๐Ÿ–จ 3D Printer Radar

Bambu Lab P1SvsPrusa Research MK4S

โš ๏ธ Ecosystem lock-in warning: Bambu and Prusa are not interchangeable ecosystems. Bambu's AMS system is proprietary โ€” multicolor filaments, cloud features, and software are tightly coupled. Prusa's MMU3 is open source. Switching ecosystems later means replacing filament profiles, software presets, and accessories. Choose based on your long-term workflow, not just the current specs.
Bambu Lab P1S
Buy/Wait:Wait

Overdue for a refresh โ€” no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest

Best for: Makers who need an enclosed printer for ABS, ASA, PA, and PC at prosumer price โ€” now available at clearance pricing after P2S launch.

Full details โ†’
Prusa Research MK4S
Buy/Wait:Caution

Mid-cycle โ€” watch for announcements before buying

๐Ÿ”ง Upgrade kit available โ€” from MK4, MK3.5

Best for: Makers who value open-source hardware, community support, long-term repairability, and battle-tested reliability over raw speed or multicolor features.

Full details โ†’
Bambu Lab P1SPrusa Research MK4S
TierProsumerProsumer
MotionCoreXYBedSlinger
Build Volume256 ร— 256 ร— 256 mm250 ร— 210 ร— 220 mm
Max Speed500 mm/s500 mm/s
Multicolorโœ… 4 slotsโŒ No
Enclosureโœ…โŒ
Auto Calibrationโœ…โœ…
Open SourceโŒโœ…
Upgrade Kitโ€”๐Ÿ”ง From MK4, MK3.5
MaterialsPLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU, PA, PA-CF, PCPLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU, PA, PC
ReleasedJul 5, 2023Mar 20, 2024
Cycle length~335 days~730 days
Cycle adviceWaitCaution
Deals adviceBuyCaution
Next modelโ€”Prusa MK5 (Expected 2027)

Why buy each?

Bambu Lab P1S

Full enclosure with chamber heating

Active chamber temperature control enables reliable ABS, ASA, PA, and PC printing without warping.

CoreXY speed and precision

500 mm/s print speed with Bambu's vibration compensation delivers fast, accurate prints.

Now at clearance prices

With the P2S released, P1S prices are at their lowest โ€” an opportunity for budget-conscious buyers.

Prusa Research MK4S

Upgrade kit available โ€” no need to buy new

MK4 and MK3.5 owners can upgrade to MK4S specs without purchasing a whole new printer. This is Prusa's commitment to owners and is unique in the industry at this level.

Fully open source

Firmware, PCB schematics, hardware designs, and slicing profiles are all published under open licenses. You own the printer completely.

Best community and documentation

Prusa's forum, knowledge base, and repair guides are unmatched. Parts are stocked and available for years after purchase.