The Bambu Lab H2S (professional) and Creality Ender 3 V4 (entry) 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 H2S costs $850 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with ABS, ASA, PA, PA-CF, PC and PPS on its materials list) and 225% more build volume.
Mid-cycle — watch for announcements before buying
Best for: Professional makers and studios who need Bambu's largest enclosed build volume for high-throughput production, engineering materials, and optional AMS multicolor — without the complexity of dual-nozzle printing.
Full details →Early in release cycle — no urgency to wait
Best for: Budget-conscious beginners who want optional multicolor printing in the trusted Ender 3 form factor at an accessible price — and are comfortable with a hands-on setup experience.
Full details →| Bambu Lab H2S | Creality Ender 3 V4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | $1,249 | ★ $399 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Professional | Entry |
| Motion | CoreXY | BedSlinger |
| Build Volume | ★ 340 × 320 × 340 mm | 220 × 220 × 235 mm |
| Max Speed | ★ 1000 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ✅ 4 slots | ✅ 4 slots |
| Enclosure | ★ ✅ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Aug 26, 2025 | Jan 15, 2026 |
| Cycle length | ~730 days | ~854 days |
| Cycle advice | Caution | Buy |
| Deals advice | Buy | Buy |
| Next model | — | — |
The H2S was released on Aug 26, 2025, 443 days ago. Its previous release cycle ran about 730 days, so it is 61% of the way through — roughly 287 days before a successor would be due at that pace.
The Ender 3 V4 was released on Jan 15, 2026, 301 days ago. Its previous release cycle ran about 854 days, so it is 35% of the way through — roughly 553 days before a successor would be due at that pace.
On timing alone, the Ender 3 V4 is the safer buy right now — it is only 35% of the way through its expected cycle, while the H2S is mid-cycle (61% through).
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The Ender 3 V4 lists at $399 and the H2S at $1,249 — $850 apart, so the H2S costs 213% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $34 for the H2S versus $35 for the Ender 3 V4 — so the pricier H2S actually gives you more build space per dollar.
With both in sale windows until Dec 5, 2026, this is a good moment to buy either — compare the live sale prices before you decide.
Our pick for most buyers is the H2S, for an enclosed chamber (with ABS, ASA, PA, PA-CF, PC and PPS on its materials list) and 225% more build volume, plus a higher editor score (9.1 vs 8.2). Go for the Ender 3 V4 instead if you want to spend less — it is $850 cheaper ($399 vs $1,249).
How we judge timing and deals: read our methodology →
The H2S offers more than twice the print volume of the X2D. At 1000 mm/s it is also among Bambu's fastest printers, making it the top choice for high-throughput professional production.
The enclosed chamber with active heating handles the full engineering filament spectrum — ABS, ASA, PA, PA-CF, PC, and PPS — with consistent results across the full build plate.
The H2S supports up to 12 AMS units (4 AMS 2 Pro + 8 AMS HT), enabling 24-filament printing for large-format multicolor production.
The V4's rigid frame reduces vibration at high speeds, improving print quality over the V3 KE's lighter structure.
The Combo bundle includes Creality's CFS filament system for 4-color printing, expandable to 16 colors with additional CFS units — one of the most affordable multicolor setups available.
The Ender 3 family has the largest 3D printing community in the world, with extensive documentation, mods, and active Creality firmware updates.