The Bambu Lab P2S and Flashforge AD5X are cross-brand rivals: both are prosumer-tier printers, listed $150 apart. Both are CoreXY printers with 4-slot multicolor, a 600 mm/s rated top speed and automatic calibration. The P2S costs $150 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with ASA, PA and PC on its materials list) and 58% more build volume; the AD5X answers with support for PLA-CF and PETG-CF.
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 — no release history to base predictions on
Best for: Budget-conscious makers who want built-in 4-color multicolor printing under $400 — primarily for PLA and PETG. Open frame, so not suited for ABS or engineering filaments without the add-on enclosure.
Full details →| Bambu Lab P2S | Flashforge AD5X | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | $549 | ★ $399 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Prosumer | Prosumer |
| Motion | CoreXY | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | ★ 256 × 256 × 256 mm | 220 × 220 × 220 mm |
| Max Speed | 600 mm/s | 600 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ✅ 4 slots | ✅ 4 slots |
| Enclosure | ★ ✅ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Oct 14, 2025 | Jun 15, 2025 |
| Cycle length | ~832 days | — |
| Cycle advice | Buy | Caution |
| 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 AD5X was released on Jun 15, 2025, 515 days ago. It is a first-generation product, so there is no earlier cycle to predict its successor from.
On timing alone, the P2S is the safer buy right now — it is only 55% of the way through its expected cycle, while the AD5X has no release history pointing to a successor yet.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The AD5X lists at $399 and the P2S at $549 — $150 apart, so the P2S costs 38% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $33 for the P2S versus $37 for the AD5X — so the pricier P2S actually gives you more build space per dollar.
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 ASA, PA and PC on its materials list) and 58% more build volume, plus a higher editor score (9.2 vs 8.0) and better buy-now timing. Go for the AD5X instead if you want to spend less — it is $150 cheaper ($399 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 AD5X undercuts comparable multicolor setups on price with IFS built directly into the printer — no separate accessory needed.
No cloud dependency or mandatory account. OrcaSlicer is community-standard open-source slicer software — familiar to most experienced makers.
Ships ready for PLA-CF and PETG-CF without requiring a nozzle upgrade — a genuine differentiator at this price point.