Head-to-head · Best Resin 3d Printers

Anycubic Photon Mono 4 Ultra vs Elegoo Mars 3 Ultra

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Anycubic Photon Mono 4 Ultra and Elegoo Mars 3 Ultra score essentially the same (4.3 vs 4.3). Pick the one whose trade-offs match your priorities — the strengths and watch-outs below are where they actually differ.

Ranked #3 in Best Resin 3d Printers

Anycubic Photon Mono 4 Ultra

4.3

$279.99as of Jul 7

The Anycubic Photon Mono 4 Ultra delivers exceptional print quality with its 10K 7 monochrome LCD and advanced COB UV light source, achieving precision down to 0.01-0.05mm. Reviewers noted zero print failures during testing, with excellent detail reproduction on small items like figurines and complex sculptures. However, software issues with model loading and inconsistent support generation remain drawbacks. This printer is ideal for users seeking high-detail resin printing but may not suit beginners due to software quirks and manual adjustment requirements.

Strengths

— Excellent print quality with 0.08mm layer lines visible only under microscope
— Improved UV light source with COB technology and Fresnel lens for accuracy between 0.01-0.05mm
— Support structure generation significantly improved in software version 3.5

Watch-outs

— PhotonWorkshop software has issues loading 3D models on some systems
— Support structure generation can still require manual inspection and adjustment
— Manual orientation required for large print jobs despite auto-organization feature

$279.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #2 in Best Resin 3d Printers

Elegoo Mars 3 Ultra

4.3

$239.99as of Jul 7

The Elegoo Mars 3 Ultra is a compact, reliable resin printer that offers excellent value for its price point. Reviewers praised its wallet-friendly cost, improved air filters, and included Chitubox Pro slicing software. The printer features a 4k LCD screen with 0.035mm X/Y resolution and a build volume of 89.6 x 143.36 x 175mm. While some users noted icon inconsistencies in the manual and the Pro software's limited trial period, overall it's considered a great choice for home users seeking detailed prints without the high-end price tag.

Strengths

— Wallet friendly price considering the quality
— Compact footprint with generous build volume of 89.6 x 143.36 x 175mm
— Air filters seem to be improved

Watch-outs

— Some mismatch in icons between machine and its manual
— The pro Chitubox software only lasts one year

$239.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Anycubic Photon Mono 4 Ultra

The Anycubic Photon Mono 4 Ultra stands out with its superior 0.01-0.05mm precision and advanced COB UV light source, making it superior to the Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra 16K which lacks built-in resin heating and the PioCreat HALOT-X1 16K which has limitations with its AFU system. However, it falls short compared to the Elegoo Mars 3 Ultra in terms of software reliability and user-friendliness, and unlike the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8k S, it doesn't offer a plug-and-play setup experience.

Elegoo Mars 3 Ultra

The Elegoo Mars 3 Ultra offers the best value proposition among the group, especially when compared to the Anycubic Photon Mono 4 Ultra which has software quirks and the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8k S which has limited slicer functionality. While it lacks the advanced features of the PioCreat HALOT-X1 16K such as automatic resin refilling, it provides a more affordable entry point without sacrificing much in terms of build volume or resolution.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Anycubic Photon Mono 4 Ultra	Elegoo Mars 3 Ultra
Build Volume	153.4 x 87 x 165 mm	89.6 x 143.36 x 175mm
Printing Technology	Mono LCD Resin	Mono LCD Resin
Display Resolution	9024 x 5120	4K MONO LCD
Pixel Size	17 x 17 μm	—
Printing Speed	120 mm/h (high speed resin)	—
UV Wavelength	405 nm	405nm
Layer Height	0.02-0.15mm	0.01 - 0.2mm

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