The Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro (prosumer) and Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra (entry) come from different brands and sit in different tiers, so this is less a head-to-head than a question of how much printer you need. Both are enclosed MSLA resin printers with automatic calibration. The Photon Mono M7 Pro costs $269 more and gets you 232% more build volume.
First-generation product — no release history to base predictions on
Best for: Serious hobbyists, miniature studios, and prosumer resin users who need 14K resolution, a large build volume, and automated resin management — and who are prepared for the post-processing workflow.
Full details →First-generation product — no release history to base predictions on
Best for: Miniature painters, hobby jewelers, and tabletop gamers who want 9K resin detail at an entry price — and who are prepared for the post-processing workflow of resin printing.
Full details →| Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro | Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | $562 | ★ $293 |
| Print Specs | ||
| Tier | Prosumer | Entry |
| Motion | MSLA | MSLA |
| Build Volume | ★ 223 × 126 × 230 mm | 153 × 77 × 165 mm |
| Max Speed | — | — |
| Multicolor | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Enclosure | ✅ | ✅ |
| Auto Calibration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ❌ |
| Upgrade Kit | — | — |
| Buy Timing | ||
| Released | Jun 15, 2024 | Sep 28, 2024 |
| Cycle length | — | — |
| Cycle advice | Caution | Caution |
| Deals advice | Buy | Buy |
| Next model | — | — |
The Photon Mono M7 Pro was released on Jun 15, 2024, 880 days ago. It is a first-generation product, so there is no earlier cycle to predict its successor from.
The Mars 5 Ultra was released on Sep 28, 2024, 775 days ago. It is a first-generation product, so there is no earlier cycle to predict its successor from.
Neither is a clear buy-now on timing, so watch for announcements before committing. Both have been out for over a year with no release history to predict a successor from.
Cycle and deal status as of November 12, 2026. See the launch calendar →
The Mars 5 Ultra lists at $293 and the Photon Mono M7 Pro at $562 — $269 apart, so the Photon Mono M7 Pro costs 92% more.
Per litre of build volume, that works out to $87 for the Photon Mono M7 Pro versus $151 for the Mars 5 Ultra — so the pricier Photon Mono M7 Pro actually gives you more build space per dollar.
Our pick for most buyers is the Mars 5 Ultra, for a lower price ($269 less). Go for the Photon Mono M7 Pro instead if you print large parts — its 223 × 126 × 230 mm build volume holds 232% more than the Mars 5 Ultra's 153 × 77 × 165 mm.
How we judge timing and deals: read our methodology →
The 14K monochrome LCD delivers exceptional detail at 16.8µm — sharper than most consumer resin printers and ideal for miniatures, dental models, and jewelry masters.
An integrated peristaltic pump monitors resin levels and automatically refills from an external bottle, while built-in vat heating maintains optimal resin temperature — features previously found only on industrial machines.
The M7 Pro's self-leveling floating build plate eliminates manual bed tramming entirely — set up once and never level again.
The 9K monochrome LCD (18µm XY accuracy) delivers crisp miniature and jewelry detail at a price point that was prosumer territory two years ago.
Smart sensor-based auto-leveling removes the most frustrating part of entry resin ownership — manual bed tramming is eliminated.
The tilt-release mechanism combined with a fast-curing monochrome LCD enables 150 mm/hr — completing small miniature batches in 30–60 minutes.