# Best UST Projector

> Ultra short throw laser projectors from AWOL Vision, Hisense, Formovie, XGIMI, Epson, Samsung, NexiGo and JMGO, compared on dated US prices, brightness, color, gaming specs, throw ratio, warranty and a scoring formula you can check. US English. 15 ultra short throw projectors compared, prices checked on November 13, 2026.

- Website: https://best-ust-projector.com/
- Language: English (US)
- Publisher: Mint Technology LLC, 4405 Jager Dr NE, Ste C4-4375, Rio Rancho, NM 87144, USA
- Contact: contact@best-ust-projector.com
- Full version: https://best-ust-projector.com/llms-full.txt

## Methodology

- [How we score](https://best-ust-projector.com/methodology/): one score out of 10, weighted average of 7 criteria (price, against the catalog median (dated, us) 20%; brightness (lumens claimed by the brand) 20%; picture: color gamut, native contrast, hdr formats 20%; gaming: input lag, 120 hz, vrr, allm 10%; placement: throw ratio, picture size, focus and alignment aids 10%; smart tv and sound: streaming apps, speakers, atmos, earc 10%; warranty and return window 10%). Criteria not published by the brand score 2/10. Displayed score = 7.5 + 0.66 × (weighted average − 4.75), between 7.5 and 9.6; a published tie-break keeps every score different.
- [Affiliate disclosure](https://best-ust-projector.com/disclosure/): some links are affiliate links; it never changes our scores.
- Brightness, contrast, input lag and laser life are quoted from each brand, with the source linked in every review.

## Rankings

- [Best ultra short throw projectors of 2026, ranked](https://best-ust-projector.com/): No. 1 AWOL Vision LuxVision (9.6/10), 15 compared
- [Best UST projectors for bright rooms and daytime TV](https://best-ust-projector.com/best/ust-projector-for-bright-rooms/): No. 1 AWOL Vision LuxVision (9.6/10), 8 compared
- [Best UST projectors for gaming: input lag, 120 Hz, VRR](https://best-ust-projector.com/best/ust-projector-for-gaming/): No. 1 AWOL Vision LuxVision (9.6/10), 9 compared
- [Best UST projectors under $2,000](https://best-ust-projector.com/best/ust-projector-under-2000/): No. 1 XGIMI MIRA Pro (9.5/10), 4 compared
- [Best UST projector and screen bundles](https://best-ust-projector.com/best/ust-projector-with-screen/): No. 1 AWOL Vision LuxVision (9.6/10), 5 compared
- [Best laser TVs of 2026: projectors that replace the television](https://best-ust-projector.com/best/laser-tv/): No. 1 Hisense L9Q (9.3/10), 8 compared
- [Best UST projectors for home theater and movie nights](https://best-ust-projector.com/best/ust-projector-for-home-theater/): No. 1 AWOL Vision Aetherion Pro (9.2/10), 9 compared

## Reviews (overall score)

- [AWOL Vision LuxVision review](https://best-ust-projector.com/review/awol-luxvision/): 9.6/10, $5,999 (AWOL Vision, November 13, 2026), 6,000 ISO lumens, rgb triple laser, 0.18:1 throw, input lag 1 ms (brand), warranty 2-year
- [XGIMI MIRA Pro review](https://best-ust-projector.com/review/xgimi-mira-pro/): 9.5/10, $1,699 (XGIMI, November 13, 2026), 3,000 ISO lumens, rgb triple laser, 0.175:1 throw, input lag 1 ms (brand), warranty 2-year
- [AWOL Vision Aetherion Max review](https://best-ust-projector.com/review/awol-aetherion-max/): 9.4/10, $3,999 (AWOL Vision, November 13, 2026), 3,300 ISO lumens, rgb triple laser, 0.2:1 throw, input lag 1 ms (brand), warranty 2-year
- [Hisense L9Q review](https://best-ust-projector.com/review/hisense-l9q/): 9.3/10, $5,999.99 (Hisense, November 13, 2026), 5,000 ANSI lumens, rgb triple laser, 0.18:1 throw, input lag 12 ms (brand), warranty 2-year
- [AWOL Vision Aetherion Pro review](https://best-ust-projector.com/review/awol-aetherion-pro/): 9.2/10, $3,499 (AWOL Vision, November 13, 2026), 2,600 ISO lumens, rgb triple laser, 0.2:1 throw, input lag 1 ms (brand), warranty 2-year
- [Hisense PX3-PRO review](https://best-ust-projector.com/review/hisense-px3-pro/): 9.1/10, $2,499.99 (Hisense, November 13, 2026), 3,000 ANSI lumens, rgb triple laser, 0.22:1 throw, input lag no figure, warranty 2-year
- [Hisense PT1 review](https://best-ust-projector.com/review/hisense-pt1/): 8.9/10, $1,999.99 (Hisense, November 13, 2026), 2,500 ANSI lumens, rgb triple laser, 0.2:1 throw, input lag no figure, warranty 2-year
- [AWOL Vision LTV-3000 Pro review](https://best-ust-projector.com/review/awol-ltv-3000-pro/): 8.8/10, $1,699 (AWOL Vision, November 13, 2026), 2,000 ISO lumens, rgb triple laser, 0.25:1 throw, input lag 8 ms (brand), warranty 1-year
- [JMGO O2S Ultra review](https://best-ust-projector.com/review/jmgo-o2s-ultra/): 8.7/10, $2,199 (JMGO, November 13, 2026), 3,600 ISO lumens, rgb triple laser, 0.16:1 throw, input lag no figure, warranty 1-year
- [Formovie Theater Premium review](https://best-ust-projector.com/review/formovie-theater-premium/): 8.6/10, $2,799 (Formovie, November 13, 2026), 2,200 ISO lumens, rgb triple laser, 0.21:1 throw, input lag no figure, warranty 2-year
- [NexiGo Aurora Pro MKII review](https://best-ust-projector.com/review/nexigo-aurora-pro-mkii/): 8.5/10, $2,299.99 (NexiGo, November 13, 2026), 2,400 lumens, rgb triple laser, 0.21:1 throw, input lag 4.2 ms (brand), warranty 1-year
- [XGIMI AURA 2 review](https://best-ust-projector.com/review/xgimi-aura-2/): 8.4/10, $2,239 (XGIMI, November 13, 2026), 2,300 ISO lumens, laser + led hybrid, 0.177:1 throw, input lag 20 ms (brand), warranty 2-year
- [Epson Lifestudio Grand review](https://best-ust-projector.com/review/epson-lifestudio-grand/): 8.3/10, $2,699.99 (Epson, November 13, 2026), 3,600 ISO lumens, 3lcd laser, 0.25:1 throw, input lag 20 ms (brand), warranty 2-year
- [Formovie Cinema Edge review](https://best-ust-projector.com/review/formovie-cinema-edge/): 8.1/10, $1,799 (Formovie, November 13, 2026), 2,100 ISO lumens, laser phosphor, 0.23:1 throw, input lag no figure, warranty 2-year
- [Samsung The Premiere 9 review](https://best-ust-projector.com/review/samsung-premiere-9/): 7.5/10, $5,999.99 (Samsung, November 13, 2026), 3,450 ISO lumens, rgb triple laser, 0.189:1 throw, input lag no figure, warranty not stated, sold out at Samsung on November 13, 2026

## Head-to-heads

- [AWOL Vision Aetherion Max vs Hisense PX3-PRO](https://best-ust-projector.com/vs/awol-aetherion-max-vs-hisense-px3-pro/): our pick AWOL Vision Aetherion Max
- [AWOL Vision Aetherion Max vs AWOL Vision Aetherion Pro](https://best-ust-projector.com/vs/awol-aetherion-max-vs-awol-aetherion-pro/): our pick AWOL Vision Aetherion Max
- [Formovie Theater Premium vs Formovie Cinema Edge](https://best-ust-projector.com/vs/formovie-theater-premium-vs-formovie-cinema-edge/): our pick Formovie Theater Premium
- [Formovie Theater Premium vs XGIMI AURA 2](https://best-ust-projector.com/vs/formovie-theater-premium-vs-xgimi-aura-2/): our pick Formovie Theater Premium
- [XGIMI MIRA Pro vs XGIMI AURA 2](https://best-ust-projector.com/vs/xgimi-mira-pro-vs-xgimi-aura-2/): our pick XGIMI MIRA Pro
- [Hisense PX3-PRO vs Hisense PT1](https://best-ust-projector.com/vs/hisense-px3-pro-vs-hisense-pt1/): our pick Hisense PX3-PRO
- [Hisense L9Q vs Hisense PX3-PRO](https://best-ust-projector.com/vs/hisense-l9q-vs-hisense-px3-pro/): our pick Hisense L9Q
- [Hisense L9Q vs Samsung The Premiere 9](https://best-ust-projector.com/vs/hisense-l9q-vs-samsung-premiere-9/): our pick Hisense L9Q
- [Formovie Theater Premium vs NexiGo Aurora Pro MKII](https://best-ust-projector.com/vs/formovie-theater-premium-vs-nexigo-aurora-pro-mkii/): our pick Formovie Theater Premium
- [Hisense PT1 vs NexiGo Aurora Pro MKII](https://best-ust-projector.com/vs/hisense-pt1-vs-nexigo-aurora-pro-mkii/): our pick Hisense PT1
- [JMGO O2S Ultra vs XGIMI AURA 2](https://best-ust-projector.com/vs/jmgo-o2s-ultra-vs-xgimi-aura-2/): our pick JMGO O2S Ultra
- [AWOL Vision LuxVision vs Hisense L9Q](https://best-ust-projector.com/vs/awol-luxvision-vs-hisense-l9q/): our pick AWOL Vision LuxVision
- [XGIMI MIRA Pro vs AWOL Vision LTV-3000 Pro](https://best-ust-projector.com/vs/xgimi-mira-pro-vs-awol-ltv-3000-pro/): our pick XGIMI MIRA Pro
- [AWOL Vision LTV-3000 Pro vs Formovie Cinema Edge](https://best-ust-projector.com/vs/awol-ltv-3000-pro-vs-formovie-cinema-edge/): our pick AWOL Vision LTV-3000 Pro
- [Hisense PX3-PRO vs Epson Lifestudio Grand](https://best-ust-projector.com/vs/hisense-px3-pro-vs-epson-lifestudio-grand/): our pick Hisense PX3-PRO

## Buying guides

- [UST projector vs TV: which one should fill your wall?](https://best-ust-projector.com/blog/ust-projector-vs-tv/): it depends on the size you want. Up to about 85 inches, a television is brighter, simpler and usually cheaper. From 100 inches up, an ultra short throw (UST) projector with an ALR screen gives you a bigger picture for less money, in a box that one person can carry. A TV still has deeper blacks and more punch in a sunlit room; a projector gives you a wall of picture that disappears when you switch it off. If you want 100 to 120 inches, start with a projector around $1,699 to $2,499.99 and a $600 to $1,200 screen.
- [ALR screens for UST projectors: lenticular vs Fresnel, and what to buy](https://best-ust-projector.com/blog/alr-screen-for-ust-projector/): yes, an ultra short throw projector needs its own kind of screen, and in a room with any light it should be a UST ALR (ambient light rejecting) screen. Choose lenticular if people sit off to the sides, Fresnel if everyone sits in front and you want the brightest picture, and plain matte white only for a room you can make fully dark. Don't project on a bare wall, and don't buy an ALR screen made for ceiling-mounted projectors: it will reject your projector's light too.
- [UST projector setup: how to place and align it without losing a weekend](https://best-ust-projector.com/blog/ust-projector-setup/): hang the screen first, then bring the projector to it. Put the projector on a level console centered on the screen, slide it toward or away from the wall until the picture is the width of the screen, raise or lower it until the picture sits in the frame, and only then touch focus. Use digital keystone as little as you can: it costs sharpness. Plan about an hour with a helper. If the idea worries you, pick a projector with automatic alignment such as the XGIMI MIRA Pro , or one with optical lens shift.
- [Are UST projectors worth it? What you get and what you give up](https://best-ust-projector.com/blog/are-ust-projectors-worth-it/): yes, if you want a picture of 100 inches or more and you are ready to pay for a proper screen. An ultra short throw (UST) projector gives you a wall of picture from a box that sits on your media console, for less than a television of the same size. It is not worth it under 85 inches, in a room flooded with sun, or if you expect OLED blacks. On November 13, 2026 the 15 projectors we compare started at $1,699; a complete 100-inch setup with a screen starts around $2,300.
- [How many lumens does a UST projector need?](https://best-ust-projector.com/blog/how-many-lumens-ust-projector/): for a 100-inch picture, about 2,000 lumens is enough in a dark room, 3,000 is the comfortable figure for a living room with some daylight, and 5,000 or more lets you watch at noon without closing everything. Go up one step for 120 inches, because a bigger picture spreads the same light over more surface. The screen counts as much as the projector: an ALR screen made for ultra short throws is what keeps the picture from washing out. The 15 projectors we compare claim between 2,000 and 6,000 lumens.
- [Short throw projector or ultra short throw: which one fits your room?](https://best-ust-projector.com/blog/short-throw-vs-ultra-short-throw/): a short throw projector makes a 100-inch picture from about 3 to 7 feet away, so it lives on a coffee table or a ceiling mount. An ultra short throw (UST) projector makes the same picture from 14 to 22 inches, so it lives on the media console, right under the screen, like a TV. Pick a short throw for a game room, a golf simulator or a projector you move around. Pick a UST for a living room where the projector replaces the television. This site ranks ultra short throws only: 15 of them, from $1,699.

## Tools

- [Comparison tool](https://best-ust-projector.com/compare/): up to 3 UST projectors side by side (?ids=a,b,c).
- [Throw distance calculator](https://best-ust-projector.com/calculator/): lens-to-screen distance for any picture size, per projector.