Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Bambu Lab tried to be “The Apple of 3D Printing.” What they built is something much, much worse. Brought to you by PCBWay. Use code “PCBWay-TheNextLayer-10” at jle.vi/pcbway to get $10 OFF any order of $30 or more.
Bambu Lab set out to be the Apple of 3D Printing. With such easy to use products as the Bambu Lab H2D, the Bambu Lab X2D combo, and more. But six years and nearly $1B in sales later... did they actually pull it off?
As someone who grew up walking distance from Apple HQ, and who once had direct access to Bambu Lab's leadership, I think I'm in a unique position to answer that. In this video, I break down both companies across 9 dimensions: ecosystem access, third-party hardware, innovation, interoperability, acquisitions, open source, privacy & security, long-term support, and press relations.
Spoiler: Bambu Lab isn't the Apple of 3D Printing. They're something much, much worse.
We're talking closed ecosystems, sherlocking small developers, threatening open source contributors, zero recycling programs, and an affiliate program that gets weaponized the moment you say something they don't like. Meanwhile, Apple, for all its walled-garden reputation, actually funds a developer ecosystem, contributes to open source, and doesn't blacklist journalists for honest reviews.
Let’s get after it.
🤫 Get my custom filament and printer profiles, buyers guides, and much, much more on Patreon: patreon.com/thenextlayer
💬 JOIN MY DISCORD: jle.vi/tnl-discord
🎥 IN THIS VIDEO: 🎥
00:00 Introduction
00:39 Ecosystem Access
03:12 Third Party Hardware & Accessories
05:21 Innovation
08:30 Interoperability
10:33 Acquisitions
12:42 Open Source
14:46 Privacy & Security
17:51 Long Term Support, Upgradeability, & Recycling
19:57 Press & Community Relations
22:33 Conclusion
🔗 SOURCES: 🔗
👉 Bambu Lab on Bambu Connect: blog.bambulab.com/updates-and-third-party-integration-with-bambu-connect
👉 Bambu Lab on third-party software: wiki.bambulab.com/en/software/third-party-integration
👉 Bambu Lab’s response to security update controversy: tinyurl.com/2ynm8jrf
👉 Developer re-enables 3D printer features - Bambu Lab threatens legal action: tinyurl.com/2ahoec24
👉 SFC accuses Bambu Lab of AGPL license violations: tinyurl.com/2d2o3lvl
👉 Bambu Lab is abusing the open source social contract: tinyurl.com/28yaqkvj
👉 Bambu Lab backtracks after SFC accuses company of AGPL violations: tinyurl.com/266vbk45
👉 Developers have made $550B on Apple's App Store since 2008: tinyurl.com/26fq4de5
👉 App Store in the US facilitated $406B in developer billings and sales in 2024: tinyurl.com/2dpv26ao
👉 OrcaSlicer GitHub (see commit history and the readme): github.com/SoftFever/OrcaSlicer
👉 Stratasys Lawsuit (Lead case): tinyurl.com/2yv424ct
👉 Stratasys Lawsuit (Member case): tinyurl.com/23bb9ft5
👉 China’s 2017 National Intelligence law: tinyurl.com/2df8uylr
👉 China’s 2021 Data Security law: tinyurl.com/26kpjzyq
👉 Apple vs. FBI - Apple's open letter: apple.com/customer-letter
👉 Apple expands the use of recycled materials across its products: tinyurl.com/y28pkbcx
🛒 RECOMMENDED GEAR: 🛒
📍PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING THE CHANNEL BY SHOPPING USING MY LINKS: : jle.vi/links
📍My favorite thing to 3D Print: jle.vi/multiboard
📍My favorite 3D printing "accessory": jle.vi/magigoo
📍Check out the official TNL merch: shop.thenextlayer.com
❤️ LOVED THIS VIDEO? ❤️
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▶️ Watch my other videos: youtube.com/@thenextlayer
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🎁 Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/thenextlayer
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💬 Join My Discord: jle.vi/tnl-discord
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#3dprinting #3dprinted #bambulab
Bambu Lab tried to be “The Apple of 3D Printing.” What they built is something much, much worse. Brought to you by PCBWay. Use code “PCBWay-TheNextLayer-10” at jle.vi/pcbway to get $10 OFF any order of $30 or more.
Bambu Lab set out to be the Apple of 3D Printing. With such easy to use products as the Bambu Lab H2D, the Bambu Lab X2D combo, and more. But six years and nearly $1B in sales later... did they actually pull it off?
As someone who grew up walking distance from Apple HQ, and who once had direct access to Bambu Lab's leadership, I think I'm in a unique position to answer that. In this video, I break down both companies across 9 dimensions: ecosystem access, third-party hardware, innovation, interoperability, acquisitions, open source, privacy & security, long-term support, and press relations.
Spoiler: Bambu Lab isn't the Apple of 3D Printing. They're something much, much worse.
We're talking closed ecosystems, sherlocking small developers, threatening open source contributors, zero recycling programs, and an affiliate program that gets weaponized the moment you say something they don't like. Meanwhile, Apple, for all its walled-garden reputation, actually funds a developer ecosystem, contributes to open source, and doesn't blacklist journalists for honest reviews.
Let’s get after it.
🤫 Get my custom filament and printer profiles, buyers guides, and much, much more on Patreon: patreon.com/thenextlayer
💬 JOIN MY DISCORD: jle.vi/tnl-discord
🎥 IN THIS VIDEO: 🎥
00:00 Introduction
00:39 Ecosystem Access
03:12 Third Party Hardware & Accessories
05:21 Innovation
08:30 Interoperability
10:33 Acquisitions
12:42 Open Source
14:46 Privacy & Security
17:51 Long Term Support, Upgradeability, & Recycling
19:57 Press & Community Relations
22:33 Conclusion
🔗 SOURCES: 🔗
👉 Bambu Lab on Bambu Connect: blog.bambulab.com/updates-and-third-party-integration-with-bambu-connect
👉 Bambu Lab on third-party software: wiki.bambulab.com/en/software/third-party-integration
👉 Bambu Lab’s response to security update controversy: tinyurl.com/2ynm8jrf
👉 Developer re-enables 3D printer features - Bambu Lab threatens legal action: tinyurl.com/2ahoec24
👉 SFC accuses Bambu Lab of AGPL license violations: tinyurl.com/2d2o3lvl
👉 Bambu Lab is abusing the open source social contract: tinyurl.com/28yaqkvj
👉 Bambu Lab backtracks after SFC accuses company of AGPL violations: tinyurl.com/266vbk45
👉 Developers have made $550B on Apple's App Store since 2008: tinyurl.com/26fq4de5
👉 App Store in the US facilitated $406B in developer billings and sales in 2024: tinyurl.com/2dpv26ao
👉 OrcaSlicer GitHub (see commit history and the readme): github.com/SoftFever/OrcaSlicer
👉 Stratasys Lawsuit (Lead case): tinyurl.com/2yv424ct
👉 Stratasys Lawsuit (Member case): tinyurl.com/23bb9ft5
👉 China’s 2017 National Intelligence law: tinyurl.com/2df8uylr
👉 China’s 2021 Data Security law: tinyurl.com/26kpjzyq
👉 Apple vs. FBI - Apple's open letter: apple.com/customer-letter
👉 Apple expands the use of recycled materials across its products: tinyurl.com/y28pkbcx
🛒 RECOMMENDED GEAR: 🛒
📍PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING THE CHANNEL BY SHOPPING USING MY LINKS: : jle.vi/links
📍My favorite thing to 3D Print: jle.vi/multiboard
📍My favorite 3D printing "accessory": jle.vi/magigoo
📍Check out the official TNL merch: shop.thenextlayer.com
❤️ LOVED THIS VIDEO? ❤️
▶️ Subscribe to the channel
▶️ Watch my other videos: youtube.com/@thenextlayer
🔔 Turn on Notifications
🎁 Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/thenextlayer
🎁 Send a “Super Thanks” (Tip)
💬 Join My Discord: jle.vi/tnl-discord
✍️ Write a comment below!
👍🏿 Like this video
#3dprinting #3dprinted #bambulab
