Formovie Theater Projector
The Formovie Theater Premium UST projector is a standout in the ultra-short-throw (UST) projector category, combining cutting-edge technology, superb image quality, and top-notch audio features. This projector is the successor to the 2022 Formovie Theater and comes with several upgrades, including improved brightness, enhanced sound, and higher clarity. Below, we dive into its features, performance, and whether the higher price tag is justified.
Overview
Formovie is a joint venture between Xiaomi and Appotronics, with a strong reputation for pushing boundaries in the laser display space. The Theater Premium UST projector is a testament to that innovation, designed for those seeking a cinematic experience in their living rooms without the need for vast amounts of space. It offers a compact, ultra-short-throw design, which means you can project large images from a very short distance, making it ideal for rooms where space is at a premium.
Key Features
1. Impressive Brightness and Clarity
- Brightness: The Theater Premium boasts a remarkable 2,200 ISO lumens, up from 1,800 lumens on its predecessor. This makes it capable of producing bright, clear images even in rooms with ambient light.
- Resolution: With 4K UHD resolution (3840 x 2160), this projector uses Pixel Shifting technology for sharp, crisp visuals.
- Color Accuracy: The projector supports a wide 107% BT.2020 color gamut, delivering natural and vibrant colors. It’s compatible with Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HLG, ensuring great HDR performance across different content.
- Contrast: A 3000:1 contrast ratio ensures deep blacks and bright highlights, further enhancing the overall image quality.
2. Superior Audio with Bowers & Wilkins Speakers
The Theater Premium is equipped with Bowers & Wilkins speakers—two full-range 15W drivers housed in a 990cc sound chamber for rich bass and clear treble. These speakers support Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, providing immersive sound for movie and music lovers alike. With such high-quality audio, the need for an external sound system is minimized, making it a true all-in-one home theater solution.
3. Ultra-Short Throw Design
One of the key selling points of the Theater Premium is its ALPD 4.0 RGB+ triple-laser system and ultra-short-throw design. It can project a 150-inch image from just 40 cm (15.75 inches) away from the wall. This makes it perfect for small rooms where traditional projectors just wouldn’t work. Whether you want an 80-inch image from just 7.4 cm (2.83 inches) away or a massive 150-inch screen from under 16 inches, the Theater Premium offers extreme flexibility.
4. Advanced Features
- Google TV: The projector runs Google TV (Android 11), providing access to a wide range of streaming services and apps. It also comes with Chromecast built-in and Google Assistant for voice control, making it simple to navigate and control your entertainment.
- Gaming Mode: With a 60Hz refresh rate and a low input lag of around 20ms in gaming mode, the projector is suitable for casual gaming, although some high-speed games may feel slightly less responsive than on dedicated gaming monitors.
- Automatic Focus and Keystone Correction: The projector’s automatic electric focus and 8-point keystone correction make setup a breeze, ensuring a perfectly aligned image without fuss.
Performance
Image Quality
In terms of performance, the Formovie Theater Premium excels in three key areas: brightness, contrast, and color reproduction.
- Brightness: Even with ambient light, we found the projector delivered bright and clear images. The 2,200 lumens are especially noticeable when compared to previous models, making it suitable for a variety of lighting conditions.
- Color Accuracy: The projector covers a wide color gamut with 107% BT.2020 coverage, providing rich, true-to-life colors, especially when watching 4K HDR content.
- Detail and Clarity: The 4K resolution ensures sharpness, allowing for detailed images, and combined with HDR support, it enhances the viewing experience with true-to-life tones and depth.
Audio Performance
The Bowers & Wilkins speakers in the Theater Premium impress with deep bass and clear highs, ensuring a cinematic audio experience without needing a dedicated sound system. The inclusion of Dolby Atmos and DTS:X makes the sound even more immersive, with spatial audio that matches the high-quality visuals.
Setup and User Experience
Setup is straightforward, thanks to Google TV and the integrated power supply, which eliminates the need for a bulky external power brick. The automatic electric focus and keystone correction help you achieve a perfect picture with minimal effort. The projector also powers on and off instantly, which is a welcome upgrade over traditional projectors.
Design and Build Quality
The Formovie Theater Premium is a well-built, premium product with a sleek matte finish and an industrial design. It weighs 9.8kg (around 21.5 pounds), making it a substantial device, but the design feels robust and well worth the price. The updated speaker design, with 2 woofers and 2 tweeters, is housed in a fabric mesh cutout on the front for an elegant and functional look.
Software Features
The projector’s Google TV interface is intuitive and easy to use. It offers a user-friendly interface with access to all major streaming services, including Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video, all playing 4K HDR content without issues. The quad-core MediaTek MT9629 chipset ensures smooth performance, while the 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage provide sufficient resources for multitasking and app usage.
Verdict: Is the Formovie Theater Premium Worth the Price?
The Formovie Theater Premium UST projector is a high-end home theater device that justifies its premium price tag with outstanding performance in brightness, color accuracy, sound, and ease of use. Its 4K resolution, HDR support, improved brightness, and Bowers & Wilkins speakers make it a perfect choice for those looking for a high-quality home cinema experience without the need for additional speakers or complex setups.
While the price may be a bit steep at $2,999, the convenience of UST technology, coupled with its outstanding image and sound quality, makes it a top contender in the market for premium home projectors.
Pros
- Incredible image brightness and clarity
- Stunning color accuracy with 107% BT.2020 color gamut
- High-quality sound from Bowers & Wilkins speakers
- Ultra-short-throw design for versatile placement
- Integrated Google TV and Chromecast
Cons
- Higher price tag
- Remote feels basic for the premium price point
For anyone seeking a high-quality, feature-rich projector that doesn’t require a dedicated sound system or a vast space for installation, the Formovie Theater Premium UST is a solid choice.
FAQs
1. What is the throw ratio of the Formovie Theater Premium UST projector?
The Formovie Theater Premium features an ultra-short-throw (UST) design, allowing you to project a 150-inch image from just 40 cm (15.75 inches) away from the screen or wall. This makes it ideal for small rooms where space is limited.
2. Does the Formovie Theater Premium support 4K content?
Yes, the projector supports 4K UHD resolution (3840 x 2160) with Pixel Shifting technology. It also supports HDR formats like Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HLG, ensuring excellent visual quality with rich colors and contrast when viewing 4K HDR content.
3. Can I use the Formovie Theater Premium for gaming?
The Formovie Theater Premium has a 60Hz refresh rate and a low input lag of around 20ms in gaming mode, which makes it suitable for casual gaming. However, for competitive or fast-paced gaming, it may not be as responsive as dedicated gaming monitors.
4. What sound system does the Formovie Theater Premium use?
The projector features built-in Bowers & Wilkins speakers with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support. It has two full-range 15W drivers housed in a 990cc sound chamber, delivering immersive audio that eliminates the need for an external sound system in most cases.
5. How easy is it to set up the Formovie Theater Premium UST projector?
Setting up the Formovie Theater Premium is straightforward, thanks to its automatic electric focus, 8-point keystone correction, and Google TV interface. The projector powers on instantly and includes all necessary inputs for quick connectivity, making the installation process hassle-free.