Anycubic Photon Mono 4
- Price
- $210
- Score
- 7.4/10
- Wins
- 1/5
Anycubic Photon Mono 4 vs Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra
- The Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra wins, 8.2 vs 7.4 out of 10.
- Mars 5 Ultra prints 2.1× the volume (153×89×200 ÷ 134×75×130 = 2.08) for $74 ($284 − $210) more.
- Mars 5 Ultra is faster, 150 vs 100 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 5 Ultra
- Price
- $284
- Score
- 8.2/10
- Wins
- 4/5
The verdict
Buy the Mars 5 Ultra.
8.2/10 vs Photon Mono 4's 7.4/10, and it wins 4 of 5 categories. Miniature painters: buy this. The 14K detail at $284 is not matched anywhere near this price. Just know the resin workflow before you commit: it's messier than FDM and the supplies add up.
Specs, side by side
Teal wins the row.
Photon Mono 4Anycubic · RESIN
vsMars 5 UltraElegoo · RESIN
| Photon Mono 4 | Spec | Mars 5 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| $210 (wins) | Price | $284 |
| 1.3 L | Build volume | 2.7 L (wins) |
| 100 mm/s | Top speed | 150 mm/s (wins) |
| 0.01 mm | Finest layer | 0.01 mm |
| 5 kg | Weight | 7.5 kg |
Features
| Photon Mono 4 | Feature | Mars 5 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 10K mono LCD | No |
| Yes | Laser-cut build plate | No |
| Yes | USB | No |
| No | 14K mono LCD | Yes |
| No | Tilt release | Yes |
| No | Air purifier | Yes |
| No | WiFi | Yes |
Value math
$210 ÷ 1.3 L and $284 ÷ 2.7 L. Lower is more printer for the money.
| Photon Mono 4 | Spec | Mars 5 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| $160.73 | $ per liter | $104.28 (wins) |
| $2.10 | $ per mm/s | $1.89 (wins) |
Scores out of 10
| Photon Mono 4 | Spec | Mars 5 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| 10 (wins) | Value | 9 |
| 6 | Beginner Friendliness | 7 (wins) |
| 9 | Print Quality | 10 (wins) |
| 5 | Speed | 7 (wins) |
| 7 | Reliability | 8 (wins) |
| 7.4 | Overall | 8.2 (wins) |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 134 × 75 × 130 mm
- 153 × 89 × 200 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/resinprintingThe detail on my D&D minis is insane. My painting group can't believe these are home-printed.
Mars 5 Ultra owner, r/PrintedMinis14K resolution means you can print things FDM users can only dream about.
Mars 5 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 5 Ultra
- +14K resolution renders chainmail and sword hilts at a level FDM can't get near
- +Tilt release means fewer ripped FEP films mid-print
- +Built-in air purifier cuts the resin smell noticeably; still needs ventilation but less aggressively
- −Build plate is 153x89mm: anything larger needs to be sliced and assembled
- −Resin printing means gloves, IPA, and a wash station are non-negotiable purchases
Buy these with it
A printer does nothing without these. Grab them in the same order.
Read the full breakdown
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Anycubic Photon Mono 4 better than the Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra?
By the numbers, the Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra scores higher (8.2/10). 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 5 Ultra?
The Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra is more beginner-friendly (7/10 vs 6/10) with easier setup and a gentler learning curve.
Is the Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra worth $74 more than the Anycubic Photon Mono 4?
The Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra scores higher overall (8.2/10 vs 7.4/10). The extra $74 gets you 14k resolution renders chainmail and sword hilts at a level fdm can't get near.
What's the main difference between Anycubic Photon Mono 4 and Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra?
Build volume (134x75x130mm vs 153x89x200mm) and print speed (100 vs 150 mm/s). The Anycubic Photon Mono 4 is best for miniatures; the Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra targets miniatures.