Top 5 compared
The best 3D printers
Figures, spare parts and handy fixes for around the house, made at home layer by layer from a file.
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The top 5 at a glance
A 3D printer melts plastic filament from a reel and lays it down in thin layers until a model file is a solid object: a figure or a spare part. Open-frame printers are the usual starting point; enclosed ones keep the heat in for tougher plastics, and multicolour ones swap reels mid-print. The open-source RepRap, designed to print most of its own parts, was started by Adrian Bowyer at the University of Bath in 2005.
Every printer here levels its own bed and takes files over Wi-Fi. You’ll still need filament (PLA is the easiest) and the maker’s own slicer, the software that turns a model into printing instructions; ready-made models can be downloaded. The TINA2C is the one made for children, and its maker asks for an adult to supervise.
What matters
- Build volume: the biggest single piece it can print.
- Multicolour needs a printer made for it, or an add-on.
- A camera, to check on a long print from another room.
- A hotter nozzle opens up tougher filaments than PLA.
#1Bambu Lab A1 3D Printer
£200–£300
It calibrates itself before printing, swaps nozzles with a single clip and cancels its own motor noise, and the 256mm cube it prints in is roomy for its size; Bambu’s AMS lite can be added later for multicolour prints.
What owners say: Owners are delighted with the quality of the prints, and one had it printing within 20 minutes of opening the box; the automatic levelling works for most, though not every owner.
Heads up: Printing in several colours needs Bambu’s AMS lite, which is sold separately or with the A1 Combo.
A closer look: Bambu lists PLA, PETG, TPU and PVA as the filaments it suits, and doesn’t recommend ABS or ASA, which want an enclosed printer, on its open frame. Keep the build plate free of fingerprints, since skin oil is a common reason a first layer won’t stick.
- Calibrates itself before printing
- One-clip nozzle swap
- Cancels its own motor noise
- Suits PLA, PETG, TPU, PVA
Best for: A first printer to grow with
- Build volume
- 256 × 256 × 256mm
- Top speed
- 500mm/s
- Multicolour
- With AMS lite (extra)
- Camera
- Yes
- Wi-Fi and app
- Yes
- Max nozzle temperature
- 300°C
#2Bambu Lab P1S Combo 3D Printer (with AMS)
Over £300
An enclosed printer with Bambu’s AMS in the box, so four reels load at once for multicolour prints, and the closed chamber with its carbon filter keeps the warmth in for ABS and ASA, filaments the open-frame A1 isn’t made for.
What owners say: Owners find it easy to use and ready to print almost straight from the box, and think it good value; the complaints are about reliability over time, with some reporting nozzle clogs and connection problems.
Heads up: Bambu Lab has since launched the P2S, a reworked P1-series printer; the P1S Combo is still sold new by Bambu Lab itself.
A closer look: One AMS holds four reels, and linking up to four of them, sold separately, takes it to 16 colours. Bambu puts setup at about 15 minutes. It suits PLA, PETG, TPU, ABS and ASA, while carbon- and glass-fibre filaments aren’t on its recommended list.
- Enclosed chamber, carbon filter
- Handles ABS and ASA
- About 15-minute setup
Best for: Multicolour and tougher filaments
- Build volume
- 256 × 256 × 256mm
- Top speed
- 500mm/s
- Multicolour
- 4 colours included (AMS)
- Camera
- Yes
- Wi-Fi and app
- Yes
- Max nozzle temperature
- 300°C
#3Flashforge Adventurer 5M (AD5M) 3D Printer
£200–£300
A fast CoreXY printer that levels itself with one press and takes quick-release nozzles from 0.25mm to 0.8mm, so switching between fine detail and quick, chunky prints takes seconds.
What owners say: Owners are impressed by how quickly it prints and how easy it is to get going, and enjoy experimenting with it as they learn; its Wi-Fi connection and noise level divide opinion.
A closer look: Bend the flexible steel plate and finished prints pop off; its reverse side is made for PETG. Flashforge’s Flash Maker app shows how a print is going from another room, though watching it on camera needs Flashforge’s camera kit, sold separately.
- One-click auto levelling
- Nozzles from 0.25 to 0.8mm
- 3-second nozzle swap
- Resumes after a power cut
- Flexible double-sided build plate
Best for: Fast, fuss-free printing
- Build volume
- 220 × 220 × 220mm
- Top speed
- 600mm/s
- Multicolour
- No
- Camera
- No
- Wi-Fi and app
- Yes
- Max nozzle temperature
- 280°C
#4Anycubic Kobra X Multicolour 3D Printer
£200–£300
Four-colour printing comes in the box, with the colour changer built into the print head rather than in a separate unit, and it can grow to 19 colours with Anycubic’s ACE 2 Pro add-ons.
What owners say: Owners find it a friendly first printer, with clean results and an easy setup, though reliability varies and some report filament sticking in the tubes.
Heads up: Only test filament comes in the box (the four reels in the listing photos are for show), so order filament in the colours wanted at the same time.
A closer look: Multicolour models take longer than single-colour ones, since the printer pauses to change filament, so start with models designed for four colours. Flexible TPU is supported too, and a run-out sensor pauses the job if a reel empties partway through.
- Colour changer in the head
- Prints at 48dB or less
- Filament run-out sensor
- Auto bed levelling
- Prints flexible TPU
Best for: Four colours from day one
- Build volume
- 260 × 260 × 260mm
- Top speed
- 600mm/s
- Multicolour
- 4 colours included
- Camera
- Yes
- Wi-Fi and app
- Yes
- Max nozzle temperature
- 300°C
#5Weefun TINA2C Mini 3D Printer
£150–£200
A small printer made for children and beginners: it arrives fully built, levels itself, prints from a phone or tablet over Wi-Fi, and comes with PLA filament and a memory card of ready-to-print models.
What owners say: Owners find it easy enough for beginners and children to use, and are pleased with the fine detail it manages, though a few report it stopping working.
A closer look: Its maker asks for younger users to be supervised at all times, and the nozzle runs hot, so keep it on a table an adult can see. The 100mm print space suits figures, keyrings and small toys, and with no heated bed it sticks to PLA and TPU.
- Arrives fully built
- Auto bed levelling
- Starter PLA included
- Memory card of ready models
- Resumes after a power cut
Best for: Children and first-timers
- Build volume
- 100 × 100 × 100mm
- Top speed
- 100mm/s
- Multicolour
- No
- Camera
- No
- Wi-Fi and app
- Yes
- Max nozzle temperature
- 245°C
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1Bambu Lab A1 | #2Bambu Lab P1S Combo | #3Flashforge AD5M | #4Anycubic Kobra X | #5Weefun TINA2C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best premium | Best value multicolour | Best for kids | ||
| Picked Rating | 9.0 | 8.5 | 8.2 | 8.1 | 7.9 |
| Price | £200–£300 | Over £300 | £200–£300 | £200–£300 | £150–£200 |
| Build volume | 256 × 256 × 256mm | 256 × 256 × 256mm | 220 × 220 × 220mm | 260 × 260 × 260mm | 100 × 100 × 100mm |
| Top speed | 500mm/s | 500mm/s | 600mm/s | 600mm/s | 100mm/s |
| Multicolour | With AMS lite (extra) | 4 colours included (AMS) | No | 4 colours included | No |
| Camera | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Wi-Fi and app | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Max nozzle temperature | 300°C | 300°C | 280°C | 300°C | 245°C |
| Best for | A first printer to grow with | Multicolour and tougher filaments | Fast, fuss-free printing | Four colours from day one | Children and first-timers |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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