I traveled to CES 2023 mostly to try out new TVs, but as I roamed the huge, crowded halls, I kept coming across a related product category: projectors.
the The best 4K projectors now available in a range of flavors including Long Throw, Ultra Short Throw and portable Versions that were all represented at CES. To be honest I was surprised by the number of brands with projectors on display at the show. We clearly live in an era of big-screen television where there’s no shortage of ways to bring cinema-sized pictures home.
While I didn’t see all of the projectors at CES, I had the opportunity to spend quality time with most of the projectors listed below. The lineup is evenly weighted between DLP-based ultra-short throw and portable models, with JVC’s long-throw DLP projector as an added bonus for its gaming prowess – and affordable price point.
1. AWOL Vision LTV-2500+
The AWOL Vision LTV-2500+ ($3,499) was set up in an open booth with bright lights shining overhead. Despite this, given the difficult environment, the output image had good brightness, contrast and color saturation.
A large part of this was down to the projector’s triple laser light engine (one each for the red, green and blue primaries), which delivers a light output of 2,600 lumens and 107 percent coverage of the Rec.2020 color space. (AWOL also sells a similarly-equipped 3,500-lumen model, the LTV-3500, for $5,499.) The LTV-2500+ uses an all-glass lens for sharp focus and can emit images from 80 to 150 inches.
One feature of the LTV-2500+ (and LTV-3500) not found on other ultra short throw models is 3D support. While there are few new movies on 3D Blu-ray, there are still 3D fans with the Best Blu-ray Players and disc collections, and the company added this feature in response to user requests. (AWOL includes active shutter glasses with the projector.)
The LTV-2500+ also handles HDR10 and HDR10+ high dynamic range formats, and Dolby Vision support is coming soon and will be added via a firmware update, according to a company representative I met with at CES have spoken. In addition, the projector comes with one Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K max for streaming and has an HDMI eARC connection for connecting an external soundbar. It also seems like a good option for gaming, with a specified input lag of 30ms for 4K sources and 17ms for 1080P sources.
2. Hisense L9H TriChroma Laser TV
Hisense had a slew of new projectors on display at CES, including an 8K and several 4K ultra-short-throw models, as well as a new laser-guided wearable projector. The one that caught my eye was the L9H TriChroma Laser TV, no doubt due to its triple laser light engine with exceptional brightness (3,000 ANSI lumens). Like the AWOL UST model, the L9H is designed to cover 107 percent of the Rec.2020 color space and comes with Dolby Vision High Dynamic Range support out of the box.
For 2023, the Hisense Laser TV lineup makes a switch from Android TV (ugh…) to Google TV. This interface upgrade makes using the projector just like navigating on a regular Smart TV, except in this case with a 100 or 120 inch screen. The new ambient light rejecting screens that come with Hisense’s projectors have also been upgraded, from negative gain to 1.0 gain for improved brightness.
Other L9H features include Wi-Fi 6e support for high-bandwidth streaming, AirPlay 2 and a built-in ATSC 3.0 tuner to watch next-generation digital TV broadcasts in the United States.
3. Leica Cine Laser TV
Just off Hisense’s main booth was a darkened room that housed another impressive ultra-short-throw projector demonstration, this time from renowned German camera manufacturer Leica. The company’s new Cine 1 Laser TV is a collaboration with Hisense and, like the Hisense L9H, is a triple laser model, but one with 2,500 lumens of light output. Like the Hisense, it has the Google TV Smart interface, a built-in TV tuner (though not ATSC 3.0 capable) and comes with 100- or 120-inch screen options.
As a camera manufacturer, you would expect Leica to get involved in lens design for the projector, and that’s exactly what happened. I have to say the image projected on the company stand looked absolutely sharp. Leica Image Optimization (LIO) processing is also on board to improve image quality, and there’s that beautiful perforated aluminum body with red dots that echoes the sleek design of the company’s cameras.
The Cine Laser TV will be available in Europe this spring and later this year in the US with a starting price of $8,295 (for the 100-inch model).
4. Samsung Freestyle (2023)
Samsung’s The Freestyle is currently our top choice for portable projectors due to its clever and versatile design that allows for a variety of indoor and outdoor projection applications. It’s also an affordable portable projector option considering all the cool things it can do, including streaming apps using the same smart Tizen Interface found in the company’s TVs.
For 2023, a refreshed The Freestyle will get Samsung’s gaming hub for cloud-based gaming via apps like Microsoft Xbox, Utomik, and Amazon Luna. And a new edge blending feature makes it possible to combine two separate Freestyle projectors and create an ultra-wide 21:9 aspect ratio display (pictured above) with automatic keystone correction. Keep playing Samsung.
5. Formovie V10
The portable projector space continues to expand, with laser-based 4K models being offered by many manufacturers, both known and unknown. If you stop by the Formovie booth to see its excellence for yourself theater projectorthe world’s first to support Dolby Vision HDR and one with a powerful Bowers & Wilkins Dolby Atmos audio system, I came across an intriguing new portable model that was recently launched: the V10.
The V10 is a 4K projector with an LED-based light engine designed for a light output of 2,500 ANSI lumens and capable of projecting images from 60 to 150 inches. The specs also list a 240Hz refresh rate with HDMI 2.1 connections and 12ms input lag when gaming. Streaming with the V10 is done through the Android TV smart interface.
While all of those specs look good, especially on the gaming front, the real reason you’d buy the V10, which is available and priced around $2,000, is for its looks. With a natural wood control panel and fabric covered body, this is one of the prettiest portable projectors I’ve seen and deserves a prime spot in your living room.
6. Xgimi MoGo 2 Pro
I didn’t get a chance to test the Xgimi MoGo 2 Pro in person – at the CES event I attended where it was supposed to be showcased, an Xgimi rep was there but the MoGo 2 Pro, oddly enough, wasn’t – but given ours positive experience with the mogo proas well as the company’s track record of providing quality portable projector designs, I’m sure it will be one of the better models to come out in 2023.
In terms of specs, the MoGo 2 Pro is a lightweight (2.2 pounds) 1080p model with HDR10 support. Image size is said to stretch up to 200 inches, meaning you can use this thing to project onto the side of a damn barn. Most importantly, the Mogo 2 Pro looks cool and features the company’s Intelligent Screen Adaptation technology (version 2.0) which automatically straightens the image to be a perfect and perfectly focused 16:9 rectangle no matter where you set up the projector.
The MoGo 2 Pro will be available “soon”.
7. JVC LX-NZ30
JVC’s LX-NZ30 is another projector I didn’t get to try out personally, in this case because the CES is too darn big, spanning both the Las Vegas Strip and the main convention center. But I wanted to add it to this list because JVC has yet to make a bad projector and the LX-NZ30 looks like a great option for both movie watching and gaming.
The LX-NZ30 is a 1080p DLP design that uses four-way E-Shift to achieve 4K screen resolution. According to JVC, it “supports up to 1080p/240Hz input with a latency of just 6.25ms”. In addition to its HDMI ports, it has a DisplayPort 1.2a input for direct connection to a PC. The LX-NZ30 features a laser light source with dynamic dimming for enhanced contrast and offers flexible setup options including horizontal and vertical lens shift and a 1.6x optical zoom.
The LX-NZ30 will be available in late March for $3,499.
