Anycubic Photon Mono 4
- Price
- $210
- Score
- 7.4/10
- Wins
- 2/5
Anycubic Photon Mono 4 vs Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K
- The Anycubic Photon Mono 4 wins, 7.4 vs 7 out of 10.
- Same build volume (134×75×130 mm).
- The Photon Mono 4 is faster (100 ÷ 80 = 1.3×) for $11 ($210 − $199) more.
- Pick the Sonic Mini 4K unless print time is your bottleneck.
Specs and US prices from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K
- Price
- $199
- Score
- 7/10
- Wins
- 1/5
The verdict
Buy the Photon Mono 4.
7.4/10 vs Sonic Mini 4K's 7/10, and it wins 2 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
vsSonic Mini 4KPhrozen · RESIN
| Photon Mono 4 | Spec | Sonic Mini 4K |
|---|---|---|
| $210 | Price | $199 (wins) |
| 1.3 L | Build volume | 1.3 L |
| 100 mm/s (wins) | Top speed | 80 mm/s |
| 0.01 mm | Finest layer | 0.01 mm |
| 5 kg | Weight | 5 kg |
Features
| Photon Mono 4 | Feature | Sonic Mini 4K |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 10K mono LCD | No |
| Yes | Laser-cut build plate | No |
| Yes | USB | No |
| No | 5.5" 4K mono LCD | Yes |
| No | 35-micron XY resolution | Yes |
| No | ParaLED 2.0 | Yes |
Value math
$210 ÷ 1.3 L and $199 ÷ 1.3 L. Lower is more printer for the money.
| Photon Mono 4 | Spec | Sonic Mini 4K |
|---|---|---|
| $160.73 | $ per liter | $152.32 (wins) |
| $2.10 (wins) | $ per mm/s | $2.49 |
Scores out of 10
| Photon Mono 4 | Spec | Sonic Mini 4K |
|---|---|---|
| 10 (wins) | Value | 8 |
| 6 | Beginner Friendliness | 6 |
| 9 | Print Quality | 9 |
| 5 (wins) | Speed | 4 |
| 7 | Reliability | 8 (wins) |
| 7.4 (wins) | Overall | 7 |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 134 × 75 × 130 mm
- 134 × 75 × 130 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/resinprintingPhrozen builds reliable printers. The Mini 4K isn't the newest but it doesn't let you down.
Sonic Mini 4K owner, r/resinprintingBeen printing minis on this for 2 years. Never had a major issue. Phrozen quality shows.
Sonic Mini 4K 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
Sonic Mini 4K
- +35-micron XY resolution still produces detailed minis despite the lower resolution count
- +Phrozen's build quality and reliability track record is among the best in the category
- +Compact footprint fits into tight shelf spaces
- −4K resolution in a world of 8K and 12K is a real gap: fine details are softer
- −134x75mm build plate is one of the smallest on the list
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 Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K?
By the numbers, the Anycubic Photon Mono 4 scores higher (7.4/10). But "better" depends on your use case, the Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K may be the smarter buy if you need miniatures.
Which is better for beginners, Anycubic Photon Mono 4 or Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K?
Both score 6/10 for beginners. Go with the Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K to save $11.
Is the Anycubic Photon Mono 4 worth $11 more than the Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K?
The Anycubic Photon Mono 4 scores higher overall (7.4/10 vs 7/10). The extra $11 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 Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K?
Build volume (134x75x130mm vs 134x75x130mm) and print speed (100 vs 80 mm/s). The Anycubic Photon Mono 4 is best for miniatures; the Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K targets miniatures.