The Bambu Lab A1 Mini and Creality Ender 3 V3 KE are cross-brand rivals: both are entry-tier printers, listed $60 apart. Note that the Ender 3 V3 KE has been replaced by the Ender 3 V4 and is no longer sold new. Both are open-frame bed-slinger printers with a 500 mm/s rated top speed and automatic calibration. The Ender 3 V3 KE costs $60 more and gets you 99% more build volume; the A1 Mini answers with 4-slot multicolor.
Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest
Best for: Budget-conscious beginners who want Bambu's ease of use and multicolor printing in a compact footprint.
Full details →This printer is no longer sold new. It has been replaced by the Creality Ender 3 V4.
Best for: Budget-conscious beginners who want fast Klipper-based printing without the Bambu ecosystem or Prusa premium — and are comfortable with a more hands-on setup experience.
Full details →| Bambu Lab A1 Mini | Creality Ender 3 V3 KE | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | ★ $219 | $279 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Entry | Entry |
| Motion | BedSlinger | BedSlinger |
| Build Volume | 180 × 180 × 180 mm | ★ 220 × 220 × 240 mm |
| Max Speed | 500 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ★ ✅ 4 slots | ❌ No |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Oct 19, 2023 | Sep 15, 2023 |
| Cycle length | ~365 days | ~854 days |
| Cycle advice | Wait | Superseded |
| Deals advice | Buy | Clearance |
| Next model | — | — |
The A1 Mini was released on Oct 19, 2023, 1,120 days ago. Its previous release cycle ran about 365 days; it is now 755 days past that point and no successor has been announced.
The Ender 3 V3 KE has been replaced by the Ender 3 V4 and is no longer sold new, so there is no release cycle left to time — any unit you find now is leftover or second-hand stock.
On timing alone, the A1 Mini is the safer buy right now — it is 755 days past its ~365-day cycle with no successor announced, while the Ender 3 V3 KE has already been replaced by the Ender 3 V4.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The A1 Mini lists at $219 and the Ender 3 V3 KE at $279 — $60 apart, so the Ender 3 V3 KE costs 27% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $38 for the A1 Mini versus $24 for the Ender 3 V3 KE — so the pricier Ender 3 V3 KE actually gives you more build space per dollar.
Buy the A1 Mini. The Ender 3 V3 KE has already been replaced by the Ender 3 V4 and is no longer sold new, so it is only worth considering at a clearance price. If the Ender 3 V3 KE appealed to you, the fair comparison today is the A1 Mini against the Ender 3 V4.
Compare Bambu Lab A1 Mini vs Creality Ender 3 V4 →
How we judge timing and deals: read our methodology →
The A1 Mini sets up in minutes with automatic calibration and Bambu's guided first-print workflow.
Up to 4 colors with the AMS Lite accessory — Bambu's filament switching system with minimal waste purging.
Fits on a desk or shelf without taking over your workspace, while still printing at 500 mm/s.
The KE keeps the Ender 3's familiar bed-slinger layout but runs Klipper-based firmware, reaching 500 mm/s without the Bambu premium.
The Ender 3 series has one of the largest 3D printer communities in the world, with thousands of documented modifications and upgrades.
If you outgrow the KE, the Creality K2 and K2 Plus are natural next steps within the same brand ecosystem.