REASONS TO BUY
Standard air filter included
High resolution LCD screen
Generous build volume
REASONS TO AVOID
Messy
Additional wash and cure kits needed
Elegoo Mars 4 Review
A high resolution resin printer with a large build volume that quietly produces without fuss
Credit: Matt Lighthart
RELATED: Best 3D Printers of 2024
Our Verdict
A resin printer's main advantage is all about its ability to produce stunning, detailed prints; and that is a direct function of the resolution of the built-in LCD screen. With a 7-inch, 9K screen, the Mars 4 has market-leading specs here. A full 8520 x 4320 pixels of resolution is double or quadruple the capability of top-notch resin printers from just a few years back. Elegoo took full advantage of that as well, with one of the bigger build volumes we've seen to date. DND Dungeon Masters everywhere must be salivating at the opportunity this gives to produce larger-scale miniatures with the same flawless detail.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product Elegoo Mars 4 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Runner Up 3D Printer |  Best Value Resin Printer | Best Value FDM Printer | ||
| Price | $250 List $223.99 at Amazon | $300 List | $209 List | $200 List | $189 List $189.00 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
|||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A technologically advanced, reliable resin printer for larger prints | A polished, reliable 3D printing option for all users | A cost-effective way to get into resin-based printing | A printer that aims a little too hard to be your child's first entry to the community | An out-of-date printer that still finds a foothold in the market |
| Rating Categories | Elegoo Mars 4 | AnkerMake M5C | Anycubic Photon Mono 2 | Entina Tina2 | Creality Ender-3 |
| Print Quality (40%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (30%) | |||||
| Print Capabilities (20%) | |||||
| Support (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Elegoo Mars 4 | AnkerMake M5C | Anycubic Photon Mono 2 | Entina Tina2 | Creality Ender-3 |
| Time to Print a Benchy | 142.90 min | 36.00 min | 175.50 min | 91.00 min | 112.30 min |
| Measured Effective Bed Size | 153mm x 77mm | 205mm x 205mm | 137mm x 80mm | 120mm x 100mm | 200mm x 200mm |
| Bed Temp Gradient | N/A | 3.1° C | N/A | N/A | 4.4° C |
| Maximum Extruder Temperature | N/A | 300 C | N/A | 245 C | 285 C |
| Screen Resolutiuon | 8520 x 4320 | N/A | 4096 x 2560 | N/A | N/A |
| Compatible Materials | Supports most resins on the market (water-washable, standard, ABS-like, plant-based, etc.) | PLA, PETG / PET, ABS, PLA-CF, PETG-CF | Supports most resins on the market (water-washable, standard, ABS-like, plant-based, etc.) | PLA/PLA+/TPU | PLA, TPU, ABS |
| Build Volume (X x Y x Z) | 153.36mm x 77.76mm x 175mm | 220mm x 220mm x 250mm | 143mm x 89mm x 165mm | 100mm x 120mm x 100mm | 220mm x 220mm x 250mm |
| Overall Size | 8.9" x 8.9" x 17.3" | 15.4" x 9.0" x 9.3" | 17.3" x 17.3" x 18.3" | ||
| Self Leveling Bed | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
Show full specification detailsHide full specification details
Our Analysis and Test Results
We are excited to see the technological advances charging ahead in the world of 3D printers, and resin printers, in particular, are pushing the limits faster than ever. The Mars 4 is at the forefront of this wave, providing affordability, reliability, and larger volume capabilities. We're just happy to be along for the ride.
Performance Comparison
Post-processing Mars 4 prints is an involved, messy task.
Credit: Graham Faulknor
Print Quality
First and foremost, the most notable benefit of using resin printers vs FDM is their ability to produce incredibly precise, intricate prints. The Mars 4 does not disappoint in this regard.
Detail shot showing the ghosting of the build lines. This pattern was visual only -- the print felt smooth.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
The level of detail found in the majority of our test prints is wildly beneath the capabilities of this machine, however, they still manage to reveal some hidden problem areas. The surface quality of the prints we made using the standard software settings was pristine, even with larger build layers. Admittedly, you can see some ghosting of the build lines, but they feel absolutely smooth. Corners and edges are sharp, overhangs are clean, and tiny lettering is legible.
Print support removal was a delicate, stressful task. In some of our smaller test prints we felt liable to break the print more than once.
Credit: Graham Faulknor
Because there were no major issues with the Mars 4, we found ourselves having to nitpick small imperfections, so keep that in mind as you read. Some internal details on our prints showed slight mushing of features, but the only real dimensional inaccuracies were at the connection point of the build plate, a problem that is easily fixed by setting your print up with a raft to build on (a common setting in Slicer software, which preps your parts for printing). Other than that, our only other gripe was with the supports in general. It was quite difficult to remove them when using standard settings, but they easily broke free when dialed in through a pre-generated print file we tested.
Color us impressed with the excellent print resolution evident on this warior figurine from the Mars 4.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Ease of Use
Making a hard 180° flip from all the good we found in our print tests, The Mars 4, like all resin printers, is a pain in the rear to work with.
Setup of the physical unit is a straightforward, painless exercise.
Credit: Graham Faulknor
To be fair, that's not true for the entire process. Resin technology lends itself to a simpler build as there are fewer moving parts. The Mars 4 was a breeze to get rolling, taking just 12 minutes(!) to set up and get our first print running. That includes the air purifier attachment, which is a very nice addition since resin printing is inherently noxious. And actually, running the printer is just fine, easy even, thanks in no small part to a large touch screen with intuitive menus.
Post-print washing is a necessary, unfortunate step that Mars 4 prints require.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
What's incredibly annoying is the material prep, and especially the post-processing that's required. Resin is messy and stinky and requires several critical washing and UV curing steps. Most users opt to purchase separate wash and cure stations, so factor that into your research and budget.
Print prep requires loading the resin tank.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Print Capabilities
Print quality, or more accurately, the level of precision and fine design elements, is directly due to the resolution of the included LCD screen — not the user interface touch screen, but the advanced screen inside the print chamber that projects an image and selectively hardens the resin layer by layer.
A large build volume compared with its peers helps set the Mars 4 apart.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Here, the Mars 4 stands out among modern hobbyist-level printers. It features a 7-inch, 9k monochrome screen with 8520 x 4320 pixels of resolution, while many of the modern competitors in the resin space have half or a quarter of that capability.
Print transfer to the machine is done with a standard flash drive, inconveniently placed directly beneath the touch screen.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Combine this impressive resolution with the fact that it has a whopping 153.36mm x 77.76mm x 175mm (6.04" x 3.06" x 6.89") build volume, and the Mars 4 proves itself to be a very capable desktop printer.
Support
If you discount the amount of work to prep the materials, which is present in all resin printers, the Mars 4 is a simple machine to run, requiring little direction to set up. The simple, short manual reflects this.
Reliable support resources are critical to learn the multitude of steps needed to clean the printer before storage.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
In practice, though, additional resources will need to be sought out to finish training for the setup and processing of prints for anyone not already intimately familiar with the full process. A few videos are available directly through Elegoo, but we recommend hopping on YouTube to supplement your learning.
The Mars 4 can run prints prepared by a number of Slicer programs.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
We should also mention that we have not had the best experiences contacting Elegoo customer support for this or other products from the line that we have tested. Email support is the only option for anyone outside of China, and correspondence is both a little slow and generally lacking in explicit detail for any sort of troubleshooting.
Removal of our X/Y dimensional extent test.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Should You Buy the Elegoo Mars 4?
This is a very capable resin printer and it may well represent the next step up for the user familiar with resin printing and looking to make the technological jump from a machine 3-5 years old. One look at the specs will tell you that. However, we may not feel comfortable recommending this to a print-curious novice.
A print in progress -- our classic Benchy tugboat model.
Credit: Graham Faulknor
What Other 3D Printer Should You Consider?
If you're set on keeping on the resin tech side, we really liked the Anycubic Photon Mono 2, which has a much more robust support network, for example. If you're looking for more ease and less mess in your print adventure, we'd look into a good FDM-based printer instead. The Bambu Lab A1 Mini and Entina Tina2 both have smaller build volumes but will also make detailed figurines like the Mars 4. The AnkerMake M5 is a great option for beginners especially.
—Graham Faulknor and Kyle Hameister
You Might Also Like
