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The best ultra short throw projectors, or UST for short, can beam an ultra-large picture from an ultra-short distance. They are designed as an alternative to standard 'long throw' projectors, which must be positioned at the back of a room to generate a large image – usually on a separate projection screen mounted on the opposite wall.
UST projectors also use a separate screen, and some models are packaged with an ambient light rejecting (ALR) screen that uses a special material formulated for UST models. In a UST setup, the projector is positioned directly below the screen. The screen material filters out light coming from above, while reflecting light coming directly from the projector. This arrangement allows for UST projectors to deliver bright images even in a daylight environment or one with overhead lights.
We’ve rounded up the best UST projectors we’ve tested below. The models listed use different technologies, such as DLP and 3LCD to display pictures, but all have a laser-based light engine and a specified 4K on-screen resolution. We’re sure there’s a model here that suits your needs, whether it’s watching movies or sports, or gaming. And if you’re thinking that maybe a regular long-throw projector or even a portable model would be a better fit for your space, also check out our best 4K projectors guide.
April 24 2026
Replaced Samsung The Premiere 9 with the Hisense L9Q as the best UST projector for sound quality.
The best ultra short throw projectors you can buy
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The best ultra short throw projector overall
The Hisense PX3-Pro is the successor to the company’s PX2-Pro, the best budget option in this guide which remains available, though in limited quantities at some retailers. The PX3-Pro is a pricier model, but it justifies the extra cost with a significant brightness boost and the addition of gaming-related features such as 4K 120Hz and 1080p 240Hz support. Other upgrades found in the PX3-Pro include a new, retro-futuristic design and the Google TV platform for streaming from Netflix and other popular apps.
The PX3-Pro’s 3-laser DLP light engine delivers 3,000 lumens brightness compared to the PX2-Pro’s 2,000 lumens. That makes it a good choice for viewing sports and TV shows in brighter living spaces, as well as the dim lighting conditions that better suit movies. In fact, when we reviewed it, we said the PX3-Pro has “a bright enough picture that it can call for some dimming of the laser in a dark room.”
While most projectors offer only plain-vanilla HDR10 high dynamic range, the PX3-Pro supports the Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HLG formats. Its 50W Harman Kardon-designed speaker system is capable of playing loud enough to fill most rooms – “loud enough to match the size of the pictures” as we said in our review – though Dolby Atmos effects are limited.
At $3,499, the PX3-Pro isn’t exactly cheap, but it offers a bright picture with rich color, good sound quality, and an excellent mix of features. It’s also a great projector for gaming, with multiple HDMI 2.1 inputs with support for 4K 120Hz and 1080p 240Hz gameplay. All that is enough for us to choose the PX3-Pro as the best ultra short throw projector for most people.
Read our full Hisense PX3-Pro review
The best budget ultra short throw projector
The Formovie Cinema Edge provides a more affordable model if you're looking for a UST projector on a budget. While it does have to make some sacrifices in terms of features and overall picture quality to keep its price low, it still delivers a very good picture and sound for its price tag.
While the Cinema Edge's picture does pale in comparison to more premium projectors like the Hisense PX3-Pro, we were still impressed with its strong contrast and sharp details, which made darker movies like Alien "a joy to watch". While its color is disappointing, lacking the shine of RGB Laser competitors, for its price, the Cinema Edge has a perfectly fine picture. If you're looking for complete HDR support, you'll need to look elsewhere, however, as the Cinema Edge is limited to HDR10 and HLG support, with no support for Dolby Vision or HDR10+.
Sound quality from the Formovie Cinema Edge's built-in speakers won't beat the likes of the Samsung Premier 9, but we found it to be suitable for casual viewing and that it projected well enough in a smaller living room during our testing.
Where Formovie delivers best is in its value. At $1,799 / £1,799, the Formovie Cinema Edge is one of the most affordable UST projectors on the market. While other projectors do best it in terms of overall picture quality, sound, and features, the Cinema Edge provides a crucial first step into the world of UST projectors for those who couldn't necessarily afford one.
Read our full Formovie Cinema Edge review
The best ultra short throw projector for picture
The LG Cinebeam HU915QE is a relatively new addition to the world of UST projectors, and it’s a fabulous one. But at $5,999 / AU$9,999 (about £5,600), this is anything but a casual home theater purchase.
You get plenty for the money here, though. The HU915QE’s massive 90- to 120-inch picture is exceedingly bright and richly colorful. Even during daytime viewing, this projector is more than bright enough to create a pleasant picture, and just a little bit of ambient light control goes a long way in allowing it to display exceptional ones.
With potent speakers, LG’s handy webOS smart TV system, the convenience of a manual focus wheel, and an image that’s hard to find many faults with, you’d be getting quite a lot for your money with the LG Cinebeam HU915QE.
Read our full LG Cinebeam HU915QE review
The best ultra short throw projector for sound
Hisense's L9Q upends expectations for projector sound by delivering some of the most impressive built-in audio we've come across in a long time. That's thanks to the suite of ten Devialet-engineered speakers which, together, produce a textured and immersive soundstage that even rivals some standalone soundbars.
During testing, we found that the L9Q performs well in most living rooms – even the larger ones – with a 6.2.2 channel configuration comprised of six main drivers, two subwoofers, and two upward-firing speakers. It's an impressive roster, especially when you consider that most other projectors stick to two or four speakers. The audio fills the room from floor to ceiling; it's dynamic and powerful. Still, the L9Q may not totally eliminate the necessity of external speakers, especially if you're a self-described audiophile looking to push a home cinema experience to the max. With that said, the L9Q outperforms most competitors when it comes to sound. The LG HU915QE, for example, packs more powerful speakers, but it can't match the L9Q's vocal clarity or surround effect.
It's not all about the audio, either. The L9Q is a dazzlingly bright 4K ultra short-throw projector that has no trouble reaching the color gamut of triple-laser projectors. Plus, Pantone Validated and Pantone SkinTone certified hardware ensures the movies, shows, sports, and games you fire up have the most accurate color possible.
This top-notch performance comes at a price, and the L9Q is undeniably one of the more expensive options on our shortlist. It's somewhat justified by the cinema-quality picture and audio, as well as the fact that the L9Q can project 100-inch pictures all the way up to 150-inch pictures, enabling some extra versatility when it comes to setup. If you're working with a budget, however, the Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS800 is a cheaper alternative (though it can't quite match the L9Q's color clarity and sweeping soundstages).
Read our full Hisense L9Q review
The best ultra short throw projector for sports
There’s no shortage of UST projectors turning up to stake their claim as some of the best projectors on the market right now. Epson has shown solid performance with its laser-lit 3LCD technology in various formats, and the Epson LS800 incorporates it in a powerful UST package.
At $3,499 / £3,199 (about AU$5,240), it’s amazing that this Epson can deliver 4000 lumens of brightness, which proves more than enough for viewing in the daytime without covering every window with blackout curtains. Epson could have gone further with eARC support and a wider color gamut, but for what it lacks in those departments, it does a solid job making up for it by simply being usable around the clock with little fuss.
The LS800’s built-in Yamaha-designed speaker setup provides a strong complement to its image. It can pack a punch, and is plenty for 200 or 300-square-foot rooms. The virtual sound mode is surprisingly compelling, mixing voices, sound effects, and music with great balance while lending an impression of surround sound.
The LS800 has claimed a place for anyone who wants a simple, powerful projector that lets them beam a huge image they can view at any time of day they want.
Read our full Epson EpiQVision Ultra LS800 review
The best ultra short throw projector for streaming
LG's CineBeam can create a massive display from only inches away. The projector's design is as sharp as its picture, with a sleek rectangular profile.
Picture quality is good, as we found during our review. However, we think you'll want to use external speakers for the soundtrack, as there's a lack of detail in the high frequencies, and we'd prefer a bit more low-end thump too.
The projector itself uses LG’s WebOS, which is the same smart interface the company uses in its TVs, and it also uses the same Magic Remote for control. WebOS is easy to navigate and, as with many other smart platforms, you can choose from a wide range of streaming services and access other features from the gallery. If you’re into voice controls, you can use the remote's built-in mic to jump to different apps, change the volume, and more.
LG’s projector makes use of Google Assistant too – so if you’re set up in the Google ecosystem, you’ll be able to control not only the projector, but also your smart home devices and so on. It’s a handy touch, and helps make the already smart WebOS even smarter.
Read our full LG HU85LA CineBeam Projector review
Other ultra short throw projectors to consider
Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS650: This projector is a less bright (but less expensive) step down from the LS800 in the guide, so if you're looking for a cheaper, compact option that still delivers strong brightness overall, then the LS650 is worth considering. Its brightness is enough that it can handle brighter viewing environments. While it doesn't make the list due to a sluggish smart platform and a limited number of connections, it's still a decent UST projector. Read our full Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS650 review.
Xgimi Aura 2: The Xgimi Aura 2 delivers bright and punchy picture quality, has good connectivity, and delivers good brightness levels in rooms with higher brightness levels. It's held back from true greatness by an inconsistent and poor operating system and inconsistent pricing from region to region. However, if it's well priced in your area, the Aura 2 could be worth considering. Read our full Xgimi Aura 2 review.
How to choose the best ultra short throw projector
Are UST projectors good for watching TV?
The flexibility that UST projectors provide when it comes to room lighting makes them a great option for watching daytime sports. And their compact installation, with the projector positioned close to the wall where a screen is mounted, also means there will be no shadows cast by family members and friends as they walk around during commercial breaks, as they would with a standard projector. That’s not to say UST projectors won’t look good when the lights are dimmed, and it’s movie time. For that scenario, many models can perform equally well as their long-throw projector counterparts. Some even have the added benefit of Dolby Vision high dynamic range support, which is especially useful for movie viewing.
Are UST projectors good value?
UST projectors also work out to be great value when compared to the largest examples of the best 4K TVs, which are now sold in screen sizes up to 98 inches. While TVs that large are priced anywhere from $8,000 for a new Samsung QLED model up to $25,000 for an LG OLED, a UST projector typically sells for $2,500 to $3,500. Many UST projectors also have relatively powerful built-in speakers, and that feature adds to their value by eliminating the need – in some cases – for an external audio system.
Do I need a screen with a UST projector?
As with any projector, a projection screen isn’t required for UST projectors to work. You can also project onto a white-painted wall, preferably a smooth one that’s free from cracks or other inconsistencies. Use of a dedicated screen will result in the best performance, however, and will affect important picture parameters like brightness, contrast, color accuracy, and detail.
While you can use a regular matte white screen with a UST projector, especially if you’re viewing in a room with proper light control, you’ll generally get better results by using an ALR screen. An ALR screen is designed to filter out light emanating from undraped windows and lamps that would otherwise reflect off the screen’s surface and reduce picture contrast. A special type of ALR screen is normally used with UST projectors that takes the additional picture-improving step of filtering out light coming from above while directly reflecting light coming from the projector positioned below. Some UST projectors, such as the Hisense LG9, are even sold as a package with an ALR screen, which is typically available in a 100-inch or 120-inch size option.
Do UST projectors look as good as TVs?
For the most part, no. Even when using a screen with special material optimized for UST projectors, the image won’t be as bright or have the same contrast as you can expect from the best TVs. One area of picture quality where certain UST projectors can beat TVs is color rendition. Models that use three separate lasers to transmit the red, green, and blue components of video images are generally capable of covering 100% of BT.2020 color space, which is the recommended color space standard for ultra high-definition television. The best TVs, in contrast, generally max out at 75% BT.2020 color space coverage.
Should I get a UST projector with a fixed or variable image size?
That will depend on whether or not you plan to buy a UST screen as part of a package with the projector. Models with a fixed image size – typically 100- or 120-inches – come with a matched screen, which in some ways eases setup. A projector with a variable image size will have a zoom lens that allows you to vary the size of the image. This feature will be helpful if you plan to use a screen smaller than 100-inches, or plan to use the projector in multiple locations.
Are UST projectors compatible with streaming services?
Most UST projectors feature a built-in smart TV interface, or come with a USB stick that’s used for streaming. In the first case, it will typically be the same smart interface found on the manufacturer’s TV lineup – LG’s webOS or Samsung’s Tizen, for instance. In the second, it will be Android TV. Most Android TV implementations don’t support Netflix, however, so if that’s one of your regular streaming apps, you’ll need to connect one of the best streaming devices (Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Google Chromecast, Apple TV 4K, etc.).
Do UST projectors need regular lamp replacements?
UST projectors typically use a laser light source instead of the lamps found in most long throw projectors, so there is no need for lamp replacements. Lifetime specifications for laser light sources are generally 20-25,000 hours, which should provide 10-20 years of use depending on the number of hours spent viewing per day.
Do I need a soundbar with a UST projector?
Most UST projectors are designed to be all-in-one audio and video systems and have reasonably high-quality built-in speakers. They all also feature both optical digital and HDMI eARC or ARC ports audio output to a soundbar, so you’ll have that option if you find the sound quality to be insufficient.
How we tested the best ultra short throw projectors
At TechRadar, we evaluate UST projectors in both bright and dark room environments, the same as you would when using the projector at home. We also pair the projector with a projection screen – typically an ambient light-rejecting type specifically designed for use with UST models.
Using both test patterns and reference movie clips, we test the projector’s ability to display bright, uniform images with fully saturated colors. We also test for image sharpness and both noise and motion handling. Audio also gets tested, as we evaluate the projector’s ability to convey both basic TV show dialogue and complex movie soundtracks with clarity and dynamic finesse.
Streaming and gaming is another part of our testing regimen. In the first case, we check the projector’s smart TV interface to see the range of streaming apps on offer and how easy it is to navigate through them. In the second, we connect a next-generation gaming console and test both motion handling and input lag.
The latest updates to this best ultra short throw projectors guide
January 6 2024
Replaced the Hisense PX2-Pro with the Formovie Cinema Edge as the best budget UST projector. Updated our Also Consider section with other UST models we've tested.
March 6 2025
Added section 'New ultra short throw projectors' detailing new and forthcoming models introduced at CES 2025.
January 6 2025
Replaced the Hisense PX2-Pro with the Formovie Cinema Edge as the best budget UST projector. Updated Also Consider section with other UST models to consider.
November 10 2024
Replaced Samsung The Premiere with Samsung The Premiere 9 as 'best for sound quality' option.
October 10 2024
Replaced the Hisense L9G with the Hisense PX3-Pro as 'the best overall" option.
August 5 2024
Checked all products against our latest reviews, and updated our Also Consider section with information about those reviews.
June 14 2024
Replaced the Hisense PX1-Pro with Hisense PX2-Pro, a newer model with improved brightness.
August 3 2023
Ultra short throw projectors buyer's guide launched.
