The Bambu Lab P2S (prosumer) and Creality Ender 3 V3 KE (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 Note that the Ender 3 V3 KE has been replaced by the Ender 3 V4 and is no longer sold new. The P2S costs $270 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with ABS, ASA, PA, PA-CF and PC on its materials list) and 4-slot multicolor.
Early in release cycle — no urgency to wait
Best for: Serious makers and prosumers who need enclosed printing for ABS, ASA, PA, PA-CF, and PC — and want Bambu's plug-and-play experience at a prosumer price.
Full details →This printer is no longer sold new. It has been replaced by the Creality Ender 3 V4.
Best for: Budget-conscious beginners who want fast Klipper-based printing without the Bambu ecosystem or Prusa premium — and are comfortable with a more hands-on setup experience.
Full details →| Bambu Lab P2S | Creality Ender 3 V3 KE | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | $549 | ★ $279 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Prosumer | Entry |
| Motion | CoreXY | BedSlinger |
| Build Volume | ★ 256 × 256 × 256 mm | 220 × 220 × 240 mm |
| Max Speed | ★ 600 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ★ ✅ 4 slots | ❌ No |
| Enclosure | ★ ✅ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Oct 14, 2025 | Sep 15, 2023 |
| Cycle length | ~832 days | ~854 days |
| Cycle advice | Buy | Superseded |
| Deals advice | Buy | Clearance |
| Next model | P3S or next prosumer model (Expected late 2027) | — |
The P2S was released on Oct 14, 2025, 394 days ago. Based on Bambu Lab's release cadence, we expect the next model (P3S or next prosumer model) around late 2027 — about 323 days away, which puts the P2S 55% of the way through its cycle.
The Ender 3 V3 KE has been replaced by the Ender 3 V4 and is no longer sold new, so there is no release cycle left to time — any unit you find now is leftover or second-hand stock.
On timing alone, the P2S is the safer buy right now — it is only 55% of the way through its expected cycle, while the Ender 3 V3 KE has already been replaced by the Ender 3 V4.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The Ender 3 V3 KE lists at $279 and the P2S at $549 — $270 apart, so the P2S costs 97% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $33 for the P2S versus $24 for the Ender 3 V3 KE — the Ender 3 V3 KE is the better value per litre as well.
Buy the P2S. The Ender 3 V3 KE has already been replaced by the Ender 3 V4 and is no longer sold new, so it is only worth considering at a clearance price. If the Ender 3 V3 KE appealed to you, the fair comparison today is the P2S against the Ender 3 V4.
Compare Bambu Lab P2S vs Creality Ender 3 V4 →
How we judge timing and deals: read our methodology →
The P2S enclosure maintains a more consistent chamber temperature over the P1S, reducing warping on long ABS and PA prints.
PLA through PC — the P2S handles the entire engineering filament spectrum with reliable results.
The P-series CoreXY enclosure design strikes the best balance of price, speed, and material capability in Bambu's lineup.
The KE keeps the Ender 3's familiar bed-slinger layout but runs Klipper-based firmware, reaching 500 mm/s without the Bambu premium.
The Ender 3 series has one of the largest 3D printer communities in the world, with thousands of documented modifications and upgrades.
If you outgrow the KE, the Creality K2 and K2 Plus are natural next steps within the same brand ecosystem.