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Last verified: October 24, 2026
The Bambu Lab H3C is coming on November 3, and it packs nine tools into one printer. That is a big deal. Swapping tools mid-print means more colors, more materials, and a lot less wasted plastic.
We think it is going to be awesome. We also think it stings if you bought an H2C in the last year.
Bambu calls the H3C's swap system "A New Tech to Swap." To us, that sounds like Bambu is already moving past Vortek, the hotend-swapping system it launched on the H2C in late 2025. Early buyers paid top dollar for tech that is already being replaced.
There is a second printer coming too. FCC photos show a P3C with seven tool docks. Here is everything we know about both.
Bambu Lab H3C and P3C at a Glance
| Detail | H3C | P3C |
|---|---|---|
| Tools | 9 | 7 docks in FCC photos |
| Reveal | Nov 3, 2026, 9 AM EST | Not announced |
| FCC ID | 2A6J8-PF008P | 2A6J8-PF006P |
| FCC approval | Sept 11, 2026 | Sept 15, 2026 |
| Body color | White and silver | Dark gray |
| Price | Not announced (we estimate $3,000 to $3,500) | Not announced (we estimate $1,000 to $1,500) |
When Is the Bambu Lab H3C Release Date?
Bambu Lab will reveal the H3C on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at 9 AM EST. Bambu posted the date in its official teaser on X on October 23.
You can sign up for alerts on the official H3C page. Bambu has not said when orders open or when printers ship, so the reveal is the date to watch.
Here is the reveal time where you live:
| Where you live | Reveal time |
|---|---|
| US Eastern | Tue, Nov 3, 9:00 AM |
| US Central | Tue, Nov 3, 8:00 AM |
| US Pacific | Tue, Nov 3, 6:00 AM |
| UK | Tue, Nov 3, 2:00 PM |
| Central Europe | Tue, Nov 3, 3:00 PM |
| China | Tue, Nov 3, 10:00 PM |
| Japan | Tue, Nov 3, 11:00 PM |
| Sydney, Australia | Wed, Nov 4, 1:00 AM |
What Bambu Has Shown So Far
Bambu's teaser sums it up in one line: "Nine tools, built into one printer. A New Tech to Swap."
The 11-second teaser video shows nine tools lined up in a rack across the front of the printer. The rack drops down, and nine filament paths run over the top of the printer, one for each tool.
That is all Bambu has shown. No specs, no price, and no build size yet. For a closer look, we have to turn to the FCC photos.
The FCC Photos: Nine Docks on the H3C, Seven on the P3C
Every printer with Wi-Fi has to pass FCC testing before it can be sold in the US. The test lab's photos of both printers are now out.
H3C: Nine Hotends in a Row
Nine numbered docks run across the front of the H3C's chamber, and each one holds a hotend.
There is just one toolhead on the gantry. So the H3C swaps hotends between the rack and that one toolhead, grabbing the next one when a print needs a new color or material.
That is the same basic idea as the Prusa CORE One with the Bondtech INDX kit. INDX parks its tools in a row at the front, and one smart toolhead picks them up and heats them. The big difference is that the H3C has it built in, while INDX is a kit you install yourself. Which system will be better? Only time will tell.
| Bambu Lab H3C | Prusa CORE One + INDX | |
|---|---|---|
| Tools | 9 | 4 or 8 |
| Where tools park | Row at the front | Row at the front |
| Setup | Built in | Upgrade kit, several hours to install |
| Tool change time | Not announced | About 12 to 14 seconds |
| Price | Not announced (we estimate $3,000 to $3,500) | $749 (4 tools) or $999 (8 tools) for the kit, plus the printer |
| Available | Reveal Nov 3, 2026 | Shipping since 2026 |
Our take: INDX proved this idea works. If Bambu matches that swap speed with nine tools built in, the H3C is the one to beat. Our Bondtech INDX guide covers the Prusa side in detail.
The photos do not show an AMS or a readable build size. However, based on the chassis, we believe the H3C will have the exact same build size as the H2C, and the AMS will be mounted on top.
P3C: Seven Docks and a Darker Look
The P3C uses the same idea with seven tools instead of nine.
If Bambu gets the P3C's price right, Prusa is looking at serious competition for its CORE One L. Snapmaker is too. The Snapmaker U1 was the first tool changer that didn't cost an arm and a leg, and it comes with four toolheads. The P3C has seven.
Did Bambu Just Retire Vortek?
Here is our take: it sure looks like it. And if you own an H2C, that stings.
The H2C came out in late 2025 with Vortek. Its rack holds six induction hotends, plus one regular hotend on the left. It was Bambu's first step into tool swapping, and its big fix for the filament that's currently wasted on every color change.
About a year later, Bambu is now teasing a different approach to no-waste 3D printing: a tool changer with nine tools.
Why now? Competition. Prusa now has the Bondtech INDX tool changer for its CORE One, and the Snapmaker U1 has four toolheads. The Flashforge Creator 5 swaps between four toolheads too, starting at just $649. If Bambu wants to stay on top, it needs a true tool changer of its own, and the H3C is it. It even has one more nozzle than Prusa's INDX, which sits at 8 tools.
Bambu has not said Vortek is done, and the H2C is still on sale. But early buyers paid top dollar for a system that may not get much more attention. The H2C is still a great printer. It just may not be Bambu's main bet anymore.
Our only hope is that Bambu continues to provide user support and replacement parts for years to come.
What We Know About the P3C
The P3C could be the sleeper hit. The P series is Bambu's mid-range line, and the P2S sells for $549. Tool swapping on a P-series printer would put this tech in front of a lot more makers.
Our estimate is that the P3C launches at around $1,000 to $1,500. That would put a seven-tool printer well under the H2C's price.
Bambu has not announced the P3C yet, and it is not in the teaser. But it passed FCC testing on September 15, and its photos show seven tool docks. It is real, and it is coming.
We think Bambu will show it off on November 3, right next to the H3C. It is the one to watch if the H3C is out of your budget.
Compare that to Prusa. A CORE One+ kit starts at $999 on Prusa's site, and the Bondtech INDX kit adds $749 for four tools or $999 for eight. That is $1,748 to $1,998 for a multi-tool Prusa.
So a $1,000 to $1,500 P3C would be a steal, and it would fall in line with Bambu's general pricing strategy compared to Prusa.
How the H3C Leaked
Fans found the H3C weeks before Bambu had said a word. Here is how it played out, newest first:
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| Oct 23, 2026 | Bambu posts the official H3C teaser on X and the Bambu Lab forum |
| Oct 22, 2026 | A user on r/BambuLab posts a screenshot of an H3C banner from Bambu's Australian store, with nine tool spots and a Nov 4 date |
| Oct 7, 2026 | A "leaked" H3C image shows up on the Bambu forum, but it was never confirmed |
| Sept 15, 2026 | The FCC approves the P3C |
| Sept 14, 2026 | Fans spot the H3C's FCC filing on the Bambu Lab forum |
| Sept 11, 2026 | The FCC approves the H3C |
| Aug 14, 2026 | A Bambu patent on swapping hotends is published in China |
More New Bambu Gear Is Coming
The H3C and P3C were not alone at the FCC offices in September. Bambu also got approval for:
- X2D Pro: an upgraded X2D, with filings dated September 11.
- AMS 3H and AMS 3P: two new filament systems, with filings approved September 21. It may just be a coincidence, but the names line up with the H3C and P3C.
- S1 3D scanner: Bambu's first 3D scanner. Its official page says it is coming in November.
November is shaping up to be a huge month for Bambu.
It also shows where Bambu is headed. With the R1 laser cutter out in September and the S1 scanner on the way, Bambu is turning into a full maker brand, not just a 3D printer company.
How Much Will the H3C and P3C Cost?
Bambu has not shared any official prices yet. But we can make an educated guess from what its current printers cost on the US store as of October 24:
- H2C Combo: $2,199, or $1,899 in the Black Friday sale
- P2S: $549 for the printer, or $749 for the Combo with the AMS 2 Pro ($649 in the sale)
Based on those prices, our educated guess is that the H3C will land around $3,000 to $3,500, and the P3C around $1,000 to $1,500.
Should You Buy an H2C Now or Wait?
Wait. The reveal is November 3, and preorders will likely open that same day. The Black Friday sale also runs until December 1, so you can see the H3C first and then decide if you prefer the H2C Combo at $1,899.
If you already own an H2C, don't panic. It's still an amazing printer, and it'll keep printing great parts. Just know the next big thing is almost here, less than two weeks away!
Thinking about a P2S? We'd wait on that too. If the P3C shows up on November 3 at around $1,000 to $1,500, seven tools will be very tempting over a single-nozzle P2S or dual-nozzle X2D.
Whatever you print on, check your models in our 3MF Viewer before you slice them. If you sell multicolor prints, the 3D Print Cost Calculator helps you price the extra filament and time.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Bambu Lab H3C release date?
Bambu Lab reveals the H3C on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at 9 AM EST. That is 2 PM in the UK and 1 AM on November 4 in Sydney. Preorders will likely open the same day.
How many tools does the H3C have?
Nine. Bambu's teaser says nine tools, and the FCC photos show nine numbered hotend docks.
Is Bambu dropping Vortek?
Bambu has not said so, and the H2C is still on sale. But the H3C uses what Bambu calls "A New Tech to Swap," so Vortek does not look like the future of Bambu's tool swapping.
Is the Bambu Lab P3C coming out on November 3?
We think so. The P3C passed FCC testing in September, and its photos show seven tool docks, so it is real. Bambu just has not shown it yet.
How much will the Bambu Lab H3C cost?
Bambu has not shared a price. The H2C Combo costs $2,199 in the US, or $1,899 in the Black Friday sale. We expect the H3C to land around $3,000 to $3,500.
