Creality · FDM bedslinger
Ender 3 V3 SE
Tinkerers and classrooms on a tight budget.
$199approx. USD
- 220 × 220 × 250 mm
- 250 mm/s
- Open frame
- Single colour
Ease6
Speed5
Materials4
Openness7
Value8
Bambu Lab · FDM · 2023
Bambu Lab A1 Mini review
The cheapest genuinely hands-off printer on the market. Auto levelling, auto flow calibration and 500 mm/s motion in a desktop footprint, with optional four-colour AMS lite.
Best for: First-time buyers who want prints, not a project.
The PIF Score
6.8PIFEase10
Speed8
Materials4
Openness3
Value9
Five axes, each out of ten, averaged with no weighting. How we score.
What we like
- Effectively zero setup or tuning
- Very fast for the price
- Optional 4-colour printing
- Quiet enough for a desk
What we don't
- Small 180 mm build volume
- No enclosure — not for ABS/ASA
- Cloud-leaning ecosystem
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 ~80 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 |
| Released | 2023 |
| Build volume | 180 × 180 × 180 mm |
| Max speed | 500 mm/s |
| Hotend max temp | 300 °C |
| Bed max temp | 80 °C |
| Nozzle | 0.4 mm (hardened swap available) |
| Bed levelling | Fully automatic |
| Enclosure | No |
| Multi-material | Optional AMS lite (4 colours) |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, LAN, microSD |
| Recommended slicer | Bambu Studio / Orca |
| Typical power draw | ~80 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.