| Auto leveling | Yes, full auto calibration of Z offset, bed level, vibration and nozzle pressure before each print | Yes, full auto calibration of Z offset, bed level, vibration and nozzle pressure before each print |
| Max nozzle temp | 300 C | 300 C |
| Heated bed | Yes, up to 100 C | Yes, up to 80 C |
| Filament types | Ideal: PLA, PETG, TPU, PVA. ABS, ASA, PC, PA and fiber filled types only for small, low infill parts | Ideal: PLA, PETG, TPU, PVA. Not recommended: ABS, ASA, PC, PA, PET, carbon or glass fiber filled |
| Connectivity | Bambu cloud service or LAN only mode; app and PC control | Wi-Fi, Bambu Bus, microSD card; app and PC control |
| Camera | Yes, low frame rate camera up to 1080p with timelapse | Yes, low frame rate camera up to 1080p with timelapse |
| Noise | As low as 49 dB (Bambu Lab claim) | As low as 49 dB (Bambu Lab claim) |
| Assembly | Ships mostly assembled | Ships pre assembled; about 20 minutes to the first print (Bambu Lab) |
| Weight | 8.3 kg net; 465 x 410 x 430 mm | 5.5 kg net; 347 x 315 x 365 mm |
| Best for | beginners who want full size multi color prints | first time buyers printing small PLA parts |
| Skip if | you print ABS or ASA often | you need large prints or ABS and ASA |

## What reviewers found

### Bambu Lab A1

- Tom's Hardware (Editor's Choice): Called it a reliable and quiet high speed printer at a competitive price. A speed Benchy took 19 min 15 s, and a panda print took 2 h 40 min in one color versus 6 h 46 min in three colors. [Source](https://tomshardware.com/3d-printing/bambu-lab-a1-review)
- TechRadar (Editor's Choice): Scored 29 of 30 in its print quality test with a combined dimensional error of 0.099 mm. Flagged the software as complex for beginners and the open frame as a limit for ABS and PC. [Source](https://www.techradar.com/pro/bambu-labs-a1-review)

### Bambu Lab A1 mini

- Tom's Hardware: Called it fast, quiet and easy to use. A speed Benchy took 19 min 15 s on a fast profile. A four color fire truck print took 22 h 25 min versus 4 h 19 min in one color, with 115 g of purge waste after tuning. [Source](https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/bambu-lab-a1-mini)
- All3DP: Found it consistent and reliable with clean multicolor prints. Complaints were a rattling purge wiper, no carry handle, a laggy touchscreen at times and no flexible filament support in the AMS lite. [Source](https://all3dp.com/1/bambu-lab-a1-mini-review/)

## Questions buyers ask

### Which is better, the Bambu Lab A1 or the Bambu Lab A1 mini?

Pick the Bambu Lab A1 for beginners who want full size multi color prints. Pick the Bambu Lab A1 mini for first time buyers printing small PLA parts.

### Which is cheaper?

The Bambu Lab A1 mini at $219, versus $299 for the Bambu Lab A1, checked Oct 27, 2026.

### What is the difference between the A1 and the A1 mini?

Build volume: 256 x 256 x 256 mm on the A1, 180 x 180 x 180 mm on the A1 mini. Multi color: Up to 4 colors with one AMS lite (Combo version); AMS units need the AMS HUB accessory on the A1, Up to 4 colors with the AMS lite (Combo version); AMS, AMS 2 Pro or AMS HT need the AMS… on the A1 mini. Enclosure: No, open frame; Bambu Lab does not recommend enclosing it on the A1, No, open frame on the A1 mini.

Full reviews: [Bambu Lab A1](https://robotsforthat.com/robot/bambu-lab-a1/index.md), [Bambu Lab A1 mini](https://robotsforthat.com/robot/bambu-lab-a1-mini/index.md)