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World desk4 min

I Printed a Shovel, Earrings, and Everything in Between With the Bambu Lab P2S Combo

From a shovel and truck-bed tie-downs to earrings and garden parts, WIRED’s Kat Merck tested the Bambu Lab P2S Combo across practical and personal projects. Here’s what her four-week review says about the printer, AMS bundle, setup, and trade-offs.
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WIRED commerce editor Kat Merck’s four-week review of the Bambu Lab P2S Combo suggests that a consumer 3D printer can make more than novelty trinkets: her prints included household organizers, garden parts, garage hardware, a shovel, and earrings. She rated the machine 9/10. That is one reviewer’s experience, not a guarantee that every owner will get the same results—but it gives a useful picture of what the printer can do and what owning one involves.

What Kat Merck printed with the P2S Combo

In her September 21, 2026 WIRED review, Merck describes printing a sponge holder, hydroponic-garden caps and parts, clips and hangers, a Mason jar lid organizer, a shovel, signs, plant-pot coasters, a shoehorn, truck-bed tie-downs, earrings, and a Benchy boat model. The mix matters: it spans functional replacements and organizers as well as decorative and personal projects.

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Merck says the prints looked smooth and store-bought. She reports that none of her 30-plus prints failed, apart from a couple affected by her own measurement mistakes. Those are her test results over four weeks, not independently replicated figures or a promise of a failure-free experience.

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Why the Combo is approachable—and what its features do

The P2S is an enclosed 3D printer with a 5-inch color touchscreen and tool-free nozzle swapping. Merck describes ease of use and consistent prints as strengths. Its camera is 1080p at 30 frames per second; the Bambu Handy app can show the camera feed and save a time-lapse, according to the review.

#1 Best Overall
Bambu Lab P2S Combo, P2S 3D Printer & AMS 2 Pro, Multi-Color 3D Printing
  • High-Speed Precision: The Bambu Lab P2S 3D printer prints up to 600 mm/s while maintaining exceptional accuracy. With the PMSM Servo Extruder and Active Flowrate Compensation, every layer of your printed object stays sharp and smooth, delivering flawless corners and consistent results.
  • Ready to Print in 15 Minutes: Set up your P2S FDM 3D printer and start printing in just 15 minutes. With AI failure detection, quick-swap nozzles, and automatic calibration, this 3D printer makes professional-grade 3D printing effortless, even for beginners.
  • Effortless Multi-Color Printing: The AMS 2 Pro enables seamless multi-color/multi-material 3D printing. It features built-in filament drying at up to 65 °C, keeping every spool ready for flawless prints. (Note: The P2S 3D printer does not support multi-color printing; Combo version required.)
  • Smart Airflow for Any Filament: The Adaptive Airflow System automatically balances cooling and heat retention—keeping overhangs crisp with cool air, or maintaining a 50 °C chamber for engineering-grade materials. A carbon filter ensures clean, safe air while you print.
  • Limitless Creativity, Seamless Workflow: Explore over one million 3D models on MakerWorld and bring them to life with a smooth, unified workflow using Bambu Studio, Bambu Handy, and your FDM 3D printer, from design to finished print.

The AMS bundle is mainly about filament handling

The “Combo” includes Bambu Lab’s Automatic Material System (AMS). It holds four spools and automatically feeds filament, enabling multicolor prints without manually changing the material for each color. The review also says the P2S AMS can dry filament. This makes the bundle most relevant if you want multicolor output or value automated feeding and drying; the review does not establish that the AMS is necessary for single-color printing.

AI failure detection was not demonstrated in the review

The P2S includes improved AI failure detection, but Merck could not assess whether it caught failures because none of her prints failed. The feature is present; its effectiveness was not established by her reported test.

Rank #2
Bambu Lab P1S Combo, P1S 3D Printer and AMS, Multi-Color 3D Printing
  • Up to 16 Colors: Bring your designs to life with vibrant multi-color/multi-material printing capabilities, perfect for showcasing your creativity. Note: Connecting Bambu Lab AMS is required.
  • 500mm/s and 20000 mm/s² Acceleration True High Speed: Don't wait around for your masterpieces. Lightning-fast printing speed lets you focus on creating, not waiting.
  • Enclosed Design: Fully enclosed body improves print performance for advanced filaments. Automatic Bed Leveling: Say hello to high-quality, successful prints. Auto bed leveling makes 3D printing such an easy thing.
  • Set Up in 15 Minutes: Spend more time printing and less time setting up. User-friendly design ensures a hassle-free assembly experience for all skill levels.
  • Supported Filament: Ideal: PLA, PETG, TPU, PVA, PET ABS, ASA; Capable : PA, PC; Not Recommended: Carbon/Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer.

Combo or printer without AMS?

The prices below are those listed on the WIRED review page on September 21, 2026. They are historical page prices, not verified current prices, and may have changed.

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Option or accessory Review-page price What it means
P2S Combo at Amazon $769, listed September 21, 2026 Printer bundled with AMS
P2S without AMS at Amazon $569, listed September 21, 2026 Lower-priced printer option without the included four-spool system
P2S at Bambu Lab $780, listed September 21, 2026 The WIRED review page’s listed price; the review page does not clarify bundle configuration
AMS purchased separately $299, listed September 21, 2026 Standalone AMS price on the WIRED review page

If you expect to print in multiple colors, compare the Combo’s convenience with buying the printer alone and adding an AMS later. For single-color projects, the review gives no reason to treat the bundle as essential. Check the live listing and included configuration before buying: the figures above are dated, not a current quote.

Rank #3
Bambu Lab A1 Mini Combo, A1 Mini 3D Printer&AMS lite, Multi-Color Printing
  • High-Speed Precision: Experience unparalleled speed and precision with the Bambu Lab A1 Mini 3D Printer. With an impressive acceleration of 10,000 mm/s², the A1 Mini delivers blazing-fast printing while maintaining exceptional accuracy and detail in your prints.
  • Multi-Color Printing with AMS lite: Unlock your creativity with vibrant and multi-colored 3D prints. The Bambu Lab A1 Mini 3D printers make multi-color printing accessible and reliable for everyone, bringing your designs to life in stunning detail. Note: AMS lite required, get A1 Mini Combo or buy AMS lite seperately.
  • Full-Auto Calibration: Say goodbye to manual calibration hassles. The A1 Mini 3D printer takes care of all the calibration processes automatically, ensuring optimal performance for every print. Enjoy a seamless printing experience with precise Z-offset, bed-leveling, and more.
  • Active Flow Rate Compensation: Achieve consistently smooth prints with active flow rate compensation. The algorithm actively compensates the flow rate according to the readings to extrude with accuracy, ensuring flawless prints.
  • Easy and Quiet 3D Printing: A1 mini 3D printer offers easy printing with a user-friendly interface and simplified touchscreen. Setup for your first print takes just 20 minutes thanks to its pre-assembled design. The 1-Clip quick swap nozzle allows for convenient maintenance and versatile printing options. Plus, enjoy a quiet printing environment with active motor noise cancellation, ensuring ≤48 dB noise levels.

Space, stability, and ventilation are part of ownership

Give it a stable surface

The review lists the printer’s dimensions as 15 x 16 x 19 inches and its nozzle speed as 600 mm per second. In Merck’s setup, frequent operation shook a low wooden table; the movement loosened the table-leg joints and came before X-Y-axis errors. She says a firmer surface generally resolved the issue. The observation is specific to her setup, but it is a reason to plan for a sturdy, level support rather than a lightweight table.

Plan carefully for ASA and ABS

The enclosed chamber provides environmental control for high-temperature materials such as ASA and ABS, which the review describes as prone to warping. Enclosure does not eliminate the need to consider fumes. During an ASA test, Merck found the fumes intense, shut the room door, opened windows, and ran an air purifier. She says the rear carbon filter did not prevent perceived leakage around the door and other gaps.

Rank #4
Bambu Lab P2S 3D Printer, Ready-to-Use FDM 3D Printer for Beginners
  • High-Speed Precision: The Bambu Lab P2S 3D printer prints up to 600 mm/s while maintaining exceptional accuracy. With the PMSM Servo Extruder and Active Flowrate Compensation, every layer of your printed object stays sharp and smooth, delivering flawless corners and consistent results.
  • Ready to Print in 15 Minutes: Set up your P2S FDM 3D printer and start printing in just 15 minutes. With AI failure detection, quick-swap nozzles, and automatic calibration, this 3D printer makes professional-grade 3D printing effortless, even for beginners.
  • Effortless Multi-Color Printing: The AMS 2 Pro enables seamless multi-color/multi-material 3D printing. It features built-in filament drying at up to 65 °C, keeping every spool ready for flawless prints. (Note: The P2S 3D printer does not support multi-color printing; Combo version required.)
  • Smart Airflow for Any Filament: The Adaptive Airflow System automatically balances cooling and heat retention—keeping overhangs crisp with cool air, or maintaining a 50 °C chamber for engineering-grade materials. A carbon filter ensures clean, safe air while you print.
  • Limitless Creativity, Seamless Workflow: Explore over one million 3D models on MakerWorld and bring them to life with a smooth, unified workflow using Bambu Studio, Bambu Handy, and your FDM 3D printer, from design to finished print.

For impact-modified plastics, the review advises placing the printer in a room with a closable door. Bambu Lab’s Wiki also has a printable exhaust kit. Merck’s experience is a practical warning, not a measurement of emissions or a substitute for following the material and printer makers’ safety guidance.

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Build plate, filament, and print cleanup

Know which plate was used for the ASA test

The P2S came with a rough-textured plate. Merck’s ASA test used a separately purchased smooth engineering plate, which the WIRED review page listed at $30 on September 21, 2026. That accessory was part of her reported test setup; the review does not establish it as a universal requirement.

Best Value
Sahvaim 4Pack 0.2/0.4/0.6/0.8MM H2 Series/X2D/P2S Hotend for Bambu Lab H2D/H2S/H2C Combo/X2D/P2S 3D Printer, High Temperature Quick Swap Hardened Steel Nozzle Replacement 3D Printer Extruder
  • Wide Compatibility: This upgraded H2/X2D/P2S hotend kit is specially designed for Bambu Lab X2D, H2D, H2S, H2C,P2S, ensuring a perfect fit and optimal performance.Can print a variety of filaments, such as common filaments such as PLA/PETG/TPU/ABS
  • High Hardness & Clog - Resistant: The H2D/H2S/H2C/P2S nozzle print head Made with hardened materials and smooth inner walls (Ra 0.4 throat tube and nozzle), reducing clogs and improving print quality. The titanium - alloy throat tube with 0.25mm wall thickness enhances durability
  • Meet different printing needs: This H2D/H2S/H2C/X2D/P2S hot end kit includes 0.2mm, 0.4mm, 0.6mm and 0.8mm hardened steel nozzles print head, which can be easily replaced at any time to achieve high-precision extrusion and fast printing
  • Quick Disassembly & Installation: Allows 30-second nozzle replacement for convenient maintenance. Ensure hotend is cooled before replacement to prevent burns
  • Easy to Use: This bamboo lab combo hotend extruder comes with a replacement guide. Preheat nozzle to 250°C (or printing temperature) for installation/removal. Use 5.0mm hex wrench and 3.0mm socket wrench (anti - slip recommended) for secure operation

Filament is an ongoing cost, and compatibility was not tested

WIRED listed Bambu Lab filament at about $15 per roll with a spool in 2026. Merck did not have non-Bambu filament to test on the P2S, so her review cannot verify third-party filament compatibility. Treat the filament price as a dated reference point, not a current or brand-independent cost estimate.

Expect purge waste behind the printer

Automatic nozzle cleaning leaves filament blobs behind the machine. Merck recommends a printed waste chute or collection basket, particularly for multicolor printing, where color changes can make that cleanup more noticeable.

Where the P2S may not fit

The review describes the P2S as a capable enclosed printer for home projects, but it does not present it as an all-purpose fabrication machine. It lacks dual nozzles and commercial-grade laser cutting and engraving. If either is central to your intended work, this review does not support treating the P2S as a substitute.

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Nor is the review a controlled head-to-head comparison with other printers. Use its reported strengths and constraints—setup experience, enclosed printing, multicolor workflow, footprint, vibration, ventilation, and missing capabilities—as questions to compare against other models, rather than as proof that the P2S is best in its class.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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