Hisense L9Q 4K Triple Laser UST Projector Review

The Hisense L9Q utilizes a Texas Instruments Digital Light Processor (DLP) (0.47″ DMD) chip to deliver 4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160) resolution. The 0.47″ DLP chip is sealed to keep dust and dirt away from sensitive components and uses Texas Instruments XPR technology to shift the light from each mirror four times (4x), displaying four distinct pixels on the screen.

Hisense continues to push the processing envelope by offering a new AI-powered image enhancement that adjusts contrast, color, and brightness in real time, using advanced algorithms to upscale resolution, reduce noise, and optimize HDR. The new Hisense 4K Al Upscaler ensures that everything from old classics to modern streaming content looks as good as possible on screen.

Speaking of HDR, the L9Q continues the Hisense trend of supporting all major HDR formats, including HDR10 and HLG. It offers full support for dynamic metadata and high-dynamic-range formats, including HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. By supporting both technologies, Hisense is investing to ensure you can achieve the best possible performance with any content exclusively encoded in Dolby Vision or HDR10+, without needing to downscale to standard HDR10. On top of a “Kitchen Sink” approach to high-dynamic-range format support, which we love here at Projector Reviews, the L9Q is also fully “Certified by IMAX” as capable of bringing the IMAX cinema experience to your home theater. IMAX support on the L9Q allows you to watch IMAX content in an expanded aspect ratio, giving you up to 26% more picture without black bars. There’s quite a bit of IMAX-enhanced content available to stream, including almost all the Marvel Cinematic Universe films on Disney+ and many Sony Pictures films.

The L9Q projector is powered by the latest Google TV OS, making it a smart device that gives you access to thousands of popular Android applications and a wide range of streaming platforms, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, YouTube, and more.

Google TV organizes movies, shows, and more from your subscriptions, so you no longer need to jump from app to app to find what you want to watch. It provides curated recommendations and uses Google's powerful search to find shows across 10,000+ apps or to browse hundreds of free channels.

The Google TV OS also provides access to the Google Assistant, allowing you to use voice control for many features and verbally navigate many of the projector's menus. The L9Q can also control a wide range of compatible smart home devices using your voice via Google Assistant.

The L9Q comes with auto setup features such as SCREEN ALIGNMENT and KEYSTONE CORRECTION to automatically fit the image to your screen perfectly, even for screen sizes up to 120 inches.

Over the past several years, high-performance gaming on home theater projectors has shifted from a niche priority to a rapidly growing one for potential projector buyers. According to a 2024 GIS (Global Insight Services) report, the gaming projector market is projected to grow from $1.79 billion in 2024 to $4.83 billion in 10 years, which is impressive. North America is the biggest market for fast gaming projectors, primarily due to the USA’s strong gaming industry and tech-savvy population. The European market follows, then the Asia-Pacific region.

Hisense is working to meet the needs of this growing segment of customers by focusing on three key areas: enhancing connectivity with high-speed, low-latency performance; delivering smooth motion; and supporting compatibility with the ever-increasing number of high-performance wireless gaming devices.

Hisense is making it easier than ever to level up your gaming skills with features like its ultra-responsive performance. GAME mode reduces input lag to 12ms at 2K/120Hz. At the same time, Turbo Mode keeps fast action smooth by reducing motion blur. The Game Bar puts all your key settings right at your fingertips. Enjoy fast-paced gaming with ultra-smooth motion and minimal motion blur. The Auto Low Latency Mode automatically detects and switches to a low-latency setting for responsive gameplay.

The L9Q features an all-new chassis design that is wider and heavier compared to previous models. This is likely due to the sound system's increased performance and number of built-in speakers. It features a modern champagne finish and maple wood accents that stand out from previous Hisense models and many competitors. The L9Q measures 24.6” x 12.5” x 6.5” (624.84 mm x 317.50 mm x 165.10 mm) and weighs 28.4 lb (12.88 kg). The projector chassis is an all-new design with a metal-and-molded-plastic color scheme, modeled to resemble wood.

The L9Q uses the same two large status headlight bars on the right and left sides of the front panel. These lights remain lit even when the option to power the projector off fully is selected. To shut them off, go to (ENU/SETTINGS/SYSTEM/ POWER&ENERGY/POWER), and you'll find a switch to turn off the LED indicator lights.

Without engaging any dynamic processing, we measured the native contrast ratio at roughly  3223:1. Yes, this is measurement is lower than what the marketing suggests but it is similar to the PX3-PRO so it is still very good. When Dynamic Laser Dimming is engaged we measured 6913:1.  If you switch to cinematic presets, such as FILMMAKER or THEATER, and enable the 'DARK DETAIL' setting in the Scenario Enhancement feature, the projector dynamically deepens the black floor.

Ultimately, what really counts is how the image looks on the screen during a real movie-watching session, and here the L9Q really does shine. To be clear, the black level isn't going to give you those absolute, 'inky blacks' or razor-sharp shadows you'd expect from a high-end, dedicated home theater projector that costs three times as much. However, it is certainly strong and, frankly, above average for a UST projector, especially given the sheer muscle of its 5,000-lumen light output. The higher brightness delivers a higher perceived visual contrast especially under ambient light.

For example, it achieves a look that is nearly indistinguishable from models like the PX3-PRO, a unit I think has a slightly better black floor. You can clearly see in the slideshow above how well the projector handles scenes from Superman, The Last Jedi, Tron: Legacy, and others, and how well the L9Q displays black and dark-area details.

Although contrast ratio and black level are separate metrics, they are connected. In my PX3-PRO review, I wondered whether the projector’s “Designed for Xbox” functionality was related to the black-floor performance not being better. The L9Q does not have the Xbox badging, so that’s not pertinent here. All things considered, the L9Q’s contrast performance allows the projector to display a deep, almost three-dimensional picture. I think this projector makes a fantastic option for an immersive movie experience at home.

It’s almost a disclaimer at this point in the review when we say that most TV shows and live broadcasts will likely remain in HD for years, making exceptional 4K upscaling crucial. The L9Q's upscaling capabilities are impressive, seamlessly elevating 720p sports and 1,080p Blu-ray content to a visually stunning level. Even SD content can be made to… look better. Hisense pulls this off by incorporating AI into its Laser Engine 2.0, with advanced AI algorithms that work in real time to refine the picture before displaying it on screen. Hisense uses AI to upscale lower-resolution content to 4K while reducing noise, making the content look sharper and cleaner than if the projector were just doing basic pixel-doubling.

The L9Q's FILMMAKER mode eliminates 3:2 pulldown, resulting in a more cinematic motion experience. When viewing 30p or 60p content, the CLEAR mode effectively minimizes motion artifacts. The L9Q offers MEMC (Motion Estimation Motion Compensation) for smoother motion in sports and video games. This feature inserts additional frames between the original ones to reduce judder and enhance overall smoothness.

Sports and live content, like talk shows, look fantastic on the L9Q. The projector delivers vibrant, colorful images that are enjoyable to watch. Even high-contrast content, such as animation, appears balanced and free from excessive oversaturation, a common issue with many DLP laser projectors.

I have both the PX3-PRO and the L9H, so I can confirm what I’m about to say. The L9Q offers some of the best HDR performance in an ultra-short-throw projector. This is largely due to the previously noted 66% increase in brightness, as well as the projector's excellent optics and HDR tone mapping. In my opinion, the black level is similar (not identical) to the PX3-PRO. I think the black floor has been raised a bit on the L9Q, but the bright-area detail with HDR content is very noticeable in bright scenes from Lucy, Aquaman, and others.

I did most of the testing in my lab on a 110-inch matte-white professional screen. When I paired the L9Q with the ALR screen in my very light-heavy living room, the 5,000-lumen output started to produce a picture that approached the performance of a flat-panel display, especially in perceived brightness and color saturation with HDR-encoded content. The Rings of Power in HDR10+ looked amazing. In fact, Dolby Vision and HDR10+ content looked stunning on both my lab and living room screens. Yes, you will take a big hit in brightness across all HDR modes, but what you gain may well be worth the sacrifice in displayed lumens. This improved picture even applies to standard HDR and HLG content shown on the L9Q.

Hisense has continued its full HDR support strategy for the L9Q, offering both HDR10+ and Dolby Vision to ensure maximum HDR performance across formats. Beyond dynamic metadata HDR, the L9Q continues to support IMAX Enhanced content. If you watch those specific movies on services like Disney+, you’ll get the full benefits: the correct aspect ratio, specific processing, and DTS-X audio. The IMAX Enhanced program uses Digital Media Remastering (DMR) to reduce noise and enhance color and contrast, operating similarly to other advanced HDR systems.

From my viewing experience, the L9Q did a remarkably good job of automatically adjusting its HDR tone-mapping curve on the fly, perfectly matching it to the scene. For the best results with any of these dynamic formats, you’ll need to input your screen’s size and gain values accurately.

I found that Dolby Vision consistently looked superior to the projector's standard HDR10 tone mapping, especially with material mastered above 1,000 nits. The system demonstrated exceptional automatic tone-mapping across all the movie scenes I tested. The projector also supports HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma), the essential HDR standard for live broadcasts, future-proofing you for sports and events. While Dolby Vision usually looked better, I was impressed with the picture quality of all HDR material.

The L9Q’s ability to reach 110% BT.2020 results in rich, natural HDR colors, thanks in part to Trichroma technology. It accurately reproduces a wide range of colors, from the new Apple movie F1 and the stunning ”ship refueling in the sun” shots in Passengers to the gorgeous hues of Spider-Man Homecoming.

While the previous PX3-PRO model proudly featured the "Designed for Xbox" badge, the newer Hisense L9Q does not come with this certification. However, it shares all the core technical capabilities that earned the PX3-PRO this badge in the first place. That being said, one feature that appears to be missing is native 1440p support; the L9Q, like many USTs using the 0.47-inch DLP chip, will accept a 1440p signal but then converts it to either 4K or 1080p at 60Hz. It’s an interesting technical limitation because other "Designed for Xbox" certified projectors can display 1440p at 120Hz without this conversion step.

Regarding my gaming experience on the L9Q, I can attest that it’s impressive. The L9Q features two HDMI 2.1 ports, designed to drive the highest-end consoles at 4K/120Hz (though the display is limited to 4K/60Hz). The important thing is that its Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) works great, instantly switching to a speedy GAME mode when it detects a compatible console is connected.

The L9Q Input lag is very competitive for a UST, measuring around 12 ms at 1080p/120Hz and a highly responsive 28 ms at 4K/60Hz. I’ve read reports that the latest firmware running the L9Q is capable of 8 ms at 1080p and under 18 ms at 4K 60 Hz. I didn't notice any delay while playing fast-paced titles on my Xbox Series X. My gameplay was fast and enjoyable. This projector's high brightness, combined with its color capabilities, only enhanced my fantastic gaming experience. Would native 1440p be a welcome addition? Absolutely, but that will likely require Hisense to transition to a different DLP imager in a future generation.

The Hisense L9Q is a premium Ultra-Short Throw (UST) projector. It features a design that takes Hisense ultra-short throw projectors in a whole new direction, both externally and internally.

The L9Q features an all-new color scheme of champagne-colored metal and warm, dark walnut faux-wood paneling. This combination of metal and wood, along with the champagne finish, gives the L9Q a distinct design aesthetic, setting it apart not only from previous Hisense ultra-short throw projectors but also from competitive models. The wood and metal make the L9Q feel more like a premium piece of furniture than just another piece of technology. This new design aesthetic means the L9Q should be able to live in a wide range of living environments, making it one of the most distinctive-looking ultra-short-throw projectors available today.

Compared to last year’s award-winning PX3-PRO, the new Hisense L9Q is a massive leap forward in performance. The projector uses the latest version of the company’s RGB laser light source, providing a significant step up in overall picture performance.

When it comes to brightness, the L9Q is a beast, with nearly a 66 percent increase over the previous model. This massive brightness boost helps the projector across the board, allowing the L9Q to be used not only as a dedicated home theater projector but also to replace a flat-panel TV in a living room. This projector has so much brightness to spare that it can create an image that maintains color and clarity even in rooms with moderate levels of uncontrolled ambient light. Pair the L9Q with an ALR screen, and you have the perfect projector for even the most challenging lights-on viewing environments.

The TriChroma laser light source produces stunning, surprisingly accurate colors out of the box, with little to no tuning required. Most owners won’t even think about color calibration, but if you do, you can take this projector's excellent color quality from incredibly good to stunningly great. The L9Q’s increase in brightness also improves the projector's contrast, resulting in a 66% jump over the PX3-PRO’s 3,000:1 native contrast rating. This means that details in both dark and bright areas of the L9Q’s projected image are more visible and look better out of the box.

The L9Q features all the most commonly used high-dynamic-range formats, including Dolby Vision and HDR10+. It offers the best color, dark-area, and light-area detail performance available in an ultra-short-throw projector. The L9Q is one of only a few projectors to feature IMAX certification, allowing you to get the best overall scale and quality when watching IMAX Enhanced content from studios like Disney’s Marvel and select Sony Pictures Studios titles.

When it comes to gaming, Hisense has managed to keep the excellent performance found in the PX3-PRO and enhance it by increasing the number of high-speed HDMI inputs to four (two of which are HDMI 2.1). The L9Q features a dedicated gaming mode that, when used in conjunction with ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), switches the projector to the fastest settings when a compatible high-speed gaming console connection is detected (i.e., Sony PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X), providing you with the best overall picture and sound experience you can get on a Hisense UST projector.

Hisense could have stopped there, but the company decided they had to take the projector’s already excellent built-in sound to the next level by partnering with Devialet, a luxury French audio company, to provide the L9Q with a 116-watt, 6.2.2-channel sound system capable of stunning audio performance even when compared to the already excellent PX3-PRO and L9H sound performance.

Hisense has raised the bar across almost every aspect of the new L9Q, from design and picture quality to performance, sound, and experience, making it the most advanced ultra-short-throw premium projector you can buy to date. And that’s not just my opinion, because the L9Q recently won three different first-place ratings in the recent 2025 Ultra Short Throw Projector Showdown.