Top 5 Ultra-Short Throw (UST) Projectors 2023
While projectors have been around for generations, ultra-short throw projectors are a relatively new technology that is steadily growing in popularity. They’re more favorable than traditional projectors because of their ability to sit right up against the wall, making it possible to have a massive display in relatively small spaces. There aren’t many players in the game yet and UST projectors don’t get released as often as other tech, so the battle for the title of “the best'' over the years has always been tight.
2023 is drawing to a close and it’s the perfect time of the year to take a look at what the tech world has to offer. With the help of tech reviewers and websites, we’ll be giving you a detailed list of the best UST projectors you should consider sampling.
Table of Contents
- Formovie THEATER
- LG CineBeam HU715Q
- Benq v705i
- Samsung LSP9T
- Hisense PX1
Formovie THEATER
In the year of its premiere, the Formovie THEATER was voted as the UST projector of the year at the 2022 Laser TV Showdown hosted by Projector Central and Projector Screen.com. The judges gave it credit for its deep black levels, sharp contrast, and vibrant colors. In addition to its already stunning display quality, the Formovie THEATER stood out as being the only projector in the competition with Dolby Vision Support.
It has been commended by the reviewers at AV Forums for its triple laser RGB+ light source, excellent calibrated image quality, and video processing. The Formovie THEATER was given a 9/10 rating on AV Forums, and a 9.08 rating by the judges at the Laser TV Showdown.
LG CineBeam HU715Q
The LG HU715Q is part of the CineBeam line of UST projectors by LG, and while it may not have been a part of the biggest laser TV shootdown, it did receive the Editors Choice Award from Projector Central for “dramatically exceeding expectations”.
Projector Central found the projector's wireless speaker support and picture quality to be impressive, and gave the LG CineBeam HU715Q a 4.5/5 star rating based on performance, features, ease of use, and value. The reviewers at AV Forums gave it props for its integrated smart system, cute design, and sharp crisp images, and it was given an overall rating of 9/10 by AV Forum.
BenQ V705i
Unlike the rest of the mentions on this list that use a triple laser, the BenQ V705i is the only UST projector that uses a single laser light source. While it may not be as powerful as the winner of the triple laser category, the Formovie THEATER, it did impress the judges enough to be crowned number one in the single laser category at the 2022 Laser TV Showdown. It was given an overall score of 9.15/10 at the showdown against other single laser UST projectors.
The Laser TV Showdown judges made notable mention of its excellent maintenance of brightness levels after calibration, a statement that the reviews at Projector Reviews.com agree with. It’s reported that the projector exceeded its 2500 ANSI lumens brightness level during testing, something that can be fully appreciated in well-lit environments.
Samsung LSP9T
The Samsung LSP9T, also known as The Premier, was released in 2020 and it’s a UST projector that Projector Central believes could have taken the number one spot at the Laser TV showdown had it taken place in 2020. It did, however, take the number 4 spot at the 2022 Laser TV Showdown which is an impressive performance against newer models.
The judges made a special note of the Samsung LSP9T’s incredibly short throw distance and named it the easiest to install. The projector’s high brightness levels were also considered worth mentioning. It was given an overall rating of 9/10 on AV Forums for its 4K UHD resolution and High Dynamic Range, and it got 8.9/10 from the judges at the 2022 Laser TV Showdown.
Hisense PX1-Pro
This projector was given an honorable mention as well as the bronze medal at the 2022 Laser TV Showdown, having received a perfect score for its color accuracy, UHD detail, and motion. Tech Radar describes it as “brilliantly balanced” with a stunning picture and flexible setup options. However, they do mention that it struggles to perform well in brightly lit spaces.
The Best the Year Has to Offer
There really is no better time to consider your UST projector options than right now. There are rumors of a second annual Laser TV Showdown in the making, and Projector Central has confirmed that it will definitely be taking place. Fans and followers have requested that the new candidates be put against the winner of last year’s contest for reference, and we’re sure the Formovie THEATER will be up for the challenge.
