🖨 3D Printer Radar

Bambu Lab P1SvsPrusa Research XL

💰Bambu Lab P1S is $1750 cheaper (319% less)
📐Prusa Research XL has 178% more build volume
🏠Only Bambu Lab P1S has an enclosure — required for ABS, ASA, PA engineering filaments
⚠️ Ecosystem lock-in warning: Bambu and Prusa are not interchangeable ecosystems. Bambu's AMS system is proprietary — 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Buy/Wait:Superseded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 It has been replaced by the Bambu Lab P2S.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 — now available at clearance pricing after P2S launch.

Full details →
Prusa Research XL
Buy/Wait:Wait

Next model already announced — wait for the new release

Best for: Professional makers, studios, and engineers who need large-format printing with genuine multi-material capability, open-source hardware, and Prusa's long-term support.

Full details →
Bambu Lab P1SPrusa Research XL
Pricing
Starting Price$549$2,299
Print Specs
TierProsumerProfessional
MotionCoreXYCoreXY
Build Volume256 × 256 × 256 mm360 × 360 × 360 mm
Max Speed500 mm/s500 mm/s
Multicolor✅ 4 slots✅ 5 slots
Enclosure
Auto Calibration
Open Source
Upgrade Kit
Buy Timing
ReleasedJul 5, 2023Nov 20, 2023
Cycle length~335 days~730 days
Cycle adviceSupersededWait
Deals adviceClearanceBuy
Next modelXL Pick & Place Toolhead (Late 2026)

Quick Winner

💰
Budget pick
Bambu Lab P1S
$549 starting
📐
Large prints
Prusa Research XL
360×360×360 mm
Fastest prints
Tie
🔓
Open ecosystem
Prusa Research XL
Open source

Bottom Line

💰Bambu Lab P1S saves you $1750 — 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
🔓Prusa Research XL is the pick for open firmware, community mods, and long-term repairability

Materials

Bambu Lab P1S only
Both
PLAEasy to print, no enclosure needed — everyday parts
PETGTougher, slightly flexible, moisture-resistant
ABSHeat and impact resistant — needs enclosure
ASAUV-stable ABS alternative — outdoor parts, needs enclosure
TPUFlexible rubber-like — phone cases, gaskets, wheels
PANylon — strong and wear-resistant, needs dry storage
PA-CFCarbon-fibre nylon — very stiff, abrasive to standard nozzles
PCPolycarbonate — extremely tough, challenging to print
Prusa Research XL only

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.

Prusa Research XL

Tool-changer multicolor — no purge waste

Unlike filament-switching AMS/MMU systems, the XL physically swaps print heads. Each material has its own nozzle, eliminating purge towers entirely and enabling true multi-material prints.

360×360×360 mm build volume

One of the largest build volumes available in a CoreXY printer at this price point — suited for large props, architectural models, and batch production.

Fully open source and serviceable

Every component is documented, parts are stocked for years, and the community has developed hundreds of modifications and improvements.