A1 for PLA and PETG on a budget, P1S when you need an enclosure, X1 Carbon when you print engineering materials or run the machine commercially. The jump from A1 to P1S buys material range; the jump from P1S to X1C buys automation and abrasive-material capability.
A1
Open-frame bed-slinger with automatic calibration and AMS support. Prints PLA, PETG and TPU well.
Its limitation is the open frame: ABS and ASA warp badly without a stable heated environment, so those materials are effectively off the menu.
Choose it if you print models, prototypes, toys and functional parts in PLA or PETG — which covers most hobby use.
P1S
Enclosed CoreXY. The moving gantry design is inherently faster and more stable than a moving bed, particularly on tall prints where a bed-slinger's inertia causes ringing.
The enclosure opens up ABS and ASA, which matters for parts that live in Egyptian summer heat — PLA softens around 60°C, which a car interior or a sunny window ledge exceeds comfortably.
This is the best value in the range for most buyers who are past their first spool.
X1 Carbon
Everything the P1S has, plus:
- Lidar — inspects the first layer and measures flow automatically, which removes the most common cause of failed prints.
- Hardened extruder and nozzle — required for carbon fibre and glass filled filaments, which destroy standard brass nozzles quickly.
- Better sensors for failure detection.
Choose it if you print abrasive composites, run prints unattended, or the machine earns money.
Where the money is best spent
If your budget stretches to a P1S, take it over an A1 plus accessories. The enclosure is the capability difference, and it cannot be added later.
If choosing between an X1C alone and a P1S plus AMS plus filament, the second combination is usually more useful — multi-colour capability and material stock deliver more than lidar for most users.
What they share
All three arrive calibrated, use the same slicer, support AMS, and handle the same core materials within their thermal limits. The learning curve is identical. You are choosing capability, not ease of use.
See A Series, P Series and X Series.
Noise and where the printer lives
One practical difference rarely covered in specification tables: the enclosed machines are noticeably quieter, because the panels contain fan and motor noise as well as heat. An open-frame printer running overnight in a bedroom or a shared office is audible; an enclosed one is much easier to ignore.
Fume containment follows the same logic. PLA is inoffensive, but ABS and ASA give off a smell most people dislike and should be ventilated. If your only available space is a living area, an enclosed machine with the filtration accessory is the difference between using the printer and avoiding it.
Factor the room into the decision alongside the materials — a printer parked somewhere inconvenient gets run far less often.
Frequently asked questions
Can I add an enclosure to an A1 later?
Third-party enclosures exist but do not match an integrated design, particularly for heat stability.
Is lidar worth the difference?
For unattended and commercial printing, yes. For weekend hobby printing, the money is better spent elsewhere.
Do all three support multi-colour?
Yes, all support AMS.