Anycubic Photon Mono 2Discontinued
- Price
- $169
- Score
- 7/10
- Wins
- 1/5
Last recorded price, not a current one.
Anycubic Photon Mono 2 vs Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra
- The Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra wins, 7.8 vs 7 out of 10.
- Saturn 4 Ultra prints 2.8× the volume (218×123×220 ÷ 143×89×165 = 2.81) for $290 ($459 − $169) more.
- Saturn 4 Ultra is faster, 150 vs 80 mm/s.
- Pick the Photon Mono 2 if your prints fit in 16.5 cm.
Specs and US prices from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra
- Price
- $459
- Score
- 7.8/10
- Wins
- 3/5
The verdict
Buy the Saturn 4 Ultra.
7.8/10 vs Photon Mono 2's 7/10, and it wins 3 of 5 categories. Upgrade from the Mars when the build plate becomes the bottleneck. Terrain, busts, full squads in one run: this is where it makes sense. If you're just printing individual minis, the Mars 5 Ultra saves you $175.
Specs, side by side
Teal wins the row.
Photon Mono 2Anycubic · RESIN
vsSaturn 4 UltraElegoo · RESIN
| Photon Mono 2 | Spec | Saturn 4 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| $169 (wins) | Price | $459 |
| 2.1 L | Build volume | 5.9 L (wins) |
| 80 mm/s | Top speed | 150 mm/s (wins) |
| 0.02 mm | Finest layer | 0.01 mm (wins) |
| 5.5 kg | Weight | 11 kg |
Features
| Photon Mono 2 | Feature | Saturn 4 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 6K mono LCD | No |
| Yes | USB | No |
| Yes | Anycubic Photon Workshop slicer | No |
| No | 12K mono LCD | Yes |
| No | Tilt release | Yes |
| No | Air purifier | Yes |
| No | WiFi | Yes |
| No | Larger build plate | Yes |
Value math
$169 ÷ 2.1 L and $459 ÷ 5.9 L. Lower is more printer for the money.
| Photon Mono 2 | Spec | Saturn 4 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| $80.48 | $ per liter | $77.81 (wins) |
| $2.11 (wins) | $ per mm/s | $3.06 |
Scores out of 10
| Photon Mono 2 | Spec | Saturn 4 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| 9 (wins) | Value | 8 |
| 6 | Beginner Friendliness | 6 |
| 8 | Print Quality | 10 (wins) |
| 5 | Speed | 7 (wins) |
| 7 | Reliability | 8 (wins) |
| 7 | Overall | 7.8 (wins) |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 143 × 89 × 165 mm
- 218 × 123 × 220 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/PrintedMinisBatch-printing a full Warhammer army on this thing is a dream come true.
Saturn 4 Ultra owner, r/resinprintingIf you've outgrown the Mars, the Saturn is the obvious next step.
Saturn 4 Ultra owner, 3D Printing Nerd (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
Saturn 4 Ultra
- +218x123mm plate fits a full Warhammer squad in one run, not two
- +12K resolution holds up just as well as the Mars at 14K for most print sizes
- +Tilt release is worth it at this plate size: peel forces on large prints are brutal without it
- −Resin consumption goes up fast when you're filling a plate this size
- −Post-processing for a full plate run takes 45-60 minutes minimum
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 Saturn 4 Ultra?
By the numbers, the Elegoo Saturn 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 Saturn 4 Ultra?
Both score 6/10 for beginners. Go with the Anycubic Photon Mono 2 to save $290.
Is the Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra worth $290 more than the Anycubic Photon Mono 2?
The Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra scores higher overall (7.8/10 vs 7/10). The extra $290 gets you 218x123mm plate fits a full warhammer squad in one run, not two.
What's the main difference between Anycubic Photon Mono 2 and Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra?
Build volume (143x89x165mm vs 218x123x220mm) and print speed (80 vs 150 mm/s). The Anycubic Photon Mono 2 is best for budget; the Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra targets resin.