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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mejor en general | 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 y 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.
- Precio — ~$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 miniaturesEl 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.