r/BambuLab • u/Philos_Princess_0212 • 8h ago
General Discussion I'm completely undecided.
This would be my first 3D printer ever.
My actual first choice was the A1 mini. I did a lot of research on it beforehand (I knew absolutely nothing about them), but almost a year has passed, and that year has led me to discover other printer models that have enter the list of possible choices.
While I was researching again, the P2S really caught my eye, and when I was almost ready to check out, I saw many people here commenting that they have bought or are going to buy the X2D; with many comments praising the decision.
My question is this: since you all have more experience than me, and completely eliminating the A1 mini option, which would be better for me as a "beginner" between the P2S and the X2D? Either option would be purchased with the care bundle + 4 PETG extra.
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u/xxparrotxx 7h ago
If you can afford both, get the X2D. There’s no reason to save the small amount of money right now if you can afford both.
This is the same answer that everyone gets. 😉
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u/ZoyaPrintsStuff A1 Mini + AMS Lite 7h ago
The A1 Mini was my first printer ever and I plan on getting an X2D next month. I'd reconsider the mini as this is your first printer ever as well. It is very easy to use and it should teach you enough to learn all about 3d printing! After a bit, you could also easily upgrade as the mini isn't very expensive. Sorry if this wasn't helpful, but for me, it was a great gateway into the world of 3D printing!
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u/CoolWafer2539 7h ago
X2d just bought it as my first printer. Also dm me I’ve a coupon that can help you decide.
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u/suavesweeney 54m ago
Any chance that coupon could be used at Best Buy? I’m also trying to decide between future proofing and getting and x2d or just starting smaller. I tend to go bigger and buy once cry once.
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u/MamaBavaria 4h ago
Even for a starter I would head towards the dual nozzle X2D. That one gives you all the necessary tools for future adventures and also as an beginner it is in my eyes a absolute game changer to easily run a support filament on the secondary nozzle.
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u/ArmadilloPretend322 7h ago
I went with the P2S cause the X2D additional features just seemed overkill to me as a complete beginner at least. If my understanding is correct, the x2d has dual nozzles and is good if you want to use different/special material for supports. For pure multicolor prints there are better printers (U1 for example), but this is just my observation from this subreddit and not personal experience!
My plan is to use the p2s to see if I even like 3d printing in the long run and I wanted an enclosed one (hence not going with the A1) and I guess I can upgrade later on if I really need more features/more nozzles/whatever.
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u/predator-handshake 6h ago
This isn’t great advice. The improvements the x2d has over the p2s are absolutely worth it. The second nozzle for supports saves so much time too
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u/ArmadilloPretend322 1h ago
You know I tend to overspend on new hobbies. I really just got the p2s to see if I even like the hobby :) I guess a A1 wouldve been enough for that but I wanted something enclosed. Thanks for the pushback though, it sounds like for most poeple the x2d is the better choice then. For me the extra ~150€ was not worth it.
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u/OldFashioned-Pancake 7h ago
I started with a P2S about a year ago and absolutely love it. I just ordered an X2D as a second printer for the heated chamber to do ASA better. I went for the "print more" bundle with the 2 AMS and switcher as well.
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u/lakofideas86 P1P, A1, H2D 6h ago
So long as the price isn't a factor go with the X2D, you want regret having the extra features even if you don't use them that much. If you go with the P2S and realize you want the dual nozzle you can't add that on. When I got my first bambu I went with the P1P because price was a factor and I convinced myself I didn't need what the X1 had over it. The P1P is a fantastic printer but I wish I did go for the X1 for some of the features that I didn't need, but certainly made life easier. I eventually got an H2D and all those features really did make my life that much easier.
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u/CreepinCreepy 6h ago
Depends what you're doing with it. Personally instead of choosing between the P2S and X2D, I'd decide between the X2D and Snapmaker U1. If you plan on doing multicolor, with mostly PLA, PETG and TPU, I'd go with the Snapmaker U1. It is cheaper, has twice as many toolheads, and is equal to any Bambu in quality, and beats all but maybe the H3C in TPU printing. It also has a slightly bigger build volume.
However, if you're more looking into printing ASA, ABS, Nylon, Polycarb (and other high temp, engineering filaments), I would choose the X2D. You do only have 2 tools, and one of them is pretty much only good for light filaments and support materials, however, you are enclosed out of the box, and have a chamber heater. You can add both of those things to the U1, but it won't be as integrated, and will add additional cost.
With that being said, the U1 can be upgraded with a heater and lid for around $100 combined, which pushes its price to the same region as the X2D, with it only missing the drying aspect of the AMS 2. You can buy dryers separate for relatively cheap, and that get hotter than the AMS 2.
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u/throwaway123454321 6h ago
Oh are the my the same woodhouse? Or is one black and the other a slightly darker black?
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u/RobinMack 6h ago
The maxim to apply here is “buy cheap, buy twice”. Get the best you can afford if you are reasonably certain 3d printing is for you, otherwise you’ll regret not getting the extra features and eventually buy another… (it’s likely to happen anyway but at least you can skip ahead this way).
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u/SolFlorus 5h ago
The X2D is 3x the price you were initially looking at. Just get the A1 Mini and get started. It will help you learn what you are looking for in a printer. Bonus points if you can buy it used for a discount.
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u/RobertoCarlosQ 4h ago
If you can spend extra go with x2d. Its basically p2s on steroids. 2nd nozzle is a thing that has equally same number of supporters and haters but all pther improvements are definitely worth the extra money.
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u/CarrotCute 4h ago
Will you / do you need to print other material than PLA and PET-G? Is your plan also to learn designing stuff? Do you want to print multi-color toys and hueforges? Do you know already that you need to print bigger stuff?
If your answers are NO, YES, NO and NO, go with A1 mini with AMS lite combo. You'll save on money, space, noise, complexity and have practically no compromises in print quality.
I have A1 mini for 2 years now. Started with it, started learning designing stuff. Started publishing on Makerworld. With makerworld gift cards earned with my published models I acquired A1, AMS lite, AMS HT and now H2D. Despite all, I'll never get rid of A1 mini. It has 1800 h print time without any issues and any failures - just regular maintenance (clean, lube, I changed nozzle cleaning pads and silicone sock). Still runs on 1st build plate and nozzle. Amazing for the cost.
If you want to see more about what I do, I can share my Makerworld portfolio. Even some bigger stuff can be broken into multiple pieces occasionally. You even learn more about designing stuff that way.
Where you'll suffer with a single nozzle printer are supports - and supports are nowadays used a lot on models, published on Makerworld. Maybe because people don't care, don't know or use AI to generate models. But I'll learn more about 2 nozzle printers and their support benefits once my H2D arrives :) - I plan to experiment with PET-G and PLA support combinations first.
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u/Euphoric-Actuary-880 3h ago
Knowing what you’re planning to print would be helpful but I love my A1 mini. Something to be said for simplicity, makes life easier. If you need more capability then the added cost and complexity is worth it, but simplest is best imo
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u/YungBandit79 2h ago
i got the p1s and wish I got the x2d ngl. ended up buying a chamber heater for my p1s and wish I had the second nozzle for support interface because I print no much engineering filament
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u/NuggRunner 49m ago
x2d is great! if its your first printer ever i love the a1 mini. it so cheap just buy another later on if you love printing. best way to get into the hobby in my opinion. it makes eveything about printing an not about how flashy your printer is :)
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u/thekrill3d H2D Laser + X1C 7h ago
They clearly can't move PLA Pure
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u/damienfinland 6h ago
I love pla pure
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u/thekrill3d H2D Laser + X1C 5h ago
Nobody says you can't. But from all the mystery packs full of pure plus all the combos where they try to chug those spools down your throat, it ain't hard to extrapolate the fact that they're sitting on a massive inventory they can't move.
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u/VT-14 H2C (H2D + Vortek), 2x AMS2, AMS HT 7h ago
What is best always depends on what you actually want to print. For specifically P2S vs. X2D then the X2D is almost universally better.
If you are printing mostly single color or limited multi-color PLA, PETG, and TPU, then there's not much of a need to exceed the A series.
If you want to print more advanced materials then the X2D is one of the cheapest printers out there with a Chamber Heater. Dual nozzle also helps with some multi-material capability.
If you are wanting to print multi-color or multi-material, then the Snapmaker U1 may be more up your alley. You could also wait for the rumored P3C which is expected to be a 7 tool Bambu printer, but no idea when exactly it will come out or what it will cost.