Anycubic Photon Mono 4
- Price
- $210
- Score
- 7.4/10
- Wins
- 1/5
Anycubic Photon Mono 4 vs Elegoo Mars 4
- The Anycubic Photon Mono 4 wins, 7.4 vs 7.2 out of 10.
- Mars 4 prints 1.5× the volume (153×77×165 ÷ 134×75×130 = 1.49) and costs $61 ($210 − $149) less.
- Photon Mono 4 is faster, 100 vs 80 mm/s.
- Pick the Photon Mono 4 if your prints fit in 13 cm.
Specs and US prices from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
Elegoo Mars 4Discontinued
- Price
- $149
- Score
- 7.2/10
- Wins
- 0/5
Last recorded price. Replaced by the Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra at $240.
The verdict
Buy the Photon Mono 4.
7.4/10 vs Mars 4's 7.2/10, and it wins 1 of 5 categories. 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
vsMars 4Elegoo · RESIN
| Photon Mono 4 | Spec | Mars 4 |
|---|---|---|
| $210 | Price | $149 (wins) |
| 1.3 L | Build volume | 1.9 L (wins) |
| 100 mm/s (wins) | Top speed | 80 mm/s |
| 0.01 mm (wins) | Finest layer | 0.02 mm |
| 5 kg | Weight | 6.2 kg |
Features
| Photon Mono 4 | Feature | Mars 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 10K mono LCD | No |
| Yes | Laser-cut build plate | No |
| Yes | USB | Yes |
| No | 7K mono LCD | Yes |
| No | WiFi | Yes |
Value math
$210 ÷ 1.3 L and $149 ÷ 1.9 L. Lower is more printer for the money.
| Photon Mono 4 | Spec | Mars 4 |
|---|---|---|
| $160.73 | $ per liter | $76.65 (wins) |
| $2.10 | $ per mm/s | $1.86 (wins) |
Scores out of 10
| Photon Mono 4 | Spec | Mars 4 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Value | 10 |
| 6 | Beginner Friendliness | 6 |
| 9 (wins) | Print Quality | 8 |
| 5 | Speed | 5 |
| 7 | Reliability | 7 |
| 7.4 (wins) | Overall | 7.2 |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 134 × 75 × 130 mm
- 153 × 77 × 165 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/resinprintingAt $149 you're getting a genuinely capable printer. Elegoo's quality control shines even at this price.
Mars 4 owner, r/resinprintingPerfect starter resin printer. Just buy extra FEP films, you'll go through them.
Mars 4 owner, r/PrintedMinis
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
Mars 4
- +$149 entry into Elegoo's quality resin lineup
- +7K resolution is still detailed enough for D&D and Warhammer minis
- +WiFi monitoring included even at this price
- −No tilt release: FEP films will need replacing more often than the Ultra variants
- −7K detail is noticeably softer than the 9K and 12K machines on fine surface textures
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 Elegoo Mars 4?
By the numbers, the Anycubic Photon Mono 4 scores higher (7.4/10). But "better" depends on your use case, the Elegoo Mars 4 may be the smarter buy if you need budget.
Which is better for beginners, Anycubic Photon Mono 4 or Elegoo Mars 4?
Both score 6/10 for beginners. Go with the Elegoo Mars 4 to save $61.
Is the Anycubic Photon Mono 4 worth $61 more than the Elegoo Mars 4?
The Anycubic Photon Mono 4 scores higher overall (7.4/10 vs 7.2/10). The extra $61 gets you $210 is the lowest you'll pay for 10k resolution resin printing.
What's the main difference between Anycubic Photon Mono 4 and Elegoo Mars 4?
Build volume (134x75x130mm vs 153x77x165mm) and print speed (100 vs 80 mm/s). The Anycubic Photon Mono 4 is best for miniatures; the Elegoo Mars 4 targets budget.