Elegoo Mars 4 vs Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K
Technical comparison · Resin 3D printing
Two resin printers for small, detailed parts, with the same monochrome LCD screen and the same offline USB workflow. The deciding difference is price, about €220 against about €525: the declared print figures do not justify the jump on their own.
| Parameter | ||
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Launch year | 2023 | 2021 |
| Use tier | F2 — Intermediate | F2 — Intermediate |
| Price | ||
| Price (€) | ~180–260 € | ~450–600 € |
| Universal specs | ||
| Dimensions (W×D×H) (cm) | 22.7 × 22.7 × 43.85 cm | 29 × 29 × 43 cm |
| Weight (kg) | 5.2 kg | 10 kg |
| Work area (mm) | 153.36 × 77.76 mm | 165 × 72 mm |
| Z-axis height (mm) | 175 mm | 180 mm |
| Power (W) | — | 50 W |
| Declared precision | — | 22 μm |
| Category specs | ||
| Build area XY (short side) (mm) | 77.76 mm | 72 mm |
| XY resolution (µm) | 18 µm | 22 µm |
| Light source | Mono LCD | Mono LCD |
| Print speed (mm/h) | 70 mm/h | 80 mm/h |
| Tilt / peel system | Standard FEP | 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. | The system integrates seamlessly with the leading third-party slicing software available on the market, offering substantial operational flexibility. Users can utilize popular solutions such as ChiTuBox and Lychee Slicer, which feature pre-configured and optimized profiles for this specific model, simplifying file preparation and advanced support management. Connectivity occurs primarily via a USB port for offline file transfer, ensuring total stability during the printing process without the risk of interruptions caused by network fluctuations. Exposure parameters are fully customizable directly within the software, allowing for precise optimization across a wide range of both proprietary and third-party resins. |
The differences that matter
- About €220 against about €525 → the difference pays for a second complete resin printer
- Declared speed 70 mm/h against 80 mm/h → a figure 50 mm tall takes about 43 minutes against about 38, at declared speed
Which one to choose
Choose Mars 4 if…
A first resin bench, or a second one for batches of small parts: it costs less than half and has the finer pixel of the two (18 µm against 22). You give up some length on the long side of the plate, 153 mm against 165, so a part 160 mm long has to be tilted or split.
Choose Sonic Mini 8K if…
For those who want ready-made profiles tuned for this model in ChiTuBox and Lychee Slicer and a slightly longer plate, and are prepared to spend more than double. On declared figures the advantage is small: the data show no technical reason for the price gap.
Where to buy
MakerSpecs is an independent atlas. We don't sell products: the purchase links are the same as on the two product sheets and don't influence the verdict. The sheets have the complete data.