At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, AWOL Vision announced the new Aetherion Series, which consists of two 4K DLP ultra-short-throw models, the Aetherion Max and the Aetherion Pro. Due to its feature set, there has been a lot of buzz about the new Aetherion, which raised 10,000,000 in the first 12 hours of its Kickstarter campaign.
As of March 17th, AWOL Vision has raised over $17,500,000 from over 6600 backers.
AWOL Vision launched its first model via an Indiegogo campaign in March of 2022, and in less than 5 years, it has become one of the leading manufacturers of Laser TVs and ultra-short-throw projectors. We had the opportunity to review several AWOL Vision models, including the LTV3500, the LTV3000, and the LTV2500. While each of these models won awards, they have been on the market for over 4 years, so it was time for a radical refresh.
We normally don’t promote Kickstarter campaigns, but AWOL Vision has used this approach in the past to launch their previous award-winning models. Also, the preliminary reviews of preproduction models have been quite positive.
By launching on Kickstarter, AWOL Vision can validate real consumer demand before committing to expensive components such as DLP chipsets, laser light engines, and optical assemblies. Crowdfunding also allows projector brands to position their products directly with enthusiasts without relying on traditional retail channels, which is why AWOL Vision can offer early units at a discount.
If you are interested in purchasing the projector mentioned in this article, we appreciate it if you use one of the links in the article, as Projector Reviews earns a small commission on the sale at no cost to you.
Not only do the new Aetherion models look radically different from previous models, but they also include several new features that should significantly improve their image quality. The main difference between the two units is their rated brightness. The Aetherion Max is rated at 3,300 ISO lumens, while the Aetherion Pro is specified at 2,600 ISO lumens.
A triple-laser RGB light source paired with a newly developed optical engine designed to minimize light leakage along the optical path to deliver deeper blacks and improved on-screen. This results in a class-leading native contrast ratio of 6,000:1. When the new EBL (Enhanced Black Level) feature is engaged, AWOL Vision states that the Aetherion can deliver a dynamic contrast ratio of 60,000:1.
The Aetherion Series includes AWOL Visions’ proprietary PixelLock technology, which combines optical and mechanical alignment to address pixel misalignment, color fringing, and image softness issues common to ultra-short-throw projectors. AWOL Vision also developed Anti-RBE technology that combines optical and processing capabilities to significantly reduce this distracting visual artifact.
We look forward to reviewing both Aetherion models soon, but we want to make sure everyone is aware of the opportunity to purchase the new models at prices well below eventual retail by becoming a backer.
The Aetherion series Kickstarter campaign is active until March 31, 2026, with the Aetherion Pro currently available for $1999 (MSRP $3499) and the flagship Aetherion Max for $2299 (MSRP $4499). Products will begin shipping in April 2026.
