Elegoo Mars 3 Pro review

What the Mars 3 Pro was, and why it is not the answer now

For a long stretch the Mars 3 Pro was the printer I pointed everyone at. 35 micron 4K pixels at this price was genuinely unbeatable when it launched in 2022. The tempered glass screen protection meant that the inevitable early resin spill from a nervous first-timer would not immediately write off the LCD. The build volume was the largest in its price tier at the time. I understood why it was the recommendation because it was mine.

Today the Mars 4 exists at almost identical money with 18 micron pixels. That ended the Mars 3 Pro’s run as the beginner printer, and no amount of nostalgia for how good it was at the time changes that arithmetic.

What it is and what it is not

The Mars 3 Pro is a Gen 3 35 micron 4K resin printer released in 2022. Build volume is 143 x 89 x 175 mm. It ships with tempered glass protecting the LCD and an active carbon filter with user-replaceable carbon media. Those two features above the base Mars 3 were the entire case for the Pro upcharge when it was current.

What it is not is a printer with a straightforward recommendation in 2026. It is out of stock. The 35 micron pixel size sits in a strange position: meaningfully better than the 50 micron Gen 2 machines, but so far behind the 18 micron Mars 4 at the same price that the comparison is uncomfortable. Tempered glass still matters, but the Mars 4 Ultra has that too and prints at 18 microns.

What it gets right

The 4K screen quality was the step change this printer delivered. Going from 50 micron 2K screens to 35 micron 4K was visible on miniature faces, on fine armour detailing, on anything at 28mm scale that you cared about. The build volume gave you room to run proper batch sizes, fitting 15 or more supported infantry models per plate. Out of the box, first prints succeeded consistently, which matters for beginners who have not yet developed calibration instincts.

The tempered glass screen protection is the feature I would still point to as genuinely useful. An unprotected LCD panel on a resin printer is a risk every time you remove the VAT or pour resin. Tempered glass removes that risk. On the base Mars 3, you poured without that safety net. On the Pro, you did not.

The carbon filter with replaceable media was a reasonable attempt at making indoor printing less unpleasant. In practice the filter creates a false sense of safety. Good ventilation remains non-negotiable regardless of whether a filter is fitted. That said, user-replaceable carbon is a better design than the Mars 2 Pro’s permanently sealed unit.

What it does not get right

The fans run from the moment the printer powers on and they do not stop until you switch it off. There is no idle speed, no quiet mode. During motor movement the pitch changes noticeably. If the printer is in a dedicated room with the door closed this is a manageable background noise. If it is on a desk in a room you also use for other things, it becomes the defining experience of owning this machine.

The levelling mechanism requires patience. The screws are tight enough that a first-time owner applying too much force risks pulling the build plate out of true. It is not a hard process once you know the technique, but the manual provides poor guidance on exactly this step.

The 35 micron pixel size, which was the headline spec when this printer launched, is now the thing that makes it hard to recommend. The Mars 4 at almost the same price prints at 18 microns. That is nearly half the pixel size, which is a visible difference on 28mm scale faces and fine detail. The Mars 3 Pro is not a bad printer; it has simply been comprehensively surpassed by its successor.

Honest verdict

The Mars 3 Pro earned its time as the beginner recommendation and it earned it honestly. The build quality was solid, the print quality was excellent for the price, and the tempered glass protection was a feature no other printer at that tier offered. I am glad I had it when I did.

In 2026 the honest call is to direct any first-time buyer straight to the Mars 4. The resolution gap between 35 and 18 microns is large enough to matter, and the price gap is small enough to ignore. If you find a working Mars 3 Pro second hand for well under $100, it is still a capable machine. For anyone starting fresh, it is not the right answer any more.

For the full comparison of current and recent resin printers, the resin printer buying guide has the table.

Pros

• 35 micron 4K screen brought genuine print quality to a price tier that had previously only managed 50 micron 2K resolution.
• Tempered glass screen protection is a real upgrade that protects a $60 LCD panel from the kind of resin spill that ruins a print session.
• Build volume of 143 x 89 x 175 mm fits 15 or more supported 28mm miniatures per batch, which was class-leading at this price when it shipped.
• Stable, level build plate with a surface texture that grips reliably without violent adhesion.
• Fully assembled out of the box with print quality that is good from the first session.

Cons

• Fans run continuously from power-on with no idle shutoff, which is maddening when the printer sits on a desk in a room you occupy.
• The Mars 4 now sells at very similar money with 18 micron pixels, making the 35 micron screen on this machine no longer the reason to spend the money.
• Manual is confusing and the safety guidance is incomplete, which is a real problem for beginners handling resin for the first time.
• The levelling screw design is fiddly enough that over-tightening shifts the plate out of true.
• Out of stock, which makes the comparison to the Mars 4 purely academic for new buyers.

Who it is for

Second hand buyers who find a working unit well below $100 and want a capable 35 micron printer. No one buying new in 2026.

Who it is not for

First-time buyers choosing their first resin printer today. The Mars 4 at the same price gives you 18 micron pixels. The Pro cannot compete on resolution.

What I would buy instead

The Elegoo Mars 4 at $149 gives you 18 micron pixels where the Mars 3 Pro gives you 35. Both printers sit in the same price neighbourhood. The Mars 4 is the obvious choice.

Last reviewed 1 May 2026.