The Bambu Lab P2S Combo meets
the Bambu Lab P1S
The plug-and-play multi-color workhorse that reviewers call the best 3D printer in the world. We tested it head-to-head against the Bambu Lab P1S ($399) across 6 key dimensions.
Bambu Lab P2S Combo
“The plug-and-play multi-color workhorse that reviewers call the best 3D printer in the world”
Bambu Lab P1S
“Identical print quality to the P2S at nearly half the price, with built-in filtration the pricier model lacks”
Head-to-Head Breakdown
Strengths & Weaknesses
Bambu Lab P2S Combo
- Zero failed prints across dozens of models in PLA, PETG, and ABS (Tech Fowler)
- AMS2 Pro actively dries filament and automates multi-color spool changes with no intervention (M.M's Prop Shop)
- 1080p camera with AI spaghetti detection automatically pauses failed prints (Frankly Built)
- 5-inch responsive touchscreen replaces the archaic screen from older Bambu models (Frankly Built)
- Magnetic quick-swap nozzle system takes 20 seconds to change (M.M's Prop Shop)
- No exhaust fan or filtration; ABS fumes leak through door gaps in small rooms (Tech Fowler, Frankly Built)
- PTFE tube rubs against top glass cover, causing visible scratching within hours (Dirt-E-Bikes)
- Belt idler pulley started squeaking at 50 hours and needed manual greasing (Dirt-E-Bikes)
- No active chamber heating; relies on passive bed heat for temperature-sensitive filaments (M.M's Prop Shop)
Bambu Lab P1S
- Print quality visually indistinguishable from the $799 P2S Combo (Frankly Built, side-by-side test)
- Built-in HEPA and activated carbon filter the P2S doesn't have (spec advantage)
- Two years of proven reliability; 3DPrinterMike calls it the best beginner printer on the market
- Works with existing Bambu AMS units for multi-color printing up to 16 colors
- Enclosed CoreXY at $399 undercuts every comparable competitor
- 2.8-inch monochrome LCD described as an '1980s dot-matrix screen' (3DPrinterMike, The Den of Tools)
- Nozzle swaps require fiddling with tiny screws and delicate wires, no magnetic quick-swap (3DPrinterMike)
- 720p camera at 0.5 fps is essentially a slideshow; you rely on the phone app for real monitoring
- No AI failure detection; you need to catch spaghetti prints yourself or via the app
The Verdict
Our Bottom Line
The Bambu Lab P2S Combo earned the top spot through sheer consensus. Tech Fowler printed dozens of models across PLA, PETG, and ABS without a single failure, calling it "the best 3D printer I've ever used." Tom Buck produced the highest-quality Benchy benchmark he's ever seen on his first attempt, then declared it "the best 3D printer in the world." Those are strong claims from reviewers who collectively test more than 50 machines a year.
Bambu Lab P2S Combo
The Bambu Lab P2S Combo earned the top spot through sheer consensus. Tech Fowler printed dozens of models across PLA, PETG, and ABS without a single failure, calling it "the best 3D printer I've ever used." Tom Buck produced the highest-quality Benchy benchmark he's ever seen on his first attempt, then declared it "the best 3D printer in the world." Those are strong claims from reviewers who collectively test more than 50 machines a year.
- You want multi-color prints without babysitting spool changes or dealing with dried-out filament
- You print in a shared space and need remote monitoring with a real-time 1080p camera
- You're a beginner who wants the most hands-off, appliance-like experience possible
- You plan to print with engineering filaments like ABS, ASA, or nylon that benefit from an enclosed chamber
- You value a modern touchscreen interface and don't want to rely on a phone app for basic controls
Bambu Lab P1S
Frankly Built ran side-by-side tests printing identical models on the P1S and P2S using the same filament. His conclusion: print quality is "absolutely indistinguishable" between the two machines. That's the P1S value proposition in a single sentence. You get the same CoreXY speed, the same enclosed build chamber, and the same dimensional accuracy for $399 instead of $799.
- You want enclosed CoreXY print quality identical to the P2S at nearly half the price
- You're building a print farm and need reliable machines that cost less per unit
- You already own Bambu AMS units from an older printer and want to reuse them
- You're comfortable monitoring prints via the Bambu Handy phone app instead of on-device controls
- You prioritize the built-in HEPA and activated carbon filtration that the P2S lacks