Bambu Lab P2S vs Prusa Research MK4S
Technical comparison · Fused filament fabrication (FFF/FDM)
An enclosed CoreXY and a Cartesian without an enclosure, at €519 and €999, do the same job two ways: the P2S offers an enclosed chamber and more room for less money, the MK4S an open ecosystem and printing without an account.
| Parameter | ||
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Launch year | 2025 | 2025 |
| Use tier | F2 — Intermediate | F2 — Intermediate |
| Price | ||
| Price (€) | 519 € | 999 € |
| Universal specs | ||
| Dimensions (W×D×H) (cm) | 39.2 × 40.6 × 47.8 cm | 50 × 55 × 40 cm |
| Weight (kg) | 14.9 kg | — |
| Work area (mm) | 256 × 256 mm | 250 × 210 mm |
| Z-axis height (mm) | 256 mm | 220 mm |
| Power (W) | 1200 W | — |
| Voltage (V) | — | 230 V |
| Maximum speed | 600 mm/s | 500 mm/s |
| Category specs | ||
| Footprint X×Y (short side) (mm) | 256 mm | — |
| Build height Z (mm) | 256 mm | — |
| Kinematics | CoreXY | Cartesian |
| Max nozzle temperature (°C) | 300 °C | — |
| Max bed temperature (°C) | 110 °C | — |
| Max print speed (mm/s) | 600 mm/s | — |
| Enclosed chamber | Yes | No |
| Filament sensor | Yes | — |
| Auto bed leveling | Mesh | — |
| Standard nozzle diameter (mm) | 0.4 mm | — |
| Multi-extruder | No | No |
| Native Klipper | No | No |
| Input shaper | Yes | — |
| Multicolor printing | Yes | Yes |
| Multicolor requires accessory | Yes | Yes |
| Max colors | 20 | — |
| Ecosystem | ||
| Cloud dependency | No | No |
| Software notes | The official slicer is Bambu Studio, available for macOS, Windows, and Linux. The printer also accepts standard G-code exported from third-party slicers such as PrusaSlicer, SuperSlicer, and Cura, though certain advanced Bambu-specific features — including RFID-based filament detection and some automatic calibration modes — are only available within Bambu Studio. Remote control is handled via the Bambu Handy mobile app and desktop app; push notifications require cloud connectivity. | PrusaSlicer (optimized) and Prusa Connect for remote control. The machine accepts G-code from any slicer (Cura, Simplify3D) and communicates via USB, Ethernet or Wi-Fi using an open Marlin-based protocol. Compatible with OctoPrint and offline management. Does not require a Prusa account to print, unlike machines with proprietary firmware that block features without connection. |
The differences that matter
- Enclosure on the P2S (bed up to 110 °C), none on the MK4S → for materials that need a closed environment the choice is the P2S
- Bed 256 × 256 mm and 256 mm tall against 250 × 210 mm and 220 mm → a part 250 mm tall fits only the P2S
- €519 against €999 → €480 apart, almost half the price of the MK4S
- Bambu Studio (RFID detection and some calibrations only there) against G-code from any slicer and OctoPrint → the MK4S does not tie you to one program
Which one to choose
Choose P2S if…
A bench that prints a bit of everything, including filaments that want an enclosed chamber and a bed up to 110 °C, for little more than half the price. The compromise is the ecosystem: Bambu Studio unlocks everything, while with other slicers you lose RFID filament detection and some automatic calibrations, and push notifications go through the cloud.
Choose MK4S if…
Working offline or on a local network, with OctoPrint or slicers such as Cura or Simplify3D, without tying yourself to an account or to the manufacturer's software. You accept printing without an enclosure and a price close to double.
Where to buy
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