Category: Home Theater

XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro review: Two-minute review Chinese electronics brand XGIMI is on a continued mission to be the brand of choice when searching for a projector, hoping to lure you away from the likes of Samsung, BenQ or LG in the process. The MoGo 3 Pro, released alongside the much higher-end Aura 2 4K UST projector towards the end of 2024, certainly has a resumé to suggest it’s in with a fair shot of becoming one of the best portable projectors: full HD resolution, 450 ISO lumens brightness, Google TV and Netflix onboard and, of course, a portable design. And yes, I recognize XGIMI has diverted away from the design of the previous two MoGo projectors and has instead adopted something akin to Samsung’s The Freestyle projector. Admittedly, the new XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro’s new look does make it a lot more portable and it has added practical benefits. The cylindrical design allows the projector lens to remain covered up when it’s not in use and it can be tilted through a 130º angle. XGIMI claims this allows the projector to beam onto the ceiling but, in my use, I wasn’t able to do so without physically angling the whole projector unit itself. A full 180º of tilt would allow it to perform better in this regard, if that’s what you’re looking for in a projector. Images projected onto a wall using the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro are of excellent quality, although you will want to dive into the picture settings to make some adjustments for the best results. Out of the box, images could look washed out and overexposed, but after diving into the albeit limited picture settings and making a few adjustments, I found that the projected images were able to deliver good color and contrast. I was impressed with its ability to combat some bright ambient light filtering into my testing room, too. Naturally, when the lights went down, the images projected onto my wall became much clearer. (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge) Because the MoGo 3 Pro is a portable projector it needs to rely on its built-in speakers for sound, which is where things get less positive. The XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro has 2 x 5W Harman Kardon speakers built in which, sadly, fail to deliver anywhere near a cinematic experience, despite XGIMI’s claims. Dolby Audio and Dolby Digital Plus are both supported formats, but it adds little to what is an overall unengaging sound. For casual viewing with friends, family or even by yourself, it can pass, but if you’re planning on movie nights when you’re away camping or on holiday, for example, then you’ll likely be disappointed. You can connect a Bluetooth speaker to help boost things on the audio front, and a Mini HDMI connection is onboard with ARC support, meaning you can connect a soundbar, for example, using a Mini HDMI-to-HDMI cable. But if you’ve taken the MoGo 3 Pro away on a camping trip, you’re unlikely to have access to a full-fat external audio system. The XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro also doesn’t have a built-in battery, which naturally can also affect its portability. If you know you’re going to want to take it somewhere where a power outlet won’t be accessible, then you can connect a USB-C power bank with a minimum power output of 65W, or you can buy the optional PowerBase stand, which not only raises the projector off the ground or a small table, but has its own built-in battery to keep it powered. XGIMI says the stand allows you to “continuously play a full-length movie without interruption,” although I found that would be the case only if said movie is 2.5 hours or less. The other disappointing aspect I found when using the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro was that it could be slow in use. Volume adjustments using the remote control took a few seconds to register; navigating around the main home page regularly suffered from lag and I even found when trying to watch a particularly fast moving scene from The Incredibles on Disney+ that the projector just completely crashed. I should stress that this was an isolated incident that I couldn’t repeat with other fast-motion content such as sports. The XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro projector is, ultimately, a good option for anyone who wants big-screen thrills when on the go or perhaps as an option for a second bedroom at home in place of installing a TV. Keep in mind when comparing projectors, the 450 ISO lumens from the MoGo 3 Pro is about equivalent to 500 ANSI lumens. It does well against its main competition, Samsung’s The Freestyle projector, particularly when it comes to brightness. But, if your budget can stretch, you’ll find greater performance from the likes of the 4K RGB Laser equipped LG CineBeam Q. XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro review: Price & availability Launched on September 6, 2024 List price of $449 / £429 / AU$1,099 Optional accessories cost extra The XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro was announced and officially launched at IFA Berlin on September 6, 2024, alongside the Aura 2 4K UST projector. It’s available to buy now for $449 / £429 / AU$1,099 for the standalone projector. You can buy it bundled with the PowerBase stand for $499 / £499 / AU$1,199 You can also pick up an optional carry case for the MoGo 3 Pro projector, which is only available in green, for $69 / £59 / AU$99. The XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro portable projector’s list price is significantly less than the Samsung The Freestyle projector in the US, UK and Australia. However, Samsung’s projector does have greater HDR support, with HDR10+ available. The MoGo 3 Pro maxes out at ‘standard’ HDR10, although as we said in our Samsung The Freestyle projector review, “I didn’t see much of a picture quality difference when viewing in HDR from standard HD format”, so the MoGo 3 Pro’s lack of extended support isn’t necessarily a mark against it. XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro review: Specs Swipe to scroll horizontally Screen size support: 40 to 200 inches Brightness (specified) 450 ISO Lumens HDR support: HDR10 Optical technology: LED, DLP Smart TV: Google TV Connections: Micro-HDMI, USB-A, USB-C (power), Bluetooth 5.1 Dimensions: 8.1 x 3.7 x 3.7 inches / 204.9 x 95 x 95mm (H x W x D w/integrated stand) Weight: 2.42lbs / 1.1kg XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro review: Design & features (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge) Compact and lightweight Google TV interface Can double up as a Bluetooth speaker The XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro sports a cylindrical form factor and is finished in an anodized silver aluminum color. It’s lightweight at just over one kilogram, making it a breeze to not only move around your home, but to throw into a bag to take on the road with you. The main projector unit itself features an integrated stand, which also houses the built-in speaker system. When connected to power, the MoGo 3 Pro turns on as soon as you lift it up to separate it from its stand. You can then tilt it through 130º to project an image onto a wall or screen. Alternatively, when you lift the projector from its integrated stand to power it on, you can leave it in this position, where it will light up in one of three selectable colors. In this mode, you can use it as a nightlight or you can stream music to it via Bluetooth, and you can select an option that will see the light pulse – this is more of a flickering of the light rather than it moving in time with the music. (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge) A remote control comes supplied with the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro and two AAA batteries to power it. The remote feels good to hold, although I wasn’t enamored with the layout of the buttons. I found it required a bit of a learning process: the home button is in the bottom right for example and I’m used to it being more central on the majority of other remote controls I’ve used. I also occasionally pressed the Google Assistant button when I actually wanted to select ‘settings’. The remote control isn’t backlit, which can make things even trickier. Fortunately, the volume button is in an obvious and hard-to-miss place at the bottom, although I found the projector took a short while to register whenever I wanted to turn the volume up. Alternatively, because the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro uses the Google TV operating system, you’re able to use your phone as a remote control via the Google Home app. The single-chip DLP projector uses an LED light source, which XGIMI says is good for 25,000 hours of use. The company’s ISA 2.0 technology is onboard, which gives access to a number of especially useful setup tools, including automatic keystone correction, autofocus, obstacle avoidance, screen alignment and eye protection. Automatic screen adjustments are just a click away via a button on the remote control and you’re free to manually adjust settings further if you wish. I found autofocus to be the most successful of all the settings, while auto keystone correction delivered mixed results. The idea of this setting is that it will automatically realign the screen if you move the projector around. In most instances it worked fine, but I was occasionally forced to dive into the manual settings to get the screen aligned properly. Image 1 of 2 (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge) (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge) A small selection of accessories is available for the MoGo 3 Pro, including a PowerBase stand which has a built-in 20,000mAh battery for keeping the projector running when a power outlet isn’t accessible. XGIMI says it’s good for 2.5 hours of playback time when the projector’s brightness setting is set to Eco mode, which is just enough for movies such as Deadpool vs Wolverine, but too short for recent releases such as Wicked. When using the MoGo 3 Pro with just the PowerBase stand, the projector defaults to Eco mode. It can be changed, but it will impact battery life significantly. A carry case is also available to keep it better protected during transport and a Creative Optical Filter can be placed over the MoGo 3 Pro’s lens to project a much larger image onto a wall. It’s intended to be used with the XGIMI Wall app to project underwater seascapes or immersive starry night sky images. While the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro features a Mini HDMI input for connecting to either an external sound system or a media streaming device, for the most part, you’ll likely be using the built-in apps to access content. In this regard, it’s good news as the MoGo 3 Pro uses Google TV, which provides access to a huge selection of apps and services. Perhaps most crucially, Netflix is supported. The ubiquitous streaming service doesn’t always play nicely with projector systems – a third-party app is required to access it on XGIMI’s own Aura 2 for example, which uses the Android TV OS instead – so it’s great to see it front and center here. In a similar vein to the Samsung Freestyle projector, the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro uses the older Wi-Fi 5 standard, which is more than capable enough to handle streaming, and didn’t cause any issues during my use. (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge) As a predominantly streaming-focused projector, connections on the MoGo 3 Pro are limited to micro HDMI. It would have been great to have received a cable or adaptor in the box, but alas, you’ll need to buy one if you want to connect an external gaming console, Blu-ray player, or other HDMI source. The micro HDMI connection does support HDMI-ARC, which allows you to connect it to a soundbar or other audio system, but there isn’t a 3.5mm audio output. You can also stream music to the projector via Bluetooth, or from the projector to a Bluetooth speaker thanks to dual Bluetooth support. I connected the projector to a Beats Pill to test this feature and experienced no obvious signs of audio delay. Android users can stream wirelessly via Google Cast, and AirPlay is supported too. XGIMI says in the support menus that you need to download the MagiCast app from the Google Play Store, but I searched for it and had no luck. I eventually found another app called AirMirror that allowed me to mirror the screen of my iPhone and stream music via AirPlay. Design & features score: 4 / 5 XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro review: Picture & sound quality (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge) Decent brightness even in ambient light conditions Impressive picture quality after some adjustments Sound is poor unless you turn it up to maximum I went into my review of the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro with limited expectations about the picture quality it would be able to produce, given its size and limited specs. I’d previously reviewed the XGIMI Aura 2 which produced a gorgeous and bright image, but this was expected since it has a 2300 ISO lumens rating. The MoGo 3 Pro’s 450 ISO lumens rating, therefore, suggested to me it would only really function at its best in the dark. The XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro supports the HDR10 HDR format, which did provide some benefit to contrast in movie scenes with dark and bright elements. The company claims the projector supports 90% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. With Game mode activated, XGIMI says the MoGo 3 Pro has input lag of ≈ 27ms with auto keystone correction turned off and ≈ 60ms with it turned on. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it held up well in a brighter room, with ambient sunlight coming in through a small opening. With the overhead lights turned on, it was totally unusable, but with just some sunlight creeping in, I was able to watch the projected image without too much fuss. You are able to project an image up to 200 inches in size, but XGIMI says that for best results you’ll want to stay within a boundary of 60 to 120 inches. For reference, the size of the image I was able to project onto my wall was around 80 inches, with the projector positioned around 200cm (80 inches) from the wall. XGIMI says the throw ratio of the MoGo 3 Pro is 1.2:1. There are slightly different picture presets depending on whether you’re watching HDR or SDR content. The majority of my testing used HDR content, which presented Standard, Sport and Game presets. I left it on Standard most of the time as I felt this offered the best overall picture. I was surprised to not find a ‘Movie’ picture preset, especially given the fact this will likely be the projector’s main use. (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge) There are also three different brightness settings hidden within the menus: Standard, Eco and Performance. Again, I left the standard option selected the majority of the time. Eco mode limits brightness to 40% to help prolong battery life, and in darker rooms is perfectly fine to watch. If you’re watching in a brighter room, however, it doesn’t do as good a job. Performance mode, meanwhile, introduces a blue tint to the image, which was a little peculiar… I was expecting this mode to ramp up the brightness further, but it seemed to have the opposite effect. When this mode is selected, the built-in cooling fan also gets turned up to 11 to the point where it’s clearly audible. It’s also worth noting that the performance brightness mode can only be enabled when the official power adapter is plugged directly into the projector unit. It won’t work with other power adapters or when connected to a power bank or the PowerBase stand. Enabling Performance brightness mode introduced a blue/green tint to the image. (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge) A stream of Alien: Romulus provided a good test of darker content for the MoGo 3 Pro and, considering its size, specs and price, I was pleased with the results when watching in a dimly lit room. It was able to unearth details in shadowy areas of a scene, while brighter areas such as lights had a satisfying pop. I switched over to Toy Story on Disney Plus for its color-rich palette and generally bright scenes. The various reds, yellows, greens and blues were prominent, although not quite as vibrant as I’ve seen on TVs and higher-specced projectors. Nevertheless, it was still an enjoyable watch. Seeing as though the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro is designed to be taken out of the home with you, I set it up in my courtyard to see how it fared when being used outside. I will preface by saying I was projecting onto a dark grey wall, but it was also at night and so, despite the color of the wall coming through, I was still able to watch without trouble. I have no doubts that if you project onto a white wall, a sheet or even a portable projection screen, you will have no issues when watching movies on the road. (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge) I also watched my favorite clip from The Incredibles and came across an issue with a fast-moving scene about two-thirds into the movie. When Dash is running through the forest away from Syndrome’s goons, the projector seemed to just crash and stopped playing the movie. Pressing the home button returned me to the main home page, but the same thing happened again when I attempted to watch the scene again. I wasn’t able to replicate this again with any other content, so it could be a one-off, isolated incident or due to a bug that can be fixed via a future firmware update. The projector’s built-in speaker system is more difficult to be excited about. At full volume it does produce a spacious sound that will ultimately pass for whatever you’re watching. At lesser volumes however, it’s too quiet to do any real service and it lacks any real impact. Connecting a Bluetooth speaker is a fuss-free experience and can work wonders to boost the overall sound output, especially as I didn’t experience any signs of audio lag. Picture & sound quality score: 4 / 5 XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro review: Value Cheaper than its closest competitor Great features and performance Portable power options cost extra (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge) With a list price of $499 / £449 / AU$1,099, the MoGo 3 Pro offers enough to make it worth recommending. Its most obvious competitor, the Samsung The Freestyle, costs more in most markets yet has a similar specs list. Samsung’s offering doesn’t go quite as bright, but it does use the excellent Tizen operating system and it supports cloud gaming. Like the MoGo 3 Pro, there’s no built-in battery, but an optional base is available to make it truly portable. To this end, I think the XGIMI’s optional battery-powered base is the better choice as it’s also a tripod. Samsung’s option only raises the projector a few extra inches, so you may still need a table to put it on for optimal results. XGIMI’s MoGo 3 Pro also has the added benefit of keeping the lens protected when it’s not in use. You will need to consider spending extra on the PowerBase stand (which is more cost effective to buy as a bundle with the projector) or a power bank that meets the required criteria. If you can spend more and your only need for a portable projector is to use it in your garden, then almost any projector will do the job when plugged into an extension cord. Value score: 4 / 5 Should you buy the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro? Swipe to scroll horizontally XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro Attributes Notes Rating Design & features Compact, lightweight, good connectivity and a feature-packed smart TV interface 4 / 5 Picture & sound quality Enough brightness to combat ambient light, which only improves in darker rooms. An external sound system is needed for a more cinematic experience 4 / 5 Value Justifies its price tag and undercuts its closest competitor 4 / 5 Buy it if… Don’t buy it if… Also consider Swipe to scroll horizontally Comparison: portable projectors Header Cell – Column 0 XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro Samsung The Freestyle 2nd Gen LG CineBeam Q Price: $449 / £429 / AU$1,099 $799 /  £649 / AU$,1299 $1,299 / £1,299 / AU$2,499 Screen sizes supported: 40 to 200 inches 30 to 130 inches 50 to 120 inches Brightness (specified): 450 ISO lumens 230 ANSI lumens 500 ANSI lumens HDR support HDR10 HDR10+, HDR10, HLG HDR10, HLG Optical technology: LED, DLP LED, DLP RGB laser DLP Smart TV: Google TV Tizen webOS Connections: Micro-HDMI, USB type-A, USB-C (power) Micro-HDMI, USB-C (power) HDMI, USB-C (display, power) How I tested the Xgimi MoGo 3 Pro I used the projector in a range of light conditions Set it up inside and outside to test portability Watched a variety of dark and bright content I tested the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro at home over a period of about a month so I could experience it during various daytime living conditions. This meant multiple light sources, be it natural daylight or overhead lightbulbs, came into my testing room, at which point I rated the picture to see how well it performed. The projector was tested against a white wall for the duration of my review, but also on a dark grey wall outside to assess its portable credentials. Both performed well and I could see noticeable differences before and after calibration. I used a variety of content, including HDR and SDR content from a variety of streaming services. My testing evaluates the projector’s performance against other reviews my colleagues at TechRadar have conducted. I have been writing about and reviewing displays for five years. Read more about how we test [First published January 2025]

I could predict simply from reading the contents of my email inbox that CES 2025 was going to be a showcase for projectors, and that very much turned out to be the case. Big TV brands such as Hisense and TCL had new models on display in their sprawling CES booths and these were accompanied by projectors from many smaller, upstart brands, most hailing from China and some promoting their products on Kickstarter. In contrast to the CEDIA trade show, which serves as a launching pad for higher-end examples of the best 4K projectors, many of the models at CES are affordable portable projectors and ultra short throw (UST) projectors. But even projectors at this lower-cost tier now benefit from tech developments such as laser light engines and the Google TV smart TV platform. They demand to be taken seriously, and I approached my task of snooping out the best projectors at CES with open eyes and an open mind. Admittedly, the open halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center where CES is held isn’t the best environment to assess a projector’s picture quality. But with the caveat that not all models were viewed in a perfectly dark room, these are the best and most interesting projectors I encountered at the show. Hisense L9Q Trichroma Laser TV The Hisense L9Q (shown at top) is a new addition to the company’s lineup of Laser TVs, which package an ultra short throw projector with an ambient light rejecting projection screen. Previous Laser TV offerings provided 100-inch or 120-inch screen options, but the L9Q will be available in 100-, 110-, 120-, 136-, and 150-inch screen sizes when it ships later in 20025. Hisense is claiming 5,000 nits peak brightness for the L9Q – a 67% light output boost over previous Laser TV models. The pre-production model the company had on display at CES used a 2.9 gain screen and was delivering an impressive 1,500 nits fullscreen brightness, according to a rep I spoke with. That’s better brightness than you’ll get with most OLED and many mini-LED TVs! Static contrast is stated at 5,000:1, an equally important real-world spec, and the projector’s RGB laser light engine provides 110% coverage of the BT.2020 color gamut The design of the pre-production model Hisense was showing isn’t finalized, but Hisense says the final version will sport a “Black Walnut Décor Panel, Star Orbit Ambient Lighting, and precision brushed metal finishes.” In other words, it will look a lot fancier than your average projector. A built-in 6.2.2-channel audio system – the first-ever in a projector, according to the company – delivers Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X sound, and the company has partnered with French speaker maker Devialet for tuning. Last but not least, the Hisense L9Q will have onboard Dolby Vision support, Google TV with voice assistant, and an ATSC 3.0 tuner to receive Next-Gen TV broadcasts in the US. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Valerion VisionMaster Max (Image credit: Future) Valerion’s lineup of 4K front projectors get plenty of attention on Kickstarter, and the company’s latest model, the Valerion VisionMaster Max, was on display at CES in a dark room paired with a 220-inch projection screen. Even with a screen that enormous, clips from Avatar: The Way of Water looked impressively bright, and the picture’s deep, detailed blacks made a good argument for the VisionMaster Max’s claimed 15,000:1 contrast ratio, which is made possible by a dynamic iris. Like the Hisense L9Q, the VisionMaster Max runs the Google TV smart platform and uses an RGB laser light engine specified for 110% BT.2020 color space coverage. It supports both the Dolby Vision and HDR10+ high dynamic range formats, and can handle a 1080p input at 240Hz for gaming with just 4ms input lag, according to the company. A lens with 0.9-1.5:1 optical zoom and horizontal/vertical shift comes standard. Other lens options will be available to enhance installation flexibility, and there’s automatic image correction to further ease setup. The Valerion VisionMaster Max is priced at $3,999 and is available for pre-order now on the company’s website. Formovie Theater Premium (Image credit: Future) Formovie was the first company to offer a UST projector with Dolby Vision HDR support. At CES, the company was showing its latest UST projector, the Formovie Theater Premium, a model that’s currently selling for $2,799 on the company’s US website. The company’s step-down model, the Formovie Cinema Edge, is currently the budget option in TechRadar’s best ultra short throw projectors guide, and the Theater Premium bests it with a brighter, 2,200 ISO lumens picture along with Dolby Vision HDR support and a triple-laser light engine with a specified 107% BT.2020 color space coverage. Formovie claims an under 18ms input lag for gaming, and there’s a built-in Bowers & Wilkins speaker system for audio (Dolby Atmos and DTS:X both supported). Formovie’s booth presentation of the Theater Premium at CES wasn’t doing its projector any picture quality favors, but given our positive experience with the more budget Cinema Edge, as well as the basic Formovie Theater model, the Formovie Theater Premium looks to be a compelling UST option. JMGO 02S Ultra (Image credit: Future) As we’ve seen from models such as the Samsung The Premiere 9, UST projectors can be big things, and will potentially take up too much space if you set them up in a small living room. That’s why at CES I was excited to see the JMGO 02S Ultra, which the company is billing as the “world’s smallest laser TV.” This shoebox-sized (12.3 x 11.4 x 5.5 inches) UST projector uses a triple-color laser light source to deliver a specified 2,500 ISO lumens picture with 110% BT.2020 color space coverage. Full-on full-off contrast is specified as 1,800:1, and it can beam a 100-inch image from a 5.75-inch distance. At CES, the 02S Ultra’s picture looked plenty bright and colorful, even as it was beamed in a booth with no curtains or other coverings to dim the convention center’s overhead lighting. Like many other UST projectors making their debut at CES, the 02S Ultra features auto-calibration features for keystone correction, focus, and screen fitting. It runs the Google TV smart TV platform for streaming and supports Dolby Vision high dynamic range. No price information was provided at the show, but the O2S Ultra is “expected to launch globally in Q4 2025.” Samsung The Premiere 5 (Image credit: Future) Another compact triple-laser UST projector unveiled at CES was Samsung’s The Premiere 5. A new take on the company’s portable The Freestyle 2nd Gen projector, this model is even smaller than JMGO’s 02S Ultra, though it’s a 1080p Full HD projector as opposed to a 4K-resolution one. The Premiere 5 is capable of beaming images from 20 to 100 inches with 560 ISO lumens brightness and features auto keystone and focus for easy setup. The projector’s form factor reminded me of a Sonos One speaker and, like an actual Sonos speaker, it can be used for wireless music streaming. There are other tricks The Premiere 5 has up its sleeve. A touch feature lets you interact with the screen and it features “Samsung LightWARP technology to project images onto everyday objects for creative and immersive experiences.” I’m not sure what those features can be used for, but look forward to getting my hands on a Premiere 5 to investigate. Aurzen ZIP (Image credit: Future) The world’s first “Tri-Fold ultra-portable projector,” The Aurzen ZIP looks even cooler in person than it does on the company’s Kickstarter page. The ZIP triple folds are divided thusly: the first for an 8mm optical engine and tiny DLP microchip; the second for the built-in stereo speakers and high-strength aluminum hinges; and the third for a built-in 5000mAh battery that delivers “up to 1.5 hours of joy on a single charge,” according to the company. What’s great about the ZIP, of course, is that it folds up into a phone-size package and can be easily toted anywhere. It then unfolds and has a sturdy support base and its hinges allow for angling the picture at any surface, where an auto-focus and image correction features will kick in. The Zip doesn’t use Wi-Fi but can screen mirror content played on iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows devices. It can also present images in both full-screen and vertical modes, letting you easily share TikToK and Instagram Reels with friends. As you might expect from a phone-sized projector, the picture quality is limited and there’s not much oomph to the sound, though the ZIP’s Bluetooth support lets you connect it to external wireless speakers or headphones. TCL PlayCube (Image credit: Future) TCL’s PlayCube grabbed my attention in an online pre-briefing held by TCL prior to CES, and I’ll admit to being pretty captivated by the company’s new portable projector when I saw it in person at the show. There wasn’t much info provided about the PlayCube other than it has a built-in battery for anywhere-on-the-go use and features a MagiCube design to adjust viewing angles. But that was enough for me to include TCL’s portable on this list since its winning design made it one of the coolest-looking products at the show. You might also like… TechRadar will be extensively covering this year’s CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2025 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from 8K TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI. And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!

LG reveals two new portable, lifestyle projectors ahead of CES 2025 LG PF600U is a 3-in-1 projector/lamp/speaker LG CineBeam S is latest in portable 4K projector lineup LG has revealed two new speakers ahead of CES 2025 – the CineBeam S and LG PF600U – adding to its range of lifestyle projectors. LG hasn’t announced region availability or pricing for either projector as of yet, but this will hopefully arrive at CES 2025 itself. The LG CineBeam S is a follow-up to the LG CineBeam Q, one of the best 4K projectors released in 2024, and while it also supports 4K,HDR picture, the CineBeam S has the distinction of being LG’s smallest ever 4K ultra-short-throw (UST) projector, measuring in at a tiny 110 x 160 x 160mm. The CineBeam S will also support a wide range of screen sizes from 40-100-inches – the CineBeam Q supports 50-120-inches – with a throw ratio of 0.25. It has 500 ANSI lumens of brightness (the same as the CineBeam Q) and LG says it will cover 154% of the DCI-P3 color space. It will also feature a built-in stereo speaker system that supports Dolby Atmos, and will use LG’s own webOS smart TV platform for streaming skills. The other projector revealed is the LG PF600U, a projector that also serves as a mood lamp and Bluetooth speaker. It supports 1080p Full HD resolution images with 300 ANSI lumens of brightness, and can project from 30 to 120 inches. It will also come with LG’s webOS interface built-in for streaming. Taking on a light pole design measuring 290 x 290 x 983mm, the PF600U is designed to serve a whole bunch of needs by also working as a light source and Bluetooth speaker with a stereo speaker array. LG combines it all again (Image credit: LG) Over the past couple of years, LG hasn’t been afraid to experiment with its lifestyle products. Whether it’s the StanByME Go, a portable TV-in-a-suitcase with military grade casing or a disco refrigerator with a transparent OLED display, LG isn’t afraid to combine its AV and lifestyle/home products into one Frankenstein-esque offering. While the LG PF600U projector/lamp combo is unlikely to offer picture quality to top the best projectors, it does fit in nicely with LG’s whacky products that aim to create the home of the future that many people dream about, supposedly, with every product doing multiple jobs. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. The LG CineBeam S on the other hand is a straightforward, portable 4K projector and if it’s anything like the LG CineBeam Q, which we rated four and a half out of five in our review thanks to its excellent picture quality and handy design, then LG could be onto another winner. You might also like TechRadar will be extensively covering this year’s CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2025 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from 8K TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI. And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!

One of the breakout hits of the tech world over the last couple of years has been the best portable projectors. They’ve really rocketed in popularity because people love the idea of being able to point the projector at a wall anywhere to instantly have big-screen entertainment. Well, stop that right now. The fun police are here, and we’ve had reports of people enjoying their media in a sub-standard manner. Okay, you can keep doing it if the portability of these mobile projectors is vital, but if you’re investing in one of the best projectors that will stay static – and especially one of the best 4K projectors, which are not cheap – you really need to make sure you invest in a good screen, and not just project onto a wall, or the cheapest screen you can find. I recently got a useful demo from Hisense – which makes some of the best ultra short throw projectors, and also has a line of ‘Laser TVs’ that combine a smart UST projector with a matching screen of a specific size – to show what a big difference a good projector screen makes. The demo in question involved the Hisense PX3-Pro projector, which we think is up there with the top choices available today, beaming a picture onto a special-constructed screen that was half plain white plastic screen, and half the company’s own Ambient Light Rejection screen, which is what’s bundled in with its Laser TVs, but you can buy separate ALR screens for any projector. (Image credit: Future) The difference was immediately obvious and is clear from the images I took too, but Hisense had some numbers to back it up. At a projection size of 100 inches from the PX3-Pro, the image on the plain side of the screen was capable of hitting about 250 nits of brightness as visible when you’re sitting in front of it. The ALR screen side was capable of hitting around 450 nits. That’s nearly double the brightness, and it totally changes not just the brightness of white tones, but the richness of the colors, and even the depth and contrast of the image. A good screen doesn’t just enable better brightness, but deeper black tones, for a massive upgrade to the overall cinematic feel. (Image credit: Future) Let’s shed some light on the situation So, what’s going on here? The way that ALR screens work is to control the angle of light once it hits them. When you watch a projector, you’re only seeing reflections – the screen you’re looking at isn’t generating its own light, unlike the best TVs. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. But it’s not just the light from the projector that’s being reflected, it’s all the light in the room, which then washes out the light you want from the movie. So the trick is to find a way to only reflect the right kind of light, and we can basically do this with the power of geometry. These screens are designed with a surface that adjusts the angle light reflects, based on the knowledge that light from a projector is only going to be coming from a particular angle and that you’ll be sitting right in front of it. So, light coming from the sides is ‘rejected’ (ie, absorbed to bounced away from your eyes), and light coming from below (in the case of a UST projector) is reflected at an angle focused right on your seating position. So the same amount of light is coming from the projector, but you’re getting a better-focused version of it, and with less interference – meaning you see nearly double the brightness level without changing your projector. (Image credit: Future) The downside? Naturally, this type of screen is more expensive to buy – but it also means you really do have to be facing the screen pretty directly. It won’t be good for a room where people might view from an angle because it will actually look worse than the cheap screen. That’s because it’s actively trying not to bounce the projector’s light off to the sides. So: great for home theater, not so great for a big Superbowl get-together. I think a lot of people are tempted to use a cheap screen (if any at all) with cheap projectors – but you can make that cheap projector look like a pricier model with a better screen! The type of screen might be the difference between whether a projector can replace your TV longer-term or not. You might also like…

Formovie Cinema Edge: one-minute review The Formovie Cinema Edge is a follow-up on the well-regarded Formovie Theater, a projector that gained fame upon release for its Dolby Vision high dynamic range support – a rare feature among the best 4K projectors. Rather than being a shiny, new upgrade, the Cinema Edge is a pared-down model with a lower price. While it launched at around $2,199 (about £1,420 / AU$2,775), it has since settled at $1,799, making it a true budget ultra short throw (UST) projector offering. The Formovie Cinema Edge’s ALPD ((Advanced Laser Phosphor Display) laser light engine delivers a reasonably bright and sharp 4K image that looks great in the dark, and decent in well-lit environments. It has Google TV for streaming and a pair of 15-watt speakers, giving you a complete package, though both elements could perform better. While it’s relatively cheap compared to other examples of the best ultra short throw projectors, the Formovie Cinema Edge has serious competition. I recently reviewed the Hisense PX3-Pro ($3,500), and the difference in image quality between the two is stark, with the dazzling brightness, color, and contrast of the PX3-Pro’s picture beating the Formovie Cinema Edge hands-down. The PX3-Pro is considerably more expensive, but even the older but still available Hisense PX2-Pro (around $2,000) has a better-looking picture. Formovie Cinema Edge review: price and release date Release date: September 2024 MSRP: $2,499 The Formovie Cinema Edge’s pricing is a bit all over the place. It launched at a $2,199 (about £1,650 / AU$3,250) pre-order price, though Formovie lists the retail price at $2499. Meanwhile, both Amazon and ProjectorScreen.com in the US now have the price listed at $1,799 – a steep decrease. The Cinema Edge’s laser light engine viewed from top (Image credit: Future) Formovie Cinema Edge review: Specs Swipe to scroll horizontally Screen sizes supported: 80-150 inches Brightness (specified): 1,900 ISO lumens HDR support: HDR10, HLG Optical technology: ALPD laser, DLP Smart TV: Google TV Connections: 3x HDMI 2.1 (1x eARC), 2x USB, Ethernet, optical digital audio, 3.5mm out Dimensions: 17.9 x 3.6 x 12.1 inches (H x W x D) Weight: 15.4 pounds Connections include 3 HDMI 2.1 ports (1 with eARC) (Image credit: Future) Formovie Cinema Edge review: design and features All-in-one design for a simple theater setup Front adjustable feet limit angle corrections Google TV cumbersome to navigate The Formovie Cinema Edge is a compact UST projector standing just over 3.5 inches tall. Width is 17.95 inches and it’s a little over a foot deep. With a 0.22:1 throw ratio, it can sit extra close to the wall, with only a 33 cm distance needed to project a 120-inch picture. The Formovie Cinema Edge sits on three feet with only the front two offering height adjustments. This means unless you’ve got a stand and wall that sit perfectly perpendicular (or at just over a 90-degree angle) to each other, you’ll need an adjustable console underneath the projector. The projector does support digital keystone adjustments, but these should be used only after making physical adjustments, as digital keystone processing increases latency and reduces picture resolution. The Cinema Edge packs in the Google TV smart TV interface and 30-watt speakers, letting you quickly get up and running with all your cinema needs. That said, all-in-one packages can struggle to do everything well. The processor running Google TV on the Formovie Cinema Edge is fairly weak. It stumbles when opening settings while content is playing, and that can be trouble if you’re trying to tweak picture settings while evaluating the impact of your adjustments on the picture. Navigating the operating system can prove a little tedious as well. Sluggishness is a common ailment for projectors running Android or Google TV, and the Cinema Edge falls prey to it. It’s small fries, but if you’re hoping to take the Formovie Cinema Edge out of the box, set it down, and experience its magic right away, you’ll need to temper your expectations. The configuration, regardless of whether you’re going for the full Google TV streaming experience or just basic HDMI input setup, takes a long time. Around the back, you’ll find enough HDMI 2.1 ports for a solid home theater setup, including support for eARC on one of them. Optical digital audio output is also available. A pair of USB ports are located on the back, providing power for a streaming stick or external storage for local media playback. Like many laser projectors, the Formovie Cinema Edge has a feature that detects when someone gets too close to the laser output and automatically dims the display. It promptly activates, though oddly doesn’t go as black as on some others. Design and features score: 4/5 The Cinema Edge’s picture quality shines in a dark viewing environment (Image credit: Future) Formovie Cinema Edge review: picture quality 1900 ISO lumens plenty for dim and dark environments Not as color-rich as RGB laser competitors Motion smoothing by default, but picture controls to compensate The Formovie Cinema Edge readily projects a 100-inch picture with crisp 4K detail. It looks best in a very dim or dark room, though it’s also bright enough to watch some content during the daytime. RuPauls’ Drag Race, for instance, is typically bright, and it’s easy to watch even in a well-lit room, though sunlight can still be a bit much. Contrast is also fairly strong. Alien was a joy to watch, with the intricate, H.R. Giger-designed mechanical details of the ship shining brightly while the nooks and crannies sank effectively into darkness. Alas, the Formovie Cinema Edge is a simple ALPD projector that doesn’t deliver the same color richness of the Formovie Theater or Hisense’s PX3-Pro, both of which are specced to achieve around 100% of BT.2020 color gamut coverage. Watching Avatar 2, it was painfully apparent how much more drab the visuals were by comparison, with the many blue hues looking dull and the flora and fauna throughout failing to exude their characteristic vibrance. This isn’t to say the Formovie Cinema Edge looks bad, but there are better options on the market for picture quality. I also noticed plenty of blown-out highlights in the earlier scenes after the Sully family joins the water tribe in Avatar 2. The Formovie Theater had some tone mapping issues in our hands-on testing, and it appears that’s the case again here. HDR is also limited to HDR10 and HLG on the Cinema Edge – there’s no Dolby Vision or HDR10+. The Formovie Cinema Edge has a fairly aggressive motion smoothing feature (called MJC) enabled in most of its picture settings by default. It’s not the worst-looking implementation of motion smoothing I’ve seen, but it looks better set to Low or disabled outright. Either way, the projector can struggle a bit with motion. Fight sequences looked choppy at times with or without MJC enabled. At Low, it subtly smooths out camera motion, though action can still look a little overdone. For what it’s worth, the Formovie Cinema Edge includes a veritable trove of picture settings to adjust. It does little to explain what any of them are, though, so it may be difficult to dial in things to your liking. Thankfully, the picture generally looks good without getting into the weeds. The sound put out by the Formovie Cinema Edge’s modest built-in speakers isn’t explosive, but they deliver a half-decent volume level for a small living room. The soundstage isn’t very wide, and there’s no deep bass, but it’s fine for casual viewing. For a more serious movie-viewing setup, external speakers will be an obvious upgrade. Picture quality score: 3.5/5 The Cinema Edge comes with a basic remote control to operate its Google TV interface (Image credit: Future) Formovie Cinema Edge review: value Good value at the current reduced price Older UST projectors pose a competitive threat The Formovie Cinema Edge has a suggested retail price of $2,499, but that has since been reduced to $1,799. This discounted price is essential to the value of the projector, as it goes up against the Hisense PX2-Pro, which is now cheaper thanks to the launch of the PX3-Pro. It also faces off against Formovie’s higher-end projector, the Formovie Theater, which has also fallen in price since its launch, now seeing discounts as low as $2,299. Value score: 3/5 (Image credit: Future) Swipe to scroll horizontally Formovie Cinema Edge Attributes Notes Rating Design and features The Formovie Cinema Edge has a compact design and provides all you need for a home theater in one package. It could benefit from better adjustable feet and use a faster processor, but it gets the job done. 4/5 Picture quality performance You get a big, sharp image that’s great in the dark and decent in the light with the right content. But limited HDR support, a more limited color gamut than some competitors, and pushy motion smoothing hold back the experience, as do the underwhelming speakers. 3.5/5 Value The $1799 price tag isn’t as good as it could be when competitors like the Hisense PX2-Pro have fallen in price to more closely match it. 3/5 Should I buy the Formovie Cinema Edge? (Image credit: Future) Buy it if… Don’t buy it if…  Also consider… Swipe to scroll horizontally Comparison: 4K UST projectors Header Cell – Column 0 Formovie Cinema Edge Hisense PX2-Pro Epson LS650 Hisense PX3-Pro Price: $1,799 $1,997 $1,799 $3,149 Screen sizes supported: 80-150 inches 90 to 130 inches 60-120 inches 80-150 inches Brightness (specified): 1,800 ISO lumens 2,400 lumens 3,600 lumens 3,000 lumens HDR support HDR10, HLG Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG HDR10, HLG Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG Optical technology: 1 Laser DLP 3 laser DLP Laser 3LCD 3 laser DLP Smart TV: Google TV Google TV / VIDAA Android TV Google TV Connections: 3x HDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC), 1x optical, 1x 3.5mm 2x HDMI 2.0 (1 with ARC), HDMI 2.0 2x HDMI 2.0 (1 with eARC), Ethernet, USB type-B (service port), 3x USB type-A, optical digital audio out 2x HDMI 2.1, 1x HDMI 2.0 with eARC, optical digital audio out, 3.5mm audio out, 2x USB-A, Ethernet (Image credit: Future) How I tested the Formovie Cinema Edge Tested at home in multiple, real-world viewing conditions Presented the display with a variety of media and formats I have tested numerous projectors and displays over the last half-decade I tested the Formovie Cinema Edge at home, in real-world conditions. This saw it faced with ambient light coming in from numerous windows, in-room lighting, as well as ambient noise that both the projector and speaker systems had to overcome. The projector was tested both against a bare, white wall and an Akia Screens CineWhite screen. It was presented with both SDR and 4K HDR streamed content. My testing evaluates the projector’s performance with respect to its price and competition from other models that I and my colleagues at TechRadar have tested. I have been testing projectors since 2021 and displays for even longer. First reviewed: December, 2024

The best projectors are the ideal way to get the biggest possible image with the least amount of fuss. Whether you’re looking for a premium 4K projector for a home theater, a more portable one that can be temporarily set up on a coffee table for gaming or watching sports, or a battery-powered model that can be toted outdoors for backyard movie nights, there’s a projector out there that will suit your needs. Our guide to the best projectors includes several different types, but the main two mainly used for home theater are ‘long throw’ and ‘ultra short throw (UST)’ projectors. These typically get paired with a projection screen permanently mounted on a wall, though there are many different screen options available, including retractable ones that can be hidden away when not in use. Beyond long throw and UST models, there are ‘short throw’ projectors designed for non-permanent and portable setups. Projector capabilities vary widely, with different models providing different image resolutions – up to 8K – brightness levels, and high dynamic range support. Projector features are also all over the map, with some providing just a basic video display, and others offering built-in streaming apps and smart features like voice control that you’ll find on the best TVs, along with potent built-in speakers. We review new projectors to find the best ones as they arrive, putting them through a rigorous testing process that involves viewing in a range of lighting conditions from daylight viewing to full darkness. We also record peak brightness, contrast ratio, and color gamut coverage, so you’ll know how the projector measures up to the manufacturer’s specifications. We’ve then rounded up the best of all kinds here – but if you’re looking for specifically the best 4K projector, the best ultra short throw projector, the best portable projector, or the best outdoor projector, you can dig further into those option in those guides. Written by Written by Al Griffin Senior Editor, Home Entertainment I’m TechRadar’s Senior Editor for Home Entertainment, and I have nearly three decades of journalism experience, including a long time covering home theater tech. I’m an ISF-trained video calibrator and have written countless equipment reviews ranging from speakers to high-end TVs and projectors. I’m an admitted movie fanatic, and spend much of my free time holed up in my home theater – and these projectors have to stand up to that experience. Recent updates November 20, 2024Best Projectors buyer’s guide launched. The best projectors 2024 Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test. The best projector for home theater Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Future / Mark Knapp) (Image credit: Future / Mark Knapp) (Image credit: Future / Mark Knapp) The best projector for home theater fans Specifications Projection system: Laser 3LCD Resolution: 3840 x 2160 Brightness: 2,500 lumens Projection size: 50 to 130 inches Video inputs: 2x HDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC) Dimensions: 20.5 x 7.6 x 17.6 inches (W x H x D) Reasons to buy + Fantastic image quality + Flexible installation options + Great games and films Reasons to avoid – Pricey – No built-in streaming – No built-in speakers The Epson LS12000’s $4,999 / £4,499 / AU$8,999 price might seem initially high, but this long throw model is a relative bargain when it comes to projectors designed for traditional home theater setups, a world where flagship models from Sony and JVC can run you three times that amount or more. This 3LCD model’s laser light engine pumps out a specified 2,700 lumens brightness, and since this is Epson, a company well-known for its reliable specs, you can count on that being accurate. The HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG high dynamic range formats are supported, and it has a powered lens cover that opens when powered up and shuts when turned off, a useful feature for keeping the optical path clean and dust-free. In our review, we stated that the “Epson Pro Cinema LS12000 provides a staggeringly brilliant image that hardly cares whether we’re watching in the daytime, but will reward us greatly for watching at night with the lights off.” The projector’s excellent contrast and precise rendering of blacks allowed it to sail through tough challenges like The Batman, where we found that “even in a dark scene, the details on Batman’s and Catwoman’s black outfits are discernible.” The LS12000 is a champion for movies, but it’s also well suited for gaming, featuring multiple HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 120Hz support for next-gen consoles. There’s no built-in smart interface for streaming or built-in speakers to speak of – which is typical for this type of projector – but those are elements you can add to the Epson LS12000 when building out your personal movie palace at home. And if that’s what you’re doing, we think this really hits the sweet spot. Read the full Epson Pro Cinema LS12000 review The best budget 4K projector Image 1 of 5 An affordable, ultra-compact 4K projector Specifications Projection system: DLP Resolution: 3840 x 2160 Brightness: 500 ANSI lumens Projection size: 50 to 120 inches Video inputs: HDMI, USB-C (display, power) Dimensions: 3.1 x 5.3 x 5.3 inches (W x H x D) Reasons to buy + Sleek design + 4K resolution + WebOS smart TV platform Reasons to avoid – Average brightness – No battery option- – Weak audio quality The LG CineBeam Q proves that super-compact portable projectors don’t have to have inferior picture quality. They can be reasonably bright, and even provide 4K resolution for a seamless, yet sharp picture when blown up to a big size – up to 120 inches in the CineBeam Q’s case. One other thing the LG CineBeam Q proves is that a projector can look good. With its aluminum body and swiveling carrying handle, LG’s portable comes off like an art object you’d want to have sitting out on a shelf or coffee table. Inside, the CineBeam Q is powered by a sophisticated RGB laser DLP light engine and its built-in webOS streaming platform is essentially the same one found in the company’s OLED TVs. When we tested the LG CineBeam Q, we found its specified 500 ANSI lumen brightness provided a sufficiently punchy image with the lights dimmed. Its color accuracy was excellent, and coverage of both the UHDA-P3 and BT.2020 color gamuts exceeded that of more expensive home theater projectors, let alone portable ones. Its measured input lag of 56ms was typical for a projector that’s not designed for gaming, but games, along with movies and sports, looked great due to the CineBeam Q’s excellent motion handling.At $1,299 / £1,299 / AU$2,499, the LG CineBeam Q is pricey for a portable projector, but affordable for a 4K projector. When you consider all it brings to the table – literally – that equals out to a pretty good value, especially if you catch it on sale. Read the full LG CineBeam Q review The best ultra short throw projector Image 1 of 5 The best ultra short throw projector Specifications Projection system: 3-laser DLP Resolution: 4K Brightness: 3000 lumens Projection size: 80 to 150 inches Video inputs: 3 x HDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC) Dimensions (W x H x D): 21.7 x 4.8 x 11.7 inches (W x H x D) Reasons to buy + Bright, color-rich picture + 240Hz mode for gaming + Flexible setup Reasons to avoid – Somewhat expensive – Limited Dolby Atmos impact The Hisense PX3-Pro is an ultra short throw projector from a company that has consistently pushed the UST envelope, offering a wide range of models that provide better features and performance with each generation. At $3,499 / £2,499 the PX3-Pro is affordably priced for a UST, and it’s capable of beaming images up to 150 inches with an impressive 3,000 lumens specified brightness. A key PX3-Pro feature is its tri-chroma DLP light engine, which generates bright, pictures with “simply astounding color,” as we noted in our Hisense PX3-Pro review. It also has comprehensive HDR support, covering the Dolby Vision and HDR10+ formats – something typically not found in projectors. This capability “made the latest seasons of The Rings of Power in HDR10+ and The Avengers: Endgame in Dolby Vision both look fantastic.” The PX3-Pro’s 50W built-in Harman Kardon-designed speakers, which can “get loud enough to match the size of the pictures,” also impressed us when we tested it. The PX3-Pro’s Google TV smart TV interface is a superior option to the more basic Android TV system built into many projectors, and importantly, it features a Netflix app for streaming. Support for both 4K 120Hz and 1080p 240Hz input also makes the PX3-Pro a great choice for gaming, and it has an appealing retro-futuristic design that will make it stand out in your living room in a good way. If you’re looking to go the UST projector route for your home theater, this is the model we’d recommend. Read the full Hisense PX3-Pro review The best portable projector Image 1 of 6 A fun and flexible portable projector Specifications Projection system: DLP Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Brightness: 230 lumens (ANSI) Projection size: 30 to 100 inches Video inputs: HDMI (micro) Dimensions: 4 x 6.8 x 3.7 inches (W x H x D) Reasons to buy + Compact design + Menus easy to navigate + Built-in cloud gaming Reasons to avoid – Low brightness – Only has Micro-HDMI input – Pricey for a 1080p portable Samsung’s The Freestyle 2nd Gen is in many ways the ultimate portable projector. It’s incredibly compact, but can project images as large as 100 inches (and as small as 30 inches). It features the same Tizen smart TV platform as Samsung TVs, and that includes Samsung Gaming Hub for cloud-based gaming from apps like Xbox and Nvidia GeForce Now. Samsung also offers a range of accessories for The Freestyle 2nd Gen that can give you battery power for outdoor viewing and even an option to plug it into a ceiling light fixture. And when you’re not using it as a projector, it can serve as a wireless speaker for music streaming. When we reviewed The Freestyle 2nd Gen, we found it to be significantly less bright than a typical projector used for home theater, but that wasn’t completely unexpected given the Samsung’s small size and 230 lumens brightness specification. But picture quality isn’t the main point with The Freestyle 2nd Gen. This is a projector that lets you easily beam a big video image anywhere you go, and The Freestyle 2nd Gen’s automatic keystone and focus features make sure the image looks perfectly square (or rectangular, to be exact) as soon as you set it up. At $799 / £649, The Freestyle 2nd Gen is pricey for a 1080p-resolution portable projector, though it can regularly be found for less during seasonal sales events. What gives Samsung’s portable added value is its high level of flexibility, ease of setup, and superior built-in smart TV interface, all of which combine to make The Freestyle 2nd Gen an easy sell. Read the full Samsung The Freestyle 2nd Gen review The best projector for outdoors Image 1 of 5 The best projector for outdoor movie nights Specifications Projection system: LED DLP Resolution: 1080p Brightness: 1,000 lumens Projection size: 30-200 inches Video inputs: HDMI Dimensions (W x H x D): 1.97 x 10.2 x 6.3 inches (W x H x D) Reasons to buy + Bright for a portable + Great battery life + Rugged build quality Reasons to avoid – Average picture quality – Mono audio – Dated smart TV platform Looking for a projector that’s not just portable, but road-worthy? With its rugged case and carrying handle, the Anker Nebula Mars 3 looks more like a lantern than a projector. Anker’s portable beamer actually features a flashlight along with its video projection capability, and its built-in battery can last for over two hours – so long enough for a movie – at full power before needing to be recharged. The Anker Nebula Mars 3’s built-in battery, of course, makes it a perfect option for backyard – or campsite – movie nights where the projector’s LED DLP light engine will illuminate a portable screen of up to 200 inches with a specified 1,000 lumens brightness. It uses the Android TV platform for streaming and has automatic focus, keystone, and framing adjustments that proved very effective in our testing. When we reviewed the Nebula Mars 3, we found it to have “a good-looking picture, but not an exceptional one.” Resolution is limited to 1080p HD, colors lack the vibrance of similar projectors with an RGB laser light engine, and shadowy scenes come across with limited black detail. The built-in sound is powerful for a portable projector, however, but in this case, it’s limited to mono. It may not be the best overall portable projector, and at $1,099 / £999 / AU$1,199) it’s not the cheapest, but if you’re looking to take a projector outside, the Nebula Mars 3 with its built-in battery and rugged build quality – and flashlight! – is the best option we’ve found. Grab it by the handle and hit the great outdoors. Read the full Anker Nebula Mars 3 review The best projector for gaming Image 1 of 5 A great all-around projector for gaming Specifications Projection system: LED / DLP Resolution: 3840 x 2160 Brightness: 2,000 lumens Projection size: 30 to 150 inches Video inputs: 2x HDMI 2.0 (1x eARC, 1x internal), USB-A, USB-C Dimensions: 8.3 x 7.1 x 7.7 inches (W x H x D) Reasons to buy + Bright, detailed image + Great with gaming and movies + Easy to set up Reasons to avoid – Limited ports – Limited picture adjustments – Placement can be tricky The BenQ X300G is a relatively affordable ($1,799 / £1,399 / AU$2,799) 4K projector that performs equally well for gaming and movies. But the main reason the X300G is our best projector for gaming is because it can display 1080p images at a 240Hz refresh rate and offers up butter-smooth gameplay. With a specified 2,000 lumens, the X300G’s LED DLP light engine has average brightness for a projector at this price. This short throw model has a compact design that lets you easily set it up on a coffee table and put it away when not in use, and it has rubber feet for a sturdy grip and a threaded hole for a tripod mount. Android TV is used for streaming and there are both automatic and manual focus and keystone adjustments. When we tested the X300G, we found that it was “plenty bright for a dim room and excels in the dark, where it can readily produce a gorgeous, large image.” Those characteristics bode well for a dual gaming-and-movies projector, and the built-in speakers in our estimation “do a decent job, pumping out plenty of sound in the small rooms this projector is ideal for.” You’ll pay quite a bit more to get a 4K projector with the BenQ X300G’s gaming features and prowess, and not all of them will be as compact and portable. By combining the best of several worlds into a reasonably cheap all-in-one package, the X300G is a no-brainer option for gaming. Read the full BenQ X300G review How to choose the best projector Choosing the best projector for you will depend on how and where you plan to use it. If you’re looking to set up a home theater for watching movies on a separate projection screen with an elaborate Dolby Atmos speaker rig, or perhaps even one of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars, you’re going to want a long throw 4K laser projector. These typically get mounted on the ceiling or a high shelf at the back of the room and are designed for viewing in dim or completely dark environments. Long throw projectors don’t always have the highest brightness (between 2,000 and 3,000 lumens is a typical specification) but generally do provide the highest contrast ratio (the difference between the deepest black and the brightest white in an image) and best high dynamic range handling. If you’re looking for a big image and don’t mind using a projection screen but don’t want a projector hanging from the ceiling, an ultra short throw (UST) projector will be the ticket. These projectors typically get installed a foot or so from a wall where they can beam an up to 150-inch image. The best UST projectors use an RGB laser light engine that lets them deliver both high brightness and extended color gamut coverage (with some models handling not just the full UHDA-P3 color space but the larger BT.2020 one as well). Unlike long throw projectors, UST models usually feature powerful built-in speakers – with Dolby Atmos support, in some cases – and a smart TV interface for streaming, so they provide an all-one-solution home theater solution. If you want a projector that can temporarily be set up on a coffee table for gaming or watching the occasional movie, then a short throw projector will be the best option. The best of these provide brightness levels that match long throw models, along with 4K resolution and extended color gamut coverage. Some short throw projectors are also specifically designed for gaming, with features such as a game mode with low input lag and 4K 120Hz (and in some cases, 1080p 240Hz support). While it can be argued that any projector is a portable projector, there are compact models with carrying handles that are designed to be toted from place to place. These generally have lower brightness than other projector types, and most lack 4K and HDR support. Most have built-in streaming capability and built-in speakers, along with a Bluetooth output for linking up with one of the best wireless speakers for even better sound. If you want to use a portable projector outdoors, models with either a built-in battery or a battery pack option will let you quickly get up and running for a backyard movie night without having to run an extension cord to the projector. How big an image can I get with a projector? Some projectors designed for home use let you project an image up to 200 inches diagonal. Getting such a big, cinema-size image is the main reason why home theater enthusiasts prefer projectors to TVs, which max out at around 100 inches for the largest models. While projectors can go seriously big, a typical screen size range is 100-120 inches. Some UST projectors have a lens that’s fixed to beam a specific image size – usually either 100 or 120 inches – while others allow for a custom image size. Premium projector models also provide features that let you pair them with ultra-wide 2.35:1 “Cinemascope” screens, which have the same aspect ratio as the screens used in movie theaters. This setup has the benefit of eliminating black letterbox bars at the top and bottom of the image when viewing Scope ratio movies – something regular TVs cannot do. Do I need to use a screen with a projector? A dedicated projection screen is recommended for getting the best performance from your projector, even with a portable model. Better projector screens are designed to reflect light towards you optimally to enhance visibility. You’ll encounter a bewildering array of options when shopping online for a screen, however, so check out our five things to consider when shopping for a projector screen guide to learn more about screen types and how to select the best one for your projector setup. Do projectors need regular lamp replacements? Just a few years ago, the answer to this question would have been yes, but newer projectors now almost exclusively use LEDs or lasers instead of lamps. These new light engine types are designed to last for the life of the projector, which is typically in the 20,000 to 30,000-hour range. What downsides are there to using a projector compared to a big-screen TV? The big downside of a projector compared to a TV is brightness: while the best mini-LED TVs can produce a peak brightness of up to 2,000 nits or higher, even the best projectors designed for home viewing max out at 200-300 nits. They compensate for this to a degree by using HDR tone mapping to scale brightness levels in high dynamic range sources so you don’t lose picture detail in highlights. But you’ll find the best way to get a satisfyingly bright picture with a projector is to dim the room lights or, better yet, view in a completely dark environment – like at a movie theater. Because the image you’re seeing with a projector is reflected light that’s bounced off of a screen surface, contrast is also limited compared to TVs, which can dynamically dim or completely turn off their pixels (OLED) or backlight zones (QLED and mini-LED). The best projectors provide features that help to dynamically boost contrast, with some models like the Epson LS12000 featured in this guide capable of delivering TV-like contrast. Gaming on projectors can be a fantastic experience, with the ultra-large image immersing you in virtual worlds more effectively than the best 65-inch TVs could ever manage. The downside to gaming on projectors is that most don’t provide 4K 120Hz support, and input lag tends to be higher than what you get with the best gaming TVs. There are exceptions here, such as the Epson LS12000, which does provide HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 120Hz support, and the BenQ X300G, which supports 1080p at 240Hz. If you’re looking for a simplified AV setup, the lack of built-in streaming and good-quality built-in speakers on some projectors will prove frustrating. In this case, you’ll want to look at UST projectors or more robust short throw models, both of which provide a built-in smart interface for streaming and higher-performance built-in speakers. Finally, there’s the issue of fan noise to consider. While TVs run completely quiet, projectors can generate a fair amount of fan noise, especially when they are being pushed to a maximum brightness level. The good news here is that movie and TV show soundtracks can easily mask most of this noise, so it shouldn’t be an issue unless you’re specifically listening for it. How we test the best projectors At TechRadar, we test projectors in a range of lighting conditions, from bright rooms to dim and completely dark environments. We also test the projector with a suitable projection screen – a low-gain matte white screen for long throw models, and an ambient light-rejecting screen for UST models. Both video test patterns and reference movie clips are used to evaluate the projector’s performance in displaying bright, high-contrast images and saturated colors. We’ll test for picture detail, noise reduction processing and motion handling, and if the projector has substantial built-in speakers, we’ll also evaluate its ability to play movie soundtracks and TV dialogue clearly and dynamically. When measurements are provided, we’ll report on the projector’s peak brightness with HDR and SDR sources, contrast ratio, and color gamut coverage. We’ll also provide an average Delta E (the level of difference between the ‘perfect’ test pattern source and what is shown on-screen) for the projector’s color and grayscale. For projectors with a smart TV interface, we’ll evaluate its ease of use and the variety of streaming apps on offer. We’ll also test its performance for gaming, measuring input lag and evaluating the smoothness of gameplay using an Xbox Series X or PS5 gaming console. The latest updates to this guide November 20, 2024Best Projectors buyer’s guide launched.

Anker Nebula Mars 3: two-minute review If you’ve been looking for a projector you can wow your friends with, the Anker Nebula Mars 3 might be the one. Despite looking like a monster-sized flashlight, the Nebula Mars 3 is a portable projector designed for use both on the go and at home. To that end, it has a built-in battery that lets it operate at full brightness for upwards of two hours, plus the Android TV smart TV platform for streaming and fairly beefy speakers, though they regrettably play in mono. It’s well constructed, and works effectively, letting you set it down and get up and running quickly. Where the Anker Nebula Mars 3 really impresses is its brightness, which knocks it out of the park compared to most other battery powered examples of the best portable projectors. It’s not enough to challenge daylight, but it’ll sizzle at night. At just over $1,000, it has competition, and you can also find 4K models around that price, though few have the portability on offer here. You can also get better color from triple-laser options like the LG CineBeam Q or JMGO N1S Pro, albeit at a lower brightness for the LG and no on-the-go use for the JMGO. If you’re planning to do most of your viewing at home, it’s probably worth getting a projector that skips the battery and puts more effort into picture quality. But if you want a robust all-in-one theater you can tote anywhere, the Anker Nebula Mars 3 is a commendable option. Anker Nebula Mars 3 review: price and release date Release date: July 2023 Price: $1,099 (around £850 / AU$1,645) The Anker Nebula Mars 3 launched in 2023 and is now readily available in the US for $1,099. It can occasionally be found for less, however, and was $50 off at the time of writing. The Nebula Mars 3 features a sliding lens door and is IPX3 water resistant (Image credit: Future) Anker Nebula Mars 3 review: Specs Swipe to scroll horizontally Screen sizes supported: 30-200 inches Brightness (specified): 1,000 lumens HDR support: NA Optical technology: LED DLP Smart TV: Android TV Connections: HDMI, USB-A, USB-C, 3.5mm audio out, DC power in Dimensions: 10.2 x 1.97 x 6.3 inches (H x W x D) Weight: 9.9 pounds The Nebula Mars 3’s rear-panel ports cover and flashlight feature (Image credit: Future) Anker Nebula Mars 3 review: design and features Built for portability and durability Convenient on-device controls Built-in speakers and Android TV operating system The Anker Nebula Mars 3 follows Anker’s Nebula series design language, bearing considerable resemblance to the Nebula Cosmos 4K SE projector. That said, there are considerable differences that make the Nebula Mars 3 stand out. This model is built for more of a rough-and-tumble, on-the-go lifestyle. It features a hardened case that can withstand half-meter drops and has IPX3 water resistance. The front has a sliding lens cover and the rear includes a rubber cover over the ports. A sizable, hard handle stretches across the top of the projector, extending from the front to the back. While it includes a remote control, the handle also has built-in controls for volume and navigation of the projector’s onboard operating system. Neither of these control options is quite perfect though, as the remote is fairly limited in what you can access with a single press and the built-in buttons lack many of the typical controls for navigating the projector’s Android TV smart TV interface. A key part of the portable nature of the Anker Nebula Mars 3 is its ability to operate outdoors. To that end, the projector integrates a beefy battery geared up to run for anywhere from 2 hours at full blast to 5 hours in a dimmer Eco mode. To help you keep track of power, the handle has a ring of lights that display battery level. The projector can also double as a Bluetooth speaker or a flashlight. A three-speaker built-in audio system resides near the front. It can pump out a good deal of sound, though only in mono and the dynamics are fairly weak. Meanwhile, an LED light bar sits along the rear, stretching out above a large exhaust vent and below the port cover. Since the Anker Nebula Mars 3 isn’t designed to have a permanent home, it has a small, adjustable stand underneath to help angle it up at projection surfaces wherever it’s ultimately set up. It also features a quick and effective system for automatically adjusting image focus, keystone, and framing. The projector’s Android TV 11 smart TV system is a little dated, but still effective as a streaming platform. Like many other projectors, though, it doesn’t get the Play Store version of Netflix, instead relying on a sideloaded version that offers a generally sub-par experience. If you’re off the grid and don’t have internet, the projector has a USB-A port and supports local media playback. To upgrade the audio experience, you can wire it up to external powered speakers using the AUX port or wirelessly pair it to a Bluetooth speaker. Design and features score: 4/5 The Android TV platform is used by the Nebula Mars 3 for streaming (Image credit: Future) Anker Nebula Mars 3 review: picture quality Good, but not exceptional picture Decent color and detail Enough battery power for a 2-hour-plus movie The Anker Nebula Mars 3 features an LED DLP projection system rated for 1,000 lumens and 1080p resolution. That’s about what should be expected from a projector sitting at around $1,000. Anker’s battery powered portable has a good-looking picture, but not an exceptional one. It isn’t the type of projector you’ll want if you’re viewing in a bright room, since its 1,000 lumens just aren’t enough to handle much ambient light. You might get by if you’re watching bright cartoons, but you really should be viewing with it in a dark space, and that extends to the outdoors as well. Controlling ambient lighting outdoors is even more difficult than indoors, and if you’re expecting a good viewing experience with lots of urban lighting present, you’ll be disappointed. That said, if you’re in a more rural area without much light pollution, the Anker Nebula Mars 3 should provide ample brightness after sunset. The color you’ll get from the Anker Nebula Mars 3 is decent, but no match for triple-laser portable projectors like the LG CineBeam Q. It doesn’t feel utterly lacking or poorly managed, and a show like Ru Paul’s Drag Race still had plenty of visual spark when I viewed it. Colors have modest vibrance, but just don’t get the same level of pop I’ve seen from HDR-capable projectors reaching toward 100% coverage of the UHDA-P3 color space. The same is true of its resolution. At a projected image size of around 65 inches, the projector’s 1080p image looks reasonably crisp, but go far above that and you will seeing more softness unless you sit further back. A larger image will also show an artifact of the projector’s DLP chip, which shows up as noticeable dithering (an effect like writhing small dots) when displaying dark colors over a large portion of the screen. The projector has a motion smoothing setting buried slightly in the settings menu under the label MEMC that is set to on by default. While it can smooth out certain motions, it creates all sorts of distracting effects, especially in action sequences like those in Gladiator. It’s worth turning off, which results in more natural motion. Many of the image trade-offs are a result of Anker needing to squeeze a battery in for the $1,099 price. And the battery makes it worth it. At full brightness, the Nebula Mars 3 was able to run for the entirety of a two-hour movie at 50% volume with a little over 20% charge to spare, which let it go for nearly 30 minutes longer. Annoyingly, if you’re nearing the end of your movie or show and the battery power starts to get low, your experience will be thoroughly interrupted by several low-battery warnings in a window that occupies a large portion of the display. Picture quality score: 3/5 A remote control is included, and there are also controls located on the projector’s handle (Image credit: Future) Anker Nebula Mars 3 review: value Great for portable use Brighter than other compact portables Better options for picture quality, but not portability The Anker Nebula Mars 3 is an interesting package. It’s not a great home theater projector for the money, as there are far more appealing options available in the same ballpark. But it’s an overall decent projector and a powerful portable one. The Nebula Mars 3 is quick to set up, and can run for hours at a time. It’s a knockout next to something like the Samsung The Freestyle 2nd Gen, which has a portable setup with an optional battery pack but isn’t nearly as bright. A competent projector you can bring anywhere and easily get up and running is something special, and the Anker Nebula Mars 3 nails the concept. It’s built to withstand surprises and has clever elements (like the lens cover and waterproofing) that let you easily grab it and go without worrying about a protective case. Value score: 4/5 The carrying handle control buttons (Image credit: Future) Swipe to scroll horizontally Anker Nebula Mars 3 Attributes Notes Rating Design and features The Anker Nebula Mars 3 has a projection system, Android TV, speakers, a built-in battery, and a light. That’s a lot to get in one package. 4/5 Picture quality & performance A decent projector, but far from a brilliant one. It doesn’t look killer at extra-large sizes, and the color saturation is modest. 3/5 Value Strikes a special value with its portability and is a serious threat against other portable options, with a big battery, loud speakers, robust design, and good brightness. 4/5 Should I buy the Anker Nebula Mars 3? (Image credit: Future) Buy it if… Don’t buy it if…  Also consider… Swipe to scroll horizontally Comparison: portable projectors Header Cell – Column 0 Anker Nebula Mars 3 Samsung The Freestyle 2nd Gen LG CineBeam Q Xgimi Horizon Ultra Price: $1,099 $799 $1,299 $1,699 Screen sizes supported: 30 to 200 inches 30 to 100 inches 50 to 120 inches 40 to 200 inches Brightness (specified): 1,000 lumens 230 ANSI lumens 500 ANSI lumens 2,300 ISO lumens HDR support NA NA HDR10, HLG HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision Optical technology: LED DLP LED DLP RGB laser DLP LED+laser DLP Smart TV: Android TV Tizen webOS Android TV Connections: 1x HDMI, 1x 3.5mm Micro-HDMI, USB-C (power) HDMI, USB type-C (display, power) 2 x HDMI (1 with eARC) (Image credit: Future) How I tested the Anker Nebula Mars 3 Tested at home in multiple, real-world viewing conditions Presented the display with a variety of media and formats I have tested numerous projectors and displays over the last half-decade I tested the Anker Nebula Mars 3 at home, in real-world conditions. This saw it faced with ambient light coming in from numerous windows, in-room lighting, as well as ambient noise that both the projector and speaker systems had to overcome. The projector was tested both against a bare, white wall and an Akia Screens CineWhite screen. It was presented with streamed content, both HDR and non-HDR. My testing evaluates the projector’s performance with respect to its price and competition from other models I and colleagues at TechRadar have tested. I have been testing projectors since 2021 and displays for even longer. First reviewed: November, 2024