The Bambu Lab A1 (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 $60 more and gets you extra engineering materials (ASA).
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 →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 | Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | ★ $299 | $359 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Entry | Prosumer |
| Motion | BedSlinger | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | 256 × 256 × 256 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 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 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 lists at $299 and the Centauri Carbon 2 at $359 — $60 apart, so the Centauri Carbon 2 costs 20% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $18 for the A1 versus $21 for the Centauri Carbon 2 — 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 ($60 less), plus a higher editor score (9.1 vs 8.4). Go for the Centauri Carbon 2 instead if you are buying now — it is the safer pick on timing (recently launched, vs overdue for refresh for the A1). 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.
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.