The Bambu Lab X1C (professional) and Creality Ender 3 V4 (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 Note that the X1C has been replaced by the X2D and is no longer sold new. The X1C costs $800 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with ABS, ASA, PA, PA-CF and PC on its materials list) and 48% more build volume.
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 It has been replaced by the Bambu Lab X2D.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 →Early in release cycle — no urgency to wait
Best for: Budget-conscious beginners who want optional multicolor printing in the trusted Ender 3 form factor at an accessible price — and are comfortable with a hands-on setup experience.
Full details →| Bambu Lab X1C | Creality Ender 3 V4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | $1,199 | ★ $399 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Professional | Entry |
| Motion | CoreXY | BedSlinger |
| Build Volume | ★ 256 × 256 × 256 mm | 220 × 220 × 235 mm |
| Max Speed | 500 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ✅ 4 slots | ✅ 4 slots |
| Enclosure | ★ ✅ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Jul 25, 2022 | Jan 15, 2026 |
| Cycle length | ~365 days | ~854 days |
| Cycle advice | Superseded | Buy |
| Deals advice | Clearance | Buy |
| 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The X1C has been replaced by the X2D and is no longer sold new, so there is no release cycle left to time — any unit you find now is leftover or second-hand stock.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 V4 was released on Jan 15, 2026, 301 days ago. Its previous release cycle ran about 854 days, so it is 35% of the way through — roughly 553 days before a successor would be due at that pace.
On timing alone, the Ender 3 V4 is the safer buy right now — it is only 35% of the way through its expected cycle, while the X1C has already been replaced by the X2D.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The Ender 3 V4 lists at $399 and the X1C at $1,199 — $800 apart, so the X1C costs 201% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $71 for the X1C versus $35 for the Ender 3 V4 — the Ender 3 V4 is the better value per litre as well.
Buy the Ender 3 V4. The X1C has already been replaced by the X2D and is no longer sold new, so it is only worth considering at a clearance price. If the X1C appealed to you, the fair comparison today is the Ender 3 V4 against the X2D.
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 V4's rigid frame reduces vibration at high speeds, improving print quality over the V3 KE's lighter structure.
The Combo bundle includes Creality's CFS filament system for 4-color printing, expandable to 16 colors with additional CFS units — one of the most affordable multicolor setups available.
The Ender 3 family has the largest 3D printing community in the world, with extensive documentation, mods, and active Creality firmware updates.