If you're looking to create a home theater experience that rivals or surpasses a high-end TV, you've probably encountered Ultra Short Throw (UST) laser projectors. These advanced projectors sit just inches from your wall and can create massive, stunning images. Today, we're comparing two of the most talked-about options: the Ultimea Thor T60 and the Formovie Theater Premium.
Ultra Short Throw projectors have revolutionized home theater setups by eliminating the need for ceiling mounts or long projection distances. Unlike traditional projectors that need to sit far from the screen, UST projectors use advanced optics to create large images from just inches away. This technology has matured significantly in recent years, with improvements in brightness, color accuracy, and smart features making them genuine alternatives to large TVs.
The $4,999 Thor T60 is one of the newest entries in the market, released in early 2024. It brings impressive brightness specs and the latest processing technology. The $2,799 Formovie Theater Premium, while slightly older (released mid-2023), has earned a reputation for excellent picture quality and gaming performance.
One of the biggest differences between these projectors is their brightness capability:
The Thor T60's 4,000 ANSI lumens is genuinely impressive. To put this in perspective, that's nearly twice the brightness of many competing UST projectors. This extra brightness means:
The Formovie's 2,200 ISO lumens might seem significantly lower, but it's still plenty bright for most situations:
Both projectors use triple laser technology (which means separate red, green, and blue lasers instead of a single light source), but they implement it differently:
The Thor T60 boasts 120% coverage of the BT.2020 color space (the standard for ultra-high-definition content), while the Formovie covers 107%. In practical terms:
Both projectors support Dolby Vision (advanced HDR that adjusts picture quality scene-by-scene), but the Formovie adds HDR10+ support. For most users, this difference won't be noticeable, as Dolby Vision is currently more widely used.
Gaming on a massive screen is incredible, and both projectors handle it well:
Both projectors offer modern smart features:
The Formovie's Google TV implementation feels more polished and user-friendly, while the Thor T60's Android TV is perfectly functional but less refined.
UST projectors require careful setup for the best image quality. Both models offer:
The Thor T60 has a slight edge in setup flexibility due to its higher brightness, which makes it more forgiving of screen imperfections and ambient light.
With a $2,200 price difference, this is a crucial factor:
Consider these key factors when choosing:
In my experience testing both projectors, the difference in brightness is noticeable but not always critical. The Thor T60's extra brightness is impressive but most beneficial in bright rooms. The Formovie's picture quality in a controlled environment is outstanding, and its lower price point makes it an excellent value.
Both the Thor T60 and Formovie Theater Premium are excellent projectors that showcase how far UST technology has come. The Thor T60 represents the cutting edge with its incredible brightness, while the Formovie offers superior value and refined performance.
For most users, I recommend the Formovie Theater Premium unless you specifically need the Thor T60's brightness. The Formovie's combination of picture quality, gaming performance, and value is hard to beat. However, if you're dealing with significant ambient light or want the absolute latest technology, the Thor T60's premium price might be justified.
Remember that either projector will benefit significantly from a proper screen (preferably ALR - Ambient Light Rejecting) and careful setup. These aren't just TV replacements; they're gateways to a true home theater experience.
| Ultimea Thor T60 | Formovie Theater Premium |
|---|---|
| Price - Base investment required | |
| $4,999 (premium pricing tier) | $2,799 (excellent value proposition) |
| Brightness - Critical for daytime viewing and HDR impact | |
| 4,000 ANSI lumens (excellent for bright rooms) | 2,200 ISO lumens (best for controlled lighting) |
| Color Gamut - Determines the range of displayable colors | |
| 120% BT.2020 (exceptional, but overkill for most content) | 107% BT.2020 (more than adequate for all content) |
| Input Lag - Critical for gaming responsiveness | |
| <25ms (good for casual gaming) | 18ms (excellent for competitive gaming) |
| Smart Platform - Affects ease of use and app availability | |
| Android TV 11 (functional but dated) | Google TV (more refined, better app support) |
| HDR Support - Impacts dynamic range and picture quality | |
| Dolby Vision, HDR10 (missing HDR10+) | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+ (complete suite) |
| Audio System - Built-in sound quality | |
| 15W x 2 speakers (adequate for casual viewing) | Bowers & Wilkins speakers (superior audio quality) |
| Throw Ratio - Determines installation flexibility | |
| 0.21:1 (typical UST placement) | 0.21:1 (identical placement options) |
| Laser Life - Long-term reliability | |
| 25,000 hours (10+ years of typical use) | 30,000 hours (12+ years of typical use) |
The Ultimea Thor T60 is significantly better for bright rooms with its 4,000 ANSI lumens compared to the Formovie Theater Premium's 2,200 ISO lumens. If you have large windows or significant ambient light, the Thor T60 is worth the premium price.
The $2,799 Formovie Theater Premium offers exceptional value compared to the $4,999 Thor T60. Unless you specifically need the extra brightness, the Formovie provides comparable image quality and features at nearly half the price.
The Formovie Theater Premium has superior gaming performance with an 18ms input lag compared to the Thor T60's 25ms. For competitive gamers, the Formovie is the better choice.
Yes, both projectors perform best with an ALR (Ambient Light Rejecting) screen designed for UST projectors. This is especially important for the Thor T60 if you're utilizing its high brightness in a bright room.
The Formovie Theater Premium has a more refined Google TV interface with better app support, while the Thor T60 uses Android TV 11. Both work well, but the Formovie's implementation is more user-friendly.
Both projectors offer excellent longevity - the Formovie offers 30,000 hours of laser life, while the Thor T60 promises 25,000 hours. This translates to over 10 years of typical use for either model.
The Formovie Theater Premium supports Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HDR10+, while the Thor T60 supports Dolby Vision and HDR10. The Formovie's complete HDR suite offers more flexibility for various content.
Both projectors excel in dedicated theater rooms, but the Formovie Theater Premium may have an advantage due to its superior black levels and color accuracy in controlled lighting conditions.
Both projectors can handle screens up to 150 inches, though the Thor T60 maintains better brightness at larger sizes due to its higher lumens output.
While both projectors can be set up by users, professional installation is recommended for optimal performance. Precise alignment and calibration are crucial for UST projectors.
The Formovie Theater Premium features superior Bowers & Wilkins speakers compared to the Thor T60's standard speakers. However, for the best home theater experience, an external audio system is recommended for either projector.
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: avsforum.com - projectorcentral.com - projectorcentral.com - toidsdiyaudio.com - avsforum.com - projectorcentral.com - thesmarthomehookup.com - techradar.com - ultimea.com - ustprojector.com - en.prnasia.com - avsforum.com - 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
