๐Ÿ–จ 3D Printer Radar

Bambu Lab P1S vs Prusa Research Mini+

The Bambu Lab P1S (prosumer) and Prusa Research Mini+ (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 Note that the P1S has been replaced by the P2S and is no longer sold new. The P1S costs $90 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with ABS, PA, PA-CF and PC on its materials list) and 188% more build volume; the Mini+ answers with an open-source design.

๐Ÿ’ฐPrusa Research Mini+ is $90 cheaper (16% less)
๐Ÿ“Bambu Lab P1S has 188% more build volume
โšกBambu Lab P1S tops out at 500 mm/s vs 200 mm/s
๐Ÿ Only Bambu Lab P1S has an enclosure โ€” and it adds ABS, PA, PA-CF, PC to the materials list
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Buy/Wait:Superseded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 It has been replaced by the Bambu Lab P2S.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 Mini+
Buy/Wait:Wait

Overdue for a refresh โ€” no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest

Best for: Beginners who prioritize open-source hardware, community support, and long-term reliability over speed โ€” and don't mind a slower, more deliberate printing experience.

Full details โ†’
Bambu Lab P1SPrusa Research Mini+
Pricing
Starting Price$549โ˜… $459
Print Specs
TierProsumerEntry
MotionCoreXYBedSlinger
Build Volumeโ˜… 256 ร— 256 ร— 256 mm180 ร— 180 ร— 180 mm
Max Speedโ˜… 500 mm/s200 mm/s
Multicolorโ˜… โœ… 4 slotsโŒ No
Enclosureโ˜… โœ…โŒ
Auto Calibrationโœ…โœ…
Open SourceโŒโ˜… โœ…
Upgrade Kitโ€”โ€”
Buy Timing
ReleasedJul 5, 2023Apr 25, 2021
Cycle length~335 days~730 days
Cycle adviceSupersededWait
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The P1S has been replaced by the P2S and is no longer sold new, so there is no release cycle left to time โ€” any unit you find now is leftover or second-hand stock.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 Mini+ was released on Apr 25, 2021, 2,027 days ago. Its previous release cycle ran about 730 days; it is now 1,297 days past that point and no successor has been announced.

On timing alone, the Mini+ is the safer buy right now โ€” it is 1,297 days past its ~730-day cycle with no successor announced, 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 Mini+ lists at $459 and the P1S at $549 โ€” $90 apart, so the P1S costs 20% more.

Per litre of build volume, that works out to $33 for the P1S versus $79 for the Mini+ โ€” so the pricier P1S actually gives you more build space per dollar.

  • P1S: No longer sold new, so there is no sale calendar to track โ€” judge any listing against the P2S's $549 list price.
  • Mini+: Prusa does not take part in Black Friday or Prime Day sales, so the $459 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 our higher-rated printer โ€” 8.6 vs 7.9 out of 10
  • you want to print ABS, PA, PA-CF and PC โ€” it is enclosed and lists them, while the Mini+ is open-frame
  • you print large parts โ€” its 256 ร— 256 ร— 256 mm build volume holds 188% more than the Mini+'s 180 ร— 180 ร— 180 mm
  • print speed matters โ€” it is rated for 500 mm/s against 200 mm/s
  • you want multicolor prints โ€” it supports 4 slots, while the Mini+ is single-color

Choose the Prusa Research Mini+ ifโ€ฆ

  • you want to spend less โ€” it is $90 cheaper ($459 vs $549)
  • you want an open-source printer you can modify and repair yourself โ€” the P1S is not open source
  • you are buying now โ€” it is the safer pick on timing (overdue for refresh, vs superseded for the P1S)
  • your prints fit within 180 ร— 180 ร— 180 mm โ€” then the P1S's extra build volume is money you do not need to spend

Our Take

Buy the Mini+. 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 Mini+ against the P2S.

Compare Bambu Lab P2S vs Prusa Research Mini+ โ†’

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

Quick Winner by Buyer Type

๐Ÿ’ฐ
Budget pick
Prusa Research Mini+
$459 vs $549
๐Ÿ“
Large prints
Bambu Lab P1S
256ร—256ร—256 mm
โšก
Fastest prints
Bambu Lab P1S
500 vs 200 mm/s
๐Ÿ”“
Open ecosystem
Prusa Research Mini+
Open source
๐Ÿงช
Engineering filaments
Bambu Lab P1S
5 vs 1 listed
๐ŸŽจ
Multicolor
Bambu Lab P1S
4 slots vs none
โญ
Editor score
Bambu Lab P1S
8.6 vs 7.9
๐Ÿ—“
Buy-now timing
Prusa Research Mini+
Overdue for refresh

The Gaps That Matter

๐Ÿ’ฐ
PriceMini+ wins
$459 vs $549 โ€” 16% less than the P1S
๐Ÿ 
EnclosureP1S wins
Enclosed P1S vs open-frame Mini+
ABS, PA, PA-CF and PC appear only on the P1S's materials list. ABS needs an enclosure.
๐Ÿ“
Build volumeP1S wins
256 ร— 256 ร— 256 mm vs 180 ร— 180 ร— 180 mm (16.8 L vs 5.8 L)
The Mini+ tops out at 180 ร— 180 ร— 180 mm; anything larger has to be printed in pieces.
โšก
SpeedP1S wins
500 vs 200 mm/s โ€” 2.5ร— the rated top speed
๐ŸŽจ
MulticolorP1S wins
4 slots vs single-color
๐Ÿ”“
OpennessMini+ wins
Open-source Mini+ vs closed P1S

Materials

Bambu Lab P1S only
ABSHeat and impact resistant โ€” 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
ASAUV-stable ABS alternative โ€” outdoor parts, needs enclosure
TPUFlexible rubber-like โ€” phone cases, gaskets, wheels
Prusa Research Mini+ 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 Mini+

Proven reliability over 5+ years

The Mini+ has been on the market since 2021 and has proven its durability with thousands of community print-hours logged.

Fully open source and repairable

Prusa stocks replacement parts for all Mini+ components. Community guides cover every repair scenario.

Affordable Prusa entry point

The lowest-cost way to enter the Prusa ecosystem with a fully supported printer.