Head-to-head · Best Resin 3d Printers

Elegoo Mars 3 Ultra vs PioCreat HALOT-X1 16K

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

Elegoo Mars 3 Ultra comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.3 vs 3.3). The gap is mostly about Budget-conscious home users seeking reliable prints — read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #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 →

Ranked #4 in Best Resin 3d Printers

PioCreat HALOT-X1 16K

3.3

The PioCreat HALOT-X1 16K is a feature-rich resin 3D printer designed to simplify the resin printing workflow. Reviewers praised its 10.1-inch 16K LCD for delivering sharp detail, its leveling-free inverted kinematic system for stability, and the twist-to-release build plate for easy print removal. The optional AFU adds automation for long prints but has limitations in fully emptying the resin vat. While some users noted challenges with direct-on-plate printing due to the grooved plate, the printer is considered ideal for beginners and miniature makers seeking high-resolution output without complex setup.

Strengths

— 16K mono LCD with 15,120 x 6,230 pixel resolution delivering 14 x 19 µm pixel size for high-detail prints
— Leveling-free build plate with fixed platform design that eliminates manual leveling and reduces vibration artifacts
— Twist-to-release quick ejecting build plate that allows print removal without scraping, reducing risk of damage

Watch-outs

— AFU does not fully empty the resin vat
— Grooved build plate can complicate direct-on-plate printing

Buy at indocart.com Full review →

How they stack up

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.

PioCreat HALOT-X1 16K

The PioCreat HALOT-X1 16K distinguishes itself with its leveling-free build plate and twist-to-release mechanism, features not found in the Anycubic Photon Mono 4 Ultra or Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra 16K. While it's more complex than the Elegoo Mars 3 Ultra in terms of setup and lacks the software support of the Elegoo Saturn 4, it provides a more automated workflow for long prints with its optional AFU system.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Elegoo Mars 3 Ultra	PioCreat HALOT-X1 16K
Build Volume	89.6 x 143.36 x 175mm	211.68 x 118.37 x 200mm
Printing Technology	Mono LCD Resin	LCD resin 3D printing
Display Resolution	4K MONO LCD	15,120 x 6,230 px (14 x 19 µm)
UV Wavelength	405nm	405nm
Layer Height	0.01 - 0.2mm	0.01–0.2mm
Pixel Size	—	14 × 19 µm
Printing Speed	—	Up to 170 mm/h

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