ANYCUBIC Photon Mono 4 Resin 3D Printer, 7" 10K Mono LCD, LighTurbo Review (2026)

Who the Photon Mono 4 fits

This is a compact resin printer built for hobbyists working with small to medium models, tabletop miniatures, jewelry patterns and detailed figures, where the roughly 153 by 87 by 165mm build volume is enough without needing the desk space a larger 10-inch resin printer demands. Its size and price point make it a reasonable entry point for someone starting resin printing who has not yet decided they need a bigger plate, or a second printer for detail work alongside a larger machine. Anyone planning to print large terrain pieces, full-size busts or big batches on one plate should look at a 10-inch resin printer instead, since this model's compact vat limits how much fits in a single job.

Screen, light source and precision explained

The 7-inch mono LCD runs at 9024x5120 resolution, commonly marketed as 10K, with each pixel measuring about 17 by 17 micrometers on the X and Y axes, fine enough to render small details cleanly on miniatures and jewelry patterns. Anycubic's LighTurbo matrix light source aims for stable, balanced, uniform lighting across the plate, which the company states reduces layer lines and rasterization artifacts compared with older parallel-LED designs, and Anycubic cites a 105 percent increase in print precision over the earlier Mono 2 model. A laser-engraved Print Platform 2.0 build plate improves adhesion, cutting down on lifting and warping during a print. Rated speed tops out around 70mm/h using compatible high-speed resin.

Living with a compact resin printer

Day-to-day use follows standard resin workflow: check the vat film and resin level before printing, then wash finished parts in isopropyl alcohol and cure them under UV light afterward, all of which should happen in a ventilated space since curing resin gives off noticeable fumes during printing. The smaller 7-inch plate uses less resin per job than a 10-inch printer, which helps keep running costs down for smaller prints, though it also means fewer models fit on one plate for a batch run. Anycubic's slicer workflow differs from ELEGOO's, so slicer profiles and community presets are not directly interchangeable between the two brands, something worth knowing if switching from or adding to an ELEGOO-based resin setup.

How it compares with larger resin printers

Against ELEGOO's Saturn 4 line, including the Saturn 4 12K and the higher-resolution Saturn 4 Ultra 16K, the Photon Mono 4 gives up plate size in exchange for a smaller footprint and typically a lower price, since those Saturn models use 10-inch screens with meaningfully larger build volumes. The Photon Mono 4 still holds its own on resolution for its screen size, and its compact vat is easier to fit on a crowded desk than a 10-inch printer's larger footprint. Buyers deciding between the two should weigh plate size against desk space and typical model size before choosing, since neither approach is strictly better.

Verdict

The Photon Mono 4 earns our score of 8.0 out of 10 as a well-specified compact resin printer for detailed small to medium prints, held back mainly by a plate size that limits large single pieces or big batches. It is a good fit for someone with limited desk space or a focus on miniatures and jewelry-scale detail. Buyers who regularly print larger busts, terrain or batches of models should look at a 10-inch resin printer like ELEGOO's Saturn 4 line instead, accepting the larger footprint in exchange for the extra plate area.

Frequently asked questions