Anycubic Photon Mono 4 Ultra

Should you buy the Anycubic Photon Mono 4 Ultra?

The Anycubic Photon Mono 4 Ultra is a resin printer, so it is for a different buyer than the filament machines above it: miniatures, jewelry masters, dental models and anything where fine detail beats size. A 7-inch 10K monochrome LCD, a COB UV light source and up to 120 mm/h vertical speed put it in the upper tier of hobby resin printers at $279.99. It ranks sixth among our 3D printers and is the resin pick for people who want the sharpest detail in a desktop unit.

Where it earns its score

• 10K resolution on a 7-inch screen. Detail fine enough for tabletop miniatures where 4K printers show pixel steps.
• Features and Satisfaction of 84. The top factors on its card, reflecting a well-liked upgrade over the Mono 4.
• COB light source. Even UV exposure across the plate means consistent cure times edge to edge.
• Print monitoring. Intelligent detection watches for failures during a print.

What to know first

• Resin is messy. You need gloves, isopropyl alcohol, a wash station and a cure station; the Anycubic Wash & Cure 3.0 is sold separately.
• Small build volume. 153 x 87 x 165 mm is fine for minis, not for helmets or large parts.
• Warranty is the weakest factor at 55. One year standard.
• Value scores 80. The Elegoo Mars 5 does 4K resin printing for $179 if you do not need 10K.

Questions buyers ask