Head to head

GentleMax vs Elite iQ (2026)

Compare purchase costs, running costs and the evidence behind each device.

Read the comparison overview

Purchase cost: The catalog lists $85k–$115k for Elite iQ. No new-price range is on file for GentleMax. Check the source notes and request current quotes.
Technology: GentleMax: Nd:YAG. Elite iQ: Alexandrite.
Practice fit: Both are listed under dual-wavelength platform. Check each model’s US regulatory status and labeled indications for your intended use.

Device A

Dual-wavelength platform

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Device B

Dual-wavelength platform

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Price comparison

Price comparison: Candela GentleMax vs Cynosure Elite iQ
Attribute	Candela GentleMax	Cynosure Elite iQ
New price range	Not published	$85k–$115kSource not documented
Used asking range	$25,900–$33,500Reported source: Used listing · Aug 30, 2026	$45k–$70kSource not documented
Payback calculator	View ROI calculator	View ROI calculator
Next step	Explore this model’s specs and owner reviews. For new-equipment inquiries, browse current models. Browse current models

New price range

Candela GentleMax: Not published
Cynosure Elite iQ: $85k–$115kSource not documented

Used asking range

Candela GentleMax: $25,900–$33,500Reported source: Used listing · Aug 30, 2026
Cynosure Elite iQ: $45k–$70kSource not documented

Payback calculator

Candela GentleMax: View ROI calculator
Cynosure Elite iQ: View ROI calculator

Next step

Candela GentleMax

Explore this model’s specs and owner reviews. For new-equipment inquiries, browse current models.

Browse current models

Cynosure Elite iQ

Consumable economics

Consumable economics: Candela GentleMax vs Cynosure Elite iQ
Attribute	Candela GentleMax	Cynosure Elite iQ
Consumable cost / lock-in	Supply pricing is not documented with a dated source yet. Request an itemized supply quote. — no published lock — no electronic gating documented	Supply pricing is not documented with a dated source yet. Request an itemized supply quote.
Service cost	Not published	Not published

Consumable cost / lock-in

Candela GentleMax: Supply pricing is not documented with a dated source yet. Request an itemized supply quote. — no published lock — no electronic gating documented
Cynosure Elite iQ: Supply pricing is not documented with a dated source yet. Request an itemized supply quote.

Service cost

Candela GentleMax: Not published
Cynosure Elite iQ: Not published

FDA clearance

FDA clearance: Candela GentleMax vs Cynosure Elite iQ
Attribute	Candela GentleMax	Cynosure Elite iQ
FDA status & indication	FDA ClearedK063074, K112715, K133283 Read FDA indication wording “755nm The Candela 3630 Laser System is indicated fir the temporary hair reduction. Stable long-term or permanent hair reduction through selective targeting of melanin in hair follicles. Permanent hair reduction is defined as long-term stable reduction in the number of hairs regrowing after a treatment regime. OCtall skin types (Fitzpatrick I-IV) including tamned skin. Treatment of benign pigmented lesions. Treatment of wrinkles. 1064nm The Candela 3630 Laser System is indicated for the removal of unwanted hair, for stable long term or permanent hair reduction and for treatment of PFB. The lasers are indicted on all skin types Fitzpatrick I-VI including tarmed skin. Photocoagulation and hemostasis of pigmented and vascular lesions such as but not limited to port wine stains, hemoangioma, warts, telangiectasia, rosacea, venus lake, leg veins and spider veins. Coagulation and hemostasis of soft tissue. Benign pigmented lesions such as, but not limited to, lentigos (age spots), solar lentigos (sun spots), cafe an lait macules, seborrheic keratoses, nevi, chloasma, verrucae, skin tags, keratoses, tattoos (significant reduction in the intensity of black and/or blue-black tattoos) and plaques. The laser is indicated for pigmented lesions to reduce lesion size, for patients with lesions that would potentially benefit from aggressive treatment, and for patients with lesions that have not responded to other laser treatments. The laser is also indicated for the reduction of r'±d pigmentation in hypertrophic and keloid soars where vascularity is an integral part of the: soar. Treatment of wrinkles.”	FDA ClearedK193426, K240396 Read FDA indication wording “755nm: The Elite iQ laser is indicated for stable long-term or permanent hair reduction. Permanent hair reduction is defined as long-term stable reduction in the number of hairs regrowing when measured at 6, 9 or 12 months after the completion of a treatment regime. It is used for skin types (Fitzpatrick I-VI) including tanned skin. It is also indicated for the treatment of vascular lesions, benign pigmented lesions, and wrinkles. 1064nm: The Elite iQ laser is intended for the coagulation and hemostasis of benign vascular lesions such as, but not limited to, port wine stains, hemangiomas, warts, telangiectasia, rosacea, venous lakes, leg veins, spider veins and poikiloderma of Civatte; and treatment of benign cutaneous lesions such as warts, scars, striae and psoriasis. The laser is also intended for the treatment of benign pigmented lesions such as, but not limited to, lentigines (age spots), solar lentigines (sunspots), cafe au lait macules, seborrheic keratoses, nevi, chloasma, 755 nm: The Cynosure Elite+ Laser is indicated for stable long-term, or permanent hair reduction. Permanent hair reduction is defined as long-term stable reduction in the number of hairs regrowting when measured 6, 9, or 12 months after the completion of a treatment regime. It is used for all skin types (Fitzpatrick I-VI) including tanned skin. It is also indicated for the treatment of vascular lesions, benign pigmented lesions, and wrinkles. 1064 nm: The Cynosure Elite+ Laser is intended for the coagulation and hemostasis of benign vascular lesions such as, but not limited to, port wine stains, hemangiomas, warts, telangectasia, rosacea, venus lake, leg veins, spider veins and poikiloderma of civatte; and treatment of benign cutaneous lesions such as warts, scars, striae and psoriasis. The laser is also intended for the treatment of benign pigmented lesions such as, but not limited to, lentigos (age spots), solar lentigos (sun spots), cafe au lait macules, seborrheic 755mn laser: Temporary hair reduction. Stable long-term or permanent hair reduction through selective targeting of melanin in hair follicles. Permanent hair reduction is defined as the long-term, stable reduction in the number of hairs regrowing when measured at 6,9, and 12 months after the completion of a treatment regime. On all skin types (Fitzpatrick I - VI) including tanned skin. Treatment of benign pigmented lesions. Treatment of wrinkles.”

FDA status & indication

Candela GentleMax: FDA ClearedK063074, K112715, K133283
Read FDA indication wording
“755nm The Candela 3630 Laser System is indicated fir the temporary hair reduction. Stable long-term or permanent hair reduction through selective targeting of melanin in hair follicles. Permanent hair reduction is defined as long-term stable reduction in the number of hairs regrowing after a treatment regime. OCtall skin types (Fitzpatrick I-IV) including tamned skin. Treatment of benign pigmented lesions. Treatment of wrinkles. 1064nm The Candela 3630 Laser System is indicated for the removal of unwanted hair, for stable long term or permanent hair reduction and for treatment of PFB. The lasers are indicted on all skin types Fitzpatrick I-VI including tarmed skin. Photocoagulation and hemostasis of pigmented and vascular lesions such as but not limited to port wine stains, hemoangioma, warts, telangiectasia, rosacea, venus lake, leg veins and spider veins. Coagulation and hemostasis of soft tissue. Benign pigmented lesions such as, but not limited to, lentigos (age spots), solar lentigos (sun spots), cafe an lait macules, seborrheic keratoses, nevi, chloasma, verrucae, skin tags, keratoses, tattoos (significant reduction in the intensity of black and/or blue-black tattoos) and plaques. The laser is indicated for pigmented lesions to reduce lesion size, for patients with lesions that would potentially benefit from aggressive treatment, and for patients with lesions that have not responded to other laser treatments. The laser is also indicated for the reduction of r'±d pigmentation in hypertrophic and keloid soars where vascularity is an integral part of the: soar. Treatment of wrinkles.”
Cynosure Elite iQ: FDA ClearedK193426, K240396
Read FDA indication wording
“755nm: The Elite iQ laser is indicated for stable long-term or permanent hair reduction. Permanent hair reduction is defined as long-term stable reduction in the number of hairs regrowing when measured at 6, 9 or 12 months after the completion of a treatment regime. It is used for skin types (Fitzpatrick I-VI) including tanned skin. It is also indicated for the treatment of vascular lesions, benign pigmented lesions, and wrinkles. 1064nm: The Elite iQ laser is intended for the coagulation and hemostasis of benign vascular lesions such as, but not limited to, port wine stains, hemangiomas, warts, telangiectasia, rosacea, venous lakes, leg veins, spider veins and poikiloderma of Civatte; and treatment of benign cutaneous lesions such as warts, scars, striae and psoriasis. The laser is also intended for the treatment of benign pigmented lesions such as, but not limited to, lentigines (age spots), solar lentigines (sunspots), cafe au lait macules, seborrheic keratoses, nevi, chloasma, 755 nm: The Cynosure Elite+ Laser is indicated for stable long-term, or permanent hair reduction. Permanent hair reduction is defined as long-term stable reduction in the number of hairs regrowting when measured 6, 9, or 12 months after the completion of a treatment regime. It is used for all skin types (Fitzpatrick I-VI) including tanned skin. It is also indicated for the treatment of vascular lesions, benign pigmented lesions, and wrinkles. 1064 nm: The Cynosure Elite+ Laser is intended for the coagulation and hemostasis of benign vascular lesions such as, but not limited to, port wine stains, hemangiomas, warts, telangectasia, rosacea, venus lake, leg veins, spider veins and poikiloderma of civatte; and treatment of benign cutaneous lesions such as warts, scars, striae and psoriasis. The laser is also intended for the treatment of benign pigmented lesions such as, but not limited to, lentigos (age spots), solar lentigos (sun spots), cafe au lait macules, seborrheic 755mn laser: Temporary hair reduction. Stable long-term or permanent hair reduction through selective targeting of melanin in hair follicles. Permanent hair reduction is defined as the long-term, stable reduction in the number of hairs regrowing when measured at 6,9, and 12 months after the completion of a treatment regime. On all skin types (Fitzpatrick I - VI) including tanned skin. Treatment of benign pigmented lesions. Treatment of wrinkles.”

Which chains run each

Which chains run each: Candela GentleMax vs Cynosure Elite iQ
Attribute	Candela GentleMax	Cynosure Elite iQ
Chain adoption	0 recorded pairings	2 recorded pairings
Chains using it	—	SEV Laser(Confirmed) Foxy Box Laser + Wax Bar(Confirmed)
Approved reviews	0	0

Chain adoption

Candela GentleMax: 0 recorded pairings
Cynosure Elite iQ: 2 recorded pairings

Chains using it

Candela GentleMax: —
Cynosure Elite iQ: SEV Laser(Confirmed)
Foxy Box Laser + Wax Bar(Confirmed)

Approved reviews

Candela GentleMax: 0
Cynosure Elite iQ: 0

Specs and platform

Specs and platform: Candela GentleMax vs Cynosure Elite iQ
Attribute	Candela GentleMax	Cynosure Elite iQ
Manufacturer	Candela	Cynosure
Built by (OEM)	Candela Corporation	Cynosure LLC
Category	Dual-wavelength platform	Dual-wavelength platform
Technology	755nm alex + 1064nm Nd:YAG (Nd:YAG)	755/1064nm + Skintel melanin reader (Alexandrite)
Launch year	2007	2020
Status	Legacy-used-market	Current
Manufacturer source record	No linked source on file.	No linked source on file.

Manufacturer

Candela GentleMax: Candela
Cynosure Elite iQ: Cynosure

Built by (OEM)

Candela GentleMax: Candela Corporation
Cynosure Elite iQ: Cynosure LLC

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