Bambu Lab · FDM
A1 Mini
First-time buyers who want prints, not a project.
$199approx. USD
- 180 × 180 × 180 mm
- 500 mm/s
- Open frame
- Multi-colour
Ease10
Speed8
Materials4
Openness3
Value9
Anycubic · FDM bedslinger · 2023
Anycubic Kobra 2 Neo review
About as cheap as a real printer gets. Auto levelling, direct drive and a quick assembly — slow by modern standards, but it prints.
Best for: The tightest possible budget, or a classroom set.
The PIF Score
5.8PIFEase6
Speed5
Materials4
Openness6
Value8
Five axes, each out of ten, averaged with no weighting. How we score.
What we like
- Rock-bottom price
- Auto levelling and direct drive
- Quick to assemble
What we don't
- Slow next to Klipper machines
- No Wi-Fi
- Hotend tops out at 260 °C
True cost
What it really costs to own in your country
Pre-filled with typical local rates. Change anything to match your own use.
Running cost / year—power · filament
Per print hour—incl. upkeep
3-year total—printer + running
Assumes ~110 W average draw while printing and a small yearly allowance for nozzles, plates and PTFE. An estimate for comparing printers against each other, not a quote.
Full specifications
| Type | FDM bedslinger |
| Released | 2023 |
| Build volume | 220 × 220 × 250 mm |
| Max speed | 250 mm/s |
| Hotend max temp | 260 °C |
| Bed max temp | 110 °C |
| Nozzle | 0.4 mm |
| Bed levelling | Automatic (LeviQ 2.0) |
| Enclosure | No |
| Multi-material | No |
| Connectivity | USB, microSD |
| Recommended slicer | Cura / Orca |
| Typical power draw | ~110 W while printing (our estimate) |
Specifications are the manufacturer's published figures. "Max speed" is a peak that no printer holds across a whole part, so use it for comparison and don't expect it in real print times.