Elegoo Neptune 4
- Speed
- 500 mm/s
- Score
- 8.2/10
- Wins
- 3/5
Elegoo Neptune 4 vs Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S
- The Elegoo Neptune 4 takes the crown with 8.2/10 vs 7.2/10.
- It pulls ahead in Value, Beginner Friendliness, Speed.
- The Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S still puts up a fight in Print Quality and Reliability.
Specs from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S
- Speed
- 80 mm/h
- Score
- 7.2/10
- Wins
- 2/5
The verdict
Buy the Neptune 4.
8.2/10 vs Sonic Mini 8K S's 7.2/10, and it wins 3 of 5 categories. Very close race with the Ender 3 V3 KE. The KE has WiFi, this has a slightly larger bed. Pick based on brand preference or which one is in stock. Neither is wrong.
Specs, side by side
Teal wins the row.
Neptune 4Elegoo · FDM
vsSonic Mini 8K SPhrozen · RESIN
| Neptune 4 | Spec | Sonic Mini 8K S |
|---|---|---|
| 13.4 L (wins) | Build volume | 2.1 L |
| 500 mm/s | Top speed | 80 mm/s |
| 0.05 mm | Finest layer | 0.01 mm (wins) |
| 9.5 kg | Weight | 6.5 kg |
Features
| Neptune 4 | Feature | Sonic Mini 8K S |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Klipper firmware | No |
| Yes | Auto bed leveling | No |
| Yes | Direct drive | No |
| Yes | PEI build plate | No |
| Yes | High-speed mode | No |
| No | 7.1" 8K mono LCD | Yes |
| No | 22-micron XY resolution | Yes |
| No | ParaLED 3.0 | Yes |
Scores out of 10
| Neptune 4 | Spec | Sonic Mini 8K S |
|---|---|---|
| 10 (wins) | Value | 8 |
| 8 (wins) | Beginner Friendliness | 6 |
| 8 | Print Quality | 10 (wins) |
| 8 (wins) | Speed | 4 |
| 7 | Reliability | 8 (wins) |
| 8.2 (wins) | Overall | 7.2 |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 225 × 225 × 265 mm
- 165 × 72 × 180 mm
What owners say
Klipper for [this price] with a direct drive? Elegoo is giving Creality a real run for their money.
Neptune 4 owner, r/3DprintingSolid budget machine. Does what it says at a price that's hard to beat.
Neptune 4 owner, Maker's Muse (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
Neptune 4
- +Klipper at this price means real input shaping and pressure advance, not just fast travel speeds
- +Direct drive handles TPU without a fight
- +500mm/s capable on stock profiles
- −No WiFi on the base model: Elegoo charges extra for connectivity the KE includes free
- −Elegoo's community is smaller than Creality's, which matters when you hit unusual problems
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.
- 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.
Buy these with it
A printer does nothing without these. Grab them in the same order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Elegoo Neptune 4 better than the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S?
By the numbers, the Elegoo Neptune 4 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 Neptune 4 or Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S?
The Elegoo Neptune 4 is more beginner-friendly (8/10 vs 6/10) with easier setup and a gentler learning curve.
Is the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S worth paying more for over the Elegoo Neptune 4?
The Elegoo Neptune 4 actually scores higher (8.2/10) despite costing less. The Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S only makes sense if you specifically need miniatures.
What's the main difference between Elegoo Neptune 4 and Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S?
Technology: the Elegoo Neptune 4 is FDM (filament) and the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S is RESIN (resin). FDM prints bigger functional parts; resin delivers finer surface detail.