Portable is the new permanent
A big video trend at CES 2024 was an increase in portable projector offerings from a range of brands both well-known and relatively unknown. There were so many being displayed at CES across various venues that I only had time to track down a few at the show for an in-person look.
Unlike the best 4K projectors, the best portable projectors are typically 1080p “Full HD” resolution models. They also typically have limited brightness, and use Android TV for streaming – a platform known for spotty usability and for omitting popular apps like Netflix.
But the projectors announced at CES marked a potential sea change in the portable category, with new models featuring 4K resolution and advanced streaming platforms like Google TV, LG’s webOS, and Samsung’s Tizen (the latter two now being made available for third-party use – another important bit of CES news). Along with portables, CES saw the launch of a number of new ultra short throw (UST) models, a growing category that offers an alternative to the traditional ceiling-mounted long throw projector.
Does this proliferation of new, sophisticated, and mostly portable projectors mean the end of home theater as we know it? Long throw models were largely absent from CES, although that could be a reflection of the changing nature of the show, which is now more focused on gadgets and other types of technology rather than high-end audio/video and home theater. What was clear is that these new projector types perform better than ever, and they offer a level of flexibility that makes them an easy fit with a wide range of living spaces.Samsung goes all in on UST
Samsung introduced a range of new projectors at CES, including an 8K version of its The Premiere UST. The company’s new triple-laser DLP projector has an impressive 4,000 lumens brightness, receives up to 8K signals wirelessly using a One Connect Box, and uses the same Tizen smart TV system found in Samsung TVs.
Another notable new Samsung UST is The Premiere 5, which is a compact, portable model that can beam a 100-inch image when situated 17 inches from a wall.
