Getting Started with 3D Printing
Article author:
Eolas PrintsArticle published at:
June 17, 2026
The Prusa Core One and Bambu Lab's P1S and P2S are the machines most people cross-shop when they want a fully enclosed CoreXY printer in the mid range. All three are enclosed, fast, and capable of ABS and ASA. We stock both brands, so this is a straight comparison rather than a pitch — the right answer genuinely depends on what you value.
Head to Head
| Prusa Core One | Bambu P1S | Bambu P2S | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motion | CoreXY enclosed | CoreXY enclosed | CoreXY enclosed |
| Build volume | 250×220×270 mm | 256×256×256 mm | 256×256×256 mm |
| Chamber | Active, up to 55 °C | Passive | Passive (Adaptive Airflow) |
| Nozzle temp | 290 °C | 300 °C | 300 °C |
| Multi-colour | MMU3 (single nozzle) | AMS (up to 16) | AMS 2 Pro (up to 16) |
| Firmware | Open source | Closed | Closed |
| Made in | EU (Czech Republic) | China | China |
| Format | Kit or assembled | Assembled | Assembled |
Where Prusa Leads: Openness, Repairability, EU Support
The Core One's defining strengths are its active chamber heating (up to 55 °C, versus the passive enclosures of the P1S and P2S), its open-source firmware and ecosystem, and its EU manufacturing with genuine local support and spares. Active chamber control matters for larger ABS, ASA, and PC parts where passive enclosures can struggle as prints grow tall. The open platform means no vendor lock-in, full control over your slicer and firmware, and a repair/upgrade path that can extend the machine's life for years — Prusa's whole philosophy is a printer you maintain rather than replace. For buyers who value data privacy or want to avoid cloud dependence, this is decisive.
Where Bambu Leads: Multi-Colour, Speed, Polish
Bambu's strengths are a more mature multi-colour system (the AMS, up to 16 colours, is more polished than Prusa's MMU3), a slightly larger and symmetrical build volume (256×256×256 mm), a higher 300 °C nozzle, and an out-of-the-box experience that's hard to beat. The P1S is the proven, value-focused workhorse; the P2S is its modern refresh with a touchscreen, quick-swap nozzle, servo extruder, and H-series AI error detection. If multi-colour printing is central to your work, or you want the smoothest setup and the strongest app ecosystem, Bambu has the edge. The trade-offs are a closed platform and cloud-oriented workflow.
The Honest Summary
- Choose the Prusa Core One if: you value active chamber heating for engineering materials, open-source firmware, no cloud dependence, EU support and spares, and a repairable, upgradeable machine you'll keep for years.
- Choose the Bambu P1S if: you want the most proven enclosed workhorse at the best price, with mature multi-colour via the AMS, and you're comfortable with a closed ecosystem.
- Choose the Bambu P2S if: you want that same ecosystem with the latest touchscreen, quick-swap nozzle, and smart monitoring.
It often comes down to philosophy: Prusa for openness, repairability, and EU support; Bambu for multi-colour and turnkey polish. Both are excellent — there's no wrong answer, only the one that fits how you work.
Available from Eolas Prints
We stock both brands, shipped from Spain. The Prusa Core One comes with the advantage that we're an authorised Prusa reseller — full manufacturer warranty, genuine spares, and EU support. We also supply genuine, 100% original Bambu Lab printers. Not sure which way to go? Contact us — we'll give you a straight answer based on your materials and workflow. You can also read our complete Prusa buyer's guide.