Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra vs Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra

Quick answer

Both resin printers are sold new on Elegoo's US store, and both are rated at up to 150 mm/h, so speed does not separate them. The real choice is plate size and budget.

Pick the Mars 5 Ultra if you print small, detailed models such as individual tabletop miniatures, want an 18 µm XY resolution screen and a built-in camera, and want to stay under $300. Pick the Saturn 4 Ultra if you batch-print full plates of miniatures, print tall busts or figures, or run a small studio, and you can pay roughly twice as much at the time of writing (October 2026). Before choosing the Saturn 4 Ultra, also compare the newer 16K version, which Elegoo lists $56 higher.

Key differences

Plate size and batch printing

This is the main decision. The Saturn 4 Ultra lists a 218.88 x 122.88 x 220 mm build volume. Elegoo's US store lists 153.36 x 77.76 x 165 mm for the Mars 5 Ultra (Tom's Hardware rounds this to 153 x 77 x 165 mm).

Using those numbers, the Saturn's plate area is about 269 square centimeters against about 119 for the Mars (218.88 x 122.88 mm against 153.36 x 77.76 mm), roughly 2.3 times as much. It is also 55 mm taller. For tabletop gaming, that difference decides whether you print a handful of figures per run or a full squad. The Mars 5 Ultra fits single characters, small props and jewelry masters, but large models need splitting or multiple runs.

Plate area also affects running costs and cleanup. A larger plate needs more resin in the vat to cover it, which raises running costs. If you print one or two small models at a time, much of that capacity goes unused. See best resin 3D printers and best 3D printers for miniatures for more context on picking plate size.

Resolution and detail

Elegoo lists the Mars 5 Ultra with a 7 inch 9K monochrome LCD at 8520 x 4320 pixels and 18 µm XY resolution. The Saturn 4 Ultra has a 10 inch 12K LCD at 11520 x 5120 pixels, with 19 x 24 µm XY resolution. The pixels are not square on the Saturn, so detail is slightly coarser along one axis than the other.

In plain terms, the pixel pitch of the two screens is very similar, with the Mars slightly finer. The Saturn has about 59 million pixels against about 37 million on the Mars, but that extra count goes into covering a bigger plate, not into sharper detail. If your goal is the finest possible surface on a small figure, the smaller printer is not at a disadvantage.

Real print quality also depends on resin, exposure settings, supports and model orientation. A published pixel size is a limit on detail, not a promise of it. For a broader look at how resin compares with filament printing, read FDM vs resin 3D printers.

Speed, release and leveling

Elegoo lists both printers at up to 150 mm/h. Resin printers measure speed as vertical millimeters of height per hour, so this figure cannot be compared with FDM speeds in mm/s. Both use a tilt release design that peels layers from the film, which Elegoo credits for the speed. For the Saturn 4 Ultra, Elegoo quotes about 5.5 seconds per layer in fast print mode under Chitubox's default parameters and says it is twice as fast as the Saturn 3 Ultra.

Both printers list automatic leveling, so neither needs manual plate adjustment before the first print. Tom's Hardware describes the Mars 5 Ultra as plug and play and notes it ships factory-leveled.

One practical difference from the same review: prints were hard to remove from the Mars 5 Ultra's laser-etched plate with default settings until the first-layer exposure was reduced. On the Saturn, the review notes that the top of the plate is not quite sloped enough to return all the resin to the vat and that the lid has no handle, though it also praises the hinged hood. These are small handling details, but they affect daily use.

Camera, software and connectivity

Both printers include a built-in AI camera for remote monitoring and failed-print detection, and both lean on Elegoo's Chitu software ecosystem. Elegoo lists empty build plate and warp detection for the Mars 5 Ultra. Tom's Hardware reports limits on both. On the Mars 5 Ultra the camera only detects failed prints once the model rises above the vat edge, and at review time it did not work with Lychee Slicer and relied on Chitubox Manager over Wi-Fi. On the Saturn 4 Ultra the camera only detects an empty plate above about 50 mm and missed a peeling print, and the camera features require enabling Chitu Manager, which the included directions did not explain.

Elegoo's US store lists Wi-Fi and USB connections for both printers, and both pages advertise Wi-Fi cluster printing for managing several printers from one device. The Saturn 4 Ultra ships with a free copy of ChituBox Basic, according to Tom's Hardware. Software support changes with updates, so if you rely on Lychee, check its current compatibility list for both printers.

Wash and cure, and the full cost of resin

Neither printer is a complete workflow on its own. Resin printing needs gloves, ventilation, washing and UV curing, which adds cost and workspace beyond the printer. Elegoo sells bundles with its Mercury wash and cure stations for both models, which simplifies shopping.

Elegoo's US store listed a Mars 5 Ultra Complete Bundle with a Mercury XS station and resin at $437 (regular $630) on 2026-10-28. Saturn 4 Ultra bundles with Mercury wash and cure stations were listed from $488 to $560 on the same date. Compare the bundle against buying a printer, a wash station and resin separately, and check which station size fits your plate before you order. Our guide to FDM vs resin covers safety and workspace basics, and the materials page covers resin types.

Resin use, vat size and running costs

A resin printer's running cost is mostly resin, consumables and cleanup. The Saturn 4 Ultra's larger plate needs more resin in the vat than the compact Mars printers, which raises running costs if you print single small models. If you fill the plate regularly, the larger plate is efficient, because each run produces many parts. If you print one small figure a week, the Mars 5 Ultra needs less resin per run.

Consumables such as gloves and replacement parts apply to both printers. Washing and curing also scales with plate size, so a bigger plate needs a bigger wash container and cure station. Check the dimensions of any wash and cure unit against the plate you plan to use before buying a bundle.

Which printer for tabletop miniatures

For a single player building an army over time, the Mars 5 Ultra is usually enough. Its screen is fine enough for small gaming miniatures, as Tom's Hardware notes, and the compact plate suits a handful of models per run. For a seller, a club or a studio producing many copies, the Saturn 4 Ultra reduces the number of print runs because the plate is about 2.3 times larger by area.

Think about your weekly volume. If you print one or two plates per week, the time saved by a bigger plate is meaningful. If you print occasionally, the cheaper printer is easier to justify. Our best 3D printers for miniatures page puts both in the wider context of FDM and resin options.

Moving up or down the Elegoo range

Elegoo sells a clear ladder. The Mars 5 is $184 at the time of writing (regular $225) with a 4K screen and 35 µm XY resolution. The Mars 5 Ultra is $284 with a 9K screen and 18 µm XY resolution, which is roughly half the pixel size of the base Mars 5. The Saturn 4 Ultra is $593.99, and the Saturn 4 Ultra 16K is $649.99.

If your budget is tight and you do not need the finest detail, the base Mars 5 is the entry point. If you want the large plate but also want the highest resolution Elegoo offers, the 16K is the model to compare. Because the 12K and 16K are $56 apart at the listed prices, decide on plate size first and screen resolution second.

Price and what you get

At the time of writing (October 2026), the Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra is $284 on Elegoo's US store (regular compare-at price $338). The Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra is $593.99 with no separate sale price shown. Both include automatic leveling and an AI camera, but check Elegoo's listing for what ships in the box, since resin, wash stations and extra films are often sold separately.

Elegoo also sells a newer Saturn 4 Ultra 16K at $649.99 on the same store. Since the 12K is only $56 cheaper, the 16K deserves a look if you have already decided you want the big plate. Prices change often on Elegoo's store, and its product pages also display time-limited promotional prices with a countdown that can be lower than the listed prices above, so confirm the live price at checkout before buying.

Who should buy which

Choose the Mars 5 Ultra if:

• You print small gaming miniatures, jewelry masters or detailed small parts.
• You want a first resin printer with a camera and auto leveling.
• You are working to a budget under $300 and do not need a large plate.
• You have limited bench space.

Choose the Saturn 4 Ultra if:

• You batch-print full plates of miniatures or tall figures and busts.
• You run a small studio or prototype work where plate time matters.
• You are upgrading from a compact resin printer and keep hitting its size limit.
• You are comfortable with higher resin use per fill.

Also consider

• Elegoo Mars 5 is $184 at the time of writing (regular $225), with a 4K screen and 35 µm XY resolution, for buyers who want the lowest-priced resin printer in our database.
• Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro is $489 (regular $669) with a 14K screen, 223 x 126 x 230 mm build volume and 16.8 µm XY resolution, as a mid-priced alternative to the Saturn.
• Formlabs Form 4 at $2,625 for the Basic Package is the step up for small businesses that need a professional resin ecosystem.

See best resin 3D printers, best for miniatures and best 3D printers under $500 for more.