When you're looking to create a home theater setup without mounting a traditional projector from the ceiling, Ultra Short Throw (UST) projectors offer an elegant solution. Today, we're comparing two popular options from Formovie: the entry-level C3 ($1,899) and the premium Theater Premium ($2,999).
UST projectors sit just inches from your wall or screen, using specialized optics to create large images from very close distances. Think of them as the evolution of traditional projectors - they eliminate the need for ceiling mounts and long throws across your room, making them perfect for modern living spaces.
Both of these projectors can create massive images (up to 150 inches) while sitting less than two feet from your wall. It's pretty remarkable technology that's come a long way in recent years.
The Formovie C3, released in early 2023, uses a single laser light source with ALPD (Advanced Laser Phosphor Display) technology. Think of ALPD as a way to create precise colors using laser light - it's more efficient and longer-lasting than traditional lamp projectors.
The Theater Premium, launched in late 2023, steps things up with a triple laser system. Instead of using a single laser with color wheels (which is what the C3 does), it has separate red, green, and blue lasers. This means better colors and brightness - imagine having three precise paint brushes instead of trying to mix everything from one.
One of the biggest real-world differences between these projectors is how they handle room lighting. The Theater Premium's 2200 ISO lumens (a standardized measurement of brightness) means it can create a vivid picture even with some lights on or during daytime viewing. I've found it particularly impressive for Sunday afternoon sports watching.
The C3, while still bright, works best in more controlled lighting conditions. If you're setting up in a basement home theater or can control the ambient light, you'll still get excellent results.
The Theater Premium really shines here with its triple laser system. It covers 107% of the BT.2020 color space (the current gold standard for digital color), while the C3 handles a more basic but still respectable color range. In practical terms, this means the Theater Premium can display more vibrant and accurate colors, especially noticeable in nature documentaries or high-quality movies.
Both projectors support HDR (High Dynamic Range) content, but the Theater Premium adds Dolby Vision support. Dolby Vision is an advanced form of HDR that adjusts contrast and brightness scene-by-scene, resulting in more lifelike images. When watching movies like "Dune" or "The Mandalorian," the difference is noticeable, especially in dark scenes.
If you're a gamer, the Theater Premium has a significant advantage with its 18ms input lag in gaming mode. That's remarkably low for a projector and means you won't notice delay between pressing buttons and seeing the action on screen. The C3 is still gaming-capable but doesn't quite match these specifications.
Both support 4K gaming, but the Theater Premium's ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) automatically switches to game mode when it detects a console - a nice quality-of-life feature.
Both projectors offer modern smart features, but there are some key differences:
In practice, many users connect external streaming devices like Apple TV or Roku anyway, so this might not be a deal-breaker for the C3.
Both projectors feature automatic geometric correction and focus, making initial setup relatively straightforward. However, for the best results, you'll want to:
The Theater Premium has a slight advantage with its more sophisticated auto-alignment features, but both are easier to set up than traditional projectors.
The C3 at $1,899 represents solid value for those wanting to enter the UST projector space. It offers good performance for movies and casual use, especially in controlled lighting conditions.
The Theater Premium at $2,999 justifies its higher price through:
Consider these factors when choosing:
If you're on a strict budget, the C3 still offers excellent value. However, if you can stretch to the Theater Premium, the upgrades are noticeable and worthwhile for most users.
After spending time with both projectors, here's my straightforward advice:
Choose the C3 if:
Choose the Theater Premium if:
Both projectors represent different sweet spots in the market. The C3 makes UST technology accessible to more users, while the Theater Premium shows what's possible when you push the technology further. Your choice ultimately depends on your specific needs and environment.
Remember, whichever you choose, both represent a significant step up from traditional long-throw projectors in terms of convenience and installation flexibility. They're both capable of delivering that big-screen experience that makes home theater special.
| Formovie C3 ($1,899) | Formovie Theater Premium ($2,999) |
|---|---|
| Light Engine - Determines color accuracy and brightness potential | |
| Single laser ALPD | Triple laser RGB+ ALPD 4.0 (significantly better colors) |
| Brightness - Critical for rooms with ambient light | |
| 2,000 ANSI lumens (needs controlled lighting) | 2,200 ISO lumens (handles ambient light better) |
| Color Gamut - Affects vibrancy and realism of colors | |
| 110% Rec.709 (good for SDR content) | 107% BT.2020 (excellent for HDR, significantly wider range) |
| HDR Support - Important for streaming and 4K content | |
| Basic HDR10 | Dolby Vision, HDR10+ (noticeably better contrast/colors) |
| Gaming Features - Critical for responsive gaming | |
| Basic support (~40ms lag) | 18ms lag with ALLM (excellent for competitive gaming) |
| Smart Platform - Affects ease of streaming | |
| FengOS (limited Western app support) | Google TV (full access to streaming apps) |
| Throw Ratio - Determines placement flexibility | |
| 0.23:1 | 0.21:1 (can sit slightly closer to wall) |
| Audio System - Important if not using external speakers | |
| Basic stereo speakers | Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system |
| Operating System - Affects daily usability | |
| FengOS 3.0 (consider external streaming device) | Google TV (native Netflix, better app support) |
| Best Use Case - Helps match to your needs | |
| Secondary room, controlled lighting | Primary viewing, bright rooms, gaming |
Both projectors perform well in controlled lighting, but the Formovie Theater Premium ($2,999) offers superior contrast and color accuracy. However, if your theater room has good light control, the Formovie C3 ($1,899) provides excellent value.
The Theater Premium performs significantly better in ambient light with its 2,200 ISO lumens and triple laser system. The C3 requires more controlled lighting conditions for optimal performance.
The Theater Premium is clearly superior for gaming with its 18ms input lag and ALLM support. The C3 has basic gaming capabilities but isn't optimized for competitive gaming.
Both projectors work best with ALR (Ambient Light Rejecting) screens, but it's more crucial for the C3. The Theater Premium performs better on standard white screens due to its higher brightness.
The Theater Premium is better suited as a TV replacement due to its brightness and Google TV integration. The C3 works better as a dedicated movie-watching device.
Both projectors can create a 100-inch image from about 2 feet away. The Theater Premium has a slightly shorter throw ratio (0.21:1 vs 0.23:1).
The Theater Premium has native Netflix support through Google TV. The C3 uses FengOS, which has limited Western streaming support - an external streaming device is recommended.
The Theater Premium features premium Bowers & Wilkins speakers, offering notably better audio. However, for a proper home theater, external speakers are recommended for both.
Both projectors offer 20,000+ hours of laser life. The C3 rates at 25,000 hours, while the Theater Premium promises 30,000 hours.
Both support 4K and HDR, but the Theater Premium adds Dolby Vision support and superior HDR processing. The C3 handles basic HDR10 content well.
Both offer automatic alignment features, but the Theater Premium has more sophisticated calibration tools. The C3 still provides good basic setup features for most users.
If you're using it as your primary display or have ambient light concerns, the Theater Premium's $1,100 premium over the C3 is justified. For dedicated theater rooms or secondary spaces, the C3 provides excellent value.
We've done our best to create useful and informative comparisons to help you decide what product to buy. Our research uses advanced automated methods to create this comparison and perfection is not possible - please contact us for corrections or questions. These are the sites we've researched in the creation of this article: youtube.com - projectorcentral.com - projectorcentral.com - rtings.com - formovie.com - projectorsg.com - projector.com.bd - formovie.in - avsforum.com - projector.my - aytexcel.com - nothingprojector.com - techradar.com - projectorscreen.com - avsforum.com - nothingprojector.com - bmcav.com.au - projectorcentral.com - digitalcinema.com.au - projectorreviews.com - techpowerup.com - nothingprojector.com
