The LG CineBeam S 4K UHD is the best ultra short throw (UST) mini projector of the moment, delivering UST convenience, reasonable portability, solid 4K image quality, and a slick, minimalist design.
Compact ultra short throw (UST) models are uncommon in the projector world. Indeed, the LG CineBeam S 4K UHD Smart Triple Laser UST Projector PU615U is only the third we’ve reviewed, and, at $1,299.99 list price, the most expensive of them. The first model we tested is no longer available; the second, the 1080p (1,920-by-1,080) AAXA M8 UST, is the only model that comes close to being a direct competitor. (Other projectors in the same price range don’t offer a UST lens.) The key reason for the CineBeam S’s higher price compared with the M8 UST is its 4K resolution (3,840 by 2,160). But even if it were 1080p and priced accordingly, it would still score higher for image quality, thanks to other factors, including color accuracy. The high-quality image, plus the impressive overall design, are enough to make the CineBeam S our first Editors’ Choice winner for a mini UST model.Design: A Minimalist Box in Silver and Gray
The CineBeam S offers a unique physical design for a projector. At 6.3 by 4.3 by 6.3 inches (HWD), it looks like a large box camera from the early 1900s or before. In this case, the lens is on top rather than at the front, and its 4.2-pound weight would make it a little heavy for a camera. Beyond that, LG’s excellent fit and finish, along with its two-tone silver-and-black color scheme, add up to a sleek, stylish look.
What’s inside the box is fairly typical. As with almost all 4K portables, the CineBeam S relies on a 1,920-by-1,080 DLP chip along with TI’s XPR pixel shifting to generate its 4K image. And for its light source, it uses the increasingly popular choice of a tricolor red/green/blue laser light engine, which tends to offer a wider color gamut (that is, a larger range of colors) than other sources.
LG rates the coverage at 154% of DCI-P3. Note that BT.2020, the spec for UHD TVs and projectors, is about 140% of DCI-P3, so this implies a gamut that likely covers more than 100% of BT.2020. That assumes, however, that the extra 54% beyond DCI-P3 extends to the same area of the visible color gamut that BT.2020 covers. LG rates the laser lifetime at 20,000 hours and the brightness at 500 ANSI lumens.
Physical setup is straightforward, thanks in part to the projector’s light weight, which makes it easy to position. The external AC power block plugs into one of the two USB Type-C ports on the back, leaving the other one free for connecting to a phone for wired mirroring or other video sources.
