🖨 3D Printer Radar

Bambu Lab P1SvsFlashforge AD5X

💰Flashforge AD5X is $150 cheaper (38% less)
📐Bambu Lab P1S has 58% more build volume
Flashforge AD5X tops out at 600 mm/s vs 500 mm/s
🏠Only Bambu Lab P1S has an enclosure — required for ABS, ASA, PA engineering filaments
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Buy/Wait:Superseded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 It has been replaced by the Bambu Lab P2S.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 →
Flashforge AD5X
Buy/Wait:Buy

First-generation product — recently released, still early days

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 P1SFlashforge AD5X
Pricing
Starting Price$549$399
Print Specs
TierProsumerProsumer
MotionCoreXYCoreXY
Build Volume256 × 256 × 256 mm220 × 220 × 220 mm
Max Speed500 mm/s600 mm/s
Multicolor✅ 4 slots✅ 4 slots
Enclosure
Auto Calibration
Open Source
Upgrade Kit
Buy Timing
ReleasedJul 5, 2023Sep 1, 2025
Cycle length~335 days
Cycle adviceSupersededBuy
Deals adviceClearanceCaution
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Quick Winner

💰
Budget pick
Flashforge AD5X
$399 starting
📐
Large prints
Bambu Lab P1S
256×256×256 mm
Fastest prints
Flashforge AD5X
600 mm/s
🔓
Open ecosystem
Tie

Bottom Line

💰Flashforge AD5X saves you $150 — choose it if budget is your primary constraint
🏠Bambu Lab P1S is the only choice if you print ABS, ASA, PA, or PC — those materials require an enclosure

Materials

Bambu Lab P1S only
ASAUV-stable ABS alternative — outdoor parts, needs enclosure
PANylon — strong and wear-resistant, needs dry storage
PCPolycarbonate — extremely tough, challenging to print
Both
PLAEasy to print, no enclosure needed — everyday parts
PETGTougher, slightly flexible, moisture-resistant
ABSHeat and impact resistant — needs enclosure
TPUFlexible rubber-like — phone cases, gaskets, wheels
PA-CFCarbon-fibre nylon — very stiff, abrasive to standard nozzles
Flashforge AD5X only
PLA-CFCarbon-fibre PLA — rigid matte finish, more brittle
PETG-CFCarbon-fibre PETG — 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 — an opportunity for budget-conscious buyers.

Flashforge AD5X

Built-in 4-color multicolor at $399

The AD5X undercuts comparable multicolor setups on price with IFS built directly into the printer — no separate accessory needed.

OrcaSlicer with local-only control

No cloud dependency or mandatory account. OrcaSlicer is community-standard open-source slicer software — familiar to most experienced makers.

Hardened steel nozzle as standard

Ships ready for PLA-CF and PETG-CF without requiring a nozzle upgrade — a genuine differentiator at this price point.