Posted on January 1, 2021 By Phil Jones
More and more manufacturers are introducing 4K capable ultra-short-throw smart projectors commonly referred to as “Laser TVs”. They can produce a really big image in your living room, family room, and other “common” areas of your house while sitting only inches from the screen. These projectors are intended to be TV replacements, so they include all the smart features and apps found in a modern TV along with an upgraded, built-in sound system.
Pairing one of these projectors with an ambient light rejecting screen allows use during the day and in rooms with higher ambient light. Looking to replace your TV with something, in our opinion, better? Then be sure to check out the many ultra-short throw projectors that are on the market.
Laser TVs are easy to install, easy to move, and offer an unbelievable picture in a much larger image than a traditional flat-panel TV. Why measure your TV in inches when you can measure it in feet?
The VAVA Laser TV won this award because it is one of the least expensive projectors of its type to hit the market. It offers good performance at an affordable price which is why it is one of the most popular Laser TVs on the market.
Like all Laser TVs, it will work best in rooms with ambient light when paired with one of the screens designed for both UST projectors (Laser TVs), and ambient light rejection (ALR).
With an MSRP of only $2799, it claims 2500 ANSI lumens, at a price point well below the better-known brand names. It can sit several inches away from and several inches below your screen. VAVA says the projector will support screen sizes up to 150” diagonal. Like all Laser TVs, it will work best in rooms with ambient light when paired with one of the screens designed for both UST projectors (Laser TVs), and ambient light rejection (ALR).
The VAVA is smart, you can run apps, like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and many others. Like most new smart projectors, it uses an Android operating system. The VAVA Laser TV supports the usual Alexa and Google Assistant personal support. The VAVA is equipped with a 30 watt x2 stereo system designed by Harmon Kardon speakers which should “blow away” the sound quality of most LCD TV’s
The most notable features of this projector are:
The VAVA is an affordable Ultra Short Throw projector, that has 4K UHD resolution, and comes with a built-in media player. It has a hefty, built-in Harmon Kardon sound system (60 watts) and a good picture, but it is a little rough around the edges. That’s fair, as this is their first home theater/home entertainment projector. It claims 2500 lumens. This is a projector that will please a great many people. The picture it puts up can look great.
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Hisense’s line-up of Ultra Short Throw laser projectors, also known as Laser TVs, are designed to make front projection more accessible and appealing to a wider range of consumers. The term “Laser TV” has also been adopted by other manufacturers to describe projectors in this category. The Hisense 100L5F Laser TV is a 4K DLP laser ultra-short throw smart projector. With a current advertised price of $3,999, it is the most affordable Laser TV that Hisense has ever offered. The projector’s single DLP chip can reproduce 4K UHD resolution (3,840 x 2,160) via pixel shifting.
Since the 100L5F was designed to be a replacement for a Smart flat panel TV, it has all the Smart features customers have come to expect from a Smart TV, like voice control. You can use the Smart remote, which has a built-in microphone to not only control basic projector features but also control a wide variety of compatible Smart devices via Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. The 100L5F is the first Hisense Laser TV compatible with both HDR10 and HLG content.
By utilizing a single laser vs a dual laser system, the smaller DLP chip, and a less elaborate sound system, Hisense 100L5F is half the price of the previous model. This makes 100L5F price competitive when compared against other manufacturers 4K Laser TV models including the Samsung LSP7T and the Optoma CinemaX P2.
The Epson LS500 is a great TV replacement option and offers, essentially, unlimited content from streaming services. Plus, you have inputs for your cable/satellite box, game console or 4K Blu-ray player.
Its audio system is better than most wall-mounted TVs and, most importantly, it produces a large sharp image, one that makes a 65” LCD TV look like something that’s more suitable for a spare bedroom. Epson’s value proposition is really very good which is why it earns a “Hot Product” Award
An Ultra Short Throw projector, like the Epson LS500 Laser Projection TV, makes it easy for the average consumer to own a projector. It comes with the familiar Smart TV functionality of Android, it is easy to install, the laser is rated for a whopping 20,000 hours (eco mode) and the unit comes with a 2-year warranty. At around $5,000 (including the 100-inch screen), the Epson LS500 Laser Projection TV is a real alternative for customers who crave the big screen experience in their living room.
EpiqVision Ultra LS500 4K PRO-UHD Laser Projection TV, according to Epson, combines modern design with advanced laser technology, Android TV™, onboard sound, and includes a high-resolution ambient light rejecting screen designed specifically for the LS500 to deliver immersive 4K HDR content up to 120 inches.
LG, a leading manufacturer of Smart TVs, combined all the smart capabilities of a flat-panel TV with the high-quality laser light engine and 4K resolution to create one of the best Laser TVs on the market. The HU85LA’s dual-channel laser engine delivers a claimed brightness of 2700 lumens while producing a wider color gamut. While the HU85LA commands a premium price, it offers a lot of performance and features for its price.
The HU85LA is the top model in LG’s CineBeam lineup of projectors designed to make front projection more accessible and appealing to a wider range of consumers. LG’s goal was to build a line of projectors that could replace a TV in an environment where a large TV just won’t fit.
The LG CineBeam HU85LA has a rated brightness of 2700 lumen, and its Laser light source will last up to 20,00 hours. The HU85LA is compatible with HDR10 and HLG content and includes HDR Auto Tone Mapping to automatically adjust dark/bright levels to better optimize the unit’s HDR performance.
It has built-in, 5-watt stereo speakers. For those who want to connect the unit to an external, the projector has an HDMI ARC output and is compatible with Bluetooth speakers.
The HU85LA utilizes their ThinQ AI webOS, which was developed for their flat-panel TVs. You have all the apps and capabilities normally found in an LG Smart TV, including Google Assistant, which allows you to control not only the projector but a wide variety of compatible smart home devices using your voice. Great picture, smart features, and low maintenance make the HU70LA a compelling alternative to a large flat panel TV, especially in a room where space is at a premium.
The Optoma CinemaX P1 is a smart home projector and was one of the first of the hot new home projector categories, 4K UHD laser TV. The P1 combines its 4K UHD resolution with its ultra-short-throw design that places it just below your screen and less than two feet back from it. Overall, the P1 is an excellent choice, value-wise, for a Laser TV.
The CinemaX P1 combines its 4K UHD resolution with its Ultra Short Throw design that allows for it to be placed just below your screen and at less than two feet back from it. It has a rated brightness of 3000 lumens. It supports HDR – both the primary HDR standard and also the newer HLG (hybrid log-gamma), which is more for broadcast and streaming.
The CinemaX P1 delivered a good looking picture with accurate colors out-of-the-box. It was one of the best sounding Laser TVs we have reviewed. Overall, the P1 is an excellent choice, value-wise, for a Laser TV. You will, however, need a screen on top of the projector’s cost.
The Hisense 100L10E Laser TV is an HDR-compatible, 4K DLP, Ultra Short Throw Smart Laser projector which currently retails for $6,999.The unit’s laser light engine is rated to deliver at 3000 lumens for up to 25,000 hours. Since the 100L10E is designed to serve as a TV replacement, it includes most of the features that consumers would expect in a flat-panel TV including a TV tuner, internal speakers with an external wireless subwoofer, and of course, smart features.
Notable features include:
The 100L10E was designed to be a replacement for a Smart flat panel TV so it has all the Smart features customers have come to expect from a Smart TV, like voice control. It has one of the best built-in audio systems I have heard from a video display. The HU70LA’s Dual Laser engine delivered rich colors is rated to deliver at 3,000 lumens for up to 25,000 hours.
Great picture, smart features, and low maintenance make the Hisense 100L10E a compelling alternative to a large flat panel TV especially in a room where space is at a premium.
PROJECTORS UNDER $1,000
PROJECTORS $1,000 TO $2,000
PROJECTORS $1,000 TO $2,000 (SMART)
PROJECTORS $2,000 TO $5,000
PROJECTORS $5,000 TO $10,000
PROJECTORS $10,000 AND ABOVE
PROJECTORS LASER TV (UST)
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