Anycubic Photon P1 MAX Review: Big Resin Prints Without the Hassle

Anycubic's Photon P1 MAX replaces the Mono M7 Max as the company's flagship large-format resin printer. Released in July 2026, it keeps the broad build volume, adds a heated vat, and introduces Wave Release Technology to cut down on print failures. At $1,149 (or $1,103 during the current presale window), it sits in a competitive spot against other large resin machines.

What Is Wave Release Technology

The most talked-about feature on the P1 MAX is the Wave Release film. Anycubic placed a special screen cover over the LCD that lets air escape between the FEP film and the screen during each peel cycle. In practice, this means the printer does not have to yank as hard to separate the build plate from the vat bottom. Supports come away cleaner and failed prints caused by suction are noticeably less frequent.

Combine that with the heated vat, which Anycubic keeps at a steady 35 degrees Celsius, and you have a machine that stays consistent even in a cold workshop. Older Anycubic resin printers only heated the vat at startup and then let it drift. The P1 MAX maintains the temperature throughout the print, which makes a real difference with resins that are sensitive to ambient swings.

Build Volume and Print Quality

The P1 MAX offers a 285.5 x 214 x 300 mm build area. That is enough room for full-size miniatures, cosplay armor panels, or functional prototypes in one shot. The 12K monochrome LCD delivers 24.8 micron XY resolution, so fine detail holds up even on larger pieces.

Using Anycubic Standard Gray resin, a single 25cm-tall figure printed at 0.05mm layer height completed in about seven and a half hours. A larger multi-part model at the same resolution stretched to over 14 hours and consumed just over a liter of resin. Both results were clean enough to use straight from the printer with minimal cleanup.

Design and Usability

The P1 MAX ships fully assembled. The new build plate locking system is a genuine improvement over the screw-down method on older Anycubic models. A flip-up lever clamps the plate in place, and the vat uses a slide-in locking mechanism. These changes eliminate the problem of lost screws and resin seeping into threaded holes during swaps.

The 4.5-inch resistive touchscreen is responsive and walks you through setup, leveling, and slicing without any confusion. Wi-Fi and USB file transfer are both available. A rubber grommet on the back is pre-cut for a ventilation hose, though Anycubic does not include one in the box.

Where It Falls Short

The firmware on the review unit still had a few rough edges. The build plate leveling sequence raised the plate 100mm after a successful level reading, requiring the user to manually retry the sequence. It is a minor nuisance, but it is the kind of bug Anycubic should patch with a firmware update. The AI-assisted features, such as automatic support generation, are functional but occasionally overestimate where supports are actually needed.

There is also no auto-refill system for the vat. You must check resin levels manually before long prints. For a printer in this price range, an auto-refill would be a welcome addition.

Who Should Buy This

The P1 MAX makes the most sense for someone who regularly prints large models and has grown frustrated with the limits of smaller resin machines. The heated vat and Wave Release film reduce the variables that usually ruin large-format resin prints: temperature drift and suction failures. At $1,149, it undercuts most direct competitors with similar build volumes, especially when you factor in the presale discount.

If you do not need the extra height and footprint, the standard P1 at $499 is a better value. But if you want the build space and the quality the P1 MAX delivers, this is a strong option for the money.