Bambu Lab A1 vs Bambu Lab H2S
Researched by Riley Hart · prices checked Nov 4, 2026
As of Nov 4, 2026, the Bambu Lab A1 costs $359 and the Bambu Lab H2S costs $1,049, so the Bambu Lab A1 is $690 cheaper. The Bambu Lab H2S has a published review score and ranks #28 in our 3D printers ranking; the Bambu Lab A1 is not scored yet. Pick the Bambu Lab A1 for beginners who want full size multi color prints. Pick the Bambu Lab H2S for large prints and engineering filaments. The Bambu Lab H2S wins 4 of 5 points we can measure.
Who wins, point by point
The Bambu Lab H2S wins 4 of 5 points we can measure. Built from today's prices, the specs and independent tests for these two robots.
| A1 | H2S | Winner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price today | $359 | $1,049 | A1 |
| Build volume | 256 x 256 x 256 mm | 340 x 320 x 340 mm | H2S |
| Top print speed | 500 mm/s | 1000 mm/s | H2S |
| Max nozzle temp | 300°C | 350°C | H2S |
| Release year | 2023 | 2025 | H2S |
- You want to spend less (saves $690)
- Best for beginners who want full size multi color prints
- You care most about build volume (340 x 320 x 340 mm vs 256 x 256 x 256 mm)
- You care most about top print speed (1000 mm/s vs 500 mm/s)
- You care most about max nozzle temp (350°C vs 300°C)
- Best for large prints and engineering filaments
- Build volume
- 256 x 256 x 256 mm
- Max speed
- Up to 500 mm/s toolhead
- Multicolor
- Up to 4 colors
- Enclosure
- No
Full size starter printer with optional 4 color AMS lite
Full Bambu Lab A1 review, pros and cons →- Build volume
- 340 x 320 x 340 mm
- Max speed
- Up to 1,000 mm/s
- Multicolor
- Yes
- Enclosure
- Yes
Big single nozzle enclosed printer for large and engineering prints
Full Bambu Lab H2S review, pros and cons →Side by side
| Bambu Lab A1 | Bambu Lab H2S | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $359 | $1,049 |
| 3 year cost | $359 | $1,049 |
| Our score | Not scored yet | 6.1/10 |
| Rank in 3D printers | #36 | #28 |
| Status | on sale | on sale |
| Warranty | 2 years (Bambu Lab US store product page) | n/a |
| Build volume | 256 x 256 x 256 mm | 340 x 320 x 340 mm (Bambu Lab) |
| Print speed | Up to 500 mm/s toolhead speed, 10,000 mm/s2 acceleration (Bambu Lab) | Up to 1,000 mm/s toolhead speed, 20,000 mm/s2 acceleration (Bambu Lab) |
| Multi color | Up to 4 colors with one AMS lite (Combo version); AMS units need the AMS HUB accessory | Yes with AMS 2 Pro (AMS Combo version); single nozzle, so color changes purge filament. CGMagazine says chained AMS units can hold 16 or more spools |
| Enclosure | No, open frame; Bambu Lab does not recommend enclosing it | Yes, fully enclosed with active chamber heating up to 65 C (Bambu Lab) |
| Auto leveling | Yes, full auto calibration of Z offset, bed level, vibration and nozzle pressure before each print | Yes, automatic calibration; first run calibration took about 30 minutes for The Gadgeteer |
| Max nozzle temp | 300 C | 350 C (Bambu Lab) |
| Heated bed | Yes, up to 100 C | Yes, up to 120 C (CGMagazine, The Gadgeteer) |
| Filament types | Ideal: PLA, PETG, TPU, PVA. ABS, ASA, PC, PA and fiber filled types only for small, low infill parts | PLA, PETG, TPU, ABS, ASA, PC, PPA, PA6 GF, PAHT CF and other fiber filled engineering filaments (Bambu Lab) |
| Connectivity | Bambu cloud service or LAN only mode; app and PC control | Cloud, LAN, full offline mode, USB drive (not included); MQTT access in Developer Mode (Bambu Lab) |
| Camera | Yes, low frame rate camera up to 1080p with timelapse | Yes, 3 cameras including a top down BirdsEye camera and a toolhead camera, with AI failure detection (Bambu Lab) |
| Noise | As low as 49 dB (Bambu Lab claim) | Below 50 dB (Bambu Lab claim, measured at 1 m) |
| Assembly | Ships mostly assembled | Ships assembled; CGMagazine says unboxing needs two people and setup with calibration can take more than 30 minutes |
| Weight | 8.3 kg net; 465 x 410 x 430 mm | 30 kg printer alone, 40.7 kg AMS combo (The Gadgeteer) |
| Best for | beginners who want full size multi color prints | large prints and engineering filaments |
| Skip if | you print ABS or ASA often | you print lots of multi color models |
Specs are maker claims unless a reviewer is named. Prices from the stores we link, checked daily.
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
- 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
Bambu Lab H2S
- CGMagazine (8/10): Called it refined and reliable. Real world print times were about 20 to 30% shorter than typical fast CoreXY profiles and aggregated XY error measured under 0.5 mm. Multi color prints ran a few hours longer than on the H2D on day long jobs, with considerable purge waste. Source
- The Gadgeteer: Ran the H2S AMS 2 Pro combo for about a month, often around the clock. First calibration took about 30 minutes, PETG CF prints finished well and the AMS 2 Pro was nearly error free. Downsides were purge waste on multi color jobs and the pricey optional Vision Encoder. Source
Questions buyers ask
Which is better, the Bambu Lab A1 or the Bambu Lab H2S?
The Bambu Lab H2S has a published review score and ranks #28 in our 3D printers ranking; the Bambu Lab A1 is not scored yet. Pick the Bambu Lab A1 for beginners who want full size multi color prints. Pick the Bambu Lab H2S for large prints and engineering filaments.
Which is cheaper?
The Bambu Lab A1 at $359, versus $1,049 for the Bambu Lab H2S, checked Nov 4, 2026.
What is the difference between the A1 and the H2S?
Build volume: 256 x 256 x 256 mm on the A1, 340 x 320 x 340 mm (Bambu Lab) on the H2S. Print speed: Up to 500 mm/s toolhead speed, 10,000 mm/s2 acceleration (Bambu Lab) on the A1, Up to 1,000 mm/s toolhead speed, 20,000 mm/s2 acceleration (Bambu Lab) on the H2S. Multi color: Up to 4 colors with one AMS lite (Combo version); AMS units need the AMS HUB accessory on the A1, Yes with AMS 2 Pro (AMS Combo version); single nozzle, so color changes purge filament… on the H2S.
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