Some solid specs on this printer. XY resolution of 14 × 19 μm. Solid construction (dual rails, all-metal frame, screw drive). Has a resin heater. Price is just over $800. I'm sorely tempted...
https://us.phrozen3d.com/pages/mighty-revo-16k?utm_source=Phrozen%20Klaviyo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=campaign_us_mightyrevo16K_VVVIP_20250916&utm_term=phrozen_us
Although Phrozen is an excellent brand, there are a few things about their new Phrozen Sonic Mighty Revo 16K printer that should be taken into account when compared with the Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra 16K.
First, the resolution is exactly the same for both machines...no advantage to the Phrozen machine as far as print quality is concerned. The resolution is advertised for both machines as being 15120 X 6230 dpi (dots per inch), but the build area on the Phrozen machine is larger, with the diagonal screen distance of the Elegoo being 9.54", while the Phrozen is larger at 10.12", with both machines having a 14micron X 19micron rectangular pixel size.
Phrozen is advertising their LCD as a "Next-Gen LCD", which would account for the larger X-Y print dimensions maybe, or perhaps it's just a slightly larger LCD.
The Phrozen has a larger build volume, with larger X-Y measurements as well as a larger Z axis measurement, being fractionally larger than the Elegoo with a Z axis advantage of 15mm. This may or may not be significant for your application.
Both machines have heaters that set the temperature of the resin at 30 C. However the Phrozen uses a less efficient and less consistent space heater that heats the air inside the cover, rather than a heated resin vat like the Elegoo machine has which directly heats the resin rather than the air inside the cover. I much prefer the Elegoo's heating protocol over the Phrozen's.
Both machines have a tilt-cover, which I prefer over the take-it-off covers on older machines.
Although Phrozen usually produces excellent quality machines, and this one is advertised as having a robust aluminum "full metal frame", with a precision ball-screw for Z-axis movement (all good things) I don't have any spec's to indicate the Elegoo machine is less well-built.
However, Phrozen advertises that this machine has a "Next-Gen LCD" with more durability, better heat resistance, improved light uniformity and an improved MTTF of 2,000 hrs. But, there aren't any actual specifications I can find to compare the durability/quality of the Phrozen LCD with the Elegoo LCD. Evidently, the LCD's are different, and Elegoo doesn't say much about the LCD on their machine, perhaps assuming that because it's a 16K LCD, it's understood it has features that improve it over previous lower resolution LCD's, so I can't say which is superior until I see Elegoo's LCD specifications.
Elegoo, in its machine spec's, states it has an advanced COBB Light Source plus a Fresnel Collimating Lens. Phrozen has no published machine spec's yet, but, it's important to note that print quality is achieved through both the light source/Collimating Lens, and the LCD...not just the LCD, so I can't say which light source is superior until I see Phrozen's light source specifications.
Speaking of LCD's, I do like it that the Phrozen machine's LCD can be replaced very quickly and easily, in a claimed 1 minute replacement time. I have no information on how complicated or simple changing the LCD in the Elegoo machine is, but, I'm pretty sure that it's not as simple as the Phrozen machine.
Elegoo's main advantage IMO is their Tilt-Release protocol, which makes the process of 3D printing at least half as complicated as compared to usual non-tilting machines. I was skeptical at first about this feature, but since it was introduced I haven't read anything about problems with the internal mechanism or with anything dealing with wear and decreasing accuracy. I have a very good friend who bought the Elegoo Saturn 4 14K...the predecessor to the Saturn 4 Ultra 16K, and he is totally happy with the Tilt-Release technology on his machine. Although I am happy with both of my active 3D printers that don't have this feature, for my next 10" machine, it is one of the main reasons I am choosing the Elegoo Saturn Ultra.
I am going to consider the Elegoo as a faster printing machine because of the Tilt-Release technology, but, I don't have specifications yet for the Phrozen. My Anycubic Photon 7 Max is a very fast printer because of the unique Anycubic printing algorithm, but at only 7K and with a very large 15" LCD, its resolution probably isn't suitable for finely detailed N-scale prints. You'll notice that at the Phrozen site that a fast print speed for the Sonic Mighty Revo 16K isn't even stated as a feature. Elegoo, on the other hand, emphasizes that the Tilt-Release feature increases print speed significantly, calling it "Blazing Fast" at a maximum of 150mm per hour, which would be a distinct advantage when printing high resolution layers on tall prints if it is indeed significantly faster than the Phrozen machine.
Both machines have an improved camera, which is irrelevant to me since I perceive no necessity for one. They both have debris and print failure sensing. They both have WiFi although with different features I'm sure...I didn't compare them since I don't use WiFi on any of my machines.
The Phrozen machine has a nice-sized horizontal front LCD, while the Elegoo has a vertical mounted front LCD. I prefer the horizontally mounted LCD on the Phrozen which allows larger letters and symbols.
Lastly, the price. The present pre-order and sale price for these machines puts the Phrozen at $200.00 more expensive than the Elegoo...$699.99 vs $499.99. Is it worth the extra $200 bucks??
Additionally, the Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra 16K is ready to ship right now. You'll have to wait for the Phrozen Sonic Mighty Revo 16K
For me, the Elegoo machine offers significant advantages over the Phrozen as far as print speed, ease of setup for different and/or new resins, resin vat heating, availability and price. Features that are superior on the Phrozen machine are mostly convenience oriented, such as the horizontal front LCD and the simpler build plate. The one feature the Phrozen machine has that may be significant is the larger print volume, particularly the Z-axis measurement which is nearly an inch taller. One other potential Phrozen feature is upgradeability. Phrozen often offers upgrades when LCD technology improves. With the ease of the Phrozen machine's LCD replacement, I would prognosticate that when a higher resolution LCD becomes available, an upgrade will be made available. Elegoo, on the other hand, doesn't seem too concerned about upgrading.
Something to think about in any case.
Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore
