News.
Launches, firmware, and the small industry shifts that change what you should test.
- Projectors
XGIMI Unveils HORIZON 30 Series: 4K at 120Hz, Dual Iris Technology, and Up to 10,000:1 Native Contrast
XGIMI unveils the HORIZON 30 Pro, Max, and Ultra Max with RGB triple laser, 4K 120Hz, Dual Iris technology, and major contrast improvements.
- Streaming
Apple Music Hall Will Stream Concerts Globally From a 48-Speaker Spatial Audio Venue
Apple's new 600-capacity London venue combines Spatial Audio production, multicamera capture and global livestreaming, but home playback formats remain unannounced.
- Projectors
Epson Brings Three 4K Laser Projectors to the US From $1,999
The Home Cinema LS5000, LS6000 and short-throw LS7500 combine 3LCD laser engines, 4K/120Hz input and prices from $1,999.99.
- Audio
Yamaha B200A Brings Dolby Atmos to Desks and Smaller TVs
The 60cm all-in-one combines virtualized Dolby Atmos, a built-in three-inch subwoofer and HDMI eARC in a cabinet designed for bedrooms, offices and gaming setups.
- Audio
Wharfedale NOVA Subwoofers Scale From Compact Stereo to Large Home Cinemas
The four-model NOVA range combines long-throw drivers, down-firing passive radiators, DSP and Class D amplification in sizes from 8 to 15 inches.
- Software
tvOS 27 Reaches Apple TV 4K With Hi-Res Lossless Audio and Faster Launches
Apple has released tvOS 27 for the two newest Apple TV 4K generations, adding Hi-Res Lossless music, video podcasts, Thread 1.4 and performance improvements.
- Audio
Sonos Beam Ultra Adds Dedicated Up-Firing Dolby Atmos to the Compact Beam
At $699, the Beam Ultra gives the compact Sonos bar dedicated up-firing drivers for the first time, a 7.1.2 Dolby Atmos layout and four levels of speech enhancement.
- Audio
TCL Q95K Brings a Full 11.1.4 Wireless Atmos System to Europe
A 22-driver bar, two wireless rears with height drivers and a push-push subwoofer make up TCL's 11.1.4-channel Q95K, due in Europe from late September.
- Launch
Barco Residential's Freya+ SST is a 13,500-lumen DCI projector for private cinemas
A 105kg, 2.2kW, Risk Group 3 DCI projector with a cinema media server inside and no list price: the Freya+ SST after its CEDIA 2026 Best of Show award.
- Industry
What actually mattered at IFA 2026 for projector buyers
Native 4K at 120Hz became the UST benchmark at IFA 2026, no projector won a top award, and XGIMI's Elfin Flip and MIRA got firm European prices.
- Product
Kaleidescape shows Strato K as a premium source for projection rooms
A $4,995 movie player with native 8K playback, a new 4K Cinematic format and a 960GB drive, shown at CEDIA 2026 feeding JVC's flagship DLA-NZ900.
- Product
JVC adds a dedicated CM-Pro ceiling mount to new flagship 8K projector purchases
From September 1, eligible DLA-NZ900 and DLA-NZ800 purchases through authorised dealers include Engage Engineering's all-steel CM-Pro ceiling mount, a $400 bracket, at no extra charge.
- Product
Stewart Filmscreen makes Director's Choice Gen 2 shallower and easier to service
Enclosure depth drops from 16.5 to 7.25 inches on Director's Choice Generation 2, Stewart Filmscreen's masking screen, which adds QuickSnap servicing and Somfy control and won a CEDIA BEST Award.
- Launch
JMGO brings IRIS 4K/120Hz smart-projector series to IFA
Two IRIS projectors from JMGO promise 4K at 120Hz from input to output, with pre-orders at $2,999 and $1,899 and shipments from October 19, 2026.
- Launch
Samsung's The Premiere 5 brings touch interaction to IFA 2026, with conditions
Touch interaction on Samsung's £1,699 Premiere 5 at IFA 2026 needs a separately sold Touch Stand, and Samsung's own small print says not every app supports it.
- Launch
BenQ's first RGB triple-laser projectors arrive with a walked-back Dolby Vision 2 claim
Two RGB triple-laser 4K projectors, the W4200 and TK715i, debuted at IFA 2026 alongside a Dolby Vision 2 claim that BenQ qualified within hours.
- Launch
Aurzen unveils the ZIP Pro tri-fold Full HD pocket projector
A 586g projector that folds into three, doubles the original ZIP to native 1080p and 200 ANSI lumens, and ships from 30 October at $629.99.
- Launch
Hisense brings C3 Pro, C3 Ultra and C3 Ultra Max lifestyle projectors to IFA
Three 4K RGB triple-laser lifestyle projectors from Hisense at IFA 2026, rated 3,000 to 5,000 ANSI lumens and priced from 2,499 to 3,999 euros.
- Launch
AWOL Vision unveils LuxVision 4K/120Hz UST projector at IFA
One-touch vertical optical lens shift is the rare feature on LuxVision, a $5,999 4K/120Hz RGB triple-laser UST rated at 6,000 ISO lumens and shipping in October 2026.
- Launch
SIM2 introduces UltraNero 4S, 4S HC and 4S DUO at CEDIA Expo 2026
Three UltraNero 4S projectors at CEDIA Expo 2026, from a 7,000-lumen single engine to a 12,000-lumen DUO, and one of them, the 4S HC, has no SIM2 product page yet.
- Industry
CEDIA 2026 Best of Show highlights complete home-cinema systems
Only two projectors, AWOL's LuxVision and Barco's Freya Plus SST, made ProjectorCentral's seven-product CEDIA 2026 Best of Show list; players, processors and screens filled the rest.
- Launch
XWALL TITAN Noir Ultra debuts at CEDIA with 8,000 ISO lumens
Shown at CEDIA on 1 September, XWALL's first projector pairs 8,000 ISO lumens with a dual-iris contrast system, lens memory and an introductory $4,999 price before the screen bundle.
- Launch
Acer C350e puts a detachable Gemini AI Badge on a EUR 199 portable
A EUR 199 duck-shaped 1080p LED portable whose round front panel detaches into a Gemini-powered remote and photo display, shipping in EMEA from Q1 2027.
- Launch
XGIMI introduces Aura 3 Max and Aura 3 Pro 4K/120Hz UST projectors
XGIMI's Aura 3 UST series combines RGB triple laser projection and 4K/120Hz playback; a refundable $50 reservation runs ahead of its October 20 Kickstarter launch.
- Launch
Nebula X1S raises the brightness target for outdoor 4K projection
Soundcore claims 6,000 ANSI lumens for its outdoor 4K triple-laser Nebula X1S, but only in peak mode; the default picture mode runs nearer 3,000. Priced from $3,299.
- Industry
XGIMI and AWALL form XWALL by XGIMI for the US market
Custom-install specialist AWALL becomes exclusive US partner for a new dealer-first XGIMI brand, opening with the $6,499 TITAN Noir Ultra at 8,000 ISO lumens.
- Launch
Wanbo brings X7 Pro Max 1,500-ANSI-lumen projector to IFA
Wanbo's X7 Pro Max is its brightest projector yet, pairing 1,500 ANSI lumens and native Full HD with Google TV, MEMC and an autofocus setup system.
- Industry
EISA 2026-2027 projector awards go to XGIMI and Hisense
EISA's 2026-2027 Home Theatre and Vision awards name just three projectors, with the XGIMI TITAN Noir Ultra Max, Hisense XR10 and Hisense PT1 taking every category.
- Industry
JVC previews 8K cinema and 4K/120p gaming demonstrations for CEDIA
Two demo theatres at booth 3511 in Denver: the DLA-NZ900 on 8K cinema, the DLA-NZ800 on 4K/120p gaming with ALLM.
- Launch
Dangbei launches the RX10 laser gimbal and a brighter D7X Pro, and CVIA lumens explain the numbers
Dangbei's RX10 gimbal projector arrived in China at 5,499 yuan with 1,200 CVIA lumens, while the refreshed D7X Pro claims 1,700 CVIA for less money, which makes the unit worth understanding.
- Pro AV
Epson takes the 10,000-lumen QL7000 to a 215-inch 2.0:1 screen at CEDIA Expo 2026
At CEDIA Expo 2026 Epson pairs the 10,000-lumen QL7000 with a 215-inch 2.0:1 Stewart masking screen, roughly 78 foot-lamberts at unity gain.
- Launch
ViewSonic launches LS740-4K 5,000-lumen laser projector
Two launch prices, $1,899.99 and $1,799.99, sit on ViewSonic's own pages for the LS740-4K, a 5,000-lumen native 4K laser projector with a Golf Mode.
- Crowdfunding
CINÈST launches Core UST-projector cabinet collection on Kickstarter
New home-entertainment brand CINÈST takes its motorized Core UST-projector cabinet system to Kickstarter, pairing one-click projector alignment with interior-focused cabinetry from about $3,099.
- Retail
Sony Bravia Projector 8 falls to £11,499 in the UK, a £4,500 cut on a current flagship
£11,499 for VIP Club members at Richer Sounds, £4,500 under the £15,999 launch price, puts the VPL-XW6100ES around £7,500 below JVC's DLA-NZ800 at the same shop.
- Software
HDR10+ Advanced arrives on Prime Video, and projectors are not in the first wave
Samsung and Amazon have switched on HDR10+ Advanced streaming, but only 2026 Samsung televisions can decode it, and no projector has been named as a target device.
- Product
Severtson adds white perforated acoustically transparent option to Broadway screens
Seven sizes from 100 to 165 inches, 1.1 gain and $2,920 for the 120-inch unit: Severtson's Broadway Thin Bezel screens now come in a white perforated acoustically transparent version.
- Cinema
Christie takes the CP4420m-RGBH to China and puts the argument on lumens per watt
At BIRTV 2026 in Beijing the CP4420m-RGBH hybrid laser cinema projector is being sold on 14.7 lumens per watt and a claimed 35 per cent lower running cost.
- Launch
XGIMI releases Z9X 4K High Brightness Edition in China
A Nichia QuaLas 42 tri-colour laser lifts the Z9X from 1,300 to 1,600 CVIA lumens for CNY 3,299, on sale in China with no international date.
- Software
Dolby Vision 2 ships on Hisense TVs first, and projectors are waiting on silicon
Hisense is first to ship Dolby Vision 2 by firmware update, but no projector has been announced with support, and the reason is which chip the format lives in.
- Product
Screen Innovations launches KAOS 360 for dual-sided outdoor projection
A single projector feeds both faces of KAOS 360, the outdoor rear-projection screen Screen Innovations rates for three times the air load of conventional screens, up to 24 feet wide.
- Launch
Hisense launches XR10, PX4 Pro and L9Q laser projectors in Malaysia
Malaysia gets the XR10, PX4 Pro and L9Q from Hisense, with the long-throw flagship and the gaming UST both at RM23,999 and the Laser TV at RM29,999.
- Launch
Xiaomi launches Redmi Projector 5 and 5 Pro in China only
Two 1080p gimbal projectors at 1,299 and 1,999 yuan, the Pro with 1,000 CVIA lumens and a 120Hz panel, and neither with an international SKU.
- Firmware
Valerion firmware Q0718 turns the VisionMaster Max iris automatic
Firmware Q0718, the build owners call OTA3, makes the VisionMaster Max iris automatic, removes auto dimming in black scenes and adds 8-point keystone across the Valerion range.
- Market
Projection has not lost the big-screen argument, it has lost the middle
Past 120 inches nothing touches projection on cost per inch; below 100 inches in daylight it has lost. Robert Heron's AVNation crossroads piece, and where the numbers land.
- Launch
Optoma adds HL31LV 3,500-lumen 4LED projector to its US range
An $899 Full HD 4LED projector rated at 3,500 ISO lumens, with 1080p/120Hz input, 8.4ms lag and VGA, LAN and RS-232 for installed AV.
- Launch
Hisense PX4 Pro reaches the market with FreeSync Premium UST gaming
Now shipping at $3,999.99, the PX4 Pro is billed by Hisense as the first ultra-short-throw laser projector certified for AMD FreeSync Premium, with 3,500 ANSI lumens and a 0.2 throw ratio.
- Launch
Dangbei launches N3 Max Full HD smart projector
Dangbei's N3 Max combines native 1080p, 1,000 ISO lumens, VIDAA streaming and a 180-degree rotating stand, with InstanPro AI setup tools and a US list price of $559.99.
- Launch
Samsung launches The Freestyle+ AI smart projector in the US
At $1,199.99 the Freestyle+ costs $400 more than the Freestyle beside it; Samsung's case for the gap is autofocus, wall calibration and 430 ISO lumens, not new imaging.
- Launch
XGIMI launches Elfin Flip 4K and Elfin Flip Laser projectors
Two compact RGB-laser projectors from $799, rated at 1,600 ISO lumens; Engadget's measurements put the 4K model's contrast well below the 20,000:1 claim.
- Launch
Optoma launches UHR90DV RGB triple-laser home-cinema flagship
Dolby Vision and IMAX Enhanced on one RGB triple-laser projector: Optoma's UHR90DV flagship claims 5,000 lumens and 96% BT.2020, launched in Tokyo with AVAC handling installs.
- Launch
XGIMI launches MIRA 4K triple-laser UST projector
Priced at $1,529 with a screen included, the 4K RGB triple-laser MIRA ultra-short-throw arrives with Google TV and Dolby Vision, ahead of a brighter MIRA Pro in September.
- Product
Da-Lite shows Myriad Reveal electric projection screen at InfoComm
Da-Lite's Myriad Reveal electric screen pairs SightLine cable-drop technology with a Best of InfoComm 2026 award, putting concealment and integration at the centre of a projection installation.
- Product
Elite ProAV shows Presenter Pro and Floor Riser Pro DarkUST 3
Elite ProAV's InfoComm 2026 display centred on the DarkUST 3 material, an 85%-rated ambient-light-rejecting UST screen built into portable floor-rising and folding-frame formats.
- Industry
DATALAND shows how projection can become architecture
ProjectorCentral's look inside DATALAND's Data Pavilion, powered by 84 Epson 4K laser projectors, explores projection as an architectural storytelling tool rather than a conventional display.
- Retail
What Prime Day 2026 revealed about real projector pricing
Four days in June, and Dangbei and Anker cut flagship laser projectors by up to half. Prime Day 2026 said more about list prices than about bargains.
- Software
TCL puts Google Gemini on the PlayCube, and brings the microphone question with it
Gemini reaches the PlayCube from 22 June 2026 with Ask, Briefs, Learn and Create modes; TCL names no markets, no firmware version and says nothing about the far-field microphone.
- Pre-order
ETOE opens pre-sale for Dolphin 2 RGB triple-laser portable projector
Early-bird €799 against an €899 MSRP buys an RGB triple-laser portable with Google TV, a 54Wh battery and 800 ANSI lumens at native 1080p, on pre-sale until June 28.
- Launch
Optoma expands compact 4K laser range with ZK451 and UHZ67 models
Three compact 4K laser projectors from Optoma, one price: the ZK451 for boardrooms, the UHZ67 and UHZ67-W for games rooms, all on 30,000-hour DuraCore engines.
- Industry
First HDMI 2.2 Ultra96 devices are now expected in 2027
HDMI Licensing Administrator says FRL2 silicon starts sampling during 2026 and the first 96Gbps products land in 2027, which keeps projectors on HDMI 2.1 for another cycle.
- Market
Epson settles with Vizony as the RD830 drops from 15,000 lumens to 370
Listed at 15,000 lumens, the Vizony RD830 is restated to 370 under ISO 21118 after Epson's false-advertising action, the widest correction in a campaign that has caught AWOL and Philips.
- Launch
TCL enters the European projector market with the PlayCube, A1s and C1
Three Google TV projectors, the 799-euro PlayCube, 399-euro A1s and 299-euro C1, take TCL into continental Europe at the bottom and middle of the category rather than the top.
- Launch
Leica Cine Compact 1 brings Leica optics to a smaller 4K laser projector
A Summicron zoom lens, Triple RGB laser, Dolby Vision and 360-degree rotation in a compact 4K projector, on sale from 18 June 2026 at €1,645.
- Launch
Blackview launches PV1000 Max smart gimbal projector
A $299.99 gimbal projector with native 1080p, VIDAA streaming and a quoted 1,000 ANSI lumens, which one bench test put at a little over 400.
- Market
The 2026 projector market is becoming laser-first
Acer, Epson, Hisense, XGIMI, JMGO, Valerion, Christie and Fujifilm all built 2026 launches around laser light sources, which makes light-source type a poor basis for a verdict.
- Market
ProjectorCentral refreshes its 4K UST recommendations for the laser-TV market
Six brands, one crowded shelf: ProjectorCentral's end-of-May 2026 UST refresh sorts the 4K laser-TV field, and the screen still decides more than the spec sheet.
- Launch
Acer HL6820GTV brings 4K laser, Google TV and high-refresh gaming to EMEA
4,000 lumens, Google TV, VRR and high-refresh 1080p gaming in one 4K laser box: Acer pitches the HL6820GTV at bright EMEA living rooms, not dark cinemas.
- Release Watch
Hisense PX4-PRO is the UST model to watch after the XR10 rollout
With the XR10 now visible in Hisense's own retail channel, the ultra-short-throw PX4-PRO becomes the CES 2026 projector to track for availability.
- Launch
ViewSonic LX720-4KC Ultra arrives with triple-laser gaming specs
4K at 60Hz, 1440p at 120Hz and 1080p at 240Hz from a triple-laser DLP: the LX720-4KC Ultra is a China-market launch built for gamers.
- Review Watch
BenQ TK705i lands in the bright living-room 4K category
Review coverage treats the TK705i as a living-room projector first. Whether its brightness stays controlled in HDR, and whether Google TV stays stable, will decide it.
- Review Watch
Optoma UHZ78LV review coverage will decide whether the badges mean much
What Hi-Fi calls the Optoma UHZ78LV bright and bold. Whether its Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and IMAX Enhanced badges survive a dark-room film night is the review question that counts.
- Launch
JMGO N3 Ultimate focuses on optical setup instead of digital correction
Optical zoom, four-way lens shift and an AI gimbal put placement freedom at the centre of the JMGO N3 Ultimate, a 4K triple-laser Google TV projector.
- Crowdfunding
XGIMI Titan Noir campaign points at a brighter long-throw push
Three 4K models, Titan Noir, Pro and Max, launch through Kickstarter at early prices far below their listed MSRPs, marking XGIMI's push into brighter long-throw projection.
- Review Watch
Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 keeps pressure on premium lifestyle projection
RGB triple laser, 4K HDR with Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and IMAX Enhanced, and 1080p at 240Hz for gaming: the VisionMaster Pro 2 claims a lot for a lifestyle chassis.
- Launch
Optoma HCPro-5400 brings triple RGB laser to the pro home-cinema channel
A 5,000-lumen triple RGB laser 4K projector with Dolby Vision, HDR10+, IMAX Enhanced and Filmmaker Mode, sold through the custom-install channel.
- Cinema
Christie CP4420m-RGBH targets smaller cinema screens with hybrid laser
Hybrid RGB laser plus phosphor, shown on the CP4420m-RGBH at CinemaCon 2026, gives smaller commercial cinema screens a route off lamps without pure-RGB-laser pricing.
- Launch
Optoma UHZ78LV targets bright-room flagship home cinema
Five thousand lumens plus Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and IMAX Enhanced: Optoma pitches the UHZ78LV 4K RGB triple-laser projector at living rooms that defeat dimmer models.
- Launch
Hisense C3 HSN adds AirPlay to a compact 4K laser projector
AirPlay casting on a compact 4K laser projector: the Hisense C3 HSN pitches itself at Apple households rather than ceiling-mount home cinema.
- Launch
Epson Lifestudio Grand Plus adds Google TV with Gemini to a 4K UST design
A 4,000-lumen 3LCD laser UST with Sound by Bose and Google TV plus Gemini, pitched at the DLP laser TV crowd and still awaiting contrast on a real screen.
- Spec Watch
AWOL Aetherion spec sheet puts gaming and UST scale in the same package
VRR, ALLM, RGB triple lasers, HDR support and a 200-inch UST ambition on one spec sheet: the Aetherion line wants to replace both the TV and the gaming display.
- CES
AWOL Aetherion tries to solve the 200-inch UST sharpness problem
PixelLock, the alignment system on AWOL Vision's CES 2026 Aetherion Max and Pro, targets the edge softness that undoes 4K UST images pushed toward 200 inches.
- Software
Epson's 2026 projector software story moves toward Google TV and Gemini
Google TV with Gemini is coming to select Epson projectors, starting with Lifestudio Grand-class hardware, and the software layer now belongs on the review checklist.
- CES
Acer Vero HL1820 adds a greener angle to 4K gaming projection
RGB laser, 4K UHD, a wide BT.2020 gamut claim, 1.6x zoom, 4.2ms 1080p gaming lag and a recycled-plastic chassis: the Vero HL1820 is Acer's eco-badged CES projector.
- CES
Hisense XR10 and PX4-PRO split the laser projector market in two
At CES 2026 Hisense split its laser line in two, with the long-throw XR10 for dedicated rooms and the ultra-short-throw PX4-PRO for wall-hugging TV replacement.
- CES
Samsung Freestyle+ refreshes the portable projector idea with AI setup
Ahead of CES 2026, the portable Freestyle+ nearly doubles brightness to 430 ISO lumens and adds AI OptiScreen auto keystone, focus and wall calibration to Samsung's rotating design.
- Launch
BenQ TK705i and TK705STi lean into plug-and-play 4K streaming
Two 4K Google TV projectors from one platform: the standard-throw TK705i and the short-throw TK705STi, with 3,000 lumens quoted for the short-throw model.
