I wasn't expecting to fall head over heels for the Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro. Yes, it prints at a crisp 14K resolution. It also touts high speed results. But so do many of the best 3D printers for miniatures.
Except it actually exceeds those expectations. This is a blisteringly fast machine that gives excellent results with minimal effort on the user's part, and also manages to do better than the Uniformation GKTwo at its own game thanks to a heated resin vat in a smaller design. Honestly? The Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro is in real danger of becoming my go-to resin machine.
Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro features & design
- Speeds up to 170mm/h
- Heated resin vat
- Self-leveling
Speed is the name of the game for this resin 3D printer. Advertising bumph claims that it's capable of 130mm/h with standard resin and 170mm/h with high-speed resin at a 0.1mm layer height, so in theory, you'll blaze through projects fast enough to give your models whiplash. By contrast, the (excellent) Anycubic Photon Mono M5s can only hit speeds up to 105mm/h.
Anycubic has then heaped self-leveling tech and a 14K printing resolution on top of that already attractive proposition. A resin removal/addition system to ensure you never run out of the good stuff (not to mention an air filtration accessory in the box) adds further value. Throw in a dynamic temperature control vat to keep resin toasty and you've got an impressive resume.
The Photon Mono M7 Pro looks the part, too. It ditches bright yellow for a sleek black lid, and opts for a glossy front trimmed with brushed metal instead. While I was surprised to see a physical button underneath the touchscreen, this turns the device on so you don't have to reach around for the switch – a subtle but clever ease-of-use feature.
Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro performance
- Lives up to the promise of speed
- Useable out of the box
- Heated resin vat is a great addition
I wouldn't blame anyone that had mixed feelings about 3D printing; this hardware can be… well, fickle is an understatement. (I'm sure we've all had experiences where prints fail for no obvious reason, and it takes hours of experimentation to get back on track.) However, the Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro defied all of my expectations.
To begin with, it was blissfully easy. It was quite literally a plug-and-play solution that was pumping out high-quality prints within an hour of me booting it up, with no need for leveling or honing settings. This is always my first test for a new machine with self-leveling tech – to see how it copes out of the box.
The results (including props for my D&D campaign) were incredibly handsome thanks to that 14K resolution, but what impressed me more was the speed with which they got rattled off. This machine really is fast; it was capable of finishing a build plate of models for my D&D campaign in a similar amount of time to the Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra and its impressive tilt release technology, which is saying something. It's also much quicker than my previous favorite, the Mono M5s – you're saving at least an hour of printing time by comparison.
What really paid off was the heated vat, though. I haven't given enough thought to the temperature of my printing area in the past, and that's a mistake; cool resin can lead to failures, so even something as simple as leaving the window open for ventilation might cause issues. (I've learned this the hard way.) Not so with the Photon Mono M7 Pro. It keeps resin toasty no matter what, and the problems I've had when using other machines ceased to exist when this got going.
We have seen such technology before, but competitors like the Uniformation GKTwo are much bulkier and take up more space. I appreciate that the Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro doesn't need loads of real estate on your desktop, and I imagine those with smaller work areas will enjoy that as well.
Should you buy the Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro?
The Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro caught me off guard. Its features are more subtle than other machines on the market right now, but they're every bit as impressive in action. If you want a 3D printer that performs flawlessly with minimal effort on your part, you won't be disappointed with this one. Beginners or time-strapped hobbyists are in for a treat.
Is it the best for massive models? Not necessarily – for that sort of task you'll want the Photon M3 Max, or Phrozen's Mega range. But it does have an enviable build volume all the same. It's also able to print at the best resolution you're likely to find in machines occupying this price bracket, so you won't feel left behind in a year or two.
That heated resin vat, smart resin detection, and more elevate the Photon Mono M7 Pro even further.
Buy it if...
Don't buy it if...
How we tested the Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro
I spent around a month testing the Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro on a variety of files, ranging from the Curse of Strahd-inspired models of Loot Studios' Scarlet Requiem to terrain pieces for my Warhammer Kill Team board. I also used it with high-speed, standard, and bio resins.
For more on our testing process, see the GamesRadar+ hardware policy.
For inspiration on what to use your 3D printer on, check out the best tabletop RPGs or the best board games.
