Bambu Got Greedy, So I Tried Elegoo Instead

Product Reviewed

• Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 (CC2) — compared directly against Bambu Lab P1S (with and without AMS).

Key Points & Unique Mentions (by Theme)

1) Company / Ecosystem Stance (Context)

• The video criticizes Bambu Lab for sending cease-and-desist/legal pressure to an independent Orca Slicer developer.
• The creator frames this as “big company bullying” and uses it to justify trying Elegoo instead.
• It’s also mentioned that Bambu’s code is open source too, which the speaker sees as hypocritical.

Implied expectation: Elegoo is positioned as the more “respectful” choice for open source communities.

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2) Pricing / Value (Main Deciding Factor)

• CC2 price: $360 or less (official Elegoo site; sale-dependent)
• CC2 + multi-color system combo: $450 (sale-dependent)
• Bambu P1S without AMS: $550
• Bambu P1S with AMS: $750

Conclusion on price: CC2 “beats” P1S by a large margin, making it a clear pick for budget buyers.

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3) Hardware Design & Space (Pros/Cons)

CC2 cons (physical design annoyances)

• The CC2 has a large enclosed top/front cover the speaker calls “ugly”.
• The enclosure is described as having little tightness, suggesting it may not seal/support the environment as well.
• Filament is exposed and “hangs in the air,” which the speaker says is bad for humid climates.

Bambu comparison (enclosure support)

• The speaker contrasts this with Bambu’s closed/heavier glass lid/spacers (Bambu B2S/P2S style), claiming Bambu better supports the print environment.

Space comparison

• CC2 (“fez” cover): 29 inches vertical space
• Bambu B2S + AMS: 27 inches vertical space
• Despite multi-color feeding via side on Bambu-like designs, the speaker suggests the CC2’s feed-from-above approach contributes to its bulkier enclosure.

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4) Print Volume / Included Accessories

• Both CC2 and P1S class comparison use the same standard print volume: 256 cubic millimeters (described as on par).

CC2 bed/plate differences

• Side A: universal texture for many filaments
• Side B: optimized for PLA, designed to be more adhesive even at low temps
• Speaker prints PLA ~90% and likes the out-of-the-box PLA optimization.

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5) Software & App Experience (Largest Functional Downside)

Slicer experience

• Elegoo slicer is said to closely replicate Bambu’s:
  • Similar UI
  • Similar touch screen experience
  • Similar cloud-account setup procedure
• Explanation offered: it’s largely a chain of open-source forks (Orca fork → Bambu fork → etc.), framed as “how open source software works.”

Main software/app cons

Cloud convenience vs reliability

• Cloud can be convenient on Bambu, but the speaker says Elegoo’s implementation falls behind.

Matrix app (major complaint)

• The Matrix app is widely hated:
  • 2.2 stars rating on both Play Store and App Store
• Functional issues include:
  • “Almost every second project” can’t be printed directly from the app
  • Sometimes shows: “Sorry, he’ll be back soon.”
  • Models available may lack 3D viewing (unlike Bambu Handy)
  • LAN-only mode breaks the app, so network methods like Tailscale can’t be used with the app

Overall verdict: even for somewhat tech-savvy users, the app can become unusable in LAN-only scenarios.

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6) AMS / Filament Protection Comparison

• CC2’s exposed filament is contrasted with Bambu AMS Tool Pro / AMS 2 Pro:
  • Bambu keeps filament in a closed container
  • Includes drying functions
• Speaker implies this is a meaningful advantage for humid environments.

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7) Print Quality & Consistency Tests (Real-World Results)

Test methodology

• Uses the same settings and filament where possible:
  • Polymaker PLA
• Compares CC2 vs P1S (with P2S referenced in narrative as Bambu’s comparable baseline).

XYZ cube

• Printed in 12 minutes
• CC2 quality matched P2S:
  • “perfectly reproduced”
  • described as “one to one”
  • speaker couldn’t tell which printer made which cube

Stability / month-long use

• CC2 used for about a month
• Runs “with no problems” alongside P2S.

Benchy

• Initial differences noticed:
  • P2S had “mysterious pimples” on the side
• Root cause found:
  • USB drive issue in the test setup
  • Using the wrong drive and leaving power recovery enabled caused the printer to freeze while writing, leading to permanent smudges
• After correcting USB/setting issues:
  • Benchy on both printers came out perfect

Minor remaining differences

• Overhang quality:
  • Elegoo overhangs “weren’t as nice”
• Tiny tower details:
  • Bambu had “spots” on tiny towers
• Speaker considers these minor and possibly user/tuning related.

Overall print conclusion

• CC2 and P2S “feel the same”
• CC2 achieves the same printing experience and output quality, but for about $300 less.

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Pros vs Cons (As Stated / Strongly Implied)

Pros (Elegoo CC2)

• Excellent value: much cheaper than P1S (with/without AMS)
• Print quality matches Bambu in multiple tests (XYZ cube, Benchy after correction)
• Good out-of-box bed versatility: universal + PLA-optimized sides
• PLA consistency closely aligned with Bambu in direct comparison

Cons (Elegoo CC2)

• Filament exposure (humidity risk)
• Bulky/“ugly” cover and enclosure that feels less protective
• Matrix app is poorly rated and unreliable, including connectivity-mode problems (LAN-only)
• Minor print-detail differences (overhangs/tower artifacts)

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Comparisons Made

• CC2 vs Bambu P1S
  • Biggest emphasis: cost/value and convenience (app ecosystem + AMS filament protection)
• Additional comparisons by function/design:
  • CC2 enclosure/cover vs Bambu’s more robust enclosure (glass lid/spacers referenced)
  • CC2 Matrix app reliability vs Bambu Handy convenience
  • CC2 exposed filament vs Bambu’s AMS closed + drying approach

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Ratings / Numbers Mentioned

• Matrix app rating: 2.2 stars (Play Store + App Store)
• Print volume: 256 cubic millimeters
• CC2 vertical space: 29 inches
• Bambu vertical space (B2S + AMS referenced): 27 inches
• XYZ cube print time: 12 minutes
• Printing hours mentioned: CC2 83 hours vs P2S 500 hours (in Benchy investigation context)

Prices

• CC2: $360 or less
• CC2 + multi-color combo: $450
• P1S: $550
• P1S + AMS: $750

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User Experience Verdict (Concise)

• Printing quality/consistency: CC2 is effectively as good as the Bambu counterpart in tested scenarios.
• Everyday usability: CC2’s app/software experience is the weak point, especially versus Bambu’s ecosystem.
• Best fit:
  • Choose CC2 if you mainly want cheap, reliable parts.
  • Choose Bambu if you want a smooth mobile/cloud workflow and/or AMS-style closed filament handling.

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Overall Recommendation

• Buy Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 if your priority is cost-to-quality and you can tolerate weaker mobile/cloud app support and exposed filament (or manage humidity).
• Choose Bambu P1S (with AMS) if you prioritize convenience, closed filament drying, and a more reliable app ecosystem—despite significantly higher cost.

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Speakers / Contributors

• Subtitles appear to reflect one main speaker/creator throughout.
• No separate speakers are clearly identified.