The P1S is the enclosed Bambu for users who want ABS, ASA, or nylon capability without the X1C price. The enclosure is passive — it retains heat generated by printing and the heated bed, reaching roughly 40–50°C chamber temperature during ABS printing — adequate for parts up to 200mm, occasionally marginal for taller prints. For most ABS and ASA work, the P1S does the job. For true engineering-grade PA-CF and PC production, the actively heated H2D is the better tool.
Note: The P2S (2025, $549) is now the current model. The P1S remains available at a reduced price and delivers essentially identical results for most materials.
What It Does Well
The enclosure is the functional difference from the A1. ABS and ASA print without warping up to around 200mm tall. ASA in particular benefits from the enclosed environment — it’s more sensitive to air currents than ABS, and the sealed chamber eliminates drafts that cause layer separation.
300°C max nozzle temperature opens up PA (nylon) printing. Nylon needs high nozzle temps and an enclosure to manage the warping from thermal contraction — the P1S has both. Install a hardened nozzle before running abrasive filaments (PA-CF, CF-PETG).
AMS compatible — up to 16 colors with four AMS units connected. Bambu Studio’s multicolor workflow handles color assignment, purge tower, and spool management. For ABS multicolor, the P1S is the lowest-cost machine in the Bambu line that makes it practical.
Where It Falls Short
The passive enclosure is its main limitation. Chamber temperature depends on bed temperature and how long the printer has been running. During the first 30–60 minutes of a long ABS print, the chamber temperature is still rising. Very tall ABS parts (200mm+) may show layer separation near the base from the cooler early-print environment.
300°C nozzle is the maximum — not headroom. Running at 295–300°C for extended nylon printing puts the PTFE-lined hot zone near its limit. For consistent PA-CF printing above 270°C, an all-metal hotend upgrade is worth considering.
No active chamber heating. The H2D addresses this; the P1S doesn’t.
Materials
ABS and ASA: The primary reason to choose P1S over A1. 240–250°C nozzle, 100–110°C bed, zero fan. Wait 20–30 minutes after starting a large print for the chamber to stabilize before the part gets tall.
Nylon (PA): 250–270°C, 90–100°C bed. Dry filament first — nylon absorbs moisture in 2–4 hours. Garolite (G10) sheet improves bed adhesion over PEI. Hardened nozzle if printing PA-CF.
PA-CF / PETG-CF: Hardened nozzle required (install before first CF print). PA-CF at 260–270°C, 90°C bed. The passive enclosure is sufficient for most PA-CF parts.
PLA and PETG: Works fine but the enclosure is unnecessary. If PLA/PETG is 90% of your printing, the A1 saves $300.
TPU: 220°C, 25–30mm/s. Load directly (bypass AMS). The enclosure has minimal benefit for TPU.
vs. the Competition
Bambu P2S ($549): Successor model — 600mm/s vs. 500mm/s, 120°C bed vs. 110°C, marginally cheaper. The P2S is the better current buy unless the P1S is significantly discounted.
Bambu X1C ($1,449): Adds LiDAR first-layer inspection, AI spaghetti detection, higher max nozzle temp (320°C), significantly higher price. For most P1S use cases, LiDAR is a convenience, not a necessity.
QIDI Q1 Pro ($449): 350°C nozzle, enclosed CoreXY, active chamber heating, smaller build volume (245mm), lower price. For high-temperature materials (PEEK, PEI), the QIDI out-specs the P1S at lower cost. For Bambu’s software ecosystem and reliability, the P1S wins.