Shopping for resin 3d printers can become confusing when two similarly priced items serve completely different stages of the workflow. One can create a model; the other is designed to wash and cure a finished resin print. The clearest way to choose is to decide whether you need printing hardware or post-processing support first.
Quick verdict
Choose the ANYCUBIC Photon Mono 4 if you need to print models. Choose the ANYCUBIC Wash and Cure 3 Plus if you already have an LCD resin printer and need the wash-and-cure stage. The prices are separated by $10, so the job each unit performs is the decisive difference.
Price and role comparison
| Product | Price | Primary role |
|---|---|---|
| ANYCUBIC Photon Mono 4 10K | USD 189.00 | LCD resin printing |
| ANYCUBIC Wash and Cure 3 Plus | USD 179.00 | Washing and lighting-curing |
Where each product wins
- Photon Mono 4 wins for creating prints. It is an LCD resin printer with a laser-engraved build platform, USB 2.0, SD Card, and USB memory interfaces. That makes it the direct pick when the missing hardware is the printer itself.
- Wash & Cure 3 Plus wins for finishing. Its name directly covers washing and lighting-cure for LCD resin 3D printers, while the one-year manufacturer warranty adds a concrete ownership detail. Pick it when the printer is already handled and the next step is post-processing.
Product notes
ANYCUBIC Photon Mono 4 10K Resin 3D Printer
Choose this when the goal is to make resin prints rather than add a finishing station. Its 7-inch 10K Mono LCD, 9024×5120 resolution, and 17×17 μm pixel size align with a fine-detail and smoother-surface focus. The laser-engraved platform 2.0 and USB 2.0, SD Card, and USB memory interfaces clarify its printing setup. The main limitation is its open-box condition, which is different from the Wash & Cure unit's new status. It also addresses printing rather than washing and curing, so it is not the right purchase when post-processing is the immediate need.
ANYCUBIC Wash and Cure 3 Plus
This is the right fit for the finishing stage, not for generating a new model. The Wash and Cure 3 Plus name pairs with lighting-cure use for LCD resin 3D printers, so its role is separate from the Photon Mono 4's printing hardware. Its new condition and one-year manufacturer warranty are concrete reasons to choose it when post-processing is the priority. The limitation is fundamental for a printer shopper: it is a wash-and-cure unit rather than a resin printer, so it cannot replace the Photon Mono 4 for model creation. For someone who already has an LCD resin printer, the wash-and-cure focus is the relevant function.
Final choice by use case
- Need to make resin models? Choose the ANYCUBIC Photon Mono 4. It is the actual printer in this comparison and is built around LCD resin printing.
- Already have the printer and need finishing? Choose the ANYCUBIC Wash and Cure 3 Plus. Its wash-and-cure name matches that next-stage job.
- Choosing one as a first purchase: pick the Photon Mono 4, because the Wash & Cure 3 Plus handles post-processing rather than printing.
