What is the Difference Between Dr. Pen A1 and Dr. Pen A6 ?

If you’re comparing the Dr. Pen A1 and A6, you probably already know the brand. Still, a quick overview: Dr. Pen is an automatic microneedling device from a Chinese brand, manufactured by Guangzhou Ekai Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.

Most sales go through agents and wholesalers rather than the company directly. That’s why the same model can carry different prices — agents get different factory prices, and each distributor adds its own services on top.

Because of the brand’s reach, counterfeits do circulate — cartridges especially. Buy from a reputable channel.

How Does Dr. Pen Work?

A Dr. Pen has two parts: the electric handle — available wireless or wired for both the A1 and A6, powered by a socket or a built-in rechargeable battery — and the cartridges, each holding a different number of micro-needles. Slot a cartridge into the handle and the device is ready.

The internal motor drives the needles up and down rapidly. When the tip meets the skin, it creates tiny punctures that trigger the skin’s own repair response, prompting new collagen. Those punctures also act as microchannels, carrying the topical you’re using into deeper layers and making the treatment noticeably more effective. Because the needles oscillate so fast, the tip glides across the skin rather than snagging or tearing it.

Dr. Pen A1 & A6 Compared

So where do the A1 and A6 line up, and where do they diverge? Here’s the full side-by-side.

Feature	Dr. Pen A6	Dr. Pen A1
Disposable cartridges	2 pcs, 12-pin	2 pcs, 12-pin
Cartridge types	9 MTS and 7 PMU	9 MTS and 7 PMU
Speed levels	5	5
Adjustable needle length	0 – 2.5 mm	0 – 3.0 mm
Rechargeable built-in battery	Yes	Yes
Spare battery	Two rechargeable batteries	No
Battery capacity	500 mAh	500 mAh
Speed display	No screen (indicator light)	No screen (indicator light)
Pen material	Aluminium alloy	Aluminium alloy & silicone

What They Share

Both ship with two 12-pin cartridges in the box. Both give you 5 adjustable speed levels, both offer wireless and wired modes, both carry a 500 mAh built-in rechargeable battery, and both have a metal body.

The Same Cartridge Range

The A6 and A1 both accept 16 cartridge types: 9 MTS cartridges — 9-pin, 12-pin, 24-pin, 36-pin, 42-pin, plus Nano S, Nano R, Nano 3D, and Nano 5D — and 7 PMU cartridges.

MTS Cartridges

Cartridge	Specification	Suited to
9-pin	Needle Φ 0.25 mm, 304 stainless steel	Acne scars, pitted texture
12-pin	Needle Φ 0.25 mm, 304 stainless steel	Acne scars, pitted texture, wrinkles
24-pin	Needle Φ 0.25 mm, 304 stainless steel	Pitted texture, blemishes, wrinkles
36-pin	Needle Φ 0.25 mm, 304 stainless steel	Acne marks, stretch marks, uneven tone
42-pin	Needle Φ 0.25 mm, 304 stainless steel	Acne marks, stretch marks
Nano R	50 mm², area Φ 8 mm, 304 stainless steel	Painless — foundation, brightening, hydration
Nano S	9 mm², single piece of crystalline silicon	Painless — foundation, brightening, hydration
Nano 3D	9 mm², 7 × 6 rows, crystalline silicon	Painless — foundation, brightening, hydration
Nano 5D	25 mm², 9 × 8 rows, crystalline silicon	Painless — brow area care

PMU Cartridges

Cartridge	Configuration	Suited to
L1	One dot, stainless steel	Fine hair strokes, lip liner, eyeliner
R3	3 dots in a triangle, stainless steel	Eyebrow shading, body tattoo
F3	3 dots in a straight line	Wide lip liner, eyeliner
R5	5 dots — one centre point with 4 evenly spaced around it	Soft eyebrows, lip contour, pigment work
F5	5 dots in a straight line	Wider eyeliner, eyebrows, smudged eyeliner, smokey eyes
F7	7 dots in a straight line	Full lips, eyebrows, wide eyeliner
F9	9 dots in two rows — 4 on top, 5 on the bottom	Full lips, eyebrows, wide eyeliner

Both Wired & Wireless

The A6 and A1 both come in wireless and wired versions: A6-C and A6-W, A1-C and A1-W. “C” stands for charging, “W” for wireless.

Worth noting: the A1’s wired version comes in two types, and the difference is how you adjust the speed. On one, you press the button at the end of the pen and the indicator light’s flash rate changes with the speed. On the other, you rotate the end button, which shows a specific speed indicator.

What Makes the A1 Different from the A6?

Two things. The A6 comes with spare replaceable rechargeable batteries; the A1 doesn’t. And the A1’s needle length adjusts from 0 to 3.0 mm, where the A6 tops out at 2.5 mm.

The A6 Has Spare Batteries

Each battery holds 500 mAh, and the A6 comes with 2 replaceable rechargeable batteries — 1,000 mAh of total charge to carry with you, which covers you comfortably outdoors or travelling.

So if battery life matters to you, or you’re often somewhere charging isn’t convenient, the A6 is the one.

The A1 Reaches Deeper

Across the whole Dr. Pen range, the A1 is the only model whose needle length goes up to 3.0 mm. Every other model stops at 2.5 mm.

Different depths do different things. Sensitive skin can work at 0.2 – 0.5 mm, which is essentially painless. To improve how well a topical absorbs, 0.25 – 0.5 mm with moderate pressure over 3 – 5 passes is enough, and the skin won’t look visibly changed afterwards. Working on texture or scarring calls for greater depth — and greater depth means more downtime and more visible marking afterwards.

The area matters as much as the goal. Use shorter depths on sensitive or thin skin; longer depths are for less sensitive areas, typically off the face.

Area	Guidance
Around the eyes	0.25 mm is advisable. Lift the brow and the upper and lower eyelid skin above the bone surface for better control.
Nasolabial & chin-labial folds	Aim at the deeper layer of the fold. Use 1.0 – 1.5 mm and stop there — going further is over-treatment.
Neck	0.5 mm as standard. Depending on wrinkle depth this may go to 1.0 – 2.0 mm.
Nose	The surface is irregular, which makes it tricky — bony areas take the needle deeper than you intend, so over-treatment is easy. Use 0.5 – 1.0 mm. Avoid areas over an implant, or use ≤ 0.25 mm with light pressure.
Mouth & lips	Very sensitive. Pick a length based on your own tolerance and your goal. This area is prone to uneven pigment and irritation afterwards, so don’t go long — 0.5 – 1.0 mm.
Forehead	If the skin is particularly thin, go shorter. 0.5 – 1.0 mm is a reasonable range.

So what’s 3.0 mm actually for? It has to be handled by a professional, and it’s used for deeper wrinkles, cellulite, stretch marks, body contouring, tattoo fading, and scars.

Final Thoughts

It comes down to two things: battery and depth. If battery life is what you care about, take the Dr. Pen A6. If you need 3.0 mm, take the Dr. Pen A1. And if colour matters — the A6 comes in solid grey, the A1 in black-and-blue or black-and-grey.