Mid-range FDM 3D printer under €500! (2025 Edition)

Good 3D printers don't have to be expensive! Anyone who thinks that high-quality printing results and reliable technology can only be found in the high-end sector will be proven wrong here. We present three mid-range FDM 3D printers that all cost less than €500 - and still impress with amazing precision, solid workmanship and clever features. These models offer you great value for money and are ideal if you value quality without breaking your budget. Which printer suits you best? Hopefully you'll find out in our comparison!

Bambu Lab A1

The Bambu Lab A1 is no ordinary bed slinger, but a real powerhouse among FDM 3D printers. For less than €500, you get the performance and print quality that otherwise only CoreXY systems deliver. Thanks to its sturdy metal frame, high-quality linear rails and sophisticated motion control, it brings your prints to the bed with impressive precision - and at a really fast speed.

The quick-swap hotend with stainless steel nozzle easily withstands temperatures of up to 300 °C and can be changed in a flash. And the active flow rate compensation? It automatically ensures that exactly the right amount of filament always comes out of the nozzle - for clean, precise prints without readjustment. Especially cool: The fully automatic calibration takes a lot of work off your hands. From Z-offset and bed levelling to vibration and belt tension control - the A1 does it all itself. And with whisper-quiet operation below 48 dB.

With its intuitive operation and the MakerWorld platform, the A1 is a real all-rounder - whether you're just starting out or are already a printing pro.

►Properties of the Bambu Lab A1 at a glance:

Elegant and robust design,
Build volume of 256 x 256 x 256 mm,
All-metal quick-swap hotend with 0.4 mm stainless steel quick-change nozzle,
Designed for temperatures of up to 300 °C
Fully automatic calibration with automatic Z-offset, automatic bed levelling, automatic vibration calibration, automatic belt tensioning and Pressure Advance,
Active flow rate compensation for automatic adjustment of the extruded filament quantity,
Quiet printing,
Intuitive operation with 3.5 inch IPS touchscreen,
Remote control and real-time monitoring,
Automatic loading and unloading of the filament.

Highlights	Limits
Very beginner-friendly due to user-friendly operation, ¤ Fully automatic calibration, quick-swap hotend, ¤ Active noise cancellation for quiet operation, ¤ MakerWorld integration.	¤ Open chamber, therefore not suitable for technical high-temperature materials.

By the way: The Bambu Lab A1 is also available in combination with the AMS (Automatic Material System), which allows you to get started with multicolour and multi-material printing. Sometimes you can find the A1 combo of printer and AMS on sale for less than €500. A real stroke of luck! But beware: the combo is normally over €500, so pay close attention to the price on offer!

Bambu Lab A1 Combo

Anycubic Kobra S1

The Anycubic Kobra S1 is the perfect choice if you value speed, precision and versatility. With its closed CoreXY structure and the stable Kobra OS, it chases your print projects through the system at up to 600 mm/s - without skimping on details.

The 320 °C all-metal hotend masters even the most demanding materials, while LeviQ 3.0 auto levelling and smart features such as vibration compensation and automatic flow calibration ensure perfect print quality. Added to this are AI-supported error detection, quiet operation below 48 dB and intuitive operation via touchscreen or app.

In short, the Kobra S1 puts an end to cumbersome settings and gets you to impressive print results quickly and easily - whether you're a beginner or a full-blooded maker.

►An overview of the features of the Anycubic Kobra S1:

95 % pre-assembled for a smooth start,
Enclosed CoreXY structure,
Kobra OS system,
Build volume of 250 x 250 x 250 mm,
Intelligent vibration compensation, automatic flow calibration and LeviQ 3.0 auto-levelling,
320 °C all-metal hotend with tool-free quick-change hotend design,
1 + 1 + 1 cooling system and built-in activated carbon air filter system,
4.3-inch flip touchscreen with intuitive user interface,
Quiet operation with noise level below 48 dB,
AI-controlled functions such as intelligent error detection, belt tension monitoring, resume function in the event of a power failure or end of filament.

Highlights	Limits
¤ Ultra-fast printing with speeds of up to 600 mm/s, ¤ Enclosed CoreXY system, 320 °C all-metal hot end for a wide range of materials, ¤ Integrated AI features and automated calibration, ¤ Integrated activated carbon filter system.	¤ No active chamber heating system.

ELEGOO Centauri Carbon

The ELEGOO Centauri Carbon is the perfect printing partner if you don't want to compromise: High-speed, high-precision, high-end! With its CoreXY movement system, dual 4260 stepper motors and a maximum speed of 500 mm/s, it brings even complex projects to the print bed at record speed - and with absolute precision.

Thanks to 320 °C high-performance hotends, hardened steel nozzles and an enclosed build chamber, the Centauri Carbon also masters technical materials such as ABS, ASA or carbon fibre filaments with ease. The automatic calibration, active vibration and flow control take the work off your hands and ensure perfect results from the very first print. A special highlight: the integrated camera including spaghetti alarm and time-lapse function - so you can keep an eye on everything and share your printing adventures directly. Plus sophisticated operation, OTA updates and clever details such as a nano mineral crystal filter for clean air.

►Features of the ELEGOO Centauri Carbon at a glance:

CoreXY movement system,
Max. speed of 500 mm/s, acceleration of 20,000 mm/s²,
Impressive 32 mm³/s flow rate and 5.2:1 extrusion ratio,
320 °C high-performance hot end with hardened steel nozzle,
110 °C heated AC bed,
Fully enclosed chamber and integrated chamber camera,
Powerful all-round cooling,
Fully automatic calibration: auto-levelling, auto-Z-offset, auto-vibration calibration, auto-Pressure Advance calibration,
Automatic filament unloading with just one click and integrated filament cutter,
Dual-surface build plate with superior adhesion and the perfect first layer,
Quiet operation below 50 dB,
4.3-inch capacitive touch screen with intuitive interface,
ideal for printing carbon fibres.

Highlights	Limits
¤ Attractive price, ¤ Fully enclosed printing chamber with active temperature control, triple cooling system, ¤ Easily processes technical and abrasive materials such as ABS, ASA, PC as well as carbon fibre or glass fibre-filled filaments	Large space requirement & weight, ¤ Expandable illumination of the printing area, ¤ Relatively noisy operation, ¤ Limited modular extensions.

Technical specifications:

These three mid-range FDM 3D printers are real powerhouses in their price range - each in their own way. They offer features that were previously almost exclusively reserved for high-end printers. But as is so often the case, the difference is in the detail. It's about more than just chic designs and big promises. How fast is the printer really? Which materials can be processed? What about the operation? We'll answer these questions for you!

We have compiled the most important technical data so that you can better assess the strengths - and minor weaknesses - of the models:

	Bambu Lab A1	Anycubic Kobra S1	ELEGOO Centauri Carbon
Device size	465 x 410 x 430 mm	400 x 410 x 490 mm	398 x 404 x 490 mm
Net weight	8.3 kg	18 kg	17.5 kg
Build volume	256 x 256 x 256 mm	250 x 250 x 250 mm	256 x 256 x 256 mm
Max. print speed	500 mm/s	≤ 600 mm/s	≤ 500 mm/s
Max. acceleration	10 000 mm/s²	≤ 20000 mm/s²	20000 mm/s2
Max. print temperature	300 °C	320 °C	320 °C
Max. heated bed temperature	100 °C	120 °C	110 °C
Extruder	Dual Gear Direct Drive	Dual Gear Extrusion Technology	Hardened steel dual gear; 5.2:1 gear ratio
Device display	3.5 inch IPS touchscreen	4.3 inch capacitive touchscreen	4.3 inch full-colour capacitive display
Interfaces	WiFi, Bambu-Bus, Micro-SD	USB, WiFi, Cloud	USB, WiFi
Voltage, power	100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz 1300W@220V 350W@110V	100-120~ (500 W) 200-240~ (1500 W)	100-240 V, 50/60 Hz 1100 W@220 V, 350 W@110 V
Supported filaments	PLA, PETG, TPU, PVA	PLA, PETG, ASA, ABS, TPU	PLA, PETG, TPU, ABS, ASA, PLA-CF (recommended) PETG-CF, ABS-CF, ASA-CF, PET-CF, PA-CF, PET, PC, PA (compatible)

Perhaps you have already found your favourite. Maybe you're still weighing up the options: Are you going for speed or versatility? A simple setup or maximum material variety? In the end, what counts is what suits your projects and ideas - and your workflow. Are you the high-speed maker who wants to achieve in hours what others do in days? Or the detail-lover who values flawless surfaces and technical precision?