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Adam Savage’s Tested
Bambu Lab A2L Printer Review!
⏱ 21 min video · 3 min read1 Jun 2026Worth watching
TL;DR
Norm from Tested reviews the Bambu Lab A2L, a large-format bed-slinger 3D printer with a 330x320x325mm build volume priced at $470. The review covers print quality, the optional $70 cutting/plotting module, and raises concerns about Bambu Lab's ecosystem lock-in policies.
Key points
1
The A2L features a 330x320x325mm build volume (over 1 foot in each dimension) and uses a servo-based extruder with filament feedback, the same generation found in the H2S and X2D.
2
Being an open-air bed-slinger, it is limited to PLA, PETG, and dry TPU — not ABS or engineering filaments — and the heated bed only reaches 80C, down from 100C on the A1.
3
The optional $70 cutting module (same as the H2S accessory) enables vinyl cutting up to 0.5mm thick and pen plotting, making it suitable for schools, homes, and maker spaces.
4
At $470 ($570 with AMS Light), it sits close to the P2S at $550, creating a trade-off: larger open-air volume with cutter support vs. enclosed printing with engineering filaments.
5
Bambu Lab's move to lock firmware updates behind Bambu Connect and restrict third-party AGPL-licensed code from cloud services is flagged as a concern, though not yet a dealbreaker.
Verdict
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Skip the AMS Light combo ($570) and instead spend the extra $100 on the $70 cutting/plotting module — multi-color printing on a single extruder generates excessive waste filament purges, making the cutter a better value add.
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If you already own an A1, the A2L is a meaningful upgrade primarily if build volume is your bottleneck — going from 256x256mm to 330x320mm lets you print wearable helmet pieces in 4 parts instead of many more.
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Choose A2L over P2S ($550) if build volume and the cutter/plotter module matter more to you than enclosed printing and engineering filament support; choose P2S if you print ABS or need a sealed chamber.
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When using the pen plotter feature, use cardstock rather than standard paper — the strong grip mat can tear regular paper or cause it to curl when removed.
Notable quotes
“At 400 bucks, this would have been such a great price point for this product, a no-brainer, an astounding price.”
“If they ever get to a point where features that we normally expect from buying hardware today get taken away because they're then put behind a paywall, then we're going to have to change our evaluation of that.”
“There is no visible sign of layer shifting, of wobbling. It is really, really clean.”
Worth watching?
✅
Worth watching the full video?
Watch if you are deciding between Bambu Lab printers or want to see the cutting and plotting module in action — the footage of the Vader helmet and Eiffel Tower prints gives strong real-world scale context you cannot get from specs alone.
Saved you some time? The creator still deserves a like.
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