Get the Saturn 4 12K unless desk space is the constraint. The Saturn 4 12K has a larger build volume (219×123×220 mm vs Mars 4 Ultra’s 153×77×165 mm), higher screen resolution (12K vs 9K), tilt-release printing, and smart auto-leveling — for about $120 more. Pick the Mars 4 Ultra if your desk is small, you only print single miniatures (not whole armies), or you want the smallest viable resin printer footprint.
| Pick | Printer | Best for | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall | Elegoo Saturn 4 12K | Batch printing armies, larger models, faster prints with tilt-release | Check price → |
| Best Small Format | Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra | Compact desks, single heroes, learning resin printing in a tight space | Check price → |
Heads-up: Elegoo released the Mars 5 Ultra in late 2024 as the current Mars line flagship. It keeps the same 7-inch 9K screen as the Mars 4 Ultra but adds smart auto-leveling, an AI failure-detection camera, and faster print speeds. If you’ve narrowed your choice to a small-format Elegoo, the Mars 5 Ultra is the better current pick than the Mars 4 Ultra (which we still cover here because it’s often discounted to ~$200 and remains widely searched).
At a glance: spec-by-spec
| Spec | Mars 4 Ultra | Saturn 4 12K |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Small (7-inch screen) | Mid (10-inch screen) |
| Build volume | 153 × 77 × 165 mm | 219 × 123 × 220 mm (~3x volume) |
| Screen resolution | 7-inch 9K mono LCD | 10-inch 12K mono LCD |
| XY resolution | ~18 μm | ~19 μm (essentially same) |
| Release mechanism | ACF release film (low peel force) | Tilt-release |
| Print speed (real-world) | ~70 mm/h | ~70 mm/h |
| Auto leveling | Manual 4-point | Smart automatic |
| AI failure detection | No | Yes (camera) |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi + USB | Wi-Fi + USB |
| Footprint | ~22 × 22 cm desk space | ~30 × 30 cm desk space |
| Price (2026 approx) | ~$200–250 | ~$370 |
Small format vs mid format — the actual decision
These two printers aren’t really competing on resolution or speed. They’re competing on how much you print at once and how much desk space you can give up. The 12K vs 9K screen difference is real but invisible on most miniatures — both produce detail too fine for the naked eye on a 28–32 mm figure. The actual difference is volume:
- Mars 4 Ultra build plate fits roughly 4–6 standard 28 mm infantry or 1 large monster/character at a time. A 60-figure army takes 12–15 print jobs.
- Saturn 4 12K build plate fits roughly 15–20 standard 28 mm infantry at a time, or 4–6 large monsters. Same 60-figure army takes 4 print jobs.
If you batch-paint armies, the Saturn 4 12K saves you literal weeks of printer time over the year. If you print one display piece at a time and the printer lives on your hobby desk next to your paints, the Mars 4 Ultra’s small footprint matters more than the build volume you don’t use.
Where the Mars 4 Ultra wins
- Desk footprint — about half the desk space. If your hobby corner is small, this is the deciding factor.
- Price — ~$200–250 vs ~$370. The $120–170 saved buys a lot of resin.
- ACF release film — the Mars 4 Ultra’s anti-static release liner is gentle on fine details and rarely fails. The Saturn 4’s tilt-release is faster but is mechanically more complex.
- Resin consumption — smaller vat means you can run small batches without committing to filling a big tank. Useful for trying new resin colors or testing settings.
- Quieter — smaller fans, less noise. Genuine consideration if the printer is in a bedroom or shared space.
Where the Saturn 4 12K wins
- 3x the build volume — the headline upgrade. Batch printing fundamentally changes your time-per-army.
- Smart auto-leveling — the Mars 4 Ultra still uses paper-shim manual leveling. The Saturn 4’s auto-leveling eliminates one of the most common beginner failure modes.
- AI failure detection — onboard camera catches print failures and alerts you. Worth real money the first time it saves a 6-hour print.
- Print large models in one piece — tall monsters, vehicles, or busts that don’t fit on the Mars 4 Ultra’s smaller plate.
- 12K screen — technically higher resolution, even if the difference isn’t visible on most miniatures. Future-proofs for finer detail work.
Final recommendation
If you can fit it: Saturn 4 12K. The build volume difference compounds over time. Batch printing armies or printing larger models in one piece is a fundamentally different experience than single-figure-at-a-time printing.
If desk space is the constraint: Mars 4 Ultra (or its successor, the Mars 5 Ultra, which adds smart auto-leveling and an AI camera for ~$50 more). The small footprint is the deciding factor for most hobby corners that can’t spare a 30 × 30 cm patch of desk.
Where to buy
- Saturn 4 12K (recommended) — Check price on Amazon →
- Mars 4 Ultra (small format) — Check price on Amazon →
- Mars 5 Ultra (current Mars flagship) — Check price on Amazon →
For consumables and the full printer lineup see best resin for miniatures, the full 2026 printer guide, and the Saturn 3 12K vs Saturn 4 12K comparison if you’re deciding between Saturn generations.
FAQ
Is the Saturn 4 12K worth the extra ~$120 over the Mars 4 Ultra?
For most army-painters, yes. The build volume difference (~3x) means roughly a third the print jobs for any given batch of miniatures. Add smart auto-leveling and AI failure detection and the value gap closes quickly. The case for the Mars 4 Ultra is mostly desk space.
Will I see a difference between 9K and 12K on a 28 mm miniature?
Realistically, no. At hobby-scale figures the detail produced by both is finer than the human eye can resolve without a magnifier. The 12K screen makes a visible difference on display-scale busts or large pieces (75 mm+) where you’re inspecting the finish closely. For tabletop armies it’s not the deciding factor.
Should I wait for the Mars 5 Ultra instead of the Mars 4?
If you’ve already decided on small format, yes — the Mars 5 Ultra adds smart auto-leveling and AI failure detection for ~$50 more than the Mars 4 Ultra. The headline weakness of the Mars 4 Ultra (manual leveling) is fixed on the Mars 5. The Mars 4 Ultra is mostly worth picking now if it’s heavily discounted.
Can the Mars 4 Ultra print Warhammer terrain?
Small terrain pieces yes, but most Warhammer terrain (ruined buildings, dungeon walls, large props) needs the Saturn 4 12K’s larger build volume or an FDM printer like the Anycubic Kobra X. Resin printers in general aren’t the right tool for large terrain — the per-millilitre cost gets prohibitive.