Head-to-head · Best Resin 3d Printers

Anycubic Photon P1 vs Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S

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

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The short answer

Anycubic Photon P1 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.3 vs 4.0). The gap is mostly about Prosumer users wanting advanced resin printing features — read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Resin 3d Printers

Anycubic Photon P1

4.3

4 sources$619.99as of Aug 1

The Anycubic Photon P1 is a high-end resin 3D printer featuring a 14K mono LCD, thermally-controlled resin vat, and dual-material printing capability. Reviewers noted its powerful light system, precision build platform, and auto-leveling features. However, it lacks automated resin filling and the dual-material vat does not include heating. The printer is designed for industrial-grade prosumer use with a 223 x 126 x 230 mm build chamber and weighs 13.6kg. It's suited for users seeking advanced resin printing features but may not appeal to those wanting fully automated workflows.

Strengths

— 14K mono LCD with 16.8 x 24.8 μm resolution and LighTurbo 4.0 engine delivering 5000μW/cm² with ≥2° collimation accuracy
— Thermally-controlled resin vat capable of maintaining temperatures up to 40°C for optimized resin flow
— Dual-material printing capability with dedicated kit for simultaneous color/material printing

Watch-outs

— No automated resin filling system
— Dual-material vat lacks heater, potentially limiting material options

$619.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #6 in Best Resin 3d Printers

Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S

4.0

4 sources2 derived$299.99as of Aug 1

Tom's Hardware reviewed the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S as an affordable upgrade to their previous model, noting it maintains the same high screen resolution and printing volume of 16.5x7.2x17 cm. YouTube reviewer Ross praised it for being free of the technical issues that plagued his original Sonic Mini 8K, calling it a significant achievement given the price point. However, the printer is 1 cm shorter in height than its predecessor. This model targets budget-conscious users seeking premium print quality without the higher price tag of the original.

Strengths

— Setup runs clean out of the box, with no calibration or hardware snags
— Maintains same screen resolution and printing volume as original Sonic Mini 8K
— Offered at entry-level prices compared to previous model

Watch-outs

— Slightly shorter height in printing volume (1 cm less than original)
— May have limited long-term reliability data compared to established models

$299.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

Anycubic Photon P1

The Anycubic Photon P1 offers a 14K mono LCD and thermally-controlled resin vat, outperforming the Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra in resolution and temperature control.

Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S

The Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S provides high-quality prints at an entry-level price, outperforming the Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra in resolution and reliability. However, it's slightly shorter in height compared to the Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra and lacks the heated chamber of the Uniformation GK Three Ultra. It also doesn't feature the AI camera or Wi-Fi capabilities found in the Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra or Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Anycubic Photon P1	Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S
Build Volume	223 x 126 x 230 mm	16.5x7.2x17 cm
Pixel Size	16.8 x 24.8 μm	22 µm
Light Source	LighTurbo 4.0	LED Module
Print Speed	25-35 mm/h	80 mm/hour
UV Wavelength	405nm	—
Layer Height	0.012-0.15 mm	0.01 mm to 0.30 mm
Material	Aluminum	Acrylic, Metal
Dimensions	28"D x 14"W x 13"H	11.4"D x 11.4"W x 16.9"H
Weight	13.6 kg	10 kg
Display Resolution	16.8μm*24.8μm	8K

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