Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra vs Prusa Core One

  • The Prusa Core One takes the crown with 8.2/10 vs 7.8/10.
  • It pulls ahead in Print Quality, Speed, Reliability.
  • That said, the Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra costs less and wins on Value.

Specs from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.

The verdict

Buy the Prusa Core One.

8.2/10 vs Mars 4 Ultra's 7.8/10, and it wins 3 of 5 categories. Outstanding print quality and the best support in the business. The price premium is real, though. If you don't care about the Prusa ecosystem specifically, there are better deals. If you do, it's worth every krona.

Specs, side by side

Teal wins the row.

Mars 4 UltraElegoo · RESIN
vs
Prusa Core OnePrusa Research · FDM
Mars 4 Ultra and Prusa Core One compared: specs
Mars 4 UltraSpecPrusa Core One
1.9 LBuild volume14.8 L (wins)
100 mm/sTop speed500 mm/s
0.01 mm (wins)Finest layer0.05 mm
6.8 kgWeight22.5 kg

Features

Features of the Mars 4 Ultra and Prusa Core One
Mars 4 UltraFeaturePrusa Core One
Yes9K mono LCDNo
YesTilt releaseNo
YesWiFiNo
YesAir purifierNo
NoEnclosed CoreXY with active chamber heating (55C)Yes
NoNextruder direct drive (10:1 planetary)Yes
No360-degree cooling ductYes
NoEthernet + WiFi + NFCYes
NoMMU3 multi-material compatibleYes
NoOpen-source firmware (PrusaSlicer)Yes

Scores out of 10

Mars 4 Ultra and Prusa Core One compared: PrintPick scores out of 10
Mars 4 UltraSpecPrusa Core One
9 (wins)Value6
7Beginner Friendliness7
9Print Quality10 (wins)
6Speed8 (wins)
8Reliability10 (wins)
7.8Overall8.2 (wins)

Build space, front view, to one scale

  • 153 × 77 × 165 mm
  • 250 × 220 × 270 mm

What owners say

  • Tilt release at this price is a game changer. My FEP films last twice as long.
    Mars 4 Ultra owner, r/resinprinting
  • 9K detail on D&D minis is breathtaking. Worth every penny of the [price].
    Mars 4 Ultra owner, Uncle Jessy (YouTube)
  • Finally, Prusa takes on Bambu! The Core One is better in a box.
    Prusa Core One owner, Tom's Hardware
  • Rail smoothness holds up well after months of hard use, minimal belt wear, and consistent chamber heat stability.
    Prusa Core One owner, Prusa Forum
  • If you value open source and lifetime support, Prusa is still the gold standard. Just bring your wallet.
    Prusa Core One owner, r/3Dprinting

Pros & Cons

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

Prusa Core One

  • +Prusa reliability is not marketing. It's earned over years.
  • +55C active chamber heating handles demanding materials
  • +Fully open-source, no vendor lock-in anywhere
  • −The assembled price is hard to justify against the Bambu alternatives
  • −Build volume is smaller than what you'd expect at this price

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra better than the Prusa Core One?

By the numbers, the Prusa Core One scores higher (8.2/10). But "better" depends on your use case, the Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra may be the smarter buy if you need miniatures.

Which is better for beginners, Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra or Prusa Core One?

Both score 7/10 for beginners. Go with the Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra, the cheaper of the two.

Is the Prusa Core One worth paying more for over the Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra?

The Prusa Core One scores higher overall (8.2/10 vs 7.8/10). The extra money gets you prusa reliability is not marketing. it's earned over years..

What's the main difference between Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra and Prusa Core One?

Technology: the Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra is RESIN (filament) and the Prusa Core One is FDM (resin). FDM prints bigger functional parts; resin delivers finer surface detail.

Related Comparisons