3D Printing Resin vs UV Resin: Which One Should You Buy?
ELEGOO ABS-Like 3.0 Pro and ABS-Like 3.0 resins compared on scratch and heat resistance, viscosity, curing light, compatibility and bottle size.
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A maker planning detailed figures, miniatures and functional parts soon meets two resin labels that sound like different materials. This comparison puts 3d printing resin vs uv resin side by side through three ELEGOO listings, and goes through scratch and heat resistance, viscosity, curing light, compatibility and bottle size using what each listing states.
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Verdict: pick the 3D printing resin side, the ABS-Like 3.0 Pro, for models that face friction, impact and heat, since its listing claims higher scratch resistance and higher heat resistance than ABS-Like 3.0. Pick the UV resin side, ABS-Like 3.0, for low viscosity printing with a stated 405nm curing light, in grey 2000g or clear red 1000g. Choose by the property the listing actually states for the job.
Machines on the list
ELEGOO ABS-Like 3.0 Pro 3D Printer Resin Grey
A 2000g grey ABS-like Pro resin for MSLA, DLP and LCD printers, with higher scratch resistance stated, and higher heat resistance than ABS-Like 3.0.
Pros
- Higher scratch resistance stated in the listing
- Heat deformation temperature increased by about 10% over ABS-Like 3.0
- Tough printed models that bend without breaking easily, per the listing
- Good fluidity with high dimensional accuracy and a smooth surface finish
Cons
- No curing wavelength is stated
- No viscosity figure is stated
- No warranty term is stated
- Heat resistance gain is stated only as about 10%, with no absolute temperature figure
ELEGOO ABS-Like 3.0 3D Printer Resin Grey 2000g
A 2000g grey UV light curing ABS-like resin for MSLA, DLP and LCD printers, with low viscosity and 405nm light curing.
Pros
- Viscosity 25-47% lower than ABS-like 1.0 and 2.0, per the listing
- 405nm UV light curing stated for LCD and DLP printers
- Low volume shrinkage with high precision and smooth surface finishes
- Stable formula that does not delaminate or separate over time, per the listing
Cons
- No warranty term is stated
- No scratch or heat resistance figure is stated
- Printed models claim drilling tolerance but no load figure is stated
- Listing says it works best with ELEGOO light curing printers
ELEGOO ABS-Like 3.0 3D Printer Resin Clear Red
A 1000g clear red UV light curing ABS-like resin with the same stated features as the grey 2000g bottle.
Pros
- Viscosity 25-47% lower than ABS-like 1.0 and 2.0, per the listing
- 405nm UV light curing stated for LCD and DLP printers
- Low volume shrinkage with high precision and smooth surface finishes
- High strength models that withstand drilling holes and certain impacts
Cons
- No warranty term is stated
- 1000g bottle, smaller than the 2000g bottles here
- No scratch or heat resistance figure is stated
- Feature text matches the grey 2000g bottle; only color and bottle size differ in the listing
Side by side
| Spec | ELEGOO ABS-Like 3.0 Pro | ELEGOO ABS-Like 3.0 Grey | ELEGOO ABS-Like 3.0 Red |
|---|---|---|---|
| HQ Score | 61 | 60 | 58 |
| Bottle | 2000g, Grey | 2000g, Grey | 1000g, Clear Red |
| Curing light | Not stated | 405nm UV | 405nm UV |
| Viscosity | Not stated | 25-47% lower than ABS-like 1.0 and 2.0 | 25-47% lower than ABS-like 1.0 and 2.0 |
| Heat resistance | About 10% higher heat deformation temperature than ABS-Like 3.0 | Not stated | Not stated |
| Printers | MSLA, DLP, LCD | LCD, DLP, MSLA | LCD, DLP, MSLA |
| Warranty | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
Specifications are manufacturer rated, as published on each listing and collected 3 November 2026.
3d printing resin vs uv resin: what actually differs
The listings blur the two labels. All three resins are photopolymer resins, and all three titles name MSLA, DLP and LCD printers, and the two UV resin listings state 405nm UV light curing explicitly. The 3D printing resin listing, the ABS-Like 3.0 Pro, does not state a curing wavelength, so the comparison cannot declare a curing winner from these listings. What separates the sides here is emphasis: the Pro listing claims higher scratch resistance and a heat deformation temperature about 10% higher than ABS-Like 3.0, while the UV resin listings claim low viscosity, with a viscosity 25-47% lower than ABS-like 1.0 and 2.0. Neither side states the other side’s headline figure, so neither claim is directly answered by the other listing.
Curing and printers
The ABS-Like 3.0 listings state compatibility with a wide range of LCD and DLP printers using 405nm UV light curing, and say the resin works best with ELEGOO light curing printers. The Pro title names MSLA, DLP and LCD printers without naming a wavelength. A buyer whose printer manual names 405nm will find that figure only on the UV resin side here. Printer type alone does not settle the choice: the UV compatibility bullet names LCD and DLP printers, not MSLA printers, and the Pro listing states no wavelength, so check both the printer type and the wavelength the printer manual names before choosing.
Bottle size and color
Two bottles hold 2000g and one holds 1000g. The Pro and the grey ABS-Like 3.0 bottles are both grey 2000g bottles, so size and color do not separate those two; only the stated properties do. The clear red bottle is the smaller 1000g option and the only non-grey color in this group, with the same stated features as the grey ABS-Like 3.0 bottle. For a first order where a non-grey color matters, the clear red bottle is the pick; for volume, either 2000g bottle holds more resin per bottle.
Choose the 3D printing resin side if
- You want the stated scratch resistance and heat resistance claims for models that face daily friction, impact and heat.
- You want tough models that bend without breaking easily, per the Pro listing.
- You print figures, miniatures, jewelry design pieces or functional parts, the applications the Pro listing names.
Choose the UV resin side if
- You want the stated low viscosity and 405nm UV light curing for LCD and DLP printers.
- You want a resin whose listing claims models withstand drilling holes and certain impacts.
- You want the clear red color or the smaller 1000g bottle.
Project Match
- Figures and miniatures: the Pro listing names figures and miniatures among its applications.
- Jewelry design: the Pro listing names jewelry design among its applications.
- Functional prototypes and mechanical parts: the ABS-Like 3.0 listings name functional prototypes, mechanical parts and industrial parts.
- Education and engineering: the Pro listing names education and engineering among its applications.
- Color-critical prints: the clear red bottle is the only non-grey color stated here; the other two bottles are grey.
FAQ: lasers and CNC
Is 3D printing resin the same as UV resin?
In these listings, the line is thin. All three are photopolymer resins, and all three titles name MSLA, DLP and LCD printers, and the ABS-Like 3.0 listings state 405nm UV light curing, while the Pro listing states no wavelength.
Which resin is tougher?
The listings claim toughness in different words and give no shared measure. The Pro listing claims tough models that bend without breaking easily, and the ABS-Like 3.0 listings claim high strength with models that withstand drilling holes and certain impacts.
Does the Pro resin handle heat better?
The Pro listing claims a heat deformation temperature about 10% higher than ABS-Like 3.0. The ABS-Like 3.0 listings state no heat figure, so there is no competing heat figure from the ABS-Like 3.0 listings to check it against.
What printers do these resins work with?
All three titles name MSLA, DLP and LCD printers. The ABS-Like 3.0 compatibility bullet names LCD and DLP printers using 405nm UV light curing; see the FDM vs resin 3D printer guide for the printer side.
Can these resins print functional parts?
Yes, per the listings. The Pro listing names functional parts and replacements, and the ABS-Like 3.0 listings name functional prototypes, mechanical parts and industrial parts. For a first resin printer, see the best entry level resin printer guide.
Related: resin 3D printers, FDM vs resin 3D printer and best entry level resin printer.
