Head-to-head comparison
Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra vs Saturn 4 Ultra 16K: which resin format fits?
The short answer
Pick the Mars 5 Ultra for a compact footprint (153.36 × 77.76 × 165 mm) and an advertised 8.8 kg weight, suited to smaller figurines. Pick the Saturn 4 Ultra 16K for a build plate nearly 3 times larger (211.68 × 118.37 × 220 mm), a 16K screen with finer pixels (14 × 19 µm versus 18 µm), and smart vat heating per Elegoo, with the advertised print speed staying identical on both machines (150 mm/h).
Documentary comparison of manufacturer specifications. Not personally tested.
Choose the Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra if…
- A compact footprint, 153.36 × 77.76 × 165 mm build volume, at an advertised weight of 8.8 kg per Elegoo.
- A 260 × 268 × 451.5 mm footprint, easier to fit on a small desk than the Saturn 4 Ultra 16K.
- A monochrome 9K, 7-inch screen with an advertised 18 µm XY resolution, enough for most standard figurines.
- The same advertised print speed as the Saturn 4 Ultra 16K (150 mm/h per Elegoo), no tradeoff there for a smaller format.
Choose the Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra 16K if…
- A notably larger build plate, 211.68 × 118.37 × 220 mm, nearly 3 times the Mars 5 Ultra's volume per Elegoo.
- A 10-inch monochrome 16K screen with an advertised 14 × 19 µm XY resolution, finer than the Mars 5 Ultra's 18 µm.
- Smart vat heating to 30°C and vat residue detection, two features Elegoo lists to help stabilize printing.
Specifications side by side
| Specification | Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra | Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra 16K |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | Resin (MSLA) | Resin (MSLA) |
| Build volume | 153.36 × 77.76 × 165 mm (6 × 3.1 × 6.5 in) | 211.68 × 118.37 × 220 mm (8.3 × 4.7 × 8.7 in) |
| Printer dimensions | 260 × 268 × 451.5 mm (10.2 × 10.6 × 17.8 in) | — |
| Weight | 8.8 kg (19.4 lb) | — |
| Enclosure | Protective cover | Protective cover |
| LCD screen | 7 in · 9K | 10 in · 16K |
| XY resolution | 18 µm | 14 µm |
| Claimed print speed | 150 mm/h | 150 mm/h |
| Multicolor | One resin at a time; no automatic color switching. | Monochrome LCD exposure; one resin at a time. |
| Materials | Compatible 405 nm UV resins using the appropriate profile and post-processing instructions. | Compatible 405 nm UV resins with the correct exposure and post-curing protocol. |
| Built-in camera | Yes | — |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, USB | — |
| Listed features | Auto bed leveling | Auto bed leveling |
— : not listed by the manufacturer on the pages we reviewed.
Screen and resolution
The Mars 5 Ultra runs a monochrome 9K, 7-inch screen with an advertised 18 µm XY resolution per Elegoo. The Saturn 4 Ultra 16K steps up to a 10-inch 16K screen, with an XY resolution listed at 14 × 19 µm (X by Y): more pixels over a larger area, and each pixel finer too.
A finer XY resolution mostly helps the smallest details on a part, like a figurine's facial features. The final result also depends on exposure settings and the resin chosen, two variables that matter as much as the advertised resolution on both machines.
Build volume and plate size
The Mars 5 Ultra advertises a 153.36 × 77.76 × 165 mm build volume, a compact format built for figurines and small detailed subjects per Elegoo. The Saturn 4 Ultra 16K jumps to 211.68 × 118.37 × 220 mm, a usable plate nearly 3 times larger by volume.
That bigger plate allows printing several figurines in one batch or taller individual parts, up to 220 mm versus 165 mm for the Mars 5 Ultra. The Mars 5 Ultra stays listed at 8.8 kg with a 260 × 268 × 451.5 mm footprint per Elegoo; the Saturn 4 Ultra 16K's sheet doesn't give either figure today.
Print speed
Both machines advertise the same print speed, 150 mm/h per Elegoo: stepping up to the Saturn 4 Ultra 16K's larger plate doesn't come at the cost of a slower printer on paper.
That figure stays a manufacturer ceiling: actual time mostly depends on the layer height chosen, how many parts sit on the plate, and the resin used, the same way on both machines.
Post-processing and assist features
Both models require the same post-print workflow: an isopropyl alcohol wash, drying, then UV curing, with a dedicated station needed alongside the printer per Elegoo. That step matters as much as plate size in the total time spent per part.
Both machines advertise Tilt Release and a monitoring camera per Elegoo. The Saturn 4 Ultra 16K adds smart vat heating to 30°C and vat residue detection. The Mars 5 Ultra doesn't include built-in air filtration as standard: a compatible Mars Mate purifier is available as an option, not included.
What to check before buying
Both machines advertise automatic plate leveling per Elegoo, but neither resin nor a wash-and-cure station is automatically bundled with the printer: check exactly what a given listing includes before comparing two prices.
The resin printer buying guide helps you choose between the two formats based on the usual size of your subjects. The startup budget tool helps price out resin, a wash-and-cure station, and consumables on top of the machine itself.
Sources
- Elegoo — Mars 5 Ultra tech specs (elegoo.com)
- Elegoo — Saturn 4 Ultra 16K tech specs (elegoo.com)
- How we compare printers
Published 2026-09-28, updated 2026-09-28.