Should I buy a Bambu A1 or a Prusa MK4S?

They serve different buyers. Reviewers describe the A1 as faster to unbox, cheaper, and easier for beginners, while the Prusa MK4S is praised in r/prusa3d threads for serviceability, long-term parts support, 24/7 customer support, and a kit-build experience that teaches you the machine. If you want the lowest-friction path to good prints, the A1 wins on consensus; if you value repairability and an open ecosystem, the MK4S is the pick.