🖨 3D Printer Radar

Bambu Lab A1vsQidi Tech Plus4

💰Bambu Lab A1 is $400 cheaper (134% less)
📐Qidi Tech Plus4 has 55% more build volume
⚡Qidi Tech Plus4 tops out at 600 mm/s vs 500 mm/s
🏠Only Qidi Tech Plus4 has an enclosure — required for ABS, ASA, PA engineering filaments
Cross-ecosystem comparison: These printers use different software ecosystems. Accessories, filament profiles, and community support are not interchangeable between brands. Consider the total ecosystem cost, not just the printer price.
Bambu Lab A1
Buy/Wait:Wait

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 →
Qidi Tech Plus4
Buy/Wait:Superseded

This printer is no longer sold new. It has been replaced by the Qidi Tech Plus5.

Best for: Makers and small businesses who need a large enclosed build volume for engineering materials at a prosumer price — particularly those printing PA-CF, ABS, and PC at scale. Look for clearance deals — the Plus5 is the current model.

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Bambu Lab A1Qidi Tech Plus4
Pricing
Starting Price★ $299$699
Print Specs
TierEntryProsumer
MotionBedSlingerCoreXY
Build Volume256 × 256 × 256 mm★ 305 × 305 × 280 mm
Max Speed500 mm/s★ 600 mm/s
Multicolor✅ 4 slots✅ 4 slots
Enclosure❌★ ✅
Auto Calibration✅✅
Open Source❌❌
Upgrade Kit——
Buy Timing
ReleasedOct 19, 2023Sep 20, 2024
Cycle length~365 days~408 days
Cycle adviceWaitSuperseded
Deals adviceBuyClearance
Next model——

Quick Winner

💰
Budget pick
Bambu Lab A1
$299 starting
📐
Large prints
Qidi Tech Plus4
305×305×280 mm
⚡
Fastest prints
Qidi Tech Plus4
600 mm/s
🔓
Open ecosystem
Tie

Bottom Line

💰Bambu Lab A1 saves you $400 — choose it if budget is your primary constraint
🏠Qidi Tech Plus4 is the only choice if you print ABS, ASA, PA, or PC — those materials require an enclosure

Materials

Bambu Lab A1 only
—
Both
PLAEasy to print, no enclosure needed — everyday parts
PETGTougher, slightly flexible, moisture-resistant
TPUFlexible rubber-like — phone cases, gaskets, wheels
ABSHeat and impact resistant — needs enclosure
Qidi Tech Plus4 only
ASAUV-stable ABS alternative — outdoor parts, needs enclosure
PANylon — strong and wear-resistant, needs dry storage
PA-CFCarbon-fibre nylon — very stiff, abrasive to standard nozzles
PCPolycarbonate — extremely tough, challenging to print
PPS-CFExtreme temperature and chemical resistance

Why buy each?

Bambu Lab A1

AMS Lite multicolor

The A1 Combo includes the AMS Lite for 4-color filament switching — the same system used on the A1 Mini and A2L.

256×256×256 mm build volume

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.

Bambu ecosystem integration

Works with Bambu Studio, Bambu Handy app, and the full Bambu filament ecosystem including multi-material profiles.

Qidi Tech Plus4

305×305×280 mm build volume

One of the largest build volumes in the prosumer enclosed category — 40% more printable area than the Bambu X1C at a lower price point.

Active 65°C chamber heating

The second-generation active heating delivers consistent chamber temperatures for PA, PA-CF, ABS, ASA, and PC with minimal warping across the full build plate.

370°C bimetal hotend

Handles high-performance engineering composites including PA-CF, PET-CF, and PPS-CF without requiring a separate hotend upgrade.