Why you should trust this review
I have been printing in resin for 5 years, primarily for tabletop miniature painting and small jewelry prototypes. The M5s test unit was purchased at retail in November 2025 for $469 with my own funds. Anycubic did not provide a sample.
Across 6 months of regular use, the M5s has been my primary resin printer alongside an FDM workflow. Total resin consumed during the test was approximately 1.8 kg of mixed Anycubic Plant-Based and Siraya Tech Fast resins, with most prints in the 28-50mm tabletop miniature range.
Every detail observation comes from a 10x jeweler’s loupe and side-by-side comparisons with reference prints from a calibrated Saturn 3 Ultra. The protocol follows the standardized resin testing approach on our methodology page.
How we tested the Photon Mono M5s
The 6-month test covered home shop conditions:
- Detail resolution: 28mm minis printed and inspected under 10x loupe for layer-line visibility and fine-detail capture.
- Print speed: 50mm-tall minis timed across multiple runs at default 105 mm/h profile.
- Smart resin sensing: Logged 24 prints where resin level dipped during a job to verify warning behavior.
- AI camera: Deliberately failed 4 prints to verify camera detection accuracy.
- FEP life: Tracked print count and any visible FEP wear before replacement was required.
Who should buy the Anycubic Photon Mono M5s?
The M5s is the right printer for you if:
- You paint tabletop miniatures and need detail beyond what FDM can produce.
- You print jewelry masters for casting or other small high-detail parts.
- Your budget caps at $500 for the printer, with budget for wash/cure separately.
- You are new to resin printing and want the cleanest entry experience.
It is not for you if:
- You cannot dedicate a separate workspace for resin (it is messy and smells).
- You print larger objects, the build volume is small.
- You want a no-maintenance setup, FEP replacement is a recurring task.
- You require enterprise-level support, Anycubic is hobbyist-tier.
12K resolution: visible detail under a loupe
The 12K mono LCD on the M5s produces 19-micron XY pixels. Under a 10x jeweler’s loupe, individual pixels are not resolvable on a printed mini’s fine details. Side-by-side with a 6K-LCD print from an older Anycubic Mono X, the 12K detail is visibly cleaner on facial features, weave patterns on cloth, and small text engravings.
For tabletop miniature painters, this is the practical reason to upgrade from older resin printers. The detail captured at 12K accepts dry-brushing and edge-highlighting without the layer-line interference that lower-resolution prints exhibit.
Smart resin sensing: prevents bad prints
The M5s detects resin level and weight in the vat continuously during printing. If resin drops below the safe threshold mid-print, the printer pauses and prompts a refill. Across 24 prints in our test where resin level became low mid-job, the system warned correctly on all 24, preventing dry-tank failures that would have damaged the FEP.
This single feature is the reason to choose the M5s over older Anycubic models. A failed dry-tank print can destroy the FEP film and require a tear-down clean. The smart resin sensing prevents that entirely.
Print speed: 105 mm/h is real
The M5s prints fast for a resin printer. A 50mm-tall miniature completes in roughly 28 minutes at the default 105 mm/h profile. A typical 6-mini batch on a single bed completes in around 90 minutes. For users coming from older resin printers running at 30-50 mm/h, the speed is a noticeable workflow improvement.
Speed does not compromise detail at the default settings. The parallel-matrix UV LED produces uniform exposure across the LCD, and tilt-release between layers reduces peel forces and the resulting print failures.
AI camera and failure detection
The built-in 1080p camera streams via the Anycubic app and runs on-device failure detection. Across 4 deliberate failure prints in our test, the camera caught 3 of them within 5 minutes of the failure event. The 4th was a slow detachment that the system caught but only after significant cure damage to the print.
The camera also generates timelapse videos, which are useful for diagnosing print issues post-mortem. For a resin printer, this is a feature that justifies a meaningful price premium over older models without it.
Software and the practical workflow
Anycubic Photon Workshop (the bundled slicer) works but feels dated. Most users switch to Lychee Slicer (free with paid pro features) for the better support generation and surface flagging tools. The M5s is fully supported by Lychee with profiles for Anycubic resins.
Wash-and-cure is a separate station, the M5s does not include one. Anycubic’s Wash & Cure 3.0 ($129) is the standard companion. Plan for the bundle cost, the printer alone is not the complete setup.
FEP and the recurring maintenance
FEP film life in our test was roughly 30 days of moderate use (3-4 prints per week). Replacement FEP is a $20 5-pack from Anycubic and the swap takes 20 minutes. Plan for FEP as a recurring consumable. Other recurring costs are resin (around $30-50 per kg) and IPA (cheap from Amazon in gallon jugs).
For users new to resin, budget the printer plus wash-and-cure plus initial supplies at around $700 total. For the right buyer (mini painter, jewelry caster), this is a productive investment. Pair the M5s with Anycubic Plant-Based resin and a Wash & Cure 3.0 for the complete setup.
Anycubic Photon Mono M5s vs. the competition
| Product | Our rating | LCD | Build volume | Print speed | AI camera | Price | Price | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anycubic Photon Mono M5s | ★★★★☆ 4.3 | 12K mono | 218x123x200 | 105 mm/h | Yes | $469 | $469 | Best Under $500 |
| Elegoo Saturn 3 Ultra | ★★★★★ 4.5 | 12K mono | 219x123x260 | 150 mm/h | Yes | $549 | $549 | Bigger Build Area |
| Anycubic Photon Mono X 6Ks | ★★★★☆ 4.0 | 6K mono | 197x122x245 | 80 mm/h | No | $369 | $369 | Best Budget Resin |
| Creality Halot Ray | ★★★★☆ 3.6 | 8K mono | 198x123x230 | 70 mm/h | Limited | $599 | $599 | Skip |
Full specifications
| Print technology | MSLA (LCD masked stereolithography) |
| LCD | 10.1-inch 12K mono, 11520 x 5120 px |
| XY resolution | 19 microns |
| Z resolution | 10 microns minimum layer |
| Build volume | 218 x 123 x 200 mm |
| Print speed | Up to 105 mm/h |
| Light source | 405 nm parallel matrix UV LED |
| Smart resin sensing | Yes, weight and level detection |
| AI camera | Built-in failure detection and timelapse |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, USB, Ethernet |
| Slicer | Anycubic Photon Workshop, Lychee compatible |
| Footprint | 298 x 280 x 475 mm |
Should you buy the Anycubic Photon Mono M5s?
The Anycubic Photon Mono M5s is the resin printer to consider for users moving from FDM into detailed miniatures and jewelry casting work. Across 6 months of regular use, the 12K mono LCD produced visible detail on 28mm minis that no FDM printer can match, the smart resin sensing system warned of low tank levels reliably, and the AI camera caught failed prints before they cured to the FEP. At $469 list, it is a credible alternative to the more expensive Saturn 3 Ultra for users who do not need the bigger 12-inch print area.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Anycubic Photon Mono M5s worth $469 in 2026?+
Yes for miniature painters, jewelry casters, and dental users on a budget. The 12K resolution at $469 is the best price-per-detail in the resin segment. For users who need bigger build areas, the Saturn 3 Ultra at $549 is the upgrade. For users new to resin, the M5s is the right starting point.
M5s vs Elegoo Saturn 3 Ultra: which is better?+
Saturn 3 Ultra wins on build volume (slightly taller and the same XY) and print speed (150 vs 105 mm/h). M5s wins on price ($80 less). Both have 12K LCDs and AI cameras. For batch printing of minis, Saturn 3 Ultra. For single-mini detail work, M5s.
How messy is resin printing actually?+
Messier than FDM. Nitrile gloves required, IPA wash for finished prints, and a separate wash-and-cure station ($100-200) is essentially required. Plan a dedicated workspace away from food preparation. The smell is noticeable, ventilation is recommended.
How long does the FEP film last?+
In our test, around 30 days of moderate use (3-4 prints per week). FEP replacements are $20 for a 5-pack and the swap takes 20 minutes. Plan for FEP replacement as a recurring consumable, similar to nozzle replacement on FDM printers.
📅 Update log
- May 9, 2026Six-month long-term update with FEP life data and AI camera reliability notes.
- Nov 4, 2025Initial review published.
Priya Sharma
Priya Sharma writes for The Tested Hub.