Photon Mono 4 vs Form 3B+
Technical comparison · Resin 3D printing
Photon Mono 4 and Form 3B+ are not direct competitors: very different prices (~22.6×). Photon Mono 4 costs less (~€215) and is the entry-level choice; Form 3B+ offers more capability at a higher price (~€4849). Judge them by budget, not head-to-head.
| Parameter |
Photon Mono 4
Anycubic
F2 · Intermediate
|
Form 3B+
Formlabs
F2 · Intermediate
|
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Launch year | 2024 | 2022 |
| Use tier | F2 — Intermediate | F2 — Intermediate |
| Price | ||
| Price (€) | ~180–250 € | 4849 € |
| Universal specs | ||
| Dimensions (W×D×H) (cm) | — | 40.5 × 37.5 × 53 cm |
| Weight (kg) | — | 17.5 kg |
| Work area (mm) | 153.4 × 87 mm | 145 × 145 mm |
| Z-axis height (mm) | 165 mm | 185 mm |
| Power (W) | — | 220 W |
| Voltage (V) | — | 240 V |
| Maximum speed | 1.17 mm/min | — |
| Declared precision | 17 μm | 25 μm |
| Category specs | ||
| Build area XY (short side) (mm) | 87 mm | 145 mm |
| XY resolution (µm) | 17 µm | 25 µm |
| Light source | Mono LCD | Laser |
| Print speed (mm/h) | 70.2 mm/h | — |
| Tilt / peel system | Standard FEP | — |
| Ecosystem | ||
| Cloud dependency | No | No |
| Software notes | The device is fully compatible with the main third-party slicing software options on the market, including widely popular solutions such as Chitubox and Lychee Slicer, alongside the proprietary Anycubic Photon Workshop application. This flexibility allows users to manage advanced exposure parameters, supports, and tolerance compensation without proprietary constraints. File preparation occurs primarily via offline transfer using a USB port, ensuring a stable workflow independent of active network connections. Managing print profiles for various commercial resins is highly intuitive, facilitating the optimization of layer-by-layer curing times for both standard materials and advanced formulations. | Printer control is managed by PreForm, Formlabs' proprietary print preparation software. This application automatically optimizes model orientation, support generation, and layout arrangement, integrating specific algorithms to maximize the yield of medical resins. The system supports standard file formats such as STL and OBJ. Through the Dashboard cloud platform, users can monitor print status, track material consumption, and manage job queues remotely for entire fleets of machines. Although network connectivity (Wi-Fi and Ethernet) facilitates advanced management, the printer retains the ability to operate in local mode via data transfer via USB. |
The differences that matter
- Price: Photon Mono 4 215 € vs Form 3B+ 4849 € — Photon Mono 4 wins (+2155%)
- Work area: Photon Mono 4 153.4×87 mm vs Form 3B+ 145×145 mm — Form 3B+ wins (+58%)
Which one to choose
MakerSpecs is an independent atlas. We don't sell products: this comparison links to both sheets, where you'll find complete data and official links.