The Bambu Lab A1 (entry) and Prusa Research CORE One+ (prosumer) come from different brands and sit in different tiers, so this is less a head-to-head than a question of how much printer you need. The CORE One+ costs $700 more and gets you an enclosed chamber (with ASA, PA and PC on its materials list) and an open-source design; the A1 answers with 13% more build volume.
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 →Early in release cycle — no urgency to wait
🔧 Upgrade kit available — from CORE One+, MK4S
Best for: Makers who want CoreXY speed and precision with Prusa's open-source ethos, community support, and long-term repairability — without Bambu's closed ecosystem.
Full details →| Bambu Lab A1 | Prusa Research CORE One+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | ★ $299 | $999 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Entry | Prosumer |
| Motion | BedSlinger | CoreXY |
| Build Volume | ★ 256 × 256 × 256 mm | 250 × 220 × 270 mm |
| Max Speed | 500 mm/s | ★ 600 mm/s |
| Multicolor | ✅ 4 slots | ★ ✅ 8 slots |
| Enclosure | ❌ | ★ ✅ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ★ ✅ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | 🔧 From CORE One+, MK4S |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Oct 19, 2023 | Aug 13, 2026 |
| Cycle length | ~365 days | ~209 days |
| Cycle advice | Wait | Buy |
| Deals advice | Buy | Caution |
| Next model | — | — |
The A1 was released on Oct 19, 2023, 1,120 days ago. Its previous release cycle ran about 365 days; it is now 755 days past that point and no successor has been announced.
The CORE One+ was released on Aug 13, 2026, 91 days ago. Its previous release cycle ran about 209 days, so it is 44% of the way through — roughly 118 days before a successor would be due at that pace.
On timing alone, the CORE One+ is the safer buy right now — it is only 44% of the way through its expected cycle, while the A1 is 755 days past its ~365-day cycle with no successor announced.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The A1 lists at $299 and the CORE One+ at $999 — $700 apart, so the CORE One+ costs 234% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $18 for the A1 versus $67 for the CORE One+ — the A1 is both cheaper and roomier, so it wins on value outright.
If you are buying before Dec 1, 2026, the active sale tips value toward the A1.
Our pick for most buyers is the CORE One+, for an enclosed chamber (with ASA, PA and PC on its materials list) and an open-source design, plus better buy-now timing. Go for the A1 instead if you want to spend less — it is $700 cheaper ($299 vs $999).
How we judge timing and deals: read our methodology →
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 CORE One+ matches Bambu CoreXY speed (600 mm/s) while keeping everything open source — firmware, hardware, slicing profiles.
Unlike Bambu's closed ecosystem, every component of the CORE One+ can be modified, repaired, or community-improved.
The CORE One+ (Gen 2) can be ordered with Prusa's INDX toolchanger in 4- or 8-tool versions, shipping from 15 October 2026. Each material gets its own nozzle, with about 12 seconds per material change and almost no purge waste. The MMU3 remains compatible as a 5-color add-on.