Bambu Lab P1S vs Creality Ender 3 V3 KE
The Bambu Lab P1S (prosumer) and Creality Ender 3 V3 KE (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. Note that both have been replaced — the P1S by the P2S and the Ender 3 V3 KE by the Ender 3 V4 — and neither is sold new. The P1S costs $270 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with ABS, ASA, PA, PA-CF and PC on its materials list) and 4-slot multicolor.
💰Creality Ender 3 V3 KE is $270 cheaper (49% less)
📐Bambu Lab P1S has 44% more build volume
🏠Only Bambu Lab P1S has an enclosure — and it adds ABS, ASA, PA, PA-CF, PC to the materials list
🎨Only Bambu Lab P1S supports multicolor printing (4 slots)
Cross-ecosystem comparison: These printers use different software ecosystems. Accessories, filament profiles, and community support are not interchangeable between brands. Consider the total ecosystem cost, not just the printer price.
Bambu Lab P1S
Buy/Wait:Superseded
This printer is no longer sold new. It has been replaced by the Bambu Lab P2S.
Best for: Makers who need an enclosed printer for ABS, ASA, PA, and PC at prosumer price — now available at clearance pricing after P2S launch.
Full details →Creality Ender 3 V3 KE
Buy/Wait:Superseded
This printer is no longer sold new. It has been replaced by the Creality Ender 3 V4.
Best for: Budget-conscious beginners who want fast Klipper-based printing without the Bambu ecosystem or Prusa premium — and are comfortable with a more hands-on setup experience.
Full details →| Bambu Lab P1S | Creality Ender 3 V3 KE |
|---|
| Pricing |
| Starting Price | $549 | ★ $279 |
| Print Specs |
| Tier | Prosumer | Entry |
| Motion | CoreXY | BedSlinger |
| Build Volume | ★ 256 × 256 × 256 mm | 220 × 220 × 240 mm |
| Max Speed | 500 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ★ ✅ 4 slots | ❌ No |
| Enclosure | ★ ✅ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing |
| Released | Jul 5, 2023 | Sep 15, 2023 |
| Cycle length | ~335 days | ~854 days |
| Cycle advice | Superseded | Superseded |
| Deals advice | Clearance | Clearance |
| Next model | — | — |
Timing: When to Buy
The P1S has been replaced by the P2S and is no longer sold new, so there is no release cycle left to time — any unit you find now is leftover or second-hand stock.
The Ender 3 V3 KE has been replaced by the Ender 3 V4 and is no longer sold new, so there is no release cycle left to time — any unit you find now is leftover or second-hand stock.
Neither printer is sold new any more: the P1S has already been replaced by the P2S and the Ender 3 V3 KE has already been replaced by the Ender 3 V4.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
Deals & Pricing
The Ender 3 V3 KE lists at $279 and the P1S at $549 — $270 apart, so the P1S costs 97% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $33 for the P1S versus $24 for the Ender 3 V3 KE — the Ender 3 V3 KE is the better value per litre as well.
- P1S: No longer sold new, so there is no sale calendar to track — judge any listing against the P2S's $549 list price.
- Ender 3 V3 KE: No longer sold new, so there is no sale calendar to track — judge any listing against the Ender 3 V4's $399 list price.
Who Should Choose Each
Choose the Bambu Lab P1S if…
- you find it at a clearance price — it is no longer sold new, and the P2S is its replacement
- you want our higher-rated printer — 8.6 vs 7.6 out of 10
- you want to print ABS, ASA, PA, PA-CF and PC — it is enclosed and lists them, while the Ender 3 V3 KE is open-frame
- you want multicolor prints — it supports 4 slots, while the Ender 3 V3 KE is single-color
- you print large parts — its 256 × 256 × 256 mm build volume holds 44% more than the Ender 3 V3 KE's 220 × 220 × 240 mm
Choose the Creality Ender 3 V3 KE if…
- you find it at a clearance price — it is no longer sold new, and the Ender 3 V4 is its replacement
- you want to spend less — it is $270 cheaper ($279 vs $549)
- your prints fit within 220 × 220 × 240 mm — then the P1S's extra build volume is money you do not need to spend
Our Take
Neither is sold new any more, so we would not buy either at full price: the P1S has already been replaced by the P2S and the Ender 3 V3 KE has already been replaced by the Ender 3 V4. The fair comparison today is between their replacements.
Compare Bambu Lab P2S vs Creality Ender 3 V4 →
How we judge timing and deals: read our methodology →
Quick Winner by Buyer Type
💰
Budget pick
Creality Ender 3 V3 KE
$279 vs $549
📐
Large prints
Bambu Lab P1S
256×256×256 mm
⚡
Fastest prints
Tie
Both 500 mm/s
🔓
Open ecosystem
Tie
Neither open source
🧪
Engineering filaments
Bambu Lab P1S
5 vs 0 listed
🎨
Multicolor
Bambu Lab P1S
4 slots vs none
⭐
Editor score
Bambu Lab P1S
8.6 vs 7.6
🗓
Buy-now timing
Tie
Both: superseded
The Gaps That Matter
💰PriceEnder 3 V3 KE wins
$279 vs $549 — 49% less than the P1S
🏠EnclosureP1S wins
Enclosed P1S vs open-frame Ender 3 V3 KE
ABS, ASA, PA, PA-CF and PC appear only on the P1S's materials list. ABS and ASA need an enclosure.
🎨MulticolorP1S wins
4 slots vs single-color
📐Build volumeP1S wins
256 × 256 × 256 mm vs 220 × 220 × 240 mm (16.8 L vs 11.6 L)
The Ender 3 V3 KE tops out at 220 × 220 × 240 mm; anything larger has to be printed in pieces.
⭐Editor scoreP1S wins
8.6 vs 7.6 out of 10
🔀Motion system
CoreXY P1S vs bed-slinger Ender 3 V3 KE
On the Ender 3 V3 KE the bed moves back and forth under the nozzle; on the P1S the bed only moves down as layers build.
Materials
ABSHeat and impact resistant — needs enclosure
ASAUV-stable ABS alternative — outdoor parts, needs enclosure
PANylon — strong and wear-resistant, needs dry storage
PA-CFCarbon-fibre nylon — very stiff, abrasive to standard nozzles
PCPolycarbonate — extremely tough, challenging to print
PLAEasy to print, no enclosure needed — everyday parts
PETGTougher, slightly flexible, moisture-resistant
TPUFlexible rubber-like — phone cases, gaskets, wheels
—
Why buy each?
Bambu Lab P1S
Full enclosure with chamber heatingActive chamber temperature control enables reliable ABS, ASA, PA, and PC printing without warping.
CoreXY speed and precision500 mm/s print speed with Bambu's vibration compensation delivers fast, accurate prints.
Now at clearance pricesWith the P2S released, P1S prices are at their lowest — an opportunity for budget-conscious buyers.
Creality Ender 3 V3 KE
Klipper speed at entry priceThe KE keeps the Ender 3's familiar bed-slinger layout but runs Klipper-based firmware, reaching 500 mm/s without the Bambu premium.
Large community and mod ecosystemThe Ender 3 series has one of the largest 3D printer communities in the world, with thousands of documented modifications and upgrades.
Accessible upgrade pathIf you outgrow the KE, the Creality K2 and K2 Plus are natural next steps within the same brand ecosystem.