The A1 Mini still sets the bar for beginner 3D printers — but Bambu's 2025 authentication drama complicates the recommendation.

The Printer Everyone Recommends

Ask anyone in a 3D printing forum what to buy as a first machine and the Bambu Lab A1 Mini will come up within the first three replies.

What It Actually Does Well

Speed is real. Bambu markets 500mm/s but the useful number is around 200-250mm/s for quality prints. Auto-calibration is the other headline feature and it genuinely works.

The Elephant in the Room

In early 2025, Bambu pushed a firmware update that required authentication through their cloud servers for LAN printing. Bambu partially walked it back, introducing a developer mode.

Verdict

The A1 Mini is still one of the best beginner 3D printers you can buy.

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