Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra
- Speed
- 150 mm/h
- Score
- 8.2/10
- Wins
- 3/5
Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra vs Prusa MK4S
- The Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra takes the crown with 8.2/10 vs 7.8/10.
- It pulls ahead in Value, Print Quality, Speed.
- The Prusa MK4S still puts up a fight in Beginner Friendliness and Reliability.
Specs from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
Prusa MK4S
- Speed
- 200 mm/s
- Score
- 7.8/10
- Wins
- 2/5
The verdict
Buy the Mars 5 Ultra.
8.2/10 vs Prusa MK4S's 7.8/10, and it wins 3 of 5 categories. Miniature painters: buy this. The 14K detail 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
vsPrusa MK4SPrusa Research · FDM
| Mars 5 Ultra | Spec | Prusa MK4S |
|---|---|---|
| 2.7 L | Build volume | 11.6 L (wins) |
| 150 mm/s | Top speed | 200 mm/s |
| 0.01 mm (wins) | Finest layer | 0.05 mm |
| 7.5 kg | Weight | 7 kg |
Features
| Mars 5 Ultra | Feature | Prusa MK4S |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 14K mono LCD | No |
| Yes | Tilt release | No |
| Yes | Air purifier | No |
| Yes | WiFi | No |
| No | Open source | Yes |
| No | PrusaSlicer | Yes |
| No | Nextruder | Yes |
| No | Auto bed leveling | Yes |
| No | Input shaping | Yes |
| No | Ethernet | Yes |
Scores out of 10
| Mars 5 Ultra | Spec | Prusa MK4S |
|---|---|---|
| 9 (wins) | Value | 6 |
| 7 | Beginner Friendliness | 8 (wins) |
| 10 (wins) | Print Quality | 9 |
| 7 (wins) | Speed | 6 |
| 8 | Reliability | 10 (wins) |
| 8.2 (wins) | Overall | 7.8 |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 153 × 89 × 200 mm
- 250 × 210 × 220 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)My MK3 ran for 5 years without a single failed print. The MK4S continues that legacy.
Prusa MK4S owner, r/prusa3dIf reliability is your #1 priority, nothing beats Prusa. Nothing.
Prusa MK4S owner, Thomas Sanladerer (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
Prusa MK4S
- +Prusa's QC is genuinely better than anyone else's: every printer is test-printed before shipping
- +PrusaSlicer is open source and powerful, no subscription, no cloud required
- +Customer support answers in hours, not weeks
- −200mm/s max is a third of what CoreXY machines do at half the price
- −The price for an open-frame bed-slinger is a hard sell in 2025
Buy these with it
A printer does nothing without these. Grab them in the same order.
Buy these with it
A printer does nothing without these. Grab them in the same order.
- ELEGOO PLA filament, 1kgThe easy filament to start on. Prints at low temperatures and warps less.
- ELEGOO PETG filament, 1kgTougher and more heat tolerant than PLA, for parts that get handled or sit in the sun.
- SUNLU filament dryer S1 PlusWet filament causes stringing and rough surfaces. A dryer fixes that before you blame the printer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra better than the Prusa MK4S?
By the numbers, the Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra scores higher (8.2/10). But "better" depends on your use case, the Prusa MK4S may be the smarter buy if you need reliability.
Which is better for beginners, Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra or Prusa MK4S?
The Prusa MK4S is more beginner-friendly (8/10 vs 7/10) with easier setup and a gentler learning curve.
Is the Prusa MK4S worth paying more for over the Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra?
The Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra actually scores higher (8.2/10) despite costing less. The Prusa MK4S only makes sense if you specifically need reliability.
What's the main difference between Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra and Prusa MK4S?
Technology: the Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra is RESIN (filament) and the Prusa MK4S is FDM (resin). FDM prints bigger functional parts; resin delivers finer surface detail.