Bambu Lab A1 mini vs Creality Ender-3 V3 KE
- The Ender-3 V3 KE has 99% more build volume (11.6 L against 5.8 L).
- Per litre, the Ender-3 V3 KE is the cheaper space at $23 against $38.
- Neither manufacturer publishes a volumetric flow rate, so neither speed claim can be checked against what the hotend can melt.
Bambu Lab
A1 mini
~$219 · 5.8 L
A first printer for someone who wants colour prints without learning to tune a machine first.
Creality
Ender-3 V3 KE
~$269 · 11.6 L
A budget printer that is genuinely fast and can handle more than PLA.
| A1 mini | Ender-3 V3 KE | |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$219 | ~$269 |
| Build volumex × y × z converted to litres, so three numbers become one comparable one | 5.8 L | 11.6 L |
| Dimensions | 180 × 180 × 180 mm | 220 × 220 × 240 mm |
| Per litre | $38 | $23 |
| Type | FDM bedslinger | FDM bedslinger |
| Motion | bedslinger | bedslinger |
| Max flowthe hotend's rated volumetric flow — what actually caps print speed | not published | not published |
| Real line speedestimated from flow at a 0.4 mm nozzle and 0.2 mm layer | not published | not published |
| Max speedthe manufacturer's claim — gantry movement, not extrusion | 500 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Hotend max temp | 300 °C | 300 °C |
| Bed max temp | 80 °C | 100 °C |
| Enclosure | Open frame | Open frame |
| Extruder | direct drive | direct drive |
| Auto level | strain-gauge | strain-gauge |
| Hardened nozzle | No | No |
| Multi-material | AMS lite, 4 slots | None |
| True multi-material priceprinter plus the changer it is photographed with | ~$339 | — |
| Firmware | Bambu | Klipper |
| LAN-only mode | Yes | Yes |
| Camera | Yes | No |
| Assembly | Pre-assembled | Partly assembled |
| Noise | 48 dB | — |
| Released | 2023 | 2024 |