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Bambu Lab P1S vs Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2: print cost head-to-head

Side-by-side specs, energy and amortization numbers for the Bambu Lab P1S and the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2, plus a quick verdict on the dimensions that move per-part cost.

Specs side by side

Bambu Lab · 2023

Bambu Lab P1S

Price
$699
Average power
150 W
Useful life
25,000 h
Build volume
256 × 256 × 256 mm
Best for
Enthusiasts

Elegoo · 2026

Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2

Price
$399
Average power
210 W
Useful life
22,000 h
Build volume
256 × 256 × 256 mm
Best for
Enthusiasts

Sample calculation

Same input on both columns: 50 g PLA part, 6 h print time, 8% failure rate. Energy cost held at $0.18/kWh, amortization uses each printer's regional price — so both the machine and its price drive the numbers.

Bambu Lab P1S

  • Energy$0.16
  • Amortization$0.17
  • Unit Cost$1.54
  • Final Consumer Price$6.71

Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2

  • Energy$0.23
  • Amortization$0.11
  • Unit Cost$1.55
  • Final Consumer Price$6.74

Verdict by dimension

  • Cheaper to buy

    Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2

    Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 costs $399 vs $699 for the Bambu Lab P1S — a lower upfront price also means less amortization per print.

  • Cheaper to run

    Bambu Lab P1S

    Bambu Lab P1S draws 150 W on average vs 210 W for the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 — lower power means a smaller energy line in every print.

  • Longer useful life

    Bambu Lab P1S

    Bambu Lab P1S is rated at 25,000 h vs 22,000 h for the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2, so amortization spreads over more printing hours.

  • Larger build volume

    Tie

    Both printers land within the noise threshold for this dimension.

  • More recent release

    Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2

    Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 is from 2026 while the Bambu Lab P1S is from 2023 — more recent firmware, motion-system and ecosystem updates.

Both target Enthusiasts buyers, so the decision usually comes down to brand ecosystem and after-sale service.

Over a 5-year horizon, the Bambu Lab P1S amortizes 1.1× more print-hours than the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Bambu Lab P1S better than the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2?
Neither is strictly better — it depends on what you print. The Bambu Lab P1S is cheaper to run, the Bambu Lab P1S has the larger build volume, and the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 is the more recent release. Match the winner on the dimension you care about most.
What's the difference between the Bambu Lab P1S and the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2?
The Bambu Lab P1S is priced at $699 with a 256 × 256 × 256 mm build volume; the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 is $399 with 256 × 256 × 256 mm. Beyond price and volume, they differ in power draw, rated life and release year — see the verdict table above.
Which is cheaper, the Bambu Lab P1S or the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2?
The Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 is cheaper to buy at $399 vs $699 for the Bambu Lab P1S. Factoring energy and amortization, the Bambu Lab P1S also has the lower per-print running cost — run your own numbers in the calculator to be sure.

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