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Bambu Lab A1 vs Bambu Lab P1S
Today the cheapest Bambu Lab A1 listing is £239.00 and the cheapest Bambu Lab P1S listing is £359.00. For ease of use the Bambu Lab A1 scores 10/10 and the Bambu Lab P1S 8/10, and on our reliability indicator they score 7.3/10 and 7.7/10. Both have a build volume of 256 × 256 × 256 mm.
Where these figures come from. We have not bench-tested these printers. Everything here is taken from our two reviews, which are desk research, and from the prices and buyer ratings this site tracks. Both scores are calculated from published inputs.
| Bambu Lab A1 | Bambu Lab P1S | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest today | £239.00 | £359.00 |
| Ease of use | 10/10 | 8/10 |
| Technical difficulty | Low | Low |
| Reliability indicator | 7.3/10 | 7.7/10 |
| Amazon buyer rating | 4.6 out of 5 (701 Amazon ratings) | 4.4 out of 5 (917 Amazon ratings) |
| Type | Filament (FDM), open-frame bed-slinger with linear rails | Filament (FDM), enclosed CoreXY |
| Build volume | 256 × 256 × 256 mm | 256 × 256 × 256 mm |
| Calibration | Automatic bed levelling, vibration compensation and flow | Automatic bed levelling and vibration compensation |
| Nozzle | Tool-free quick-swap, stainless steel, 0.4 mm supplied | Stainless steel, 0.4 mm supplied, part of the hotend assembly |
| Multi-colour | Optional AMS lite (4 colours), sold as a combo | Optional AMS, sold as a combo |
| On sale since | 2023 | 2023 |
| Best for | Most first-time buyers who want a full-size printer that sets itself up and prints PLA, PETG and TPU with little fuss. | Buyers who want an enclosed, fast, dependable printer for a wide range of materials, and value polished software over tinkering. |
| Not for | You want to print ABS or ASA, which need an enclosure, or your desk lacks depth for a moving bed. | You want a touchscreen and quick nozzle changes, or plan to print abrasive filled filaments without upgrading the nozzle. |
Verdict: Bambu Lab A1 or Bambu Lab P1S?
- Cheaper today: Bambu Lab A1, by £120.00
- Easier to use: Bambu Lab A1, 10/10 against 8/10
- Higher reliability indicator: Bambu Lab P1S, 7.7/10 against 7.3/10
- Larger build volume: Level: about 16.8 litres each
Bambu Lab A1
The A1 brings the A1 mini’s effortless setup to a full-size 256 mm bed, which makes it one of the best all-round first printers. Early units were recalled over a heatbed cable; the fix is free, but worth knowing about with old stock or second-hand machines.
Bambu Lab P1S
A polished, enclosed CoreXY printer that handles ABS and ASA almost as easily as PLA, backed by very mature software. It lacks a touchscreen and tool-free nozzle swaps, which costs it ease-of-use points rather than print quality.
Questions people ask
Is the Bambu Lab A1 or the Bambu Lab P1S cheaper in the UK?
The Bambu Lab A1 is cheaper than the Bambu Lab P1S on Amazon UK in November 2026: its cheapest listing tracked by 3D Printer Deals costs 239.00 pounds, against 359.00 pounds for the Bambu Lab P1S, a difference of 120.00 pounds. Both are sold in several versions and bundles, and these are the cheapest new listings of each in stock.
Is the Bambu Lab A1 easier to use than the Bambu Lab P1S?
Yes, the Bambu Lab A1 is easier to use than the Bambu Lab P1S: it scores 10 out of 10 on the 3D Printer Deals ease-of-use checklist, against 8 out of 10 for the Bambu Lab P1S. The checklist counts the features that decide how much of your time a printer takes, such as arriving assembled and levelling itself, each checked against the manufacturer's specifications.
Does the Bambu Lab A1 or the Bambu Lab P1S have the larger build volume?
The Bambu Lab A1 and the Bambu Lab P1S have effectively the same build volume: 256 × 256 × 256 mm for the Bambu Lab A1 and 256 × 256 × 256 mm for the Bambu Lab P1S, about 16.8 litres each.
Is the Bambu Lab A1 or the Bambu Lab P1S more reliable?
The Bambu Lab P1S has the higher reliability indicator on 3D Printer Deals in November 2026: 7.7 out of 10, against 7.3 for the Bambu Lab A1. The indicator is built from Amazon buyer ratings, review volume and years on sale, minus documented issues. It is not a measured failure rate.