The Bambu Lab H2S (professional) and Elegoo Centauri 2 (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. Both are CoreXY printers with 4-slot multicolor and automatic calibration. The H2S costs $950 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with ABS, ASA, PA, PA-CF, PC and PPS on its materials list) and 120% more build volume; the Centauri 2 answers with support for PLA-CF.
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 →First-generation product — recently released, still early days
Best for: Budget buyers who mainly print PLA, PETG and TPU and want fast CoreXY multicolor for as little as possible, without paying for an enclosure they won't use.
Full details →| Bambu Lab H2S | Elegoo Centauri 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | $1,249 | ★ $299 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Professional | Entry |
| Motion | CoreXY | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | ★ 340 × 320 × 340 mm | 256 × 256 × 256 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 | Jun 24, 2026 |
| Cycle length | ~730 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 Centauri 2 was released on Jun 24, 2026, 141 days ago. It is a first-generation product, so there is no earlier cycle to predict its successor from.
On timing alone, the Centauri 2 is the safer buy right now — it launched only 141 days ago, while the H2S is mid-cycle (61% through).
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The Centauri 2 lists at $299 and the H2S at $1,249 — $950 apart, so the H2S costs 318% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $34 for the H2S versus $18 for the Centauri 2 — the Centauri 2 is the better value per litre as well.
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 120% more build volume, plus a higher editor score (9.1 vs 8.2). Go for the Centauri 2 instead if you want to spend less — it is $950 cheaper ($299 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 Centauri 2 Combo includes the 4-color CANVAS system with RFID filament detection, auto refill and tangle detection. It is one of the cheapest CoreXY multicolor packages from a major brand.
It uses the same 256×256×256 mm CoreXY motion system, 500 mm/s top speed, 350°C hardened nozzle and 121-point auto leveling as the Centauri Carbon 2, for $50–100 less.
The camera, air filter, LED lighting and smart exhaust grill are optional add-ons, so you pay only for the features you need.