The Bambu Lab A1 (entry) and Flashforge AD5X (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 and automatic calibration. The AD5X costs $100 more and gets you a top speed of 600 mm/s (vs 500) and extra engineering materials (PA-CF); the A1 answers with 58% 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 →First-generation product — no release history to base predictions on
Best for: Budget-conscious makers who want built-in 4-color multicolor printing under $400 — primarily for PLA and PETG. Open frame, so not suited for ABS or engineering filaments without the add-on enclosure.
Full details →| Bambu Lab A1 | Flashforge AD5X | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | ★ $299 | $399 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Entry | Prosumer |
| Motion | BedSlinger | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | ★ 256 × 256 × 256 mm | 220 × 220 × 220 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 | Jun 15, 2025 |
| Cycle length | ~365 days | — |
| Cycle advice | Wait | Caution |
| 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 AD5X was released on Jun 15, 2025, 515 days ago. It is a first-generation product, so there is no earlier cycle to predict its successor from.
On timing alone, the AD5X is the safer buy right now — it has no release history pointing to a successor yet, 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 AD5X at $399 — $100 apart, so the AD5X costs 33% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $18 for the A1 versus $37 for the AD5X — the A1 is both cheaper and roomier, so it wins on value outright.
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 ($100 less) and 58% more build volume, plus a higher editor score (9.1 vs 8.0). Go for the AD5X instead if you are buying now — it is the safer pick on timing (no cycle history, 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 AD5X undercuts comparable multicolor setups on price with IFS built directly into the printer — no separate accessory needed.
No cloud dependency or mandatory account. OrcaSlicer is community-standard open-source slicer software — familiar to most experienced makers.
Ships ready for PLA-CF and PETG-CF without requiring a nozzle upgrade — a genuine differentiator at this price point.