Short answer: Buy the Bambu Lab A1 if you're starting out and will mostly print PLA, PETG and TPU — it's simpler, cheaper and the print quality punches well above its class. Buy the P1S if you want to print ABS or ASA, want a fully enclosed machine, or plan to print a lot — the enclosed CoreXY design is faster on tall parts, better in cold rooms, and ready for engineering materials from day one. Both take an AMS for multi-colour printing.
These are the two questions we get asked most at the 3D BRO counter in Regents Park, usually in the same breath: “A1 or P1S?” As an authorised Bambu Lab reseller and Australia's authorised Bambu Lab service centre, we sell and service both machines every week — so this comparison comes from the workshop floor, not a spec sheet.
The fundamental difference: open bedslinger vs enclosed CoreXY
The A1 is an open-frame “bedslinger” — the bed moves back and forth on the Y axis while the toolhead moves in X and Z. It's a proven, easy-to-understand layout that keeps cost down and makes the machine easy to work on.
The P1S is a CoreXY printer in a fully enclosed box: the bed only moves down as the print grows, while the lightweight toolhead does all the fast moves. Two practical consequences follow. First, tall prints are more stable at speed, because a heavy half-finished part isn't being flung back and forth. Second, the enclosure traps heat — which is exactly what warp-prone materials like ABS and ASA need.
Materials: this is the real decision point
Ask yourself one question: will I ever want to print ABS or ASA?
- A1: excellent with PLA (210–215°C), PETG (240–245°C) and TPU. That covers the vast majority of hobby printing — toys, brackets, cosplay, household fixes. But with no enclosure, ABS and ASA will warp and split on anything beyond small parts, and Bambu doesn't recommend them on the A1.
- P1S: everything the A1 prints, plus ABS, ASA and PC handled properly thanks to the enclosure and auxiliary part-cooling fan. ASA in particular matters in Australia — it's the UV-stable choice for anything living outdoors, from garden fittings to car accessories.
If you're outdoors-projects-curious, that alone decides it. If you know you're a PLA/PETG person, the A1's material ceiling will likely never bother you — and Bambu's PLA range (Basic, Matte, Silk, Wood, Translucent) plus the BIQU PLA GO line give you plenty of variety within it.
Print quality and speed
Honest take: on typical desk-sized PLA models, print quality between the two is closer than the price gap suggests. The A1's full-metal hotend and active flow-rate compensation produce surfaces that embarrass printers twice its price. The differences show at the edges of the envelope: the P1S holds quality better on tall prints at high speed, its enclosure keeps drafts off large parts (fewer micro-warps in winter), and its higher-flow hotend sustains fast infill for longer. If you batch-print — a market stall, a small business, a classroom — the P1S's throughput advantage is real. For one-at-a-time hobby prints, both are quick enough that the queue is never the printer.
Multi-colour: AMS lite vs AMS
Both machines do four-colour printing, but with different AMS units. The A1 pairs with the open-design AMS lite. The P1S Combo ships with the original enclosed AMS — its closed housing keeps dust off your spools and, with fresh desiccant inside, shields them from humid coastal air, a real consideration we covered in our filament storage guide. The P1S also supports the newer AMS 2 Pro as an optional upgrade later on. If multi-colour is your main draw, both Combo bundles (printer + AMS) are the sensible way in — see current pricing on the P1S Combo product page.
Living with them: noise, size and maintenance
The A1 is the more pleasant desk companion — its motors are quiet and it has a clever silent mode, though as an open machine you hear the fans directly. The P1S hums louder at full speed but the enclosure muffles it; in a study or garage either is fine, in a bedroom the A1 edges it. Size-wise both offer a 256 mm cube of build volume (the A1 Mini is smaller at 180 mm — a great first printer if desk space is tight). Maintenance is simple on both: the A1's quick-swap nozzle changes in seconds without tools, while the P1S uses the conventional (still easy) hotend swap. And whichever you choose, you're covered locally — as Australia's authorised Bambu Lab service centre we handle warranty and repairs for both machines in-house at Regents Park, with genuine spare parts on the shelf.
Side-by-side summary
| A1 | P1S | |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Open bedslinger | Enclosed CoreXY |
| Build volume | 256×256×256 mm | 256×256×256 mm |
| Best materials | PLA, PETG, TPU | PLA, PETG, TPU, ABS, ASA, PC |
| Multi-colour | AMS lite (4 colours) | AMS (4 colours, enclosed; AMS 2 Pro upgrade available) |
| Nozzle swap | Tool-free quick swap | Standard hotend swap |
| Ideal for | Beginners, PLA/PETG hobbyists | Engineering materials, high volume |
Our recommendation
For a first printer that will mostly make PLA and PETG parts: the A1 (or A1 Mini for small desks) — you'll get outstanding quality and can add the AMS lite later. For anyone who wants ABS/ASA capability, prints in an unheated Australian garage, or expects to print daily: the P1S, and get the Combo with AMS if multi-colour appeals. Both are in stock now at our Sydney warehouse in Regents Park with fast Australia-wide shipping — browse the full Bambu Lab range for current pricing and bundles, and if you're stuck, ring us: we use these machines daily and will give you a straight answer.
FAQ
Is the P1S worth it over the A1 for a beginner?
Only if you want ABS/ASA capability or a fully enclosed machine from day one. For PLA and PETG printing, the A1 delivers comparable quality for less money and is slightly easier to live with. Beginners rarely outgrow the A1's material range quickly.
Can the Bambu Lab A1 print ABS or ASA?
It's not recommended. ABS and ASA need an enclosed, heat-stable chamber to avoid warping and layer splitting, which the open-frame A1 doesn't have. If those materials are on your roadmap, buy the P1S.
Do the A1 and P1S use the same AMS?
No. The A1 and A1 Mini use the AMS lite, an open four-spool unit. The P1S Combo comes with the original enclosed AMS, which keeps dust and (with desiccant) humidity off your spools; the P1S also supports the newer AMS 2 Pro as an optional upgrade, sold separately.
Where can I get a Bambu Lab printer serviced in Australia?
3D BRO is Australia's authorised Bambu Lab service centre, based at Regents Park in Sydney. We handle warranty repairs and out-of-warranty servicing for the full Bambu Lab range with genuine parts, and ship Australia-wide.
