๐Ÿ–จ 3D Printer Radar

Bambu Lab P1S vs Elegoo Centauri 2

The Bambu Lab P1S (prosumer) 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. Note that the P1S has been replaced by the P2S and is no longer sold new. Both are CoreXY printers with 4-slot multicolor, a 500 mm/s rated top speed and automatic calibration. The P1S costs $250 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with ABS, ASA, PA, PA-CF and PC on its materials list); the Centauri 2 answers with support for PLA-CF and PETG-CF.

๐Ÿ’ฐElegoo Centauri 2 is $250 cheaper (46% less)
๐Ÿ Only Bambu Lab P1S has an enclosure โ€” and it adds ABS, ASA, PA, PA-CF, PC to the materials list
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Buy/Wait:Superseded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 It has been replaced by the Bambu Lab P2S.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 โ€” now available at clearance pricing after P2S launch.

Full details โ†’
Elegoo Centauri 2
Buy/Wait:Buy

First-generation product โ€” 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 โ†’
Bambu Lab P1SElegoo Centauri 2
Pricing
Starting Price$549โ˜… $299
Print Specs
TierProsumerEntry
MotionCoreXYCoreXY
Build Volume256 ร— 256 ร— 256 mm256 ร— 256 ร— 256 mm
Max Speed500 mm/s500 mm/s
Multicolorโœ… 4 slotsโœ… 4 slots
Enclosureโ˜… โœ…โŒ
Auto Calibrationโœ…โœ…
Open SourceโŒโŒ
Upgrade Kitโ€”โ€”
Buy Timing
ReleasedJul 5, 2023Jun 24, 2026
Cycle length~335 daysโ€”
Cycle adviceSupersededBuy
Deals adviceClearanceBuy
Next modelโ€”โ€”

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The P1S has been replaced by the P2S and is no longer sold new, so there is no release cycle left to time โ€” any unit you find now is leftover or second-hand stock.

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On timing alone, the Centauri 2 is the safer buy right now โ€” it launched only 141 days ago, while the P1S has already been replaced by the P2S.

Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar โ†’

Deals & Pricing

The Centauri 2 lists at $299 and the P1S at $549 โ€” $250 apart, so the P1S costs 84% more.

Per litre of build volume, that works out to $33 for the P1S versus $18 for the Centauri 2 โ€” the Centauri 2 is the better value per litre as well.

  • P1S: No longer sold new, so there is no sale calendar to track โ€” judge any listing against the P2S's $549 list price.
  • Centauri 2: On sale until Dec 5, 2026. Black Friday 2026 โ€” first Black Friday for the Centauri 2; Elegoo is already running sale pricing on the standalone and Combo.

Who Should Choose Each

Choose the Bambu Lab P1S ifโ€ฆ

  • you find it at a clearance price โ€” it is no longer sold new, and the P2S is its replacement
  • you want our higher-rated printer โ€” 8.6 vs 8.2 out of 10
  • you want to print ABS, ASA, PA, PA-CF and PC โ€” it is enclosed and lists them, while the Centauri 2 is open-frame

Choose the Elegoo Centauri 2 ifโ€ฆ

  • you want to spend less โ€” it is $250 cheaper ($299 vs $549)
  • you are buying now โ€” it is the safer pick on timing (recently launched, vs superseded for the P1S)
  • you want PLA-CF and PETG-CF โ€” listed for the Centauri 2 but not the P1S
  • you are buying before Dec 5, 2026 โ€” it is in Black Friday 2026 right now

Our Take

Buy the Centauri 2. The P1S has already been replaced by the P2S and is no longer sold new, so it is only worth considering at a clearance price. If the P1S appealed to you, the fair comparison today is the Centauri 2 against the P2S.

Compare Bambu Lab P2S vs Elegoo Centauri 2 โ†’

How we judge timing and deals: read our methodology โ†’

Quick Winner by Buyer Type

๐Ÿ’ฐ
Budget pick
Elegoo Centauri 2
$299 vs $549
๐Ÿ“
Large prints
Tie
Same build volume
โšก
Fastest prints
Tie
Both 500 mm/s
๐Ÿ”“
Open ecosystem
Tie
Neither open source
๐Ÿงช
Engineering filaments
Bambu Lab P1S
5 vs 0 listed
๐ŸŽจ
Multicolor
Tie
4 slots each
โญ
Editor score
Bambu Lab P1S
8.6 vs 8.2
๐Ÿ—“
Buy-now timing
Elegoo Centauri 2
Recently launched

The Gaps That Matter

๐Ÿ’ฐ
PriceCentauri 2 wins
$299 vs $549 โ€” 46% less than the P1S
๐Ÿ 
EnclosureP1S wins
Enclosed P1S vs open-frame Centauri 2
ABS, ASA, PA, PA-CF and PC appear only on the P1S's materials list. ABS and ASA need an enclosure.
๐Ÿ—“
TimingCentauri 2 wins
Centauri 2: Recently launched ยท P1S: Superseded
โญ
Editor scoreP1S wins
8.6 vs 8.2 out of 10

Materials

Bambu Lab P1S only
ABSHeat and impact resistant โ€” needs enclosure
ASAUV-stable ABS alternative โ€” outdoor parts, needs enclosure
PANylon โ€” strong and wear-resistant, needs dry storage
PA-CFCarbon-fibre nylon โ€” very stiff, abrasive to standard nozzles
PCPolycarbonate โ€” extremely tough, challenging to print
Both
PLAEasy to print, no enclosure needed โ€” everyday parts
PETGTougher, slightly flexible, moisture-resistant
TPUFlexible rubber-like โ€” phone cases, gaskets, wheels
Elegoo Centauri 2 only
PLA-CFCarbon-fibre PLA โ€” rigid matte finish, more brittle
PETG-CFCarbon-fibre PETG โ€” stiffer than PETG, easy to print

Why buy each?

Bambu Lab P1S

Full enclosure with chamber heating

Active chamber temperature control enables reliable ABS, ASA, PA, and PC printing without warping.

CoreXY speed and precision

500 mm/s print speed with Bambu's vibration compensation delivers fast, accurate prints.

Now at clearance prices

With the P2S released, P1S prices are at their lowest โ€” an opportunity for budget-conscious buyers.

Elegoo Centauri 2

CoreXY multicolor for well under $400

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.

Same core platform as the Centauri Carbon 2

It uses the same 256ร—256ร—256 mm CoreXY motion system, 500 mm/s top speed, 350ยฐC hardened nozzle and 121-point auto leveling as the Centauri Carbon 2, for $50โ€“100 less.

Add features only if you need them

The camera, air filter, LED lighting and smart exhaust grill are optional add-ons, so you pay only for the features you need.