Bambu Lab A1 Combo vs X1 Carbon in 2026: What to Buy Now
Short answer: In 2026 the choice is no longer A1 Combo vs X1 Carbon, because the X1 Carbon is discontinued. Bambu Lab ended X1-series production and sales on 31 March 2026. Buy the A1 Combo ($359 on Bambu Lab's US store on 29 October 2026) if you print PLA, PETG and TPU in up to four colours. If you wanted the X1 Carbon for ABS, ASA, nylon or carbon-fibre filaments, buy its successor, the X2D, instead. Only buy an X1 Carbon if you find a discounted, in-stock unit from an authorised seller.
Updated 29 October 2026. Prices are from Bambu Lab's US store on that date and change often.
Disclosure: Amazon links on this page are affiliate links (tag tinkeratlas0c-20). If you buy through them I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Where a printer isn't sold on Amazon.com, I link Bambu Lab's store with no affiliate tag.
Is the Bambu Lab X1 Carbon discontinued?
The Bambu Lab X1 Carbon is discontinued. Bambu Lab ended manufacturing and active sales of the X1, X1 Carbon and X1E on 31 March 2026, according to Bambu Lab's end-of-life announcement. Existing X1 printers keep:
- firmware feature updates until 31 May 2027
- security patches until 31 May 2029
- spare parts until 31 March 2031
Bambu calls the X2D "X1C's next chapter" on its X2D store page.
A1 Combo vs X1 Carbon: specs compared
The A1 Combo and X1 Carbon are equal on build volume (256 × 256 × 256 mm) and four-colour capability, but they're built for different materials. The A1 is an open-frame bed slinger, and the X1 Carbon is an enclosed CoreXY printer with a hardened steel nozzle.
| Spec | A1 Combo | X1 Carbon (discontinued) | X2D (X1C successor) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status | Current | End of life 31 Mar 2026 | Current |
| Build volume | 256 × 256 × 256 mm | 256 × 256 × 256 mm | 256 × 256 × 260 mm |
| Frame / motion | Open bed slinger | Enclosed CoreXY | Enclosed CoreXY, dual nozzle |
| Nozzle | Stainless steel, 300 °C | Hardened steel, 300 °C | Hardened steel, 300 °C |
| Max bed temperature | 100 °C | 110 °C (220 V) / 120 °C (110 V) | 120 °C |
| Chamber | None | Enclosed, up to 60 °C | Actively heated, 65 °C |
| Max speed / acceleration | 500 mm/s, 10,000 mm/s² | 500 mm/s, 20,000 mm/s² | 1,000 mm/s, 20,000 mm/s² |
| Multicolour | AMS lite (4 colours) included | AMS (4 colours) in the Combo | Dual nozzle, works with AMS |
| Ideal materials | PLA, PETG, TPU, PVA | Adds ABS, ASA, PA, PC, carbon and glass fibre | Adds ABS, ASA, PA, PC, PPA-CF |
| US price (29 Oct 2026) | $359 (typically $399) | No longer sold new by Bambu | Combo $789 (typically $899) |
A1 and X2D specs are from Bambu Lab's A1 tech specs and X2D specs. X1 Carbon specs are from the X1-Carbon spec sheet and the X1 product page.
Who should buy the A1 Combo?
The A1 Combo is the right choice if you mostly print PLA and PETG and want multicolour on a budget. Bambu rates PLA, PETG, TPU and PVA as ideal for the A1 and lists ABS, ASA, PC, PA and fibre-filled filaments as not recommended, because it has no enclosure. It's the printer I'd point most hobbyists to before spending twice as much.
Check the Bambu Lab A1 on Amazon · A1 Combo at the Bambu Lab store
Who should buy the X2D instead of an X1 Carbon?
The X2D is the right choice if you were buying an X1 Carbon for engineering materials. It keeps the enclosed CoreXY design and hardened steel nozzle, and adds a second nozzle, a 65 °C actively heated chamber and a 1,000 mm/s top speed. The Amazon.com listing is currently unavailable, so here is Bambu Lab's store with no affiliate tag: Bambu Lab X2D at the Bambu Lab store.
Is a used or discounted X1 Carbon still worth it?
A discounted X1 Carbon is worth it only if the price is well below an X2D and you accept the support timeline. Feature updates end on 31 May 2027, and spare parts are available until 31 March 2031. For a new purchase, the X2D or a P2S is the safer buy. See the full Bambu Lab printer comparison.
What about non-Bambu multicolour printers?
The Snapmaker U1 is the multicolour printer I'd look at outside Bambu Lab. It's a four-toolhead toolchanger with a 270 × 270 × 270 mm build volume, at $749 on Snapmaker's US store on 29 October 2026, and it doesn't purge filament at every colour change the way single-nozzle AMS printers do. I won a Snapmaker U1 Innovation Fund prize for my open-source CAD app, SindriCAD (free at tinkeratlas.com/sindricad), so take my enthusiasm with that in mind. Snapmaker U1 on Amazon · more picks in my recommended 3D printers list.
FAQ
Is the A1 Combo better than the X1 Carbon?
The A1 Combo is better value for PLA, PETG and TPU, and it's still sold new. The X1 Carbon is better for ABS, ASA, nylon and carbon-fibre filaments, but it was discontinued on 31 March 2026, so the X2D is the printer to compare against today.
Can the A1 Combo print ABS?
ABS is not recommended on the A1, according to Bambu Lab, because the A1 has no enclosure and ABS warps in open air. Choose an enclosed printer such as the P2S or X2D for ABS and ASA.
What replaced the Bambu Lab X1 Carbon?
The X2D is the replacement for the X1 Carbon. Bambu Lab calls it "X1C's next chapter", and it adds dual nozzles and a 65 °C actively heated chamber.
Will my X1 Carbon still get updates?
Your X1 Carbon is still supported. Bambu Lab promises firmware feature updates until 31 May 2027, security patches until 31 May 2029 and spare parts until 31 March 2031.
Sources
These sources are the official pages behind every spec and price above.