Anycubic Photon Mono M5sDiscontinued
- Price
- $339
- Score
- 7.8/10
- Wins
- 0/5
Last recorded price, not a current one.
Anycubic Photon Mono M5s vs Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra
- The Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra wins, 8.2 vs 7.8 out of 10.
- Photon Mono M5s prints 2.2× the volume (218×123×220 ÷ 153×89×200 = 2.17) for $55 ($339 − $284) more.
- Same 150 mm/s top speed.
- Pick the Mars 5 Ultra if your prints fit in 20 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
- 2/5
The verdict
Buy the Mars 5 Ultra.
8.2/10 vs Photon Mono M5s's 7.8/10, and it wins 2 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 M5sAnycubic · RESIN
vsMars 5 UltraElegoo · RESIN
| Photon Mono M5s | Spec | Mars 5 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| $339 | Price | $284 (wins) |
| 5.9 L (wins) | Build volume | 2.7 L |
| 150 mm/s | Top speed | 150 mm/s |
| 0.01 mm | Finest layer | 0.01 mm |
| 9.5 kg | Weight | 7.5 kg |
Features
| Photon Mono M5s | Feature | Mars 5 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 14K mono LCD | Yes |
| Yes | Anti-warping release | No |
| Yes | Dual cooling | No |
| Yes | App monitoring | No |
| No | Tilt release | Yes |
| No | Air purifier | Yes |
| No | WiFi | Yes |
Value math
$339 ÷ 5.9 L and $284 ÷ 2.7 L. Lower is more printer for the money.
| Photon Mono M5s | Spec | Mars 5 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| $57.47 (wins) | $ per liter | $104.28 |
| $2.26 | $ per mm/s | $1.89 (wins) |
Scores out of 10
| Photon Mono M5s | Spec | Mars 5 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Value | 9 (wins) |
| 6 | Beginner Friendliness | 7 (wins) |
| 10 | Print Quality | 10 |
| 7 | Speed | 7 |
| 8 | Reliability | 8 |
| 7.8 | Overall | 8.2 (wins) |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 218 × 123 × 220 mm
- 153 × 89 × 200 mm
What owners say
14K 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)The 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 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
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Anycubic Photon Mono M5s 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 M5s may be the smarter buy if you need resin.
Which is better for beginners, Anycubic Photon Mono M5s 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 Anycubic Photon Mono M5s worth $55 more than the Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra?
The Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra actually scores higher (8.2/10) despite costing $55 less. The Anycubic Photon Mono M5s only makes sense if you specifically need resin.
What's the main difference between Anycubic Photon Mono M5s and Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra?
Build volume (218x123x220mm vs 153x89x200mm) and print speed (150 vs 150 mm/s). The Anycubic Photon Mono M5s is best for resin; the Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra targets miniatures.