Ultra Short Throw 4K Laser Projector Showdown: Premium vs Value

When it comes to creating a high-end home theater experience without a traditional long-throw projector setup, Ultra Short Throw (UST) laser projectors have become the go-to solution. Today we're comparing two leading options: the brand new Samsung Premiere 9 ($5,999) and the Formovie Theater Premium ($2,799), both released in early 2024.

Understanding UST Projectors

Unlike traditional projectors that need to sit far back in a room, UST projectors use specialized optics to create massive images from just inches away from your wall. This clever design lets you place them in a media cabinet directly below your screen, making them much more practical for many homes.

Both of these models use advanced triple laser light sources, which means they have separate red, green, and blue lasers rather than a white light source with color wheels. This technology provides better color accuracy and longer lifespans than traditional lamp-based projectors.

Picture Quality Deep Dive

Brightness and Ambient Light Performance

The Samsung Premiere 9 boasts an impressive 3,450 ISO lumens, while the Formovie Theater Premium delivers 2,200 ISO lumens. What does this mean in real terms? ISO lumens are a standardized measurement of actual visible brightness, unlike regular lumens which can be misleading. The Samsung's significant advantage here means it can maintain vivid images even with some lights on - perfect for casual viewing or sports watching parties.

The Formovie isn't dim by any means, but it's best suited for controlled lighting conditions. In a proper dark home theater setting, both projectors can deliver excellent picture quality, but the Samsung maintains its punch better when ambient light creeps in.

Color and HDR Performance

Here's where things get interesting. While the Samsung offers excellent color accuracy out of the box, the Formovie actually covers a wider color gamut - 107% of the BT.2020 color space, which is the gold standard for HDR content. Both projectors support HDR10 and HDR10+ formats, but the Formovie adds Dolby Vision support, which can provide better dynamic range adaptation scene-by-scene.

The Samsung counters with its new Quantum 4K processor, which does an excellent job upscaling lower resolution content and managing HDR tone mapping. This means non-4K content often looks better on the Samsung, which is important since not everything we watch is native 4K.

Contrast and Black Levels

In a dark room, the Formovie has a slight edge in contrast performance, with measured contrast ratios around 3000:1. The Samsung shows slightly elevated black levels, though its higher brightness helps maintain perceived contrast in brighter conditions. Neither projector can match the perfect blacks of an OLED TV, but both provide satisfying contrast for projection systems.

Practical Considerations

Installation and Setup

Both projectors feature automatic geometry correction and focus systems, but they handle it differently. The Samsung's 0.19:1 throw ratio means it can sit slightly closer to the wall than the Formovie's 0.21:1 ratio. For a 100-inch image, that's about 3 inches difference in placement depth.

The Samsung's setup process is more polished, with an excellent smartphone-based alignment system. The Formovie's setup isn't difficult, but it's not quite as refined.

Smart Features and Gaming

The Samsung Premiere 9 runs on the latest version of Tizen OS, the same system used in their smart TVs. It includes Samsung's Gaming Hub for cloud gaming services and has a reasonably low input lag of around 55ms in game mode. While not ideal for competitive gaming, it's fine for casual players.

The Formovie Theater Premium uses Android TV 11.0, offering excellent app compatibility and Google Assistant integration. Its measured input lag of around 41ms is slightly better than the Samsung, though neither is optimal for serious gaming.

Audio Performance

Both projectors integrate impressive sound systems that outperform most TVs. The Samsung features a 40W 2.2.2 channel system with upward-firing speakers for Dolby Atmos effects. The Formovie partners with Bowers & Wilkins for its 30W system, which delivers excellent clarity but less overall power than the Samsung.

While serious home theater enthusiasts will still want a separate audio system, both projectors can serve as all-in-one solutions for more casual setups.

Value Proposition

The $3,200 price difference between these projectors can't be ignored. The Samsung Premiere 9 justifies its premium with superior brightness, better processing, and a more powerful sound system. However, the Formovie Theater Premium delivers 80-90% of the Samsung's performance at less than half the price.

How to Decide

Choose the Samsung Premiere 9 if:

• Your room has significant ambient light
• You prioritize ease of setup and polished interface
• Audio quality is crucial without external speakers
• Budget allows for premium features

Choose the Formovie Theater Premium if:

• You have a dedicated dark theater room
• Dolby Vision support matters to you
• You plan to use external speakers
• Value is a primary consideration

Long-term Ownership Considerations

Both projectors use triple laser light sources rated for approximately 20,000 hours of use. At four hours per day, that's nearly 14 years of viewing. Neither requires lamp replacements like traditional projectors.

Both manufacturers provide firmware updates, though Samsung has a better track record for long-term software support. The Android TV platform on the Formovie provides excellent app compatibility but may feel dated sooner than Samsung's continuously updated Tizen OS.

Conclusion

These projectors represent two excellent but different approaches to UST projection. The Samsung Premiere 9 is the more polished, powerful option for those who can afford it, while the Formovie Theater Premium offers tremendous value without major compromises.

For most users, I'd recommend the Formovie unless you specifically need the Samsung's extra brightness or have the budget for its premium features. Both represent the cutting edge of UST projection technology, and either one can serve as the centerpiece of an impressive home theater setup.

Samsung Premiere 9 4K Ultra Short Throw Laser Projector Deals and Prices

Formovie Theater Premium 4K Ultra Short Throw Projector Triple Laser UST with Dolby Vision 2200 ISO Lumen Laser TV Deals and Prices