In a controlled comparison commissioned by Formlabs, the Formlabs Form 4 and Form 3+ had the lowest failed-print rate: 3 failures in 225 attempts each, or 1.3%. But failed prints were only part of the reliability picture. The test also recorded two Benchmark B printers that arrived dead and substantial downtime from machine and maintenance issues. The results favor the Formlabs models for predictable throughput in this test—not as proof that they will outperform every resin printer in every workshop.
How the four printers performed
Formlabs designed the comparison, which an independent global product-testing organization performed. Testers used five factory-condition printers per manufacturer and printed 15 models three times each, targeting 225 attempts per brand. They used standard grey resin, manufacturer-recommended settings, a 100 μm layer height, automated support generation, and a common operating procedure. The tested models had been validated to print successfully on all four printers. Formlabs’ report presents this as a controlled laboratory comparison.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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ELEGOO Mars 5 Resin 3D Printer | $199.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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ELEGOO Mars 5 Ultra 7" 9K MSLA Resin 3D Printer | $299.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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ELEGOO Mars 5 Ultra 9K MSLA Resin 3D Printer, Smart Mechanical Sensor | $299.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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ANYCUBIC Resin 3D Printer, Photon Mono M7 MAX 13.6-inch 7K Mono LCD | $649.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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ELEGOO Jupiter 2 Large 16K Resin 3D Printer | $949.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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| Printer | Technology | Launch year | Build volume | Cost at testing | Print results | Reported lost hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formlabs Form 4 | MSLA | 2024 | 7.9 × 4.9 × 8.3 in | $4,500 | 3 failures out of 225; 1.3% failure, 98.7% success | 9 |
| Formlabs Form 3+ | Laser SLA | 2019 | 5.7 × 5.7 × 7.6 in | $2,500 | 3 failures out of 225; 1.3% failure, 98.7% success | 17 |
| Benchmark A | MSLA | 2023 | 7.8 × 4.7 × 8.6 in | $450 | 31 failures out of 225; 13.8% failure, 86.2% success | More than 100 |
| Benchmark B | MSLA | 2022 | 8.6 × 4.8 × 9.3 in | $650 | 55 failures among 216 completed prints; 25.3% failure, 74.7% success. Two units were dead on arrival. | More than 250 |
Formlabs states that the Form 4’s 98.7% print-success rate was equal to the Form 3+’s. That is a tie in this test, not evidence that the two machines will have identical reliability over their full service lives.
What counted as a failed print—and what did not
A print failure meant a defect that made the part non-functional or materially unusable. Examples included failure to adhere to the build platform, delamination, excessive warping, cracking, missing chunks, or undeveloped features. Minor blemishes, including pinstriping or heavy support residue, still counted as successes.
#1 Best Overall
- 【Effortless Magic with One-Click Automatic Leveling】Effortless precision is just a click away. ELEGOO Mars 5 resin 3D printer offers advanced automatic leveling function with a simple click, allowing all skill levels to dive straight into the creative process. Say goodbye to tedious calibrations - simply unbox, power on, and print.
- 【Print Smarter, Print Worry-Free】With a smart mechanical sensor, ELEGOO Mars 5 resin printer supports residue detection to prevent damage to the LCD screen. Plus, timely alarms for resin shortages and leveling failures minimize waste and ensure uninterrupted efficiency. Stay worry-free and enjoy high-quality prints every time.
- 【One-Click Self-Check, Ensuring Reliable Prints】Tired of setup hassles and unexpected errors ruining your printing projects? With just a simple click, ELEGOO Mars 5 3D resin printer performs a quick self-check and verifies the optimal functionality of its components before each print. Say goodbye to wasted time and materials due to faulty components.
- 【4K Mono LCD for Stunning Details】Featuring a 4K mono LCD with advanced COB light source, ELEGOO Mars 5 impresora 3D de resina faithfully reproduces intricate details with stunning fidelity and textures, bringing your ideas to life with flawless precision.
- 【Advanced Overheat Protection, Cool and Safe】No more overheating worries. The advanced overheat protection automatically halts printing and triggers an alarm if the LED temperature exceeds 80℃. Enhanced by an efficient cooling system, the ELEGOO Mars 5 impresora 3D resina printer ensures safety, extended lifespan, and optimal performance.
The distinction matters: a printer can produce a usable part despite cosmetic cleanup, and a machine can also lose time without producing a defective part. The report tracks these separately.
Machine problems created a different kind of downtime
Non-print issues were machine, setup, or maintenance problems that consumed time. The report recorded outdated firmware, film replacement, homing failures, an LED-module failure, and an LCD failure. These incidents should not be added to the failed-print counts: they describe lost operating time, not necessarily unusable parts.
Rank #2
- 9K High Resolution】ELEGOO Mars 5 Ultra Resin 3D Printer is equipped with a 7-inch monochrome LCD screen with ultra-high resolution of 8520 × 4320. The 18 × 18 μm XY resolution ensures that 3D printing can restore the most realistic details and higher texture clarity, better presenting your three-dimensional visual design in reality.
- 【True High-Speed Printing】Mars 5 Ultra use the innovative tilting release technology to achieve true high-speed printing at up to 150 mm/h. This technology enables quick separation of models from the release film, while allowing seamless switching between fast and slow printing modes—drastically improving printing efficiency. All this is achieved without the need for high-speed resin or ACF release films.
- 【Bult in AI Camera】It is difficult to notice the warping of the model during 3d printing, but this is not a problem for Mars 5 Ultra. The 3D resin printer quipped with an AI smart camera, you can monitor the printing process at any time, notice errors in time and correct them immediately to ensure smooth printing. You can also enable time-lapse recording — it's a great way to monitor your prints or share the journey with others.
- 【One-Button Self-Check & Automatic Leveling】Repeated manual leveling is annoying, and It's so frustrating when you print fails due to the 3D printer accessory failure. Don't worry! With this 3D printer, you can use the self-check function before starting to print. Once it detects no faults, you can start to print with confidence. And you no longer need to deal with repeated leveling work. ELEGOO Mars 5 Ultra supports automatic leveling, which can easily solve your problem.
- 【Intelligent Mechanical Sensor】The ELEGOO Resin 3D Printer has a built-in intelligent mechanical sensor and supports Foreign Object Detection. it can avoid damage to the LCD screen. At the same time, it can alert you in time to issues like insufficient resin, excessive resin, leveling failure, etc., further ensuring the smooth progress of printing and preventing problems at the source.
The reported lost hours were 9 for Form 4 and 17 for Form 3+, compared with more than 100 for Benchmark A and more than 250 for Benchmark B. These figures make the practical difference sharper than print success alone: for a shop planning work around machine availability, interruptions can matter even when a failed part is recoverable or a print succeeds after maintenance.
What the comparison says about price and throughput
The Form 4 cost $4,500 at testing, compared with $2,500 for the Form 3+, $450 for Benchmark A, and $650 for Benchmark B. In this test, the higher-priced Formlabs printers paired much lower failed-print rates with fewer reported lost hours; the two cheaper benchmarks had larger build volumes than Form 3+, and Benchmark B had the largest volume listed.
Rank #3
- 【Ultra-Fast Printing】ELEGOO Mars 5 Ultra features Tilt Release Innovation for quicker model separation, reducing Z-axis movement time. With a printing speed of up to 150mm/h, it offers both fast and slow modes for high-quality results. Resin calibration ensures optimal printing parameters
- 【Intelligent Mechanical Sensor】Mars 5 Ultra Printer features a built-in smart mechanical sensor and spring for one-click calibration. It detects printing issues like low resin, foreign objects, or high light board temperature, with alerts. The printing process resumes after an interruption
- 【Built-in AI Camera】ELEGOO Mars 5 Ultra MSLA printer uses an AI camera to detect issues like empty build plates and model warping, offering real-time monitoring. Time-lapse photography lets you record, share, and compare prints, making 3D printing more enjoyable and easier
- 【WiFi Cluster Printing】ELEGOO Mars 5 Ultra supports file transfer without a USB, with speeds of 6-10Mbps, compatible with 2.4G and 5G networks. Multiple printers can print simultaneously on the same LAN, enabling remote control and secure, fast data transfer. OTA firmware upgrades are available for convenience
- 【7-inch Monochrome 9K LCD Screen】ELEGOO Mars 5 Ultra features a 9K LCD screen (85204320px) with 1818μm XY resolution. The 9H tempered glass protects the screen, while the internal COB light source ensures 92% light uniformity for high-precision printing and detailed, lifelike models
That is a reliability-versus-upfront-cost trade-off in the reported data, not a total-cost-of-ownership calculation. The comparison does not establish lifetime maintenance expense, resin consumption, repair costs, or the financial value of additional throughput. A low purchase price may still suit occasional or non-urgent work; a higher price may be easier to justify when schedule predictability and staff time matter. Your workload, operating conditions, and tolerance for interruptions determine which matters more.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Limits: controlled lab results are not a workshop guarantee
Formlabs says the test took place under laboratory conditions with prints validated to succeed on all four machines. It cautions that user-generated models and conditions outside the lab typically produce lower success rates. For context, Formlabs reported a 94% field print-success rate for Form 4 at the time of its report. That field figure is not directly interchangeable with the 98.7% controlled-test result because the conditions differ.
Rank #4
- 【13.6'' 7K High Resolution】With a 7K (6480*3600px) high-resolution screen and an XY-axis pixel size of only 46*46μm, the Photon Mono M7 Max ensures that printed models have an outstandingly detailed texture. Anti-aliasing and high-precision positioning spools for fewer layer lines and higher reproduction.
- 【Ultra-Large Build Volume】 ANYCUBIC Photon M7 Max Resin Printer has a Amazing print size of 298mm × 164mm × 300mm. The large print volume allows you to print large-sized models in one go without the hassle of splitting and splicing, and also allows to realize batch printing to improve efficiency. And the flip-top design makes it easy to access the model
- 【Faster Printing Speed】Thanks to the new technologies such as Intelligent Release 2.0 and dynamic Light-off Compensation, the Photon Mono M7 MAX prints at speeds of up to 60mm/h, 200% faster than the Photon M3 Max
- 【Intelligent Resin Management】Resin Vat with Temperature Control improves the resin quality and printing success rate. The automatic material management system monitors the resin level and adds resin as required, minimizing waste.
- 【Optimized Features】Suspension Drip setting allows the print platform to be suspended at an angle after printing, and the resin can flow back into the resin tank to reduce loss. The capacity of the resin tank increased to 1300ml for large printing needs
The sponsor designed the comparison, while an independent organization carried it out. That makes the results useful controlled comparative evidence, but they should be read with the sponsor identified and without treating them as a universal ranking of all resin printers or all users’ experiences.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 【Big Builds, Big Ideas】With an impressive build volume of 302.4 × 161.98 × 300 mm, Jupiter 2 enables the printing of bigger objects or multiple smaller objects in a single print job. 2.5× larger build volume compared to Saturn 4 Resin 3D Printer.
- 【Stunning 16K, True to Life】15120 × 6230 resolution. 20 × 26 μm XY resolution. The fully enclosed light source eliminates light leaks, ensuring uniform exposure and flawless results every time.
- 【Smart from the Start】Multi-point auto leveling system. Smart tank heating with quick preheat maintains a precise 30 °C. The automated resin system ensures you never run out mid-print.
- 【Intuitive Design Built for You】Double-door design. Transparent viewing window. User-friendly laser-engraved build plate with quick-release. Resin drip tray provides reliable protection against resin spills. 4.0-Inch Touch Screen has an intuitive interface. Compatible with Elegoo Marsmate air purifier.
- 【Simplified Setup and Maintenance】Intuitive Manual Leveling with real-time data feedback. Quick-Swap Release Film enables you hassle-free, tool-free swaps in seconds.
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