Bambu Lab A1 vs Elegoo Centauri Carbon

Bambu Lab A1 vs Elegoo Centauri Carbon: which one should you buy?

Quick answer

Buy the Bambu Lab A1 if you want larger prints with beginner-friendly setup. Buy the Elegoo Centauri Carbon instead if you want enclosed printing on a tight budget.

By Buyrskip Editorial Team Updated November 2, 2026 1 min read

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Buy

Bambu Lab A1

Best for Full-size beginner

Typically $349–$449

Check Price on Amazon Paid link

Buy

Elegoo Centauri Carbon

Best for Enclosed value

Typically $299–$349

Check Price on Amazon Paid link

Quick comparison

Feature	Bambu Lab A1	Elegoo Centauri Carbon
Verdict	Buy	Buy
Typical price	$349–$449	$299–$349
Best for	Full-size beginner	Enclosed value
Key feature	Full-size open printer with automatic everything	Enclosed CoreXY printer at a very low price
Build volume	256×256×256 mm	256×256×256 mm
Enclosure	No	Yes
Multicolor	With AMS lite (optional)	No
Max speed	500 mm/s	500 mm/s
Where to buy	Check Price Paid link	Check Price Paid link

Main differences

Build volume

Bambu Lab A1: 256×256×256 mm; Elegoo Centauri Carbon: 256×256×256 mm.

Enclosure

Bambu Lab A1: No; Elegoo Centauri Carbon: Yes.

Multicolor

Bambu Lab A1: With AMS lite (optional); Elegoo Centauri Carbon: No.

Max speed

Bambu Lab A1: 500 mm/s; Elegoo Centauri Carbon: 500 mm/s.

Why buy it

Bambu Lab A1: full-size open printer with automatic everything; Elegoo Centauri Carbon: enclosed CoreXY printer at a very low price.

Made for

Bambu Lab A1: full-size beginner; Elegoo Centauri Carbon: enclosed value.

Usual price

Bambu Lab A1: $349–$449; Elegoo Centauri Carbon: $299–$349.

Which should you choose?

Choose the Bambu Lab A1 if you

you want larger prints with beginner-friendly setup
value easy

Check Price Paid link

Choose the Elegoo Centauri Carbon if you

you want enclosed printing on a tight budget
value enclosed

Check Price Paid link

If neither feels right

Neither is the only answer. See every model we would buy (and the ones we would skip) in our list of the best 3D printers.

Not sure about either? Consider these

Bambu Lab · 3D printers

Bambu Lab P1S

Buy it if you want reliable prints with almost no tinkering.

Verdict: Buy
Best for: Best for most
Typical price: $549–$699

Pros

Fast
Enclosed

Cons

Cloud-centric software

Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review

Bambu Lab · 3D printers

Bambu Lab A1 mini

Buy it if you are new to 3D printing and want easy success.

Verdict: Buy
Best for: Beginners
Typical price: $249–$299

Pros

Very easy
Quiet

Cons

Small build

Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review

Frequently asked questions

Bambu Lab A1 or Elegoo Centauri Carbon: which should I buy?

Buy the Bambu Lab A1 if you want larger prints with beginner-friendly setup. Buy the Elegoo Centauri Carbon instead if you want enclosed printing on a tight budget.

Is the price difference worth it?

The Bambu Lab A1 usually costs $349–$449 and the Elegoo Centauri Carbon $299–$349. Pay more only if the differences above matter to you.

Buyrskip Editorial Team

Part of the Buyrskip research team. We compare specifications, documentation and real-world trade-offs so you can decide faster.

How we research products Editorial policy

Bambu Lab A1 or Elegoo Centauri Carbon: the full reasoning

Bambu Lab A1 or Elegoo Centauri Carbon? Both are strong 3D printers, which is exactly why the choice is hard. Here is the short version first: buy the Bambu Lab A1 if you want larger prints with beginner-friendly setup, and buy the Elegoo Centauri Carbon if you want enclosed printing on a tight budget. The rest of this page explains why, with usual US prices.

Where they differ

The Bambu Lab A1 wins on full-size open printer with automatic everything. The Elegoo Centauri Carbon answers with enclosed CoreXY printer at a very low price. Build volume: 256×256×256 mm on the Bambu Lab A1, 256×256×256 mm on the Elegoo Centauri Carbon. Enclosure: No on the Bambu Lab A1, Yes on the Elegoo Centauri Carbon. Multicolor: With AMS lite (optional) on the Bambu Lab A1, No on the Elegoo Centauri Carbon. Max speed: 500 mm/s on the Bambu Lab A1, 500 mm/s on the Elegoo Centauri Carbon.

Reasons to buy the Bambu Lab A1

Easy, Full-size bed, Quiet. What to accept: open frame, bed-slinger design. Usual price: $349–$449. Our verdict: buy. Read the full Bambu Lab A1 review.

Reasons to buy the Elegoo Centauri Carbon

Enclosed, Fast, Very good value. What to accept: newer ecosystem, single color. Usual price: $299–$349. Our verdict: buy. Read the full Elegoo Centauri Carbon review.

Neither one?

Our list of the best 3D printers has every other model with its own call. Ease of use: printers with automatic bed leveling and calibration save hours of frustration for beginners.

Also consider the Bambu Lab P1S ($549–$699): enclosed, fast, self-calibrating printer that just works. Buy it if you want reliable prints with almost no tinkering.

Also consider the Bambu Lab A1 mini ($249–$299): small, quiet, self-calibrating printer for first-timers. Buy it if you are new to 3D printing and want easy success.

US buyer tip

Bambu Lab and Creality run deep sales around Black Friday and their own anniversary events; budget $20–$25 per spool of filament and a few spare nozzles.

Prices on Amazon.com move in a pattern. The deepest cuts land on Prime Day in July, Prime Big Deal Days in October and the Black Friday to Cyber Monday week, with smaller drops around Presidents Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and back-to-school. Judge a deal against the usual price we show, never against the crossed-out list price.