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Prices checked November 10, 2026Not tested in handNo paid rankingsHow we pick
You give up: Only $40 less at regular price ($319 on sale when checked), multicolor needs Elegoo's CANVAS unit, sold separately, and it has 45 reviews on Elegoo's store.
Short answer: The closest cheaper alternative to the Bambu Lab P1S 3D Printer is the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2, about $359 instead of $399 (save 10%). What you give up: Only $40 less at regular price ($319 on sale when checked), multicolor needs Elegoo's CANVAS unit, sold separately, and it has 45 reviews on Elegoo's store. The cheapest is the Creality Ender-3 V3 SE at about $199. Prices checked November 10, 2026.
Why it's a good swap An enclosed CoreXY printer with the same 256 x 256 x 256 mm build volume, a 350°C nozzle, full-auto calibration and a 500 mm/s top speed, per Elegoo.
You give up: Only $40 less at regular price ($319 on sale when checked), multicolor needs Elegoo's CANVAS unit, sold separately, and it has 45 reviews on Elegoo's store.
Why it's a good swap Creality's entry-level printer, with CR Touch auto-leveling, quick assembly and printing at up to 250 mm/s, for half the price.
You give up: Tom's Hardware calls it a pick for bargain hunters who don't need multicolor or a fast machine, and it's an open-frame printer with no enclosure.
Why it's a good swap Bambu's compact beginner printer, with an all-metal hot end that reaches 300°C and optional multicolor printing, for $180 less.
You give up: A 180 x 180 x 180 mm build volume against the P1S's 256 x 256 x 256 mm, and no enclosure.
Why it's a good swap Bambu's full-size beginner printer, with the same 256 x 256 x 256 mm build volume and multicolor printing when you add the AMS lite, for $100 less.
You give up: An open-frame printer without the P1S's enclosure, which Bambu says is what lets the P1S print engineering-grade filaments consistently.
Typical US prices, checked November 10, 2026. Not live prices; check the listing before you buy.
Looking for a cheaper alternative to the Bambu Lab P1S 3D Printer? It usually sells for about $399. Here are 4 cheaper swaps from $199: the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 is the closest match from another brand, the Bambu Lab A1 is a cheaper option from Bambu Lab and the Creality Ender-3 V3 SE is the cheapest at about $199. Each one says what you give up for the lower price.
The P1S is worth it if you want an enclosed printer that works out of the box. Bambu says setup takes 15 minutes, the full enclosure lets it print engineering-grade filaments consistently, and the build volume is 256 x 256 x 256 mm. Tom's Hardware calls it award-winning in its deal coverage. Bambu's typical price is $399, or $549 with the AMS for multicolor printing.
If you mostly print PLA and don't need an enclosure, the Bambu Lab A1 ($299) has the same build volume for $100 less, and the Bambu Lab A1 mini ($219) suits small parts. The Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 ($359) keeps the enclosure for slightly less. The Creality Ender-3 V3 SE ($199) is the low-cost way to start.
| Option | Type | Typical price | You save | What you give up | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bambu Lab P1S 3D Printer | The original | $399 | – | – | View ↗ |
| Creality Ender-3 V3 SE | Budget pick | $199 | $200 (50%) | Tom's Hardware calls it a pick for bargain hunters who don't need multicolor or a fast machine, and it's an open-frame printer with no enclosure. | View ↗ |
| Bambu Lab A1 mini | Same brand, cheaper | $219 | $180 (45%) | A 180 x 180 x 180 mm build volume against the P1S's 256 x 256 x 256 mm, and no enclosure. | View ↗ |
| Bambu Lab A1 | Same brand, cheaper | $299 | $100 (25%) | An open-frame printer without the P1S's enclosure, which Bambu says is what lets the P1S print engineering-grade filaments consistently. | View ↗ |
| Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 | Close match | $359 | $40 (10%) | Only $40 less at regular price ($319 on sale when checked), multicolor needs Elegoo's CANVAS unit, sold separately, and it has 45 reviews on Elegoo's store. | View ↗ |
Typical US prices from retailer listings and price trackers, checked November 10, 2026. They are not live Amazon prices and may have changed, so check the listing before you buy.
The Creality Ender-3 V3 SE, at about $199 (50% less). Creality's entry-level printer, with CR Touch auto-leveling, quick assembly and printing at up to 250 mm/s, for half the price. The catch: Tom's Hardware calls it a pick for bargain hunters who don't need multicolor or a fast machine, and it's an open-frame printer with no enclosure.
The Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2, at about $359 (10% less). An enclosed CoreXY printer with the same 256 x 256 x 256 mm build volume, a 350°C nozzle, full-auto calibration and a 500 mm/s top speed, per Elegoo. The catch: Only $40 less at regular price ($319 on sale when checked), multicolor needs Elegoo's CANVAS unit, sold separately, and it has 45 reviews on Elegoo's store.
Yes. The Bambu Lab A1, at about $299 (25% less). Bambu's full-size beginner printer, with the same 256 x 256 x 256 mm build volume and multicolor printing when you add the AMS lite, for $100 less. The catch: An open-frame printer without the P1S's enclosure, which Bambu says is what lets the P1S print engineering-grade filaments consistently.
The Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 ($359) is the closest from another brand: an enclosed CoreXY printer with the same 256 x 256 x 256 mm build volume. Within Bambu's range, the Bambu Lab A1 ($299) keeps the build volume but drops the enclosure.
Yes. Bambu's US store gives a typical price of $299 for the A1 and $219 for the A1 mini, against $399 for the P1S. All three were on sale when checked, at $259, $199 and $349.
Both have a 256 x 256 x 256 mm build volume and print in multiple colors with an AMS unit. The P1S is fully enclosed, which Bambu says lets it print engineering-grade filaments consistently. The A1 is an open-frame printer that Bambu pitches at beginners.
Tom's Hardware describes it as award-winning in its deal coverage, and Bambu's store lists a 2-year warranty. Its typical price is $399 ($349 on sale when checked), or $549 with the AMS for multicolor. Bambu also sells the newer P2S at a typical price of $549.
Each swap links to amazon.com. Prices are typical US prices checked November 10, 2026 and change often, so check the listing before you buy.
Every swap is a product sold in the US that does the main job of the original. Close match is another brand with similar features, Same brand, cheaper is an older, smaller or renewed model from the same maker, and Budget pick is the cheapest thing that still does the job. On each page, Closest match is the close match nearest the original in price, and Lowest price is the cheapest swap. We compare published specs, retailer listings and reviews; we don't test products ourselves.
A cheaper product is cheaper for a reason. Each swap says what you give up, like weaker noise cancelling, a smaller screen or a shorter warranty, so you can decide if the savings are worth it.
Prices are typical US prices from retailer listings and price trackers, last checked October 2026. They are not live Amazon prices, which change often. When a price couldn't be confirmed, the page says “Check price on Amazon” instead of showing a number.
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