Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra
- Price
- $284
- Score
- 8.2/10
- Wins
- 3/5
Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra vs Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S
- The Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra wins, 8.2 vs 7.2 out of 10.
- Mars 5 Ultra prints 1.3× the volume (153×89×200 ÷ 165×72×180 = 1.27) and costs $45 ($329 − $284) less.
- Mars 5 Ultra is faster, 150 vs 80 mm/s.
- Pick the Sonic Mini 8K S if your prints fit in 18 cm.
Specs and US prices from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S
- Price
- $329
- Score
- 7.2/10
- Wins
- 0/5
The verdict
Buy the Mars 5 Ultra.
8.2/10 vs Sonic Mini 8K S's 7.2/10, and it wins 3 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.
Mars 5 UltraElegoo · RESIN
vsSonic Mini 8K SPhrozen · RESIN
| Mars 5 Ultra | Spec | Sonic Mini 8K S |
|---|---|---|
| $284 (wins) | Price | $329 |
| 2.7 L (wins) | Build volume | 2.1 L |
| 150 mm/s (wins) | Top speed | 80 mm/s |
| 0.01 mm | Finest layer | 0.01 mm |
| 7.5 kg | Weight | 6.5 kg |
Features
| Mars 5 Ultra | Feature | Sonic Mini 8K S |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 14K mono LCD | No |
| Yes | Tilt release | No |
| Yes | Air purifier | No |
| Yes | WiFi | No |
| No | 7.1" 8K mono LCD | Yes |
| No | 22-micron XY resolution | Yes |
| No | ParaLED 3.0 | Yes |
Value math
$284 ÷ 2.7 L and $329 ÷ 2.1 L. Lower is more printer for the money.
| Mars 5 Ultra | Spec | Sonic Mini 8K S |
|---|---|---|
| $104.28 (wins) | $ per liter | $153.85 |
| $1.89 (wins) | $ per mm/s | $4.11 |
Scores out of 10
| Mars 5 Ultra | Spec | Sonic Mini 8K S |
|---|---|---|
| 9 (wins) | Value | 8 |
| 7 (wins) | Beginner Friendliness | 6 |
| 10 | Print Quality | 10 |
| 7 (wins) | Speed | 4 |
| 8 | Reliability | 8 |
| 8.2 (wins) | Overall | 7.2 |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 153 × 89 × 200 mm
- 165 × 72 × 180 mm
What owners say
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)22-micron XY resolution is not a gimmick. The detail is genuinely jaw-dropping.
Sonic Mini 8K S owner, r/resinprintingIf you do jewelry or ultra-fine miniatures, this is the only printer that matters.
Sonic Mini 8K S owner, VOG (YouTube)
Pros & Cons
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
Sonic Mini 8K S
- +22-micron XY resolution: individual scales on dragon miniatures, every rivet on armor, no blurring
- +ParaLED 3.0 delivers even exposure across the full plate, no hot spots
- +Mono LCD longevity is proven at 2,000+ hours without degradation
- −80mm/hr print speed is the slowest on this list: patience required
- −165x72mm plate is tiny; large models need slicing and gluing
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 Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra better than the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S?
By the numbers, the Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra scores higher (8.2/10). But "better" depends on your use case, the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S may be the smarter buy if you need miniatures.
Which is better for beginners, Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra or Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S?
The Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra is more beginner-friendly (7/10 vs 6/10) with easier setup and a gentler learning curve.
Is the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S worth $45 more than the Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra?
The Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra actually scores higher (8.2/10) despite costing $45 less. The Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S only makes sense if you specifically need miniatures.
What's the main difference between Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra and Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S?
Build volume (153x89x200mm vs 165x72x180mm) and print speed (150 vs 80 mm/s). The Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra is best for miniatures; the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S targets miniatures.