Ultra short throw projectors are great for getting a big image if you don’t have the space for a standard projector. Here are some of the best available.
There are many benefits to getting yourself an ultra short throw projector over a more standard standard throw projector. The former can project a huge image up on your wall or screen from only a handful of inches away, keeping it neat and out of everyone's way, while the latter must be set up at a distance, usually from 10 feet to 20 feet, requiring more thought about mounting, furniture, and other obstacles.
This ultra short throw project also comes with 30-watt speakers, and while projector speakers aren’t generally that impressive , these plus the built-in subwoofer are better than traditional TV speakers. It’s also a smart projector with support for Alexa, Google Assistant, and Samsung's own Bixby voice assistant, so you don’t have to get up when you can turn the projector on or search for a show with basic voice commands.
If there’s any downside here, it’s that 130 inches is a fairly large space, and you’ll need a lot of room for a screen that large, which may not fit in every home theater space. The platform also uses LG’s ThinQ smart tech, which means you can give voice commands if you like. Screen sharing is supported via AirPlay 2, Miracast, and more. There are also some handy modes here, including different brightness modes for medium light, bright rooms, dark rooms, and others. Unfortunately, the two 20-watt speakers could be more impressive, so this is another example of why you’d really want an external sound system or soundbar to use as well.
While the main draw here is the support for extra-large images that can easily span a whole wall or home theater room, the broad support of this Wemax model — which also uses Android TV — makes it a good fit for a variety of users. Although if you really want that 150-inch cinematic experience, you may want to break out the measuring tape before you hit the buy button.
Sound isn't awesome on the V7050i, with its dual 5-watt speakers, but who cares. If you're spending this kind of money, spring for a solid soundbar of even a decent home theater surround sound system that you can connect through the projector's HDMI ARC output. Lastly, if you like what you see with this model, you might want to hold off and wait for BenQ's upcoming new V5000i HDR RGB laser projector that we're eagerly waiting to get our hands on.
How does resolution work on a short throw projector? Resolution naturally determines the clarity of the image. This is measured the same way it is on televisions and monitors. It’s important to read the fine print when shopping for projectors, however. Many will boast 4K or 1080p resolutions but are referring to the content the projector supports — different than the projector’s native resolution.