Shopping for resin 3D printers gets difficult when two similarly priced choices serve different stages of the workflow. The ELEGOO Mars 5 is built around creating resin prints, while the ANYCUBIC Wash and Cure 3 Plus is aimed at handling prints after they are made. Choosing the right one depends first on whether you need a printer or a wash-and-cure unit.
Quick verdict
Choose the ELEGOO Mars 5 if you need a desktop machine that actually produces resin prints. Its title and description point to a 4K Mono LCD, one-click automatic leveling, residue detection, and alerts for resin shortages and leveling failures.
Choose the ANYCUBIC Wash and Cure 3 Plus if you already have an LCD resin printer and need the wash-and-cure stage. Its title, model name, and listed compatibility with LCD printers make its role clear. These are not interchangeable purchases, even though both are presented alongside resin-printing equipment.
Price and feature snapshot
| Choice | Listed role | Notable listed detail | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELEGOO Mars 5 | Resin 3D printer | 4K Mono LCD and automatic leveling | USD 217.49 |
| ANYCUBIC Wash and Cure 3 Plus | Wash-and-cure unit | Lighting-Cure and compatibility with LCD resin printers | USD 179.00 |
Where each product wins
- ELEGOO Mars 5 wins for print creation. The product title explicitly identifies it as a resin 3D printer, and the description adds one-click automatic leveling. That combination is the more relevant fit for a shopper starting with the printing stage.
- ANYCUBIC Wash and Cure 3 Plus wins for post-print handling. The Wash and Cure 3 Plus model name and lighting-cure description directly match a cleanup and curing role. The description also names Photon Mono M5s and Saturn 3 series printers as suitable companions.
- The price decision comes second. The listed prices are separated by $38.49, but that spread only matters after deciding which stage of resin printing needs equipment.
Product notes
ELEGOO Mars 5
The ELEGOO Mars 5 is the clearer choice when the main job is creating resin prints. Its title combines Resin 3D Printer, 4K Mono LCD, and Automatic Leveling, while the description adds one-click automatic leveling for a simpler setup path. Residue detection and alarms for resin shortages and leveling failures are also named features, giving the machine a print-focused set of controls. The limitation is its role: the description centers on printing, so it is a poor match for someone specifically looking for a wash-and-cure station. At USD 217.49, it is also the higher-priced choice in this comparison. Pick it for the machine stage, not as a replacement for dedicated post-print handling equipment.
ANYCUBIC Wash and Cure 3 Plus
The ANYCUBIC Wash and Cure 3 Plus makes sense when post-processing is the missing step in an LCD resin-printing setup. Its title calls out Wash and Cure 3 Plus, Lighting-Cure, and Big-Size, and the model is also identified as Wash&Cure 3 Plus. The description names LCD printers including Photon Mono M5s and Saturn 3 series as suitable companions. Its concrete limitation is functional: the specifications list 3D Technology as NO, so it should not be selected as the machine that creates resin models. At USD 179.00, it is the lower-priced choice, but its listed role remains wash and cure rather than desktop resin printing.
Final choice by use case
- Need to make resin prints: Choose the ELEGOO Mars 5 for its resin-printer role, 4K Mono LCD, and automatic-leveling feature.
- Already own an LCD resin printer and need post-processing: Choose the ANYCUBIC Wash and Cure 3 Plus for its explicitly named wash-and-cure function and listed LCD-printer compatibility.
- Comparing cost after the role is settled: The Mars 5 is USD 217.49 and the ANYCUBIC unit is USD 179.00, a $38.49 spread. That makes the choice straightforward: buy the Mars 5 to print, or the ANYCUBIC unit to wash and cure.
