at Samsung CES announced The Premiere, an ultra-short throw projector with 8K resolution. This is an updated version of 2020’s 4K Premiere; a single box designed to sit on a low table directly below and only a few inches from your wall or screen. It can create images up to 150 inches diagonally using special lenses and video processing.
There are built-in speakers and Dolby Atmos to fill a room with sound as well as light. As you’d expect, Netflix, Disney Plus, etc. It also has Samsung’s smart TV features.
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While the idea of an 8K projector that can create a massive display on any wall may seem intriguing, UST projectors aren’t the magic they first appear. Here’s what we know so far.
8K?
While ultra-short throw projectors like this 4K The Premiere in 2020 claim to be able to render on any wall, any projector can.
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Yes, 8K. That’s four times the resolution of a 4K projector. There’s currently no widely available 8K content, an issue that plagues 8K TVs as well. You can’t take full advantage of the extra pixels without 8K content, but the projector will convert anything you send to 8K, so it may look slightly sharper than a 4K projector projecting a similarly sized image. Remember that picture quality has more important aspects than resolution.
Premiere isn’t the first 8K projector, but there are very few on the market. JVC They have a few models that start at $11,000 and go up from there. These use a 4K display chip and a pixel shifter to create 8K resolution on the screen. This is similar to how most 4K projectors render 4K using a 1080p or lower resolution chip and roughly doubling or quintupling the imager’s pixels for 4K resolution. While Samsung hasn’t disclosed the projector’s specifications, it’s almost certain to have created 8K that way as well.
On the professional side, Digital Projection There are several 8K models, but these are for real movie theaters and other large venues.
What is an ultra short throw projector?
It is important to note that any ambient light will affect the image from a projector, including UST projectors.
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Conventional projectors need about 10 feet to project a 100-inch image. High-end models can sit farther, while short-throw models can sit closer. UST projectors stand just inches from a wall and can continue to produce massive images thanks to smart lenses and video processing.
The two major drawbacks of all UST projectors are price and image quality. Due to their intricate design, UST projectors are often much more expensive than conventional projectors.
The other drawback, which is again a result of how they work, Contrast Ratio. UST projectors typically have worse contrast ratios than conventional projectors, making their images look flatter with fewer “pulses”. Often manufacturers try to compensate for this by greatly increasing the brightness, but this does not improve the image quality, it just makes the image brighter.
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No matter how bright, an UST projector cannot compete with ambient light without a dedicated screen. And even then, it will look so much better with the curtains drawn.
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Samsung hasn’t revealed many details about the new The Premiere, but we can guess a few things. It was the previous model illuminated by lasersand the new model probably will be too. This is because lasers offer better performance in terms of light output (brightness) and colour. Also, unlike the replaceable lamps in most low-end projectors, they usually last for the lifetime of the projector.
4K The Premiere had built-in speakers that allowed it to act as its own soundbar. This is another possible feature, as most UST projectors aim to be a one-stop shop when it comes to a room’s entertainment. The new model will have Dolby Atmos, which the old model did not have.
It is also safe to assume that it will be shiny. There were two versions of 4K The Premiere, a “120 inch” version and a “130 inch” version. Both didn’t actually come with a screen and were unable to create a range of display sizes with the first from 90 to 120 inches and the second from 100 to 130 inches. The difference was the claimed light output of 2,200 and 2,800 respectively. These are pretty good numbers, though other UST projectors in a similar price range are much brighter. For example, the $4,000 Epson LS500 put out the claimed 4,000 lumens. Samsung claims the new model will have “150-inch” displays, so expect an increase in lumens.
Price and availability
Samsung has not yet announced pricing or availability. Products announced at CES usually come out in the spring or summer. Price-wise, this will almost certainly not be cheap. The previous The Premiere was $3,500 for the “120 inch” version and $6,500 for the “130 inch” version. Since the only other consumer 8K PJs start at $11,000 and these are for traditional (i.e. not UST) designs, it seems safe to assume that the 8K The Premiere will cost at least as much as the predecessor did, and possibly much more.
Keep an eye on CNETs CES coverage For more information.
