The Bambu Lab A1 Mini (entry) and Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 (prosumer) come from different brands and sit in different tiers, so this is less a head-to-head than a question of how much printer you need. Both are open-frame printers with 4-slot multicolor, a 500 mm/s rated top speed and automatic calibration. The Centauri Carbon 2 costs $140 more and gets you 188% more build volume and extra engineering materials (ABS and ASA).
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: Elegoo users and budget-conscious makers who want multicolor FDM from a brand known for resin printers — or those looking for a capable CoreXY with high-temperature nozzle capability at $449.
Full details →| Bambu Lab A1 Mini | Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | ★ $219 | $359 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Entry | Prosumer |
| 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 | Jan 26, 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 Carbon 2 was released on Jan 26, 2026, 290 days ago. It is a first-generation product, so there is no earlier cycle to predict its successor from.
On timing alone, the Centauri Carbon 2 is the safer buy right now — it launched only 290 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 Carbon 2 at $359 — $140 apart, so the Centauri Carbon 2 costs 64% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $38 for the A1 Mini versus $21 for the Centauri Carbon 2 — so the pricier Centauri Carbon 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 ($140 less), plus a higher editor score (9.0 vs 8.4). Go for the Centauri Carbon 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 Carbon 2 marks Elegoo's entry into multicolor FDM printing — bringing the brand's value-focused approach to a segment dominated by Bambu and Anycubic.
The high-temperature nozzle enables printing of PA, PA-CF, and PC on an open-frame CoreXY — a notable differentiator at this price point.
Elegoo's proprietary CANVAS system provides 4-color filament switching at a competitive all-in price of $449.