Head to head

Elite iQ vs GentleMax Pro (2026)

The biggest practical difference is cost of entry: GentleMax Pro's new pricing is $70.0k, while Elite iQ's is $85k–$115k. These are different technologies: GentleMax Pro is Nd:YAG, Elite iQ is Alexandrite. Both are used for dual-wavelength platform, so choose on consumable cost per treatment, cleared indications and how many treatments you can realistically book each month.

Category group: Hair removal (diode, alexandrite, Nd:YAG, IPL)

Device A

Device B

Price comparison

Price comparison: Candela GentleMax Pro vs Cynosure Elite iQ
Attribute	Candela GentleMax Pro	Cynosure Elite iQ
New price range	$70.0k	$85k–$115k
Used asking range	$29.0k-$67k (core cluster $37.7k-$57.5k)	$45k–$70k
Payback calculator	View ROI calculator	View ROI calculator
Next step

New price range

Candela GentleMax Pro: $70.0k
Cynosure Elite iQ: $85k–$115k

Used asking range

Candela GentleMax Pro: $29.0k-$67k (core cluster $37.7k-$57.5k)
Cynosure Elite iQ: $45k–$70k

Payback calculator

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

Next step

Candela GentleMax Pro

Cynosure Elite iQ

Consumable economics

Consumable economics: Candela GentleMax Pro vs Cynosure Elite iQ
Attribute	Candela GentleMax Pro	Cynosure Elite iQ
Consumable cost / lock-in	Not consumable-free — the DCD cryogen is a true per-treatment consumable, the exception in its category. Not published — Candela does not publish US cryogen, distance-gauge or flashlamp list pricing, and cryogen consumption per treatment is not published by any source, so no per-treatment figure is published here.	No per-treatment disposable. Wear parts: flashlamp $420 (LaserGCC); 15mm lens set $495, handpiece lens $180, alexandrite window $85, diffuser $65, aiming beam $260, alexandrite rod $7,700, fibre $1,200, DI water filter $125, particle filter $195 (LaserXParts).
Service cost	Not published	Not published

Consumable cost / lock-in

Candela GentleMax Pro: Not consumable-free — the DCD cryogen is a true per-treatment consumable, the exception in its category. Not published — Candela does not publish US cryogen, distance-gauge or flashlamp list pricing, and cryogen consumption per treatment is not published by any source, so no per-treatment figure is published here.
Cynosure Elite iQ: No per-treatment disposable. Wear parts: flashlamp $420 (LaserGCC); 15mm lens set $495, handpiece lens $180, alexandrite window $85, diffuser $65, aiming beam $260, alexandrite rod $7,700, fibre $1,200, DI water filter $125, particle filter $195 (LaserXParts).

Service cost

Candela GentleMax Pro: Not published
Cynosure Elite iQ: Not published

FDA clearance

FDA clearance: Candela GentleMax Pro vs Cynosure Elite iQ
Attribute	Candela GentleMax Pro	Cynosure Elite iQ
FDA status & indication	FDA ClearedK140122, K201111 “The GentleMAX Family of Laser Systems is indicated for the following at the specified wavelength: 7S5nm Temporary hair reduction. Stable long-term or permanent reduction through selective targeting of melanin in hair follicles. Permanent hair reduction isdefined as long-term stable reduction in the number of hairs regrowing after a treatment regime. 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 [- VI) including tanned skin. Treatment of benign pigmented lesions. Treatment of wrinkles. The photocoagulation of dermatological vascular lesions (such as pant-wine stains, hemangiomas, telangiectasias) 1064nm Removal of unwanted hair, for stable long term or permanent hair reduction and for treatment of PFB. Permanent hair reduction isdefined 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. The lasers are indicated on all skin types Fitzpatrick I-VI including tanned skin. Photocoagulation and hemostasis of pigmented and vascular lesions such as but not limited to port wine stains, hemangioma, 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), cafd au ]ait macules, seborrheic keratosis, nevi, chloasma, verrucae, skin tags, keratosis, 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. Reduction of red pigmentation in hypertrophic and keloid scars where vascularity is an integral part of the scar. Treatment of wrinkles. 1064nm Temporary increase of clear nail in patients with onychomycosis (e.g., derniatophytes, Trichophyton rubrum and T. mentagrophytes, and for yeast Candida Albicans, etc.)”	FDA ClearedK193426, K240396 “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 Pro: FDA ClearedK140122, K201111
“The GentleMAX Family of Laser Systems is indicated for the following at the specified wavelength: 7S5nm Temporary hair reduction. Stable long-term or permanent reduction through selective targeting of melanin in hair follicles. Permanent hair reduction isdefined as long-term stable reduction in the number of hairs regrowing after a treatment regime. 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 [- VI) including tanned skin. Treatment of benign pigmented lesions. Treatment of wrinkles. The photocoagulation of dermatological vascular lesions (such as pant-wine stains, hemangiomas, telangiectasias) 1064nm Removal of unwanted hair, for stable long term or permanent hair reduction and for treatment of PFB. Permanent hair reduction isdefined 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. The lasers are indicated on all skin types Fitzpatrick I-VI including tanned skin. Photocoagulation and hemostasis of pigmented and vascular lesions such as but not limited to port wine stains, hemangioma, 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), cafd au ]ait macules, seborrheic keratosis, nevi, chloasma, verrucae, skin tags, keratosis, 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. Reduction of red pigmentation in hypertrophic and keloid scars where vascularity is an integral part of the scar. Treatment of wrinkles. 1064nm Temporary increase of clear nail in patients with onychomycosis (e.g., derniatophytes, Trichophyton rubrum and T. mentagrophytes, and for yeast Candida Albicans, etc.)”
Cynosure Elite iQ: FDA ClearedK193426, K240396
“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 Pro vs Cynosure Elite iQ
Attribute	Candela GentleMax Pro	Cynosure Elite iQ
Chain adoption	3 recorded pairings	2 recorded pairings
Chains using it	Milan Laser Hair Removal(Confirmed) SEV Laser(Confirmed) Body Details(Confirmed)	SEV Laser(Confirmed) Foxy Box Laser + Wax Bar(Confirmed)
Approved reviews	0	0

Chain adoption

Candela GentleMax Pro: 3 recorded pairings
Cynosure Elite iQ: 2 recorded pairings

Chains using it

Candela GentleMax Pro: Milan Laser Hair Removal(Confirmed)
SEV Laser(Confirmed)
Body Details(Confirmed)
Cynosure Elite iQ: SEV Laser(Confirmed)
Foxy Box Laser + Wax Bar(Confirmed)

Approved reviews

Candela GentleMax Pro: 0
Cynosure Elite iQ: 0

Specs and platform

Specs and platform: Candela GentleMax Pro vs Cynosure Elite iQ
Attribute	Candela GentleMax Pro	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	2013	2020
Status	Discontinued	Current
OEM platform	—	—

Manufacturer

Candela GentleMax Pro: Candela
Cynosure Elite iQ: Cynosure

Built by (OEM)

Candela GentleMax Pro: Candela Corporation
Cynosure Elite iQ: Cynosure LLC

Alternatives

Other devices in the same subcategory.

Cynosure Elite+

Dual-wavelength platform

New: $60.0k

Cynosure Elite MPX

Dual-wavelength platform

New: —

Cynosure Apogee Elite

Dual-wavelength platform

New: $60.0k

Candela GentleMax

Dual-wavelength platform

New: —

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