When it comes to creating a theater-like experience at home, ultra short throw (UST) laser projectors have revolutionized what's possible. Today, we're comparing two leading options: the Samsung Premiere 9 ($5,832) and the Formovie Theater ($2,699). These projectors can turn any wall into a massive screen while sitting just inches away, making them perfect for spaces where traditional projectors aren't practical.
Before diving into the specifics, let's understand what makes these projectors special. Unlike traditional projectors that need to sit far from the screen, UST projectors use advanced optics to create large images from incredibly short distances. Both units use triple laser technology, which means they employ separate red, green, and blue lasers to create images, resulting in superior color accuracy and brightness compared to traditional lamp-based projectors.
The Formovie Theater debuted in 2022 and quickly gained recognition for its excellent picture quality and value. It uses ALPD 4.0 technology, which is particularly good at maintaining deep black levels - a traditional weakness of projectors.
The Samsung Premiere 9 launched in 2024 as an update to the previous LSP9T model. It brings improved brightness and refined smart features, showing how quickly this technology is evolving. The newer release date brings some advantages in terms of processing power and feature refinement.
This is perhaps the most significant differentiator between these projectors. The Samsung's 3,450 ISO lumens (about 2,800 ANSI lumens) makes it notably brighter than the Formovie's 2,200 ISO lumens. What does this mean in practice? The Samsung can maintain vibrant images even with some ambient light, making it more versatile for living rooms or spaces where complete light control isn't possible.
The Formovie, while still bright, performs best in controlled lighting conditions. If you're setting up a dedicated home theater room, this lower brightness won't be an issue, and you'll benefit from its superior contrast performance.
Both projectors deliver excellent 4K resolution (3840 x 2160 pixels), but they achieve it differently. The Samsung uses a larger 0.66" DLP chip, while the Formovie employs a 0.47" chip with XPR pixel-shifting technology. In practice, both produce sharp, detailed images that look fantastic on large screens.
The Formovie excels in contrast ratio (3333:1) and black level performance, making it particularly impressive for movie watching in dark rooms. The Samsung counters with exceptional brightness and slightly better color accuracy out of the box, though both projectors can be calibrated to professional standards.
Color coverage is impressive on both units, with the Formovie offering 107% of the BT.2020 color space and the Samsung achieving 106%. These are outstanding figures that mean both projectors can display virtually any color content creators intended you to see.
If you're planning to game on your projector, input lag (the delay between pressing a button and seeing the action on screen) becomes important. The Formovie's 41.9ms input lag is noticeably better than the Samsung's approximately 55ms. Neither will satisfy competitive gamers used to gaming monitors, but the Formovie has a clear advantage for casual gaming.
The Samsung runs on Tizen OS, the same system used in their smart TVs. It's polished, responsive, and includes native support for major streaming services including Netflix. The interface is intuitive and well-designed, making it feel more like using a TV than a projector.
The Formovie uses Android TV 11, which offers excellent app compatibility and Chromecast built-in, but initially lacked Netflix certification (now addressed in newer models). The interface can feel slightly less refined than Samsung's, but it's more customizable and familiar to Android users.
Both projectors feature impressive built-in audio systems that can eliminate the need for a separate soundbar in many situations. The Samsung's 40W 2.2.2 channel system provides more power and better spatial separation, while the Formovie's 30W Bowers & Wilkins speakers offer excellent clarity and balance.
These projectors require careful placement to achieve optimal image quality. The Samsung's 0.189:1 throw ratio means it can sit slightly closer to the wall than the Formovie's 0.23:1 ratio. Both offer digital keystone correction, but as with all projectors, physical alignment will provide the best image quality.
The Samsung maxes out at 130 inches diagonal, while the Formovie can reach 150 inches. Both require minimal distance from the wall - typically 5-15 inches depending on desired screen size.
The Formovie Theater at $2,699 represents exceptional value, offering performance that rivals or exceeds projectors costing twice as much. The Samsung Premiere 9 at $5,832 is significantly more expensive but justifies its premium price with superior brightness, refined software, and better build quality.
Both projectors represent the cutting edge of home theater technology, but they serve slightly different needs. The Formovie Theater offers incredible value and superior dark-room performance, making it perfect for dedicated home theater spaces. The Samsung Premiere 9 provides more flexibility with its higher brightness and refined user experience, making it ideal for multi-purpose rooms where ambient light control isn't always possible.
For most buyers, the Formovie's value proposition will be hard to ignore, especially if they have a dedicated viewing space. However, if budget allows and you need the versatility of high brightness, the Samsung's premium features and polish make it a compelling choice despite the price premium.
| Samsung Premiere 9 ($5,832) | Formovie Theater ($2,699) |
|---|---|
| Brightness - Critical for ambient light performance | |
| 3,450 ISO lumens (excellent for bright rooms) | 2,200 ISO lumens (best in controlled lighting) |
| Contrast Ratio - Determines black level and image depth | |
| 2,000,000:1 dynamic (real-world closer to 2000:1) | 3,333:1 native (superior dark room performance) |
| Color Coverage - Affects vibrancy and accuracy | |
| 106% BT.2020, better out-of-box accuracy | 107% BT.2020, requires calibration for best results |
| Throw Ratio - Determines installation distance | |
| 0.189:1 (100" from 4.5" away) | 0.23:1 (100" from 5.5" away) |
| Maximum Screen Size - Impacts immersion | |
| Up to 130 inches | Up to 150 inches |
| Built-in Audio - Affects need for external speakers | |
| 40W 2.2.2 channel system with Atmos | 30W Bowers & Wilkins speakers |
| Input Lag - Important for gaming | |
| ~55ms (adequate for casual gaming) | 41.9ms (better for gaming) |
| Smart Platform - Affects ease of use | |
| Tizen OS (polished, Netflix certified) | Android TV 11 (more apps, initially no Netflix) |
| HDR Support - Impacts HDR content quality | |
| HDR10+, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG |
| Light Source Lifespan - Long-term reliability | |
| 20,000 hours | 25,000 hours |
| Connectivity - Affects device compatibility | |
| 3x HDMI 2.0, eARC | 3x HDMI 2.1, eARC |
The Samsung Premiere 9 ($5,832) is significantly better for bright rooms with its 3,450 ISO lumens compared to the Formovie Theater ($2,699)'s 2,200 ISO lumens. The Samsung can maintain vibrant images even with ambient light present.
The Formovie Theater offers superior value at $2,699, delivering comparable performance to the Samsung Premiere 9 at less than half the price. However, you sacrifice some brightness and smart features.
Both support gaming, but the Formovie Theater has better input lag at 41.9ms compared to the Samsung's ~55ms. Neither is ideal for competitive gaming, but both work well for casual gaming.
While both projectors can work on a white wall, an ALR (Ambient Light Rejecting) screen is recommended for optimal picture quality, especially with the Samsung Premiere 9 in brighter rooms.
The Samsung Premiere 9 has a more polished Tizen OS with native Netflix support, while the Formovie Theater uses Android TV 11 with more app options but initially lacked Netflix certification.
The Formovie Theater can project up to 150 inches, while the Samsung Premiere 9 maxes out at 130 inches diagonal.
Both have good built-in audio systems. The Samsung Premiere 9 features a 40W 2.2.2 channel system, while the Formovie Theater has 30W Bowers & Wilkins speakers. External speakers are optional but recommended for the best experience.
The Formovie Theater has superior contrast and black levels, making it better for movie watching in dark rooms. The Samsung Premiere 9 performs better in rooms with some ambient light.
Both projectors offer excellent longevity. The Formovie Theater claims 25,000 hours, while the Samsung Premiere 9 offers 20,000 hours of laser life.
Yes, both the Samsung Premiere 9 and Formovie Theater support true 4K resolution (3840 x 2160) using pixel-shifting technology.
The Samsung Premiere 9 has a slightly shorter throw ratio (0.189:1 vs 0.23:1), requiring less distance from the wall, and its setup interface is more user-friendly than the Formovie Theater.
Both support HDR content, with the Formovie Theater offering Dolby Vision support, while the Samsung Premiere 9 supports HDR10+ and HLG formats.
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: soundandvision.com - sound-advice.online - samsung.com - techradar.com - valueelectronics.com - news.samsung.com - samsung.com - hometheaterreview.com - projectorscreen.com - samsung.com - techradar.com - projectorcentral.com - rtings.com - formovie.com - projectorreviews.com - projectorcentral.com - projectorscreen.com - projectorcentral.com - nothingprojector.com - formovie.com
