๐Ÿ–จ 3D Printer Radar

Bambu Lab P1S vs Prusa Research CORE One L+

The Bambu Lab P1S (prosumer) and Prusa Research CORE One L+ (professional) 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 Note that the P1S has been replaced by the P2S and is no longer sold new.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 enclosed CoreXY printers with a 500 mm/s rated top speed and automatic calibration. The CORE One L+ costs $1,450 more and gets you 77% more build volume and an open-source design; the P1S answers with 4-slot multicolor.

๐Ÿ’ฐBambu Lab P1S is $1,450 cheaper (73% less)
๐Ÿ“Prusa Research CORE One L+ has 77% more build volume
๐ŸŽจOnly Bambu Lab P1S supports multicolor printing (4 slots)
โš ๏ธ Ecosystem lock-in warning: Bambu and Prusa are not interchangeable ecosystems. Bambu's AMS system is proprietary โ€” multicolor filaments, cloud features, and software are tightly coupled. Prusa's MMU3 is open source. Switching ecosystems later means replacing filament profiles, software presets, and accessories. Choose based on your long-term workflow, not just the current specs.
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Buy/Wait:Superseded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 It has been replaced by the Bambu Lab P2S.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†’
Prusa Research CORE One L+
Buy/Wait:Buy

Early in release cycle โ€” no urgency to wait

๐Ÿ”ง Upgrade kit available โ€” from CORE One L

Best for: Engineers and professional makers who need large-format enclosed printing with active chamber heating โ€” and want Prusa's open-source ethos and long-term support over a closed-ecosystem competitor.

Full details โ†’
Bambu Lab P1SPrusa Research CORE One L+
Pricing
Starting Priceโ˜… $549$1,999
Print Specs
TierProsumerProfessional
MotionCoreXYCoreXY
Build Volume256 ร— 256 ร— 256 mmโ˜… 300 ร— 300 ร— 330 mm
Max Speed500 mm/s500 mm/s
Multicolorโ˜… โœ… 4 slotsโŒ No
Enclosureโœ…โœ…
Auto Calibrationโœ…โœ…
Open SourceโŒโ˜… โœ…
Upgrade Kitโ€”๐Ÿ”ง From CORE One L
Buy Timing
ReleasedJul 5, 2023Aug 13, 2026
Cycle length~335 days~279 days
Cycle adviceSupersededBuy
Deals adviceClearanceCaution
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The P1S has been replaced by the P2S and is no longer sold new, so there is no release cycle left to time โ€” any unit you find now is leftover or second-hand stock.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 CORE One L+ was released on Aug 13, 2026, 91 days ago. Its previous release cycle ran about 279 days, so it is 33% of the way through โ€” roughly 188 days before a successor would be due at that pace.

On timing alone, the CORE One L+ is the safer buy right now โ€” it is only 33% of the way through its expected cycle, 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 P1S lists at $549 and the CORE One L+ at $1,999 โ€” $1,450 apart, so the CORE One L+ costs 264% more.

Per litre of build volume, that works out to $33 for the P1S versus $67 for the CORE One L+ โ€” the P1S 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.
  • CORE One L+: Prusa does not take part in Black Friday or Prime Day sales, so the $1,999 list price is what you will pay โ€” there is no sale to wait for.

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 to spend less โ€” it is $1,450 cheaper ($549 vs $1,999)
  • you want multicolor prints โ€” it supports 4 slots, while the CORE One L+ is single-color
  • your prints fit within 256 ร— 256 ร— 256 mm โ€” then the CORE One L+'s extra build volume is money you do not need to spend

Choose the Prusa Research CORE One L+ ifโ€ฆ

  • you are buying now โ€” it is the safer pick on timing (early in cycle, vs superseded for the P1S)
  • you print large parts โ€” its 300 ร— 300 ร— 330 mm build volume holds 77% more than the P1S's 256 ร— 256 ร— 256 mm
  • you want an open-source printer you can modify and repair yourself โ€” the P1S is not open source
  • you are coming from the CORE One L โ€” Prusa Research sells an upgrade kit to CORE One L+ spec

Our Take

Buy the CORE One L+. 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 CORE One L+ against the P2S.

Compare Bambu Lab P2S vs Prusa Research CORE One L+ โ†’

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

Quick Winner by Buyer Type

๐Ÿ’ฐ
Budget pick
Bambu Lab P1S
$549 vs $1,999
๐Ÿ“
Large prints
Prusa Research CORE One L+
300ร—300ร—330 mm
โšก
Fastest prints
Tie
Both 500 mm/s
๐Ÿ”“
Open ecosystem
Prusa Research CORE One L+
Open source
๐Ÿงช
Engineering filaments
Tie
5 listed each
๐ŸŽจ
Multicolor
Bambu Lab P1S
4 slots vs none
โญ
Editor score
Tie
Both 8.6
๐Ÿ—“
Buy-now timing
Prusa Research CORE One L+
Early in cycle

The Gaps That Matter

๐Ÿ’ฐ
PriceP1S wins
$549 vs $1,999 โ€” 73% less than the CORE One L+
๐Ÿ“
Build volumeCORE One L+ wins
300 ร— 300 ร— 330 mm vs 256 ร— 256 ร— 256 mm (29.7 L vs 16.8 L)
The P1S tops out at 256 ร— 256 ร— 256 mm; anything larger has to be printed in pieces.
๐ŸŽจ
MulticolorP1S wins
4 slots vs single-color
๐Ÿ”“
OpennessCORE One L+ wins
Open-source CORE One L+ vs closed P1S
๐Ÿ—“
TimingCORE One L+ wins
CORE One L+: Early in cycle ยท P1S: Superseded

Materials

Bambu Lab P1S only
โ€”
Both
PLAEasy to print, no enclosure needed โ€” everyday parts
PETGTougher, slightly flexible, moisture-resistant
ABSHeat and impact resistant โ€” needs enclosure
ASAUV-stable ABS alternative โ€” outdoor parts, needs enclosure
TPUFlexible rubber-like โ€” phone cases, gaskets, wheels
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
Prusa Research CORE One L+ only
โ€”

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.

Prusa Research CORE One L+

300ร—300ร—330 mm with active 60ยฐC chamber heating

A large enclosed build volume with genuine active chamber heating โ€” making the CORE One L+ reliable for ABS, ASA, PA, and PC across the full build plate.

Fully open source

All firmware, hardware designs, and slicing profiles are open source. Prusa backs the CORE One L+ with long-term parts availability and community support.

Critical Infrastructure Edition available

For institutional, government, and production customers, a dedicated Critical Infrastructure Edition is offered โ€” Prusa's commitment to secure supply for professional users.