Behind the scenes
3D printers growing in popularity
by Daniel Borchers
Bambu Lab finally makes 3D printing a pleasure – not a test of patience
9.5.2026
Translation: Megan Cornish
Pictures: Kevin Hofer
For years, my 3D printer frustrated rather than delighted me – until I finally banished it to a corner. The Bambu Lab P2S’s suddenly made 3D printing fun again.
My old 3D printer – a Creality Ender 3 V2 – was an exciting project in 2021. But the joy didn’t last long: too much maintenance, too complicated. Every time I wanted to use it again after weeks of inactivity, the whole drama started all over again. No wonder I declared it my worst gadget of 2024.
In late 2024, I decided to give things another try with an SLA printer – the Elegoo Saturn Ultra. When I finally found the time to test it, I discovered it was faulty. It was terrible timing, since I desperately needed it for a project. So, following a tip from the Community, I got the Bambu Lab P2S. And what can I say? After the first few prints, I was blown away.
The leap from the Ender 3 V2 to the Bambu Lab P2S feels like stepping out of a rickety Golf IV and into a modern ID. 3. The technological progress is so impressive that I can’t help but be amazed.
3D printing’s never been so easy
Of course, the P2S and the Ender 3 V2 are in different price ranges. Nevertheless, the difference is striking. The P2S easily guides me through the initial setup via phone and display. No hours of Reddit research, no YouTube tutorials explaining why the first print fails.
Levelling the print bed on the Ender 3 V2’s a science in itself – every single time the printer sits unused for an extended length of time. Then there are settings such as Pressure Advance and flow rates, which I have to painstakingly work out through trial and error.
Don’t know these terms? No problem. The P2S takes care of all that automatically. The print bed calibrates itself, the flow rate adjusts during printing and the first attempt’s a success. Just like that. For someone who’s experienced the opposite for years, it’s pure magic.
3D printing’s fun again
Okay, I admit it: I never really enjoyed using the Ender 3 V2. I wanted to 3D print, but the printer itself was a constant source of frustration. Every session started with an issue and ended either in failure or hours of troubleshooting. I enjoy tinkering – but I prefer working on my projects, not the printer.
With the P2S, everything’s different. I upload a file to Bambu Studio, send the print job to the printer and grab a coffee. When I come back, the finished product’s on the print bed. Okay, my prints are quite large, so there’s usually enough time for several coffees. You don’t have to babysit the printer, and there are no nasty surprises. If you still want to keep an eye on the print, you can just check via PC or your phone – the P2S has a camera that you can access at any time.
Bambu Lab hasn’t just improved 3D printing, they’ve reimagined it. And I can feel it with every print.
The ecosystem’s convincing
What initially made me sceptical – Bambu Lab’s closed ecosystem – is what’s impressing me now. Yes, you’re more tied to the manufacturer than with Creality and similar brands, but everything works flawlessly.
Bambu Studio as a slicer, the app control, the seamless integration with the printer – everything works together perfectly. No patches, no workarounds, no late-night firmware experiments.
Buying a second Bambu printer at a later stage gives you double the benefit, since the workflows remain identical. Same ecosystem, same software, same logic. You only truly appreciate this after switching back and forth between different manufacturers and slicers.
Verdict: what took me so long?
If someone had told me three years ago that one day I’d be writing enthusiastically about Bambu Lab, I’d have laughed. The P2S proved me wrong.
Yes, it’s more expensive than my old Ender 3. But for the first time in years, I don’t feel like I’m struggling with the printing process. And that alone’s worth the extra cost.
If you’re thinking about getting into 3D printing – or, like me, you’ve been doing it for a while and are wondering if switching to Bambu Lab is worth it – it is. My only regret’s not having switched sooner.
Kevin Hofer
Senior Editor
kevin.hofer@digitecgalaxus.chFrom big data to big brother, Cyborgs to Sci-Fi. All aspects of technology and society fascinate me.
Opinion
This is a subjective opinion of the editorial team. It doesn't necessarily reflect the position of the company.
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