Top 5 BEST Ultra Short Throw Projectors in [2024]

An ultra-large picture may be projected from an ultra-short distance using the best ultra short throw projectors, or UST for short. They are intended to serve as an alternative to conventional “long throw” projectors, which need to be placed in the rear of a space in order to produce a huge image, typically on a different projection screen that is affixed to the wall across from it.

Additionally, UST projectors require a separate screen, and certain versions come with an ambient light rejecting (ALR) screen made of a unique material designed specifically for UST models. The projector is positioned right beneath the screen in a UST arrangement.

The material used for the screen reflects light directly from the projector while blocking off light from above. Because of this configuration, UST projectors can provide sharp images even in brightly lit spaces during the day.

The top UST projectors that we evaluated are given below. The models listed all have a laser-based light engine and a specified 4K on-screen resolution, although they display visuals using different technologies, like DLP and 3LCD. Whether you’re watching movies, sports, or playing games, there’s bound to be a model here that meets your demands. Additionally, have a look at our guide to the top 4K projectors if you think that a portable or standard long-throw projector would be a better fit for your area.

QUICK LIST

Last update on 2024-06-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

1. Hisense L9G TriChroma Laser 4K TV

Last update on 2024-06-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

Although the Hisense L9G is a living room marvel, high-end technology is never inexpensive. With its ultra-short-throw design, tri-color laser light engine, HDMI 2.1 ports with eARC, HDR support, an Android TV interface, and potent 40W speakers, this projector has all the major features you’d expect from the best ones.

From the outset, the excellence of the projector is evident. Although bringing the box inside the house requires work, setting it up only takes a few minutes, and the projector’s all-in-one design makes the procedure easier. Most people should be able to just place it in front of a blank wall and take in a terrifying, brilliant, and colorful display.

However, Hisense is marketing this projector as a laser TV rather than a standard projector. Additionally, Hisense includes an ambient light-rejecting projector screen that is intended to be permanently mounted on your wall in an effort to guarantee the superior picture quality that matches the price tag. It’s not a roll-up screen, so this 100- or 120-inch (depending on the projector model chosen) will take away from some of the setup’s minimalism, but for those who demand the best possible image quality, it will lessen the effect of ambient light and minimize any wall shape irregularities that could affect the image. Naturally, for people who don’t give a damn about how ambient light affects them.

Nevertheless, despite its excellent picture quality, the projector has a few glitches. One example is its attempts to overcorrect in a way that creates jarring lighting by adjusting brightness for specific content shot by shot. Its motion smoothing feature can also be problematic since, while it occasionally helps to lessen panning judder, it also generates far more noticeable motion artifacts for everything else on screen. Thankfully, there are a ton of settings on the Hisense L9G that allow users to customize the display in numerous ways, including these and many more. Additionally, there is Filmmaker Mode, which lets experts handle the parameters.

While there’s no doubting the Hisense L9G’s amazing quality, prospective purchasers must be willing to make a commitment in order for this projector to make sense. Though even the more cheap models cost several times as much as the L9G, it’s still less of a commitment than a 100-inch TV.

2.Hisense PX2 Pro

Last update on 2024-06-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

The new Hisense PX2-Pro, which replaces the Hisense PX1-Pro, which previously held the best budget spot in our buying guide, impresses us with its strong contrast and rich color. It also boasts a brighter 2,400 lumens picture and built-in support for the Dolby Vision high dynamic range format. These features make the PX-2 Pro an excellent choice for watching movies, though you might want to pair it with one of the best soundbars via its HDMI eARC connection to get better sound than the Hisense’s 15-watt speakers can produce. Furthermore, the PX2-Pro differs from our overall pick, the Hisense L9G, in that it lacks a projection screen.

The absence of a projection screen is one of the key differences between the Hisense PX2-Pro and our top choice, the Hisense L9G. With its 3-laser DLP light engine, the PX2-Pro can project images on any screen or surface at any distance between 90 and 130 inches. Similar in size and design as the PX1-Pro, the PX2-Pro is powered by the Google TV smart system for streaming (known as the VIDAA U7 Smart TV OS in the UK), which offers a plethora of apps, including Netflix.

Hisense’s projector holds up nicely in a dim environment, but the picture quality ramps up in a dark one. In our assessment, we claimed “the PX2-Pro puts on one hell of a show,” and easily trounces the color of competing projectors including the Epson LS800 elsewhere in this guide.

For a “budget” projector, the Hisense PX2-Pro may look expensive, yet it costs less than most 4K projectors with comparable brightness levels. Moreover, it is an all-in-one solution with streaming, audio, and visual features. You only need to add a screen to start watching movies.

3.LG Cinebeam HU915QE

Last update on 2024-06-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

One fantastic UST projector that is relatively new to the market is the LG Cinebeam HU915QE. However, for this is not your average home theater acquisition.

However, you get a lot for your money here. The enormous 90- to 120-inch screen of the HU915QE is incredibly bright and vibrantly colored. This projector is more than bright enough to provide a pleasing image even during the day, and a small amount of ambient light management greatly enhances its ability to present spectacular ones.

You would be getting a lot for your money with strong speakers, LG’s useful webOS smart TV system, the comfort of a manual focus wheel, and an image that’s difficult to find many flaws with.

With the exception of the extremely costly JVC DLA-NZ8 and Samsung The Premiere, the LG Cinebeam HU915QE is more expensive than about every other projector that we suggest.

However, you get a lot for your money. The LG Cinebeam HU915QE boasts an outstanding 90-120 inch picture that showcases its brilliant brightness and vibrant coloration. The projector is more than bright enough to produce a pleasing image in a well-lit area even in the presence of ambient light or during the day. A small amount of ambient light control greatly enhances the projector’s ability to produce amazing cinematic pictures.

4.Samsung Premiere LSP9T

Last update on 2024-06-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

Following a ten-year hiatus from its previous home theater projector, Samsung made a spectacular comeback with the Premiere LSP9T projector. Utilizing 4K HDR laser projection, this ultra short-throw beamer eliminates the need for color filters, allowing the Premiere’s 2800 lumens of brightness to truly shine. With its support for the HDR10+ format, the projector offers scene-by-scene picture calibration in compatible movies and TV shows. Additionally, the projector benefits from full implementation of Samsung’s smart TV operating system, albeit occasionally we found it a little sluggish.

The Premiere LSP9T is a serious competitor for a king-sized TV thanks to its extremely short throw design, 2800 lumens of laser-driven brightness, support for the most recent 4K and HDR picture quality standards, robust built-in audio system, built-in tuner, and smart system. Its picture quality is also generally excellent.

The Premiere LSP9T’s pictures genuinely look 4K, delivering a dense, cinematic image free of visible image structure even at its 130-inch maximum image size. It’s not quite as ready for next-generation gaming as we’d have liked, and some fleeting color striping noise and occasional black level shortcomings sometimes remind you a bit too obviously of the mechanics of its laser DLP optical system. That being said, as an ultra short-throw projector, this may be the best example we’ve seen so far.

It’s not quite as ready for next-generation gaming as we would have liked, and occasionally issues with black level and sporadic color striping noise remind you a little too much of the laser DLP optical system’s workings. However, this might be the best example of an ultra short-throw projector that we’ve seen thus far.

5.Epson EpiQVision Ultra LS800

Last update on 2024-06-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

Ultra short throw (UST) projectors are proliferating, vying with one another to be the best available on the market at the moment. Epson has demonstrated reliable performance in a variety of formats with its laser-lit 3LCD technology, and the Epson LS800 combines this technology into a potent UST package.

The Epson’s 4,000 lumen brightness is astounding, and it’s more than sufficient for daylight viewing without the need for blackout curtains at every window. Epson could have done better with eARC support and a wider color gamut, but other than those two shortcomings, it does a good job of making up for it with ease of use and 24/7 functionality. The Hisense L9G may still be the best option for individuals who don’t require the versatility, while the Hisense PX1 Pro will win for those searching for value and who are ready to spend in blackout curtains. But the LS800 has its place for anyone who wants a simple, powerful projector that lets them broadcast a massive image they can view at any time of day they want.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST ULTRA SHORT THROW PROJECTOR

Are UST projectors good for watching TV?

When it comes to choosing room illumination, UST projectors are an excellent choice for watching sports during the day. Additionally, there won’t be any shadows cast by friends and family during commercial breaks because to their small installation, which places the projector near to the wall where a screen is fixed, unlike with a conventional projector. That’s not to suggest that when the lights go down and it’s time for a movie, UST projectors won’t look great. Numerous models are capable of performing on par with their long-throw projector counterparts in that situation. Some even come with the bonus of supporting Dolby Vision high dynamic range, which is quite helpful for watching movies.

Do I need to a screen with a UST projector?

UST projectors don’t need a projection screen to function, just like any other projector. It’s also possible to project onto a wall that has been painted white; ideally, the surface should be smooth and devoid of any imperfections. Nevertheless, using a dedicated screen will yield the greatest results and have an impact on crucial image characteristics like brightness, contrast, color accuracy, and detail.

Even though you can use a standard matte white screen with a UST projector—especially if you’re watching in a room with adequate lighting control—using an ALR screen will usually yield better results. The purpose of an ALR screen is to block light from lights and undraped windows, which would otherwise bounce off the screen’s surface and lessen picture contrast. A unique variety of ALR screen is normally used with UST projectors that takes the additional picture-improving step of filtering out light coming from above while directly reflecting light coming from the projector positioned below. Some UST projectors such as the Hisense LG9 are even sold.

Do UST projectors look as good as TVs?

Generally speaking, no. The image quality is not going to be as high contrast or bright as it can be on the greatest TVs, even if you are using a screen made specifically for UST projectors. Color rendition is one area of picture quality where some UST projectors outperform TVs. Models that broadcast the red, green, and blue components of video signals using three different lasers may often cover 100% of the BT.2020 color space, which is the suggested standard color space for ultra high definition television. On the other hand, the best TVs typically reach a maximum of 75% coverage of the BT.2020 color space.

Should I get a UST projector with a fixed or variable image size?

Whether or not you want to purchase a UST screen in conjunction with the projector will determine this. In certain respects, setup is made easier by the fact that models with fixed image sizes—typically 100 or 120 inches—come with matching screens. A zoom lens on a projector that has adjustable image size lets you change the image’s size. If you intend to use the projector in several locations or on a screen less than 100 inches, this capability will come in handy.