7 products tested & ranked

We Tested 7 Short Throw Projectors — Here's What's Actually Worth It

Ultra-short throw projectors sit just inches from the wall and deliver 100+ inch screens. We tested the top UST models to find which ones truly replace your TV.

Featuring:Hisense PX3-PRO·Hisense L9Q·Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS800·Hisense C2 Ultra·Samsung The Premiere LSP9T+2 more

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Why Short Throw Projectors Are the Future

Ultra-short throw projectors have transformed home entertainment. Place them on a media console just inches from the wall, and they project massive 100 to 150-inch images without any ceiling mounting or long cable runs. With triple laser technology delivering cinema-grade color accuracy, 4K resolution, and built-in smart platforms, UST projectors are the most practical way to get a truly massive screen in your living room.

How We Evaluate Short Throw Projectors

UST projectors face unique challenges: image geometry must be perfect at extreme throw angles, brightness needs to overcome ambient light since these are typically used in living rooms, and audio quality matters since many include built-in sound systems. We test each model with ambient light rejection (ALR) screens and measure throw ratio accuracy, edge focus, color uniformity, and gaming responsiveness.

What Makes a Great UST Projector

Look for triple laser or RGB laser light sources for the widest color gamut, at least 2,500 ANSI lumens for bright room viewing, and support for Dolby Vision and HDR10+ for the best HDR experience. Gaming performance (input lag under 30ms at 4K/60Hz) is increasingly important. A quality ALR screen is essential to get the most from any UST projector.

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Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature
Hisense PX3-PRO logoHisense PX3-PRO
Hisense L9Q logoHisense L9Q
Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS800 logoEpson EpiqVision Ultra LS800
Hisense C2 Ultra logoHisense C2 Ultra
Samsung The Premiere LSP9T logoSamsung The Premiere LSP9T
Formovie Theater logoFormovie Theater
Hisense PL2 logoHisense PL2
Starting Price
Image Quality
Brightness
Color Accuracy
Gaming Performance
Smart Platform
Audio Quality
Value for Money
Try Hisense PX3-PROTry Hisense L9QTry Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS800Try Hisense C2 UltraTry Samsung The Premiere LSP9TTry Formovie TheaterTry Hisense PL2

Detailed Reviews

#2Hisense L9Q logo

Pros

  • Massive 5,000 ANSI lumens for bright room viewing
  • Triple laser with excellent color accuracy
  • Supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG
  • 3D support with active glasses
  • Google TV with comprehensive app library

Cons

  • Premium price at nearly $6,000
  • Input lag higher than PX3-PRO for gaming
  • Large, heavy chassis
  • Requires significant furniture depth for placement
#3Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS800 logo

Pros

  • 3LCD technology eliminates rainbow artifacts entirely
  • Bright 4,000 lumens for excellent ambient light performance
  • Yamaha-designed speakers with impressive bass
  • Android TV for built-in streaming
  • Compact design for a UST projector

Cons

  • Color gamut narrower than triple laser competitors
  • No Dolby Vision support
  • Input lag higher than gaming-focused USTs
  • Auto-alignment can struggle with textured walls
#4Hisense C2 Ultra logo

Pros

  • Triple laser engine with Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support
  • Built-in Google TV with comprehensive app support
  • Powerful built-in speakers with good bass response
  • Short throw ratio works well in living room spaces
  • Attractive, modern design with swiveling stand

Cons

  • Bulky swiveling stand limits placement options
  • Not ideal for dedicated dark theater rooms
  • Some DLP rainbow effect visible to sensitive viewers
  • HDMI inputs are not full-bandwidth 2.1
#5Samsung The Premiere LSP9T logo

Pros

  • Stunning industrial design with premium build
  • Triple laser engine with excellent color
  • 3,200 ANSI lumens for bright room viewing
  • Samsung Tizen smart platform with excellent app support
  • Filmmaker Mode for accurate movie reproduction

Cons

  • Very expensive for its performance tier
  • No Dolby Vision support (HDR10+ only)
  • Input lag not ideal for competitive gaming
  • Limited to 130-inch maximum screen size
#6Formovie Theater logo

Pros

  • Bowers & Wilkins speakers deliver exceptional audio
  • ALPD laser technology with excellent contrast
  • Compact, attractive design
  • Dolby Vision and HDR10 support
  • Wide color gamut coverage

Cons

  • 2,800 lumens is moderate for a UST
  • Limited smart platform compared to Google TV models
  • Input lag not competitive for gaming
  • Setup alignment can be finicky
#7Hisense PL2 logo

Pros

  • Most affordable quality UST projector on the market
  • 4K resolution with Dolby Vision support
  • Compact UST design sits on media console
  • VIDAA smart platform with app support
  • Decent built-in speakers for the price

Cons

  • 2,100 lumens is modest for an UST in bright rooms
  • VIDAA platform less polished than Google TV
  • Color gamut narrower than triple laser models
  • Black levels appear grey without ALR screen

Our Testing Methodology

We test each UST projector on professional ambient light rejection screens, measuring brightness, color gamut coverage, throw ratio accuracy, and input lag. Real-world testing includes bright room and dark room scenarios, gaming, and smart platform evaluation over a two-week period.

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Marcus Chen

Written by

Marcus ChenCRM & Sales Tech Editor

Marcus Chen has reviewed over 50 CRM platforms during his 7 years in sales technology journalism. A former sales operations manager, he understands pipeline management from the trenches and evaluates tools with a practitioner's eye.

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Best Short Throw Projectors (2026) | UST Laser Reviews & Rankings