Bambu Lab X1 Carbon vs Creality Ender-3 V3
Technical comparison · Fused filament fabrication (FFF/FDM)
Choosing between these two FDM printers comes down to one question: do you need an enclosed chamber and multiple colors, or would you rather spend €419 instead of around €1150? The X1 Carbon has both; the Ender-3 V3 prints one color at a time in an open frame.
| Parameter | ||
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Launch year | 2022 | 2024 |
| Use tier | F2 — Intermediate | F2 — Intermediate |
| Price | ||
| Price (€) | ~1050–1250 € | 419 € |
| Price updated on | — | 06/2026 |
| Universal specs | ||
| Dimensions (W×D×H) (cm) | 38.9 × 38.9 × 45.7 cm | 35.8 × 37.4 × 49.8 cm |
| Weight (kg) | 14.13 kg | 7.8 kg |
| Work area (mm) | 256 × 256 mm | 220 × 220 mm |
| Z-axis height (mm) | 256 mm | 250 mm |
| Power (W) | 1000 W | 350 W |
| Voltage (V) | — | 230 V |
| Maximum speed | 500 mm/s | 600 mm/s |
| Declared precision | 7 μm | 0.1 mm |
| Category specs | ||
| Footprint X×Y (short side) (mm) | 256 mm | 220 mm |
| Build height Z (mm) | 256 mm | 250 mm |
| Kinematics | CoreXY | Cartesian |
| Max nozzle temperature (°C) | 300 °C | 300 °C |
| Max bed temperature (°C) | 110 °C | 110 °C |
| Max print speed (mm/s) | 500 mm/s | 600 mm/s |
| Enclosed chamber | Yes | No |
| Filament sensor | Yes | Yes |
| Auto bed leveling | Mesh | Mesh |
| Standard nozzle diameter (mm) | 0.4 mm | 0.4 mm |
| Multi-extruder | No | No |
| Native Klipper | No | Yes |
| Input shaper | Yes | Yes |
| Multicolor printing | Yes | No |
| Multicolor requires accessory | Yes | No |
| Max colors | 16 | 1 |
| Ecosystem | ||
| Cloud dependency | No | No |
| Software notes | The printer is controlled via Bambu Studio, the proprietary slicer available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, as well as the Bambu Handy mobile app. LAN mode is supported, allowing full local control without an internet connection or cloud account. Remote monitoring via Bambu Cloud is optional. Bambu Studio accepts 3MF, STL, OBJ, and STEP files and includes advanced features such as vibration compensation and flow rate control. | The native operating system is Creality OS, a customized version of Klipper. It supports Creality Print and major third-party slicers, along with WiFi connectivity and remote management. |
The differences that matter
- Price: around €1150 vs €419 → the gap pays for the enclosed chamber and multicolor, which the Ender-3 V3 doesn't have.
- Chamber: enclosed on the X1 Carbon, open on the Ender-3 V3 → only the first prints inside a closed volume.
- Colors: up to 16 with AMS vs 1 → on the Ender-3 V3 every part is single-color.
- Firmware: native Klipper only on the Ender-3 V3 → macros and configuration can be edited without flashing anything.
Which one to choose
Choose X1 Carbon if…
you print multicolor models, up to 16 colors with the AMS accessory, and want an enclosed chamber. On Monday morning you load a multicolor file and walk away, with a 256×256 mm bed to work on. The trade-off: around €1150 plus the accessory for multicolor, and no native Klipper, so you work in Bambu Studio (LAN mode is available, no cloud required).
Choose Ender-3 V3 if…
you print in a single color and want to spend €419. You get native Klipper through Creality OS for tweaking configuration and macros, and third-party slicers work. The trade-off: an open frame, one color per part and a 220×220 mm bed, so a part 240 mm wide won't fit.
Where to buy
Paid link: the price for you does not change. Methodology
Filaments for these printers
The most chosen spools among the materials both printers can print according to their specifications.
- ELEGOO PLA PLA1.75 mm1 kg Check the price on Amazon →
- Bambu Lab PLA PLA1.75 mm1 kg Check the price on Amazon →
- SUNLU PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol) PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol)1.75 mm1 kg Check the price on Amazon →
- SUNLU PLA PLA1.75 mm1 kg Check the price on Amazon →
- OVERTURE PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol) PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol)High speed1.75 mm1 kg Check the price on Amazon →
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