A Beginner’s Guide to Choosing an LCD 3D Printer

Just take a look at all the resin 3D prints in the photo below. Resin 3D printing allows you to print out all types of cool models. You could choose to print out your favorite superheroes such as Wonder Woman or characters from your favorite animes such as Neon Genesis Evangelion. Each 3D model requires the use of distinct LCD 3D printers in order to achieve the perfect results.

The Sonic Mini 4K is best for those just starting out with resin 3D printing. This way, you can get to practice printing out resin 3D prints with 4K resolution. The Sonic Mini 8K is best for professionals, especially those interested in jewelry 3D printing. It can also be used to print out movable resin 3D prints that require extreme precision. Meanwhile, the Sonic Mighty 4K and Sonic Mega 8K are great for printing out large 3D models. 

Sonic Mini 4K - Best for Beginners in Resin 3D Printing

Aimed at beginners, Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K is extremely budget-friendly and easy to use. If you are interested in trying out LCD 3D printing to see what it’s like, the Sonic Mini 4K is the best 3D printer for you.

If you want to print high-resolution 3D models in 4K resolution, Sonic Mini 4K is your best choice. It’s price is lower than the other Phrozen 3D printers and it is perfect for those just starting out their resin 3D printing journey.

Benefits

3D Model Credit: Archvillain Games

Phrozen’s Sonic Mini 4K creates 4K quality 3D models. This resin 3D printer is also easy to use and is currently the most consumer-friendly 4K 3D printer on the market. 

Before you begin printing, you’ll need to look for a 3D file, slice your 3D STL file using CHITUBOX Slicer Software, save it onto a USB, plug that USB into Sonic Mini 4K and then you can begin printing!

For best results, pair the Sonic Mini 4K with Aqua-Gray 4K resin to create all your favorite 3D models.

Features

The Sonic Mini 4K comes with:

• 6.1in Printing Area
• 2.8in Touch Panel
• 35 µm XY Resolution
• 80mm/hour Print Speed

Sonic Mini 8K - Best for Detailed And Extremely Precise 8K Prints 

Surpassing the Sonic Mini 4K, the Sonic Mini 8K is capable of creating hyper realistic prints with the highest resolution ever. With its 7.1” building plate, you’ll have more room than the Sonic Mini 4K to print out all your favorite miniatures on a single building plate, that too with 8K resolution.

With its all-new technology, the Sonic Mini 8K creates sharper and more precise prints than previously possible. 

The Sonic Mini 8K is also ideal for professionals such as jewelry makers as you get to use resin printing to print out a plate full of 3D printed rings down to the tiniest detail. Rest assured as the Sonic Mini 8K produces the most intricate jewelry pieces possible.

Interested in jewelry 3D printing? Check out what the expert says about this amazing printer.

The Sonic Mini 8K works best with our newest Aqua-Gray 8K Resin to print out all sorts of delicate objects such as miniatures, rings, and more with ultra high 8K resolution!

Benefits

The Sonic Mini 8K comes with a host of new features, from a new LED Module to a new building plate! Let’s find out:

The Sonic Mini 8K comes with an all-new Linear Projection LED Module which elongates the optical path length, creating sharper 8K resolution prints and reducing layer lines by up to 50%.

Previously, Phrozen used an LCD display module with LED light which is used as the light source to project a certain light pattern while the LCD screen controls the light pattern. Light is emitted from the LED lamp. It then passes through an LCD screen and is absorbed by the resin. An image of each layer is generated on the LCD screen while an entire layer is hardened at once.

The Sonic Mini 8K comes with dual linear rails for a more stable printing environment and a thicker T-plate which is able to better withstand the pulling force between the 3D prints and FEP film.

The Sonic Mini 8K also comes with an all-new frosted laser cut building plate that ensures that your 3D printed models stick much more firmly onto the building plate, drastically improving your printing success rate.

Sonic Mini 8K S - High-Resolution 8K 3D Printers Made Affordable

If you're interested in Sonic Mini 8K ultra-high resolution, but the price is out of budget for your first LCD 3D printer, you might want to take a look at the Sonic Mini 8K S.

Launched in mid 2023, the Sonic Mini 8K S is Phrozen's solution to further bring 3D printing to the masses. As a more affordable version of the Sonic Mini 8K, the Sonic Mini 8K S offers all the same crucial qualities of the Sonic Mini 8K. See the complete comparison of Sonic Mini 8K and Sonic Mini 8K S to see which of them is more fitting for your needs.

Features

The Sonic Mini 8K and Sonic Mini 8K S comes with:

• 7.1in Printing Area
• 3.5in Touch Panel
• 22 µm XY Resolution
• 80mm/hour Print Speed

Sonic Mighty 4K - Best for Large-Scale Builds

Phrozen’s Sonic Mighty 4K is great for creating mid-sized prints.

Interested in printing sizable 3D models with 4K resolution? Sonic Mighty 4K is the best choice for bringing your most ambitious creations to life.

The Sonic Mighty 4K is suitable for both hobbyists and beginners interested in creating bigger models, though it does come with a higher price tag due to its larger build.

Benefits

Phrozen’s Sonic Mighty 4K prints out large-scale models with 4K resolution and allows you to print out 3D models that are up to 3 times bigger than with the Sonic Mini 4K. This is because the Sonic Mighty 4K has a larger printing area than the Sonic Mini 4K.

Just like the Sonic Mini 4K, you can easily slice your STL file using CHITUBOX Slicer Software, save it onto a USB, plug that USB into Sonic Mighty 4K and start printing!

Using Mono-LCD technology, Sonic Mighty 4K also offers fast printing, creating 1 layer in only 2 seconds!

Sonic Mighty 4K is also great for printing out large-scale models that are used as scenery or terrain. For best results, pair the Sonic Mighty 4K with Aqua-Gray 4K resin to print out high-resolution 3D models that are larger in size.

Features

The Sonic Mighty 4K comes with:

• 9.3in Printing Area
• 2.8in Touch Panel
• 52 µm XY Resolution
• 80mm/hour Print Speed

Sonic Mighty 8K - Best for Large Models with Intricate Details

Want to have the details of Sonic Mini 8K but feels like the printing area is a tad too small for you? Then you might be interested in Phrozen newest innovation: Sonic Mighty 8K. The Sonic Mighty 8K was specially designed for creators who want to increase their working efficiency without sacrificing any details. 

It’s also super beginner friendly with an on-screen complete tutorial setup that will guide you through every step of the process including the LCD test, Z-axis calibration, and even your first test print. Even more, the new software on Sonic Mighty 8K allows for a more seamless printing experience with twelve different languages for you to choose from and the option to name your printer.

Benefits

In terms of benefits, Sonic Mighty 8K definitely packs a punch! It’s compact while still providing a great amount of printing area. You can print out larger models in comparison to the Sonic Mini 8K, or you can print a bunch of small ones at once. It’s a no-brainer on how versatile this 3D printer is. 

Sonic Mighty 8K is also equipped with a front USB port for a more streamlined process. No more reaching out all the way to the back and plugging it in blindly. Or if you are someone clumsy and you find plugging your USB in and out is a recipe for losing it, then this is the right printer for you. The Sonic Mighty 8K supports internet transfer through Wi-Fi or Ethernet so you need to worry about the USB no more. 

Features

The Sonic Mighty 8K comes with:

• 10” Printing Area
• 23.5 cm z-axis
• 28 µm XY Resolution
• 70 mm/hour Print Speed

Sonic Mega 8K - Best for Ginormous 3D Models With 8K Details

Looking to create even larger 3D prints? Then Sonic Mega 8K is the perfect resin 3D printer for you!

With the Sonic Mega 8K, you get to print out extremely large 3D printed models that are almost twice the size of those printed with the Sonic Mighty 4K, that too with 8K resolution.

In the past, printing out super-huge 3D printed models meant that you would have to sacrifice precision for size. With the Sonic Mega 8K, you won’t need to worry about losing any of the details.

With a whopping 15in printing area, you can use the Sonic Mega 8K to create all sorts of large-scale 3D printed models from large face masks to helmets, body armor, or even this frightening monster with striking 8K resolution.

Benefits

Unlike other Phrozen 3D printers, the Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K comes with a pre-calibrated building plate so that you can start with resin printing ASAP! And just like the Sonic Mini 8K, the Sonic Mega 8K also comes with dual linear rails that provide a stable printing environment, so that you no longer need to worry about wobbly 3D prints.

The Sonic Mega 8K works best with Aqua-Ivory 4K or Aqua-Gray 4K Resin to create extremely large-scale 3D printed models with ultimate 8K precision.

Check out the step-by-step tutorial on how to set up your Sonic Mega 8K.

Features

The Sonic Mega 8K comes with:

• 15in Printing Area
• 43 µm XY Resolution
• 70mm/hour Print Speed
• 40 cm Z-Axis

Sonic Mega 8K S - High Quality, But Affordable

Similar to the Sonic Mini 8K S, the Sonic Mega 8K S is Phrozen's take to bring large-format 3D printing to an affordable price point. Launched at the end of 2023, it has joined Phrozen's line of 8K printers. Read our comparison guide to understand the differences between the Sonic Mega 8K and Sonic Mega 8K S.

Benefits

The Sonic Mega 8K S has the same LCD size with the original Sonic Mega 8K, but it came with a new system and motherboard that escalates the Sonic Mega 8K S printing speed up to 900 layers/hour, significantly makes 3D printing large models faster and more efficient.

Learn how to set up your Sonic Mega 8K S printer for the first time in the video below:

Features

The Sonic Mega 8K S comes with:

• 15in Printing Area
• 43 µm XY Resolution
• 900 layers/hour Print Speed
• 30 cm Z-Axis

Sonic Mini 4K

The Sonic Mini 4K is best for beginners just starting out in their resin 3D printing journey. It has a smaller printing area and is much more affordable than the other Phrozen 3D printers, but at the same time, it is also capable of printing with 4K resolution.

Sonic Mini 8K

With 8K resolution, the Sonic Mini 8K is capable of creating prints with twice the resolution of the Sonic Mini 4K and Sonic Mighty 4K, creating the sharpest prints possible. Use the Sonic Mini 8K to create anything from detailed miniatures to intricate jewelry pieces.

Sonic Mighty 4K

With an extended printing area, the Sonic Mighty 4K is capable of printing out 3D models that are 3 times larger than with the Sonic Mini 4K. Just like the Sonic Mini 4K, the Sonic Mighty 4K also prints with 4K resolution; though it has a higher price tag than the Sonic Mini 4K due to its larger build.

Sonic Mighty 8K

Equipped with an outstanding 10in printing area and 23.5 cm tall z-axis, you can print larger models in a full 8K resolution. Sonic Mighty 8K is the best choice for those who need Sonic Mini 8K resolution, but more printing space so they can maximize their productivity and efficiency.

Sonic Mega 8K

With a whopping 15in printing area, the Sonic Mega 8K is our largest 3D printer yet. With the Sonic Mega 8K, you get to print out extremely large 3D printed models with stunning 8K details.

Want to know which resins work best for beginners? Click here to read our beginners' guide for choosing resin.