Bambu Lab P1S vs Prusa MK4S: Which 3D Printer Should You Buy?

Yes, in real-world printing. The P1S CoreXY system handles acceleration better. Most P1S owners print at 250-350mm/s reliably. The MK4S is capable of high speeds but most owners print at 150-250mm/s for consistent quality.

It can, but the open-frame design makes warping a real risk on parts over 100mm. The P1S enclosed chamber handles ABS, ASA, and PA-CF reliably without a separate enclosure. If you print ABS regularly, the P1S wins this clearly.

No. Bambu Studio is closed-source and the ecosystem is proprietary. The Prusa MK4S is fully open-source with all files and source code available. If open-source freedom matters to you, the MK4S is the right pick.

Neither is ideal as a first printer. The Bambu A1 Mini at around £299 gives you the Bambu ecosystem and a gentler learning curve at half the P1S price. If you want to start with something serious, the P1S is more beginner-friendly than the MK4S due to shorter setup time.

If open-source freedom, long-term repairability, and community support matter to you, yes. If you primarily want fast, reliable parts printing, the P1S delivers more value per pound at around £650 vs around £999 for the MK4S assembled.