Ultra short throw projectors are the next generation of existing “short-throw” projection devices. While the latter can project a massive screen from as little as three feet, projectors with an ultra short throw distance cut it off to just a few inches. It means you can place them on a counter close to the wall and not sacrifice additional living room space.
Like a standard throw projector, UST projectors can project directly onto the wall or a discrete screen, but the former allows for lesser space occupancy when not in use. It’s perfect for those who want a big screen without ruining the living room decor.
This high-end projection tech has existed in the home theatre space for only a few years now, which is why such projectors are more expensive than regular short throw and standard throw models. But if you want one regardless, our guide to the best ultra short throw projectors should come in handy.
Our Top Picks for the Best Ultra Short Throw Projectors
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The Best Ultra Short Throw Projectors Reviews in the UK
Ultra short throw projectors reside at the higher-end segment of home cinema projectors, which means you must have a few thousand pounds in your pocket to afford one. Some models can even cost you tens of thousands of pounds, but at that price, you’re better off settling for a massive 8K TV instead.
After hours of rigorous research, we’ve ended up with the following ultra-short throw projectors that we consider to be feature-rich and reasonably priced. You will find buy links to Amazon for every pick below.
1. Epson EH-LS500W Android TV Edition
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- Projection System: 3LCD
- Native Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (4K w/ Pixel Shift)
- Brightness: 4000 ANSI Lumens
- Dynamic Contrast Ratio: 2,500,000:1
The Epson EH-LS500W can project a 65” to 130” image even when placed very close to the projection surface. It achieves a high 4000-ANSI-lumens brightness and an impressive 2.5 mil to 1 dynamic contrast ratio, offering a life-like, vivid projection of your favourite content with deep blacks and crisp details.
This projector comes with an Android TV stick, which you can use to stream movies, shows, and other on-demand content over Wi-Fi. Furthermore, it gives you access to the Play Store and hands-free Google Assistant voice controls. Since it also has Chromecast built-in, you can cast any content of your liking to the projector from your smartphone or tablet.
This ultra-short throw Epson projector has three HDMI inputs, 3.5mm audio output, and two 10W stereo speakers integrated into the projector. The Android TV stick enables Bluetooth connectivity, so you can also wirelessly connect your headphones or soundbar.
The EH-LS500W uses a 1080p 3LCD chip and relies on pixel shifting to produce a 4K image, but it does have active 3D capabilities too. Overall, this is a high-end 4k ultra short throw projector worth taking into consideration.
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2. LG CineBeam HU85LS
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- Projection System: DLP
- Native Resolution: 3840 x 2160
- Brightness: 2700 ANSI Lumens
- Dynamic Contrast Ratio: 2,000,000:1
The CineBeam HU85LS is one of LG’s flagship UST projectors for home and office environments. It’s capable of projecting a 120” screen slightly over 7 inches away from the projection surface.
You can place the projector right up to the wall or install it from the ceiling to have a super-sized screen without a permanent black rectangle occupying your wall space. Its overall white colour scheme and grey fabric covering the 10W front-firing stereo speakers blend quite well in most modern living room spaces.
This 4k ultra short throw projector can produce up to 2700 ANSI lumens of brightness, offering a bright, crisp, and vivid projection under ambient lighting conditions indoors. It also supports HDR10 with dynamic tone mapping, highlighting the small details and defined shadows on a scene by scene basis.
The HU85LS runs on LG’s WebOS, which lets you choose from several streaming services and access other features from the interface. The supplied Magic Remote makes UI navigation simpler, gives easy access to volume and playback controls, and allows for Google Assistant / Alexa activation.
Of course, the projector does have two HDMI 2.0 inputs, a USB-C port capable of carrying DisplayPort signals, two USB-A ports, and an optical S/PDIF audio output. Thus, you can connect your own devices too.
If you want a stationary projector unit for your minimalistic home theatre setup, the CineBeam HU85LS is an excellent choice.
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3. Hisense 100L5
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- Projection System: DLP
- Native Resolution: 3840 x 2160
- Brightness: 2700 ANSI Lumens
- Dynamic Contrast Ratio: Unspecified
Hisense advertises the 100L5 as a “Laser TV,” but it’s simply a hybrid of an ultra-short throw laser projector and a 100” Fresnel ambient light rejecting screen. It’s 4K, supports HDR, and has 30W embedded speakers that support Dolby Atmos. Together, they deliver a truly cinematic experience.
The projector unit sits only 11.2 inches away from the screen. It’s easy to set up in smaller spaces, with no need for a ceiling mount. Its 2700-ANSI-lumens brightness combined with the wide colour gamut and anti-glare makes up for a surprisingly watchable screen even in bright indoor conditions.
Connectivity options include four HDMI 2.0 (1 x ARC) inputs, two USB ports, VGA, 3.5mm headphone port, optical audio output, dual-band Wi-Fi, and an RJ-45 Ethernet jack. There’s also an RF port for the built-in digital TV tuner, something rarely seen on modern projectors. Plus, it runs HiSense’s VIDAA OS that offers access to popular streaming services in the UK, including Freeview Play.
A regular 100-inch television will cost you plenty of money, so consider the Hisense 100L5 as a worthy substitute.
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4. Optoma CinemaX P2
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- Projection System: DLP
- Native Resolution: 3840 x 2160
- Brightness: 3000 ANSI Lumens
- Dynamic Contrast Ratio: 2,000,000:1
The CinemaX P2 is one of the more “affordable” UST projectors from Optoma. It can produce a 120” screen from 14.5 inches away from the surface. The 4K single-chip DLP combined with a laser light source achieves a bright output of 3000 ANSI lumens, 120% Rec.709 gamut coverage, and an excellent dynamic contrast ratio of 2 million to 1.
The CinemaX P2 is also aesthetically pleasing to look at, whether it’s the matte white finish or the grey fabric grille at the front. Under the grille is a built-in pair of full-range speakers and dual woofers. The set is Dolby Digital 2.0-certified, outputting 38 watts of crystal-clear sound with rich bass.
I/O is also solid overall, featuring two HDMI 2.0 (1 x ARC), a single HDMI 1.4, dual USB-A, optical audio-out, 3.5mm AUX-out, and an Ethernet jack. It runs a forked version of Android and has the Aptoide TV Store as its default app marketplace, though it’s pretty limited on features and app compatibility.
If you don’t want to spend more than an archer on an ultra-short throw projector, the Optoma CinemaX P2 is a great choice.
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5. Samsung The Premiere LSP9T
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- Projection System: DLP
- Native Resolution: 3840 x 2160
- Brightness: 2800 ANSI Lumens
- Dynamic Contrast Ratio: 2,000,000:1
In Q4 2020, Samsung broke its decade-long absence in the projector market and introduced The Premiere LSP9T, an ultra-short throw 4K laser projector with an incredible throw ratio of 0.189. It can project a massive 100” screen from just 4.4 inches and a 130” screen from 9.4 inches away from the projection surface.
The Premiere’s 2800-ANSI-lumens brightness and 106% BT.2020 gamut coverage allows for a bright, punchy, and colourful projection, while the 4K resolution provides an astoundingly crisp and detailed image. Samsung recommends using an ALR projector screen for further quality improvement.
It also supports HDR10+, adding in frame-by-frame calibration in supported content. And with the built-in 4.2ch sound system, this projector is designed to deliver a theatre-like experience in your living room. It runs Tizen OS just like Samsung’s smart TVs, giving you access to vast online content libraries.
The Premiere LSP9T is pricey for sure, but it’s also one of the best UST projectors in the market so far.
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Related – Best 4K Projectors Under £2000
In Summary
Ultra short throw projectors use relatively new technology, which explains their sky-high prices. However, it’s a godsend for those looking for a giant screen with exceptional image quality and the benefit of a projection that you can turn on and off at will without accommodating a big television – and without all the troubles of a standard throw projector.
The best ultra short throw projectors in this guide should satisfy your viewing needs. But ultimately, it comes down to your budget and requirements, so you need to decide what’s best for you on your own.
