You will want to define your needs more clearly before anyone can give you a good recommendation.
If you want something that behaves like a kitchen appliance or an office laser printer, that still does not really exist in consumer 3D printing. The hobby has improved a lot, but you still need to learn the machine, the slicer, and the materials. If your priority is the closest thing to set-it-and-forget-it, Bambu is the stronger choice.
Also, be very careful with mainstream review sites. In my opinion, publications like NY Times, Consumer Reports, and Popular Mechanics are not merely weak on 3D printing, they are often dangerously bad for beginners because they package shallow understanding as trustworthy advice. A naive reader sees a famous brand and assumes competence. What they are often getting instead is watered-down guidance from writers who do not understand the machines, the slicers, the materials, or the failure modes well enough to be steering buying decisions. In a hobby this technical, that is not harmless. It is how people get talked into the wrong machine for the wrong reasons.
I own both a Bambu Lab P1P and a Creality K2 Plus. Bambu is much closer to an appliance-like experience. The K2 Plus, in my opinion, has too many design issues and half-finished features for me to recommend it as a first printer. I am probably more tolerant than most people when it comes to repairs and workarounds, but that is because I accept tinkering as part of the hobby. If you do not want to tinker, Creality may not be for you.
That said, I personally will not buy another Bambu printer. Creality is not perfect, but it gives me more freedom to modify, repair, and customize the machine. Bambu has moved much further toward a closed ecosystem, and I do not like that direction.
As for the K2 Plus specifically, it is a very large machine. Do not underestimate that. It takes up serious space and visually dominates the area around it. The large build plate is useful, but it is overkill for many first-time buyers. Also keep in mind that the CFS requires it’s own space, even if you place it on top. If you get more than one, that’s an additional concern.
My advice:
Do not spend more than $400 on your first printer. Buy a starter machine, learn what matters to you, and then upgrade based on experience instead of marketing.
Here are the open-frame beginner models I would look at, all with build areas around 250 mm or larger:
| Model |
Price |
| Anycubic Kobra 3 V2 Combo |
$299 |
| Bambu Lab A1 Combo |
$399 |
| Creality SPARKX i7 Combo |
$399 |
| Anycubic Kobra X Combo |
$449 |
| Creality Hi Combo |
$449 |
If you think you will eventually want to print more demanding materials, that matters too. PETG is usually fine on an open-frame printer. ABS and ASA are where an enclosure becomes much more important because they are more sensitive to temperature swings and warping. ABS also gives off fumes, so ventilation matters.
For enclosed multicolor printers, I would consider these:
| Model |
Price |
| Anycubic Kobra S1 Combo |
$499 |
| Bambu Lab P1S Combo |
$549 |
| Creality K2 SE Combo |
$499 |