Is the used price gap between the A1 and P1S justified?

Only if you use what the gap buys. The £200–£300 difference pays for the enclosed chamber, ABS/ASA capability, the sturdier CoreXY motion system, and freedom from the A1's recall history. For a PLA-only user none of that converts into better prints, and the A1 is the better-value machine.

Can the Bambu Lab A1 print ABS like the P1S?

Not reliably. ABS and ASA need a stable, warm chamber to avoid warping and layer splitting, and the A1's open frame cannot provide one — a DIY enclosure also traps heat around electronics that were not designed for it. If ABS or ASA matters, buy the P1S; that single capability is the core of its used-price premium.

What should I check when buying a used Bambu Lab A1 that I would not check on a P1S?

The heatbed recall. A1 units sold before 30 January 2024 — serial numbers with 'A' as the sixth digit on the rear QR sticker — were recalled because the heatbed cable could short and spark. Ask the seller for proof the free replacement heatbed was fitted, and verify the serial with Bambu Lab support if in doubt. The P1S has no equivalent issue.

3D printer comparison

Bambu Lab A1 vs Bambu Lab P1S — Which to Buy Used?

Last updated 26 August 2026

The A1 and P1S are both Bambu Lab machines running the same slicer and the same auto-calibration — the comparison is really about architecture. The A1 is an open-frame bedslinger; the P1S is an enclosed CoreXY. That single difference decides material range, noise, footprint and price. Used, the gap is wide: £150–£240 for an A1 versus £400–£540 for a P1S, and the right choice depends almost entirely on whether you need to print ABS or ASA.

FDM 3D printer

Bambu Lab A1

Used price (UK)£150–£240

Retail (new)£339

Resale index84.0(-16% YoY)

Full price guide →

FDM 3D printer

Bambu Lab P1S

Used price (UK)£400–£540

Retail (new)£749

Resale index87.2(-12.8% YoY)

Full price guide →

How they compare

Aspect	Bambu Lab A1	Bambu Lab P1S
Architecture	Bedslinger (bed moves on Y)	CoreXY (bed moves on Z only)✓
Used price (UK)	£150–£240✓	£400–£540
Retail price (new)	£339 (often £238–£280 on sale)✓	£749
Enclosure	Open frame	Fully enclosed chamber✓
Material range	PLA, PETG, TPU — ABS/ASA not practical	PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, PA, PC✓
Multi-material	AMS lite — open-mount, 4 spools, no drying	AMS — enclosed 4-spool unit, stackable✓
Noise	Quieter motion system, but open frame lets fan noise out	Enclosure muffles it — quieter in the same room at speed✓
Recall history	Pre-Feb 2024 units recalled for heatbed cable — check before buying	No recall✓
Tall-print stability	Bed shake can mark very tall prints at speed	Static bed — no height penalty✓
Best for	First printer, PLA/PETG, tight budget	Engineering materials, speed, production use

Which should you buy?

Choose Bambu Lab A1

Choose the Bambu Lab A1 if you print PLA and PETG and want the cheapest route into Bambu's ecosystem. At £150–£240 used it delivers most of the P1S's real-world speed and the same slicer experience for less than half the money — just insist on proof the recall-replacement heatbed is fitted before you pay.

Choose Bambu Lab P1S

Choose the Bambu Lab P1S if ABS, ASA or nylon is anywhere in your plans, or if the printer will run for hours in a room where people live — the enclosure handles both problems at once. At £400–£540 used it remains the best-value enclosed machine on the secondhand market.

Bottom line

This is a materials decision, not a quality decision. Both machines print PLA superbly. If your printing ends at PLA and PETG, the A1 used is the rational buy and the £250+ saved buys an AMS lite and a year of filament. The moment engineering materials enter the picture, only the P1S will do.