Head to head

Excel HR vs Thunder (2026)

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

Read the comparison overview

Purchase cost: Catalog new-price ranges: Excel HR, $95k–$135k; Thunder, $110k–$150k. Check the source notes and request current quotes.
Practice fit: Both are listed under dual-wavelength laser. Check each model’s US regulatory status and labeled indications for your intended use.

Device A

Dual-wavelength laser

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Device B

Dual-wavelength laser

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Price comparison

Price comparison: Cutera Excel HR vs Quanta System Thunder (MT)
Attribute	Cutera Excel HR	Quanta System Thunder (MT)
New price range	$95k–$135kSource not documented	$110k–$150kSource not documented
Used asking range	$40k–$70kSource not documented	$60k–$90kSource not documented
Payback calculator	View ROI calculator	View ROI calculator
Next step

New price range

Cutera Excel HR: $95k–$135kSource not documented
Quanta System Thunder (MT): $110k–$150kSource not documented

Used asking range

Cutera Excel HR: $40k–$70kSource not documented
Quanta System Thunder (MT): $60k–$90kSource not documented

Payback calculator

Cutera Excel HR: View ROI calculator
Quanta System Thunder (MT): View ROI calculator

Next step

Cutera Excel HR

Quanta System Thunder (MT)

Consumable economics

Consumable economics: Cutera Excel HR vs Quanta System Thunder (MT)
Attribute	Cutera Excel HR	Quanta System Thunder (MT)
Consumable cost / lock-in	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

Cutera Excel HR: Supply pricing is not documented with a dated source yet. Request an itemized supply quote.
Quanta System Thunder (MT): —

Service cost

Cutera Excel HR: Not published
Quanta System Thunder (MT): Not published

FDA clearance

FDA clearance: Cutera Excel HR vs Quanta System Thunder (MT)
Attribute	Cutera Excel HR	Quanta System Thunder (MT)
FDA status & indication	FDA ClearedK132185 Read FDA indication wording “Family of CoolGlide Aesthetic Lasers The Cutera Family of CoolGlide Aesthetic Lasers is intended for use in surgical and aesthetic applications in the medical specialties of dermatology and general and plastic surgery. 755 nm: The Family of CoolGlide Aesthetic Lasers is indicated for temporary and permanent hair reduction on all skin types (Fitzpatrick I-VI), including tanned skin. Permanent hair reduction is defined as tong-term, stable reduction in hair counts observed atS6, 9,and 12 months after the end of a treatment regime. The Family of CoolGlide Aesthetic Lasers is also indicated for: o treatment of benign pigmented lesions o treatment of wrinkles ol photocoagulation of dermatological vascular lesions such as, but not limited to, port wine stains, hemangiomas and telangiectasias 1064 nm: Dermatology: The Family of CoolGlide Aesthetic Lasers is intended for the coagulation and hemostasis of benign vascular lesions such as, but not limited to, port wine stains, hemangiomas, warts, telangiectasias, rossosa, venus lake, leg veins, spider veins and poikiloderma of civatte; and treatment of benign cutaneous lesions such as, but not limited to, warts, scars, striae and psoriasis. The lasers are also intended for the treatment of benign pigmented lesions such as, but not limited to, lentigos (age soots), solar lentigos (sun spots), caf4 au 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. Additionally, the lasers are 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.”	FDA ClearedK171711 Read FDA indication wording “The THUNDER Family is intended for use in aesthetic, cosmetic and surgical applications requiring incision, excision, ablation, vaporization and coagulation of body soft tissues in the medical specialties of dermatology, general, plastic and oral surgery as follows. 1064 nm (pulsed) Dermatology/Plastic Surgery: Intended for the coagulation and hemostasis of benign vascular lesions such as, but not limited to, port wine stains, hemangiomas, warts, telangectasia, rosacea, venous 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 keratoses, nevi, chloasma, verrucae, skin tags, keratosis and plaques. The laser is also indicated for the treatment of wrinkles such as, but not limited to, periocular and perioral wrinkles. The laser is also indicated for the treatment of facial wrinkles. Additionally, the laser is indicated for the treatment of pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) and 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 and 12 months after the completion of a treatment regime. It is indicated for the reduction of red pigmentation in hypertrophic and keloid scars where vascularity is an integral part of the scar. The laser is also 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. It is indicated for use on all skin types (Fitzpatrick I-VI) including tanned skin, and the removal and permanent reduction of unwanted hair in Fitzpatrick I-VI, including suntanned skin types. 755 nm (pulsed): 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 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.”

FDA status & indication

Cutera Excel HR: FDA ClearedK132185
Read FDA indication wording
“Family of CoolGlide Aesthetic Lasers The Cutera Family of CoolGlide Aesthetic Lasers is intended for use in surgical and aesthetic applications in the medical specialties of dermatology and general and plastic surgery. 755 nm: The Family of CoolGlide Aesthetic Lasers is indicated for temporary and permanent hair reduction on all skin types (Fitzpatrick I-VI), including tanned skin. Permanent hair reduction is defined as tong-term, stable reduction in hair counts observed atS6, 9,and 12 months after the end of a treatment regime. The Family of CoolGlide Aesthetic Lasers is also indicated for: o treatment of benign pigmented lesions o treatment of wrinkles ol photocoagulation of dermatological vascular lesions such as, but not limited to, port wine stains, hemangiomas and telangiectasias 1064 nm: Dermatology: The Family of CoolGlide Aesthetic Lasers is intended for the coagulation and hemostasis of benign vascular lesions such as, but not limited to, port wine stains, hemangiomas, warts, telangiectasias, rossosa, venus lake, leg veins, spider veins and poikiloderma of civatte; and treatment of benign cutaneous lesions such as, but not limited to, warts, scars, striae and psoriasis. The lasers are also intended for the treatment of benign pigmented lesions such as, but not limited to, lentigos (age soots), solar lentigos (sun spots), caf4 au 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. Additionally, the lasers are 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.”
Quanta System Thunder (MT): FDA ClearedK171711
Read FDA indication wording
“The THUNDER Family is intended for use in aesthetic, cosmetic and surgical applications requiring incision, excision, ablation, vaporization and coagulation of body soft tissues in the medical specialties of dermatology, general, plastic and oral surgery as follows. 1064 nm (pulsed) Dermatology/Plastic Surgery: Intended for the coagulation and hemostasis of benign vascular lesions such as, but not limited to, port wine stains, hemangiomas, warts, telangectasia, rosacea, venous 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 keratoses, nevi, chloasma, verrucae, skin tags, keratosis and plaques. The laser is also indicated for the treatment of wrinkles such as, but not limited to, periocular and perioral wrinkles. The laser is also indicated for the treatment of facial wrinkles. Additionally, the laser is indicated for the treatment of pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) and 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 and 12 months after the completion of a treatment regime. It is indicated for the reduction of red pigmentation in hypertrophic and keloid scars where vascularity is an integral part of the scar. The laser is also 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. It is indicated for use on all skin types (Fitzpatrick I-VI) including tanned skin, and the removal and permanent reduction of unwanted hair in Fitzpatrick I-VI, including suntanned skin types. 755 nm (pulsed): 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 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.”

Which chains run each

Which chains run each: Cutera Excel HR vs Quanta System Thunder (MT)
Attribute	Cutera Excel HR	Quanta System Thunder (MT)
Chain adoption	0 recorded pairings	0 recorded pairings
Chains using it	—	—
Approved reviews	0	0

Chain adoption

Cutera Excel HR: 0 recorded pairings
Quanta System Thunder (MT): 0 recorded pairings

Chains using it

Cutera Excel HR: —
Quanta System Thunder (MT): —

Approved reviews

Cutera Excel HR: 0
Quanta System Thunder (MT): 0

Specs and platform

Specs and platform: Cutera Excel HR vs Quanta System Thunder (MT)
Attribute	Cutera Excel HR	Quanta System Thunder (MT)
Manufacturer	Cutera	Quanta System
Built by (OEM)	Cutera Inc.	Quanta System S.p.A.
Category	Dual-wavelength laser	Dual-wavelength laser
Technology	755nm alex + 1064nm Nd:YAG (Nd:YAG)	755+1064nm high-power blended
Launch year	2015	2019
Status	Current	Current
Manufacturer source record	No linked source on file.	No linked source on file.

Manufacturer

Cutera Excel HR: Cutera
Quanta System Thunder (MT): Quanta System

Built by (OEM)

Cutera Excel HR: Cutera Inc.
Quanta System Thunder (MT): Quanta System S.p.A.

Current alternatives

Current catalog models in related categories. Confirm availability and configuration with the supplier.

Lumenis Splendor X

Dual-wavelength laser

New: $130k–$165k

Lutronic Clarity II

Dual-wavelength laser

New: $100k–$140k

Quanta System Duetto MT / MT Evo

Dual-wavelength laser

New: $80k–$120k

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