Anycubic Photon Mono M5sDiscontinued
- Price
- $339
- Score
- 7.8/10
- Wins
- 4/5
Last recorded price, not a current one.
Anycubic Photon Mono M5s vs Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K S2
- Buy the Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K S2 at $749.
- The Anycubic Photon Mono M5s scores higher, 7.8 vs 6.6 out of 10, but it is discontinued.
Specs and US prices from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K S2
- Price
- $749
- Score
- 6.6/10
- Wins
- 0/5
The verdict
Buy the Sonic Mega 8K S2.
The Photon Mono M5s scores higher but is discontinued. If you sell resin prints or run a print farm, the Mega 8K S2 pays for itself. Hobbyists printing large terrain sets or commission busts will appreciate the plate size. Everyone else should start with the Saturn.
Specs, side by side
Teal wins the row.
Photon Mono M5sAnycubic · RESIN
vsSonic Mega 8K S2Phrozen · RESIN
| Photon Mono M5s | Spec | Sonic Mega 8K S2 |
|---|---|---|
| $339 (wins) | Price | $749 |
| 5.9 L | Build volume | 24.4 L (wins) |
| 150 mm/s (wins) | Top speed | 100 mm/s |
| 0.01 mm | Finest layer | 0.01 mm |
| 9.5 kg | Weight | 22 kg |
Features
| Photon Mono M5s | Feature | Sonic Mega 8K S2 |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 14K mono LCD | No |
| Yes | Anti-warping release | No |
| Yes | Dual cooling | No |
| Yes | App monitoring | No |
| No | 8K mono LCD | Yes |
| No | 33cm build plate | Yes |
| No | Dual tilt release | Yes |
| No | Phrozen OS | Yes |
| No | WiFi | Yes |
Value math
$339 ÷ 5.9 L and $749 ÷ 24.4 L. Lower is more printer for the money.
| Photon Mono M5s | Spec | Sonic Mega 8K S2 |
|---|---|---|
| $57.47 | $ per liter | $30.67 (wins) |
| $2.26 (wins) | $ per mm/s | $7.49 |
Scores out of 10
| Photon Mono M5s | Spec | Sonic Mega 8K S2 |
|---|---|---|
| 8 (wins) | Value | 7 |
| 6 (wins) | Beginner Friendliness | 4 |
| 10 (wins) | Print Quality | 9 |
| 7 (wins) | Speed | 5 |
| 8 | Reliability | 8 |
| 7.8 (wins) | Overall | 6.6 |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 218 × 123 × 220 mm
- 330 × 185 × 400 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)Printed a half-scale bust in a single run. The Mega 8K S2 is in a class of its own.
Sonic Mega 8K S2 owner, r/resinprintingIf you sell resin prints, the Mega 8K S2 pays for itself fast. Batch printing changes everything.
Sonic Mega 8K S2 owner, VOG (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
Sonic Mega 8K S2
- +330x185mm plate is the largest resin build area in the consumer market at this price
- +8K detail across the full plate without the hot spot degradation that plagues cheaper large-format LCDs
- +Dual tilt release on a plate this size prevents the vacuum seal failures that ruin large prints
- −$749 for a resin printer is a serious investment, plus $80-120 for a wash station to match
- −High resin consumption: a full plate run uses 400-500ml, which adds up weekly
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 Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K S2?
By the numbers, the Anycubic Photon Mono M5s scores higher (7.8/10). But "better" depends on your use case, the Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K S2 may be the smarter buy if you need resin.
Which is better for beginners, Anycubic Photon Mono M5s or Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K S2?
The Anycubic Photon Mono M5s is more beginner-friendly (6/10 vs 4/10) with easier setup and a gentler learning curve.
Is the Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K S2 worth $410 more than the Anycubic Photon Mono M5s?
The Anycubic Photon Mono M5s actually scores higher (7.8/10) despite costing $410 less. The Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K S2 only makes sense if you specifically need resin.
What's the main difference between Anycubic Photon Mono M5s and Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K S2?
Build volume (218x123x220mm vs 330x185x400mm) and print speed (150 vs 100 mm/s). The Anycubic Photon Mono M5s is best for resin; the Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K S2 targets resin.