The Bambu Lab A1 Mini and Prusa Research Mini+ are both entry-tier printers, but the Mini+ costs 2.1× as much — so the question is what the extra money buys. Both are open-frame bed-slinger printers with automatic calibration. The Mini+ costs $240 more and gets you an open-source design and extra engineering materials (ASA); the A1 Mini answers with a top speed of 500 mm/s (vs 200) and 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 →Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest
Best for: Beginners who prioritize open-source hardware, community support, and long-term reliability over speed — and don't mind a slower, more deliberate printing experience.
Full details →| Bambu Lab A1 Mini | Prusa Research Mini+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | ★ $219 | $459 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Entry | Entry |
| Motion | BedSlinger | BedSlinger |
| Build Volume | 180 × 180 × 180 mm | 180 × 180 × 180 mm |
| Max Speed | ★ 500 mm/s | 200 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ★ ✅ 4 slots | ❌ No |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ★ ✅ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Oct 19, 2023 | Apr 25, 2021 |
| Cycle length | ~365 days | ~730 days |
| Cycle advice | Wait | Wait |
| 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 Mini+ was released on Apr 25, 2021, 2,027 days ago. Its previous release cycle ran about 730 days; it is now 1,297 days past that point and no successor has been announced.
Both are overdue for a refresh with no successor announced. That should keep prices near their lowest, but a replacement could be announced at any time — check the launch calendar before buying. The Mini+ is the more overdue of the two.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The A1 Mini lists at $219 and the Mini+ at $459 — $240 apart, so the Mini+ costs 110% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $38 for the A1 Mini versus $79 for the Mini+ — the A1 Mini is the better value per litre as well.
If you are buying before Dec 1, 2026, the active sale tips value toward the A1 Mini.
Our pick for most buyers is the A1 Mini, for a lower price ($240 less) and a top speed of 500 mm/s (vs 200), plus a higher editor score (9.0 vs 7.9). Go for the Mini+ instead if you want an open-source printer you can modify and repair yourself — the A1 Mini is not open source. 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. The A1 Mini is also in a sale window right now (Bambu Black Friday 2026, until Dec 1, 2026).
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 Mini+ has been on the market since 2021 and has proven its durability with thousands of community print-hours logged.
Prusa stocks replacement parts for all Mini+ components. Community guides cover every repair scenario.
The lowest-cost way to enter the Prusa ecosystem with a fully supported printer.