The Bambu Lab A1 Mini and Elegoo Centauri 2 are cross-brand rivals: both are entry-tier printers, listed $80 apart. Both are open-frame printers with 4-slot multicolor, a 500 mm/s rated top speed and automatic calibration. The Centauri 2 costs $80 more and gets you 188% more build volume and support for PLA-CF and PETG-CF.
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 →First-generation product — recently released, still early days
Best for: Budget buyers who mainly print PLA, PETG and TPU and want fast CoreXY multicolor for as little as possible, without paying for an enclosure they won't use.
Full details →| Bambu Lab A1 Mini | Elegoo Centauri 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | ★ $219 | $299 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Entry | Entry |
| Motion | BedSlinger | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | 180 × 180 × 180 mm | ★ 256 × 256 × 256 mm |
| Max Speed | 500 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ✅ 4 slots | ✅ 4 slots |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Oct 19, 2023 | Jun 24, 2026 |
| Cycle length | ~365 days | — |
| Cycle advice | Wait | Buy |
| Deals advice | Buy | Buy |
| 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 Centauri 2 was released on Jun 24, 2026, 141 days ago. It is a first-generation product, so there is no earlier cycle to predict its successor from.
On timing alone, the Centauri 2 is the safer buy right now — it launched only 141 days ago, while the A1 Mini is 755 days past its ~365-day cycle with no successor announced.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The A1 Mini lists at $219 and the Centauri 2 at $299 — $80 apart, so the Centauri 2 costs 37% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $38 for the A1 Mini versus $18 for the Centauri 2 — so the pricier Centauri 2 actually gives you more build space per dollar.
With both in sale windows, this is a good moment to buy either — compare the live sale prices before you decide.
Our pick for most buyers is the A1 Mini, for a lower price ($80 less), plus a higher editor score (9.0 vs 8.2). Go for the Centauri 2 instead if you print large parts — its 256 × 256 × 256 mm build volume holds 188% more than the A1 Mini's 180 × 180 × 180 mm. One caveat: the A1 Mini is 755 days past its ~365-day cycle with no successor announced, so check the launch calendar before you buy.
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 Centauri 2 Combo includes the 4-color CANVAS system with RFID filament detection, auto refill and tangle detection. It is one of the cheapest CoreXY multicolor packages from a major brand.
It uses the same 256×256×256 mm CoreXY motion system, 500 mm/s top speed, 350°C hardened nozzle and 121-point auto leveling as the Centauri Carbon 2, for $50–100 less.
The camera, air filter, LED lighting and smart exhaust grill are optional add-ons, so you pay only for the features you need.