Late in cycle — a new model is likely coming soon
Best for: Budget-conscious beginners who want Bambu's ease of use and multicolor printing in a compact footprint.
Full details →First-generation product — no release history to base predictions on
Best for: Engineers and professional makers who need large-format enclosed printing with active chamber heating — and want Prusa's open-source ethos and long-term support over a closed-ecosystem competitor.
Full details →| Bambu Lab A1 Mini | Prusa Research CORE One L | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Entry | Professional |
| Motion | BedSlinger | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | 180 × 180 × 180 mm | 300 × 300 × 330 mm |
| Max Speed | 500 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ✅ 4 slots | ❌ No |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ✅ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ✅ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Materials | PLA, PETG, TPU | PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU, PA, PA-CF, PC |
| Released | Oct 19, 2023 | Jan 1, 2025 |
| Cycle length | ~365 days | — |
| Cycle advice | Wait | Caution |
| Deals advice | Buy | Caution |
| Next model | A1 Mini 2026 Refresh (Q4 2026) | — |
The A1 Mini sets up in minutes with automatic calibration and Bambu's guided first-print workflow.
Up to 4 colors with the AMS Lite accessory — Bambu's filament switching system with minimal waste purging.
Fits on a desk or shelf without taking over your workspace, while still printing at 500 mm/s.
A large enclosed build volume with genuine active chamber heating — making the CORE One L reliable for ABS, ASA, PA, and PC across the full build plate.
All firmware, hardware designs, and slicing profiles are open source. Prusa backs the CORE One L with long-term parts availability and community support.
For institutional, government, and production customers, a dedicated Critical Infrastructure Edition is offered — Prusa's commitment to secure supply for professional users.