Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra
Best Overall Resin Printer
- Speed
- 150 mm/h
- Score
- 7.8/10
- Build
- 5.9 L
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Best Resin 3D Printers for Miniatures & Detail in 2026
- Best Overall Resin Printer: the Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra, 7.8/10.
- Best Entry-Level Resin Printer: the Anycubic Photon Mono 4, 7.4/10.
- Best Compact High-Resolution Resin Printer: the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S, 7.2/10.
listicle · updated . Specs from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
By Shadman Rahman · Prices checked
The verdict
Buy the Saturn 4 Ultra. Best Overall Resin Printer.
Batch printing miniatures, terrain, or hobby projects? The Saturn 4 Ultra is the safest call. 12K resolution, large build plate, tilt release. New to resin? Start with the Photon Mono 4. Learn the workflow before committing to a bigger machine. If maximum resolution is the goal, competition painting or jewelry casting, the Sonic Mini 8K S and its 22-micron precision is in a category by itself. Whatever you pick: budget an extra $100-150 for a wash-and-cure station. It's not optional.
The 3 picks, by the numbers
Same scale within each chart. Teal is the best of the 3.
| Saturn 4 Ultra | 7.8/10 (best) | |
|---|---|---|
| Photon Mono 4 | 7.4/10 | |
| Sonic Mini 8K S | 7.2/10 |
| Saturn 4 Ultra | 5.9 L (best) | |
|---|---|---|
| Photon Mono 4 | 1.3 L | |
| Sonic Mini 8K S | 2.1 L |
| Saturn 4 Ultra | 150 mm/s (best) | |
|---|---|---|
| Photon Mono 4 | 100 mm/s | |
| Sonic Mini 8K S | 80 mm/s |
If visual detail defines your project, FDM can't help you. Resin is the answer. MSLA printers cure entire layers at once using a UV LCD screen, hitting layer heights of 0.01-0.05mm versus 0.1-0.3mm for FDM. The surface quality rivals injection molding. The tradeoffs are real and worth knowing before you buy: messier post-processing (gloves, IPA wash, UV cure station), smaller build volumes than FDM, and fumes that require ventilation. For tabletop miniatures, jewelry prototypes, or dental models, nothing else comes close. In 2026, resin printers are faster and more accessible than ever. The barrier to entry is the lowest it's been.
Best Overall Resin Printer
- Speed
- 150 mm/h
- Score
- 7.8/10
- Build
- 5.9 L
The Saturn 4 Ultra is what experienced resin printers consistently recommend. The 12K mono LCD gives a 218x123mm build plate. Large enough to print an entire squad of 28mm miniatures in one run, or a full set of D&D terrain pieces simultaneously. The tilt release mechanism is the key hardware feature: instead of pulling the build plate straight up after each layer (which creates suction that can rip delicate prints off the FEP film), the Saturn tilts to peel. Dramatically less mechanical stress. Fewer failed prints. Better reproduction of fine overhanging details. Print speeds hit 150mm/hour with compatible resins, so a full-plate miniature batch finishes in under 3 hours. At its price, the build volume and reliability justify the price for anyone printing more than occasionally. Not the right call if you only print one miniature at a time. You'd be paying for plate size you'll never fill.
Best Entry-Level Resin Printer
- Speed
- 100 mm/h
- Score
- 7.4/10
- Build
- 1.3 L
The Photon Mono 4 is the cheapest path to real resin quality. The 10K mono LCD delivers detail that no FDM printer at this price can match. Chainmail links, facial expressions, sword engravings: all come through with crisp fidelity. The build plate is 153x77mm, fitting two or three 28mm miniatures per run. Print speed is around 80mm/hour. Mono LCD exposure times are 1.5-3 seconds per layer versus 6-10 seconds on older RGB screens. A full miniature takes 1.5-2.5 hours. The honest tradeoffs: build volume is small. No air purifier, no tilt mechanism. FEP film replacement is more involved than on premium printers. You'll also need to buy a wash-and-cure station separately ($80-120) to post-process your prints properly. That cost matters. Best for D&D players and hobbyists who want to try resin without a major upfront commitment, or anyone deciding if this workflow fits before upgrading to a larger machine.
Best Compact High-Resolution Resin Printer
- Speed
- 80 mm/h
- Score
- 7.2/10
- Build
- 2.1 L
The Sonic Mini 8K S exists for one reason: 22-micron XY resolution. No other consumer printer at this size matches it. A human hair is roughly 70 microns wide. This printer reproduces details three times smaller than that. You'll see surface textures on printed miniatures that are invisible to the naked eye until you use a macro lens. Competition painters and jewelers making casting masters will notice. Most casual hobbyists probably won't. The 7.1-inch 8K screen covers a 165x72mm build plate. Pixel density is extraordinary. The tradeoffs: no tilt release, no air purifier, moderate print speeds compared to the Saturn 4 Ultra. Not a beginner printer. Small build volume and slower speed require careful print layout planning. It costs more than the Photon Mono 4. The premium is purely about resolution. Best for competition painters, jewelry designers, and anyone who photographs display miniatures professionally.
