The Prusa MK4S and Bambu P1S both cost serious money and deliver serious results — but they represent fundamentally different philosophies about what a printer should be.
Two Philosophies, One Price Bracket
When people talk about premium consumer 3D printers, two names come up most often: the Prusa MK4S and the Bambu Lab P1S. Both deliver genuinely impressive results, but they're excellent in different ways.
Price Reality Check
The MK4S comes in at approximately £750 kit or £900 assembled. The P1S retails at around £600. On raw numbers, Bambu wins — though the gap narrows if you want AMS.
Speed: Bambu Wins
The P1S is faster. Real-world quality printing: 300mm/s for P1S versus 200mm/s for MK4S. On a Benchy: 20-22 minutes for P1S, 30-35 for MK4S.
Open Source vs Closed Ecosystem
Prusa has been committed to open-source from inception. Firmware is public, parts are sold directly, community repair knowledge is encyclopaedic. Bambu's approach is proprietary with the 2025 authentication controversy showing they can change what their printers do remotely.
Who Should Buy What
Buy the Bambu P1S if you prioritise speed, want the best out-of-box experience, and are comfortable in a closed ecosystem. Buy the Prusa MK4S if long-term ownership matters, open source is a principle, and repairability is part of your evaluation.
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