Anycubic Photon Ultra aims to deliver precision 3D printing at an affordable price

Photon Ultra
Photon Ultra (Image credit: Anycubic)

What you need to know

  • Anycubic launched its Kickstarter for the Photon Ultra 3D printer.
  • It is the "world's first affordable, high-precision DLP 3D printer for consumers," according to Anycubic.
  • The Anycubic Photon Ultra will be available for Kickstarter backers for $499 and will cost more than $599 when it becomes available through Amazon.

Anycubic, the maker of some of the best 3D printers under $1,000, launched a Kickstarter today for the Anycubic Photon Ultra. It is a DLP 3D printer that aims to bring precision printing to an affordable price point. Anycubic calls it the "world's first affordable, high-precision DLP 3D printer for consumers." The 3D printer is available for Kickstarter backers for $499, though the first 100 backers can get it for $399. Once the Photon Ultra becomes available through Amazon, it will cost over $599.

Our 3D printing expert James Bricknell has reviewed several devices from Anycubic, including the Anycubic Photon and Anycubic Photon Mono.

High-precision printing is one of the main draws of DLP 3D printing. Anycubic claims that despite the Photo Ultra being rated at a resolution of 720p that it delivers better printing quality than 2K and 4K monochrome LCD screen printers. This is due to the nature of using projection technology compared to LCD screens.

The projection setup also improves durability. Anycubic states that the Photon Ultra can be used to print for 20,000 hours.

The Photon Ultra promises impressive figures, including print speeds of around 1.5s per layer and 16x anti-aliasing for smoother edges and corners.

Its specs should allow it to compete with the best budget 3D printers, but we'll have to try it out to properly judge it.

As with any Kickstarter project, it's important to do your research before backing.

Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He's covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean's journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_. 

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