When it comes to creating a truly impressive home theater experience, Ultra Short Throw laser projectors have revolutionized what's possible in home entertainment. Today, we're comparing two leading models that represent different approaches to the premium projector market: the $4,999 Ultimea Thor T60 and the $2,999 Formovie Theater.
Before diving into our comparison, let's understand what makes these projectors special. Unlike traditional projectors that need to sit far from the screen, Ultra Short Throw (UST) projectors can create massive images from just inches away. They use specialized lenses and laser light sources to project upward at an extreme angle, making them perfect for people who want a massive screen but don't want to mount a projector on their ceiling or deal with people walking through the projection beam.
The technology has come a long way in recent years. When UST projectors first appeared, they often struggled with image quality and brightness. Today's models, using advanced laser technology, deliver incredible brightness, accurate colors, and sharp images that rival high-end TVs.
The Thor T60, released in late 2023, represents the latest generation of high-brightness UST projectors. It pushes the boundaries of what's possible with 4,000 lumens of brightness - that's nearly twice what we saw in premium projectors just a few years ago. The Formovie Theater, while slightly older, has established itself as a value leader in the premium UST space.
The Thor T60's 4,000 lumens make it one of the brightest UST projectors available. To put this in perspective, that's bright enough to watch sports on a sunny afternoon with the curtains open - something that was impossible with projectors just a few years ago. The Formovie's 2,800 lumens is still impressive but works best in controlled lighting conditions.
Both projectors use triple-laser technology, which means they create colors using three separate laser light sources (red, green, and blue) instead of using a white light source with a color wheel. This results in purer colors and better color accuracy.
The Thor T60 covers 120% of the BT.2020 color space (the standard for ultra-high-definition television), while the Formovie covers 107% of Rec.2020. Both are excellent, but the Thor T60 has a slight edge in color reproduction. In practical terms, you'll notice this most in nature documentaries and movies with lots of vivid colors.
Both projectors support modern gaming features like Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), which automatically switches to game mode when it detects a gaming console. The Thor T60 achieves slightly lower input lag (the time between pressing a button and seeing the result on screen) at around 20ms, while the Formovie typically operates around 30ms. For context, anything under 40ms is considered good for casual gaming.
In a dedicated home theater room, both projectors excel. The Formovie Theater particularly shines here because its lower brightness isn't a limitation in a dark room. Its contrast ratio of 3,000:1 produces deep blacks and bright whites, creating that cinematic feel we all want.
The Thor T60 performs exceptionally well too, but you're paying extra for brightness you might not need in a dedicated theater room. However, if your theater doubles as a family room or has ambient light, the extra brightness becomes much more valuable.
Both projectors run Android TV, giving you access to most streaming services. They both include multiple HDMI 2.1 ports, which support modern gaming features and high frame rates. The user interfaces are similar, though the Thor T60 seems slightly more responsive in daily use.
Both projectors include built-in sound systems that are better than what you'd typically find in a projector. The Formovie features Bowers & Wilkins speakers, while the Thor T60 includes a powerful 30-watt system. However, for a true home theater experience, you'll want to pair either projector with a dedicated sound system.
The $2,000 price difference between these projectors is significant. The Formovie delivers about 70% of the Thor T60's peak performance at 60% of the cost. For most users, the Formovie represents the better value, especially if you're setting up a dedicated home theater room.
However, if you need maximum brightness for a multi-purpose room, or if you're pursuing the absolute best performance regardless of cost, the Thor T60's additional capabilities justify its premium price.
The UST projector market continues to evolve rapidly. We're seeing increasing brightness levels, better gaming performance, and improved smart features with each new release. The Thor T60 represents the current peak of performance, while the Formovie shows how much value you can get at a more reasonable price point.
Both projectors demonstrate just how far UST technology has come. They can replace traditional TVs while offering much larger screens, and they do it without the installation complications of traditional projectors. Whether you choose the premium performance of the Thor T60 or the excellent value of the Formovie Theater, you're getting a capable home theater centerpiece that will serve you well for years to come.
| Ultimea Thor T60 ($4,999) | Formovie Theater ($2,999) |
|---|---|
| Brightness - Most critical spec for daytime viewing | |
| 4,000 ANSI lumens (excellent for bright rooms) | 2,800 ANSI lumens (best in controlled lighting) |
| Contrast Ratio - Determines black levels and image depth | |
| 4,000:1 (superior dark room performance) | 3,000:1 (very good for movies) |
| Color Gamut - Affects color vibrancy and accuracy | |
| 120% BT.2020 (exceptional, but overkill for most) | 107% Rec.2020 (excellent, more than adequate) |
| Gaming Input Lag - Lower is better for gaming | |
| 20ms (excellent for casual gaming) | 30ms (good enough for most gamers) |
| Throw Ratio - Determines installation distance | |
| 0.21:1 (80" from 5.7" away) | 0.23:1 (80" from 5.5" away) |
| Smart Features - Affects ease of use | |
| Android TV 11 (all major streaming apps) | Android TV 11 (all major streaming apps) |
| Audio System - Built-in sound quality | |
| 30W stereo (good for casual viewing) | 30W B&W speakers (better sound quality) |
| Value Proposition - Overall bang for buck | |
| Premium price for maximum brightness | Better value for most users, unless brightness critical |
The Ultimea Thor T60 is significantly brighter at 4,000 ANSI lumens compared to the Formovie Theater's 2,800 lumens. This makes the Thor T60 better suited for rooms with ambient light.
The Formovie Theater at $2,999 offers better value for dedicated theater rooms since you don't need the extra brightness of the Thor T60. Both provide excellent picture quality in controlled lighting.
Both projectors support modern gaming features, but the Thor T60 has slightly lower input lag at 20ms compared to the Formovie's 30ms. Both are suitable for casual gaming.
The Thor T60 offers 120% BT.2020 color coverage versus the Formovie's 107%. While both provide excellent color accuracy, the Thor T60 has a slight edge in color reproduction.
For most users, the Formovie Theater at $2,999 provides excellent performance at a better value. Only choose the Thor T60 if you specifically need its higher brightness or ultimate color accuracy.
Both projectors have similar throw ratios (Thor T60: 0.21:1, Formovie: 0.23:1), requiring about 5.5-6 inches to project an 80-inch image. The difference is negligible for most installations.
The Formovie Theater features Bowers & Wilkins speakers that provide better audio quality, though both projectors have 30W systems. For proper home theater use, external speakers are recommended.
The Thor T60 with 4,000 lumens performs significantly better in bright rooms. The Formovie Theater is best suited for rooms with good light control.
Yes, both run Android TV 11 and support major streaming services in 4K. They offer similar smart features and streaming capabilities.
The Thor T60 offers better contrast at 4,000:1 compared to the Formovie's 3,000:1, providing deeper blacks and better shadow detail in dark scenes.
No, both are ultra-short throw projectors designed to sit on a cabinet below and in front of your screen, making installation much simpler than traditional projectors.
Both use triple laser technology rated for 20,000+ hours of use. The Thor T60 and Formovie Theater should provide similar longevity with proper care and maintenance.
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 - projectorcentral.com - rtings.com - formovie.com - projectorreviews.com - projectorcentral.com - projectorscreen.com - projectorcentral.com - nothingprojector.com - formovie.com
