The Bambu Lab A1 (entry) and Creality K2 Plus (professional) 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. The K2 Plus costs $900 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with ASA, PA and PA-CF on its materials list) and 156% more build volume.
Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest
Best for: Makers who want large prints and multicolor capability without an enclosure — ideal for PLA, PETG, and flexible materials.
Full details →Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest
Best for: Professionals and studios who need large-format enclosed multicolor printing without the premium price of Bambu's or Prusa's flagship offerings.
Full details →| Bambu Lab A1 | Creality K2 Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | ★ $299 | $1,199 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Entry | Professional |
| Motion | BedSlinger | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | 256 × 256 × 256 mm | ★ 350 × 350 × 350 mm |
| Max Speed | 500 mm/s | ★ 600 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ✅ 4 slots | ✅ 4 slots |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ★ ✅ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Oct 19, 2023 | Sep 15, 2024 |
| Cycle length | ~365 days | ~450 days |
| Cycle advice | Wait | Wait |
| Deals advice | Buy | Buy |
| Next model | — | — |
The A1 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 K2 Plus was released on Sep 15, 2024, 788 days ago. Its previous release cycle ran about 450 days; it is now 338 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 A1 is the more overdue of the two.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The A1 lists at $299 and the K2 Plus at $1,199 — $900 apart, so the K2 Plus costs 301% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $18 for the A1 versus $28 for the K2 Plus — the A1 is the better value per litre as well.
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, for a lower price ($900 less), plus a higher editor score (9.1 vs 8.3). Go for the K2 Plus instead if you want to print ASA, PA and PA-CF — it is enclosed and lists them, while the A1 is open-frame. One caveat: the A1 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 Combo includes the AMS Lite for 4-color filament switching — the same system used on the A1 Mini and A2L.
Roughly 2.9 times the volume of the A1 Mini — great for terrain, cosplay props, and functional parts. The A2L is the step up if you need a larger bed-slinger.
Works with Bambu Studio, Bambu Handy app, and the full Bambu filament ecosystem including multi-material profiles.
One of the largest build volumes available in an enclosed CoreXY printer, suited for large props, architectural models, and batch production.
Creality's CFS (Creative Filament System) provides 4-color filament switching comparable to Bambu's AMS at a lower price point.
The K2 Plus delivers professional-level features at a price point accessible to serious hobbyists and small studios.