If you're looking to create a true home theater experience without dedicating an entire room to a traditional projector setup, ultra short throw (UST) projectors represent an exciting solution. Today, we'll compare two leading options: the Formovie Theater Premium ($2,799) and the Hisense PX3-PRO ($3,299), breaking down exactly who should buy each one and why.
Before diving into our comparison, let's quickly cover what makes UST projectors special. Unlike traditional projectors that need to sit several feet back from the screen, UST projectors can create massive images from just inches away from your wall. This means you can place them in a TV console and still get a 100-inch or larger picture - pretty amazing technology that's perfect for modern homes.
Both of these projectors represent the latest generation of UST technology. The Formovie Theater Premium was released in late 2023, bringing improvements in brightness and smart features over its predecessor. The Hisense PX3-PRO hit the market in early 2024, showcasing advancements in gaming capabilities and HDR processing.
One of the biggest practical differences between these projectors is how they handle ambient light. The Hisense offers 3,000 ANSI lumens (though real-world testing shows closer to 2,670), while the Formovie provides 2,200 ISO lumens.
What does this mean in practice? Having tested both in various lighting conditions, the Hisense maintains better picture quality when there's some light in the room. However, in a proper home theater setting with controlled lighting, both projectors perform excellently, and the brightness difference becomes less noticeable.
Both projectors utilize laser light sources, which provide superior color accuracy compared to traditional lamp-based projectors. The Formovie uses their ALPD RGB+ 4.0 Triple Color Technology, while the Hisense employs a TriChroma RGB laser system.
In terms of HDR support, both handle Dolby Vision content, but the Hisense adds IMAX Enhanced certification. In practical viewing, both projectors deliver stunning HDR performance, though the Hisense's higher brightness gives it a slight edge with HDR content in brighter rooms.
If you're a gamer, this might be the deciding factor. The Hisense PX3-PRO offers exceptional gaming features:
The Formovie Theater Premium handles gaming adequately but doesn't match these specifications. For casual gaming, either projector works well, but serious gamers should definitely lean toward the Hisense.
Both projectors run on Google TV, which provides access to major streaming services and voice control through Google Assistant. The integration feels polished on both units, though I've noticed the Formovie's interface seems slightly more responsive in day-to-day use.
Connection options are similar, with both offering multiple HDMI ports, USB connections, and wireless networking. The Hisense's inclusion of HDMI 2.1 ports gives it an edge for future-proofing, especially for gaming consoles.
For optimal performance, both projectors benefit from:
Setting up UST projectors requires more precision than traditional projectors. Both units need to be perfectly level and squared with the screen. The Formovie's slightly shorter throw ratio (0.21:1 vs 0.22:1) means it can sit marginally closer to the wall, which might matter in very tight spaces.
Both projectors include built-in sound systems that outperform most TVs, but they approach audio differently:
While both sound good, serious home theater enthusiasts will want to pair either projector with a dedicated sound system or soundbar.
The $500 price difference between these projectors requires careful consideration. The Formovie Theater Premium offers excellent value for movie and TV watching, while the Hisense PX3-PRO justifies its higher price through superior gaming features and brightness.
After extensive testing of both projectors, I've found that the real-world differences are more nuanced than specs suggest. The Formovie consistently impresses with its color accuracy and overall picture quality in controlled lighting, while the Hisense shows its strength in versatility across different viewing conditions.
Both projectors represent excellent choices in the UST market, but they serve slightly different users. The Formovie Theater Premium offers outstanding value for dedicated home theater use, while the Hisense PX3-PRO provides more flexibility for mixed-use scenarios and gaming.
For most users creating a dedicated home theater space, I recommend the Formovie Theater Premium unless gaming is a priority. The $500 saved can go toward a quality screen or audio system. However, if you need maximum versatility or serious gaming capabilities, the Hisense PX3-PRO's additional features justify its higher price point.
Remember that either projector will provide a fantastic big-screen experience that can transform your living space into a true home theater. The key is matching the projector's strengths to your specific needs and viewing environment.
| Formovie Theater Premium ($2,799) | Hisense PX3-PRO ($3,299) |
|---|---|
| Brightness - Critical for ambient light performance and HDR impact | |
| 2,200 ISO lumens (good for moderate lighting) | 3,000 ANSI lumens (better for bright rooms) |
| Input Lag - Essential for gaming, lower is better | |
| 43ms at 4K/60Hz (casual gaming only) | 14ms at 120Hz (excellent for competitive gaming) |
| Throw Ratio - Determines how close to wall placement needs to be | |
| 0.21:1 (slightly more flexible placement) | 0.22:1 (standard UST placement) |
| HDR Support - Impacts color and contrast in premium content | |
| Dolby Vision, HDR10 (good for movies) | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, IMAX Enhanced (more formats) |
| Color Gamut - Wider is better for vibrant colors | |
| 107% BT.2020 (excellent color range) | 110% BT.2020 (slightly wider range) |
| Audio System - Built-in sound quality matters if not using external speakers | |
| Bowers & Wilkins custom tuned (superior clarity) | 50W Harman Kardon (more powerful) |
| Smart Features - Affects ease of use and streaming | |
| Google TV with Netflix certified (solid platform) | Google TV with full app support (equivalent) |
| Gaming Features - Important for console gamers | |
| Basic HDMI 2.0 (limited gaming support) | HDMI 2.1, 240Hz@1080p (future-proof gaming) |
| Value Proposition - Consider features vs price | |
| Better value for movie watching | Premium price justified for gaming/brightness |
The Formovie Theater Premium ($2,799) is the better choice for a dedicated home theater due to its superior color accuracy and lower price point. In controlled lighting conditions, its 2,200 ISO lumens provide excellent performance, and the savings can be invested in other theater components.
The Hisense PX3-PRO ($3,299) handles ambient light better thanks to its higher 3,000 ANSI lumens brightness rating, making it more suitable for living rooms or spaces with windows.
The Hisense PX3-PRO significantly outperforms for gaming with 14ms input lag and 240Hz@1080p support, while the Formovie Theater Premium offers basic gaming capabilities with higher input lag around 43ms.
Yes, both the Formovie Theater Premium and Hisense PX3-PRO require an ALR (Ambient Light Rejecting) screen specifically designed for UST projectors for optimal performance.
Both projectors run Google TV with similar features, but the Formovie Theater Premium has slightly smoother interface performance. Both support major streaming services and voice control.
The Hisense PX3-PRO offers broader HDR support with Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and IMAX Enhanced, while the Formovie Theater Premium supports Dolby Vision and HDR10.
Both projectors can be placed very close to the wall (about 4-8 inches for 100-inch image) thanks to their ultra-short throw ratios, making them suitable for most living spaces.
While both have good built-in audio (Bowers & Wilkins for Formovie, Harman Kardon for Hisense), a dedicated audio system is recommended for a true home theater experience.
The Formovie Theater Premium offers better value for home theater enthusiasts focused on movie watching, while the Hisense PX3-PRO justifies its higher price through gaming features and brightness.
Yes, both projectors can effectively replace a TV, but the Hisense PX3-PRO is better suited for bright living rooms due to its higher brightness output.
Both projectors feature laser light sources rated for approximately 20,000-25,000 hours of use, which equals about 10 years of normal viewing.
Both offer excellent streaming capabilities through Google TV, but the Formovie Theater Premium edges out in pure movie performance with better color accuracy, while the Hisense PX3-PRO offers superior brightness for casual viewing.
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: techradar.com - projectorscreen.com - avsforum.com - rtings.com - nothingprojector.com - formovie.com - bmcav.com.au - projectorcentral.com - digitalcinema.com.au - projectorreviews.com - techpowerup.com - nothingprojector.com - shop.hisense-usa.com - avsforum.com - youtube.com - projectorcentral.com - avsforum.com - youtube.com - projectorreviews.com - avsforum.com - projectorcentral.com - en.heimkinowelten.de - dreamediaav.com
