Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest
Best for: Makers who want large prints and multicolor capability without an enclosure — ideal for PLA, PETG, and flexible materials.
Full details →This printer is no longer sold new. It has been replaced by the Creality Ender 3 V4.
Best for: Budget-conscious beginners who want CoreXY speed without the Bambu ecosystem or Prusa premium — and are comfortable with a more hands-on setup experience.
Full details →| Bambu Lab A1 | Creality Ender 3 V3 KE | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | $299 | ★ $279 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Entry | Entry |
| Motion | BedSlinger | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | ★ 256 × 256 × 256 mm | 220 × 220 × 240 mm |
| Max Speed | 500 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ★ ✅ 4 slots | ❌ No |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ❌ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Oct 19, 2023 | Sep 15, 2023 |
| Cycle length | ~365 days | ~854 days |
| Cycle advice | Wait | Superseded |
| Deals advice | Buy | Clearance |
| Next model | — | — |
The A1 Combo includes the AMS Lite for 4-color filament switching — the same system used on the A1 Mini and A2L.
Roughly 2.9 times the volume of the A1 Mini — great for terrain, cosplay props, and functional parts. The A2L is the step up if you need a larger bed-slinger.
Works with Bambu Studio, Bambu Handy app, and the full Bambu filament ecosystem including multi-material profiles.
The KE brings CoreXY motion to the Ender 3 family — historically a bed-slinger platform — delivering 500 mm/s without the Bambu premium.
The Ender 3 series has one of the largest 3D printer communities in the world, with thousands of documented modifications and upgrades.
If you outgrow the KE, the Creality K1C and K2 Plus are natural next steps within the same brand ecosystem.