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The idea of using an ultra-short-throw projector as a replacement for a regular TV has been around for a few years, but there's no denying the explosion of recent interest as numerous projector manufacturers have jumped into the fray. You can blame it on a number of factors including the dropping cost of bright lasers that eliminate the usual lamp replacements associated with projectors, the development of high-tech screens that let you effectively watch projections with the lights on, and the still very-high costs associated with a panel TV at the 100- to 120-inch image size these projectors play at. Whatever the reason, what was once a curiosity has become a bonafide product category, with quite a few models to choose from at different price and performance levels.
The projectors listed below (in alphabetical order) all use a solid-state light source—typically laser—that eliminates costly lamp replacements and provides essentially stable brightness for at least 20,000 hours of use. That's more than nine years of watching six hours of TV every single day. Some include on-board streaming platforms for receiving services like Netflix and Amazon, a built-in off-air TV tuner, or an integrated soundbar. Likewise, some are shipped as a complete solution with an ambient-light-rejection screen designed for use with UST projectors. In our guide below, we've called out these and other features, and included a link to our review where applicable and to each product's page in our ProjectorCentral database. From there, you can see more specifications, download a product sheet and user manual for more information, or visit our Projector Throw Calculator for that model. You can also directly compare prices and specs on up to six different models by hitting the blue "+ Add to Compare List" button at the top of every spec page. Clicking on the price for any projector in the guide will provide a link to our affiliated online resellers. As always, follow the links through to the retailer to check for the latest discounts.—Rob Sabin, editor-in-chief.
AWOL Vision LTV-3500/LTV-2500
- Rated Brightness LTV-3500 3,500 Lumens
- Rated Brightness LTV-2500 2,000 Lumens
- Screen Included No
- Light Source RGB Triple Laser
- Price LTV-3500 $5,499
- Price LTV-2500 $2,499
The AWOL Vision LTV-3500 is an RGB triple laser 4K UHD projector that distinguishes itself as being one of the brightest ultra-short throws on the market, and it measured reasonably close to its 3,500 ANSI lumen claim in our review, where the LTV-3500 earned our Highly Recommended award. This high-performance UST is packed with features and offers good picture quality along with its bright image. AWOL's lower tier model, the AWOL Vision LTV-2500, offers 2,000 lumens and the same specs as the LTV-3500 in all other aspects. This model would be better suited to darker rooms with good lighting control, whereas the LTV-3500 can withstand higher ambient light scenarios—especially when paired with an ALR screen.
The AWOL Vision LTV-3500 boasts vivid colors and wide gamut that, similar to other RGB laser projectors, exceeds full Rec.2020. This is well in excess to the DCI-P3 color gamut used for most HDR content today. The projector comes with the Fire TV Stick 4K Max streaming dongle, providing a robust multimedia experience, and it has support for 4K, HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Atmos and eARC (which gives the ability to pass a Dolby Atmos signal to an outboard audio system). Both models are spec'd for 80- to 150-inch screens, with most other models topping out at 120 inches. Keep in mind, though, that the preferred ALR screens for USTs aren't readily available above 120 inches, and the larger you go, the darker the image gets.
Our reviewer found the menus a bit awkward to navigate, and as with some other RGB laser models there is visible laser speckle, though the LTV-3500 was neither the best nor worst in this regard.
BenQ V7050i
- Rated Brightness 2,500 Lumens
- Screen Included No
- Light Source Single-Laser+Phosphor
- Price $3,149
BenQ took its time joining the UST living room projector party, but eventually launched with a 4K model that takes square aim at the heart of the market with its $3,499 price tag. It's a great performer, too, earning a coveted Editor's Choice award in our review and coming in first in overall image quality among the Single Laser projectors in our 14-model 2022 Laser TV Showdown. As with others in this price range, a single blue laser combines with a phosphor wheel and color wheel to make the magic happen, but the V7050i boasts wider color gamut, specifically the ability to reach nearly 100% of the DCI-P3 color space used for HDR content (98%, to be exact). At 2,500 lumens, it's rated a bit lower than some competitors, though we found in testing that it makes up for it by delivering good image quality in its brightest mode. Filmmaker Mode is also a plus. And Full 1080p 3D is supported.
The V7050i is spec'd for image sizes from 70 to 123 inches diagonal, though you'll need to add your own UST ALR screen to get the most from your purchase. What it does come with is a modest but respectable built-in audio system with a pair of two-way 5-watt speakers tuned by treVolo (which unfortunately scored rather poorly in the 2022 Laser TV Showdown audio tests), and a streaming platform via BenQ's QS01 Android TV streaming stick whose operation integrates with the remote. This is a much preferred alternative to the Android-based Aptoid platform built into some other projectors and includes well-performing apps for several major services including Amazon, Disney +, and others, though like a few other projectors it lacks authorization for for Netflix.
The V7050i's distinctive sliding motorized cover that protects the lens when not in use isn't necessary for a UST, but it's sure to be crowd pleaser and adds to the projector's distinctive styling. The 0.23:1 throw ratio is about average for the product class, and results in placing the projector about 9 inches from the wall for a 100-inch image.
Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS800
- Rated Brightness 3,500 Lumens
- Screen Included No
- Light SourceSingle-Laser+Phosphor
- Price $3,499
The Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS800 continues Epson's reign as having the brightest UST on the market, with a 4,000 ANSI/ISO lumen rating. It's an update to the earlier LS500, offering that model's 4K PRO-UHD detail enhancement technology, which doubles the pixel-count on the projector's native 1080p chip and provides detail processing to mimic the look of a full UHD-resolution projector from normal viewing distances. At the same time, it trades in the LS500's awkward periscope lens for a sleek form factor and pulls in the title for the industry's shortest throw UST lens (0.16:1), which means it offers the closest placement to the screen wall of any projector for a given screen size. In this case, that's anything from 80 up to 150 inches diagonal, though if you keep the image to 120 inches or less you'll likely be able to fit the projector on a standard-depth credenza or TV stand without having to pull the furniture out from the wall. Epson recommends pairing it with an ambient light rejecting screen and offers its 100- and 120-inch SilverFlex Ultra screens as an accessory. The projector is available in either black or white to match your décor.
As usual, Epson uses a 3-chip 3LCD architecture that eliminates any need for a color wheel and provides immunity to rainbow artifacts, while also offering 100% color brightness, something single-chip DLP projector's can't match. However, the projector's single laser+phosphor design is only rated for Rec.709 color gamut, so it can't take advantage of the extended color gamut found in HDR movies and shows.
On the smart end of things, the LS800 does have an integrated Android TV streaming platform. Sadly, it is missing Netflix, but does have HBO, Disney+, Hulu, ESPN, YouTube, and others. Google Assistant is available from a mic on the remote and Chromecast built-in is available from streaming from a phone. You can also stream live TV via YouTube TV. Unlike the earlier LS500, there's no 3D capabilities on this one. Our review of the LS800 is pending and will publish shortly.
Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS300
- Rated Brightness 3,600 Lumens
- Screen Included Optional
- Light Source Single-Laser+Phosphor
- Price $1,619
Like the Epson LS500, the EpiqVision LS300 Streaming Laser Projector is based on a trio of native 1080p LCD imagers. However, Epson's 4K PRO-UHD pixel-shifting technology to enhance image detail is not present here as it is with the LS500, so we're left with a 1080p-resolution projector that accepts 4K UHD HDR signals and applies HDR10 or HLG processing to take advantage of the wider dynamic range inherent in that content. The resulting cost savings from the lower resolution and a modest reduction in brightness is passed on to the consumer and evident in the pricing. Epson is also selling the LS300 with or without a screen while the LS500 is strictly a package deal with Epson's own screen or one bundled by your integrator.
In some respects, the LS300—which was developed after the LS500—actually has a more advanced design. It boasts a Yamaha-engineered 2.1-channel integrated sound system featuring processing to create a more spacioius image. Onboard Bluetooth allows it to be used for music from your portable devices. And the LS300's Android TV streaming platform, supported by the Google Play store, Google Assistant voice control, and Chromecast built-in, is integrated fully into the projector and mic-enabled remote instead of being executed via an HDMI dongle and extra remote. The LS300 further touts automatic "scene-based color correction," though its color gamut taps out at Rec.709 as it does with the LS500.
The LS300 is a relatively compact and lightweight projector, measuring 18.4 x 15.7 x 5.9 inches and weighing in at 15.9 pounds. Like most of the projectors in our listing, it will throw an image up to 120 inches diagonal, but it goes as small as 61 inches, and thanks to the smaller throw ratio of its lens, casts a 100-inch image from only 10.5 inches away from the rear of the projector, or 15.2 inches for a 120-inch image. Like the LS500, the LS300 is available in either black or white styling.
Formovie Theater
- Rated Brightness 2,800 Lumens
- Screen Included No
- Light Source RGB Triple Laser
- Price $2,900
The Formovie Theater beckons from a consumer-facing division of Appotronics, a Chinese company known for making the ALPD-branded laser light engines used in many UST laser TV projectors. Despite being brand new and unknown to judges at last summer's ProjectorCentral 2022 Laser TV Showdown, it took first place for overall image quality in the Triple Laser grouping. It also snatched first place for audio quality, thanks to a bespoke sound system by Bowers & Wilkens—B&W's signature clean and spacious sound quality was readily evident and beat the competition hands down for both movies and music.
With a list price of $3,499 and typical street price of $2,999, this projector distinguishes itself among the triple RGB laser competition - and single lasers, at that - for good image quality at a low price. The DLP light engine delivers 4K UHD resolution and the UST covers 107% of the Rec.2020 color gamut. It's also one of the few projectors on the market that supports Dolby Vision HDR (as well as HDR10+). The projector also has speckle elimination technology and projects up to a 150-inch diagonal image.
Similar to a few other USTs, the Formovie Theater has an Android-based streaming platform and OS. It's Android TV 11.0 platform comes pre-installed with popular apps including Netflix, Disney+, and Apple TV+, and there's an entire world of additional apps you can download via the Google Play store. Google Assistant Far-field Voice allows you to control the projector from a distance, such as while entering or leaving the room or sitting on your couch. Our review of the Formovie Theater is in progress and will be published soon.
Hisense L9G TriChroma Series
- Rated Brightness 3,000 Lumens
- Screen Included Yes
- Light Source RGB Triple Laser
- Price $3,498 w/ 100-inch Cinema screen
- Price $3,498 w/ 100-inch Daylight screen
- Price $3,998 w/ 120-inch Cinema screen
Hisense has had a version of its "Laser TV" UST projector in the U.S. market since 2017. The L9G series is the company's current flagship, and it impressed us in our review, where it earned an Editor's Choice award. It's an advanced model featuring dedicated red, green, and blue lasers to deliver a promised 3,000 lumens of brightness and the ability to achieve (in its best picture modes) 107% of the BT.2020 color space. That's way more than what today's 4K UHD content can even deliver, but BT.2020 is the target goal for all 4K HDR displays and this represents performance that even the best panel TVs can't match. Filmmaker Mode is included for compatible content.
The L9G comes bundled with a 16:9 screen at either 100 or 120 inches, featuring your choice of two different ambient-light rejecting architectures. The so-called Daylight screen is a rigid 1.2 gain fresnel screen that arrives fully constructed and is targeted for bright environments; its boost in brightness comes at the expense of a more narrow viewing window. The Cinema screen comes rolled and uses a lenticular architecture that offers a darker, 0.4 gain surface and wide viewing angle; it boosts blacks and contrast for dim-room movie viewing at the sacrifice of some peak brightness. Note that, as of this writing in late September 2021, the Daylight screen was still available only in the 100-inch size. (You can read more about UST ALR screen technology here.)
The L9G comes designed to fully replace a smart TV, including an integrated digital broadcast TV tuner for off-air HDTV, built-in web streaming, and an advanced sound system. Streaming is handled with the Android TV platform, in this case a version that offers the authorized Netflix app missing from several other projectors with the same system. It's Google Assistant and Alexa friendly via the mic-equipped remote. Sonics are courtesy of a 40-watt system compatible with Dolby Atmos signals, but you can send high-res audio to an Atmos soundbar through the projector's eARC connection, or use self-powered WiSA wireless speakers.
The L9G features a sleek black contoured design, and projects a 100-inch image with the back of the console 11 inches from the screen wall, or about 13 inches away for a 120-inch image.
Hisense L5G
- Rated Brightness 2,700 Lumens
- Screen Included Yes
- Light SourceSingle Laser+Phosphor
- Price L5G 100-inch $2,799
- Price L5G 120-inch $3,499
The Hisense L5G is Hisense's more affordable single-laser entry UST, and comes in two versions, each sporting a fixed-focus lens and bundled with your choice of a 100- or 120-inch ALR screen. It took second place for overall image quality in the Single Laser category of our 2022 Laser TV Showdown, scoring well in many respects, and its 2,700 lumens gives it plenty of punch as an everyday TV replacement. It offers 4K UHD resolution via its 0.47-inch DLP chipset, HDR10 support, and a Game Mode that offers up a measured 41.8 ms of input lag, suitable only for casual gaming.
For its on-board smarts, the L5G uses the same Android TV platform found on other Hisense models, allowing you to install apps from the Google Play Store. It has Google Assistant and works with Alexa, has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and, as an added bonus, the LG5 and its Voice Remote control can be integrated with your existing smart ecosystem for more smart home automation.
Overall, it's a good option for those looking to replace their TV, who want a bundled projector and screen, and are okay with adding an outboard sound system. Though the L5G boasts a pair of built-in speakers powered by 30 watts and offering Dolby Atmos processing, it's sound quality was the worst of the lot in the 2022 Laser TV Showdown audio tests.
Hisense PX1-PRO/PX1
- Rated Brightness PX1-PRO 2,200 Lumens
- Rated Brightness PX1 2,000 Lumens
- Screen Included No
- Light Source RGB Triple Laser
- Price PX1-PRO $2,798
- Price PX1 $1,799
The Hisense PX1-PRO TriChroma Laser Cinema is a high-performing laser projector that earned our ProjectorCentral Editor's Choice award. It departs from the Hisense L9G triple-laser series with its motorized lens that can focus images from 90 to 130 inches. Unlike those models and the L5G series, which come bundled with a 100- or 120-inch screen that matches their fixed focal-length lens, the adjustable PX1-PRO comes unbundled and can be mated with any appropriate screen.
Hisense has another model, the PX1, which is similar in most respects. Beyond some minor cosmetic differences, the PX1 offers 2,000 lumens rather than the PRO's 2,200 lumens, and has an image size range of 100- to 120 inches. In addition, only the PX1-PRO is slated for the Dolby Vision firmware update that to date has only been reserved for the L9G.
In our review, the PX1-PRO proved to have a sharp lens and accurate color, and was brighter than its modest specs suggest. The PX1-PRO did an outstanding job on SDR and HDR content, and has some of the finest picture quality you'll see out of a UST at its price.The calibration controls are also quite thorough, a major plus for cinema enthusiasts. It's geared more for higher performance in dark-room environments than bright living room environments, though still benefits from the preferred lenticular ALR UST screen type.
The Hisense PX1-PRO and PX1 have Android TV for streaming, and a Game Mode with 31.8 ms input lag, which is good enough for casual gaming. But you shouldn't count on great sound from the projector's sound system despite the system's compatibility with Dolby Atmos soundtracks. The 2x15-watt speakers did not impress in the audio test for our 2022 Laser TV Showdown—embarrassingly, the PX1-Pro, and its sister L5G model, were among the worst for sonics, so for anything beyond watching the news you should plan on adding a soundbar or other outboard system. An eARC-equipped HDMI port is on hand for feeding Dolby Atmos from the streaming platform.
JMGO U2
- Rated Brightness 2,400 Lumens
- Screen Included No
- Light Source RGB Triple Laser
- Price $2,100
Like the Formovie Theater, the JMGO U2 is a suprisingly affordable triple-laser RGB UST. Like most of the laser TVs out there, it uses the 0.47-inch DLP chip with XPR fast pixel-shifting to achieve 4K resolution on screen, and it comes with a fairly sharp fixed-focus lens that's optimized for a 100-inch image but proved in our testing to work well at any of its rated image sizes between 80 and 120 inches. It's modern, eye-catching design features a pair of raised acoustic-lens waveguides for the premium Dynaudio-branded audio system, which performed well in our test and ranks among the better built-in sound systems for a UST. The projector's large size benefits the bass by providing a good-sized cavity for the two 15-watt full-range drivers, which are supplemented by dedicated tweeters beneath the waveguides that spread out the sound. The U2 also one of a few UST projectors that supports 1080p 3D, and it offers a game mode, though with a relatively high 42 ms of input lag.
The JMGO U2 has a built-in smart system, called Luna OS, which is limited in its offerings, though it does offer apps including HBO Max, YouTube, and Spotify. The projector also has a nice remote control that is simple, made of aluminum and connects via Bluetooth.
Unfortunately, despite its strengths and its nice fit-and-finish, our review of the U2 revealed flaws in image quality. Though it has an extremely wide color gamut for HDR thanks to its three-laser design, the out-of-the-box color accuracy is poor and the projector has limited color adjustments to fix it. To the extent you can do so, it offers only a single adjustable User mode to store your settings, so you can't optimize the image for both SDR and HDR. And its HDR picture lacked suitable brightness for the format. You can read details in our review.
JMGO makes a bold claim for the U2 on its website, declaring it "The Laser Projector that Outperform's IMAX Theater," an apparent reference to its wide color space spec'd for 114% of the BT.2020 color space. Whatever you might say about its gamut, we can say confidently after our review that this projector doesn't outperform other triple-laser or even single-laser models at its price point.
JMGO O1 Pro/JMGO O1
- Rated Brightness JMGO O1 Pro 1,500 Lumens
- Rated Brightness JMGO O1 800 Lumens
- Screen Included No
- Light SourceLED
- Price O1 Pro $1,260
- Price O1 $1,099 MSRP
The JMGO O1 Pro and JMGO O1 are LED-driven UST projectors with a minimalist design that are quite sophisticated for their price. JMGO went with an LED engine instead of laser to provide a uniquely low-cost UST solution, though the sacrifice is seen clearly in these projectors' native 1080p resolution and relatively low brightness. With the O1 Pro spec'd at 1,500 ANSI lumens and the standard O1 at 800 lumens, they are really best suited for dark- or dim-room viewing, perhaps on a wall or an inexpensive high gain white screen. Though you could add an ALR UST screen to improve contrast in a bright (or dark) room, our preferred lenticular UST screen type with maximum overhead light rejection sacrifices brightness with its negative gain, and the cost of an ALR screen in any event is likely to equal or exceed the cost of the projector.
This doesn't mean you should reject these products if you're looking for a good entry-level UST solution to get you in the big screen game at relatively low cost, particularly the more premium O1 Pro. Offered in black, JMGO partnered with German camera and lensmaker Leica for the PRO's UST optics system, which is said to reduce internal stray light and make for a sharper image with better contrast. (Following their development work on the O1 Pro, Leica even unveiled plans for their own premium tri-laser 4K UST, the Cine 1, in partnership with Hisense.)
Beyond the lens, the projector is plug-and-play using smart features such as AI cameras and sensors to autofocus and keystone correct the 80- to 100-inch image. The AI camera auto adjusts the brightness for the best image under ambient light conditions. Image processing is handled by a MediaTek MT9669 processor that is touted as premium, and the projector offers MEMC frame interpolation to smooth motion.
The JMGO O1 Pro accepts 4K signals and offers HDR10 compatibility and a Low Blue Light mode said to reduce dangerous hblue light. There's a Low Latency mode for gaming said to be suitable for casual gamers. Amazon Alexa is built-in and supported by a mic on the remote. It has a Dynamic Art Gallery feature in collaboration with MANA, a digital art platform, that will allow you to display artworks curated by artists the world over. The JMGO O1 Pro also features a premium Dynaudio-developed sound system with two 10-watt stereo speakers. It offers JMGO's Luna OS operating system and streaming platform, which is Android-based with a JMGO skin over it.
Both the O1 Pro and O1 share a similar compact, modern design with soft, rounded corners, though the step-down O1 differs in some key respects. Besides its silver and white color scheme and significantly less brightness, its non-Leica lens offers images from 60- to 100-inches diagonal, with 80 inches being the largest recommended size. We have a sample of the O1 Pro and expect to review it shortly.
LG Cinebeam HU915QB/HU915QE
- Rated Brightness HU915QB 3,000 Lumens
- Rated Brightness HU915QE3,700 Lumens
- Screen Included No
- Light SourceTriple Laser+Phosphor
- Price HU915QB $6,497
- Price HU915QE $5,597
The LG Electronics HU915QB is LG's high-performance home theater UST projector with a triple laser light engine. Its sister model, the HU915QE, is similar in all respects except the color of the cabinet, lumen output, and what LG says is some sacrifice in color gamut. The HU915QB (black) sports 3,000 lumens, while the HU915QE (white) has 3,700 lumens to withstand a fair amount of ambient light. These USTs are more advanced version of their predecessor, the tri-laser HU8LA, which (for now) remains on the market.
Unlike other triple laser projectors that use discrete lasers for red, green, and blue light, the LG HU915QB and HU915QE use a red laser and two blue ones, with the second blue laser bouncing light off a phosphor to create the green primary. The result is a color gamut that isn't as spacious as its discrete RGB brethren, but offers less laser speckle on the image and less potential for rainbow effects. Note that all single-chip DLP projectors, even those with discrete RGB light sources that have no need for a color wheel, can suffer from DLP rainbow effect due to sequential timing errors of the colors.
The HU915QB had excellent out of the box image quality in our review, where it earned our coveted Editor's Choice Award. It offers a bright image with excellent contrast, though it benefits from calibration for best accuracy. To that end, the HU915QB has extensive color calibration controls and is also the only UST projector on the market that can be calibrated with Portrait Displays' Calman AutoCal functions if you or a pro you hire has that software and the appropriate instruments. Furthermore, the LG HU915QB has outstanding dynamic tone-mapping for HDR, which is rarely seen among USTs. This projector uses the larger 0.66-inch 4K DLP imager typically seen only in premium models, which some say provides a sharper image with better color saturation.
LG includes a Game Optimizer function that can be used to adjust image settings for different game types and lowers input lag, though our lowest measured lag at 67 ms remains far too high for all but the most casual gaming. On the other hand, one strong suit is the excellent webOS smart TV platform borrowed from LG's televisions which provide access to Netflix, HBO Max, and Disney+ among others, and support for 4K HDR and Dolby Atmos sound. Unfortunately, like the HU85LA that preceded it, LG's built-in sound system for these 915 models and the 715QW is a disappointment and the projector fared poorly in our 2022 Laser TV Showdown audio tests; you'll likely want an external sound system. The projector also comes with LG's Magic Remote control, which is an air-mouse navigation—but you can use it like a regular remote if you so wish.
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LG CineBeam HU85LA 4K Laser Smart Home Theater Projector
- Rated Brightness 2,700 Lumens
- Screen Included No
- Light Source Triple Laser+Phosphor
- Price $4,598
The LG HU85LA, released in the summer of 2019, was the most advanced home theater UST projector we'd seen to that point, but was leapfrogged in 2022 with the more advanced HU915Q models listed above. However, it was a ProjectorCentral Editor's Choice when we reviewed it and it remains on the market, and in our Buyer's Guide, for now.
Despite its high cost, the HU85LA doesn't include a screen as part of the package, and its onboard stereo audio system uses a modest pair of 5-watt speakers that ran out of steam quickly during our review, so you may want an external sound system. However, it still qualifies as a smart TV replacement, thanks to its built-in digital TV tuner, and its WebOS streaming platform that supports Netflix, YouTube, and a browser, plus an app store for more. It even offers voice control with LG ThinQ, Google Assistant, and Alexa.HDR support in the HU85LA is limited to HDR10, making it one the few projectors included here that doesn't support HLG. It's also one of the few that lacks 3D support. On the other hand, as reported in our review, it offers effective dynamic tone-mapping to optimize HDR10. And its 2,700 lumen rating should be enough to deliver an image that can easily stand up to moderate levels of ambient light at the 90 to 120-inch screen size LG recommends, especially if mated with an ALR UST screen.
As with most projectors is this category, the LG HU85LA is built around a laser-phosphor light source paired with a DLP chip that uses TI's XPR technology to deliver 3840x2160 resolution. Unlike most, though, it uses the larger 0.66-inch DMD, which uses two-phase rather than four-phase pixel-shifting that is said by some to deliver a sharper image. More notable is that it fully eliminates a color wheel by using red and blue lasers plus a third blue laser and phosphor for green, which LG says delivers more vivid color than a color wheel. Its DCI-P3 coverage is rated at 97% and its contrast ratio at 2,000,000:1.
The white case, which measures 5 x 26.8 x 13.7 inches (HWD) and weighs 26.7 pounds, is stylish enough to look good in a living area, thanks in part to a fabric grille covering on the audience-facing side. LG says it can be mounted in front of the screen or behind it, and on a flat surface below or a ceiling mount above. It also offers the setup convenience of 12-point geometric correction for keystone, pincushioning, and barrel distortion. Thanks to an aggressive 0.19 throw ratio for the lens, the distance from the screen-facing side to the screen for the recommended 90 to 120-inch sizes ranges from 2.2 to 7.2 inches.
LG CineBeam HU715QW
- Rated Brightness 2,500 Lumens
- Screen Included No
- Light SourceSingle Laser+Phosphor
- Price $2,748
The LG CineBeam HU715QW, a Projector Central Editor's Choice Award winner, is a single laser+phosphor UST projector and LG's entry-level model. It has good out-of-the-box image quality and extensive picture settings, but the more limited gamut typical of single-laser projectors—it's rated for only 86% DCI-P3 coverage. It uses the more common 0.47-inch 4K DLP chip rather than the larger 0.66-inch used in LG's high-end triple laser projectors, but we found in our review that it's mated here with a sharp lens with motorized focus. It supports HDR10 and HLG HDR assisted by LG's dynamic tone-mapping, and HGiG (HDR Gaming Interest Group) is on board for console gaming, though with a low measured input lag of 53.9 ms it's not suitable for serious competition or fast games.
The LG HU715QW has two 20-watt speakers, each with a tweeter and a woofer, but it still ranked in the bottom tier in the audio tests from our 2022 Laser TV Showdown, and an external soundbar or audio system is highly recommended. Fortunately, there's an eARC HDMI for exporting up to Dolby Atmos sound quality from the excellent webOS streaming platform. LG provides their Magic Remote control, which is highly functional, and comes with a voice search mic.
Optoma CinemaX D2 Smart/CinemaX D2
Optoma CinemaX D2
- Rated Brightness 3,000 Lumens
- Screen Included No
- Light SourceSingle Laser+Phosphor
- Price D2 Smart $2,699
- Price D2 $2,499
The Optoma Cinemax D2 and CinemaX D2 are the latest replacements for the CinemaX P2, itself a replacement for the CinemaX P1 that was one of the earliest laser TVs to reach market. Both of the earlier versions were well-reviewed by ProjectorCentral and earned Editor's Choice awards. The D2 models are based on the same platform, but with a few key differences. Both have the same 0.47-inch 4K DLP chip and 3,000-lumen rated brightness found in the earlier P2; note that the current claim of 30,000 hours of laser lifetime vs the previously cited 20,000 hours is based on using the ECO power mode rather than full brightness. The two D2 models are themselves the same, save for the smarts attributed to the Cinemax D2 Smart, which carries a premium for its Android TV streaming platform that gives access to apps from the Google Play store, including an authorized Netflix app (which doesn't appear often in Android-based projectors). Google Assistant is built-in, and the Optoma Cinemax D2 can become a smart home hub that works with your other products, dim the lights, and even manage tasks and see your calendar.
Both D2 series models also boast some impressive gaming specs, with 16 ms lag time for 4K/60 signals and capability for 240Hz smooth motion refresh to achieve 4 ms input lag for 1080p PC gaming. That's the lowest we've seen for any UST projector and competitive with the best of the latest generation of gaming projectors, and a significant upgrade from the earlier CinemaX models.
Also new to the D2 models is an HDMI port equipped with eARC, which allows you to pass full resolution Dolby Atmos bitstreams from the onboard streaming platform or a connected source to an external Atmos soundbar or A/V receiver. There's also a built-in dual 10-watt speaker system, though it's a redesign from the earlier, well-regarded system found in the P1 and P2.
As with prior CinemaX units (and most single-laser USTs), the projectors are rated for Rec.709 color gamut, and they supports HDR10 and HLG. Compliance for 1080p 3D playback has been carried over. And with ISF calibration modes and a full suite of color calibration controls, the D2 models should provide a high degree of optimization. Setup is supported with 3x3 geometric correction. Both the D2 and D2 Smart come in either black or white to mate with your décor. We are working of a review of the D2 Smart that will publish shortly.
Samsung "The Premiere" LSP9T
- Rated Brightness 2,800 Lumens
- Screen Included No
- Light Source Laser
- Price $5,497
After a long hiatus, Samsung re-entered the projector market with two ultra short throw laser projectors in its design-centric Lifestyle TV series that compete in both the premium and budget segments of the category. It fared well in our review, earning a Highly Recommended award.
The LSP9T, with a $6,499 list price, is the top model featuring a light engine with separate red, green, and blue lasers to achieve a claimed 147% of the DCI-P3 color space used today for the mastering of 4K content, and even 106% of the full Rec.2020 gamut that remains a distant target for most consumer displays today. This discrete three-laser RGB design should also reduce or eliminate the usual single-chip DLP rainbow artifacts. Brightness is rated at 2,800 lumens, contrast at 2,000,000:1 full on/off (peak) or 1,500:1 ANSI. Samsung is using the larger and better performing 0.66-inch DLP XPR chip in this model. Laser life is rated at 20,000 hours.
The LSP9T is cited as the first projector compatible with HDR10+ high dynamic range content, a more advanced form of HDR10 initially developed by Samsung that offers dynamic metadata (similar to Dolby Vision) to assure a better result than is usually found with the static metadata found on regular HDR10 titles. However, HDR10+ content is still not widely found, and the projector will process regular HDR10 as well. The LSP9T also supports the UHD Alliance's Filmmaker mode, which recognizes metadata in compatible content to engage a picture mode that optimizes the image based on the creator's intent.
Audio in the LSP9T is handled with an integrated 4.2-channel sound system driven by a total of 40 watts of power and utilizing Samsung's Acoustic Beam technology to provide a more enveloping image. It's one of the better-sounding systems you'll find among these USTs and it ranked well in the audio portion of our 2022 Laser TV Showdown. Smart technology appears with Samsung's excellent Smart TV Powered by Tizen streaming platform for streaming, which includes a working Netflix app, and it offers compatibility with both Amazon Alexa and Samsung's Bixby voice assistants. NFC-enabled screen mirroring from some mobile devices is also accommodated.
The LSP9T measures in at 21.7 x 5.5 x 14.5 inches (WHD). Its 0.19:1 throw ratio lens is unsually short among USTs and allows it to cast a 100-inch image with the back of the projector just 4.5 inches off the screen wall, or its maximum 130-inch image from 9.4 inches away. This could prevent many users from having to move their credenza or TV stand back from the screen in order to acheive a large 120- or 130-inch image.
Samsung "The Premiere" LSP7T
- Rated Brightness 2,200 Lumens
- Screen Included No
- Light Source Laser
- Price $2,797
Samsung's LSP7T step-down UST projector features a similar cosmetic to the LSP9T flagship described above, but is slightly smaller at approximately 21 x 5.4 x 13.5 inches (WHD). Its image size maxes out at 120 inches, and its lens has a slightly longer throw ratio at 0.25:1, which casts a 100-inch image when the rear of the 13.5-inch deep projector is about 12 inches from the screen wall.
The primary cost savings comes in the use of a single blue-laser combined with a yellow phosphor wheel to achieve the three primary colors—a common approach used in other competing UST models in this price class. Consequently, color gamut is claimed at a more limited 83% DCI-P3, which is in keeping with this approach. Also similar to other models at its price, the LSP7T uses the smaller 0.47-inch DLP XPR 4K-resolution chipset. At 2,200 lumens, it's also among the least bright laser-driven UST living room projectors available.
The LSP7T features the same Smart TV by Tizen streaming platform found inthe LSP9T and in Samsung's flat-panel TVs, along with voice control via Alexa and Bixby and NFC mirroring. Its integrated 2.2-channel sound system is driven by 30 watts of amplifier power, and basically mimics the excellent audio performance we found in the LSP9T in our 2022 Laser TV Showdown audio tests.
VAVA Chroma
- Rated Brightness 2,200 Lumens
- Screen Included No
- Light Source RGB Tri-Laser+Phosphor
- Price $3,249
VAVA followed the release of its VAVA 4K single-laser projector with this triple-laser discrete RGB model. It offers 2,200 lumens from its advanced Appotronics ALPD 4.0 laser light source that claims 106% of the Rec.2020 color gamut along with reduced laser speckle. Like the original VAVA, the Chroma uses the 0.47-inch DLP chip with Texas Instruments' XPR fast pixel switching technology, giving it full 4K UHD resolution. The projector supports HDR10 high dynamic range as well as 1080p 3D playback, and can project up to 150-inch diagonal.
For gaming, the projector measured a 42.2ms input lag, which is good enough for casual gaming but not competive first-person shooters or other games that require super-fast response time. The built-in 30-watt stereo Harman Kardon sound system is also among the best we've heard in a UST, thanks in part to projector's large size which gave it a little extra bass as heard in the audio tests from our 2022 Laser TV Showdown.
With Amazon's Alexa built in, the VAVA Chroma allows you to control your experience and your smarthome devices via the remote's microphone. For your content needs, the VAVA includes a smart Android 9.0 TV system. Keep an eye out for our full review of the VAVA Chroma currently in progress.
VAVA 4K Projector
- Rated Brightness 2,500 Lumens
- Screen Included No
- Light Source Laser
- Price $2,499
The VAVA 4K Projector is less of a smart TV replacement than most of the other choices included here, with no digital TV tuner, no voice control, and no screen included. However, it still offers smart TV features, courtesy of Android 7.1 and the Aptoide app store, which has apps for Netflix, Hulu and more. It also boasts an integrated Harman Kardon sound system with 60 watts of power, dts-HD, and Dolby Audio that fared well in our evaluation (see our review).
The white case, designed with rounded corners for an attractive look, measures 4.2 x 21 x 14.5 inches (HWD) and weighs 23.8 pounds. Inside is a laser light source, an RGB phosphor color wheel, and a 0.47-inch DMD that uses TI's XPR technology to produce 3840x2160 resolution. VAVA rates the color coverage at greater than 100% of Rec.709 and the contrast ratio at 1,500,000:1. Maximum input resolution is 3840x2160.
You can position the projector on a flat surface below the screen or in ceiling mount above it and either for front or rear projection. A welcome convenience is eight-point geometric correction for keystone as well as pincushion and barrel distortion. For the recommended 80 to 150-inch screen, the distance from screen to projector is just 3.3 to 10.9 inches.
Note that the warranty is shorter than for most of the competition, at only one year, so you may want to add an extended warranty. Also, HDR support is limited to HDR10, and there's no 3D support yet. However, VAVA plans to add 3D as part of a planned firmware update during the 2nd quarter of 2020. The upper end of the recommended 80 to 150-inch image size is much larger than offered by most UST lensing systems. The 2,500 ANSI lumen rating should easily be bright enough for a 2D image in moderate ambient light even at that large size.
ViewSonic X2000B-4K
- Rated Brightness 2,000 Lumens
- Screen Included No
- Light Source Single Laser + Phosphor
- Price $2,900
The ViewSonic X2000B-4K is a smart, compact, single laser phosphor UST projector that appears to replace the ever so fleeting, LED-driven X1000-4K that was only briefly on the market. The X2000B-4K should be more of a keeper, as it proved itself an excellent projector that reviewed well, earning our Highly Recommended award, and was a surprise sleeper in the single-laser category of our 2022 Laser TV Showdown. It produces pleasing color, accurate skin tones, and high contrast with good black level performance and shadow detail for a DLP projector. The X2000B offers HDR and HLG for high dynamic range content, though it's only rated for Rec.709 color gamut. It supports 1080p 3D.
This 4K UHD projector (it uses the 0.47-inch DLP XPR chip) is easy to set up thanks to built-in 4-corner adjustment, and it's equipped with an effective powered focus mechanism. It has built-in dual integrated Harmon Kardon speakers (10-watt tweeter and 15-watt woofer) with Dolby and DTS decoding on board and delivered clean sound and good dynamics in the audio tests for our 2022 Laser TV Showdown. The X2000B-4K is also equipped with Bluetooth in and out. You can use it to connect with your wireless device for listening to music, or send the audio out to a Bluetooth speaker or headphones.
Viewsonic dropped the ball on their proprieatry built-in streaming, which is clunky, so as with many projectors, we recommend you plan for adding your own streaming dongle or player. As with some other models, the X2000B has embedded Wi-Fi for sharing of content from mobile devices. It has Instant Power On, so you can use your projector without the wait. Check out our full review of the X2000B for more details.
Wemax Nova 4K
- Rated Brightness 2,100 Lumens
- Screen Included No
- Light Source Single Laser + Phosphor
- Price $2,100
The Wemax Nova offers a fairly solid hardware offering, at the core of which is an Appotronics ALPD 3.0 single-laser+phosphor light module. As the name implies, it's a 4K projector that uses the 0.47-inch DLP chip with XPR fast pixel-switching. Color gamut tops out at Rec.709, which isn't ideal but is common among most single-laser USTs, and while the projector supports HDR10 content there is unfortunately no support for 3D. Image size ranges from 80 to 150 inches and the motorized-focus lens proved fairly sharp and free of color aberrations in our review, though the preferred lenticular screen type for USTs typically only goes up to 120 inches, and we generally recommend avoiding going larger than that anyway for a relatively low-brightness projector like this since the image dims the larger you go.
The onboard Android web-streaming system provides good image quality on most apps and provides access to apps from the Google Play store, though like with many Android projectors there's no support for Netflix, so you'll likely end up adding your own streaming dongle or player. We found that audio system was also very good among USTs, with four speakers sharing 30 watts of power and backed with beamforming technology to provide a more immersive viewing experience.
Unfortunately, despite its strengths, the Wemax Nova proved itself in our review to be a bit of a dud on image quality. Though it functioned surprisingly well with regular SDR content and showed a good image with accurate color and high contrast right out of the box, with HDR content it exhibited a too-dark image with visible banding artifacts, and its rudimentary menu system offers virtually no calibration controls to fix its issues. Furthermore, our sample emitted audible coil whine, which is a form of high-pitched electronic noise separate from fan noise that afflicts some laser projectors. Some people are more sensitive to this than others, and coil whine is typically masked somewhat by whatever soundtrack is playing, but on the Nova it bothered our reviewer enough to cross it off his own shopping list. The Nova's limitations may still make it an option if you don't plan on watching any HDR and just want to use it as a day to day TV, but for most shoppers this is probably one to avoid given the other options available.
XGIMI Aura
- Rated Brightness 2,400 Lumens
- Screen Included No
- Light Source Laser
- Price $1,699
Upon its release in October 2021, XGIMI's Aura was both the company's first laser projector and, at $2,499, the least expensive laser UST on the market. It's a solid, well-engineered projector at its price, and it reviewed well at ProjectorCentral, earning our Highly Recommended award.
Not surprisingly, the Aura uses a similar architecture to other entry-level laser USTs with a 0.47-inch 4K DLP chip and a single blue laser and phosphor wheel to derive the primary colors, which in this case contributes to somewhat limited color gamut that's rated at 90% Rec.709 and 80% DCI-P3. But its 2,400 ANSI lumen brightness is competitive with others in its price range, and it arrives with a number of plusses some others don't offer, including a good quality built-in Android TV 10.0 streaming platform, the ability to playback 3D content, and a 25,000 hour lifespan for the laser that's 5,000 hours more than most competitors can claim. Keep in mind that if you watch the projector for 4 hours a day, that adds up to an extra 3.5 years or 17 years total at that rate of use.
The Aura claims an image size from 80 to 150 inches. With its 0.23:1 throw ratio lens, it'll do a 100-inch image with the back of the projector 8.2 inches from the screen wall, a 120-inch image from 11.7 inches, and its max 150-inch image from 17.3 inches. Of course, if you mate the projector with a UST ALR screen, which we always recommend, you'll likely be limited to a 120-inch image. 8-point geometric correction is included as well.
The Aura features an attractive two-toned designed with a fashionable sloped top, with a dark front grille that hides a Harman Kardon stereo sound system with a dedicated tweeter and woofer for each channel, driven by 15 watts each; it supports both Dolby and DTS audio tracks, and the system scored highly in the audio tests for our 2022 Laser TV Showdown. Back panel connections include both an optical audio output for driving an outboard system and a 3.5mm analog headphone output. Video inputs include three HDMI 2.0 ports and USB. Bluetooth is on board for streaming to the speakers from your mobile device, and network connections are supported with the built-in WiFi or an Ethernet port.
