Elegoo Saturn 3 Ultra
- Price
- $299
- Score
- 8/10
- Wins
- 2/5
Elegoo Saturn 3 Ultra vs Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S
- The Elegoo Saturn 3 Ultra wins, 8 vs 7.2 out of 10.
- Saturn 3 Ultra prints 3.3× the volume (218×123×260 ÷ 165×72×180 = 3.26) and costs $30 ($329 − $299) less.
- Saturn 3 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 Saturn 3 Ultra.
8/10 vs Sonic Mini 8K S's 7.2/10, and it wins 2 of 5 categories. If you've hit the Mars build plate limit, this is the obvious upgrade. 12K detail at this scale, tilt release, and a plate big enough for a squad or terrain set in one run. The price is fair for what you get.
Specs, side by side
Teal wins the row.
Saturn 3 UltraElegoo · RESIN
vsSonic Mini 8K SPhrozen · RESIN
| Saturn 3 Ultra | Spec | Sonic Mini 8K S |
|---|---|---|
| $299 (wins) | Price | $329 |
| 7.0 L (wins) | Build volume | 2.1 L |
| 150 mm/s (wins) | Top speed | 80 mm/s |
| 0.01 mm | Finest layer | 0.01 mm |
| 10.5 kg | Weight | 6.5 kg |
Features
| Saturn 3 Ultra | Feature | Sonic Mini 8K S |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 12K mono LCD | No |
| Yes | Tilt release | No |
| Yes | Air purifier | No |
| Yes | WiFi | No |
| Yes | Larger build plate | No |
| No | 7.1" 8K mono LCD | Yes |
| No | 22-micron XY resolution | Yes |
| No | ParaLED 3.0 | Yes |
Value math
$299 ÷ 7.0 L and $329 ÷ 2.1 L. Lower is more printer for the money.
| Saturn 3 Ultra | Spec | Sonic Mini 8K S |
|---|---|---|
| $42.89 (wins) | $ per liter | $153.85 |
| $1.99 (wins) | $ per mm/s | $4.11 |
Scores out of 10
| Saturn 3 Ultra | Spec | Sonic Mini 8K S |
|---|---|---|
| 9 (wins) | Value | 8 |
| 6 | Beginner Friendliness | 6 |
| 10 | Print Quality | 10 |
| 7 (wins) | Speed | 4 |
| 8 | Reliability | 8 |
| 8 (wins) | Overall | 7.2 |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 218 × 123 × 260 mm
- 165 × 72 × 180 mm
What owners say
Printed 32 minis in one run at 12K. The Saturn 3 Ultra has ruined other printers for me.
Saturn 3 Ultra owner, r/PrintedMinisThis is the resin printer I recommend to anyone who is serious about the hobby.
Saturn 3 Ultra owner, 3D Printing Nerd (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
Saturn 3 Ultra
- +218x123mm plate holds a full 10-model squad in one run at 12K resolution
- +Tilt release on a plate this size dramatically reduces FEP tears
- +Terrain, dungeon tiles, and large busts all fit without splitting
- −A full plate run goes through resin fast: budget for 500ml+ per session
- −Post-processing for a full plate takes the better part of an hour
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Elegoo Saturn 3 Ultra better than the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S?
By the numbers, the Elegoo Saturn 3 Ultra scores higher (8/10). 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 Saturn 3 Ultra or Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S?
Both score 6/10 for beginners. Go with the Elegoo Saturn 3 Ultra to save $30.
Is the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S worth $30 more than the Elegoo Saturn 3 Ultra?
The Elegoo Saturn 3 Ultra actually scores higher (8/10) despite costing $30 less. The Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S only makes sense if you specifically need miniatures.
What's the main difference between Elegoo Saturn 3 Ultra and Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S?
Build volume (218x123x260mm vs 165x72x180mm) and print speed (150 vs 80 mm/s). The Elegoo Saturn 3 Ultra is best for resin; the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S targets miniatures.