The Verge picks Bambu Lab P2S Combo as the best 3D printer for beginners
Sean Hollister of tech site The Verge says that after a year of testing, the Bambu Lab P2S Combo is the only 3D printer he would buy himself. It is priced at $649 until December 1, versus the regular $749.
Sean Hollister, a reviewer at the US technology site The Verge, has recommended the Bambu Lab P2S Combo 3D printer as the best choice for people who want to start 3D printing, following a year of testing. He says it is the only printer he would buy for himself. The device is on sale for $649 until December 1; its regular price is $749.
During testing, the author printed 40,000 whistles for ICE whistleblowers, and four printers together logged 6,770 hours. The P2S is a fully enclosed printer with a touchscreen and an automated material system (AMS) that loads filament, calibrates itself, prints and winds the filament back up. Prints can be started from a phone or laptop using the manufacturer's app.
Comparison with rivals
The author stresses that a multi-material system is worthwhile even for those who don't need several colors in one print, because loading filament by hand is a chore. The $369 Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo also offers automatic four-color feeding and printed just as well, but it does not feed filament from sealed, nearly airtight containers. Rolls therefore can't be left in the printer for long, since the plastic absorbs moisture, turns brittle and can jam the nozzle.
The Elegoo printers also had problems that were harder to diagnose: the original model had feeding issues and worn gears, while the second model's nozzle crashed into the bed, which was fixed by reseating connectors. The P2S needed its nozzle replaced only twice in 1,692 hours, and its toolless hotend ($18) can be swapped in under a minute.
The closest competitor is the Bambu P1S Combo at $509, but the P2S offers a better camera, easier cleaning, active ventilation and a guide for placing the build plate correctly.
Drawbacks
The author admits the P2S is not trouble-free. After 1,600 hours, the AMS 2 unit has shown problems, possibly from prematurely worn gears. Bambu has announced it will replace some of those gears free of charge, covering those made between May and July 2026.
