The Bambu Lab X1C (professional) 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 both have been replaced — the X1C by the X2D and the Ender 3 V3 KE by the Ender 3 V4 — and neither is sold new. The X1C costs $920 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with ABS, ASA, PA, PA-CF and PC on its materials list) and 4-slot multicolor.
This printer is no longer sold new. It has been replaced by the Bambu Lab X2D.
Best for: Professional makers seeking the X1C should now consider the X2D (its direct successor) or P2S (prosumer enclosed). Clearance X1C units offer the LiDAR and AI monitoring features at a reduced 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 It has been replaced by the Creality Ender 3 V4.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 X1C | Creality Ender 3 V3 KE | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | $1,199 | ★ $279 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Professional | Entry |
| Motion | CoreXY | BedSlinger |
| Build Volume | ★ 256 × 256 × 256 mm | 220 × 220 × 240 mm |
| Max Speed | 500 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ★ ✅ 4 slots | ❌ No |
| Enclosure | ★ ✅ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Jul 25, 2022 | Sep 15, 2023 |
| Cycle length | ~365 days | ~854 days |
| Cycle advice | Superseded | Superseded |
| Deals advice | Clearance | Clearance |
| Next model | — | — |
The X1C has been replaced by the X2D and is no longer sold new, so there is no release cycle left to time — any unit you find now is leftover or second-hand stock.
The Ender 3 V3 KE has been replaced by the Ender 3 V4 and is no longer sold new, so there is no release cycle left to time — any unit you find now is leftover or second-hand stock.
Neither printer is sold new any more: the X1C has already been replaced by the X2D and the Ender 3 V3 KE has already been replaced by the Ender 3 V4.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 X1C at $1,199 — $920 apart, so the X1C costs 330% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $71 for the X1C versus $24 for the Ender 3 V3 KE — the Ender 3 V3 KE is the better value per litre as well.
Neither is sold new any more, so we would not buy either at full price: the X1C has already been replaced by the X2D and the Ender 3 V3 KE has already been replaced by the Ender 3 V4. The fair comparison today is between their replacements.
Compare Bambu Lab X2D vs Creality Ender 3 V4 →
How we judge timing and deals: read our methodology →
The X1C's LiDAR sensor maps bed surface deviation and adjusts in real time — the most reliable first-layer consistency in its class.
The built-in camera with spaghetti detection pauses prints automatically when failures are detected — critical for unattended production runs.
The X1C uses a die-cast metal frame and carbon-fiber-reinforced structure for rigidity at high speeds.
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.