Elegoo Mars 4 MSLA 3D Printer vs Formlabs Form 3B+
Technical comparison · Resin 3D printing
Mars 4 MSLA 3D Printer and Form 3B+ are not direct competitors: very different prices (~22×). Mars 4 MSLA 3D Printer costs less (~€220) 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 |
Mars 4 MSLA 3D Printer
Elegoo
F2 · Intermediate
|
Form 3B+
Formlabs
F2 · Intermediate
|
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Launch year | 2023 | 2022 |
| Use tier | F2 — Intermediate | F2 — Intermediate |
| Price | ||
| Price (€) | ~180–260 € | 4849 € |
| Universal specs | ||
| Dimensions (W×D×H) (cm) | 22.7 × 22.7 × 43.85 cm | 40.5 × 37.5 × 53 cm |
| Weight (kg) | 5.2 kg | 17.5 kg |
| Work area (mm) | 153.36 × 77.76 mm | 145 × 145 mm |
| Z-axis height (mm) | 175 mm | 185 mm |
| Power (W) | — | 220 W |
| Voltage (V) | — | 240 V |
| Declared precision | — | 25 μm |
| Category specs | ||
| Build area XY (short side) (mm) | 77.76 mm | 145 mm |
| XY resolution (µm) | 18 µm | 25 µm |
| Light source | Mono LCD | Laser |
| Print speed (mm/h) | 70 mm/h | — |
| Tilt / peel system | Standard FEP | — |
| Ecosystem | ||
| Cloud dependency | No | No |
| Software notes | The operation of the machine is primarily managed via third-party slicing software widely utilized within the resin 3D printing industry. The system natively supports file formats generated by programs such as ChiTuBox and Voxeldance Tango, offering the user the flexibility to choose their preferred interface for model preparation, support generation, and exposure parameter optimization. There is no native Wi-Fi connectivity or dedicated cloud management in this standard version; therefore, the transfer of print-ready files occurs traditionally via a USB port located on the machine body, ensuring a stable, independent, and completely offline workflow. | 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: Mars 4 MSLA 3D Printer 220 € vs Form 3B+ 4849 € — Mars 4 MSLA 3D Printer wins (+2104%)
- Work area: Mars 4 MSLA 3D Printer 153.36×77.76 mm vs Form 3B+ 145×145 mm — Form 3B+ wins (+76%)
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.