Bambu Lab P1S review: buy or skip?

Buy9.0/10 research score

Quick answer

Buy it, if you want reliable prints with almost no tinkering. Why: enclosed, fast, self-calibrating printer that just works. The catch: cloud-centric software.

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

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Our verdict on the Bambu Lab P1S

Buy it if: you want reliable prints with almost no tinkering.
Skip it if: you want fully open-source firmware.

Best for: Best for most
Key feature: Enclosed, fast, self-calibrating printer that just works
Typical price: $549–$699

Check Price on Amazon Paid link

Key specifications

Build volume	256×256×256 mm
Enclosure	Yes
Multicolor	With AMS (optional)
Max speed	500 mm/s

Who should buy it, and who should skip it

A good fit if you

you want reliable prints with almost no tinkering
value fast
can spend around $549–$699

Skip it if you

you want fully open-source firmware
mind this: cloud-centric software
mind this: proprietary parts

Pros and cons

Pros

Fast
Enclosed
Auto-calibration
AMS compatible

Cons

Cloud-centric software
Proprietary parts

The verdict in one breath

The Bambu Lab P1S is a 3D printer we would point most people to. What earns it the buy: enclosed, fast, self-calibrating printer that just works. In our list it is the pick for: best for most.

Reasons to buy

Fast
Enclosed
Auto-calibration
AMS compatible

Reasons to skip

Cloud-centric software
Proprietary parts

The specs that matter

Build volume: 256×256×256 mm
Enclosure: Yes
Multicolor: With AMS (optional)
Max speed: 500 mm/s

Worth knowing

The P1S changed expectations of what a home 3D printer can do out of the box.

Buy it or skip it?

Buy it if you want reliable prints with almost no tinkering. Skip it if you want fully open-source firmware; the Bambu Lab A1 is the better buy then. Everything else is in our list of the best 3D printers.

Alternatives worth considering

Bambu Lab · 3D printers

Bambu Lab A1

Buy it if you want larger prints with beginner-friendly setup.

Verdict: Buy
Best for: Full-size beginner
Typical price: $349–$449

Pros

Easy
Full-size bed

Cons

Open frame

Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review

Elegoo · 3D printers

Elegoo Centauri Carbon

Buy it if you want enclosed printing on a tight budget.

Verdict: Buy
Best for: Enclosed value
Typical price: $299–$349

Pros

Enclosed
Fast

Cons

Newer ecosystem

Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review

Frequently asked questions

Should I buy the Bambu Lab P1S?

Buy it, if you want reliable prints with almost no tinkering. Why: enclosed, fast, self-calibrating printer that just works. The catch: cloud-centric software.

When should I skip it?

Skip it if you want fully open-source firmware. The Bambu Lab A1 is the better buy then.

What does the Bambu Lab P1S cost?

Usually $549–$699 on Amazon.com. It tends to dip during Prime Day and Black Friday.

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 P1S: the full buy-or-skip review

Is the Bambu Lab P1S worth buying? Short answer: buy it, if you want reliable prints with almost no tinkering. This review explains what this Bambu Lab model gets right, where it falls short, what it usually costs in the US and which 3D printer to buy instead if it is not the right fit for you.

What the Bambu Lab P1S does well

The headline: enclosed, fast, self-calibrating printer that just works. Key specs: Build volume: 256×256×256 mm; Enclosure: Yes; Multicolor: With AMS (optional); Max speed: 500 mm/s. In our list it is the pick for: best for most. It usually sells for $549–$699.

The P1S changed expectations of what a home 3D printer can do out of the box.

The trade-offs

Good: fast, enclosed, auto-calibration, AMS compatible. Not so good: cloud-centric software, proprietary parts. Read the skip-if line before you order: skip it if you want fully open-source firmware.

What to buy instead

Instead, consider the Bambu Lab A1 ($349–$449): full-size open printer with automatic everything. Better if you want larger prints with beginner-friendly setup.

Instead, consider the Elegoo Centauri Carbon ($299–$349): enclosed CoreXY printer at a very low price. Better if you want enclosed printing on a tight budget.

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

Before you buy

Ease of use: printers with automatic bed leveling and calibration save hours of frustration for beginners. Enclosure: an enclosed printer handles ABS and ASA and keeps fumes and noise down; open-frame printers are fine for PLA. Multicolor: an automatic material system (AMS) adds color but wastes filament on every swap.

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.

Order from Amazon itself or the brand's official storefront so the US manufacturer warranty applies, keep your order confirmation and register the product with the brand. Most items can be returned within 30 days, and holiday purchases often get an extended return window into January.