Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest
Best for: Budget-conscious beginners who want Bambu's ease of use and multicolor printing in a compact footprint.
Full details →Early in release cycle — no urgency to wait
Best for: Makers and engineers who need reliable printing in ABS, ASA, PA, or carbon-fiber composites and want the best-value enclosed printer under $500.
Full details →| Bambu Lab A1 Mini | Qidi Tech Q2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Entry | Prosumer |
| Motion | BedSlinger | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | 180 × 180 × 180 mm | 270 × 270 × 256 mm |
| Max Speed | 500 mm/s | 600 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ✅ 4 slots | ✅ 4 slots |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ✅ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Materials | PLA, PETG, TPU | PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU, PA, PA-CF, PC |
| Released | Oct 19, 2023 | Aug 20, 2025 |
| Cycle length | ~365 days | ~518 days |
| Cycle advice | Wait | Buy |
| Deals advice | Buy | Caution |
| Next model | — | — |
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.
The Q2 actively heats the print chamber — not just passively traps heat. This is the key differentiator for reliable ABS, ASA, PA-CF, and PC printing without warping.
Triple-stage filtration removes 99.5% of particulates and VOCs — essential for printing ABS and ASA in a home or office environment.
Handles the full spectrum of engineering filaments including carbon and glass fiber composites without a hotend upgrade.