Bambu Lab A1 vs P1S: Spec Comparison

Research only. This comparison uses the Bambu Lab UK store pages for the A1 and P1S, read on 2026-10-10. Nozzle Notes has not tested either printer, so speed and quality figures are the maker's claims. The selection method: two printers from one maker that new buyers often cross-shop, with every figure taken from the maker's page.

The short answer

• Pick the A1 if you mainly print PLA, PETG or TPU and want the lower price. It is open frame and Bambu Lab does not recommend enclosing it.
• Pick the P1S if you want an enclosed chamber for ABS or ASA, or want a filtered chamber. It costs 120 GBP more as a bare printer on the UK store.

A1 vs P1S specs side by side

The motion type is a general fact about the two designs. The A1 moves its bed along one axis, like most budget printers; the P1S uses a CoreXY layout, described in our CoreXY vs bed-slinger explainer.

Enclosure and materials

This is the biggest practical difference. The P1S page lists ABS and ASA as ideal and says the activated carbon filter is there for filaments that emit odors and harmful gases during printing. The A1 page lists ABS, ASA, PC, PA, PET and fiber-reinforced materials as not recommended, and its FAQ says Bambu Lab does not recommend enclosing the A1.

Fumes are a safety topic: follow Bambu Lab's guidance and the filament maker's safety data sheet for ventilation. Read more in our 3D printer safety basics and the enclosed vs open-frame guide.

One caution from the P1S page: it says directly printing glass or carbon fiber filaments is not recommended before an extruder and hotend upgrade. Both printers ship with a stainless steel nozzle.

Speed and motion

Both list 500 mm/s as the toolhead maximum. The P1S lists higher acceleration, 20,000 against 10,000 mm/s2. Maker top speeds are best-case figures, and real print time depends on the model and profile, so treat these as an upper bound.

Multi-color

The A1 Combo includes an AMS lite for four spools, and the A1 supports only one AMS lite. The P1S AMS combo is listed up to 16 colors if four AMS units are stacked. See the multicolor printing explainer for what that costs in waste.

Price gap

Bambu Lab UK store prices on 2026-10-10 (GBP; the US store redirected to the UK store when fetched):

That is a 120 GBP gap for the bare printer and 150 GBP for the AMS versions. The P1S page also lists an AMS 2 Pro combo. The Bambu Lab store changes prices often, so check before buying.

Size, noise and placement

The P1S is the heavier and taller machine on paper, at 12.95 kg and 458 mm tall against 8.3 kg and 430 mm for the A1, though the A1 has a wider footprint (465 x 410 mm against 389 x 389 mm). The A1 lists Active Motor Noise Canceling on its store page. The P1S enclosure holds noise and heat inside the chamber, but no decibel figure appears on either page, so noise is not compared. Placement advice is in where to put a 3D printer.

Support period and what the spec sheets leave out

The P1S page states guaranteed bug fixes and feature updates until 13 July 2028 and security patches until 13 July 2030. The A1 page read for this article gives no date, so the two cannot be compared on support length. Bambu Lab says products keep working after those periods with the same feature availability.

The sheets also say nothing about noise, real print time, reliability or print quality, and Nozzle Notes has not tested either printer. A bed-slinger and a CoreXY machine can differ in how they behave at speed, but that is a design generalization, not a measured result here. Start with the first printer guide if you are unsure which matters to you.

Choose A if, choose B if

• Choose the A1 for the lowest cost of a 256 mm Bambu printer and a PLA, PETG and TPU workflow.
• Choose the P1S for an enclosed chamber, ABS or ASA, and a carbon filter.
• If size is the only question, the A1 vs A1 mini comparison covers the smaller option, and P1S vs P2S covers the newer enclosed model.