Video summary

JUST NOT BAMBU - Bambu X2D Review

Main summary

Key takeaways

Product Review

Product reviewed

Bambu X2D (a “non-traditional” Bambu printer with a dual-nozzle setup, but not a full tool-changer / true dual-nozzle design). Reviewer: Ross (“5-minute videos”), a strong Bambu fan delivering a critical review.

Key features mentioned

Auto-guided setup / unboxing

  • QR code on the box to scan and view setup/removal steps.
  • Printer performs self-calibration on first boot, with a walkthrough during setup.

Hardware design & enclosure

  • Silhouette like P2S, with cosmetic changes:
    • darker gray casing (similar to H2C)
    • perspex windows on the sides
    • non-lighted Bambu logos
  • Front includes a glass door (doesn’t swing fully open) and a glass lid.
  • USB port location: top behind the screen; screen tilts upward only.

Dual nozzle concept (not a full “true dual nozzle” in practice)

Reviewer emphasizes it behaves more like an auxiliary/support nozzle than an H2D-style true dual tool.

Hardware details:

  • Left nozzle: uses a fixed coupler
  • Right nozzle: uses a loose PTFE tube connected to an auxiliary extruder (Bowden-style)
  • Nozzles are swappable like H-series/P2 nozzles, benefiting from Bambu ecosystem compatibility.

Extra airflow / VOC control + optional exhaust behavior

Internal filtration/exhaust behavior varies by material:

  • PLA/PETG (cooler materials): internal vents open for fresh cool air while keeping the lid/door closed.
  • ABS (warmer materials): vents close; it recirculates through a carbon filter, potentially with more passes.

External exhaust:

  • Carbon-filtered external fan slides into the back.
  • Runs differently: internal circulation during printing, plus external exhaust at end of print to clear remaining VOCs.
  • Reviewer notes you can also connect a hose to the rear exhaust.

Chamber heater

  • Heater on the left side reaches up to 65°C.
  • Intended to improve layer bonding/print success in colder environments.

Camera & app features

  • Camera (top left) supports remote monitoring via the app.
  • With a USB drive installed, it records 1080p time-lapses (even though it has internal memory).
  • Privacy: camera can see slightly into the room, but now includes a swivel privacy filter (like A1 printers).

Bed & volume changes

  • Uses spring steel PEI plate, 256×256 mm, with nominal “260 mm” height claim.
  • Reviewer’s critical note:
    • 260 mm only on the left nozzle
    • switching to right nozzle drops to standard 256 mm
  • Reduced usable X dimension for right nozzle:
    • right nozzle effectively limited to X = 235 mm (~21 mm unused), based on exclusion zones.

Motion / kinematics

  • Uses 1.5 mm pitch belts (vs P2S 2 mm) to reduce VFA (vibration artifacts).
  • Reviewer says most users won’t notice, but it’s still an improvement.

Performance & test outcomes (qualitative)

Print quality overall

  • Overall quality: “great”
  • PLA: solid results; benches look good.
  • Multi-color (using both nozzles): dragons came out great
  • Example speed/time estimate:
    • 16-hour print on P2S → 9.5 hours on X2 (X2D referenced similarly; time estimates described as fairly accurate).

Material tests

  • PETG / ABS / ASA

    • Mostly fine bridging and smooth extrusion.
    • Reviewer consistently saw a visible layer step line around the 60° overhang.
    • Also affected underside overhang appearance.
    • Reviewer suggests it may be machine/profile-related (e.g., beta profiles or possible lead screw issue).

  • ABS/ASA and heater value

    • Succeeded visually even without demonstrating full heater effectiveness (he used room temp).
    • Heater likely improves layer bonding strength, especially in colder rooms.

  • Polycarbonate (PC) and nylon

    • Nylon required a brim to avoid curling.
    • PC: reviewer says he finally printed PC properly on the X2D, and that it’s the only printer where he’s gotten good PC results so far.
    • Nuance: avoiding curling visually doesn’t equal real adhesion strength; warmer environments and chamber heat help layers stay better bonded.

Retraction / stringing differences between nozzles

  • Two retraction tests showed increased stringing from the right nozzle (Bowden/auxiliary nozzle).
  • Likely fixable via slicer/manual calibration, but initial release profiles are still improving.
  • Despite retraction differences, practical bench prints looked nearly identical.

Main pros (as stated)

  • Bambu-like print quality and strong ecosystem compatibility (nozzles/build plates).
  • Heater up to 65°C + improved belts (helpful for engineering/cold environments).
  • Support interface benefits
    • Slicer recognizes compatible support materials and recommends using one as an interface.
    • Interface support leads to cleaner support removal:
      • with ABS, normal support removal destroyed the part, while interface support removed much cleaner.
  • Good UI/software experience
    • UI is clean, intuitive, and “genuinely” hard to critique.
    • Slicer workflow is geared toward average users.
  • Camera + privacy filter improved vs earlier models.
  • VFA reduction improvement from 1.5 mm pitch belts (subtle for many users).
  • Price/value framing
    • Reviewer calls it probably the best value printer Bambu sells financially, especially near P2S pricing at recording time.

Main cons (as stated)

  • Not “true Bambu” simplicity / integrated design
    • Feels like bolt-ons:
      • external exhaust fan
      • auxiliary extruder/parts
  • Dual nozzle is a limitation, not full capability
    • Right nozzle is Bowden-based, causing less accurate retraction and more stringing.
    • Documentation/material positioning shifted between versions (more strict early on; later docs soften to “supported/use with caution”).
  • Reduced effective print volume (major practical complaint)
    • Right nozzle limits:
      • X effectively shrinks to 235 mm
      • build height drops to 256 mm
    • Slicer auto-layout treats exclusion zones as unusable even for single-material prints, wasting space and shifting models.
    • Leads to workflow burdens:
      • manual rearranging
      • splitting jobs into multiple print runs
      • possible incompatibilities with features depending on placement.
  • Software feature limitation
    • Printer “doesn’t work with” add-ons including:
      • pen plotter
      • drag cutter
      • laser add-on (strongly criticized as a missed opportunity)
  • Reviewer’s philosophical dissatisfaction
    • Feels like a “messy stopgap” toward a proper tool changer.
    • Suggests Bambu may be avoiding a clean tool-changing approach.
  • Camera privacy concern remains minor
    • Improved with swivel privacy filter, but originally could see into the room.

Comparisons made

  • Versus Bambu P2S

    • X2D = P2S chassis + heater + improved belts + bolt-on exhaust fan + auxiliary nozzle, with limited coverage/function.
    • Reviewer suggests that if you were considering P2S at the right price, you might instead end up buying X2D.

  • Versus Bambu H2/H2D

    • X2D is contrasted against a true dual-nozzle tool like H2D, which is more accurate.

  • Versus other brands/tools

    • Workarounds are compared to voice assistants (Alexa/Siri): it works, but if it isn’t seamless, you stop relying on it.

  • Head-to-head mention

    • Reviewer delayed a P2S review to compare it with the X2D, then focused on printing results and value.

Unique points list (consolidated)

  1. Review re-uploaded for “accuracy”; critique largely unchanged, ending adjusted.
  2. QR-based setup; first-boot self-calibration.
  3. Packaging includes guidance and correct screw/unclipping steps; combo units include AMS setup steps.
  4. Design resembles P2S; external changes include darker gray, side windows, and non-lighting logo.
  5. Perspex windows; rear ports differ; refers to two P2S rear panel revisions.
  6. Rear internals: waste chute and dual feed buffer.
  7. Dual-to-one buffer detects filament tension and adjusts AMS feed speed to reduce gear wear.
  8. Buffer has six-pin ports; dual filament inlet ports exist.
  9. X2D has dual nozzle, but it’s support-focused rather than true dual nozzle.
  10. External carbon-filtered exhaust fan included; connects via six-pin port.
  11. PTFE tube system: - left fixed coupler for left nozzle - loose PTFE tube + auxiliary extruder for right nozzle
  12. External fan/extruder look like bolt-ons rather than clean integration.
  13. Build volume differences: “260 mm” mainly left nozzle; right nozzle uses 256 height.
  14. Right nozzle further limits X to 235 mm; exclusion zones waste space even for single-material prints.
  15. Heater up to 65°C chamber heat.
  16. Material-dependent air management: - internal venting for PLA/PETG - carbon recirculation + more passes for ABS-like materials - external exhaust mainly at end of print; hose connection possible
  17. Camera remote monitoring; 1080p time-lapse export requires USB drive; swivel privacy filter added.
  18. Tool head: smaller dual nozzle tool head for lighter/faster movement; max movement speed 1000 mm/s (movement only).
  19. Nozzle swaps compatible with H-series/P2 nozzles; third-party options exist.
  20. Right nozzle stringing higher due to Bowden-style auxiliary extruder; likely needs manual calibration; initial profiles are beta/pre-release.
  21. Practical prints may still look similar despite retraction differences.
  22. Slicer/support workflow supports compatible interface materials for cleaner peel removal (ABS especially).
  23. Slicer recommends interface material like PETG for PLA.
  24. Printer doesn’t support pen plotter/drag cutter/laser add-on (laser called out as undesirable).
  25. Software/UI is clean; wishlist includes more stored files/time-lapses without USB and better job queuing.
  26. Print results: PLA great; multi-color dragons great; example time reduction (16h P2S → 9.5h X2).
  27. PETG/ABS/ASA: mostly fine but consistent layer step at ~60° overhang (may be machine/profile-related).
  28. Heater impact: improves layer bonding strength; more critical in colder rooms.
  29. PC and nylon: nylon needs brim; PC printed well here versus other printers (with adhesion/curling caveats).
  30. Motion improvement: 1.5 mm belts reduce VFA.
  31. Max nozzle temp 300°C; some third-party high-temp use cases may be outside coverage.
  32. Revised conclusion at republish time: X2D costs $100/£70 more than P2S; bundle likely worth it, but still not “Bambu clean.”
  33. Biggest annoyance: inconsistent usable bed coverage and exclusion-zone workflow friction.
  34. Overall verdict: good value (financially), but a messy stopgap vs a proper tool changer.

Speaker / perspective notes

  • Single primary speaker throughout: Ross.
  • “Multiple views” come from:
    • correcting his earlier P2S review mistake (misread filtration/exhaust behavior)
    • referencing documentation changes
    • contrasting test results vs expectations.

Overall verdict / recommendation

Recommendation is conditional.

The reviewer frames the X2D as:

  • A very good printer with strong print quality, a useful heater, and genuinely beneficial support-interface capability,
  • but not a fully “integrated” Bambu experience, mainly because the auxiliary nozzle reduces effective print volume and forces practical workflow workarounds.

Who should buy

  • Users printing mostly within the workable zone and wanting:
    • the heater
    • support-interface benefits
    • Bambu ecosystem compatibility

Who should avoid / consider alternatives

  • Users needing full-bed multi-nozzle coverage
  • Users planning large models that hit exclusion zones
  • Users who want accessories like laser/plotter/cutter

Bottom line

Good value, but described as a stopgap rather than the “must-have Bambu” equivalent to the X1.

Original video