Anycubic Photon Mono 4
- Price
- $210
- Score
- 7.4/10
- Wins
- 1/5
Anycubic Photon Mono 4 vs Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra
- The Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra wins, 7.8 vs 7.4 out of 10.
- Mars 4 Ultra prints 1.5× the volume (153×77×165 ÷ 134×75×130 = 1.49) for $30 ($240 − $210) more.
- Same 100 mm/s top speed.
- 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 4 Ultra
- Price
- $240
- Score
- 7.8/10
- Wins
- 3/5
The verdict
Buy the Mars 4 Ultra.
7.8/10 vs Photon Mono 4's 7.4/10, and it wins 3 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 4Anycubic · RESIN
vsMars 4 UltraElegoo · RESIN
| Photon Mono 4 | Spec | Mars 4 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| $210 (wins) | Price | $240 |
| 1.3 L | Build volume | 1.9 L (wins) |
| 100 mm/s | Top speed | 100 mm/s |
| 0.01 mm | Finest layer | 0.01 mm |
| 5 kg | Weight | 6.8 kg |
Features
| Photon Mono 4 | Feature | Mars 4 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 10K mono LCD | No |
| Yes | Laser-cut build plate | No |
| Yes | USB | No |
| No | 9K mono LCD | Yes |
| No | Tilt release | Yes |
| No | WiFi | Yes |
| No | Air purifier | Yes |
Value math
$210 ÷ 1.3 L and $240 ÷ 1.9 L. Lower is more printer for the money.
| Photon Mono 4 | Spec | Mars 4 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| $160.73 | $ per liter | $123.47 (wins) |
| $2.10 (wins) | $ per mm/s | $2.40 |
Scores out of 10
| Photon Mono 4 | Spec | Mars 4 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| 10 (wins) | Value | 9 |
| 6 | Beginner Friendliness | 7 (wins) |
| 9 | Print Quality | 9 |
| 5 | Speed | 6 (wins) |
| 7 | Reliability | 8 (wins) |
| 7.4 | Overall | 7.8 (wins) |
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/resinprintingTilt 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 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 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 4 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 4 may be the smarter buy if you need miniatures.
Which is better for beginners, Anycubic Photon Mono 4 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 $30 more than the Anycubic Photon Mono 4?
The Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra scores higher overall (7.8/10 vs 7.4/10). The extra $30 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 4 and Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra?
Build volume (134x75x130mm vs 153x77x165mm) and print speed (100 vs 100 mm/s). The Anycubic Photon Mono 4 is best for miniatures; the Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra targets miniatures.