Build Volume & Resolution

The Halot-One Plus has a 7.9-inch 4K monochrome screen with a resolution of 4320 x 2560 pixels. With a 40-micron XY resolution, the printer should produce some pretty crisp 3D prints.

Its build volume lies somewhere in the middle of small and medium, at 172 x 102 x 160 mm. A standardish print resolution and a standard size of build volume leave this looking like a very safe bet by Creality so far. Nothing to write home about, so to speak. Oh, except perhaps the printed measurements on the vat. They’re a nice touch, and an inexpensive way to add a little extra utility.

Its strongest competition will likely come from the Anycubic Photon M3 and Elegoo Mars 3, which offer similar build volumes at a much lower price, albeit without some of the fancier features of the Halot-One Plus.

Integral Light Source

Ignore the fancy name, that’s just Creality’s marketing speak for its self-developed light source. That light source appears to use fewer ultraviolet LEDs combined with a mirror and some lenses to distribute the UV light evenly on the print screen.

This lighting method is not novel, but is becoming more common on newer resin printers as a lighting system like this should remove the grid pattern often observed on resin printers.

The Halot-One Plus uses five light beads to deliver 90% evenness across the printing area. How and if it is really different from everything else can only be seen once we get hands on and open one up.

Wi-Fi & Creality Cloud

Creality is providing a year’s subscription to its premium cloud service with the Halot-One Plus. The service lets you save your print files on the cloud service and access some exclusive 3D models. The cloud service also connects with your phone, which enables you to add files and slice models on the cloud without a computer. Obviously, this all plays to the strength of the Halot-One Plus’ built-in Wi-Fi, and a lot of Creality’s remote services are tied to the fact that this is a networked printer.

In addition to remotely operating the Halot-One Plus, you also have the option of adding a camera to the printer to remotely view your prints in real time. Connecting to the cloud will also enable Over the Air (OTA) firmware upgrades, keeping your printer up to date.

The premium subscription to the cloud service will normally set you back $60 a year. It’s not immediately obvious what makes the premium sub superior, you actually have to register to find out, which isn’t very helpful. On the surface, most of the cloud’s key features can be used for free, but you get some extra perks as a premium user.

For starters, you get a special golden avatar, so your account looks flashier, if that counts for anything. There is a bump in cloud storage from 2 GB to 16 GB, the postable video allowance goes up from 3 to 20 minutes, and you can also use the photo scan feature 100 times instead of just 10.

It has the potential to be useful, but is it $60-a-year useful? Thankfully, the first year is free and users can try it out for themselves.

Integrated Carbon Filter

According to Creality, the carbon filter on the Halot-One Plus should remove the stench generated by resin. It is integrated into the printer’s design, and replacement filters should be easily installed. Many resin printers from popular brands like Anycubic and Elegoo are now starting to include some form of a carbon air filter to reduce the smell associated with resin printing. Most of these are extensions or additions, rather than something integrated into the design.

Even though on its website Creality claims the carbon filter makes the printer safe, it must be made clear that there is no HEPA filter (or any proper graded filtration, for that matter) to remove the harmful toxins resin is known to emit. So, while the printer might not smell as much, we still recommend using a resin printer away from living spaces in a well-ventilated area.

Further Features

Some additional features to consider:

• Halot Box: The printer uses Creality’s slicer called Halot Box, which is available for Windows and Mac. If you don’t like it, the machine is also compatible with crowd favorite slicers ChiTuBox and Lychee.
• 5-inch touchscreen: The Halot-One Plus features a 5-inch touchscreen and users can change the first layer and subsequent layer curing times on-the-fly. Very useful.
• Dual linear rails: Dual linear rails provide extra stability and precision to the Z-axis, and are normally seen on larger machines. They could help provide a better print, especially with heavier loads.
• Three-pin power cord: Creality has done away with the external power brick and moved directly to the standard 3-pin power cord. We don’t know if this is a good or bad move yet, considering most cords are very short compared to the reach of a power adapter.