Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra review: Pro-grade resin prints in smart, fast package
A few months ago, I reviewed the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 3D printer, a seriously feature-rich printer with a beginner-friendly price point. After a couple of years using 3D printers, I've developed a solid understanding of hobbyist-level 3D printing. However, stepping into the world of resin printing with the Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra was a completely different experience, challenging, fascinating, and full of new learning curves.
3D printing for the masses
Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra with the Elegoo Mars Mate Air Purifier. Picture: Elegoo.
With FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling), safety primarily depends on avoiding burns from the hotend and bed, and ensuring your printer is in a well-ventilated area. Resin printing, however, introduces a whole new set of concerns. The Saturn 4 Ultra is a powerful, high-resolution machine, but like any resin printer, it uses photopolymer resin that is toxic in liquid form. That means gloves and a respirator aren't optional; they're essential.
The first time I opened a bottle of resin, I was hit with a chemical smell that instantly reminded me this wasn't PLA. I had to reassess my setup quickly. A well-ventilated room became mandatory, and I received an Elegoo Mars air purifier from them. I also wore nitrile gloves religiously during every step, from pouring resin to removing prints and cleaning the vat.
Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra, alongside the Mercury XS Bundle, featuring cure and wash stations. Picture: Elegoo.
Post-processing was another reality check. Washing prints in isopropyl alcohol and then curing them under UV light requires care and attention. Spills are easy to make and tough to clean if you're not prepared. I now keep a dedicated work surface covered in disposable pads, and I treat every step with caution.
What I appreciate about the Saturn 4 Ultra is that Elegoo is clearly aware of these concerns. The carbon filter inside the unit helps mitigate some risks, but the user still bears the responsibility for handling the resin safely and adequately.
Resin printing opens up incredible possibilities, but it demands respect. If you're coming from FDM like me, don't underestimate the learning curve, especially when it comes to safety. Protect your workspace, protect your health, and treat every print session with the seriousness it deserves.
Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra
3D models printed in resin using the Saturn 4 Ultra. Pictures: Noel Campion;
Elegoo includes a USB drive, resin tank, build plate, tools, and a quick-start guide. The Saturn 4 Ultra is of incredibly high build quality. It is sturdy, premium, and clearly well-engineered. Measuring 327 × 292 × 548 mm, it's not the largest resin printer available, but it strikes a balance between size and usability. The all-metal construction gives it durability and peace of mind, especially for those long overnight prints.
At the heart is a 12K monochrome LCD, delivering an insane resolution of 11,520 × 5,120 with 19-micron X-axis accuracy. That means sharp details, crisp edges, and incredibly smooth surfaces. The amount of detail it captures, chainmail, facial expressions, and textures, is stunningly impressive.
The tilting build plate is not typical on many resin printers, but it offers improved speed and reliability. After each layer, the plate tilts slightly, reducing peel forces. This enables faster printing (up to 150 mm/h), reduces stress on prints, and decreases failures, particularly for larger or more complex models. It also means fewer supports are needed, which is a huge win.
Gandalf was printed on the Saturn 4 Ultra and hand-painted by Noel Campion. Picture: Noel Campion.
The built-in AI camera enables remote monitoring of prints, detects failures mid-print, and cancels jobs as needed. Future firmware updates promise real-time notifications of failures. The camera is already a big help, especially during longer prints, where early intervention can save hours. However, I found the internal light wasn't great, and you can't see your print until it has been printed for a while.
The printer has an industrial grey aesthetic. The laser-etched build plate drastically improves adhesion, and the dual Z-axis rails ensure minimal wobble. That stability is particularly evident in the surface quality, especially on taller models.
The flip-back lid is excellent and certainly much better than lids that require removal and a designated storage space. However, there's no handle, and that does make opening it more difficult one-handed. I found a simple solution by printing a basic handle that I was able to stick to the front side with double-sided tape. If you've struggled with awkward lid placement during printing, you'll appreciate how convenient this is.
The small vertical display works well, but I would have liked a landscape orientation a little better. The UI is also clean and functional, with a simple menu for print, tools, settings, and calibration. Speaking of which, resin calibration is handled brilliantly. Instead of running multiple test prints, the XP Finder tool allows you to print several exposure settings simultaneously, saving time and resin. Once you've identified the optimal exposure time for a particular resin, you won't need to do a calibration for it again.
Finally, the redesigned COB + Fresnel light engine ensures even UV light distribution, eliminating blurry edges and uneven exposure. Combined with the 12K screen and stable Z-axis, this machine sets a new bar for mid-sized resin printers. It's fast, it's smart, and it prints stunning detail.
Honestly, for a printer in this class, the Saturn 4 Ultra is seriously impressive. While the workflow can be messy, with multiple steps involved in the process, the level of detail it achieves on well-designed 3D models is remarkable.
Print quality
Using the Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra has been a game-changer for me in terms of print quality. Coming from FDM, I was used to seeing layer lines and having to sand and prep models just to get them ready for painting. But the Saturn 4 Ultra outputs detail so sharp and clean that it's genuinely addictive. The first time I pulled a model from the build plate, I just stared at it, tiny textures in cloaks, facial expressions, chainmail, things that would have been muddy or lost entirely on FDM just came through effortlessly.
One of my favourite prints so far was a mini diorama of Gandalf and Gimli, and the quality was so crisp that it instantly pushed me to take more time with my painting. Usually, I'd rush the job, but seeing those details made me want to do them justice. I spent hours carefully layering washes and dry brushing to bring out the textures. It felt less like finishing a 3D print and more like painting a proper model kit. Honestly, I didn't expect a printer to reignite my artistic side, but here we are, I'm now actively hunting for new models just to see what this machine can do.
FDM versus resin 3D printing
Trying resin printing for the first time with the Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra really highlighted the differences between these two methods, not just in results, but in the entire user experience.
FDM feels more mechanical. You're working with spools of filament, usually PLA or PETG, and it builds prints layer by layer using a heated nozzle. It's generally cleaner and simpler with less mess, no toxic fumes, and much easier post-processing. I could usually remove a print, peel off the supports, and that was it.
Resin printing, on the other hand, feels more like a chemical process. You're pouring liquid resin into a vat, and your prints come out sticky and unfinished. Every print needs to be washed in alcohol and cured under UV light. The detail, though, is in a different league, especially with the Saturn 4 Ultra. You get finer resolution, smoother surfaces, and sharper features that FDM just can't match.
But there's a trade-off: more safety precautions, more cleanup, and a steeper learning curve. FDM is ideal for creating functional parts and offers ease of use. Resin, however, is the go-to choice when visual quality is paramount. It's a shift in mindset and workflow.
Verdict
The Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra delivers stunning print quality, smart features, and pro-level speed in a compact, well-built machine. It demands more care than FDM, but the results are worth every extra step.
€498.99 (RRP) Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra
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