The Prusa Core One+ and the Bambu Lab P2S are enclosed CoreXY printers of a similar size, but Prusa and Bambu Lab build them in different ways. Full disclosure: the Core One+ is the printer I use myself, so I know it from daily use. The P2S part of this comparison is based on Bambu Lab’s specifications.
How this comparison was made: it is based on the manufacturers’ official specifications and stores, checked in October 2026, plus my own experience with the Prusa Core One+, the printer I use myself. More about me. “Check price” links go to the official store and may be affiliate links, which never changes the verdict.
The short answer
- Choose the Bambu Lab P2S if you want the easiest experience and the lower price, with a hardened nozzle for fiber-filled filaments included.
- Choose the Prusa Core One+ if you want a heated chamber for demanding materials, open-source hardware, a kit option and a printer you can repair for years.
Side by side
| Prusa Core One+ | Bambu Lab P2S | |
|---|---|---|
| Build volume | 250 × 220 × 270 mm | 256 × 256 × 256 mm |
| Chamber | Active temperature control, up to 55 °C | Enclosed, no active heating |
| Max nozzle / bed | 290 °C / 120 °C | 300 °C / 110 °C |
| Nozzle included | 0.4 mm brass, quick-swap | 0.4 mm hardened steel |
| First layer calibration | Automatic, load-cell sensor | Automatic |
| Camera | Optional | Built-in, 1080p |
| Connectivity | Ethernet and Wi-Fi | Dual-band Wi-Fi |
| Multicolor | MMU3 upgrade, up to 5 filaments | AMS (Combo) |
| Kit option | Yes | No |
| Open source | Yes | No |
Ease of use
Both printers calibrate their first layer automatically and come with tuned profiles. The P2S is closer to plug and play, and it has a built-in camera and an app for remote control. The Core One+ is also easy to use, and it opens and closes its chamber vent on its own depending on the material.
Materials
Both are enclosed and handle ABS and ASA. The Core One+ keeps its chamber warm up to 55 °C, controls the chamber temperature automatically and has a 120 °C bed, which helps with warp-prone materials like PC and nylon. The P2S comes with a hardened nozzle, so carbon-fiber and glass-fiber filaments work out of the box. On the Core One+ you add a hardened nozzle for those.
Openness and repairs
Here Prusa is ahead. The Core One+ runs open-source firmware, uses the open-source PrusaSlicer, can be bought as a kit, and Prusa sells spare parts. The P2S is a closed platform built around Bambu Studio and Bambu Lab’s cloud, with spare parts also available.
Price
The Core One+ costs roughly twice as much as the P2S in the official stores at the time of writing. Building the Core One+ kit yourself lowers the price.
Verdict
For most people who want an enclosed printer, the P2S gives you more for the money and is the easier choice. The Core One+ is worth the extra if you print demanding materials, value open hardware, or want a printer you can maintain and upgrade for many years. That last point is why I chose it.
Frequently asked questions
Does a Bambu Lab printer need the cloud? What is LAN mode?
No. Bambu printers have a LAN Only mode in which the printer talks to Bambu Studio over your home network without internet access. Bambu’s wiki lists what you lose: you can’t start prints from outside your network, the Bambu Handy app doesn’t work, and print history is unavailable. You can also print from a microSD card on the A1 or a USB drive on the P2S.
In January 2025 Bambu announced firmware that requires authorization to start a print over LAN or the cloud, through Bambu Studio or its Bambu Connect app. Bambu said printing from an SD card is not affected. If you use third-party software such as OrcaSlicer to control the printer directly, Bambu’s Developer Mode opens the MQTT channel, live stream and FTP, and Bambu warns that you then take responsibility for your own network security. The change led to long threads of complaints on the Bambu forum, so read up on the current firmware if offline control matters to you. Our Bambu Lab vs Creality comparison covers the brands more broadly.
Sources: Bambu Lab Wiki, Bambu Lab blog, Bambu Lab, Bambu Lab forum.
Can I use a Prusa printer without an internet connection?
Yes. Prusa says the Core One+ prints from a USB drive or over your local network, and that it never has to connect to the internet. PrusaLink runs on the printer and works only inside your network, for file uploads, monitoring and print control. Prusa Connect is the optional cloud service for checking on prints from anywhere. It is free for Prusa owners and includes 1 GB of cloud storage.
Prusa also publishes an offline workflow guide. It explains how to install PrusaSlicer and update firmware from a USB drive without going online, and suggests leaving out the Wi-Fi module if you want the printer fully isolated. The optional Prusa camera needs Wi-Fi to work. For a direct comparison with Bambu, see Prusa Core One+ vs Bambu Lab P2S.
Sources: Prusa, Prusa Knowledge Base.