Last updated: August 23, 2026
Two brushes from the same factory, sharing the same current nozzle sets, sold at meaningfully different prices. That is an uncomfortable comparison for a manufacturer and a confusing one for a buyer, because the obvious question, is the expensive one better, has an unsatisfying answer: not at spraying, no.
What the Evolution adds is convenience and refinement, and for some painters those are worth real money while for others they are irrelevant. This page separates the two so you can tell which camp you are in before you order.
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Quick Answer
Ultra or Evolution: which one should you actually buy?
- One nozzle size, one cup, simplest possible brush: the Ultra.
- You switch between tiny glazes and full basecoating: the Evolution two in one.
- You spray lacquers or clean with strong solvents: get the CRplus build either way.
- You want the finest possible line: neither, that is the Infinity’s job.
Bottom line: the current nozzle sets are shared, so this is a convenience decision, not a quality one.
The Part That Is Identical
The nozzle set. Harder and Steenbeck lists the current Ultra with 0.28mm and 0.45mm options and states that Evolution and Infinity nozzle sets in current sizes also fit it. Since the nozzle and needle pairing is what determines atomization and line width, the two brushes spray in the same class with the same set installed.
That single fact removes most of the anxiety from this decision. You are not choosing between a beginner brush and a proper one, you are choosing how much brush is wrapped around the same head.
What the New Sizes Changed
The company positions the 0.28mm and 0.45mm sets as more robust and less clog prone than the older 0.2mm and 0.4mm sets they replaced, with comparable or better detail. If you are comparing listings, check which generation you are buying, because both are still in circulation.
What the Evolution Adds
Three things. Two cup sizes rather than one, which matters if you mix small glaze batches and then basecoat a squad in the same session. A slightly more substantial body with a different balance in the hand. And a wider set of variants, including the CRplus solvent resistant build and the lighter aluminum bodied ALplus.
None of those change the spray pattern. All of them change how often you are annoyed during a session, which over a few hundred hours is not nothing.
The Two in One Question
The two in one packages include both nozzle sets and both cups. Bought separately those parts cost real money, so a two in one is usually better value than a solo brush plus an extra set later, provided you will genuinely use both sizes.
What the Ultra Does Better
Simplicity. Fewer parts means fewer things to misplace on a kitchen table that has to be cleared before dinner, and a faster strip down at the end of a session. For a painter whose main frustration is cleaning, that is a genuine advantage rather than a consolation.
It is also the brush to buy if you are not yet sure which nozzle size suits your work, because you can start with one set and add the other later from the shared catalog.
CRplus, ALplus and the Needle Limiter
CRplus marks the solvent resistant build, with PTFE seals at the nozzle, needle, cup joint and valve. ALplus refers to the lighter aluminum bodied versions. Both suffixes describe construction rather than spray quality, and the first one is the one that should influence your purchase if you use lacquer based paints.
Harder and Steenbeck also sells a needle limiting accessory that sets a repeatable maximum trigger travel, useful when you want the same line width over and over. It is standard on some models in the wider range and an add on elsewhere, so check the listing rather than assuming.
The Four Variants You Will See Listed
Manufacturer figures, and the deciding factor for each configuration.
| Variant | Nozzle sets | Cups | Choose it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultra solo | One, 0.28 or 0.45mm | One | You know your size and want simplicity |
| Ultra two in one | Both sizes | Two | You want range at the lowest cost |
| Evolution CRplus solo | One, 0.28 or 0.45mm | One | Solvent work, single nozzle size |
| Evolution CRplus two in one | Both sizes | Two | You switch jobs constantly |
The rest of the range, including the Infinity, is covered in our Harder and Steenbeck guide.
Which One for Miniatures Specifically
The 0.28mm set on either body handles almost all 28mm and 32mm work, including zenithal priming with thinned primer, basecoats, and freehand fine enough for camouflage and weathering. The 0.45mm becomes useful for terrain, large scale models and varnish passes.
If you paint one thing consistently, an Ultra with the right set is enough. If your evenings alternate between a display piece and a batch of infantry, the two cups on the Evolution stop you compromising on one or the other. Our miniature airbrush guide puts both in the wider ladder.
Spares Are the Purchase Nobody Plans
Whichever body you choose, order a spare nozzle set with it. A damaged nozzle ends a session immediately, and the sizes that painters use most are the ones dealers run out of. The same set fits both bodies, which means a spare is never wasted if you upgrade later.
Needles bend, seals perish and cups get dropped, and all three are catalog items. Our replacement parts guide lists what is worth keeping in the drawer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Evolution spray better than the Ultra? Not with the same nozzle set installed, because that set is what determines atomization and line width. What the Evolution gives you is two cup sizes, a different feel in the hand, and more build variants, which is convenience rather than capability.
Can I put Evolution nozzles in an Ultra? Yes. The manufacturer states that current Evolution and Infinity nozzle sets fit the current Ultra, which makes the entry body fully upgradable. Verify the generation of the parts, since older sets used different sizes.
Is CRplus worth paying for? Only if solvents are part of your routine. Lacquer based paints and strong thinners are hard on seals, and the PTFE sealing is there for exactly that. Water based acrylic painters gain nothing measurable from it.
Which nozzle size should I choose if I buy solo? The 0.28mm for miniatures and small scale models, the 0.45mm if you mostly spray primer, varnish or larger surfaces. Our nozzle size guide works through the sizes with worked examples.
Is the two in one better value? Usually, if you will use both sets. Buying the second nozzle set and cup separately typically costs more than the two in one premium, so the question is whether you need the range at all.
Should I skip both and get an Infinity? Only for genuine hairline freehand work. The Infinity demands very thin paint, clean dry air and immediate cleaning, and it is bought far more often than it is needed.
The Bottom Line
These two brushes spray the same because they take the same nozzle sets, so buy the Ultra unless you specifically want two cup sizes, a heavier body or a build variant the Ultra is not offered in. Get the CRplus version if solvents are in your routine, and order a spare nozzle set at the same time, because it fits either body and it is the part that stops a session dead. Read next: the full range explained and the Evolution against the Iwata Eclipse.