The Bambu Lab P2S and Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 are cross-brand rivals: both are prosumer-tier printers, listed $190 apart. Both are CoreXY printers with 4-slot multicolor and automatic calibration. The P2S costs $190 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with PA, PA-CF and PC on its materials list) and a top speed of 600 mm/s (vs 500).
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 →First-generation product — recently released, still early days
Best for: Elegoo users and budget-conscious makers who want multicolor FDM from a brand known for resin printers — or those looking for a capable CoreXY with high-temperature nozzle capability at $449.
Full details →| Bambu Lab P2S | Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | $549 | ★ $359 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Prosumer | Prosumer |
| Motion | CoreXY | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | 256 × 256 × 256 mm | 256 × 256 × 256 mm |
| Max Speed | ★ 600 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ✅ 4 slots | ✅ 4 slots |
| Enclosure | ★ ✅ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Oct 14, 2025 | Jan 26, 2026 |
| Cycle length | ~832 days | — |
| Cycle advice | Buy | Buy |
| Deals advice | Buy | Buy |
| 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 Centauri Carbon 2 was released on Jan 26, 2026, 290 days ago. It is a first-generation product, so there is no earlier cycle to predict its successor from.
Both are early enough in their cycles that timing should not decide this one. The P2S has roughly 323 days of runway on past cadence and the Centauri Carbon 2 launched 290 days ago. Pick on features and price.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The Centauri Carbon 2 lists at $359 and the P2S at $549 — $190 apart, so the P2S costs 53% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $33 for the P2S versus $21 for the Centauri Carbon 2 — the Centauri Carbon 2 is the better value per litre as well.
With both in sale windows until Dec 5, 2026, this is a good moment to buy either — compare the live sale prices before you decide.
Our pick for most buyers is the P2S, for an enclosed chamber (with PA, PA-CF and PC on its materials list) and a top speed of 600 mm/s (vs 500), plus a higher editor score (9.2 vs 8.4). Go for the Centauri Carbon 2 instead if you want to spend less — it is $190 cheaper ($359 vs $549).
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 Centauri Carbon 2 marks Elegoo's entry into multicolor FDM printing — bringing the brand's value-focused approach to a segment dominated by Bambu and Anycubic.
The high-temperature nozzle enables printing of PA, PA-CF, and PC on an open-frame CoreXY — a notable differentiator at this price point.
Elegoo's proprietary CANVAS system provides 4-color filament switching at a competitive all-in price of $449.