H2C vs H3C
Seven Vortek melt zones vs nine loaded tools
Which one should I buy?
The H2C ($1,899, sold only as an AMS Combo) swaps hotends from its Vortek rack for up to seven melt zones per job. The H3C ($2,499, sold only with its AMS 3H) keeps nine PrintTools loaded and preheated, switches material in as little as 6 seconds by Bambu's figure and adds a 2.85 mm tool for soft TPU. Many materials per job or soft TPU: the H3C. Up to seven materials for less money: the H2C still does the job.
Where to buy
- H2C
- Bambu Lab
- H3C
- Bambu Lab
- Day-one accessories
- Build platesFilament dryers
Strengths: H2C vs H3C
H2C
- Up to seven materials per job cover your work
- $600 less at current US store prices
- You want a lower machine: with its AMS 3H the H3C stands 1,016 mm tall
H3C
- Many materials per job, each kept loaded in its own tool
- Soft TPU down to 75A on the included 2.85 mm tool
- Nine spools enclosed, two of them dried at up to 85°C; up to 24 with extra AMS units and a $24.99 buffer sold separately
Specs at a glance
| Feature | H2C | H3C |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,899 | $2,499 |
| Build volume | 305 × 320 × 325 mm (right nozzle) | 330 × 320 × 325 mm |
| Max speed | 1,000 mm/s | 1,400 mm/s |
| Kinematics | CoreXY | CoreXY |
| Enclosure | Yes (G3 pre-filter + H12 HEPA + carbon) | Yes (H11 HEPA + carbon) |
| Chamber | Active (65°C) | Active (65°C) |
| Max nozzle temp | 350°C | 350°C |
| AMS type | AMS 2 Pro / AMS HT (up to 25 colors) | AMS 3H built in (9 spools); AMS, AMS 2 Pro or AMS HT via Buffer for External AMS (up to 24 colors) |
| Nozzle system | Vortek (6 swap hotends + 1 fixed) | SwapTek (9 tools) |
| Lidar | No | No |
| Released | Nov 2025 | Nov 2026 |
The H2C is sold only as an AMS Combo, so its $1,899 includes an AMS.
The H3C is sold only with its nine-slot AMS 3H, so the $600 gap compares two complete systems.
- Front and side view. Bambu lists separate figures for the left nozzle, both nozzles and the total; shown is the right nozzle.
- Source: Bambu spec page bambulab.com/en-us/h2c/specs, checked 2026-10-07; Bambu spec page bambulab.com/en-us/h3c/specs, checked 2026-11-03
Hotend swapping or a tool changer?
The H2C keeps one extruder on its toolhead and swaps hotends: one fixed hotend plus six induction-heated hotends from the Vortek rack, up to seven melt zones in one job. The H3C's SwapTek rack holds nine PrintTools, each with its own filament path and heater, so no filament has to be pulled back before the next one starts. Bambu gives 3.4 seconds per tool change and 6 seconds per material switch.
On paper: a 330 × 320 × 325 mm build volume against 305 × 320 × 325 mm on the H2C's right nozzle, and 1,400 mm/s against 1,000 mm/s top speed. The H3C costs $600 more at current US store prices, and both prices include an AMS: on the H3C it is the nine-slot AMS 3H that sits on top of the printer.
Get the H2C if...
- Up to seven materials per job cover your work
- $600 less at current US store prices
- You want a lower machine: with its AMS 3H the H3C stands 1,016 mm tall
Get the H3C if...
- Many materials per job, each kept loaded in its own tool
- Soft TPU down to 75A on the included 2.85 mm tool
- Nine spools enclosed, two of them dried at up to 85°C; up to 24 with extra AMS units and a $24.99 buffer sold separately
Full specs and review:H2C pageH3C page
Can an H2C owner upgrade?
Bambu has not announced a conversion from the H2C to the H3C. What H2C owners do get is printing with different nozzle sizes in one part, which Bambu expects for the H2C in February 2027, or March 2027 with the Filament Track Switch.
More comparisons
What changed
Newest first, from this page's version history. Only changes to text you can read here; date refreshes and reshuffled reading links are left out.
- Extra AMS units on the H3C need Bambu's Buffer for External AMS, sold separately; added to the strengths list and the spec table.
- Published.
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- H2C vs H3C
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- Not affiliated with Bambu Lab