What is the difference between the Bambu Lab A1 and P1S?

The core difference is enclosure and material ceiling. The A1 is an open-frame printer that starts at $399 solo and handles PLA, PETG, and TPU well, but Bambu Lab's own spec page doesn't list ABS or ASA as supported materials for it. The P1S is fully enclosed with a passive chamber, starts at $699 MSRP (frequently on sale for $399-$499), and reliably prints ABS and ASA alongside PLA/PETG/TPU. Both share the same 256×256×256 mm build volume and similar core print quality on shared materials — the decision comes down to whether you need an enclosure.

Is the Bambu Lab A1 or P1S better for beginners?

The A1 is the easier on-ramp for most first-time buyers. It's $300 cheaper at MSRP, ships assembled, and runs the same full auto-calibration (bed leveling, flow rate, vibration compensation) as every current Bambu Lab printer. The P1S adds real value once you outgrow PLA/PETG and want ABS or ASA for stronger, heat-resistant parts — but that's a second-printer decision for most beginners, not a first one.

Can the Bambu Lab A1 print ABS like the P1S can?

Not reliably. The A1's open frame has no chamber to hold heat, so ABS and ASA warp and crack as they cool unevenly — Bambu Lab's own spec page doesn't list either material as supported for the A1. The P1S's passive enclosure traps ambient heat from the bed and hotend, which is enough to print ABS and ASA cleanly. If ABS/ASA matters to you, the P1S is the printer, not the A1.

Is the Bambu Lab P1S worth $300 more than the A1?

Only if you need the enclosure. At MSRP the P1S costs $300 more, but it's frequently discounted to $399-$499 — sometimes barely above the A1's own $399 price, per Tom's Hardware and other retailer sale coverage. Check current sale pricing before deciding: if the gap has narrowed, the P1S's ABS/ASA support and enclosed chamber make it the easy upgrade pick. If the A1 is on its own sale too, stick with it unless you specifically need enclosed printing.

Do the A1 and P1S use the same AMS for multi-color printing?

No — different systems. The A1 uses the AMS lite, which feeds up to four spools from one unit and is not chainable, so four colors is the ceiling. The P1S uses the full AMS 2 Pro, which can be chained across multiple units for up to 16 colors. If multi-color variety matters as much as the enclosure, that's a second reason to prefer the P1S.

Bambu Lab A1 vs P1S 2026: Which One Should You Buy?

The Bambu Lab A1 and P1S are the two printers most first- and second-time buyers cross-shop, and for good reason — they sit close enough in price that the decision isn’t obvious. The A1 is the cheaper, open-frame printer that’s become the default first-printer recommendation in the hobby. The P1S is the enclosed step-up that unlocks ABS and ASA. Here’s how to tell which one your prints actually need.

Quick answer: Buy the Bambu Lab A1 ($399 solo, $649 Combo with AMS lite) if you print PLA, PETG, or TPU and want the cheapest fast path into the hobby — it ships assembled and runs the same full auto-calibration as every current Bambu Lab printer. Step up to the Bambu Lab P1S ($699 MSRP, frequently $399-$499 on sale) if you need its fully enclosed chamber to print ABS or ASA, materials Bambu Lab's own spec page doesn't list as supported on the open-frame A1. Both share the same 256×256×256 mm build volume, so the real decision is enclosure and material ceiling, not core print quality.

Bambu Lab A1 vs P1S by the numbers

$399 vs $699 — the MSRP gap. The A1 undercuts the P1S by $300 at list price, though the P1S has repeatedly sold for $399-$499 on sale, per Tom’s Hardware’s coverage of Bambu Lab promotions.
Open-frame vs enclosed — the single biggest capability difference. The A1 has no chamber; the P1S is fully enclosed with a passive chamber that traps ambient heat from the bed and hotend.
No ABS/ASA vs full support — Bambu Lab’s own spec page doesn’t list ABS or ASA as supported materials for the A1, while the P1S handles both reliably thanks to its enclosure.
4 vs 16 colors — the A1’s AMS lite feeds up to four spools from a single, non-chainable unit; the P1S’s AMS 2 Pro can be chained across multiple units for up to 16 colors.
500 mm/s — the rated top print speed both printers share, per Bambu Lab’s spec sheet — speed isn’t a differentiator here.

Bambu Lab A1 vs P1S at a glance

Spec	Bambu Lab A1	Bambu Lab P1S
Build volume	256 × 256 × 256 mm	256 × 256 × 256 mm
Starting price	$399 (Combo $649)	$699 MSRP (often $399-$499 on sale)
Enclosure	Open-frame, none	Fully enclosed, passive chamber
ABS / ASA support	Not supported per Bambu Lab	Fully supported
Rated speed	500 mm/s	500 mm/s
Multi-color system	AMS lite (4 colors, not chainable)	AMS 2 Pro (up to 16 colors, chainable)
Auto-calibration	Full (bed, flow, vibration)	Full (bed, flow, vibration)
Best for	Budget-first PLA/PETG/TPU printing	ABS/ASA and larger multi-color jobs

Bambu Lab A1: the budget-first everyday printer

The A1 is the printer most first-time buyers should start with. At $399 it’s Bambu Lab’s cheapest current full-size printer, ships assembled, and runs the exact same auto-calibration routine as every pricier model in the lineup — bed leveling, flow rate, and vibration compensation, all handled without manual tuning. Its 256×256×256 mm build volume covers the overwhelming majority of hobby prints in PLA, PETG, and TPU.

Bambu Lab A1

Best budget-first open-frame printer · $399

256×256×256 mm build volume, 500 mm/s rated top speed.
Ships assembled with full auto-calibration out of the box.
Handles PLA, PETG, and TPU well — no ABS/ASA support per Bambu Lab's spec page.
AMS lite compatible for up to 4-color prints (Combo $649).

Check price on Amazon →

Want to try the ecosystem before committing to a full purchase? A free 30-day Amazon Prime trial gets filament and spare nozzles to your door in two days while you get the A1 dialed in.

Bambu Lab P1S: the enclosed step-up

The P1S exists for buyers the A1 can’t fully serve: anyone who wants ABS or ASA, or who plans to grow into a bigger multi-color setup. Its passive enclosure traps ambient heat from the bed and hotend, enough to keep ABS and ASA from warping and cracking as they cool — the exact failure mode the A1’s open frame can’t prevent. Paired with the chainable AMS 2 Pro, it also has real headroom for buyers who outgrow four-color printing.

Bambu Lab P1S

Best enclosed step-up printer · $699 MSRP, often $399-$499 on sale

256×256×256 mm build volume, 500 mm/s rated top speed.
Fully enclosed passive chamber — reliably prints ABS and ASA.
AMS 2 Pro compatible and chainable, up to 16 colors across multiple units.
Frequently discounted to $399-$499, narrowing the gap to the A1.

Check price on Amazon →

How to choose between the A1 and P1S

Since both printers share the same build volume, speed, and calibration system, the decision comes down to two questions:

Will you ever print ABS or ASA? If yes, only the P1S’s enclosure gets you there reliably — Bambu Lab doesn’t list either material as supported on the open-frame A1, and forcing the issue means cracked, warped parts.
Do you need more than four colors, or plan to chain AMS units later? The A1’s AMS lite tops out at four spools with no chaining option; the P1S’s AMS 2 Pro scales to 16 colors if your projects grow.

For most first-time buyers printing PLA, PETG, and TPU, start with the A1 — it’s $300 cheaper at list and covers nearly everything a new printer owner needs. Reach for the P1S specifically when ABS/ASA or a bigger multi-color setup is a real requirement, and check current sale pricing first — the two printers are often closer in price than their MSRPs suggest.

Bottom line

The Bambu Lab A1 and P1S aren’t fighting over the same buyer. The A1 is the cheaper, open-frame printer that covers the vast majority of PLA/PETG/TPU hobby work at the lowest possible entry price. The P1S costs more at MSRP but solves one specific problem the A1 can’t: an enclosure for ABS and ASA, plus room to grow into a bigger AMS setup. Buy the A1 unless ABS/ASA support is a real need for you — then the P1S is worth the premium, especially when it’s on sale.

Bambu Lab A1 review — our full breakdown of the open-frame budget pick.
Bambu Lab A1 vs A1 mini — how the A1 compares to its smaller sibling.
Bambu Lab X2D vs P1S — how the P1S stacks up against Bambu’s dual-nozzle enclosed printer.
Best enclosed 3D printer — the full enclosed-printer roundup, P1S included.
Best 3D printer for beginners — where both printers rank for first-time buyers.
ABS vs ASA — the material difference that drives the enclosure decision.