Head-to-head

Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra 16K vs Bambu Lab A1 Mini vs Bambu Lab P2S

Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra 16K

9.0 $499

Bambu Lab A1 Mini

9.0 $219

Bambu Lab P2S

9.2 $549

Verdict

Elegoo

The resin printer to buy in 2026. Unmatched 16K detail with reliability features that finally make resin beginner-friendly — just budget for the messier workflow.

Bambu Lab

The best first printer in 2026. Small and PLA/PETG-only, but nothing else is this easy or this good at the price. Get the Combo for multicolor.

Bambu Lab

The safe default for most people: fast, enclosed, reliable, and priced right. Get the AMS 2 Pro Combo if multicolor is even a maybe.

Best for

Elegoo

Miniature painters, tabletop gamers, jewelers, and anyone who needs the sharpest possible detail and is willing to handle resin's messier workflow.

Bambu Lab

Complete beginners and anyone who wants a printer that just works out of the box for small models, toys, and easy multicolor prints.

Bambu Lab

Most makers and small print farms who want a reliable, fast, enclosed printer that handles engineering plastics and easy multicolor without paying prosumer prices.

Avoid if

Elegoo

You want to print functional parts, large items, or just want a clean, low-fuss workflow — an FDM machine like the A1 Mini or P2S is the better fit.

Bambu Lab

You need a larger build area, want to print ABS or engineering materials, or plan to run an automated print farm — look at the full-size A1 or an enclosed CoreXY like the P2S.

Bambu Lab

You only print single-color PLA on a budget (the A1 Mini wins on cost), or you need active heated-chamber materials like PA-CF or PPS-CF — step up to the H-series for that.

Score breakdown

speed

Elegoo

8.5

Bambu Lab

8.5

Bambu Lab

9.0

value

Elegoo

9.0

Bambu Lab

9.5

Bambu Lab

9.2

materials

Elegoo

7.5

Bambu Lab

7.5

Bambu Lab

8.8

ease of use

Elegoo

8.2

Bambu Lab

9.6

Bambu Lab

9.4

build volume

Elegoo

6.5

Bambu Lab

5.5

Bambu Lab

7.5

print quality

Elegoo

9.7

Bambu Lab

8.8

Bambu Lab

9.3

Specs

Vat

Heated to 30°C; FEP rated 60,000 cycles

—

Type

MSLA resin (LCD)

Open-frame bedslinger (FDM)

Enclosed CoreXY (FDM)

Speed

Up to ~150 mm/h

—

Smarts

AI camera, auto-leveling, force sensor, Wi-Fi

—

Release

Tilt-release vat (lower peel force)

—

Software

ChituBox, Lychee Slicer (open)

—

Resolution

16K mono LCD

—

Build volume

~219 × 123 × 220 mm

180 × 180 × 180 mm

256 × 256 × 256 mm

Noise

—

≤48 dB

—

Hotend

—

Quick-swap all-metal, 300°C

—

Materials

—

PLA, PETG, TPU (no ABS/ASA)

PLA, PETG, TPU, ABS, ASA, composites

Max speed

—

500 mm/s

600 mm/s (20,000 mm/s² accel)

Multicolor

—

Up to 4 colors with AMS Lite (Combo)

Up to 4 colors with AMS 2 Pro (Combo)

Calibration

—

Full auto (bed, Z-offset, flow, vibration)

—

Chamber

—

Passive Active-Airflow (no active heating)

Extruder

—

DynaSense servo, ~8.5 kg force

Interface

—

5-inch touchscreen, 1080p camera, USB

Buy →Buy →Buy →

	Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra 16K Elegoo	Bambu Lab A1 Mini Bambu Lab	Bambu Lab P2S Bambu Lab
Score	9.0	9.0	9.2
Price	$499	$219	$549
Verdict	The resin printer to buy in 2026. Unmatched 16K detail with reliability features that finally make resin beginner-friendly — just budget for the messier workflow.	The best first printer in 2026. Small and PLA/PETG-only, but nothing else is this easy or this good at the price. Get the Combo for multicolor.	The safe default for most people: fast, enclosed, reliable, and priced right. Get the AMS 2 Pro Combo if multicolor is even a maybe.
Best for	Miniature painters, tabletop gamers, jewelers, and anyone who needs the sharpest possible detail and is willing to handle resin's messier workflow.	Complete beginners and anyone who wants a printer that just works out of the box for small models, toys, and easy multicolor prints.	Most makers and small print farms who want a reliable, fast, enclosed printer that handles engineering plastics and easy multicolor without paying prosumer prices.
Avoid if	You want to print functional parts, large items, or just want a clean, low-fuss workflow — an FDM machine like the A1 Mini or P2S is the better fit.	You need a larger build area, want to print ABS or engineering materials, or plan to run an automated print farm — look at the full-size A1 or an enclosed CoreXY like the P2S.	You only print single-color PLA on a budget (the A1 Mini wins on cost), or you need active heated-chamber materials like PA-CF or PPS-CF — step up to the H-series for that.
Score breakdown
speed	8.5	8.5	9.0
value	9.0	9.5	9.2
materials	7.5	7.5	8.8
ease of use	8.2	9.6	9.4
build volume	6.5	5.5	7.5
print quality	9.7	8.8	9.3
Specs
Vat	Heated to 30°C; FEP rated 60,000 cycles	—	—
Type	MSLA resin (LCD)	Open-frame bedslinger (FDM)	Enclosed CoreXY (FDM)
Speed	Up to ~150 mm/h	—	—
Smarts	AI camera, auto-leveling, force sensor, Wi-Fi	—	—
Release	Tilt-release vat (lower peel force)	—	—
Software	ChituBox, Lychee Slicer (open)	—	—
Resolution	16K mono LCD	—	—
Build volume	~219 × 123 × 220 mm	180 × 180 × 180 mm	256 × 256 × 256 mm
Noise	—	≤48 dB	—
Hotend	—	Quick-swap all-metal, 300°C	—
Materials	—	PLA, PETG, TPU (no ABS/ASA)	PLA, PETG, TPU, ABS, ASA, composites
Max speed	—	500 mm/s	600 mm/s (20,000 mm/s² accel)
Multicolor	—	Up to 4 colors with AMS Lite (Combo)	Up to 4 colors with AMS 2 Pro (Combo)
Calibration	—	Full auto (bed, Z-offset, flow, vibration)	—
Chamber	—	—	Passive Active-Airflow (no active heating)
Extruder	—	—	DynaSense servo, ~8.5 kg force
Interface	—	—	5-inch touchscreen, 1080p camera, USB
	Buy →	Buy →	Buy →

PickGrade may earn a commission from purchases made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. This never affects our grades. Full disclosure.