Hisense PX3-PRO Laser Cinema Projector Review

The Hisense PX3-PRO is the company's seventh generation ultra short throw projector.

The Hisense PX3-PRO is the first of the company's 2024 laser product lineup designed for home theater enthusiasts. This smart 4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160p) Laser Cinema projector is the company's most advanced projector to date. Hisense LPU and Trichroma technology provide 3,000 ANSI lumens of brightness and the ability to display 110% of the BT.2020 color space for stunning on-screen colors, exceeding the company flagship L9H Laser TV.

The PX3-PRO offers a range of "firsts" for a Hisense projector, including the ability to display a native contrast of 3,000:1, support for HDR10+ in addition to Dolby Vision, 4K AI upscaling, 3D video support and it's the company's first IMAX-enhanced projector. The PX3-PRO is a smart projector featuring Google TV integration. It provides seamless access to favorite streaming services like Disney+, Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime via fully authorized applications.

Through a partnership with Harmon Kardon, Hisense has raised the sound quality bar for the PX3-PRO by adding a 50-watt Dolby Atmos sound system designed to engage viewers with immersive sound that matches the projector's visuals. Hisense is also pushing the gaming performance of the PX3-PRO, which received certification by Microsoft as the world's first ultra-short throw projector "Designed for Xbox Limited Series."

According to Hisense, the PX3-PRO is designed to offer unmatched realism, depth, and immersion by combining exceptional picture and sound with a range of enhancements that provide users with a truly memorable experience.

If past performance is any indicator, I expect that the Hisense PX3-PRO will meet or exceed the marketing hype, so let's get into the review and see if it does.

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Hisense PX3-PRO Specs
Price	$3,499.00 (MSRP)
Technology	DLP (0.47" DMD) w XPR
Displayed Resolution	3840 x2160
Brightness (Manufacturer Claim)	3000 ANSI Lumens (2600 Peak Lumens)
Light Source	RGB triple laser
Contrast	3,000:1
Zoom Lens Ratio	Fixed
Lens Shift	No
Lamp Life	25,000 Hrs
Sound System	50w stereo
Weight	19.8 lbs
Warranty	2-year parts and labor warranty

Overview

The Hisense PX3-PRO featuers a brand new LPU light engine featuring the company's TriChroma laser system.

The Hisense PX3-PRO is the company's seventh-generation UST projector, and the first of their 2024 line of ultra-short throw projectors. The PX3-PRO is what Hisense brands as a Laser Cinema projector. Laser Cinema and Laser TV projectors are almost identical in technology and performance capabilities, the primary difference being that they are not bundled with a matching projection screen. This keeps the price down and leaves the consumer free to select whatever brand and size of screen they want to use. Laser Cinema projectors can digitally adjust focus for any size screen if it is within Hisense's specified dimension.

At the heart of the Hisense PX3-PRO is an incredibly powerful laser light engine that the company has newly trademarked as an LPU Digital Laser Engine. The LPU houses all the technology, from the Trichroma RGB laser light source to the new high-quality ultra-short throw lens to everything in the light path. Let's take a closer look at some of the key technologies inside the LPU and see how Hisense has upgraded them to push the picture performance of this new projector to levels I've never seen in an ultra-short throw projector.

The Hisense PX3-PRO's Trichroma RGB laser light source has been significantly boosted, providing several improvements over previous models. First, Hisense has increased the projector's brightness to a manufacturer's rated 3,000 ANSI lumens of brightness, a 25% increase over the previous model, the Hisense PX2-PRO. Click on the link to read my full review. This increase in brightness means you can use the PX3-PRO in rooms with low to moderate amounts of ambient light without a significant loss in color quality.

This is a key advantage if you want to replace a flat-panel TV and move to a projector. This projector is built with lights-on viewing in mind. Pair the projector with a high-gain Ambient Light Rejecting (ALR) screen, and you can overcome many washout effects that negatively impact the picture quality of some traditional projectors in well-lit rooms.

One of the primary benefits of this new Hisense LPU technology is that it leverages the award-winning Hisense Trichroma laser light source to generate hyper-realistic colors, which is only possible because the PX3-PRO offers one of the widest color gamuts available on the market today. The PX3-PRO Trichroma laser light source can display a significantly wider, more accurate color gamut even when compared to last year's flagship Hisense L9H Laser TV system.

According to Hisense, the PX3-PRO can reproduce up to 110% of the BT.2020 color space, producing true-to-life colors with exceptional vibrancy and depth. This translates to more realistic skin tones, richer natural landscapes, and a more immersive cinematic experience than any previous Hisense projector.

This massive color gamut range means you will see a universe of color surpassing every previous RGB laser light source produced for an ultra-short throw projector. Hisense claims the projector will display ultra-high color accuracy that will show the subtle variations in skin tones, amazing shades of blue sky, and the natural reds you see in rosy cheeks. Basically, the richest and most realistic colors Hisense has ever been able to produce, redefining your viewing experience.

I'll discuss this in more detail in the PERFORMANCE COLOR section of this review, but I have to tell you that my initial out-of-the-box viewing experience with the PX3-PRO was remarkably good. It exceeded anything I've seen from Hisense's previously impressive projector offerings. Hisense has raised the color performance bar on the PX3-PRO.

The PX3-PRO's new Trichroma laser light source now provides a much longer lifespan than traditional lamps and previous Hisense projectors, offering a guaranteed 25,000+ hours of light source life at full light output. This ensures consistent image quality over the projector's life with no noticeable brightness or color degradation.

Hisense has improved the projector's contrast capabilities, offering a native 3000:1 contrast for improved black-level performance and dark area detail compared to last year's Hisense Trichroma models.

The Hisense PX3-PRO is the world's first ultra-short throw projector certified as "Designed for Xbox Limited Series." This certification is a remarkable achievement for Hisense and represents a significant step towards improving the gaming experience on an ultra-short throw projector, but 'Designed for Xbox Limited Series' is not the same thing as the 'Designed for Xbox' certification found on some standard throw gaming projectors like the recently reviewed ViewSonic LX700.

From a technology standpoint, the PX3-PRO still uses a 0.47 DLP DMD with 4-way XPR pixel shifting compared to 'Designed for Xbox' standard and short throw projectors that utilize the larger 0.65 inch Texas Instruments DLP chip that use 2-way pixel shifting. This difference in DLP DMD size is likely to mean a difference in several performance metrics between these two types of Microsoft-certified projectors. I'll be testing for any differences in game compatibility, dark area detail, input lag, and more in the PERFORMANCE GAMING section of this review.

The PX3-PRO has a super-immersive 80-to-150-inch 4K display. It is certified for Dolby Vision and IMAX enhanced. The refresh rate is up to 240Hz @ 1080p, which should provide a faster, smoother gaming experience than previous Hisense UST models.

The PX3-PRO allows you to display an image on parallel screens for two-player gaming. Processing response times are under 6 microseconds, enhanced by MEMC technology for lag-free gaming. The Auto-Low Latency Model detects when you've started your gaming console and optimizes projector settings. Hisense is even using HDMI 2.1 on this projector, but since this projector is still DLP, will this offer any significant performance boost over HDMI 2.0?

The new Hisense 4K Al Upscaler ensures everything from the old classics to modern streaming content receives a crystal clear 4K makeover, turning the ordinary into extraordinary visual experiences.

For the first time in a North American Hisense projector, the company offers HDR support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG. Adding HDR10+ allows the playback of all content encrypted with dynamic metadata to be recognized and displayed by the PX3-PRO. This means the projector does not have to display any movies or television shows encoded in Dolby Vision or HDR10+ in a static metadata format like HDR10. Your films will offer the best possible dark area and bright area details possible in a Hisense projector.

In addition, the PX3-PRO is the first ultra-short throw projector to be certified by the IMAX corporation and Hollywood's leading technical specialists to deliver IMAX's signature brand picture quality and DTS-powered audio. Films in IMAX, like most Marvel movies on Disney+, eliminate the black bars at the top and bottom in some scenes, offering an immersive audiovisual experience that shows more of the film than you get in a typical widescreen presentation.

The PX3-PRO is the first Hisense ultra-short throw projector to support Active 3D-encoded movies and games. Although there is still a lot of legacy 3D content available, you can now view and play it on a screen up to 150 inches diagonally, feeling like you are part of the movie or game.

The Hisense PX3-PRO 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 has 2.2 million pixels, or in this case, micromirrors with a native resolution of 1,920 x 1,080p. Hisense uses Texas Instruments XPR technology to shift the light from each mirror 4X, displaying four distinct pixels on the screen. The fact that most people don't see a resolution difference between a pixel-shifting 4K projector and a native 4K projector is a testament to how good modern pixel-shifting technology is.

The Hisense PX3-PRO's DLP system is sealed, keeping dust and dirt away from sensitive components. A sealed light engine prevents dust particles from settling inside the light path. Enclosing these critical components maximizes the projector's life expectancy, which is crucial for a display that replaces the living room TV.

This new Hisense Laser Cinema projector is powered by the latest Google TV OS, making it a smart device that gives you access to thousands of the most popular Android applications and a wide range of streaming platforms, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, YouTube, and many others.

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 PX3-PRO can also control a wide range of compatible smart home devices using your voice via Google Assistant.

Below is a feature and pricing comparison chart for current Hisense Laser Cinema models other than the PX3-PRO and two Laser TV models. Remember, Laser TVs are packaged with a screen, resulting in a higher cost to the consumer. Prices will vary depending on the size and type of screen in the package.

The ability to display 3D content, specifically active 3D content, is available for the first time on a Hisense ultra short throw video projector. This is a feature many consumers and reviewers have been asking Hisense to include for quite a few years. If you are one of these consumers or reviewers (guilty), tell Hisense you appreciate adding the feature to the PX3-PRO. Although not a. lot of 3D encoded content is being released, a significant library of movies can be watched in 3D. Displays that support Active 3D use a clever trick to create a truly immersive experience. They rapidly switch images between your left and right eyes, resulting in a picture with a lot of depth and dimension you don't get on a standard 2D image.

To see active 3D content, you'll need a pair of special Active 3D glasses. These glasses have synchronized shutters that open and close in perfect time with the projector's images. This creates a stereoscopic effect, making objects appear to pop out of the screen. It's like having a front-row seat to a 3D concert or a thrilling chase scene.

The benefits of active 3D compared to passive 3D (passive 3D is not supported on the PX3-PRO) are undeniable. Active 3D provides a more realistic viewing experience, and the images are brighter and have better contrast.

Hisense Current Laser Cinema Model Comparison
Model	PX3-PRO	PX2-PRO	PL1
Price (MSRP)	$3499	$2999	$2799
Brightness	3000 ANSI Lumens	2400 ANSI Lumens	2200 ANSI Lumens
Light Source	RGB-Laser	RGB-Laser	Blue Laser Phosphor
Displayed Resolution	4K UHD (3840 x 2160)	4K UHD (3840 x 2160)	4K UHD (3840 x 2160)
Contrast (Native/Dynamic)	3000:1 (native)	2,000,000:1 (dynamic)	2,000,000:1 (dynamic)
IMAX Enhanced	Yes	No	No
Displays 3D Content	Yes (Active)	No	No
Designed for Xbox Enhanced	Yes	No	No
HDR	Dobly Vision, HDR10+, HDR10	Dolby Vision, HDR10	Dolby Vision, HDR10
Dimensions	21.7" x 4.8" x 11.7"	20.5″ x 12.8″ x 6.3″	20.9" x 4.7" x 13.2"
Weight	19.8 lbs	20.3 lbs	17 lbs

HIGHLIGHTS

New LPU Digital Laser Engine featuring Hisense TriChroma color technology
Ability to reproduce 110% of the BT.2020 (Rec. 2020) color space
First UST projector to be Microsoft certified as 'Designed for Xbox Limited Edition'
Digital Lens Focus - Project images from 80 to 150 inches diagonally
3,000 ANSI lumens of brightness
25,000+ hours of light source life
3,000:1 native contrast ratio
4K UHD (3840 x 2160p) displayed resolution
The new 4K AI Upscaling displays all content regardless of resolution with improved sharpness and detail
Supports content encoded in Dolby Vision with Dolby Atmos audio
The first UST that is IMAX Enhanced and HDRI0+ Certified
The first Hisense ultra-short throw projector to support active 3D content
Built-in Google TV with native Netflix application support
FILMMAKER mode is designed to display content the way the creators intended
Built-in 50W Harmon Kardon sound system
HDMI-enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC) allows high-bitrate audio pass-thru
Fully integrated Google TV OS with a single remote control
WiSA (Wireless Speaker and Audio Association) ready for multi-channel wireless surround sound system connectivity
2-year parts and labor warranty

HARDWARE

CHASSIS

The PX3-PRO features an all-new design that looks nothing like previous models, including the color of the projector's exterior. The Hisense PX3-PRO is smaller than the previous Laser TV projectors and features far more metal and less plastic on the chassis. It has a very modern design that looks appealing and stands out from most competitors.

The PX3-PRO measures 21.7" x 4.8" x 11.7" (WxHxD) and weighs 19.8 lbs.

The projector chassis is made from a combination of metal, primarily the top and side panels, and molded plastic, most of the front. The projector is painted grayish-black. The front panel is completely redesigned and looks nothing like previous Laser TV or Laser Cinema models. The rest of the chassis looks similar to last year's L5H, on which I wrote a full review.

For years, Hisense has included "Power Status Indicator" lights on all its UST projectors. However, they turn these lights into design elements instead of a single LED dot. Most recently, the L9H had a horizontal line. I have been aware for years that having these lights remain on irritates some owners. You would think these lights stay on to warn users that the projector is in STANDBY mode, which lets it resume faster than when fully powered down. The projector consumes more power in Standby than in Off. Unfortunately, these lights remain lit even when the option to power the projector Off fully is selected. To shut them off, go to MENU/SETTINGS/SYSTEM/POWER&ENERGY/POWER, and a switch to turn off the LED indicator lights can be found there.

To turn the projector off, hold the power button down for a little longer. Then, choose between POWER OFF and STANDBY. FYI, it takes about 38 seconds to start the projector from the OFF position compared to 10 seconds from STANDBY. Also, the projector likely uses more power in STANDBY than OFF. That said, these devices consume energy even when supposedly OFF. They are never completely off.

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The projector's only control button is Power On/Off, located on the right-side panel near the front of the projector. The remote controls everything else. All inputs and connections are on the projector's back panel, except for a single USB located on the projector's right side on the bottom.

The PX3-PRO features three HDMI ports on the projector's rear that support HDMI 2.1 features. HDMI inputs 1 and 2 support ULTRA HIGH-SPEED devices, and HDMI input three supports Enhanced Audio Return (eARC) functionality. Theoretically, HDMI 2.1 inputs can support up to 48 Gbps bandwidth for 8K/60p playback and 4K/120p content. While this projector's DLP chip only supports up to 4K@60Hz video playback, these types of HDMI inputs still offer a few notable benefits, including ALLM and eARC.

Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) automatically switches the PX3-PRO to a low-latency, low-lag game mode when game content is detected. When low latency is no longer needed, the source turns off the signal, and the display reverts to its previous mode for watching content such as movies and TV shows, providing an optimized gaming and movie-watching experience.

The PX3-PRO can also control connected devices, such as an A/V receiver, via HDMI Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) to control each connected device. Other available inputs include a USB 3.0 Type-A and a USB 2.0 Type-A input on the side. The projector also has a LAN port, optical-digital, and L/R analog audio outputs.

LENS

The Hisense PX3-PRO features an excellent lens with an adjustable digital focus and low distortion.

Something has changed with the lens system on the PX3-PRO, and all I can say is WOW! All right, I can say more. Hisense ultra short throw projectors typically use very high-quality, multi-component lens systems tailored for ultra short throw projectors. UST lens systems are highly specialized because they are designed to project images at steep, extreme angles while positioned mere inches from the screen.

The PX3-PRO does an excellent job distributing light evenly across the entire surface of the screen, resulting in excellent brightness uniformity across the image and with only minimal softening of focus at the extreme corners.

Like its predecessors in the PX series, the PX3-PRO features Hisense's Digital Lens Focusing (DLF). However, the lens offers a significant performance boost in terms of focusing uniformity, especially on the extreme edges of the image. This is likely a combination of improvements to the projector Trichroma laser light source and the projector lens, which create detailed images without sharpening artifacts in the projector factory picture preset modes and focus that appears more accurate than previous Hisense models.

The speed of the DLF system appears to be faster based on my use, and the focal range looks to have increased as well. The only small complaint about this is that at the extreme range of the DLF adjustments, there is noticeable distortion at the top of the image. An easy fix for this is to back off the furthest focus range. To go to the extremes of the projector's DLF adjustment range, check that the screen is flat to the wall.

DLF provides ultra-fine focus adjustments via menu controls, ensuring a razor-sharp image across the PX3-PRO's throw range, which has been increased to 80 to 150 inches compared to previous models, which were limited to 90 to 130 inches diagonally. DLF is a very useful feature, allowing virtually any room to be transformed into a home theater.

The PX3-PRO continues to offer the useful Hisense Auto Geometric Correction feature with a manual option. The tool uses a mobile phone to assess the image-squaring progress. Simply take a picture and send it to Hisense. They'll use this data to automatically configure the projector's screen geometry for optimal image alignment.

While these auto geometry tools offer convenient and quick setups, they come with a trade-off. They should only be used as a last resort. I strongly recommend manually squaring the projector to the screen because, while convenient, keystone correction (manual or auto) reduces overall image quality.

REMOTE

The included remote is a complete re-design of the remote Hisense has been using for years. It is about ½ inch thick, with a plastic shell sporting a brushed metal look. The built-in media player's power, dedicated service buttons, and major streaming services, including Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, Disney+, and Tubi, are all on the remote, along with a sixth assignable button. Bluetooth pairing ensures the projector is controlled even when the remote is not in direct sight of the projector. The remote control includes Infrared (IR), which can work the projector or a third-party cable/satellite box. For custom integration, the PX3-PRO can also be controlled via RS232.

Located at the top center of the remote above the standard D-Ring is a dedicated Google Assistant button for voice control of a wide range of smart features, including—but not limited to—voice search, compatible projector switching, hardware controls, and many Internet of Things-compatible devices.

This remote does not feature the two dedicated shortcut buttons for one-touch access to the projector's preset picture and audio modes. Instead, it features a single Menu button at the bottom that takes the user to a quick-access on-screen menu, expanding the number of features that can be adjusted without needing to enter the projector's larger core menu system.

This new remote shares the same dim backlight issue as previous models, and the light does not stay on long enough. Another negative is that the six streaming service shortcut buttons at the top of the remote don't have backlights.

MENUS

The PX3-PRO's menu system is the same design the company has used on its Laser TV and Laser Cinema projectors for years. It is fully integrated with the latest Google TV operating system version.

The new Google TV OS on the PX3-PRO provides a first-class streaming experience, with Hisense stepping up on this model and giving users access to Netflix and other premium streaming services like Disney+, Max, Hulu, and many more. Google TV also allows users to see live TV content and the on-demand streaming options available based on the user's subscriptions.

Google TV gives users access to all the streaming, entertainment, and gaming content available on previous Android TV options while adding brand-new control functions, letting users make the projector a control hub for other connected devices in the home. This new Google TV OS allows users to connect to the entire range of Google and Google-compliant smart devices available today. Users can access home security cameras or a smart doorbell and view the feed on their big screen. Users can also connect a webcam to the projector and make video calls via Google Duo, and the new Google Home app controls the projector via an Android phone.

Hisense has added a new quick-access menu system that is activated by pressing the Menu button on the bottom left of the remote control. This new menu replaces several direct shortcut buttons previously found on some Hisense remote controls and significantly expands the number of menu adjustments with quick access. Users can access the projector's full settings from left to right from this menu. Hisense also allows users to edit the items on this quick-access ribbon.

PERFORMANCE

COLOR REPRODUCTION

The PX3-PRO's out-of-the-box color is fantastic. This is not hyperbole. It is my opinion, and my editor, Philip Jones, agrees. The first thing about the PX3-PRO's OOTB color is the almost complete lack of color fringing, a specific type of chromatic aberration that, until the PX3-PRO, seems to have been an accepted downside of all RGB laser projectors, especially ultra short throw projectors. Fringing appears as a red and sometimes blue halo around the edges of objects in the projected image.

To combat fringing, the viewer must sit far enough away from the screen to make it unnoticeable. Unfortunately, sitting back far enough not to see fringing on some projectors diminishes the theater experience, where the entire screen fills your field of view even into your peripheral vision. You can sit closer to the screen, but when you do this with RGB laser projectors, the color fringing becomes noticeable again, distracting from the overall cinema experience that home theater owners hope for.

Noticeable color fringing has been an accepted tradeoff for the exceptional color range of RGB laser projectors. The PX3-PRO has almost eliminated color fringing, and even at 2 feet from a 100-inch image, the amount of fringing was so minimal that I only noticed it at the most extreme edges of the picture. For instance, I had to search for it from a normal viewing distance, which was almost imperceptible. Even at the extreme edges of the screen, it was far less than the best RGB laser projector I have reviewed before the Hisense PX3-PRO.

I recently reviewed the PX2-PRO, and the PX3-PRO is a significant step up from this previous model. The PX3-PRO features the typical Hisense preset picture modes, including VIVID, STANDARD, ENERGY SAVING, PC GAME, SPORTS, THEATER DAY, THEATER NIGHT, and FILMMAKER modes.

The PX3-PRO is equipped with the brand-new Hisense LPU Digital Laser Engine, which uses the newest Trichroma RGB laser, which can reproduce a reported 110% of the BT.2020 color gamut. The color was excellent when watching content using the projector's cinema-focused modes, including FILMMAKER mode. These are SDR modes, and the PX3-PRO reproduces the Rec. 709 color gamut amazingly well. Most customers will be extremely happy with the projector's out-of-the-box color performance without professional calibration.

We calibrated this PX3-PRO to get the best results, and I am including our numbers. We used Portrait Displays Calman color calibration software to measure the color accuracy of the PX3-Pro before and after adjustment. However since your room and screen material are likely different from mine, this will significantly impact the overall picture. Projector Reviews does not recommend using someone else's calibration adjustments because the color profile of the unit you buy will likely differ from ours. So, copying our results could negatively impact your unit's picture quality in your space.

Suppose you don't plan to calibrate your projector professionally but still want to improve the picture by adjusting to BRIGHTNESS, CONTRAST, and SHARPNESS. In that case, I've included links to multiple online tools that can help.

Murideo's website and YouTube channel offer free test patterns and tools as instructions to guide you. These are located under the resource section of Murideo's website. As an additional guide, check out our YouTube video on utilizing several test patterns titled, "Optimize the Image of a Projector or TV Using Free Murideo Test Patterns."

Pre-Calibration Color Tracking and Grayscale

We measured and adjusted the FILMMAKER Mode since it was one of the most accurate out of the box. The color reproduction in this mode is excellent, even better than the projector's other modes designed for cinema content. Our Grayscale measurements indicated that the image RGB was well balanced, resulting in an average color temperature of 6437K, which is very close to our target of 6500K and is excellent for an out-of-the-box measurement.

The Gamma measurement was 2.029. Again, it's pretty close to our target of 2.2. This is good for viewing the content in rooms with low and moderate ambient light; black levels are slightly evaluated in dark spaces. Many tri-laser Laser projectors need help tracking Rec709 colors used in SDR content properly, often resulting in wildly oversaturated colors.

The Hisense PX3-PRO's color tracking is one of the best we've seen from a projector of its class, with an average delta of 2.0. Out-of-the-box color tuning will likely be fine for most owners of this projector. However, we felt we could tune it even better with some small tweaking, even if the improvements were only marginal.

Picture Mode: FILMMAKER MODE
Gamma: 2.029
Color Temperature: 6437K
Average Grayscale dE: 3.4
Average Color Tracking dE: 2.06

Post-Calibration Color Tracking and Grayscale

Since the average color temperature was incredibly close to my target of 6500K, I left the COLOR TEMP setting at its default of Warm 1. I used the projector's 2pt GRAYSCALE adjustment to achieve better RGB balance by reducing the amount of RED GAIN while increasing the amount of BLUE GAIN in the image. The projector also includes 20pt white balance adjustments, but I did not feel the need to use them.

To achieve my Gamma target 2.2, I kept the projector GAMMA set to BT1886. Because the black levels were elevated, I reduced the projector's BRIGHTNESS setting.

The projector's pre-calibration color tracking was good, but I used the COLOR TUNING (CMS) to improve color tracking. While I corrected the tracking of colors displayed at lower IREs, the brightest colors remained oversaturated.

Picture Mode: FILMMAKER
Gamma: 2.15
Color Temperature: 6328K
Average Grayscale dE: 1.4
Average Color Tracking dE: 1.3

Even though we like to focus primarily on out-of-the-box performance, the PX3-PRO can be marginally improved with only minimal calibration. The Hisense PX3-PRO color performance is impressive. Topping the previous best my editor and I've seen was the Hisense L9H we reviewed just a few months ago.

Overall, the Hisense PX3-PRO Laser Cinema preset picture modes deliver quality that will satisfy most folks considering it for their homes. The images I captured in the slideshow above are great examples of this projector's color capabilities.

BRIGHTNESS

Hisense has done a lot to improve the performance of the PX3-PRO over its previous model, which is impressive. They have provided a 25% bump in the manufacturer's listed brightness, and the color improvements from the new LDU have improved the perceived brightness. Multiple times during our color testing, both Phil Jones and I commented on how bright this projector appears, even compared to the amazing 3,000 ANSI lumen Hisense L9H.

The PX3-PRO's overall improvement in brightness does help when watching content in areas with more than a small amount of uncontrolled ambient light, allowing the projector to maintain decent color when engaging in lights-on viewing. The PX3-PRO is also a gaming projector, so the increased brightness makes a huge difference in seeing dark and even bright area details. This is critical for games where seeing what's happening in the environment can mean the difference between dying or advancing to the next level. I'll cover this in more detail in the GAMING section later in this review.

To determine the PX3-PRO's brightness capabilities, I set the projector to SDR STANDARD mode, the projector's brightest picture mode, with the BRIGHTNESS ENHANCER mode turned on. Since we are primarily concerned about the customer's out-of-the-box experience, I did not adjust the projector contrast or light level beyond the projector's built-in preset modes. I then took three to four readings about 15-20% out from the center of the lens.

The PX3-PRO measured 3,246 ANSI lumens in my space, 246 ANSI lumens brighter than Hisense's brightness claim. This variance is well within the accepted margins for error.

I also measured the brightness of several preset picture modes.

Brightness Comparison
VIVID	2803
STANDARD	3246
SPORTS	3111
PC GAME	2982
ENERGY SAVING	2312
THEATER	3207
FILMMAKER	2267

BLACK LEVEL AND SHADOW DETAIL

Contrast Ratio and Black Level. While they're separate metrics, they are interconnected. Hisense lists the first, the projector's contrast ratio, as 3,000:1 native. A high contrast ratio often implies a low black level, as the projector can produce both very bright whites and very dark blacks.

Sometimes, it's possible to have a high contrast ratio without a very low black level. This was my experience with the PX3-PRO, where the contrast ratio is high due to a very bright white, but the black level (floor) is not sufficiently low enough to produce even the same kinds of blacks that previous models like the Hisense L9H can produce. This does impact the overall image quality of the PX3-PRO.

The range between the darkest black and brightest white of the PX3-PRO is very good, so details within dark areas of the image are excellent. Still, this projector's deepest black is just about average for a 0.47 DLP projector, appearing dark gray instead of black. Even during calibration, where we used the ISF UHD black pluge test chart shown above, we could not achieve the test's goal of seeing only boxes 17d and above. One of the key goals of using this chart is to adjust the projector gamma settings to the point that the bottom row of boxes (6d - 15d) blends into the 16d box color and disappears. We were unsuccessful. As a result of this and our other testing, we have to conclude that the PX3-PRO's black-level performance is average.

The projector's average black-level performance may be a direct and purposeful result of this projector's "Designed for Xbox" gaming use case. There is an argument to be made that shadow detail is more important than deep blacks on a projector designed for gaming, which is the case with the PX3-PRO. On a gaming projector, good shadow detail can be the difference between getting fragged or fragging an enemy hidden in the darker areas of the picture.

Often, gaming projectors set the deepest black that the projector can display higher to give the user better details in dark areas of the picture. Don't get me wrong, the black floor of the PX3-PRO is lower than these dedicated gaming projectors I'm talking about. However, this could be Hisense attempting a reasonable compromise for a projector designed equally as a Home Theater and Gaming projector.

If getting above-average black-level performance is critical for you, other ultra-short throw projectors, including Hisense's own L9H and from competitors like AWOL Vision and Formovie, offer better black levels. However, these projectors are not "Designed for Xbox" certified as gaming projectors.

If you want the deepest blacks possible from the PX3-PRO, consider purchasing an ALR screen with a lower gain. This type of screen reflects less light, resulting in darker images. They also deliver a wider viewing angle and more uniform brightness.

HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE

The big news regarding HDR on the Hisense PX3-PRO is the addition of HDR10+ support and Dolby Vision. Now, you can get the most out of the available content encoded with dynamic metadata used by both formats. Both of these formats currently offer the same range of features. However, playing HDR10+ encoded content on a Dolby Vision projector downgrades the HDR10+ data to basic HDR10 with static metadata. The same applies when playing Dolby Vision encoded content on an HDR10+ projector. Since the PX3-PRO can decode and display both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ content, you can get the best HDR performance regardless of which format your content is encoded in.

In addition to Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support, the Hisense PX3-PRO is the first ultra-short throw projector to support IMAX Enhanced content. If you watch IMAX Enhanced movies on Disney+, you will get all the benefits of the IMAX Enhanced format (larger aspect ratio, processing, and DTS-X audio). The IMAX Enhanced program is a partnership between IMAX and DTS that delivers high-quality playback on modern display devices, including 4K HDR. IMAX Enhanced content is remixed using IMAX's DMR technology to reduce noise and grain and produce vibrant colors and greater contrast. IMAX Enhanced is a similar product to Dolby Vision and other advanced HDR systems.

The PX3-PRO did an excellent job automatically adjusting its HDR tone mapping curve based on the movie/scene. To get the most out of Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and IMAX Enhanced, you should enter the type of screen you are using, its size, and gain values.

The PX3-PRO offers seven preset HDR picture modes. When watching HDR10 content, you can customize the on-screen brightness to match the filmmaker's intended look. Adjusting the HDR setting modifies the projector's HDR EOTF, altering how it handles highlights and shadows. Additionally, HDR tone mapping options allow you to prioritize either peak brightness or detail preservation, trading off one for the other.

The PX3-PRO offers three Dolby Vision presets: BRIGHT, DARK, and CUSTOM. When viewing Dolby Vision or HDR-10+ content with dynamic metadata, the projector effectively adjusts its HDR tone mapping curve to match the scene.

DOLBY VISION DARK made the image brighter, and DOLBY VISION BRIGHT revealed more details about the highlights. Dolby Vision consistently outperformed the projector's HDR10 tone mapping, particularly in content mastered above 1,000 nits. The PX3-PRO demonstrated exceptional automatic HDR tone mapping curve adjustment to suit different movie scenes I watched.

Additionally, the PX3-PRO supports HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma), the HDR standard designed for live broadcasts. This ensures you're ready to enjoy sports and award shows when they begin broadcasting in HDR. Although Dolby Vision content generally looked superior, I was impressed with the picture quality of HDR material, regardless of its mastering format.

HDR Grayscale Measurements (Out of The Box)

Hisense_PX3-PRO_HDRTest - Projector Reviews Images

The PX3-PRO boasts a 110% BT.2020 color gamut, ensuring vibrant, natural colors in HDR content. The Trichroma technology further expands the color range, adding depth to scenes like those in Blue Planet II. The PX3-PRO accurately reproduces a wide spectrum of colors, from ocean blues to animated hues in Spider-Man Across the Spiderverse.

While most Blu-ray UHD content is available encoded in Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HDR10, more streaming services now offer dynamic HDR formats like Dolby Vision and HDR10+. The majority of streaming content is only available in HD and SD. The PX3-PRO had no problem upscaling this content to display it in sharp, detailed 4K.

The Hisense PX3-PRO supports HLG, HDR10+, HDR10, and Dolby Vision. The projector's support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision is particularly noteworthy. These formats use dynamic metadata to optimize the picture quality and adjust it frame-by-frame or scene-by-scene, depending on how the content is encoded.

The most accurate HDR mode when viewing DOLBY VISION is the BRIGHT mode, and HDR or HDR10+ is the THEATER mode. Out of the box, the projector modes for watching cinema-style content offer the best overall black level. The image looks great with DYNAMIC CONTRAST enabled and the color temperature set to WARM.

Like the SDR preset modes, the HDR preset modes give you access to the projector's basic user settings to adjust different elements of the displayed image, such as color, clarity, and luminance. You can even access the CMS system for more detailed image fine-tuning.

The color temperature and RGB balance were very good when set to the projectors' HDR modes. For testing HDR, we selected the projectors' DOLBY VISION BRIGHT mode, where we measured a Grayscale dE of around 2, which is so good that we felt it could not be improved. Since the factory settings were so good, I've included charts for the DOLBY VISION and HDR10 testing instead of a before-and-after chart.

When viewing HDR10, the projector's default tone mapping curve did an excellent job. However, you can manually adjust the dark or bright area detail. You can switch the DARK DETAIL to ON or manually adjust the BLACK LEVEL within ten separate adjustment points. You also engage the projector's sBRIGHTNESS ENHANCER setting. The PX3-PRO also features an HDR ENHANCER mode.

There are three DOLBY VISION preset picture modes: DOLBY VISION DARK, DOLBY VISION BRIGHT, and DOLBY VISION CUSTOM. The color temperature of the BRIGHT and DARK modes is very close; the DOLBY VISION CUSTOM mode is cooler. Any of the modes can be customized. The main difference is that the tone mapping curves have been tweaked to fit different lighting environments.

4K UPSCALING AND SDR

Most TV shows and live broadcasts will likely remain in HD for years, making exceptional 4K upscaling crucial. The PX3-PRO's upscaling capabilities are impressive, seamlessly elevating 720p sports and 1,080p Blu-ray content to a visually stunning level.

Specifically designed for 24p films, the PX3-PRO'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 PX3-PRO offers Motion Estimation Motion Compensation (MEMC) 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, looked fantastic on the PX3-PRO. 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.

GAMING

The PX3-PRO is the world's first ultra short throw projector certified as "Designed for Xbox Limited Series." This is not the same as "Designed for Xbox" gaming projectors. While Hisense promises an unparalleled gaming experience, the reality is nuanced. For example, the PX3-PRO does not support playing native 1,440p 120 Hz games like 'Designed for Xbox' gaming projectors. Instead, the projector has to scale them up to 4K 60 Hz or down to 1,080p to get 120 Hz play.

While the projector boasts true-to-life colors and an immersive gaming environment, the absence of a dedicated low blue light mode, a feature commonly found in Hisense flat-panel TVs, might be a minor disappointment for gamers seeking eye comfort during extended sessions. While you can adjust the color temperature to WARM 1 or 2, the effectiveness in reducing eye strain is unclear.

Regarding gaming performance, the PX3-PRO delivers impressive results. Its low input lag of 18 ms at 4K/60Hz ensures smooth gameplay, and its support for ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) further optimizes gaming experiences. The projector's outstanding HDR performance, including Dolby Vision and HDR10+, enhances visual details, making games more immersive.

However, while the PX3-PRO is a top-tier UST projector, it's not the fastest. The AWOL LTV-2500 and LTV-3500 offer lower latency, especially at 1,080p/120Hz. The choice between the PX3-PRO and these alternatives or a standard throw, 0.65-inch DLP gaming projector depends on your priorities: color performance, speed, or 1,440p/120Hz compatibility.

Ultimately, the PX3-PRO provides a solid gaming experience, especially with its optimized PC GAME mode and HDMI 2.1 inputs. While the absence of a dedicated low blue light mode and support for 1,440p 120 Hz gaming might be a drawback for some users, its exceptional color performance and other gaming-centric features still make it a good UST gaming projector.

SOUND QUALITY

The Hisense PX3-PRO features a Harmon Kardon 50-watt sound system that supports Dolby ATMOS and DTS-X.

The sound tuning on the PX3-PRO has been notably improved from its predecessor, and these enhancements are worth highlighting. Hisense has collaborated with Harmon Kardon to develop the PX3-PRO's onboard sound system, resulting in significant upgrades. The internal amplifiers have been boosted to 50 watts, providing the projector with enough power to deliver deeper bass and crisp highs, all while offering incredible sound imaging that seems to envelop the entire room. As I've mentioned, this projector provides the best onboard sound I've experienced on an ultra-short throw projector this year.

Regarding low-frequency performance, I'm pleased to report that Hisense has successfully addressed the mid-bass clipping issues I encountered with the PX2-PRO. The PX3-PRO achieves higher volume levels without clipping or distortion, delivering a clean and powerful audio experience.

The Hisense PX3-PRO retains premium audio features, such as eARC, which supports lossless audio transmission. Dolby Atmos Sound enhances the listening experience beyond the built-in speakers, allowing uncompressed audio to be passed through to a high-quality multi-channel surround sound system. Additionally, with HDR10+ and IMAX Enhanced processing, the PX3-PRO now supports DTS sound, expanding its audio capabilities.

Hisense has equipped the PX3-PRO with both an optical audio output and a 3.5-inch analog audio output. However, the optical output cannot transmit the latest immersive surround formats to an external sound system, limiting its utility for those formats.

Streaming apps like Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime offer multi-channel content that requires eARC to fully leverage the high-quality surround soundtracks available in modern movies and TV shows. The PX3-PRO is WiSA-ready, and can transmit high-resolution audio to WiSA-certified speakers when an optional third-party WiSA transmitter is connected to any of the PX2's USB ports. WiSA-certified devices are designed to work seamlessly with each other, offering an elegantly simple setup process—just plug in the AC, and you're ready to enjoy, with no need for speaker wires or complicated configurations.

The PX3-PRO supports various audio formats, including stereo, Dolby 5.1, and 7.1 surround. Additionally, WiSA supports advanced audio formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS.

To enhance the audio experience further, the Hisense PX3-PRO offers several preset audio modes, including STANDARD, THEATER, SPORTS, MUSIC, SPEED, LATE NIGHT, and INTELLIGENT SOUND. These modes ensure that the onboard audio can be tailored to match the type of content being viewed.

Even when operating at its highest brightness, the PX3-PRO remains impressively quiet. During quiet scenes, the projector's fan noise was barely audible from a typical sitting position. This low noise level reflects Hisense's design and heat management expertise, ensuring a more immersive viewing experience without distracting background noise.

SUMMARY

The PX3-PRO offers a significant brightness upgrade over the PX2-PRO, with 3,000 ANSI lumens of manufacturer-rated brightness, representing a 25% increase. This enhancement can notably improve the visual experience, especially in environments with ambient light sources such as windows. The increased brightness ensures that images remain vivid and clear rather than appearing washed out, even in well-lit rooms. Additionally, the PX3-PRO's superior brightness allows it to maintain impressive picture quality at its maximum estimated screen size of 150 inches without compromising on clarity.

This projector's color performance is the best I've seen this year. The new LPU's Trichroma laser light source and optics offer a level of alignment that I've never seen on any previous RGB laser light source projector. Only small amounts of color fringing are visible, and only when sitting very close to the screen.

High-dynamic-range (HDR) content also benefits substantially from this higher brightness. HDR relies on the accurate reproduction of the brightest whites and the darkest blacks, and a higher-lumen projector like the PX3-PRO makes these bright highlights more impactful, resulting in a more dynamic and immersive viewing experience.

The PX3-PRO black levels are not bad but not as deep as I have seen on similar projectors from Hisense and some competitors.

It's important to note that human perception of brightness is not linear, meaning that even a modest increase in lumens can lead to a noticeable improvement in perceived brightness.

The PX3-PRO features a 3,000:1 native contrast ratio, which enhances its ability to display detailed dark areas when watching movies or playing games. However, it should be noted that the black levels on the PX3-PRO are somewhat average, with blacks appearing more grayish than truly black.

Adding HDR10+, IMAX Enhanced, and support for Dolby Vision is a fantastic upgrade. It enables users to enjoy these dynamic HDR formats across a wider range of content, regardless of the specific dynamic metadata format used.

Regarding software, the PX3-PRO smartly transitions to the Google TV OS, replacing Android TV. Google TV provides a smoother, more intuitive user interface, better tools for discovering content, and access to a broader selection of compatible apps.

THE COMPETITION

AWOL VISION LTV-3000 $3,999 MSRP

The AWOL Vision LTV-3000 sells for a $3,999 MSRP for the projector only. The brightness of both of these projectors is the same. The AWOL Vision is rated at 3,000 ANSI lumens, which matches the PX3-PRO's 3000 ANSI lumen rating.

The LTV-3000 and the PX3-PRO support HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and HLG. However, Hisense supports IMAX Enhanced content, whereas AWOL does not. AWOL Vision lists the projector's contrast as 2,500:1 when using the company's Enhanced Adaptive Black Level setting, while the PX3-PRO offers a 3,000:1 native contrast. Visually, the AWOL Vision edges out the PX3-PRO with its ability to display deeper black, but to be clear, neither projector offers what I would call excellent black-level performance.

The LTV-3000 features a big-sounding 36-watt sound system capable of very dynamic sound with excellent mid-bass, but the PX3-PRO's new 50-watt Harmon Kardon sound system is superior. It offers deeper bass, is louder with no distortion, and provides an excellent simulated surround experience.

AWOL Vision uses Amazon Fire TV OS as its streaming and application solution. The included Firestick 4K Max is an excellent performer, comparable to the Android TV operating system. However, the Hisense PX3-PRO's Google TV OS provides next-generation performance with exceptional control integration and a more curated search and content recommendation experience across all the major streaming applications.

The AWOL Vision LTV-3000 Pro is now seamlessly integrated with Control4 and other projector control and management solutions, enabling features like power, volume, HDMI source switching, and more to be managed through platforms such as PJLink, Control 4, SAVANT, and Crestron.

The Hisense PX3-PRO is an overall smaller projector than the AWOL Vision, just about three inches less wide and about an inch less deep.

Both projectors offer support for Active 3D content.

Lastly, both projectors are sold without screens, but AWOL Vision regularly offers a free matte white screen between 100 and 150 inches as a special.

PROS

The build quality of the PX3-PRO is solid, with a primarily metal chassis.
The new LPU light engine with the Trichroma RGB Laser light source produces excellent out-of-the-box color, reproducing 110% of Rec. 2020 space.
The projector's support for HDR10+, HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision, and now IMAX Enhanced encoding provides improved dark and highlight area details and the best overall picture and sound experience across a wider range of content.
First IMAX Enhanced compatible ultra short throw projector
First "Designed for Xbox Limited Series" ultra short throw projector.
The new Harmon Kardon 50-watt sound system is currently the best available on a video projector. It's got great bass and excellent imaging, and it gets loud without significant distortion.
The new Google TV OS provides users with a much-improved curated search experience across all the streaming applications on the projector.
Hisense continues to provide users with a robust CMS (Color Management System) that allows incredibly detailed fine-tuning of the projected image.
When run in NORMAL energy mode, the projector's light source is rated to last more than 25,000 hours with normal operation.
The Google TV OS supports both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
The USB 3.0 Type-A input and built-in media player allow users to play content from compatible external media sources, such as USB sticks and hard drives.
A Hisense ultra-short throw projector, for the first time, supports Active 3D movies and games.
A 2-year limited manufacturer warranty should provide consumers confidence in the reliability of the projector.

CONS

Black levels are just average.
The remote backlight is dim and shuts off too quickly, and the dedicated streaming service shortcuts don’t have a backlight.

Hisense PX3-PRO - SPECIFICATIONS

Full Specifications
Projector Model	PX3-PRO
Price	$3499.00
Imager Type	DLP (0.47” DMD)
Displayed Resolution	3840 x 2160 pixels
Native Resolution	1920 x 1080 x 4 pixels
Brightness (Manufacturer Claim)	3000 ANSI lumens (3500 Peak lumens)
Light Source Type	LPU with TriChroma RGB Triple Laser w/o phosphor wheel
Light Source Life	25,000+ hours
Contrast Ratio	3000:1 (Native)
Zoom Lens Ratio	Fixed
Power Zoom/Focus	Yes - Focus
Lens Shift	No
Interchangeable Lens	No
Ultra-Short Throw	Yes
Native Aspect Ratio	16:9 (Widescreen)
HDTV/4K	Yes
DVI or HDMI	Yes
3D	Yes (Active)
Blu-Ray 3D	Yes
Speakers	50W
Noise Level (-db)	Not Published but Quiet
Low Lag Gaming	Yes
Smart Functionality	Yes
Business	No
Classroom	No
Portable	No
Special Features	IMAX Enhanced, Designed for Xbox Limited Series, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 3D
Networking	Wireless
Dimensions (WxDxH)	21.7" x 4.8" x 11.7" (WxHxD)
Weight	19.8 lbs
Warranty	2-year parts and labor warranty