If you’ve spent any amount of time around the 3D printing side of the internet, you already know one thing:
People LOVE to argue about printers. Especially resin printers. Apparently every machine is either “the greatest thing ever made” or “literally unusable garbage”
There is no middle ground.
So after living with the Anycubic Photon P1 for about five months, I wanted to talk about what this printer is actually like long term, beyond the honeymoon phase. Because the real question isn’t, “Can this printer make a detailed print?” Almost every modern resin printer can. The real question is, Will you still WANT to use it five months later?
And surprisingly… for me, the answer has been yes.
If you want to check out the P1 yourself, you can grab it here:
Anycubic Official Store
My First Resin Printer Experience
Something important to understand before this review:
The Anycubic Photon P1 was my first resin printer.
So unlike some reviewers who have been elbow-deep in uncured resin since the dawn of civilization, my perspective comes more from:
- comparing resin printing to FDM printing
- ease of use
- reliability over time
- how approachable this machine feels for normal humans
And honestly?
The internet had me convinced resin printing was going to be:
- horrifyingly complicated
- unbelievably messy
- a guaranteed disaster
Now to be fair…
It is messier than FDM printing, Like significantly… Like “how did resin get THERE?” levels of messy. But the P1 does a surprisingly good job minimizing the chaos.
The Features That Actually Matter in Daily Use
One thing I appreciate about the P1 is that many of the quality-of-life features feel designed by people who actually use resin printers.
Some standouts:
- Single-hand release clamps
- Resin pour spout built directly into the vat
- Heated vat system
- Built-in camera and light
- AirPure filtration support
- Large resin capacity
These sound small individually, but together they genuinely improve day-to-day usability.
The heated vat especially deserves attention. If you live somewhere cold or want to experiment with engineering resins, temperature consistency matters a LOT more than many beginners realize.
The Biggest Surprise: Reliability
This is honestly the thing that shocked me most.
I fully expected:
- failed prints
- peeling layers
- endless troubleshooting
- ritual sacrifices to the resin gods
Instead? The P1 mostly just… prints.
And as somebody who likes MAKING projects more than endlessly diagnosing machines, that matters a lot.
At least according to their product team the biggest contributor here appears to be Anycubic’s Wave Release Film technology.
The textured release film helps prints separate more efficiently during printing, which can:
- reduce support requirements
- improve stability
- increase print success rates
And in my experience? It genuinely works.
I’ve thrown some pretty questionable orientations and overloaded build plates at this machine and it just keeps going.
Print Quality After 5 Months
Here’s the thing about resin printing, your standards get ruined VERY quickly. The first time you see a detailed resin print coming from FDM printing, your brain basically short-circuits. The level of detail the Anycubic Photon P1 produces is still wildly impressive even months later.
Tiny details.
Sharp edges.
Textured surfaces.
Miniatures.
Mechanical parts.
Keycaps.
It still consistently delivers excellent results.
And importantly:
it’s still doing that after months of use. Not just during a perfect first-week demo period.
Is Resin Printing Actually Worth It?
This was my biggest question going in.
Because let’s be honest:
a lot of hobby machines eventually become expensive furniture.
I’ve owned:
- laser engravers
- Cricuts
- CNC machines
- random maker gadgets etc.. you name it Ive tried it
Some of them absolutely collected dust.
But resin printing unlocked projects I simply couldn’t achieve on FDM printers.
The level of detail changes what kinds of things become possible.
That alone kept me coming back to the P1.
Let’s Talk About the Downsides
No printer is perfect.
And there are definitely a few things I’d love to see improved in a future P2 (if thats ever even a thing.)
Resin Drips on the Front
When removing the build plate, there are clips designed to hold it while resin drips off.
In theory:
great idea.
In practice:
if your coordination is bad like mine, resin occasionally ends up running down the front of the machine.
Not catastrophic.
Just mildly annoying.
The Lid Clip
The build plate clip prevents the lid from closing if left up.
Again:
totally understandable feature somthing has to hold the plate in place.
But occasionally it creates the same emotional energy as getting your pocket caught on a door handle.
Tiny inconvenience.
Maximum irritation.
Flex Plates Should Be Standard
I finally tried a magnetic flex plate after ignoring recommendations forever.
And honestly?
I don’t want to go back.
Being able to flex the plate and instantly release prints is SUCH a quality-of-life improvement.
At this point I genuinely think most resin printer owners should consider one.
Resin Safety and Ventilation
One thing I want to be careful about, I am not a doctor In fact I barely survived college. But resin safety does matter.
My personal setup includes:
- respirator with organic vapor cartridges
- dedicated maker room
- ventilation
- air purifier
- enclosed printer setup
For me, that setup feels comfortable. But everybody’s risk tolerance is different. I personally would NOT run a resin printer:
- next to my bed
- in a kitchen
- in a tiny unventilated space
Also:
please don’t drink resin. I cannot believe I have to type that sentence, but here we are.
Final Verdict: Is the Anycubic Photon P1 Worth It?
After five months?
Honestly, yes.
The Anycubic Photon P1 has been:
- reliable
- beginner friendly
- surprisingly low maintenance
- capable of incredible detail
- easy enough that it keeps me wanting to use it
And that last part matters more than people realize.
Because a technically amazing printer that nobody wants to touch eventually becomes shelf décor.
If you’re interested in getting into resin printing without feeling immediately punished by the hobby, I genuinely think the P1 is a solid option.
You can check current pricing here:
Shop the Anycubic Photon P1 Here
Frequently Asked Questions About the Anycubic Photon P1 Review
Is the Anycubic Photon P1 beginner friendly?
Yes. The P1 is one of the easier resin printers I’ve personally used, especially for beginners transitioning from FDM printing.
Does the Anycubic Photon P1 smell bad?
Like most resin printers, uncured resin has fumes. Proper ventilation, filtration, and PPE are strongly recommended.
What makes the Photon P1 different?
The biggest standout features are:
- Wave Release Film technology
- heated resin vat
- built-in camera
- strong reliability over time
- beginner-friendly workflow
- Decent sized build plate (but be mindful the P1 Max is coming)
Is the Photon P1 good for miniatures?
Absolutely. The detail quality is excellent for miniatures, props, keycaps, and highly detailed models.
Is resin printing messier than FDM printing?
Yes.
Extremely yes.
But once you develop a workflow, it becomes manageable.
Thanks for checking out the Anycubic Photon P1 Review. Have questions about this printer, or want your product featured in a video / blog? Reach out here!
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The original video this article is based on:
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