Elegoo Mars 2 vs Elegoo Mars 2 Pro In-Depth Comparison
Elegoo aren’t great at naming their products. You might even think the Mars 2 and Mars 2 Pro are the same printer. Today we’ll try to clear up the confusion by going over the differences between these two printers in a comprehensive Mars 2 vs Mars 2 Pro comparison. What’s different, what’s the same, and which one is right for you? Keep reading to find out.
Elegoo Mars 2 Specs
The Mars 2 features a a 5.1” x 3.1” x 5.9” build volume and uses a 2K monochrome LCD. An all-aluminum body includes a sanded build platform, though notably the resin vat is made from plastic in this model.
Expect layer exposure times between 2-seconds and 4-seconds thanks to the Mars 2’s strong UV power source and monochrome LCD. If you’re used to an RGB LCD printer, like the original Mars, the Mars 2 cuts your print time in half.
The Mars 2’s UI is fairly simple, including a single USB port and a passable touchscreen. Of course, the Mars 2 is also compatible with ChituBox slicing. Read more with our full Mars 2 review.
Elegoo Mars 2 Pro Specs
The Mars 2 and Mars 2 Pro share similar specs, including their build volume. The Mars 2 Pro boasts a slightly larger print area measuring 5.1” x 3.1” x 6.1”. Both share the same hardware, too, with the same 2K monochrome LCD and COB LED light structure. That means the Mars 2 Pro meets the same 2-second exposure times for ultra-fast printing.
The design hasn’t changed much either, nor has the user interface. There’s a single USB port, the same monochrome touchscreen interface, and the same pull-off acrylic cover. The exception here is that the Mars 2 Pro uses an air filtration system to reduce the unpleasant odor associated with SLA printing. We go into more depth with our full Mars 2 Pro review.
Elegoo Mars 2 vs Elegoo Mars 2 Pro Similarities
There are a lot of similarities between these printers, the most important of which is print quality. Both produce the same quality of model, which is very good with minimal layer lines and fantastically small details. That’s because they use the exact same printing hardware as one another.
They both feature the same Z-axis stability setup, the same monochrome LCD, and the same COB LED array. They both use the same motherboard and UI. In fact, both the Mars 2 and Mars 2 Pro even use the same tried and true design Elegoo chose for the original Mars. From a distance, the only difference between these printers is the color of the cover.
Elegoo Mars 2 vs Elegoo Mars 2 Pro Differences
In our opinion, the biggest difference between the Mars 2 and Mars 2 Pro is price. The Mars 2 Pro is quite a bit more expensive than the Mars 2, which is a serious consideration when both are meant to be budget options.
For a higher pricetag, the Mars 2 Pro offers air filtration via carbon filter and rubber cover seal. Perhaps the best upgrade is Mars 2 Pro’s aluminum resin vat, which is superior to the Mars 2’s plastic vat. Finally, the Mars 2 Pro’s print area is 0.4” taller than the Mars 2’s.
Whether these differences justify the price is up to you, but we think that the Mars 2 will meet most people’s needs.
Elegoo Mars 2 vs Elegoo Mars 2 Pro Comparison Verdict
While there are differences between these two printers, none of these changes effect print quality. For that reason, the Mars 2 is the obvious choice for most people. Even if you insist on features found on the Mars 2 Pro, like the fume mitigation or aluminum resin vat, we recommend another printer like the Creality LD-00H instead. This printer does everything the Mars 2 Pro does at the Mars 2’s price.
