Both Are Excellent — They Solve Different Problems
If you’re shopping for an Elegoo resin printer in 2026, the Saturn 4 Ultra and Mars 5 Ultra are the two obvious choices. Both have auto-leveling, both have intelligent resin sensors, both produce stunning miniature detail.
The decision isn’t quality — it’s plate size and how you print.
| Spec | Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra | Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Build Volume | 218.88×122.88×220mm | 153.36×77.76×165mm |
| LCD | 10 inch mono | 7 inch mono |
| Resolution | 12K (11520 x 5120) | 9K (8520 x 4320) |
| XY Resolution | 19 µm | 18 µm |
| Light Source | COB UV with reflector | COB UV |
| Release Film | PFA release film | nFEP |
| Leveling | Automatic | Automatic |
Build Volume: 4× Larger on the Saturn
- Saturn 4 Ultra: 218.88 × 122.88 × 220mm
- Mars 5 Ultra: 153.36 × 77.76 × 165mm
The Saturn is roughly 4× the print area of the Mars. In practice:
On the Mars:
- 1-3 standard 28mm miniatures per print
- 1 large character mini per print
- Small terrain pieces
On the Saturn:
- 8-12 standard 28mm miniatures per print
- A full Warhammer warband per print
- Large character minis with capes/extras
- Big terrain pieces (towers, ruins)
If you print 1-2 minis a month for personal painting, the Mars is plenty. If you print whole armies, sell prints, or need large pieces, the Saturn pays for itself in time saved. The price gap is also smaller than people expect — roughly $130 (Mars ~$269 vs Saturn ~$399).
Resolution: Practically Equivalent
- Saturn 4 Ultra: 19µm xy (12K, 11520 × 5120)
- Mars 5 Ultra: 18µm xy (9K, 8520 × 4320)
Both deliver sub-20µm pixel pitch — the practical ceiling for paintable miniature detail. The Mars has a slightly finer pixel pitch by 1µm. Visually, you’d need a microscope to spot the difference on a printed mini.
The Saturn’s 12K is mostly about maintaining that pixel pitch across a 10" screen. The Mars’s 9K does it across 7". Both deliver the same per-pixel sharpness.
Resin Cost Per Print: Mars Wins
Resin printing has a hidden cost — failed prints waste a lot of resin. The bigger the plate, the more resin is in the tank, and the more is at risk on a failure.
- Mars 5 Ultra tank: holds ~200mL minimum (200g of standard resin = ~$8 wasted per failure)
- Saturn 4 Ultra tank: holds
400mL minimum ($16 wasted per failure)
Both use low-peel-force films (nFEP on the Mars, PFA on the Saturn) — both reduce print failures vs old-school FEP, and replacement costs are similar.
For occasional printing, the Mars is cheaper to operate purely because the resin tank is smaller.
Light Source and Tech
Both use COB UV light sources with reflectors. Both have linear-rail Z-axes. Both have intelligent resin sensors. Both auto-level.
There’s no meaningful technology difference between them — Elegoo just scaled the same engineering to different sizes.
Connectivity and Workflow
Both have Wi-Fi and USB. Saturn adds LAN. Both work with Chitubox and Lychee Slicer (Lychee is the better choice for serious miniature printing).
The Buy Recommendation
Buy the Mars 5 Ultra (~$269) if:
- You’re a solo painter or hobbyist
- You print a few minis per month
- Budget matters (and the wash/cure is also ~$200)
- You want a strong entry-level resin printer
Buy the Saturn 4 Ultra (~$399) if:
- You batch-print (full Warhammer warbands, terrain sets)
- You sell prints commercially
- You print large character minis or terrain
- You’ll outgrow the Mars’s plate within a year
For 80% of solo hobbyists, the Mars 5 Ultra is the right answer. The Saturn is the right answer if you have a specific volume need that justifies the bigger plate.
If you’re cross-shopping bigger plates, see Saturn 4 Ultra vs Anycubic Photon Mono M7 for the 13.6" alternative.
For broader resin printer recommendations, see our Best Resin 3D Printer roundup .