Anycubic Photon Mono 4
- Price
- $210
- Score
- 7.4/10
- Wins
- 1/5
Anycubic Photon Mono 4 vs Anycubic Photon Mono M5s
- Buy the Anycubic Photon Mono 4 at $210.
- The Anycubic Photon Mono M5s scores higher, 7.8 vs 7.4 out of 10, but it is discontinued.
Specs and US prices from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
Anycubic Photon Mono M5sDiscontinued
- Price
- $339
- Score
- 7.8/10
- Wins
- 3/5
Last recorded price, not a current one.
The verdict
Buy the Photon Mono 4.
The Photon Mono M5s scores higher but is discontinued. Start here if budget is the constraint and you're not sure resin is your thing. The detail is real even at $210. If you get hooked, you'll want to upgrade within 6 months. That's not a knock: it's the expected path.
Specs, side by side
Teal wins the row.
Photon Mono 4Anycubic · RESIN
vsPhoton Mono M5sAnycubic · RESIN
| Photon Mono 4 | Spec | Photon Mono M5s |
|---|---|---|
| $210 (wins) | Price | $339 |
| 1.3 L | Build volume | 5.9 L (wins) |
| 100 mm/s | Top speed | 150 mm/s (wins) |
| 0.01 mm | Finest layer | 0.01 mm |
| 5 kg | Weight | 9.5 kg |
Features
| Photon Mono 4 | Feature | Photon Mono M5s |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 10K mono LCD | No |
| Yes | Laser-cut build plate | No |
| Yes | USB | No |
| No | 14K mono LCD | Yes |
| No | Anti-warping release | Yes |
| No | Dual cooling | Yes |
| No | App monitoring | Yes |
Value math
$210 ÷ 1.3 L and $339 ÷ 5.9 L. Lower is more printer for the money.
| Photon Mono 4 | Spec | Photon Mono M5s |
|---|---|---|
| $160.73 | $ per liter | $57.47 (wins) |
| $2.10 (wins) | $ per mm/s | $2.26 |
Scores out of 10
| Photon Mono 4 | Spec | Photon Mono M5s |
|---|---|---|
| 10 (wins) | Value | 8 |
| 6 | Beginner Friendliness | 6 |
| 9 | Print Quality | 10 (wins) |
| 5 | Speed | 7 (wins) |
| 7 | Reliability | 8 (wins) |
| 7.4 | Overall | 7.8 (wins) |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 134 × 75 × 130 mm
- 218 × 123 × 220 mm
What owners say
For $159, this is the cheapest way to find out if resin printing is for you.
Photon Mono 4 owner, r/resinprinting14K detail on a Saturn-size plate. The M5s punches well above its price.
Photon Mono M5s owner, r/resinprintingAnti-warping release is a real feature, not marketing. My failure rate dropped significantly.
Photon Mono M5s owner, VOG (YouTube)
Pros & Cons
Photon Mono 4
- +$210 is the lowest you'll pay for 10K resolution resin printing
- +Compact enough to fit on a shelf with the build plate folded
- +10K resolution prints minis that genuinely impress non-printers
- −134x75mm build plate: barely fits more than two minis at once
- −USB-only workflow, no WiFi at any price point in this tier
Photon Mono M5s
- +14K resolution on a Saturn-size plate is the highest resolution in this build volume class
- +Anti-warping release mechanism measurably reduces failed prints on larger models
- +218x123mm plate handles busts, terrain, and multi-model runs
- −Pricier than the Elegoo Saturn 3 Ultra at comparable specs
- −Discontinued: Anycubic support and firmware updates are ending
Buy these with it
A printer does nothing without these. Grab them in the same order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Anycubic Photon Mono 4 better than the Anycubic Photon Mono M5s?
By the numbers, the Anycubic Photon Mono M5s scores higher (7.8/10). But "better" depends on your use case, the Anycubic Photon Mono 4 may be the smarter buy if you need miniatures.
Which is better for beginners, Anycubic Photon Mono 4 or Anycubic Photon Mono M5s?
Both score 6/10 for beginners. Go with the Anycubic Photon Mono 4 to save $129.
Is the Anycubic Photon Mono M5s worth $129 more than the Anycubic Photon Mono 4?
The Anycubic Photon Mono M5s scores higher overall (7.8/10 vs 7.4/10). The extra $129 gets you 14k resolution on a saturn-size plate is the highest resolution in this build volume class.
What's the main difference between Anycubic Photon Mono 4 and Anycubic Photon Mono M5s?
Build volume (134x75x130mm vs 218x123x220mm) and print speed (100 vs 150 mm/s). The Anycubic Photon Mono 4 is best for miniatures; the Anycubic Photon Mono M5s targets resin.