Mid-cycle — watch for announcements before buying
Best for: Makers who want CoreXY speed and precision with Prusa's open-source ethos, community support, and long-term repairability — without Bambu's closed ecosystem.
Full details →Early in release cycle — no urgency to wait
Best for: First-time buyers and hobbyists who want the easiest path to multicolor FDM printing without breaking the bank.
Full details →| Prusa Research Core One | Bambu Lab A1 Mini 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Prosumer | Entry |
| Motion | CoreXY | BedSlinger |
| Build Volume | 250 × 220 × 270 mm | 180 × 180 × 180 mm |
| Max Speed | 600 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ❌ No | ✅ 4 slots |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ✅ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Materials | PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU, PA, PC | PLA, PETG, TPU |
| Released | Jan 14, 2025 | Nov 1, 2025 |
| Cycle length | ~730 days | ~365 days |
| Cycle advice | Caution | Buy |
| Deals advice | Caution | Caution |
| Next model | Core One S (enclosed) (Expected 2027) | A1 Mini 3 (Expected Q4 2026) |
The Core One matches Bambu CoreXY speed (600 mm/s) while keeping everything open source — firmware, hardware, slicing profiles.
Unlike Bambu's closed ecosystem, every component of the Core One can be modified, repaired, or community-improved.
Existing MMU3 units and the new MMU3 for Core One bring 5-color multicolor printing to the CoreXY platform.
Automatic bed leveling, first-layer calibration, and Bambu's guided workflow mean most users are printing within 15 minutes of unboxing.
The Combo bundle includes AMS Lite for 4-color filament switching — unprecedented at this price tier.
The Mini 2 addresses the original's noise complaints with an improved motion system and better damping.