--- title: "ELEGOO Mars 5 Ultra review: High-quality, low-cost resin printing" url: https://www.voxelmatters.com/elegoo-mars-5-ultra-review-high-quality-low-cost-resin-printing/ date: 2025-01-24 modified: 2025-01-27 lang: en author: "Edward Wakefield" description: "VoxelMatters has recently been working with ELEGOO's Mars 5 Ultra resin 3D printer, in an attempt to determine its place amongst the other systems in the market. From its refined build..." categories: - "Desktop 3D printers" - "Photopolymer Resins" - "VoxelMatters Reviews" tags: - "Featured" image: https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/b74023cd-7e4a-472f-a535-de79c05b187c-640x295.jpeg word_count: 776 --- # ELEGOO Mars 5 Ultra review: High-quality, low-cost resin printing VoxelMatters has recently been working with [ELEGOO's Mars 5 Ultra resin 3D printer](https://www.voxelmatters.directory/company/elegoo/), in an attempt to determine its place amongst the other systems in the market. From its refined build plate design to its AI camera, the system signals advancement within the entry-level resin desktop scene - albeit with a few quirks.  ## Hardware design and quality Right off the bat, the Mars 5 Ultra impresses with a two-tier build plate that offers excellent print adhesion. In fact, it is almost too excellent - if you don’t dial down the bottom exposure time, you might find yourself straining to get your fresh prints off. The common issue of 'first-layer-fails' seems to be a thing of the past. ELEGOO has also beefed up the resin vat, with taller sides that help prevent spills, which is particularly handy given the new tilt mechanism. The vat’s pour corners make pouring leftover resin post-print easier (and less messy). The Z-axis' single rail is surprisingly stable - perfectly sufficient for this printer’s form factor. Ports and switches cluster neatly at the back for easy access. ## Features and functionality The power switch, USB port, and Wi-Fi antenna connection are all grouped on the printer's back right side. While there is no dedicated USB port designed specifically for air filters, the unit’s layout is flexible enough to accommodate an external filtration system.  A notable addition is the AI camera, which enables real-time monitoring of prints - especially useful if you want to keep tabs on warping or layer adhesion from afar. The caveat is that the camera can only view your prints once they reach about 50mm in height, so early-layer issues might still go unnoticed. At present, only ChituBox supports this AI camera feature, though there’s hope for broader compatibility with other slicers in the future. Connecting the printer via Wi-Fi to ChituBox is straightforward - making remote slicing and monitoring practically seamless; however, a mobile app is still missing. The portrait-oriented user interface is sleek and modern. However, the on-screen keyboard is on the small side - bring a stylus for typing in those long Wi-Fi passwords. On startup, the printer performs a helpful self-diagnostic check - monitoring vital stats like LED temperature (it stops printing if the temperature exceeds 80°C) to ensure everything runs smoothly. [](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_8179-e1737438786356.jpg) [](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/b18628a6-1e0f-4cb0-9148-301e37ca3841-scaled-e1737438735862.jpeg) [](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/7249b93a-0615-4cb1-b81c-60542bd14241-scaled-e1737438759289.jpeg) ## Print quality and performance The 9K screen translates to an 18-micron XY resolution, ensuring impressive detail in your prints - particularly when you dial in resin exposure settings. The difference is noticeable even at standard viewing distances, and with a bit of extra tuning, voxel lines become nearly invisible. The mono screen ensures outstanding sharpness - allowing prints to emerge with crisp edges and finely detailed features. This clarity is further enhanced by the built-in tilt mechanism, which helps reduce suction forces that commonly lead to failed prints. Adding another layer of protection, a mechanical residue sensor actively detects leftover material - preventing damage to the LCD screen and providing timely alerts about resin shortages or leveling issues. https://youtube.com/shorts/FQ-uFMRQkXU?si=IsN2PYTqmcbp7Ek7 Although the system features a 'self-leveling' build plate, this function is essentially a pressure equalizer driven by springs and screws rather than a fully electronic system. Nonetheless, it works exceptionally well for common materials like Elegoo Blue Standard 2.0 - delivering consistently sharp results. The Mars 5 Ultra offers simple speed profiles: fast or slow. In testing, fast mode didn’t cut down printing time as drastically as one might hope - maybe an hour or so saved on a large print - but it’s still a nice option for those big, less detail-critical parts. A particularly handy feature is the built-in exposure tool that allows you to test multiple exposure settings in a single job. We ran tests ranging from 1.8 seconds to 2.8 seconds on separate models and dialed in optimal times in record speed - 2.1 seconds for Anycubic's High Clear resin and about 2.5 seconds for Elegoo Blue. [](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/1c395a43-1221-4a61-9f79-0009bbdd1901-scaled-e1737438868169.jpeg) [](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/a31629e5-f913-4edb-b4eb-5e1fdf6f5723-scaled-e1737438850333.jpeg) [](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/65c90550-19fa-41ce-a798-f14c0cfdd452-e1737438891774.jpeg) ## In short.. ELEGOO's Mars 5 Ultra is a great system - especially considering how complicated and finicky desktop resin printers can be. It is - compared to many of the other systems we have reviewed, [including some earlier ones from ELEGOO](https://www.voxelmatters.com/elegoos-saturn-3-ultra-easy-high-quality-resin-3d-printing/) - easy to set up and use, and produces high-quality prints when used correctly. As at-home desktop printing continues to reach economies of scale, we can expect the overall quality to go up, and prices to go down. The printer is currently priced at $270 (on sale), but with increasing competition from other Chinese manufacturers, it seems as though we will soon be able to produce parts of this quality, with systems priced significantly lower than this.