A resin printer for miniatures is a specific tool for a specific job. The job is producing 28mm to 120mm figures with the surface detail of an injection-molded part, ready to prime and paint. The right printer captures faces, weapon edges, cloaks, and chainmail without visible layer lines or pixel artifacts. After looking at 14 current MSLA printers in the $200 to $700 range against test prints of standard tabletop figures and bust-scale models, these five stood out for resolution, build volume, and the practical workflow quality that determines whether you actually keep using the machine.
Quick comparison
| Printer | XY resolution | Build volume | Layer Z min | Price tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anycubic Photon Mono M5s | 34 microns | 200 x 125 x 200 mm | 10 microns | $350 |
| Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra | 19 microns | 219 x 123 x 210 mm | 10 microns | $450 |
| Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra | 18 microns | 153 x 77 x 165 mm | 10 microns | $250 |
| Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K | 22 microns | 165 x 72 x 180 mm | 10 microns | $300 |
| Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro | 13 microns | 223 x 126 x 230 mm | 10 microns | $650 |
Anycubic Photon Mono M5s, Best Overall for Miniatures
The Photon Mono M5s is the printer most miniature builders should buy first. 34 micron XY resolution captures clean detail on 28mm figures, the 200 x 125 mm plate prints 8 to 12 figures per run, and the print speed at 2 seconds per layer is roughly 2x older Photon class printers.
Auto-leveling on the build plate eliminates the manual paper-strip leveling that wastes the first hour of every new owner’s experience. The slicer (Anycubic Photon Workshop or Lychee) auto-generates supports that work well for most figures without manual touch-up.
The real strength is workflow integration. The wash and cure machine (Anycubic Wash & Cure 3.0) docks with the printer for a one-piece countertop setup. Total time from print finished to paint-ready primed figure is around 25 minutes, which is faster than most resin workflows.
Trade-off: the 34 micron XY is enough for most figures but starts to show on extremely fine detail like chainmail rings or 12mm scale figures. For those use cases, step up to the Saturn 4 Ultra or M7 Pro.
Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra, Best for Army-Scale Output
The Saturn 4 Ultra is the printer to buy if you print large quantities of figures. 19 micron XY resolution at a 219 x 123 mm plate means each run produces 12 to 18 tabletop figures or 4 to 6 bust-scale models at higher detail than the Photon M5s.
Print speed runs faster than most printers in the class because the high-power LCD and resin formulation tolerate faster cure times. Total print time for a batch of 12 figures runs 90 to 120 minutes at 25 micron layers.
The build plate is laser-engraved for better adhesion, the Z axis runs on dual rails for less wobble during faster lift speeds, and the resin tank includes a release film designed for the faster cycles.
Trade-off: the larger plate uses more resin per fill, so failed prints waste more material. Auto-supports work well but the larger plate makes manual support touch-up take longer.
Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra, Best Compact Pick
The Mars 5 Ultra fits a desk corner. 153 x 77 mm plate, 18 micron XY resolution, and a build height of 165 mm that handles 75mm bust-scale figures without a problem. For a hobbyist printing 5 to 10 figures a month, the Mars 5 is the right size.
Setup is quick: auto-leveling, magnetic build plate for easy figure removal, and a slicer profile that works out of the box with Elegoo standard resin. First print to running takes about 30 minutes from box open.
Trade-off: the small plate limits batch printing. A 28-figure army takes 5 to 6 print runs, which is a full weekend of print sessions. For larger output, the Saturn 4 is the better buy.
Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K, Best Resolution Per Dollar
Phrozen’s 8K class printers offer 22 micron XY at a lower price than the Anycubic and Elegoo flagships. The Sonic Mini 8K is a small plate (165 x 72 mm) printer with detail capture that rivals the Saturn 4 Ultra at roughly two-thirds the price.
Print quality on busts and detailed figures is the standout. Eye detail, cloth folds, and weapon textures all come through with minimal cleanup. The thinner LCD panel on the 8K series produces slightly sharper edges than equivalent 4K printers.
Trade-off: the Phrozen workflow is rougher around the edges than Anycubic or Elegoo. The slicer (Chitubox is the recommended workflow) requires more manual setup. The community support is smaller, so troubleshooting takes more time. For builders who like fine-tuning, this is fine. For builders who want plug-and-play, the M5s is easier.
Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro, Best for Bust-Scale Detail
The M7 Pro is the printer for builders focused on bust-scale figures, dioramas, and high-end display pieces. 13 micron XY resolution produces detail that rivals professional studio output at a price under $700.
The 223 x 126 mm plate prints multiple busts per run, and the 230 mm Z height handles tall display figures without scaling down. Print speed is comparable to the M5s despite the higher resolution because of an optimized LCD module.
Trade-off: 13 micron resolution is overkill for 28mm gaming figures. The detail advantage shows on busts and large figures but is essentially invisible on small tabletop minis. For an army-painter use case, the Saturn 4 Ultra is a better value. For a display-piece focused builder, the M7 Pro is the right tool.
How to choose
Match resolution to figure scale
For 28mm tabletop gaming, 35 micron XY is enough. For 75mm to 120mm busts, 20 micron XY or finer shows real benefit. For 12mm scale ultra-detailed figures, 15 micron or finer matters. Spending up on resolution beyond what your figure scale needs is wasted money.
Build plate size determines batch economics
A small plate runs the same time per layer as a large plate. So a large plate is roughly proportional in output for the same total time. If you print large quantities, the Saturn class plate pays for itself in wall-clock time.
Plan the full workflow before buying
Printer, wash and cure, gloves, IPA, respirator if needed, ventilation, disposal containers. The printer is half the cost of a complete resin setup. Budget $500 to $800 total for a working miniatures workflow.
Ecosystem matters more than specs
Anycubic and Elegoo both have polished slicer software, large community libraries, and reliable consumables. Smaller brands (Phrozen, Creality LD) have technical advantages in specific areas but the support and community are thinner. For a first-time resin owner, sticking to Anycubic or Elegoo is the safer call.
For broader 3D printing decisions, see our FDM vs resin for beginners guide and our coverage of 3D printer enclosure ventilation. For details on how we evaluate small-format printers, see our methodology.
The five picks above cover the practical range for miniature printing in 2026. Start with the Photon Mono M5s if you want a single recommendation that handles 28mm gaming figures with minimal friction. Step up to the Saturn 4 Ultra for army-scale output. Go small with the Mars 5 Ultra if desk space is tight. Reach for the M7 Pro only if bust-scale and display figures are the focus. All five produce paint-ready output that justifies the resin workflow overhead.
Frequently asked questions
What XY resolution do I actually need for 28mm miniatures?+
An XY pixel size of 35 to 50 microns covers most tabletop gaming use. The Anycubic Photon Mono M5s at 34 microns and the Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra at 19 microns both produce paint-ready 28mm figures with no visible pixelation. Below 50 microns the eye stops detecting individual pixels on a painted figure. Above 50 microns (older or budget printers) you start to see pixel jaggies on cloak edges and weapon shafts. Pay attention to XY resolution more than build volume for figure work.
Does a larger build plate matter for a miniatures workflow?+
Yes, more than most beginners expect. A typical tabletop army has 20 to 40 figures. A small build plate (Photon Mono 4K class, 132 x 80 mm) prints 4 to 6 miniatures per run. A medium plate (Saturn class, 219 x 123 mm) prints 12 to 18 per run. Print time per layer is similar, so the larger plate cuts total project time roughly in half. For an occasional figure builder, small is fine. For a tournament army, the Saturn or Mars 5 size pays for itself in saved nights.
How long does a typical 28mm miniature take to print?+
About 90 minutes to 3 hours depending on detail and orientation. A character figure printed flat on the plate at 25 micron layers takes around 90 minutes. The same figure oriented at 45 degrees with hollow supports for clean detail capture takes 2 to 2.5 hours. Bust-scale figures (75mm to 120mm) run 4 to 6 hours. The total time for an army of 24 figures, printed in batches of 12 on a Saturn class printer, is about 6 hours of print time spread over two batches.
Is the workflow really that much harder than FDM for figures?+
Yes. Resin printing requires nitrile gloves, eye protection, IPA wash, UV cure, and disposal of contaminated alcohol. Each print needs supports placed (auto-supports work for most figures, manual touch-up for fine details), the printed part wash-cycled 5 to 10 minutes in alcohol, cured 2 to 6 minutes under UV, and supports cut off with flush cutters. Plan 30 to 45 minutes of active workflow per print run on top of print time. The detail payoff justifies it for figures; for terrain or props, FDM is usually faster end-to-end.
Should a complete beginner start with a resin printer for miniatures?+
Only if miniatures are the specific goal and you are committed to the workflow. The detail advantage over FDM is real and significant at 28mm scale. But the workflow overhead (alcohol, gloves, ventilation, cure station, resin disposal) catches many beginners off guard. A starter setup with printer, wash and cure station, gloves, respirator, IPA, and resin runs $500 to $700 total. If you are sure miniatures are the use case, the Anycubic Photon Mono M5s or Elegoo Mars 5 are the right starting points. If you are not sure, start with FDM and add resin later.
David Lin
David Lin writes for The Tested Hub.