Anycubic Photon Mono 2Discontinued
- Price
- $169
- Score
- 7/10
- Wins
- 0/5
Last recorded price, not a current one.
Anycubic Photon Mono 2 vs Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra
- The Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra wins, 7.8 vs 7 out of 10.
- Near-same build volume (143×89×165 vs 153×77×165 mm, 1.08×).
- The Mars 4 Ultra is faster (100 ÷ 80 = 1.3×) for $71 ($240 − $169) more.
- Pick the Photon Mono 2 unless print time is your bottleneck.
Specs and US prices from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra
- Price
- $240
- Score
- 7.8/10
- Wins
- 4/5
The verdict
Buy the Mars 4 Ultra.
7.8/10 vs Photon Mono 2's 7/10, and it wins 4 of 5 categories. If you're choosing between the Mars 4 ($149) and this, spend the $91 more. The tilt release alone extends FEP life enough to justify it. The 9K detail is also noticeably sharper on fine models.
Specs, side by side
Teal wins the row.
Photon Mono 2Anycubic · RESIN
vsMars 4 UltraElegoo · RESIN
| Photon Mono 2 | Spec | Mars 4 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| $169 (wins) | Price | $240 |
| 2.1 L (wins) | Build volume | 1.9 L |
| 80 mm/s | Top speed | 100 mm/s (wins) |
| 0.02 mm | Finest layer | 0.01 mm (wins) |
| 5.5 kg | Weight | 6.8 kg |
Features
| Photon Mono 2 | Feature | Mars 4 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 6K mono LCD | No |
| Yes | USB | No |
| Yes | Anycubic Photon Workshop slicer | No |
| No | 9K mono LCD | Yes |
| No | Tilt release | Yes |
| No | WiFi | Yes |
| No | Air purifier | Yes |
Value math
$169 ÷ 2.1 L and $240 ÷ 1.9 L. Lower is more printer for the money.
| Photon Mono 2 | Spec | Mars 4 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| $80.48 (wins) | $ per liter | $123.47 |
| $2.11 (wins) | $ per mm/s | $2.40 |
Scores out of 10
| Photon Mono 2 | Spec | Mars 4 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Value | 9 |
| 6 | Beginner Friendliness | 7 (wins) |
| 8 | Print Quality | 9 (wins) |
| 5 | Speed | 6 (wins) |
| 7 | Reliability | 8 (wins) |
| 7 | Overall | 7.8 (wins) |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 143 × 89 × 165 mm
- 153 × 77 × 165 mm
What owners say
For $169, it's a perfectly capable resin printer. Great way to see if resin is for you.
Photon Mono 2 owner, r/resinprintingAnycubic's tried-and-tested formula. Not flashy, but it works.
Photon Mono 2 owner, r/PrintedMinisTilt release at this price is a game changer. My FEP films last twice as long.
Mars 4 Ultra owner, r/resinprinting9K detail on D&D minis is breathtaking. Worth every penny of the $199.
Mars 4 Ultra owner, Uncle Jessy (YouTube)
Pros & Cons
Photon Mono 2
- +6K resolution still delivers usable miniature detail for most tabletop purposes
- +Compact and portable: stores on a shelf when not in use
- +Photon Workshop slicer is decent for an entry-level tool
- −No tilt release means FEP replacements add up quickly
- −No WiFi: USB-only workflow
Mars 4 Ultra
- +9K resolution is a meaningful jump from 7K: finer surface texture, sharper edges on small parts
- +Tilt release means FEP films last longer; $50 less per year in consumables is real money
- +Built-in air purifier takes the edge off the smell without requiring an external solution
- −153x77mm plate is tight for anything larger than small character models
- −Still needs a wash and cure station: budget $50-80 extra
Buy these with it
A printer does nothing without these. Grab them in the same order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Anycubic Photon Mono 2 better than the Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra?
By the numbers, the Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra scores higher (7.8/10). But "better" depends on your use case, the Anycubic Photon Mono 2 may be the smarter buy if you need budget.
Which is better for beginners, Anycubic Photon Mono 2 or Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra?
The Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra is more beginner-friendly (7/10 vs 6/10) with easier setup and a gentler learning curve.
Is the Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra worth $71 more than the Anycubic Photon Mono 2?
The Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra scores higher overall (7.8/10 vs 7/10). The extra $71 gets you 9k resolution is a meaningful jump from 7k: finer surface texture, sharper edges on small parts.
What's the main difference between Anycubic Photon Mono 2 and Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra?
Build volume (143x89x165mm vs 153x77x165mm) and print speed (80 vs 100 mm/s). The Anycubic Photon Mono 2 is best for budget; the Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra targets miniatures.