This video provides a comprehensive review of the Bambu Lab P2S, the successor to the popular P1S 3D printer. The P2S is presented as a significant refresh, incorporating numerous high-end features previously exclusive to the flagship X1 Carbon model, effectively rendering it obsolete.
Key upgrades include a responsive 5-inch touchscreen, a quick-swap hardened steel nozzle system, steel guide rods, and an improved Full HD camera with AI spaghetti detection. A standout feature is its innovative cooling system, which intelligently switches between drawing cool external air for low-temperature filaments like PLA and recirculating filtered, heated air for high-temperature materials like ABS.
While print performance is generally excellent across a wide range of materials, the review notes the presence of Vertical Fine Artifacts (VFAs) at lower speeds and criticizes the lack of air filtration when printing PLA, a perceived step backward. The video concludes that the P2S excels in user convenience and offers a polished, integrated "fire and forget" experience, making it a worthy successor and a strong contender in the market, despite its closed ecosystem.
Reviewing the Bambu Lab P2S: A Worthy Refresh with Minor Flaws
0:00:02 Introduction and Key Specs: The Bambu Lab P2S is introduced as a refresh of the P1S. It features a 256x256x256 mm build volume, a 110°C bed, and a 300°C hardened steel hotend with quick-swap nozzles. Key upgrades include a 5-inch touchscreen and an HD camera with AI failure detection.
0:03:51 Major Physical Upgrades: The P2S replaces the P1S's dot-matrix screen with a responsive touchscreen. The housing is refined with carrying handles, rubber feet for vibration dampening, and a more convenient side-mounted spool holder. The filament buffer now includes two ports by default, simplifying switching between the AMS and an external spool.
0:05:34 Internal Hardware Improvements: The printer moves from carbon fiber to more durable steel guide rods for the print head. The new tool head features the quick-swap nozzle system from the A-series printers, includes hardened steel extruder gears, and uses a servo motor on the extruder to detect filament jams.
0:06:51 Enhanced Camera and Lighting: The P2S now includes two internal LED bars for proper build chamber lighting, which significantly improves the image from the new Full HD camera. The camera also enables AI spaghetti detection and build plate recognition via a data matrix code.
0:07:49 Innovative Dual-Mode Cooling System: The printer features a smart cooling system. For PLA and PETG, a large fan draws in cool external air to prevent overheating. For high-temperature materials like ABS, an internal flap closes, and the system recirculates the chamber air through a carbon filter to maintain a temperature of around 50°C.
0:08:45 Excellent Print Performance: Testing across various materials (PLA, PETG, ASA, Nylon, PC-CF) shows the printer produces flawless results with excellent first layers, great overhangs, and perfect multicolor prints without color bleed.
0:10:08 Print Quality Imperfection: The reviewer notes the presence of subtle Vertical Fine Artifacts (VFAs) on flat surfaces, particularly noticeable at lower speeds like 60 mm/s. This issue was less apparent at higher speeds.
0:10:54 A Step Backward in Air Filtration: A major criticism is that when printing with PLA or PETG (using external air), the printer has no filtered exhaust, allowing unfiltered particulates and odors to escape. This is considered a regression from the filtration system on the X1 Carbon.
0:12:23 Focus on User Convenience: The review highlights numerous quality-of-life improvements, such as the easy nozzle swaps, a smooth bottom panel for cleaning purge lines, and the dual-input filament buffer, demonstrating Bambu Lab's focus on creating a polished user experience.
0:13:09 The X1 Carbon is Obsolete: With its new high-end features like the touchscreen, hardened steel components, and advanced camera, the P2S now matches or exceeds the capabilities of the more expensive X1 Carbon, making the older model an illogical purchase.
0:13:50 The "Apple" of 3D Printing: The P2S operates within Bambu Lab's tightly integrated but closed ecosystem. This is great for users who want a seamless, "it just works" experience but restrictive for those who prefer third-party slicers, custom firmware, and full offline control.