Bambu Lab P2S Unboxing & First Look: Is It Really the X1C’s Little Brother?
Today, we’re unboxing the Bambu Lab P2S — the printer everyone keeps calling the X1C’s little brother. Look, if this thing prints as good as everyone says, I don’t care if it comes in a cereal box. But we’re going to find out, and we’re going to find out right now.
Welcome back to Maker Build It! I’m Bryan DeLuca, and if you’re new to 3D printing, welcome to one of the most fun communities on the planet. Go ahead and hit that follow button — we do a lot of ridiculous but also weirdly educational things around here.
Today’s mission: crack open the P2S, see what’s inside, stack it up next to the X1C, and figure out what’s actually going on with this “X1C clone” talk.
Unboxing the Bambu Lab P2S
Right out of the gate, you get the usual suspects:
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Instructions (will we read them? Probably not.)
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Cables and tools
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AMS tubing
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And the printer itself — which is shiny.
Like “I definitely need to buy another printer” shiny.
It genuinely looks like the X1C and the P1S had a baby — a fast baby — and this thing is just heavy enough to remind me I should probably go to the gym more often.
There’s a slot on the front where the AMS controller is supposed to attach, and this is where things got interesting. I assumed the old AMS controller would fit… and, well… it very much does NOT. Same for the spare one I had in the box. The mounting holes don’t line up, the panel doesn’t seat correctly — nothing matches.
So yeah. That’s another video.
After a short battle with packing foam, screws, and me questioning my life choices, everything was ready. Printer updated. Studio updated. We were off — except for one hiccup: the external spool wasn’t recognized at first. It eventually sorted itself out, whether because it’s a brand-new printer, or because I forgot what life without an AMS looks like.
While spiraling down this rabbit hole, I also discovered the P2S requires a different AMS Hub — something I somehow missed when ordering, even though Bambu did list it on their site.
And then I noticed something else…
The X1 Carbon is no longer available on Bambu’s website.
Only “in the wild.”
More on that later.
P2S Specs — Fast Enough to Hurt Your Feelings
Let’s hit the highlights:
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Speed: 500 mm/s — fast enough that your Veggie might finish before your regret does.
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Acceleration: 20,000 mm/s² — blink and your print is halfway done.
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Build Volume: 256 × 256 × 256 mm — perfect for cosplay, terrain, random gadgets I make instead of sleeping.
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Nozzle: Hardened steel — eats carbon fiber for breakfast.
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Touchscreen: Yep.
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LIDAR: Nope.
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Multi-color: Works with AMS because life is better in four colors (or eight, if you’re living dangerously).
First print? Benchy. Smooth. Shockingly smooth.
Is the P2S a Clone of the X1C?
Short answer: no.
Long answer: also no.
What’s the same?
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Same build volume
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Same CoreXY speed insanity
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Same ability to run abrasive filaments
What’s different?
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The X1C had LIDAR, AI first-layer detection, and spaghetti detection
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The X1C had a microSD slot
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The X1C bottom panel had a lip that made cleaning annoying
The P2S, on the other hand:
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Has a nicer, higher-mounted touchscreen
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Has a better extruder than the P1S
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Uses AI detection instead of LIDAR
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Swaps the SD card for a top-mounted USB (bold choice… not sure it’s the right choice)
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Has a slanted bottom lip that makes cleaning way easier
For the price? It’s a fantastic printer. Fast, clean, multi-color capable, and budget-friendly.
I can see myself recommending it as the default 2026 printer for people getting into the hobby.
But Now… the X1C Question
I expected the P2S to simply slot into my existing ecosystem — AMS hub, AMS units, flex plates — and while most of that still works, the AMS Hub thing derailed the entire comparison.
Then I saw the X1 Carbon disappearing from Bambu’s official store.
Which made me wonder:
If the printer is only available “in the wild,” how long before replacement parts are also only available in the wild?
Look, Bambu Lab’s tech support is phenomenal. Their wiki is phenomenal. But 3D printers are tools. Tools need replacement parts. And e-waste is becoming a serious problem — estimated to hit 82+ million metric tons by 2030.
The last thing this hobby needs is printers becoming non-repairable disposable tech.
I hope companies — including Bambu — continue making parts available, and that aftermarket companies step in where needed. Makers keep things running forever. It’s who we are. These machines shouldn’t become throwaway items.
So… Has the P2S Replaced the X1C?
I don’t know.
But it does feel like the X1C is fading into “legacy product” territory.
Me?
I’m driving all my printers until the wheels fall off.
And if I can replace those wheels?
Good luck stopping me.
Final Thoughts
Let me know what you think in the comments. Is the P2S the new champ? Is the X1C officially entering classic-car status? Should we start hoarding spare parts?
And remember:
Every print starts with an idea. Every idea starts with a problem.
So go solve something weird.