The Hisense HS214 could be the perfect soundbar for you if you've decided it's time for an upgrade on plain ole TV audio, but you’re working on a pretty tight budget. The Hisense HS214 is a popular budget option, typically priced at just $99 / £79 (about AU$160). It’s a 2.1 channel soundbar with a built-in sub that aims to offer powerful audio via a compact, all-in-one build. But does it deliver?
Well, before I answer that definitively, let’s take a look at sound quality. I’m happy to report that out of the box, the Hisense HS214 sounds pretty good. When watching I Think You Should Leave on Netflix, a scene with two characters conversing in a people-filled room had clear dialogue, which was decently separated from background murmurs.
Similarly, when watching Howl’s Moving Castle, the vocals of protagonist Sophie felt a bit more defined in the overall mix than with standalone TV audio. During one scene, whistling winds were also replicated accurately, without any tinniness or unintentional harshness – something I always listen out for in my hunt to find the best soundbars available in all price brackets.
(Image credit: Future)
One aspect of the HS214 that Hisense talks up is its bass output. That’s mainly because the Hisense HS214 has a built-in woofer, which is meant to offer “powerful bass”, according to the Chinese electronics giant. And in fairness, the soundbar mustered up a bit more of a boom than my TV could manage alone – although it wasn’t massively striking, that’s to be expected given its size.
I watched the horror movie Smile and during a heart-racing scene with screaming and object-smashing, the deep bass playing throughout was a touch underpowered, meaning the full weight of the scene was slightly restricted. Luckily, this can be remedied significantly, thanks to the bass boost/reduce option on the remote. This enables you to raise or decrease bass output by five levels. When cranking up low-end output, the spooky scene in Smile had more impactful bass, which created a darker atmosphere in the build up to the scene’s climax (I won’t spoil it, don’t worry).
So, even if you won’t get massive, imposing bass out of this mini soundbar, it has the potential to offer a considerable leg-up to some of the best small TVs. You may notice the soundbar struggling with deeper bass tones and sub-bass when listening to music, however. For instance, when I tuned in to the bass-heavy Splash Mountain by Yung Gravy, the low-end boom from deep bass running throughout the track was a little bit feeble. More generally, music sounds solid with the HS214, though. It’s decently clear for the most part and doesn’t get awful tinny like some cheap soundbars.
(Image credit: Future)
I mentioned that bass boost/reduce option a moment ago, but you might be wondering what other features the Hisense HS214 has to offer. You get three different sound modes here: Movie; Music; and Night. However, those of you with a Hisense TV will also be able to access Sport and Night mode if you alter the EQ mode via the soundbar settings menu, rather than the soundbar’s remote. Each of these are well differentiated, with Movie adding a bit of emphasis in the low-end. I used this for the majority of testing.
Another feature is surround sound mode, which to clarify, has nothing to do with Dolby Atmos or DTS:X/Virtual:X. When I realised this was an option, I was looking forward to trying it, because even if the HS214’s overall audio quality was good, it didn’t offer much of a spatial impression. Unfortunately, though, surround mode isn’t worth activating. I tried using it when playing Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth on PlayStation 5 and despite providing broader, more nuanced positioning, it wasn’t long before I switched it off. And that’s down to one big issue – it significantly hampers audio quality, which is tinny and a bit unpleasant.
This isn’t the end of the world, of course – the HS214 sounds totally fine without surround mode. And even if it doesn’t offer mesmerizing spatial audio, it does plate up a solid helping of power. It has a total power output of 108W and can get pretty loud, making it an ideal step-up for TVs with weaker audio, or sound that gets easily distorted at higher volumes. And placement isn’t too bad either. During gameplay, one character whizzed across the screen on a motorbike and I got a solid impression of his directionality. Of course, this is a small soundbar and you won’t get much width out of it – especially with Surround Mode off – but general audio placement is decent.
(Image credit: Future)
One more feature worth mentioning is the dimmer option, which can alter the brightness of the LED light display on the front of the soundbar. I kept it at max brightness, but I have to say, I wasn’t a massive fan of the LED display used here. Rather than displaying volume numbers, EQ modes and more, you just see a small light flash when you change settings or volume. This isn’t the most clear or intuitive and a lot of cheap soundbars, like the Majority Elias, for instance, use clearer displays with words and letters.
But look, I don’t want to be overly critical, especially as I personally like the design of the Hisense HS214 overall. It has an almost leather-like plastic casing on top of that soundbar which is attractive and adds a touch of class. It also has button controls for power, source and volume if you don’t have the soundbar's very neat-looking remote to hand.
(Image credit: Future)
On the reverse side, there are a number of ports that enable you to connect your soundbar to a TV in multiple ways. These include: HDMI (ARC); AUX; coaxial; digital optical; and USB-C. That means it should be good to go with any modern TV and gives you plenty of options if all of your HDMI slots are used up. I opted for the HDMI ARC connection type and found setting the soundbar up incredibly easy – just plug in the connector and a power cable and you’re good to go.
All in all, the Hisense HS214 is a very solid budget soundbar. It’s wide of the mark on spatial audio and you may not be wowed in the bass department, but it’s an attractive, compact, easy-to-use soundbar that plates up clear dialogue and solid amounts of power. Given the price you pay, that does make it an attractive offering. If that’s all you need, I’d say this soundbar is worth considering, but for those seeking a stronger spatial impression, one of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars will offer a more nuanced, expansive and premium-sounding experience.
(Image credit: Future)
Hisense HS214 review: Price and release date
$99 / £79 (about AU$160)
Launched in 2021
The Hisense HS214 is positioned as a budget, entry-level option for those looking to add a bit of power to their TV setup. It was released back in 2021 and has a list price of $99 / £79 (about AU$160). However, you may well be able to snap this soundbar up for even less. I’ve personally seen this soundbar available for less than £70 via Amazon UK, for instance, so keep an eye out for some sweet deals.
Hisense HS214 review: Specs
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Hisense HS214?
Buy it if...
You’re working with a fairly tight budget If you’re looking for a solid, cheap soundbar, the Hisense HS214 is an option worth considering. For less than $100 / £80, you get decently powerful audio, clear dialogue and a bundle of connectivity options – not bad at all!
You’re a little low on space Something I really liked about this soundbar was its ultra-compact build. It was small enough to just fit under my TV stand and so if, like me, you’ve not got a ton of space to play with, this soundbar will fit the bill.
Don't buy it if...
You want truly cinematic sound Sure, the Hisense HS214 has a surround mode, but it’s just not very good. On top of that, it’s a small, standalone soundbar, so you’re not going to get the most immersive sonic experience.
You’re an audiophile And if you’re someone who’s picky about sound, this soundbar might not quite hit all the right notes for you. It’s by no means a poor-sounding soundbar, especially for its price, but if you’re hoping for top-tier music replication, deep, impactful bass and supremely crisp vocals, this may fall short.
Hisense HS214 review: Also consider
Panasonic SC-HTB100 This soundbar is UK only, but if it’s available to you it’s a great budget option. You don’t get any fancy tricks from the Panasonic SC-HTB100 – no Atmos or DTS:X and no hi-tech display either. But if you want clear dialogue, strong connectivity options and solid EQ options at a low price, you’ll be well-served here. Read our full Panasonic SC-HTB100 review.
Amazon Fire TV Soundbar But here’s one that’s available in the US as well – the Amazon Fire TV Soundbar. This budget option supplies pretty impressive sound, as well as a simple setup process and ultra-compact build. Once again, there’s no Atmos and you’re unlikely to be blown away in the bass department, but this is still a very solid option. Read our full Amazon Fire TV Soundbar review.
Hisense HS214 review: How I tested
Tested for one week(s)
Used at home with the Hisense U7K TV
Predominantly used the HDMI ARC connectivity option
I put the Hisense HS214 to the test over a week-long period. I mainly used HDMI ARC when connecting the soundbar to my Hisense U7K TV – a model which had integrated support for the HS214 in its options menus.
While testing, I watched a number of TV shows, videos and movies – mainly using streaming services like Amazon Prime Video, Netflix and YouTube. I also played Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth on the Playstation 5 to judge the soundbar’s capabilities for gaming. In addition, I connected the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE to the Hisense HS214 using Bluetooth connectivity for playing music. I made sure to play tracks from the TechRadar testing playlist to assess the quality of the soundbar’s Music EQ configuration.
The Hisense 110UXN is the company’s flagship mini-LED TV and has a cinema-sized 110-inch screen. Hisense’s mini-LED TVs often sit among the best TVs, but the 110-inch is both amazing and frustrating.
A quick note – the model I tested is referred to as the Hisense 110UXN in the UK, and although it is essentially the same TV as the Hisense 110UX in the US, the latter's panel is said to have exceeded 10,000 nits brightness, whereas the UXN is capped at 10,000 nits. As a result, I will refer to it as the UXN, but it is the same TV as the 110UX in all but brightness.
Priced at $14,999 / £19,999 (roughly AU$24,300), the Hisense 110UXN, while cheap for a TV this size and with this level of technology, is still a premium-priced set that will outstretch most people’s budgets.
Picture quality on the 110-inch UXN is generally very good. It has dynamic, bold color, black levels matching the best OLED TVs, balanced contrast and lifelike detail. Brighter content looks amazing, but backlight blooming issues keep its picture from true greatness.
The 110-inch UXN’s sound is immersive, punchy and detailed. Pushed to higher volumes, it never distorts, demonstrating tight control. Dolby Atmos effects are limited in their presentation, however, often seeming lost in the mix, and bass sometimes feels limited. While most will be happy with the 110-inch UXN’s sound for everyday viewing, those looking for sound quality to match the picture may want to invest in one of the best soundbars.
The 110-inch UXN’s excellent gaming features including 4K 144Hz, VRR (with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro), Dolby Vision gaming and ALLM, rank it up there with the best gaming TVs. Performance-wise, the UXN is responsive, smooth, and a joy to play on. Gaming on a screen this big is a fun experience! It does only feature two HDMI 2.1 ports – something those with multiple consoles should keep in mind.
The 110-inch UXN sits at the top end of the TV market and is priced at a premium. For a screen this big, you may want to instead consider one of the best 4K projectors, many of which can be found for substantially less while delivering an equally large picture.
Hisense 110UXN review: Price & release date
(Image credit: Future)
Release date: November 2024
110-inch price: $15,000 / £20,000 / around AU$24,300
The Hisense 110UXN is Hisense’s flagship mini-LED TV for 2024 (smaller sizes were released at the end of 2023). It sits above the rest of the company’s ULED range, including the Hisense U8N, Hisense U7N and Hisense U6N.
Released in November 2024 in the US and December 2024 in the UK, the 110-inch UXN is a premium-priced TV, with initial launch prices of $20,000 and £20,000 in the US and UK, respectively. The 110-inch UXN has since fallen to $15,000 in the US.
Hisense 110UX review: Specs
Hisense 110UXN review: Benchmark results
Hisense 100UXN review: Features
(Image credit: Future)
Mini-LED panel with 40,000 local dimming zones
Dolby Vision and HDR10+ HDR support
Hi-View Engine X Processor
The Hisense 110-inch UXN uses a mini-LED panel with up to 40,000 local dimming zones. It features the company’s flagship Hi-View Engine X processor, which uses a 16-bit neural AI chipset to provide AI picture and sound options. Hisense claims the 110-inch UXN can hit 10,000 nits peak brightness (more on how I got on with that later), making it one of the brightest TVs available. It supports both the Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ HDR formats, as well as IMAX Enhanced.
For sound, the 110-inch UXN has a 4.2.2-channel speaker array, including both up-firing and side speakers, and supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X surround sound formats. It also has Hisense’s Hi-Concerto feature, which enables the TV’s built-in speakers to work with compatible Hisense soundbars and wireless speakers.
Gaming is well covered on the 110-inch UXN, with 4K 144Hz, VRR (AMD FreeSync Premium Pro included), ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming all accounted for. It’s said to support 240Hz at 1080p HD resolution, but I was unable to test this. It does only come with two HDMI 2.1 ports, as is currently the case for all non-LG and Samsung TVs.
The 110-inch UXN is a formidable TV, weighing 85kg (187 pounds) but has a surprisingly slim design for a TV of this size and a premium metal-finished frame.
Hisense’s smart TV platform depends on your region. The US and Australia get Google TV. For the UK, HIsense uses its own VIDAA smart TV platform, which has ample settings to customize picture and sound and provides access to all major streaming apps such as Netflix and UK-based streaming ones such as BBC iPlayer and ITVX. It also supports Freely in the UK, which allows for live broadcast TV to be streamed over Wi-Fi.
Features score: 4.5 / 5
Hisense 110UXN review: Picture quality
The Hisense 110UXN has bold, bright and vivid colors that make pictures jump off the screen. (Image credit: Future)
Superb detail and contrast
Bold, bright images
Picture requires some setup
Hisense claims that the 110-inch UXN can hit 10,000 nits of peak brightness and while I wasn’t quite able to confirm this, I did measure 9,600 nits on a 5% white HDR window pattern in Standard Mode. Crucially, however, this was achieved using the AI Brightness Burst adjustment in Picture Settings, which intermittently increases brightness.
Measured on the 10% HDR white window pattern we use for testing, the 110-inch UXN clocked in at 3,050 nits and 2,665 nits in Standard and Filmmaker modes, respectively. Fullscreen brightness measured using a 100% HDR white window pattern hit 941 nits in Standard – one of the highest fullscreen brightness results I’ve ever measured – and 628 nits in Filmmaker Mode.
Moving onto viewing, an HD stream of Fight Club on Disney Plus showed decent contrast and shadow detail, but textures were soft – unsurprising given the size of the screen. Generally, picture quality for SDR pictures was acceptable, but the TV’s upscaling didn’t do much to enhance the picture quality.
Watching 4K HDR programs on streaming services and Blu-ray, I had to tweak the picture settings a fair amount to get a picture I was happy with. If you’re going to purchase this TV, be prepared to invest time into getting the picture right. I found that turning off settings such as Ultra Resolution helped. For my HDR viewing, I generally stuck to Filmmaker Mode and Dolby Vision Dark for Dolby Vision movies. Those looking for a brighter picture can opt for Dolby Vision IQ, but note that you can’t alter the motion smoothing which is set to on by default in that mode.
Colors on the 100-inch UXN are vibrant, bright and accurate. Watching a 4K Dolby Vision stream of Star Wars: The Last Jedi on Disney Plus, the reds throughout the throne room fight scene had plenty of punch. Similarly, watching a 4K Blu-ray of La La Land, colors were dynamic and boosted by the TV’s high HDR brightness, which gave Mia’s yellow dress a vibrant glow against the dark backdrop in the ‘A Lovely Night’ scene.
The Hisense 110UXN delivers impressive contrast and detail, as shown here during a street shot in The Batman. (Image credit: Future)
Measuring the 110-inch UXN’s HDR color gamut coverage, it yielded 97.9% for UHDA-P3 and 84% for BT.2020, both of which are phenomenal results. It also achieved a 1.7 average (below 3 is good) for SDR color accuracy, another impressive result.
The 110-inch UXN’s black levels were deep and it displayed great shadow detail throughout testing. In the opening section of The Batman, details in clothing and objects were maintained in the dimly lit scenes. Contrast was also very good, with a solid balance between the darker backgrounds and lamp lights and torches.
The Batman is a challenging movie due to its low-light mastering (400 nits), and I could see backlight blooming around brighter objects and people during my viewing. Setting the local dimming to Medium or Low (High was the default) in picture settings helped to lessen the issue, though some blooming was still present throughout most content with darker scenes that I watched.
Picture detail was realistic and refined throughout my viewing. In Top Gun: Maverick, every facial mark and hair was visible in close-up shots in the cockpit. The same was true for the clothing in The Batman and La La Land, where fabric and textures looked authentic and accurate.
Motion was generally well handled by the 110-inch UXN. When watching sports including soccer and rugby, it displayed camera pans and fast-moving images with a good level of solidity, though it did benefit from the motion smoothing provided by the Standard preset. And when watching Top Gun: Maverick, the 110-inch UXN handled the chaotic flight sequences well with motion settings turned off.
Picture quality score: 4 / 5
Hisense 110UXN review: Sound quality
Side-mounted speakers on the 110UXN greatly help with spatial audio (Image credit: Future)
4.2.2-channel speaker array
Expansive, accurate sound
Bass sounds contained at times
The 110-inch UXN has a 4.2.2 channel, 102W built-in speaker array and supports Dolby Atmos and DTS. Two up-firing speakers sit at the top of the frame, and there are two side-firing speakers and two subwoofers on the rear.
I found the best sound mode for most viewing was Theater. Watching The Batman, screeching tyres and swerving traffic were accurately placed on screen during the Penguin-Batmobile car chase. In La La Land, the jazzy score was tightly controlled and had an excellent balance between the brash trumpets, warm bass tones and beating drums.
I did find that Dolby Atmos effects, while present, weren't very pronounced. In The Batman, the rain throughout the movie was audible but the effect wasn’t as powerful as what I’ve heard on some of the best OLED TVs. Bass was decent throughout, but it didn’t have the power I was expecting from two built-in subwoofers.
Overall, most people won’t feel the need to attach a soundbar to the 110-inch UXN. But, if you’re looking for sound to match the picture, you may want to invest in one.
Sound quality score: 4 / 5
Hisense 110UXN review: Design
Despite its imposing size and weight, the Hisense 110UXN is surprisingly slim (Image credit: Future)
Trim design and profile despite size
Weighty
Basic feet for a premium TV
The 110-inch UXN weighs a whopping 85kg (187 lbs) and comes with two carry handles on the rear for transportation. This is a hefty TV that will require multiple people for installation.
Despite its size, the 110-inch UXN is slimmer than you’d expect, and its trim bezel means most of the 110-inch screen is used to display pictures. It uses two support feet, which is typical for a TV this size.
Hisense’s remote is USB-C rechargeable and takes cues from Samsung’s SolarCell TV remote with a solar panel on the rear in place of traditional batteries. While it is a bit bottom-heavy, the remote has a nice, burnished steel look and a premium feel.
Design score: 4 / 5
Hisense 110UXN review: Smart TV & menus
VIDAA (Hisense's smart TV platform in the UK) is responsive on the 110UXN and has plenty of settings to customize the picture (Image credit: Future)
Google TV in the US and Australia, VIDAA in the UK
A good number of settings for picture customization
Slightly laggy navigation
The 100-inch UXN’s smart TV platform varies depending on your region. In the US and Australia, you get Google TV and if you’re in the UK, you get Hisense’s own VIDAA. I tested this in the UK so will be discussing VIDAA, but If you want to know about Google TV, check out our Hisense U8N review.
VIDAA has access to all the best streaming apps like Netflix, Disney Plus and Prime Video, and major UK streaming apps such as BBC iPlayer, ITVX and Channel 4. It also supports Freely, a service that enables you to watch broadcast TV live over Wi-Fi without the need for any cable or satellite dish. There are a good number of picture settings, something I found necessary to apply.
VIDAA ran more smoothly than on budget sets I’ve tested such as the Hisense U6N and Hisense U7N thanks to the 100-inch UXN’s stronger processor. VIDAA is not the most visually appealing smart TV platform, however, with menus that look a little bland and dated.
Smart TV & menus: 4 / 5
Hisense 110UXN review: Gaming
The Hisense 110UXN boasts an impressive list of gaming features and superb graphics (Image credit: Future)
16.1ms input lag time
Big-screen gaming is fun
A good number of gaming features
The 110-inch UXN only has two HDMI 2.1 ports but supports 4K 144Hz gaming, with VRR (AMD FreeSync Premium Pro), ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming all featured as well. There is no dedicated Game picture preset(other than Dolby Vision Game), with the TV’s Game Mode overlaying the existing picture presets. It also features a Game Menu where settings can be adjusted on-the-fly.
I found that Standard picture mode with Game Mode turned on suited gaming best. The 110-inch UXN’s input lag time measured 16.1ms at 4K 60Hz. (Gamers typically look for under 15ms.) However, I generally found the 110-inch UXN to be responsive and fun to play on. With Battlefield V on Xbox Series X, it handled chaotic gunfights and packed battle sections well. I did find when using the Game Mode menu that frame rates generally varied from 98Hz-120Hz, but this didn’t deter from my experience.
The 110-inch UXN displays graphics in a dynamic, bright and colorful manner. Playing a desert mission in Battlefield V, the vast waves of sand and bright blue skies all looked punchy and accurate.
Gaming score: 4.5 / 5
Hisense 110UXN review: Value
The Hisense 110UXN comes with Hisense's premium remote, which has a USB-C port and solar cell on the bottom rear, both for charging (Image credit: Future)
Very pricey
Significantly more expensive than ultra short throw projectors
Cheaper than large micro-LED and OLED TVs
At $15,000 / £20,000 (roughly AU$24,300), the 110-inch UXN is a super-premium mini-LED TV that will outstretch most people’s budgets. This is roughly the same price as one of the best projectors, the JVC DLA-NZ800, which retails for $14,999 / £14,999 (roughly AU$24,300). It’s also pricier than the best ultra short throw projectors such as the Samsung The Premiere 9, which costs $5,999 / £5,999 (roughly AU$9,750).
Although the 110-inch UXN is cheaper than 97-inch OLED models and larger micro-LED screens and offers uniquely high brightness levels and very good picture and sound quality, it still goes a step too far price-wise compared to other premium sets.
Value score: 3 / 5
Should you buy the Hisense 110UXN?
The Hisense 110UXN comes at a premium price that most won't be able to afford (Image credit: Future)
Buy it if...
You want cinema experience at home The 110UXN delivers a bold TV experience that's highlighted by its bright, colorful and detail-rich picture.
You want a giant-screen gaming TV The 110UXN combines a great list of gaming features, solid performance and stunning graphics to deliver a big-screen gaming experience that's downright fun.
Don't buy it if…
You're on a budget The 110UXN is unsurprisingly an expensive TV, outpricing premium 4K projectors, big screen OLEDs and other 98-inch-plus TVs by a substantial margin.
You don't want to spend time setting up the picture Out of the box, the 110UXN's picture needs tweaking. Expect to spend a lot of time in the settings getting it to look just right.
Also consider
Hisense U8N One of the step-down models from the UXN, the U8N is still delivers a bright, detailed and colorful picture with excellent gaming performance and comes in an 85-inch screen size. If you're looking for a cheaper, smaller alternative to the UXN, the U8N should be your first choice.
Samsung QN90D Though not as bright as the Hisense UXN or even the U8N, the Samsung QN90D delivers superb contrast and impressive motion handling and comes in a 98-inch screen size. It has more gaming features than the Hisense range as well. If you're a sports fan, the Samsung QN90D is one to consider.
Measurements taken using Portrait Displays' Calman color calibration software
I tested the Hisense 110UXN in a light-controlled cinema room at the headquarters of AWE, a Hisense TV distributor. I spent the first portion of my time with the UXN doing casual viewing to establish the most accurate picture mode, which in this case was Filmmaker Mode.
For my critical viewing, I used several reference scenes from both SDR (broadcast TV and streaming) and HDR sources (4K Blu-ray and streaming). I tested the UXN's picture for color, contrast, black level, detail, HDR performance and motion. I also used these same sources to test the UXN's audio performance. To play 4K Blu-rays, I used the Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray player.
I also tested the UXN's gaming performance and features using an Xbox Series X.
After this, I moved on to objective testing, which involved taking measurements with Portrait Displays' Calman color calibration software, two colorimeters and a test pattern generator.
I used both SDR and HDR white window test patterns ranging from 1-100% in size to measure the UXN's brightness, focusing on 10% for peak brightness and 100% for full-screen brightness.
I then measured the UXN's color and grayscale accuracy, looking for an average measurement below 3. I also measured the UXN's HDR coverage of the UHDA-P3 and BT.2020 color spaces to see how accurately the UXN can display colors with ultra-high definition (UHD) sources.
Finally, I measured the UXN's input lag using a Leo Bodnar 4K HDMI input lag tester, with under 15ms representing an ideal result for gaming.
Chinese electronics brand XGIMI is on a continued mission to be the brand of choice when searching for a projector, hoping to lure you away from the likes of Samsung, BenQ or LG in the process. The MoGo 3 Pro, released alongside the much higher-end Aura 2 4K UST projector towards the end of 2024, certainly has a resumé to suggest it’s in with a fair shot of becoming one of the best portable projectors: full HD resolution, 450 ISO lumens brightness, Google TV and Netflix onboard and, of course, a portable design. And yes, I recognize XGIMI has diverted away from the design of the previous two MoGo projectors and has instead adopted something akin to Samsung’s The Freestyle projector.
Admittedly, the new XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro’s new look does make it a lot more portable and it has added practical benefits. The cylindrical design allows the projector lens to remain covered up when it’s not in use and it can be tilted through a 130º angle. XGIMI claims this allows the projector to beam onto the ceiling but, in my use, I wasn’t able to do so without physically angling the whole projector unit itself. A full 180º of tilt would allow it to perform better in this regard, if that’s what you’re looking for in a projector.
Images projected onto a wall using the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro are of excellent quality, although you will want to dive into the picture settings to make some adjustments for the best results. Out of the box, images could look washed out and overexposed, but after diving into the albeit limited picture settings and making a few adjustments, I found that the projected images were able to deliver good color and contrast. I was impressed with its ability to combat some bright ambient light filtering into my testing room, too. Naturally, when the lights went down, the images projected onto my wall became much clearer.
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
Because the MoGo 3 Pro is a portable projector it needs to rely on its built-in speakers for sound, which is where things get less positive. The XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro has 2 x 5W Harman Kardon speakers built in which, sadly, fail to deliver anywhere near a cinematic experience, despite XGIMI's claims. Dolby Audio and Dolby Digital Plus are both supported formats, but it adds little to what is an overall unengaging sound. For casual viewing with friends, family or even by yourself, it can pass, but if you’re planning on movie nights when you’re away camping or on holiday, for example, then you’ll likely be disappointed. You can connect a Bluetooth speaker to help boost things on the audio front, and a Mini HDMI connection is onboard with ARC support, meaning you can connect a soundbar, for example, using a Mini HDMI-to-HDMI cable. But if you’ve taken the MoGo 3 Pro away on a camping trip, you’re unlikely to have access to a full-fat external audio system.
The XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro also doesn’t have a built-in battery, which naturally can also affect its portability. If you know you’re going to want to take it somewhere where a power outlet won’t be accessible, then you can connect a USB-C power bank with a minimum power output of 65W, or you can buy the optional PowerBase stand, which not only raises the projector off the ground or a small table, but has its own built-in battery to keep it powered. XGIMI says the stand allows you to “continuously play a full-length movie without interruption,” although I found that would be the case only if said movie is 2.5 hours or less.
The other disappointing aspect I found when using the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro was that it could be slow in use. Volume adjustments using the remote control took a few seconds to register; navigating around the main home page regularly suffered from lag and I even found when trying to watch a particularly fast moving scene from The Incredibles on Disney+ that the projector just completely crashed. I should stress that this was an isolated incident that I couldn’t repeat with other fast-motion content such as sports.
The XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro projector is, ultimately, a good option for anyone who wants big-screen thrills when on the go or perhaps as an option for a second bedroom at home in place of installing a TV. Keep in mind when comparing projectors, the 450 ISO lumens from the MoGo 3 Pro is about equivalent to 500 ANSI lumens. It does well against its main competition, Samsung’s The Freestyle projector, particularly when it comes to brightness. But, if your budget can stretch, you’ll find greater performance from the likes of the 4K RGB Laser equipped LG CineBeam Q.
XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro review: Price & availability
Launched on September 6, 2024
List price of $449 / £429 / AU$1,099
Optional accessories cost extra
The XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro was announced and officially launched at IFA Berlin on September 6, 2024, alongside the Aura 2 4K UST projector. It’s available to buy now for $449 / £429 / AU$1,099 for the standalone projector. You can buy it bundled with the PowerBase stand for $499 / £499 / AU$1,199
You can also pick up an optional carry case for the MoGo 3 Pro projector, which is only available in green, for $69 / £59 / AU$99.
The XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro portable projector’s list price is significantly less than the Samsung The Freestyle projector in the US, UK and Australia. However, Samsung’s projector does have greater HDR support, with HDR10+ available. The MoGo 3 Pro maxes out at ‘standard’ HDR10, although as we said in our Samsung The Freestyle projector review, “I didn’t see much of a picture quality difference when viewing in HDR from standard HD format”, so the MoGo 3 Pro’s lack of extended support isn’t necessarily a mark against it.
XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro review: Specs
XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro review: Design & features
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
Compact and lightweight
Google TV interface
Can double up as a Bluetooth speaker
The XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro sports a cylindrical form factor and is finished in an anodized silver aluminum color. It’s lightweight at just over one kilogram, making it a breeze to not only move around your home, but to throw into a bag to take on the road with you. The main projector unit itself features an integrated stand, which also houses the built-in speaker system.
When connected to power, the MoGo 3 Pro turns on as soon as you lift it up to separate it from its stand. You can then tilt it through 130º to project an image onto a wall or screen. Alternatively, when you lift the projector from its integrated stand to power it on, you can leave it in this position, where it will light up in one of three selectable colors. In this mode, you can use it as a nightlight or you can stream music to it via Bluetooth, and you can select an option that will see the light pulse – this is more of a flickering of the light rather than it moving in time with the music.
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
A remote control comes supplied with the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro and two AAA batteries to power it. The remote feels good to hold, although I wasn’t enamored with the layout of the buttons. I found it required a bit of a learning process: the home button is in the bottom right for example and I’m used to it being more central on the majority of other remote controls I’ve used. I also occasionally pressed the Google Assistant button when I actually wanted to select ‘settings’. The remote control isn’t backlit, which can make things even trickier. Fortunately, the volume button is in an obvious and hard-to-miss place at the bottom, although I found the projector took a short while to register whenever I wanted to turn the volume up. Alternatively, because the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro uses the Google TV operating system, you’re able to use your phone as a remote control via the Google Home app.
The single-chip DLP projector uses an LED light source, which XGIMI says is good for 25,000 hours of use. The company’s ISA 2.0 technology is onboard, which gives access to a number of especially useful setup tools, including automatic keystone correction, autofocus, obstacle avoidance, screen alignment and eye protection. Automatic screen adjustments are just a click away via a button on the remote control and you’re free to manually adjust settings further if you wish. I found autofocus to be the most successful of all the settings, while auto keystone correction delivered mixed results. The idea of this setting is that it will automatically realign the screen if you move the projector around. In most instances it worked fine, but I was occasionally forced to dive into the manual settings to get the screen aligned properly.
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(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
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(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
A small selection of accessories is available for the MoGo 3 Pro, including a PowerBase stand which has a built-in 20,000mAh battery for keeping the projector running when a power outlet isn’t accessible. XGIMI says it’s good for 2.5 hours of playback time when the projector’s brightness setting is set to Eco mode, which is just enough for movies such as Deadpool vs Wolverine, but too short for recent releases such as Wicked. When using the MoGo 3 Pro with just the PowerBase stand, the projector defaults to Eco mode. It can be changed, but it will impact battery life significantly.
A carry case is also available to keep it better protected during transport and a Creative Optical Filter can be placed over the MoGo 3 Pro’s lens to project a much larger image onto a wall. It’s intended to be used with the XGIMI Wall app to project underwater seascapes or immersive starry night sky images.
While the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro features a Mini HDMI input for connecting to either an external sound system or a media streaming device, for the most part, you’ll likely be using the built-in apps to access content. In this regard, it’s good news as the MoGo 3 Pro uses Google TV, which provides access to a huge selection of apps and services. Perhaps most crucially, Netflix is supported. The ubiquitous streaming service doesn’t always play nicely with projector systems – a third-party app is required to access it on XGIMI's own Aura 2 for example, which uses the Android TV OS instead – so it’s great to see it front and center here. In a similar vein to the Samsung Freestyle projector, the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro uses the older Wi-Fi 5 standard, which is more than capable enough to handle streaming, and didn’t cause any issues during my use.
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
As a predominantly streaming-focused projector, connections on the MoGo 3 Pro are limited to micro HDMI. It would have been great to have received a cable or adaptor in the box, but alas, you’ll need to buy one if you want to connect an external gaming console, Blu-ray player, or other HDMI source. The micro HDMI connection does support HDMI-ARC, which allows you to connect it to a soundbar or other audio system, but there isn’t a 3.5mm audio output. You can also stream music to the projector via Bluetooth, or from the projector to a Bluetooth speaker thanks to dual Bluetooth support. I connected the projector to a Beats Pill to test this feature and experienced no obvious signs of audio delay. Android users can stream wirelessly via Google Cast, and AirPlay is supported too. XGIMI says in the support menus that you need to download the MagiCast app from the Google Play Store, but I searched for it and had no luck. I eventually found another app called AirMirror that allowed me to mirror the screen of my iPhone and stream music via AirPlay.
Design & features score: 4 / 5
XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro review: Picture & sound quality
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
Decent brightness even in ambient light conditions
Impressive picture quality after some adjustments
Sound is poor unless you turn it up to maximum
I went into my review of the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro with limited expectations about the picture quality it would be able to produce, given its size and limited specs. I’d previously reviewed the XGIMI Aura 2 which produced a gorgeous and bright image, but this was expected since it has a 2300 ISO lumens rating. The MoGo 3 Pro’s 450 ISO lumens rating, therefore, suggested to me it would only really function at its best in the dark.
The XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro supports the HDR10 HDR format, which did provide some benefit to contrast in movie scenes with dark and bright elements. The company claims the projector supports 90% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. With Game mode activated, XGIMI says the MoGo 3 Pro has input lag of ≈ 27ms with auto keystone correction turned off and ≈ 60ms with it turned on.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that it held up well in a brighter room, with ambient sunlight coming in through a small opening. With the overhead lights turned on, it was totally unusable, but with just some sunlight creeping in, I was able to watch the projected image without too much fuss. You are able to project an image up to 200 inches in size, but XGIMI says that for best results you’ll want to stay within a boundary of 60 to 120 inches. For reference, the size of the image I was able to project onto my wall was around 80 inches, with the projector positioned around 200cm (80 inches) from the wall. XGIMI says the throw ratio of the MoGo 3 Pro is 1.2:1.
There are slightly different picture presets depending on whether you’re watching HDR or SDR content. The majority of my testing used HDR content, which presented Standard, Sport and Game presets. I left it on Standard most of the time as I felt this offered the best overall picture. I was surprised to not find a ‘Movie’ picture preset, especially given the fact this will likely be the projector’s main use.
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
There are also three different brightness settings hidden within the menus: Standard, Eco and Performance. Again, I left the standard option selected the majority of the time. Eco mode limits brightness to 40% to help prolong battery life, and in darker rooms is perfectly fine to watch. If you’re watching in a brighter room, however, it doesn’t do as good a job.
Performance mode, meanwhile, introduces a blue tint to the image, which was a little peculiar... I was expecting this mode to ramp up the brightness further, but it seemed to have the opposite effect. When this mode is selected, the built-in cooling fan also gets turned up to 11 to the point where it’s clearly audible. It’s also worth noting that the performance brightness mode can only be enabled when the official power adapter is plugged directly into the projector unit. It won’t work with other power adapters or when connected to a power bank or the PowerBase stand.
Enabling Performance brightness mode introduced a blue/green tint to the image. (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
A stream of Alien: Romulus provided a good test of darker content for the MoGo 3 Pro and, considering its size, specs and price, I was pleased with the results when watching in a dimly lit room. It was able to unearth details in shadowy areas of a scene, while brighter areas such as lights had a satisfying pop.
I switched over to Toy Story on Disney Plus for its color-rich palette and generally bright scenes. The various reds, yellows, greens and blues were prominent, although not quite as vibrant as I’ve seen on TVs and higher-specced projectors. Nevertheless, it was still an enjoyable watch.
Seeing as though the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro is designed to be taken out of the home with you, I set it up in my courtyard to see how it fared when being used outside. I will preface by saying I was projecting onto a dark grey wall, but it was also at night and so, despite the color of the wall coming through, I was still able to watch without trouble. I have no doubts that if you project onto a white wall, a sheet or even a portable projection screen, you will have no issues when watching movies on the road.
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
I also watched my favorite clip from The Incredibles and came across an issue with a fast-moving scene about two-thirds into the movie. When Dash is running through the forest away from Syndrome’s goons, the projector seemed to just crash and stopped playing the movie. Pressing the home button returned me to the main home page, but the same thing happened again when I attempted to watch the scene again. I wasn’t able to replicate this again with any other content, so it could be a one-off, isolated incident or due to a bug that can be fixed via a future firmware update.
The projector’s built-in speaker system is more difficult to be excited about. At full volume it does produce a spacious sound that will ultimately pass for whatever you’re watching. At lesser volumes however, it’s too quiet to do any real service and it lacks any real impact. Connecting a Bluetooth speaker is a fuss-free experience and can work wonders to boost the overall sound output, especially as I didn’t experience any signs of audio lag.
Picture & sound quality score: 4 / 5
XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro review: Value
Cheaper than its closest competitor
Great features and performance
Portable power options cost extra
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
With a list price of $499 / £449 / AU$1,099, the MoGo 3 Pro offers enough to make it worth recommending. Its most obvious competitor, the Samsung The Freestyle, costs more in most markets yet has a similar specs list. Samsung’s offering doesn’t go quite as bright, but it does use the excellent Tizen operating system and it supports cloud gaming. Like the MoGo 3 Pro, there’s no built-in battery, but an optional base is available to make it truly portable.
To this end, I think the XGIMI's optional battery-powered base is the better choice as it’s also a tripod. Samsung’s option only raises the projector a few extra inches, so you may still need a table to put it on for optimal results. XGIMI's MoGo 3 Pro also has the added benefit of keeping the lens protected when it’s not in use. You will need to consider spending extra on the PowerBase stand (which is more cost effective to buy as a bundle with the projector) or a power bank that meets the required criteria.
If you can spend more and your only need for a portable projector is to use it in your garden, then almost any projector will do the job when plugged into an extension cord.
Value score: 4 / 5
Should you buy the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro?
Buy it if...
You want a well-specced portable projector The MoGo 3 Pro is especially portable thanks to a compact design and lightweight build. A lightweight battery-powered tripod base, or power from an external power bank, allows it to be used practically anywhere.
You plan to watch in dark conditions The MoGo 3 Pro does well to combat ambient lighting in rooms, but when the sun goes down, it really comes into its own.
Don't buy it if...
You want 4K picture The MoGo 3 Pro only supports up to full HD 1080p, which does mean picture quality can diminish if you supersize your projected image
You like to game at odd angles 27ms of input lag with auto keystone turned off is pretty decent, but this does mean you have to have the projector set up to directly face your projection surface.
Also consider
Samsung The Freestyle 2nd Gen It’s been mentioned throughout this review for good reason, Samsung’s portable projector looks incredibly similar and has a similar spec sheet. It fares better in the gaming arena, but its picture isn’t quite as bright. But it costs quite a bit more than the XGIMI, and rarely receives discounts. Read our in-depth Samsung The Freestyle 2nd Gen review.
LG CineBeam Q LG’s portable projector rocks a funky retro design and supports 4K content with HDR. Color performance is excellent and brightness levels are good for a portable model. It does cost a lot more, but you also get a lot more in return compared to the MoGo 3 Pro. Read our full LG CineBeam Q review.
How I tested the Xgimi MoGo 3 Pro
I used the projector in a range of light conditions
Set it up inside and outside to test portability
Watched a variety of dark and bright content
I tested the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro at home over a period of about a month so I could experience it during various daytime living conditions. This meant multiple light sources, be it natural daylight or overhead lightbulbs, came into my testing room, at which point I rated the picture to see how well it performed.
The projector was tested against a white wall for the duration of my review, but also on a dark grey wall outside to assess its portable credentials. Both performed well and I could see noticeable differences before and after calibration.
I used a variety of content, including HDR and SDR content from a variety of streaming services.
My testing evaluates the projector's performance against other reviews my colleagues at TechRadar have conducted. I have been writing about and reviewing displays for five years.
The Optoma UHZ66 is a rather staid update to the company’s projector lineup. It offers a bright 4K picture with solid contrast and the useful ability to drop down to 1080p and run at 240Hz for smooth gaming, but it’s not breaking the mold in any particular way. It may have good color, but it does not match competitors like the JMGO N1S Ultra.
HDR viewing on the Optoma UHZ66 leaves plenty to be desired, and its bland design isn’t offset by helpful utilitarian features you find on the best 4K projectors like vertical lens shift — something the BenQ X3100i includes. Factor in the lack of an onboard smart TV system for streaming, the bottom-of-the-barrel remote control, and the weak built-in speaker, and you get a system that’s not offering much value on top of the picture quality.
The Optoma UHZ66 really needed to do more to win our hearts. It’s got a good picture, but the picture is just about all it has, and even at its recent price of about $2,000, a good picture simply isn’t enough.
Optoma UHZ66 4K laser projector review: price and release date
Release date: October 2023
Price: $1,999 (around £1,637 / AU$3,230)
The Optoma UHZ66 has been on the market for a little while now, launching in late 2023. When it arrived, it had a retail price of $2,999 (about £2,935, AU$4,460), but street pricing has come down considerably since then. It’s readily available for $1,999 (around £1,637 / AU$3,230) at the time of writing and has wavered between about $1,800 and $2,300 for much of the past year. At $2,999, it would be an immediate pass for us, but at $1,999, it offers a slightly more competitive value.
The UHZ66 control buttons are located on the projector's top (Image credit: Future)
Optoma UHZ66 4K laser projector review: Specs
Connections include 2 HDMI 2.0 ports (1 with eARC) (Image credit: Future)
Optoma UHZ66 4K laser projector review: design and features
Bland design next to recent competitors
Limited optical adjustments
Requires additional home theater equipment
The Optoma UHZ66 is not one of those projectors that's gotten a recent glow-up, like the JMGO N1S Ultimate or any from Xgimi. Instead, it's your classic white plastic brick that would look just as at home in an office as it would in a home theater. The front of the projector is a flat piece of white plastic with a large lens protruding out of it. The sides are fully vented with grilles and the rear has an additional grille for even more airflow.
On the top of the Optoma UHZ66, you can find a handful of buttons that allow you to navigate the controls in case you misplace the remote control, which will be easy to do given how tiny it is. The top also includes a little slot with access to the zoom dial. That dial gives the UHZ66 an adjustable throw ratio, though no matter what you’re not getting a fairly long throw. The minimum is a 1.4:1 ratio. While optical zoom is useful, the Optoma UHZ66 unfortunately lacks vertical lens shift. I found placing it on a mantle at the back of a room too high to use it at all and also too low to use flipped upside-down. The most ideal setup is likely mounted to the ceiling with a long throw.
The Optoma UHZ66 sits on three small rubber feet allowing for some angle and tilt adjustments to help you align the projection with your wall. There are also mounting holes to set the UHZ66 up with a ceiling mount.
On the back of the projector, you’ll find a small selection of ports. You get two HDMI 2.0 inputs, including one with eARC, a USB port, a 3.5mm audio output, and RJ-45 and RS-232 ports. Given the projector only has a single speaker, an optical audio output would have also been good to see for more options and compatibility with different home theater setups given that HDMI eARC has a length limit and a 3.5mm port won’t carry a surround signal.
The remote included with the UHZ66 is not meant for much. It's a flat little thing about the size of a few stacked credit cards. It has three columns of buttons with no way to physically discern between them, which makes navigating it a pain. It also lacks backlighting, so it's hard to see in the dark conditions of a home theater. It does the job, but it has a long way to go to be user-friendly. It at least provides quick access to a few of the more important settings, such as input selection, picture mode, and keystone controls.
Design and features score: 2.5/5
The UHZ66's included remote isn't particularly user-friendly (Image credit: Future)
System stutters during setting adjustments and signal switches
Let’s start with the good. The Optoma UHZ66 offers a respectably bright image and is easy to get exceptionally sharp with the focus dial. The 4K picture goes a long way at the sizes the projector is ready to display at. The contrast achieved by the projector is also commendable. Many projectors struggle with elevated black levels, but the UHZ66 can dim down quite low for blacks.
As bright as the UHZ66 may get, it doesn't appear to want to get as bright as it's rated for. Instead of hitting its rated 4,000 lumens, it comes closer to 2200 lumens, and even that requires a cooler color temperature setting to achieve. With the default warmer color, it falls toward 2100 lumens. I fiddled with a bunch of settings to see if I couldn’t figure out which might achieve Optoma’s lofty 4,000-lumen mark, but none quite got there.
Running the projector at its brightest settings requires opting for a cooler color temperature which makes the fans kick in. They can be fairly noisy if you're close to them, though they're not shrill or very loud in a larger room. Different settings also don't require the fans to run as hard, such as the dimmer Reference mode.
The color output of the UHZ66 is impressive. ALPD laser projectors haven’t always had the most impressive color gamut coverage in my experience testing, but the UHZ66 blasts out impactful color for something like the opening credits of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. One catch, though: it doesn’t seem to want to display its full color gamut when HDR is enabled. Everything turns rather mellow when HDR comes on. This is pretty much the opposite of what you’d expect from HDR content, so if you prefer a vibrant look, you’re better off setting your source devices to SDR output. Now, movies and TV don’t look bad in this condition, but they just lack some of the pop that they could have.
Trying to find ideal settings on the Optoma UHZ66 can be a real headache. The projector offers plenty of settings for tweaking the image, but navigating the menus is tedious thanks to the remote. And even just changing the volume on the Optoma UHZ66 is enough demand for the processor to actually cause the image to stutter. Switching picture modes or major settings can see blips where the projector goes out and comes back after a couple of seconds. And this happens not only when you’re changing settings yourself but also when you’re watching content and then back out to a menu.
A boon for gamers is the Optoma UHZ66’s ability to switch between 4K 60Hz and 1080p 240Hz modes. In its gaming mode, latency is minimal. It’s hard to detect input lag at 60Hz on the UHZ66 and it's practically imperceptible at the 240Hz mode. DLP projection systems are rather fast as well, providing quick pixel response times to avoid ghosting.
The UHZ66’s single speaker sounds boxed in and rather awful. It's nowhere near loud enough to match the kind of picture you can get from the UHZ66, and really shouldn't be relied on for anything.
Picture quality score: 3.5/5
The UHZ66 has manual zoom and focus controls, but no lens shift (Image credit: Future)
Optoma UHZ66 4K laser projector review: value
Limited utility for the price
Calls for streaming devices and external speakers
The Optoma UHZ66 is just one piece of a home theater setup. While it does include a speaker, it’s poorly matched for the theater capabilities of the projector. The lack of an onboard smart TV system also means you’ll need a source device no matter what setup you go for. While there are certainly some nice extras, like the 240Hz mode, it’s still largely filling just one role. If it came with more flexibility, such as an adjustable lens offset or hardware keystone, it would offer more value. But as it is, it’s fairly expensive to leave so much out, especially when competing projectors don’t make such omissions.
Value score: 2.5/5
Should I buy the Optoma UHZ66 4K laser projector?
(Image credit: Future)
Buy it if...
You’ve got a good ceiling mount already: Between its longer throw and vertical offset, the Optoma UHZ66 will serve well mounted to a ceiling at the back of a room and wired into an existing home theater setup.
You’re looking for responsive gaming: The gaming mode on the UHZ66 offers minimal input lag, and that lag drops to imperceptible levels in the 1080p 240Hz mode.
Don’t buy it if…
You want the best picture: The Optoma UHZ66 is good, but not amazing. The color from the JMGO N1S Ultra is more impressive and less finicky with HDR content.
You want an all-in-one package: Though the UHZ66 includes a speaker, it’s not up to the task for home theater audio. And the lack of a smart TV interface means you’ll need at least a streaming stick to get going.
You have aesthetic concerns: Not many projectors have what I’d call stunning aesthetics, but the UHZ66 makes little attempt at being pretty or subtle. The bland white hunk of plastic isn’t going to lend much to your decor.
Also consider...
BenQ X3100i The BenQ X3100i offers several upgrades over the UHZ66. It may not be as bright, but it’s geared up for gaming, is flexible, and offers an Android TV streaming stick for the money.
BenQ X300G The BenQ X300G is cheaper, but still reasonably bright and ready to shine a 4K 60Hz picture or 1080p 240Hz picture. It’s competent competition and a little better looking, too.
JMGO N1S Ultra The JMGO N1S Ultra is an all-in-one package with stunning visuals, excellent color, Google TV built-in, impactful speakers, and easy projection adjustments (even if many of them are digital).
Tested at home in multiple, real-world viewing conditions
Presented the display with a variety of media and formats
I have tested numerous projectors and displays over the last half-decade
I tested the Optoma UHZ66 at home, in real-world conditions. This saw it faced with ambient light coming in from numerous windows, in-room lighting, as well as ambient noise that both the projector and speaker systems had to overcome. The projector was tested both against a bare, white wall and an Akia Screens CineWhite screen. It was presented with streamed content, HDR and non-HDR, and PC gameplay.
My testing evaluates the projector’s performance with respect to its price and competition from other models I and colleagues at TechRadar have tested.
I have been testing projectors since 2021 and displays for even longer.
The Kaleidescape Strato V is the latest Movie Player from Kaleidescape, and it represents a definite shift for the company. Kaleidescape is synonymous with a premium movie experience at home, offering a proprietary ecosystem based around its own hardware and servers. While no one questions the quality of Kaleidescape’s products, the price of admission has been steep and the lack of Dolby Vision support has been a glaring omission given the brand’s pursuit of high-end video and audio performance.
The new Kaleidescape Strato V addresses both of these issues by offering Dolby Vision support and lowering the cost of entry. To achieve this, the Strato V integrates a 960GB solid-state hard drive, and while that means it can only store around ten 4K movies downloaded from the company’s Movie Store at any one time, at least it combines the movie player and movie server into a single, more affordable device that's an excellent alternative to the best 4k Blu-ray players.
With Kaleidescape, you can immediately access a huge library of films, TV shows, and concert videos, with new titles often available months before any disc release. The picture and sound quality are exceptional, with stunning 4K HDR10 and Dolby Vision images and full lossless audio that includes Dolby Atmos and DTS:X – something you don’t get from the best streaming services, which only provide compressed soundtracks. The result is a performance that’s at least equal to a disc but without taking up all your shelf space. So if you want convenience without any compromise look no further than the Strato V.
The new Strato V combines a movie player with built-in 960GB SSD storage – enough to hold 10 movies at a time (Image credit: Future)
KALEIDESCAPE STRATO V review: Price & release
Price: $3,995 / £5,379
Release date: September 2024
The Kaleidescape Strato V is available now through registered dealers and online sellers like Best Buy in the US and retails for $3,995 / £5,379. While this certainly isn’t cheap it’s definitely more affordable than the alternative of buying the Kaleidescape Strato C Movie Player. The latter costs about the same but doesn’t support Dolby Vision and requires you to buy one of Kaleidescape’s Terra Prime servers, which are very pricey. Of course, if you want to expand the storage of the Strato V you can add a Terra Prime server, although the extra cost does rather defeat the whole point of buying one.
KALEIDESCAPE STRATO V review: Specs
The Strato V uses wired Ethernet for a network connection; it has no Wi-Fi option (Image credit: Future)
KALEIDESCAPE STRATO V review: Design
Great build quality
Kaleidescape remote app
Control over Ethernet
The Kaleidescape Strato V certainly looks like a premium product with a sleek, stylish and very well-made cabinet that uses a combination of a 3mm-thick black anodised aluminium chassis combined with a 3mm-thick black glass front with an illuminated Kaleidescape logo. The unit is silent in operation and includes a 960GB solid-state drive, along with a powerful system-on-chip (SoC).
The unit is only 20cm wide, which might disappoint those who like their AV equipment full width, but there’s an optional faceplate for mounting in an equipment rack. There’s also a dual faceplate for use with a compact Terra Prime server, along with a wall bracket for mounting behind a TV.
The connectivity is at the rear, with a gold-plated HDMI 2.1 output, a coaxial digital audio output using a gold-plated RCA phono connector, and an optical digital output. There’s also a gigabit Ethernet port, a USB 3.0 port, an IR input, a service port, and a 12V input for the included power adapter brick. There is no Wi-Fi connectivity, so you will need a wired Ethernet connection for downloading movies, accessing the web interface, updating firmware and using the control app.
The included remote is small and simple but gets the job done. There’s no backlight, which can be annoying in a pitch-black home cinema, but given Kaleidescape’s target market, chances are you’ll be using a third-party control system over Ethernet like Crestron, AMX, Savant or Control4. There’s also the Kaleidescape app (iOS or Android) which makes an effective controller, providing an alternative to the remote with its handy swipe function and access to the Kaleidescape Movie Store.
Design score: 5/5
The Kaleidescape Movie Store features new releases that aren't yet available on VOD services (Image credit: Future)
KALEIDESCAPE STRATO V review: Features
Scalable storage options
Highest quality video
Fully lossless audio
The Kaleidescape Strato V’s primary function is as a high-end movie player that offers the best video and audio compared to any device on the market. To achieve this it supports every resolution up to 4K (3840 x 2160), and frame rates up to 60p. It also supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision high dynamic range, plus lossless audio up to and including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
Crucially, it isn’t limited to certain file sizes as with a 4K disc, nor is it restricted to lower bit rates like streaming services – supporting file sizes of over 100GB and speeds up to 100Mbps. As a result, when you buy or rent movies, TV shows or concerts from the Kaleidescape Movie Store you’re guaranteed the best picture and sound possible from a home entertainment product.
The Strato V is primarily designed to operate as a standalone unit, which is why it has a built-in solid-state hard drive. The downside is that the number of movies you can store at any one time is limited to around 10, and if you want to watch something else you have to download it. Once you purchase a title from the Kaleidescape Movie Store it remains accessible in your collection for download, even if it isn’t stored locally on the Strato V.
If you would rather store your entire collection on a drive for instant access you can connect to one of Kaleidescape’s Terra Prime servers. While doing so is obviously more expensive, and the built-in SSD is no longer available, the process is simple and won’t affect the Strato V’s performance in any way. It’s great to have the option to scale up the storage, even if you never actually need to.
Features score: 5/5
A Strato V setup menu page (Image credit: Future)
KALEIDESCAPE STRATO V review: Setup
Web-based interface
Selectable aspect ratios
Cataloging your discs
The Kaleidescape Strato V is incredibly easy to set up, and all you need to do is plug in the power brick, attach an Ethernet cable and connect to your display, or in my case an AV processor. Kaleidescape even includes a THX Certified HDMI cable, which is a nice touch. Once powered up, just follow the onscreen instructions and you’ll be up and running in no time.
The initial options allow you to set up the Strato V as a standalone player, configure it as a new system with a Terra movie server, or add it as a new zone to an existing Kaleidescape system. When set up as a standalone player it operates independently, only playing movies stored locally on its internal drive, and can’t be grouped with other Strato V units for additional storage.
After I selected standalone mode, the activation page appeared. You then either enter your email address if you already have a Kaleidescape account or create a new one. Once you’ve entered your email address you’ll receive a confirmation email to activate the player. You’ll obviously need to add your credit card details as well for making purchases from the Kaleidescape Movie Store.
The web-based interface offers access to all of the Strato V’s setup options and is my preferred choice for the initial installation, although once completed the remote is fine for accessing your movies on the player (Ready to Play), and navigating the Kaleidescape Movie Store and general settings.
In terms of the initial settings you can leave most at their defaults because the Strato V will read the EDID from your display, receiver or processor and optimise accordingly. The one area you may need to adjust manually is the aspect ratio, especially if like me you use a 2.35:1 projector screen. This feature works brilliantly, not only formatting the screens and menus for the wider aspect ratio, but also automatically rescaling 1.85:1 content within the ‘Scope ratio screen.
The main reason for buying a Strato V is access to the Kaleidescape Movie Store, and here your experience will really depend on on where you live. In the US the choice is huge and new films are added months before they’re released on disc, whereas elsewhere the choice isn’t as impressive, and films take longer to be added. I appreciate that studio agreements will differ from territory to territory, but given the store is the main feature it’s a bit frustrating if you live outside the States.
One final feature that Kaleidescape offers is the option to catalog your physical Blu-ray and DVD collections into a digital format. You’ll need to connect an external disc drive via USB, but once connected, the Strato V enters Recognition Mode. Insert a disc into the drive, and the Strato begins cataloging it. The process only takes a few seconds, and you can then see the title in the Store under Digital Offers – sometimes with a discount for the digital version.
The Strato V provides detailed info on video and audio formats during playback (Image credit: Future)
KALEIDESCAPE STRATO V review: Performance
Well-designed and intuitive interface
Exceptional picture and sound quality
Excellent upscaling of lower resolutions
The Kaleidescape Strato V is a rock-solid media player thanks to its intuitive user interface, and is also very responsive in operation. The Ready to Play page has titles from the Store along the top, a second layer showing the unwatched titles currently on the internal drive, followed by a layer of paused movies, then the played movies, and finally any movies you’ve marked as favourites.
Unlike the Strato C, the Strato V doesn’t show you all the films you’ve bought on the home page, only those on the internal drive. If you want to see the complete collection you’ll need to go to your account on the Movie Store, but this keeps things neat and tidy. The system automatically deletes the oldest played content to free up space, unless you mark a title as a favourite.
When you click on a title you get information about it, along with options to play, pause or choose a specific scene. When something is playing you can also press the up button on the remote and see additional information such as audio options and subtitles. The entire process is completely seamless, and I never had any issues with playing, pausing or stopping movies. It’s also worth pointing out that the Strato V runs completely silent and cool in operation.
The process of buying titles from the Movie Store couldn’t be easier, and you can access it via the Kaleidescape website, through the player’s interface or even using the app. There are thousands of titles available for purchase or rental, many of which haven’t even been released on 4K disc yet.
I found deleting existing films off the internal drive and downloading new ones onto it to be straightforward. If you decide to rent rather than purchase a title, it will remain on your system for 30 days, and once you begin watching it there’s a 48-hour window. If you like the film and decide to buy it within the 30-day rental period, half the rental price is credited towards the purchase.
The speed of download will depend on your internet connection – if you’re lucky enough to have gigabit speeds you can download movies in around 10 to 15 minutes. Unfortunately, I live in the countryside and only have speeds of 50Mbps, so it took about two hours to download a movie.
When you buy a title it might offer 4K Dolby Vision and 4K HDR10 versions, but even if your display doesn’t support Dolby Vision you still download the former. The Strato V will automatically output whatever your display is capable of handling, while the 4K HDR10 version is only intended for the Strato C because that player doesn’t support Dolby Vision at all.
Kaleidescape’s use of larger file sizes and higher bit rates results in stunning images that are at least as good as the equivalent 4K Ultra HD disc, if not better. I watched a number titles, including Top Gun: Maverick, Dune Part 2, and Furiosa, and the picture quality is simply stunning. The 4K images are sharp and detailed, the HDR10 or Dolby Vision is delivered precisely, and the overall presentation is free of any compression artefacts or other issues.
While you can obviously watch movies on streamers, or via VOD services like iTunes and Prime Video, Kaleidescape offers a quantum leap in quality. In fact, the larger file sizes mean it can even surpass 4K Blu-rays at times. A good example is Once Upon a Time in the West, which is a three-hour movie that gets crammed onto a 66GB 4K Blu-ray disc. Kaleidescape’s file is significantly larger, providing more space and a higher bit rate, which results in a better-defined image when directly comparing this film on both formats.
The audio is equally impressive, with full lossless support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. While streaming services may offer Atmos, it is usually delivered via lossy Dolby Digital Plus, but with Kaleidescape you’re enjoying the same full lossless experience you get with Blu-rays. Hans Zimmer Live in Prague sounds amazing in Atmos, while Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban benefits from a DTS:X soundtrack that really brings the wizarding world to life. The scene where the dementors search the Hogwarts Express is doubly scary thanks to the genuine scale and really deep bass.
While I expected the 4K images to look superb, I was equally impressed by the quality of the Strato V’s upscaling. When watching lower-resolution content the picture is clean and well-defined, with no obvious scaling artefacts. The same is true when the player automatically re-scales 1.85:1 content within the 2.35:1 aspect ratio – the process is seamless and the results are free of any scaling artefacts.
Performance score: 5/5
(Image credit: Future)
KALEIDESCAPE STRATO V review: Value
It’s a significant investment
There’s no direct competitor
The idea of value for money is always relative, and there’s no denying the Kaleidescape Strato V represents a significant investment. However, once purchased the ability to buy new movies months before they arrive on 4K disc in quality that’s at least as good, if not better, and without taking up shelf space is very appealing. This is especially true if you live in the United States, where the Movie Store library is genuinely impressive.
If on the other hand you’re the kind of person who prefers owning physical media, just to be on the safe side, and you don’t mind waiting for the disc to come out, then you could simply buy a media player and storage, rip your own discs and create a custom server for significantly less. The beauty of Kaleidescape’s unique ecosystem is that they do everything for you, so all you have to do is sit back and enjoy your favourite movies.
Value score: 5/5
KALEIDESCAPE STRATO V review: Should I buy it?
Buy it if…
You want the best video and audio quality: The larger file sizes offered by Kaleidescape, along with bit rates up to 100Mbps, ensure that 4K and HDR10/Dolby Vision performance is the best of any device on the market.
You want a slick and intuitive user interface: The Strato V’s intuitive user interface and high-powered processing ensure that downloading and watching content is a seamless, responsive and enjoyable experience.
You want early access to the latest movies: In the US in particular the Movie Store offers films months before they are released on UHD disc, and there are even 4K titles available that aren’t currently on physical media.View Deal
Don't buy it if…
You want to collect physical media: Kaleidescape’s system is based on a download model with titles accessed from an online account and stored on built-in drives. If you prefer physically owning content, discs are still your best bet.
You want to rip your disc collection: The cataloguing feature aside, the Strato V is designed to access Kaleidescape’s Movie Store and download content. if you want to rip discs you’re better off buying a media player and storage.
You want a streaming service: This is not a subscription streaming service like Netflix. Instead, you buy titles as very large files that, depending on your internet, can take a long time to download, but the picture and sound quality is significantly better.View Deal
(Image credit: Future)
How I tested the KALEIDESCAPE STRATO V
Reviewed in a dedicated home cinema
Video evaluated using 4K, HDR10 and Dolby Vision
Audio evaluated using Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
I tested the Kaleidescape Strato V in my reference home cinema where the video is handled by a JVC DLA-NZ900 projector, and the audio is configured in a 9.4.6-channel configuration using a Trinnov Altitude16 AV processor and 16-channel power amplifier.
I extensively tested 4K and HDR10 video, along with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X lossless spatial audio in the home cinema, although for completeness I also used an LG G4 OLED TV in my living room to test the Kaleidescape Strato V’s Dolby Vision capabilities.
Kaleidescape was kind enough to include a number of films pre-loaded, as well as more in the account, along with a credit for additional purchases and rentals. This provided me with an opportunity to test every aspect of the store and overall ecosystem.
The Formovie Cinema Edge is a follow-up on the well-regarded Formovie Theater, a projector that gained fame upon release for its Dolby Vision high dynamic range support – a rare feature among the best 4K projectors. Rather than being a shiny, new upgrade, the Cinema Edge is a pared-down model with a lower price. While it launched at around $2,199 (about £1,420 / AU$2,775), it has since settled at $1,799, making it a true budget ultra short throw (UST) projector offering.
The Formovie Cinema Edge's ALPD ((Advanced Laser Phosphor Display) laser light engine delivers a reasonably bright and sharp 4K image that looks great in the dark, and decent in well-lit environments. It has Google TV for streaming and a pair of 15-watt speakers, giving you a complete package, though both elements could perform better.
While it’s relatively cheap compared to other examples of the best ultra short throw projectors, the Formovie Cinema Edge has serious competition. I recently reviewed the Hisense PX3-Pro ($3,500), and the difference in image quality between the two is stark, with the dazzling brightness, color, and contrast of the PX3-Pro’s picture beating the Formovie Cinema Edge hands-down. The PX3-Pro is considerably more expensive, but even the older but still available Hisense PX2-Pro (around $2,000) has a better-looking picture.
Formovie Cinema Edge review: price and release date
Release date: September 2024
MSRP: $2,499
The Formovie Cinema Edge’s pricing is a bit all over the place. It launched at a $2,199 (about £1,650 / AU$3,250) pre-order price, though Formovie lists the retail price at $2499. Meanwhile, both Amazon and ProjectorScreen.com in the US now have the price listed at $1,799 – a steep decrease.
The Cinema Edge's laser light engine viewed from top (Image credit: Future)
Formovie Cinema Edge review: Specs
Connections include 3 HDMI 2.1 ports (1 with eARC) (Image credit: Future)
Formovie Cinema Edge review: design and features
All-in-one design for a simple theater setup
Front adjustable feet limit angle corrections
Google TV cumbersome to navigate
The Formovie Cinema Edge is a compact UST projector standing just over 3.5 inches tall. Width is 17.95 inches and it’s a little over a foot deep. With a 0.22:1 throw ratio, it can sit extra close to the wall, with only a 33 cm distance needed to project a 120-inch picture.
The Formovie Cinema Edge sits on three feet with only the front two offering height adjustments. This means unless you’ve got a stand and wall that sit perfectly perpendicular (or at just over a 90-degree angle) to each other, you’ll need an adjustable console underneath the projector. The projector does support digital keystone adjustments, but these should be used only after making physical adjustments, as digital keystone processing increases latency and reduces picture resolution.
The Cinema Edge packs in the Google TV smart TV interface and 30-watt speakers, letting you quickly get up and running with all your cinema needs. That said, all-in-one packages can struggle to do everything well.
The processor running Google TV on the Formovie Cinema Edge is fairly weak. It stumbles when opening settings while content is playing, and that can be trouble if you’re trying to tweak picture settings while evaluating the impact of your adjustments on the picture. Navigating the operating system can prove a little tedious as well. Sluggishness is a common ailment for projectors running Android or Google TV, and the Cinema Edge falls prey to it.
It’s small fries, but if you’re hoping to take the Formovie Cinema Edge out of the box, set it down, and experience its magic right away, you’ll need to temper your expectations. The configuration, regardless of whether you’re going for the full Google TV streaming experience or just basic HDMI input setup, takes a long time.
Around the back, you’ll find enough HDMI 2.1 ports for a solid home theater setup, including support for eARC on one of them. Optical digital audio output is also available. A pair of USB ports are located on the back, providing power for a streaming stick or external storage for local media playback.
Like many laser projectors, the Formovie Cinema Edge has a feature that detects when someone gets too close to the laser output and automatically dims the display. It promptly activates, though oddly doesn’t go as black as on some others.
Design and features score: 4/5
The Cinema Edge's picture quality shines in a dark viewing environment (Image credit: Future)
Formovie Cinema Edge review: picture quality
1900 ISO lumens plenty for dim and dark environments
Not as color-rich as RGB laser competitors
Motion smoothing by default, but picture controls to compensate
The Formovie Cinema Edge readily projects a 100-inch picture with crisp 4K detail. It looks best in a very dim or dark room, though it’s also bright enough to watch some content during the daytime. RuPauls’ Drag Race, for instance, is typically bright, and it’s easy to watch even in a well-lit room, though sunlight can still be a bit much.
Contrast is also fairly strong. Alien was a joy to watch, with the intricate, H.R. Giger-designed mechanical details of the ship shining brightly while the nooks and crannies sank effectively into darkness.
Alas, the Formovie Cinema Edge is a simple ALPD projector that doesn’t deliver the same color richness of the Formovie Theater or Hisense’s PX3-Pro, both of which are specced to achieve around 100% of BT.2020 color gamut coverage. Watching Avatar 2, it was painfully apparent how much more drab the visuals were by comparison, with the many blue hues looking dull and the flora and fauna throughout failing to exude their characteristic vibrance. This isn’t to say the Formovie Cinema Edge looks bad, but there are better options on the market for picture quality.
I also noticed plenty of blown-out highlights in the earlier scenes after the Sully family joins the water tribe in Avatar 2. The Formovie Theater had some tone mapping issues in our hands-on testing, and it appears that’s the case again here. HDR is also limited to HDR10 and HLG on the Cinema Edge – there’s no Dolby Vision or HDR10+.
The Formovie Cinema Edge has a fairly aggressive motion smoothing feature (called MJC) enabled in most of its picture settings by default. It’s not the worst-looking implementation of motion smoothing I’ve seen, but it looks better set to Low or disabled outright. Either way, the projector can struggle a bit with motion. Fight sequences looked choppy at times with or without MJC enabled. At Low, it subtly smooths out camera motion, though action can still look a little overdone.
For what it’s worth, the Formovie Cinema Edge includes a veritable trove of picture settings to adjust. It does little to explain what any of them are, though, so it may be difficult to dial in things to your liking. Thankfully, the picture generally looks good without getting into the weeds.
The sound put out by the Formovie Cinema Edge’s modest built-in speakers isn’t explosive, but they deliver a half-decent volume level for a small living room. The soundstage isn’t very wide, and there’s no deep bass, but it’s fine for casual viewing. For a more serious movie-viewing setup, external speakers will be an obvious upgrade.
Picture quality score: 3.5/5
The Cinema Edge comes with a basic remote control to operate its Google TV interface (Image credit: Future)
Formovie Cinema Edge review: value
Good value at the current reduced price
Older UST projectors pose a competitive threat
The Formovie Cinema Edge has a suggested retail price of $2,499, but that has since been reduced to $1,799. This discounted price is essential to the value of the projector, as it goes up against the Hisense PX2-Pro, which is now cheaper thanks to the launch of the PX3-Pro. It also faces off against Formovie’s higher-end projector, the Formovie Theater, which has also fallen in price since its launch, now seeing discounts as low as $2,299.
Value score: 3/5
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Formovie Cinema Edge?
(Image credit: Future)
Buy it if...
You want a compact projector: The Formovie Cinema Edge is small and sits close to the wall, giving you a big picture without taking up much space.
You want advanced picture customization: If you know just how you like images to look and don’t mind fiddling with settings, the Formovie Cinema Edge has plenty for you to dig through to adjust the picture to your liking.
Don’t buy it if…
You want comprehensive HDR support: The Cinema Edge doesn't have extended color gamut coverage and it lacks HDR10+ and Dolby Vision HDR support.
You want the best all-in-one projector: While the Cinema Edge has a good picture, decent speakers, and okay streaming capabilities, demanding viewers may end up wanting an external streamer and speakers, which will add to the price.
Also consider...
Hisense PX2-Pro The Hisense PX2-Pro has better picture quality and features but costs at least $200 more. It also uses the Google TV smart interface for streaming. It's a less compact option than the Formovie, and its built-in speakers don't offer any better sound quality.
Epson LS650 The Epson LS650 uses a 3LCD laser light source to beam a bright 3,600 lumens image, though its color isn't any better than the Formovie and the built-in Android TV system is worse than Formovie's Google TV platform. Both projectors are currently priced at the same level.
Hisense PX3-Pro The Hisense PX3-Pro is our choice as the best ultra short throw projector for most people. It has a brighter, more color-rich picture than the Formovie and more comprehensive HDR support. At just over $3,000, it’s somewhat on the pricey side, though it’s much less so than other UST projectors from Samsung and LG.
Tested at home in multiple, real-world viewing conditions
Presented the display with a variety of media and formats
I have tested numerous projectors and displays over the last half-decade
I tested the Formovie Cinema Edge at home, in real-world conditions. This saw it faced with ambient light coming in from numerous windows, in-room lighting, as well as ambient noise that both the projector and speaker systems had to overcome. The projector was tested both against a bare, white wall and an Akia Screens CineWhite screen. It was presented with both SDR and 4K HDR streamed content.
My testing evaluates the projector’s performance with respect to its price and competition from other models that I and my colleagues at TechRadar have tested.
I have been testing projectors since 2021 and displays for even longer.
The Samsung HW-Q800D is a mid-priced soundbar, carrying a list price of $999 / £749 / AU$1,099, but don’t be fooled: you won’t get middle-of-the-road quality. In fact, this is a truly excellent 5.1.2 channel Dolby Atmos soundbar, which boasts crisp vocals, rumbling bass and engrossing expansiveness. If you’re looking to unleash truly cinematic sound into your living space, look no further than the Samsung HW-Q800D.
The Samsung HW-Q800D is a soundbar and subwoofer combo – rear speakers are available, but must be purchased separately. But despite the absence of rear channels, this soundbar still asserts a striking spatial impression. That’s in part thanks to fantastic Dolby Atmos and DTS:X effects, both of which are bolstered by upfiring speakers. When watching movies, the positioning of on-screen characters and objects is mapped beautifully by the Samsung HW-Q800D. Atmos helps to create plenty of width and verticality, so you can be enveloped in the action at all times. Overall audio quality is top-drawer too, with super-clear voices, punchy deep bass and detailed musical performance all rolled into one.
On top of that, the Samsung HW-Q800D has a feature-set that is well up to par with many of the best soundbars. For instance, there’s SpaceFit Sound Pro, which uses the soundbar’s built-in mic to tailor audio to fit your room’s acoustics. But there’s also Samsung Q-Symphony, which can integrate your recent Samsung TV’s speakers with the soundbar output for an even more expansive sonic experience.
That’s not to mention a bunch of other options, such as wireless Dolby Atmos with compatible Samsung TVs, Game Mode Pro and Voice Assistant compatibility. But these features may, to some, seem extremely familiar. And that’s because all of them were available with this soundbar’s predecessor, the Samsung HW-Q800C. This 2023 release offers almost the exact same user experience, just without non-region-locked Chromecast compatibility, and with upgraded Bluetooth connectivity (Bluetooth 5.2). So really, the Samsung HW-Q800D is a slight refinement of an already great product – so owners of the HW-Q800C need not upgrade.
For a lot of gamers, the HW-Q800D will be a wonderful companion. You get a specialized game mode which optimizes surround sound for in-game action and 4K HDR passthrough. However, there’s no 4K 120Hz HDMI passthrough – meaning you don’t get the ultimate next-gen gaming experience via the HW-Q800D. That’s a shame, when Sony's mid-range Bravia Theater Bar 8 offers this.
But this isn’t a game-breaking omission. And there were none of those, in my view. Apart from a slight issue with subwoofer pairing, which I swiftly overcame, I had a blast during my time testing the Samsung HW-Q800D. The only other aspect some may feel unsatisfied with is its design. That’s because the soundbar has quite an angular, chunky design, rather than a sleek, curved look you’d see with the Sonos Arc Ultra, for instance. However, I personally felt that the soundbar’s high build quality and durable build made up for what is a solid-looking, but perhaps not stunning appearance.
Overall, the Samsung HW-Q800D is a beautiful-sounding, immersion-inducing soundbar system with a very fair price tag. If you have the cash – along with a desire for rear speaker channels – you may actually find that the slightly more premium Samsung HW-Q990D is better for you. And if you already have the Samsung HW-Q800C, the small incremental improvements aren’t worth an upgrade. But for anyone else, this is a soundbar that I can wholeheartedly recommend. Awesome Atmos, incredible movie or music performance, and a fountain of features – you can’t ask for much more.
Samsung HW-Q800D review: Price & release date
List price of $999 / £749 / AU$1,099
But regularly available for considerably less
Launched in July 2024
The Samsung HW-Q800D is the South Korean company’s mid-range soundbar offering for 2024. It has a list price of $999 / £749 / AU$1,099 – by no means cheap, but not all too expensive given the inclusion of a highly competent subwoofer.
But good news – even if it only released this year, you’re probably not going to have to pay quite so much for the HW-Q800D. I’ve already seen it listed for $699 / £699 on Samsung’s US and UK site, making for a very tidy saving on a shiny new soundbar – and there seem to be further discounts around during sales events.
(Image credit: Future)
Samsung HW-Q800D review: Specs
Samsung HW-Q800D review: Features
5.1.2 channel system with 360W total power output
Effective Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
4K HDMI passthrough, but not at 120Hz
The Samsung HW-Q800D is a true 5.1.2 channel system. Firstly, it has five channels on the main soundbar: one in the center; two more on the front, on either side of the center; and two on each end of the bar. Alongside that, it has two upfiring speakers on the top of the soundbar and a dedicated subwoofer.
This configuration helps to deliver fantastically immersive audio – something only improved by Dolby Atmos and DTS:X functionality. When watching movies, I found Atmos to be very effective – you get incredible width from audio output, which follows on-screen action very competently. The upfiring speaker drivers also add impressive verticality for movies and TV shows – but I’ll go into more depth on that in the next section.
If you want even more expansive sound, you can add the Samsung SWA-9500S rear speakers, but extra spend may not be necessary for a surround sound boost. That’s because you can harness the power of your TV – well, if it’s a select Samsung model from 2022-2024 – with Q-Symphony. This feature allows your HW-Q800D to work in tandem with your TV’s inbuilt speakers for even more of a three dimensional output.
Q-Symphony, of course, is a Samsung TV-exclusive – as is another feature, dubbed Wireless Dolby Atmos. Again, you need a compatible Samsung TV released after 2022 to use this, but it enables "pinpoint" delivery of sound effects wirelessly without HDMI. It’s worth noting, however, this will be compressed, unlike the Atmos TrueHD available with one of the best 4K Blu-ray players and a wired connection. If you only ever stream movies, though, it won't make a difference.
Perhaps my favorite feature that this soundbar offers though is SpaceFit Surround Pro. This harnesses the soundbar’s inbuilt mic, which listens to your room’s acoustics and optimizes sound for your space. SpaceFit Surround Pro is automatically on, so you get spatial audio that’s fine-tuned to you from the get-go. The effects of this are excellent and I found that no matter where I sat in my small-medium-sized living room, I was able to experience immersive sound without fail.
Not to exhaust you, reader, but there’s so much more. Some highlights include sound modes, which include: Standard; Adaptive; Surround; and Game. Adaptive uses AI in order to assess the on-screen action and deliver tailored audio depending on content. I found this mode to be particularly pleasing when watching news channels – with impressive vocal clarity on offer. And vocal clarity is improved further thanks to Active Voice Amplifier, or AVA. AVA identifies background noise in your environment and calibrates audio in a way that emphasizes vocal clarity – ideal if someone’s vacuuming in the room across, for instance.
I want to focus on Gaming, though. One sound setting, Game Mode Pro, adjusts audio output to offer a more three-dimensional soundstage, so you can get a better sense for where in-game sound effects are coming from. When playing Final Fantasy VII Rebirth on PlayStation 5, I got a great spatial impression, especially during combat, which helped me to ascertain the movement, actions, and whereabouts of my foes. Samsung TVs with Game Hub support are also able to switch the soundbar to Game Mode Pro automatically, which is a neat addition.
Unfortunately for gamers, however, the HW-Q800D leaves out one very handy feature. I’m talking, of course, about 4K 120Hz HDMI passthrough. Sure, you get 4K HDR 60Hz passthrough here and that’s going to be enough for a lot of people, but if you want full next-gen capabilities, this won’t cut it.
This speaks to something more generally – as strong as this soundbar's feature-set is, almost everything that’s here was already present in the HW-Q800C. The only ‘major’ additions are non-region-locked, built-in Chromecast and an upgraded Bluetooth version (5.2). That’s it. Does that take-away from the HW-Q800D’s feature quality? No, it truly is exhaustive and brimming with options. But what it does mean is that there’s pretty much no reason to upgrade if you already have last year’s model.
Features score: 4.5/5
(Image credit: Future)
Samsung HW-Q800D: Audio performance
Crisp vocal clarity and booming bass
Great for movies and music alike
Fantastic Dolby Atmos effects
This soundbar serves up a mighty sonic performance thanks to its 11 speakers and total power output of 360W. And you really feel that power at all times, whether watching movies or even just listening to music – with the included sub providing some serious low-end boom.
For instance, I tried watching Top Gun: Maverick and the sound of jet engines firing up was deep, imposing and room-filling. Low-frequency audio was never thin or lethargic either – I found it to be pleasingly deep and responsive when jets soared through the skies, which added serious impact to combat-filled action scenes.
Similarly, I found bass to be excellent when listening to music. The drum machine in Black Eye by Allie X is intended to be strikingly deep and the HW-Q800D does a phenomenal job of replicating that. The dynamism of the song’s bass connecting up to the lower mid range was also captured beautifully – so if you’re into bass-heavy bangers, this soundbar will likely cut it for you.
Sticking with music, I found Standard mode was perfectly up to the task, although Dynamic worked nicely too. Beyond bass, things are equally awesome. I tuned into Clair de Lune by Kamasi Washington and felt that organ in the background had a subtle yet super clear sound profile, with the sporadic piano playing also occupying a well-defined sonic pocket and the trumpet sounding pleasantly forward. On top of that, percussion was clean, rhythmic and tinniness free, tying up a non-grating, highly enjoyable listen. As you’d hope, there’s well-defined separation on offer from the HW-Q800D with a wide, nuanced soundstage that kept me listening for hours.
But let’s move onto arguably the most crucial aspect – spatial audio performance. This soundbar supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, but I was mainly viewing content with the former. And Atmos effects are brilliant here. When watching The Boy and the Heron, the trajectory of the heron’s flight was very well mapped and during the tension-filled opening, the roar of flames and sound of the protagonist – Mahito – running were traced and fed back to me accurately and impactfully. In a fire-consumed area, both the width from the soundbar’s side speakers and verticality from its upfiring ones played into the frightening, heart-racing atmosphere of the opening scene, so you can have no doubts about the immersive nature of Atmos here.
The only real negative in terms of audio presentation is that you’re not getting rear speakers from the off. That lack of rear staging may feel a little unbalanced for some – but you can purchase SWA-9500S rear speakers separately and pair them if you want to boost expansiveness further. For me, sitting in a small-medium-sized room, however, I felt highly satisfied with the soundbar and sub combo alone.
More generally, the sound quality on offer from the HW-Q800D is amazing. I tuned into live news and found that vocal clarity was very good, especially in Adaptive mode – there was no tinniness or distortion to be found, even at high volumes. I also found instrumental and vocal separation to be top-notch when playing Final Fantasy VII Rebirth on PS5. Near a ranch, I could hear the sound of Chocobos walking, wind flowing, soft strings playing and characters speaking – but all of it was easily discernible and expertly weighted. I briefly flicked back to my TV speakers and the quality difference was astonishing – the HW-Q800D really can transform your listening, viewing and gaming experiences.
Overall, the HW-Q800D is just more of the same from its predecessor – but that’s a highly positive thing. You’re getting deep, immersive audio, ultra-crisp vocals and tasty Atmos effects to boot. Given you’re not actually paying top-of-the-range price, performance isn’t going to come a whole lot better – especially if you have the cash to add those rear speakers into the mix.
Sound quality score: 5/5
(Image credit: Future)
Samsung HW-Q800D review: Design
Strong build quality
Though slightly chunky and angular
Metallic grilled finish is attractive
This isn’t the largest soundbar and sub combo ever, but it’s definitely on the hefty side of things. The soundbar itself is pointed, angular and fairly chunky – in fact I had to place it on a shelf below my TV as it was too big for my usual setup. However, if you have a decently wide and long TV unit, you shouldn’t have too much trouble fitting it in.
For some, the aforementioned angular, slightly chunky look might be a bit of a turn-off. And I’d certainly argue it’s not the most elegant or pleasing to the eye. What its aesthetic does say to me, though, is that you’re getting a sturdy, durable, high-quality bar – and it’s certainly all three of these things.
Similarly, the included woofer is quite a tall, broad beast. It’s got a felt-covered driver on its side, as well as a vent on its reverse side and looks pretty clean overall. Both the sub and main soundbar have the same color code as their predecessor – a slightly grayish matte black that in my view, is classy-looking and suits its more chunky appearance to a tee.
Design score: 4/5
(Image credit: Future)
Samsung HW-Q800D review: Setup & usability
Easy to control in-app
Neat, simple-to-use remote
Personally experienced an issue with sub pairing
OK, one slight gripe I had with the Samsung HW-Q800D was related to the setup process. After hooking up the soundbar and sub to power outlets, I strapped in and got ready to listen… but I instantly noticed something. A distinct lack of low-end punch. I soon discovered, however, that this was due to the subwoofer failing to sync up with the soundbar out of the box. Happily, a simple unplug and replug was enough here – meaning this was a pretty small issue overall. Nonetheless, this was a setback and although most are unlikely to encounter this, it was slightly frustrating for me.
Otherwise, though, the Samsung HW-Q800D was straightforward to setup. I connected it to my TV using HDMI eARC, meaning I could use my typical TV remote to alter volume – a super-handy feature. There’s also an included wall bracket if you need that for a mounted setup.
This soundbar is very easy to use, too. I used the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE to download the Samsung SmartThings app, which is well laid-out and simple to use if you want to adjust soundbar settings. You can also change surround sound, tone, volume and channel level settings with the included remote, which is diminutive, sleek and super responsive.
The soundbar itself also has controls, if you need them. It has an inbuilt mic which can be used to activate Amazon Alexa or Google voice assistants – and there’s a button to activate or deactivate this on top of the bar. Alongside that, there’s also a volume up and down button – both of which are well-sized and again, very responsive.
Setup & usability: 4/5
(Image credit: Future)
Samsung HW-Q800D review: Value
Outstanding performance for the price
Additional rear speakers don’t come cheap
Upgrades on predecessor extremely minimal
For the price you pay, the Samsung HW-Q800D offers incredible performance for movies and music alike. If you want detailed, expansive and super-clear audio, you get all of that, so even if it's still quite the investment to spend approximately $699/£699/AU$1,099, you’re certainly getting your money’s worth.
Having said that, it’s not all good news in the value category. Now, if you decide that you do want to add rear speakers to the base offering, you’re going to have to cough up more. Specifically, the Samsung SWA-9500S rear speakers cost around $199/£199/AU$349, making the overall cost here quite hefty. Of course, this is merely an option, but it’s worth bearing in mind if you want the full package.
Something I am more critical of, however, is the real lack of improvements over 2023’s already incredible Samsung HW-Q800C. Other than some small incremental additions, this is almost the same product, so it’s not worth upgrading to and if the last-gen model is available for less, you’re getting almost equal amount of bang for less buck. So, even if it's excellent for its class, the lack of improvement is a slight dampener here.
Value score: 4/5
Should I buy the Samsung HW-Q800D?
Buy it if...
You want cinematic sound, powered by Atmos The Samsung HW-Q800D offers punchy, immersive sound with ‘true’ Atmos, DTS:X and fantastic vocal clarity. You’re getting the full package here – that is, unless you want rear speakers from the off.
You’ve got a modern Samsung TV If you have a selected Samsung TV released between since 2022, you’ll be able to access Samsung Q-Symphony and Wireless Dolby Atmos. Q-Symphony puts your soundbar to work alongside your TV speakers’ audio, whereas Wireless Dolby Atmos supplies “pinpoint” sound effects, taking the 3D audio experience to the next level.
Don't buy it if...
You need 4K 120Hz HDMI passthrough For gamers that want the most premium sonic performance when playing, this soundbar might not quite cut it. That’s because – like its predecessor – it doesn’t offer 4K 120Hz HDMI passthrough. You might have to splash a bit more cash if you’re craving that from your soundbar.
You’re on a tight budget If you want a truly cinematic listening experience but find this soundbar a touch expensive, worry not, reader – there are some great options out there. For example, the Hisense AX5125H plates up quality, powerful audio with Atmos and DTS:X, and it’s often available for around half of this Samsung soundbar system.
Samsung HW-Q800D: Also consider
Sonos Arc OK, so the Sonos Arc may be a standalone soundbar, but if you want a top-drawer all-in-one option, it’s incredibly hard to beat. With strong speech clarity, great Atmos effects and brilliant performance across both music and movies, it’s sure to impress most listeners. If you’re sold on Sonos but want to add more units for true surround sound, you can purchase them separately, although things could get quite pricey if you decide to take that route. Read our full Sonos Arc review.
Hisense AX5125H If you want truly incredible value for money, it doesn’t get much better than the Hisense AX5125H. This 5.1.2 channel system comes with a soundbar, sub and rear speakers but also delivers both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X sound. It doesn’t skimp on quality either, offering immersive Atmos, punchy bass and clear vocals. We’ve often spotted the AX5125H available for as little as $299 / £349 (around AU$449), so if you want surround sound at a considerably cut price, this could be the best option for you. Read our full Hisense AX5125H review.
How I tested the Samsung HW-Q800D
Tested over a week
Integrated the soundbar into my usual setup
Used while watching movies, streaming music over Bluetooth, and gaming
When testing the Samsung HW-Q800D, I had it hooked up to my Hisense U7K TV via HDMI eARC. I also connected to the soundbar using the Samsung SmartThings app on the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, which allowed me to alter settings and play music over Bluetooth.
The soundbar was placed on a shelf below my TV in a small-to-medium-sized room, with the subwoofer positioned beside my TV unit. I tested only the included soundbar and subwoofer, without any add-ons.
I tried viewing, playing and listening to a wide variety of content during my testing time – which spanned over a week-long period. I watched a number of movies and TV shows, played games on my PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch and listened to music on Tidal with the Bluetooth connectivity option. I tuned into the TechRadar testing playlist when assessing the quality of music on the HW-Q800D – which includes songs from a wide variety of genres.
The Majority Naga 60 is an enigma. This relatively small $64.95 soundbar offers a significant upgrade over the built-in speakers on most TVs while costing the equivalent of a dinner at a semi-cheap restaurant. I would consider it among the best soundbars for the price. It does have more than the low price going for it, however, as its sound quality is solid and benefits from basic 3D audio processing and a built-in subwoofer.
That low price tag also makes it easier to ignore that the Majority Naga 60 tends to not perform all that well when close to its max volume. It also makes it easy to live with the fact that there’s no HDMI passthrough – something I don’t expect in cheaper soundbars anyway.
Overall, the Majority Naga 60 is an impressive addition for anyone looking to upgrade their TV sound without going the full home theater system route. It’s never going to measure up to something like the LG S95TR soundbar, for instance, but it’s not supposed to. If your bedroom TV sound is a bit dull and you want to bring some life to your next viewing of NCIS, or want something a little better for the TV in your one-bedroom apartment, you’ll find its low, around-$60 price more than worth it.
On the surface, the Majority Naga 60 looks like a normal soundbar. It’s got an all-black colorway with a metal grille covering the front half and top of the body. At first glance, there’s nothing remarkable about its design outside of the outward-pointing tweeters on either end.
Those tweeters provide the soundbar’s limited 3D audio effect. Two 2.25-inch drivers provide the majority of the sound and there are also two upward-facing 2.5-inch drivers and an internal 2.5-inch subwoofer.
Regarding ports, there’s not a whole lot going on. There’s no HDMI passthrough, but at least there’s HDMI ARC and optical digital for connection to a TV, plus a 3.5mm aux input, USB-A, and a subwoofer output. Bluetooth wireless connectivity is also on hand.
For controls, there are four buttons on top for power, input, and volume up and down. The remote is much more involved, as it also can toggle 3D audio on and off, as well as select between four different EQ modes. You can boost or cut the bass and treble, and there are also some play, forward, and rewind controls that work to control playback of a TV or other device over the HDMI ARC connection.
Lastly, before we move on to how the Majority Naga 60 sounds, I do want to mention there’s a very basic LED indicator visible through the metal grill to show changes to volume, input, and other settings.
The Majority Naga 60 comes with a full package of accessories including an HDMI cable and wall-mount hardware (Image credit: Future)
While all of that is important, what’s even more important in a soundbar is its sound quality. I should first mention that there is plenty of volume on tap on the Naga 60, which is rated at 120 watts. Second, it does sound good for the most part, but the audio gets distorted and blown out when close to maximum volume. You’re not going to get a full home theater experience here, especially if you’re boosting the bass.
Otherwise, the Naga 60’s sound is a noticeable step up from most TV speakers. It’s not audiophile quality, but the highs are fairly defined and clear, and the mid-range has plenty of body to it. Bass is somewhat limited since there’s such a small driver acting as a subwoofer. The specified frequency range is 30 - 20kHz, so you do get some bass, but it’s not very deep.
When testing, I was quite impressed when listening to music. I didn’t get any rumble with hip hop or EDM, but there was still plenty of punch. Just about all genres seemed to fare well. You’ll only be disappointed if you want big bass or audiophile quality – remember, this is a $60 soundbar, so keep those expectations in line.
With TV and movies, dialogue was front and center and plenty clear, and soundtrack effects were just as present. However, since this is an all-in-one 2.1-channel soundbar, the audio can get a bit cluttered and lose some definition when there’s a lot of action. For example, scenes in The Beekeeper and My Spy The Eternal City tended to overwhelm the soundbar (and don’t shame me for not pulling up Blood Simple).
Since the Naga 60 is compact, its soundstage isn’t all that wide – another probable factor in the cramped audio during busy scenes in action movies. Of course, this is where its 3D sound comes in. There’s only 3D sound on and off, not to mention that it’s the most basic spatial audio (there’s no Dolby Atmos processing or anything like that), but it does add a bit of depth to the proceedings. So, it’s a setting I happily leave on most of the time.
The Naga 60's top surface control buttons (Image credit: Future)
Majority Naga 60 Soundbar review: Price & release date
Price $64.95
Date first available:December 2023
While Majority Audio also sells soundbars in the UK, the Naga 60 is currently only available in the US. It is ridiculously cheap, coming in at $64.95, but frequently on sale for as low as $49.95. Of course, it’s not perfect as I’ve discussed above, but it’s a competent soundbar, especially for a smaller TV and viewing space.
One of my go-to recommendations for cheap soundbars has been the Roku Streambar, which retails for $130. It’s even smaller than the Naga 60 and comes with the Roku interface built-in, making it a great value even when it’s still double the price of the Majority Naga 60.
Cheap soundbars are typically more flawed than the Majority Naga 60. The Saiyin DS6305 goes for $59.99 in the US with a subwoofer, which is certainly cheaper, especially taking the inclusion of the subwoofer into account. Yet, its build quality leaves a lot more to be desired, and doesn’t have 3D audio processing.
Ports include HDMI ARC, optical digital and 3.5 analog audio inputs and a subwoofer output (Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Majority Naga 60 Soundbar?
Buy it if...
You’re on a budget: It’s tough to get this kind of sound quality in this price range. If you’re on a very limited budget, this is probably your best bet.
You want a good amount of volume: It doesn’t compare to expensive soundbars, but make no mistake, it sounds good with plenty of volume on tap.
Don't buy it if...
You want HDMI passthrough: Yes, the Majority Naga 60 does have HDMI ARC, but there’s no HDMI passthrough here – a small but unfortunate omission.
You want an immersive soundstage: While the 3D audio does make things sound more expansive, you’re just not going to get a wide soundstage with a soundbar of this size.
Majority Naga 60 Soundbar: Also consider
Roku Streambar The Roku Streambar has surprisingly loud and clear sound for such a small soundbar. Add in its built-in Roku interface and Bluetooth connectivity, along with a very reasonable price, and it’s a great option for smaller setups. Just don’t expect any kind of spatial audio or strong bass.
Saiyin DS6305 The main thing the Saiyin DS6305 has going for it is an incredible price. It also has a good amount of power. It also offers some rumble – something most cheap soundbars don’t have – thanks to the inclusion of a subwoofer. The build quality does leave something to be desired, not to mention there’s no HDMI connectivity.
I listened with the Majority Naga 60 Soundbar regularly for a week. I used it with TV and movies, along with plenty of music. I tested it with and without its 3D audio feature to see how much it affected the sound.
After spending some time with it, it’s clear that the Majority Naga 60 is ideal for those on a budget with a smaller setup as it sounds surprisingly good for the price. The sound quality and soundstage, however, won’t quite fit the needs of those looking for a fuller home theater audio experience.
I’ve tested a lot of tech gear over the years from laptops to keyboards and speakers, and so have been able to use my expertise towards giving an honest and fair opinion, not to mention a critical eye, to any product I test.
The Xgimi Aura 2 is a premium ultra short-throw (UST) 4K projector to come from the Chinese brand and is an update to 2021’s Aura. Like its predecessor, the Aura 2 aims to be a complete one-box solution for big-screen home theater thrills and, as such, is capable of projecting an image up to 150 inches in size.
Xgimi is touting its new Dual Light 2.0 technology – which combines laser and LED light sources – in the Aura 2 to deliver bright, colorful, contrast-rich images. On paper at least, there is a marked improvement compared to its predecessor – the Aura 2 is capable of reaching 2,300 ISO lumens of brightness compared to the Aura’s 1,800. Indeed, in practice, the Aura 2 is certainly bright enough for general viewing during the day, with a good level of depth and detail, serving up a wonderful cinematic image.
Naturally, when viewed in a darker room, the quality of the projected image improves and HDR content performs particularly well. The Xgimi Aura 2 supports Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG and, following a firmware update since launch, IMAX Enhanced.
Achieving a well-calibrated picture on a wall or white screen is relatively simple thanks to the Aura 2’s wealth of picture adjustment settings, including automatic keystone correction and focus. And, should you need to take the reins and make finer manual adjustments, you can do so.
Despite a UST projector’s cinematic credentials, there is always going to be a case for getting one of the best TVs, especially where cost is concerned. The Xgimi Aura 2 is available now for $2,699 / £2,459 / AU$6,399. That’s only a few hundred more US dollars and UK pounds than the Aura, but over AU$2,000 more in Australia, which is a little puzzling. While in the US and UK it makes a competitive alternative to a 65- or 75-inch TV, for example, in Australia it's a much tougher sell. Granted, the Aura 2 is capable of projecting an image far bigger than most TVs – and TVs that do encroach on 100-inches aren’t exactly cheap – but if you only have space to project an 80-inch image, then those in Australia may feel they’ll be better served by a TV.
The fact that the Xgimi Aura 2 uses the Android TV operating system rather than Google TV also feels like a bit of a missed opportunity, especially as some of the company’s other new projectors do use the latter. Because of its use of Android TV, it’s not the easiest process to get Netflix installed – although you can access it by first downloading a separate app from the Google Play Store – and I wasn’t able to get Disney Plus to install natively, instead resorting to connecting an Apple TV 4K to get my Pixar fix.
Speaking of connectivity, the Aura 2 has a wealth of inputs for connecting external devices, although some may feel doing so will ruin the otherwise clean aesthetic. An external soundbar can be connected too, although the built-in audio system is especially good, so you may not feel the need.
Despite a couple of setbacks, the Xgimi Aura 2 is a fantastic machine, although not without competition. Not only do companies such as Hisense and Samsung have excellent UST projectors of their own but, as already mentioned, home theater fans in certain countries may find greater value in a TV. But, if projection is the way you want to go, the Xgimi Aura 2 deserves an audition.
Xgimi Aura 2 review: Price & availability
Available since September 2024
List price: $2,699 / £2,459 / AU$6,399
The Xgimi Aura 2 was announced and officially launched at IFA Berlin on September 6, 2024. It’s available to buy now for $2,699 / £2,459 / AU$6,399.
Other recently released UST projectors such as the Hisense PX3-Pro, which has a higher ISO lumens brightness, costs $3,499 / £2,499 / AU$3,995 while the excellent Samsung Premiere 9 costs a lot more at $5,999 / £4,999. However, the Premiere 9 isn’t available in Australia at the time of writing. This means the Aura 2 is the most affordable of the three (except from in Australia) and, on paper at least, this is somewhat justified because it’s the lowest specced.
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
Xgimi Aura 2 review: Specs
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
Xgimi Aura 2 review: Design and features
Dual Light 2.0 laser light system
Motorized top cover to protect against dust
Android TV OS not the best
The Xgimi Aura 2 isn’t as projector-y looking as some of its competitors. On the contrary, it’s very much a lifestyle-oriented product designed to blend in with your home décor and not attract too much attention to itself. As such, it’s coated on all visible sides by a Moonlight Sand-colored fabric and has been given a treatment that claims to protect it against water, dust and oil (I didn’t have the confidence to test this out). In reality, it really is an attractive unit and could feasibly either go unnoticed in your room or at the very least be mistaken for a large Bluetooth speaker.
On the top you’ll find a motorized cover that slides open when the projector is powered on to reveal the laser light source. Not only is it a pretty cool party trick, but it helps keep the lasers and mirrors as free from dust and other debris as possible by hiding them away during downtime. There’s also an infrared detector that switches the laser off when it detects someone in its line of sight so you don’t damage your eyes, and yes, it really works.
Along the back (the side facing the wall) there are three HDMI inputs (two for connecting external devices and one that supports eARC if you want to connect an external soundbar or speaker system), three USB-A inputs and an ethernet port for a wired internet connection. Other outputs include a 3.5mm headphone jack and an optical audio port, plus Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 are also supported.
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
The Xgimi Aura 2 uses the company’s own Dual Light 2.0 technology. This, says Xgimi, is a “wide spectrum and narrow spectrum hybrid light source technology” which “addresses issues related to traditional tri-color lasers such as speckles and color fringe, ensuring more comfortable viewing.” It’s also because of this light technology that the Aura 2 is able to use a 0.177:1 ultra-short throw ratio – meaning you can achieve a 100-inch image from a distance of just 17.8cm. Do note that this 17.8cm distance is between the projection surface and the closest side of the projector. You’ll still need to factor in the Aura 2’s 27cm depth when placing it on a bench or entertainment unit. Xgimi says for a 150-inch image, you’ll need a distance of 38.9cm.
Once in position, it’s a relatively pain-free process to get a properly aligned picture on a wall or projector screen. The Aura 2 has built-in auto keystone adjustment, which kicks into action whenever the projector itself is physically moved, or it can easily be run from within the settings menu. I have to admit that my first try of using this feature actually resulted in a completely jarring image that wasn’t aligned at all. I ran the setting again and it fixed it… mostly. I still had to use the manual image correction settings to quickly (and easily) align the four corners of the image within the confines of the viewing space on my wall.
The Aura 2 uses Android TV for its operating system, which is a strange choice considering this platform is all but dead on smart TVs and the projector version of the OS don't necessarily get you access to all the streaming apps directly from the Google Play Store.
Xgimi acknowledges that Netflix doesn’t support projector systems running Android TV by way of a leaflet included in the box, which encourages you to download a separate app called Desktop Launcher. Doing so results in Netflix being able to be used, along with other apps such as Apple TV (which also can’t be found in the pre-installed Google Play Store).
Disney Plus was a notable omission entirely and in Australia where I’m based, 4K content on Stan wasn’t supported. I have a 4K subscription to the Australian streaming service which works without a hitch on my TV, but on the Aura 2 all content was available in HD quality only. The only workaround was to connect an Apple TV 4K to gain access to all my streaming apps, which was slightly disappointing.
That said, the UX will look familiar to anyone who’s previously used it or Google TV. A row of installed app icons is flanked above and below by recommended content and content you’re currently in the middle of watching. In use it was largely lag-free, with only the occasional stutter when trying to move quickly through rows or between menus.
The Xgimi Aura 2 comes with a remote control that’s surprisingly weighty, but which serves to provide a premium feeling. There aren’t many buttons, but I think this in turn makes it straightforward to understand and use. There are buttons for volume control, the home screen, settings, Google Assistant and a dedicated button for quick autofocusing. I did find myself pressing the Google Assistant button when I meant to select the settings, but I imagine this would become a non-issue with more use.
The remote isn’t backlit, which is a peculiar omission considering the projector is more likely to be used in low-light settings, and it’s powered by two AAA batteries. I would’ve preferred it if it were rechargeable via USB-C.
Design & features score: 3.5/5
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
Xgimi Aura 2 review: Picture and sound quality
Bright, colorful images
Custom settings possible with various HDR content
Built-in sound system is impressive
Due to space limitations in the room where I tested the Aura 2, I was only able to project an image roughly 80 inches in size onto a wall as opposed to a dedicated projection screen. Despite this, the Xgimi Aura 2 delivered a delightfully colorful, crisp image even during the daytime. Its brightness figure of 2300 ISO lumens might not match some of its closest competitors, such as the Hisense PX3-Pro or Samsung Premiere 9, but even in a room with sunlight filtering in, the image produced by the Aura 2 was easy to watch.
A Dolby Vision stream of Toy Story 4 on Disney Plus via an Apple TV 4K device exhibited excellent color reproduction, with the Aura 2’s 99% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut meaning greens, pinks, yellows and reds were all delivered with vibrancy. Getting the best picture settings for your personal preference, though, isn’t the easiest thing in the world.
When the Aura 2 detects Dolby Vision content it automatically switches to a default picture mode which doesn’t give much in the way of customization. You can switch between Dolby Vision Bright and Dark modes, with the former boosting the brightness a little, and you are able to set your own custom settings for things such as brightness and contrast, but there isn’t anything in the form of Filmmaker Mode, for example. Switch to non-Dolby Vision content, however, and you are able to cycle through a more familiar set of picture presets, including Movie, which I used whenever it was available.
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
Darker scenes in Toy Story 4, such as when Woody accidentally gets thrown out of the traveling RV at night revealed the Xgimi Aura 2 could handle subtle shadow details surprisingly well. As the famed cowboy is walking along the road at night, the rocky detailing of the tarmac road is easily seen, while grass and trees in dimmer lighting to the left are picked out as well.
While the majority of content projected by the Aura 2 includes the black bars above and below the central image – which can look a little too stretched out at times – because it is IMAX Enhanced, any content viewed in this format fills the entire projection surface. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings on Disney Plus is a good example, and one of the opening scenes featuring Ta Lo and Xu Wenwu in a lush green forest was another treat for the eyes. The fast-moving fight choreography was handled expertly and colors were clear and natural.
What was perhaps most surprising to me during my testing of the Xgimi Aura 2 was its audio performance. Xgimi has opted for a four-speaker Harman Kardon system with a combined output of 60 watts. With the projector and speakers sitting below the screen, it could have been all too easy for the sound output to feel low, but in actual fact voices clearly come from further above, resulting in a more immersive experience than I was expecting.
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
It can support Dolby Atmos, although I experienced more of a half-dome of sound as opposed to a full enveloping effect, which is to be expected to some degree due to there not being any physical rear speakers. But the Aura 2 can throw sound out wide with accurate object placement within the soundfield. Bass performance was also surprisingly good, with the Aura 2 projector capable of going real low. A little further on in Shang Chi,when the titular hero is fighting on a bus, is an engaging watch, with the backing soundtrack, punches, kicks and smashes all being fired out with genuine impact.
The Aura 2 does have an eARC output for connecting an external sound system, but I don’t think many people will feel the need to do so unless they want a more authentic Dolby Atmos experience.
Picture & sound quality score: 4.5/5
Xgimi Aura 2 review: Value
Competitively priced in the US and UK
Expensive compared to other models in Australia
Affordable big-screen TVs could be a better option
The Xgimi Aura 2 can be considered good value, but only depending on where you live. In the US and UK, it costs less than a well-specced big-screen TV such as an 83-inch LG C4 OLED. In Australia, however, it does still cost more for an 83-inch LG C4, but only by a few hundred dollars. Given the TV has a more feature-packed operating system, delivers true blacks and has a picture quality that’s less susceptible to bright rooms, it makes it a more compelling option purely from a value standpoint.
But, if it is a projector you’re seeking, the Xgimi Aura 2 definitely deserves an audition. It’s a great projector that delivers a colorful, clear image. It’s let down by its operating system, but if you don’t mind plugging an external media streamer into one of its HDMI inputs, then this becomes less of an issue.
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
Value score: 4/5
Should I buy the Xgimi Aura 2?
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
Buy it if...
You want a simple UST projector The Aura 2 has a wealth of built-in, automatic picture adjustment settings that should mean getting the perfect image is just a button press away.
You want vibrant images With 99% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage, the Aura 2 delivers superb, punchy colors that dazzle no matter the image size.
You don't have an external sound system It's no issue for the Aura 2, the built-in speaker goes big and loud, and only adds to its home theater credentials.
Don't buy it if...
You do all your viewing in a bright room It's not specific to the Aura 2, but a bright room is a projector's kryptonite. It counters well, but ultimately won't be able to compete against a TV.
You want access to the popular streaming apps The Aura 2 uses Android TV as its OS, which isn't as talented as Google TV. Some apps are missing and others require workarounds. It's not the most seamless of experiences.
Also consider
Hisense PX3-Pro Our top pick as the best UST projector right now, the PX3-Pro delivers high brightness and rich color from its 3-laser light engine. It's also well-equipped for gaming, with multiple HDMI 2.1 ports and support for 4K 120Hz and 1080p 240Hz gaming.
Samsung The Premiere 9 It's expensive, but Samsung's The Premiere 9 is capable of delivering outstandingly bright images. Its Tizen smart TV platform is a joy to use and the built-in sound is so good, you won't need a soundbar.
Epson LS800 The Epson LS800 uses a 3-LCD laser light source to beam a stunningly bright 4,000 lumens image. This makes it a great option for daytime sports viewing and it also has good built-in sound.
Tested at home in various real-world living conditions
Projected the image onto a white wall as opposed to a dedicated screen
Watched a variety of content in SDR and HDR format
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
I tested the Xgimi Aura 2 at home over a period of about a month so I could experience it during various daytime living conditions. This meant multiple light sources, be it natural daylight or overhead lightbulbs, came into my testing room, at which point I rated the picture to see how well it performed.
The projector was tested against a white wall for the duration of my review, which also allowed me to test out its wall color adaptation and wall flatness modes. Both performed well and I could see noticeable differences before and after calibration.
I used a variety of content, including 4K HDR and standard full HD content from a variety of streaming services.
My testing evaluates the projector's performance against other reviews my colleagues at TechRadar have conducted. I have been writing about and reviewing displays for five years.
The Panasonic Z85A OLED TV is one of the entry-level models in Panasonic’s 2024 TV lineup, sitting below the Panasonic Z95A and Z90A. Along with the flagship OLED Panasonic Z95A OLED and W95A mini-LED, it is one of the first Panasonic TVs available in the US in over a decade.
The Panasonic Z85A sells for $1,599 / £1,599 and $1,799 / £1,999 for its 55 and 65-inch models, respectively, putting it in the same price range as some of the best OLED TVs such as the LG C4, Sony Bravia 8 and Philips OLED809.
Panasonic uses a standard W-OLED panel in the Z85A, which features the same HCX AI Pro II Processor found in step-up Panasonic models including the Panasonic Z95A. While its brightness levels are only average and there is some black crush in darker scenes, the picture quality on the Z85A is up there with the best TVs, with rich contrast, vibrant yet natural colors, deep blacks and realistic textures and details.
Sound quality on the Z85A is good overall. It won’t beat the best TVs for sound, but it does deliver punchy bass, clear dialogue and accurate placement of effects. Those looking for a cinematic experience may want to add one of the best soundbars, but for day to day viewing, the Z85A’s built-in sound is perfectly fine.
The Panasonic Z85A uses Fire TV as its built-in smart TV platform, and it’s a welcome change from Panasonic’s own my Home Screen interface used on previous TVs. There are fewer picture settings, but menus are more user-friendly, navigation is smoother and Amazon features such as Ambient Experience help make the Z85A feel like the complete package.
The Z85A carries many of the features we look for in the best gaming TVs. There are only two HDMI 2.1 ports, but 4K 120Hz, VRR (including AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia Gsync) ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming are all supported. Smooth performance and stunning graphics make the Z85A a fantastic OLED gaming TV.
The Panasonic Z85A is marginally pricier than rival mid-range OLEDs but mostly justifies its price thanks to its fantastic features and the sheer brilliance of its picture.
Textures and details on the Panasonic Z85A are very realistic. (Image credit: Future)
Panasonic Z85A OLED TV review: Prices & release date
Release date: October 2024
55-inch Z85A: $1,599 / £1,599
65-inch: Z85A: $1,799 / £1,999
The Panasonic Z85A is one of the entry-level models in Panasonic’s 2024 OLED TV lineup. It is available in 55- and 65-inch sizes in both the US and UK. Panasonic TVs are not sold in Australia.
The Panasonic Z85A has similar specs and tech as the LG C4, Sony Bravia 8 and Philips OLED809, but is priced slightly higher than those models. Prices have since dropped, however, with the 55-inch model now available for $1,499 / £1,299 and the 65-inch model available for $1,699 / £1,699, making it more competitive with its rivals.
Panasonic Z85A OLED TV review: Specs
Panasonic Z85A OLED TV review: Benchmark results
The Panasonic Z85A comes with a good number of connections, but only two HDMI 2.1 ports (Image credit: Future)
Panasonic Z85A OLED TV review: Features
W-OLED panel
Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ Adaptive support
Fire TV smart TV platform
The Panasonic Z85A features a W-OLED panel similar to that found in TVs such as the LG C4 and Sony Bravia 8 as opposed to the micro lens array (MLA) panel – a type that yields higher brightness – found in the step-up Panasonic Z95A. Unlike other OLED TVs in the US, it supports both the Dolby Vision and HDR10+ high dynamic range formats.
The new Panasonic HCX Pro AI MKII processor, which analyzes the picture on screen to adjust color, contrast and clarity on the fly, is used by the Panasonic Z85A, and It also has AI features that can be activated to monitor picture and sound quality and adjust based on the content being shown onscreen and the viewing environment.
For sound, the Panasonic Z85A has a 2.1-channel speaker array totaling 50W of power. It supports Dolby Atmos but not DTS. There also aren’t as many sound features or presets as you’ll find on the flagship Panasonic Z95A, though the Z85A does support Theater Surround Pro and has a port for connection to an external subwoofer for those wanting more bass.
The Panasonic Z85A features only two HDMI 2.1 ports but otherwise has an extensive list of gaming features. It supports 4K 120Hz, VRR (both AMD FreeSync and Nvidia GSync), ALLM, and Dolby Vision and HDR10+ gaming and also has a True Game Mode to optimize picture settings and a Game Control Board where those settings can be customized.
The Z85A’s Fire TV smart TV platform replaces the my Home Screen interface – the company’s own smart TV platform – found on previous Panasonic TVs. It supports major streaming apps including Netflix, Prime Video and Disney Plus, along with Max in the US. In the UK, you get Freely, the free TV service that allows you to stream broadcast TV live over Wi-Fi rather than relying on an aerial, and it supports UK-based streaming apps including BBC iPlayer and ITVX. In the US, it additionally comes with an ATSC 3.0 tuner.
Features score: 4/5
The Panasonic Z85A has incredible contrast and very good shadow detail when viewed in dimmed conditions (Image credit: Future)
Panasonic Z85A OLED TV review: Picture quality
Realistic textures and details
Outstanding contrast and shadow detail
Dynamic, vibrant colors
Since the Panasonic Z85A uses a standard W-OLED panel rather than the MLA OLED panel found in the Panasonic Z95A (and LG G4) or the Samsung S95D’s QD-OLED panel, I expected it to have peak brightness levels more in line with the LG C4, B4, Sony Bravia 8 and Philips OLED809.
The Z85A’s results were roughly what I anticipated if not a little low. Measuring brightness on a 10% HDR white window pattern, the Panasonic Z85A produced 697 nits in Standard mode and 778 nits in Filmmaker Mode. Those results put it above the LG B4’s 656 nits on the same test but below the likes of the Philips OLED809’s 927 nits and the Sony Bravia 8’s 817 nits.
When measuring the Z85A’s grayscale and color accuracy by taking an average of its Delta-E values (the margin for error between the test pattern and what’s shown on screen), it achieved phenomenal results of 1.1 and 1.2, respectively (we typically look for below 3).
After cycling through the Z85A’s picture presets, I landed on Filmmaker as its most accurate mode, though True Cinema mode was an excellent picture preset as well. Both provided incredible detail and contrast, but I opted for Filmmaker due to its higher brightness.
When watching both lower-resolution and high-definition (HD) TV shows, the Z85A did a solid job of upscaling them to 4K.
Moving onto 4K movies and TV shows, the Panasonic Z85A demonstrated spectacular color reproduction. Watching a scene where the ship arrived in Numenor in season 1 of Rings of Power on Prime Video (watched in Filmmaker Mode HDR), the blues and whites of the sea and rocky landscapes dazzled while maintaining a natural look, and the gold of armor and buildings glistened in the bright sunlight.
A Dolby Vision stream of Star Wars: The Last Jedi via Disney Plus also demonstrated the Z85A’s excellent color reproduction. The reds of the throne room fight scene looked bold and vibrant, but accurate, and lightsabers had a dynamic punch. They didn’t quite have the same glossy HDR sheen as on brighter OLEDs such as the Samsung S95D, but the Z85A’s colors were nonetheless glorious. I opted for the Dolby Vision Dark picture mode here as I felt it was more accurate, but those looking for more brightness can switch to Dolby Vision IQ mode.
When measuring the Panasonic Z85A’s HDR color gamut coverage in Filmmaker Mode, it yielded results of 98.2% for UHDA-P3 and 73.6% for BT.2020. Both of these are excellent results, and they slightly top the 97% and 72.5% achieved by the flagship Panasonic Z95A.
The Panasonic Z85A's color and detail are stunning (Image credit: Future)
Black levels, shadow detail and contrast were also superb. Watching a 4K Blu-ray of The Batman in Dolby Vision Dark picture mode, light sources and lamps looked perfectly balanced with the gloomy surroundings in the opening crime scene. I did note occasional black crush in some scenes, with objects losing the odd detail, but overall The Batman looked incredibly accurate on the Z85A.
The Z85A had superb contrast in the black-and-white scenes in Oppenheimer, with an excellent balance between dark and light tones with a perfect range of grays in between.
One thing worth noting is that the Z85A fared better in dimmed or dark viewing conditions when watching darker movies since reflections could be seen on its screen in a bright room.
Panasonic’s OLEDs typically excel in showing details and textures, and the Z85A is no different. Whatever was on screen, the Z85A displayed it in a realistic manner that gave an incredible sense of depth to the image. Watching Top Gun: Maverick, close-ups of pilots revealed every facial feature – sweat, hair, pores. The natural landscapes in Rings of Power also had a 3D-like quality thanks to the intricate, fine details in the waves and mountains.
As you’d expect from OLED, the Z85A’s motion handling is very good overall. When watching a stream of a soccer game, I found that most picture modes worked well, though I stayed away from the Sports mode due to its oversaturated colors. The most effective was Normal mode with the IFC (Intelligent Frame Creation) in picture settings set to Min (with Mid, Max and Off being the other levels). With these active, long, panning shots up and down the pitch were generally handled very well with only incredibly minor stutter from time to time.
Motion handling with movies was excellent throughout, even with motion settings turned off. WatchingTop Gun: Maverick, swooping camera shots during training missions and Maverick’s bike rides through the desert were displayed with no visible judder.
Picture quality score: 4.5/5
The Panasonic Z85A has decent sound quality and does well with movies like La La Land, but it struggles with Dolby Atmos reproduction (Image credit: Future)
Panasonic Z85A OLED TV review: Sound quality
Punchy bass
Accurate sound placement
Sound confined to screen
The Panasonic Z85A’s 2.1-channel, 50W speaker array is a significantly smaller system than the one found in the flagship Panasonic Z95A, which boasts a 5.1.2-channel speaker system totaling 160W. There is still support for Dolby Atmos and something that Panasonic calls Theater Surround Pro, but more advanced sound features such as the Z95A’s Space Tune are not featured in the Z85A.
One thing I found interesting is that there is no preset intended for movies among the Z85A’s sound modes. Instead, I opted for the Stadium preset which promised the biggest sound.
The Z85A’s dynamic bass made the rumble of the Batmobile’s engine in the car chase scene in The Batman come through with plenty of power and punch, and plenty of control as well. Dialogue was consistently clear and well-presented and sound placement was accurate, with the sounds of swerving cars and tire screeches in The Batman and soaring jets in Top Gun: Maverick directly connected to the action on screen. I did find the Samsung QN90D and Samsung S95D’s sound presentation to be more accurate when I tested those TVs, however
The Z85A’s sound demonstrated a good balance when watching La La Land, reproducing the bright, jazzy score and the more delicate piano-led moments with the same level of detail. Due to its more limited speaker array, Dolby Atmos soundtracks weren’t given the same level of accuracy or space as on the step-up Panasonic Z95A. Pounding rain in The Batman was rarely audible throughout my viewing, and while the sound did extend beyond the screen on occasion, it still seemed somewhat contained.
Sound quality score: 4/5
The Panasonic Z85A has a light, sleek design but its stand feels a little cheap. (Image credit: Future)
Panasonic Z85A OLED TV review: Design
Solid, yet lightweight build
Stand feels a little cheap
Dated remote
The Panasonic Z85A’s design is solid and dependable, if not a little safe in places. While the top of its frame is trim enough, the bottom part is on the bulkier side to accommodate the larger built-in subwoofer. Its screen lacks the bezel-less design of other premium OLEDs but is still suitably trim. It feels sturdy when installed with its stand but is also very light for easy movement.
Speaking of the stand, the Z85A’s is a mixed bag. While it has a sleek look that blends well with dark furniture and is well-made, the plastic and metal materials don’t feel as premium as on rival OLEDs, its predecessor the Panasonic MZ1500, which comes with a weighty, swiveling, all-metal stand, included.
The Z85A’s supplied remote continues what has become a somewhat sore subject for me with Panasonic TVs. It is long, bulky, covered in a load of buttons, and feels outdated. While better than the standard Fire TV remote provided with the flagship Panasonic Z95A, it still doesn’t look or feel like the premium remote you expect for an OLED TV like this – especially when compared to the USB-C rechargeable, light-up, metal remote that Philips stocks with its TVs like the Philips OLED809.
Design score: 4/5
Panasonic Z85A uses Fire TV as its smart TV platform, replacing my Home Screen 8.0 (Image credit: Future)
Panasonic Z85A OLED TV review: Smart TV & menus
Fire TV smart TV platform
Intuitive and responsive navigation
A good number of picture settings for calibration
Panasonic has opted to switch from its own my Home Screen smart TV platform in favor of Amazon’s Fire TV in the majority of its TVs this year and while the number of settings for picture and sound have taken a hit, the experience overall is an improvement.
Signing in with an Amazon account means the home page provides not only recommendations for movies and TV shows but an easy way to jump back into viewing, with the ability to sign in with and switch between multiple profiles for a more customized home screen. Unsurprisingly, these recommendations are almost entirely centered on Amazon’s Prime Video platform. Thanks to the Z85A’s faster processor, navigation of different menus and apps is smoother than my experience with the Amazon Omni QLED TV and also easy and intuitive.
The Panasonic Z85A comes with other Amazon features such as Alexa voice control and the Ambient Experience (a similar concept to Samsung’s Ambient mode on its TVs) which lets you display static and dynamic images and videos on the screen when the TV enters idle mode, rather than turning off. You can add your personal photos after uploading them via the Amazon Photos app on your phone, and widgets for weather, news, sports and more can be added to the Ambient screen as well.
Despite not having as many picture or sound settings as the previous my Home Screen interface, there are still a good number of settings for those looking to tweak their TV’s picture.
Smart TV & menus score: 4/5
The Panasonic Z85A has a good number of gaming features and great performance. (Image credit: Future)
Panasonic Z85A OLED TV review: Gaming
12.7ms input lag time
Extreme Game Mode featuring Game Control Board
Only two HDMI 2.1 ports
The Panasonic Z85A has only two HDMI 2.1 ports but is otherwise a well-equipped TV for gaming, supporting 4K 120Hz, Dolby Vision gaming, VRR (AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia GSync) and ALLM.
Similar to other Panasonic TVs, the Z85A has the Game Control Board, where settings such as Shadow Enhancer allow for easy customization while playing. For non-Dolby Vision games, there are also two game picture modes, Game and True Game, with True Game serving as the Filmmaker or Movie picture mode equivalent by opting for a warmer color palette and more accurate textures that will better suit certain games.
Gaming on the Z85A is responsive and smooth, with fast-paced gameplay well handled. When playing Battlefield V at 4K 120Hz, targeting, movement and animations were all fluid and seamless. It doesn’t beat the best 120Hz TVs such as the LG C4, but the Z85A’s 12.7ms input lag time is still very good and below the 15ms threshold most gamers look for.
Graphically, the Z85A carries across the same picture quality it brings to movies, with plenty of vibrant color, rich contrast, realistic textures and fine details that give games an extra sense of realism.
Gaming score: 4.5/5
Panasonic's remote, shown here, feels outdated compared to other remotes supplied with OLED TVs (Image credit: Future)
Panasonic Z85A OLED TV review: Value
Prices have dropped since launch
Still slightly pricier than rival mid-range OLEDs
Very good picture for price range
Since launching at $1,599 / £1,599 for the 55-inch model and $1,799 / £1,999 for the 65-inch model, the Panasonic Z85A’s prices have dropped to $1,499 / £1,299 for the 55-inch model and $1,699 / £1,699 for the 65-inch model. That’s still pricier than other mid-range OLEDs such as the LG C4 ($1,199 / £1,199 for 55-inch and $1,499 / £1,599 for 65-inch) but generally fair value for the picture quality and performance you’re getting.
Although a brightness boost similar to the mid-range LG C4 would have been nice, the Panasonic Z85A is still an excellent OLED that delivers in key areas. It still may exceed some budgets, but its picture quality and gaming features alone make it a worthy mid-range OLED contender.
Value score: 4/5
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Panasonic Z85A OLED TV?
Buy it if...
You want superb picture quality The Panasonic Z85A delivers spectacular contrast and color and realistic details and textures, bringing movies and TV shows to life.
You want a great OLED TV for gaming The Panasonic Z85A is well stocked for gaming, with 4K 120Hz, VRR, ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming all supported. Plus, it delivers great performance.
Don't buy it if…
You watch in bright rooms The Panasonic Z85A does suffer from reflections when watching darker content in bright rooms. Look at brighter OLEDs such as the LG C4 if you want a brightness boost.
You want the best value OLED TV While it is still a brilliant TV, the Panasonic Z85A doesn't deliver the same value overall as the LG C4, the best mid-range OLED available.
Also consider
LG C4 OLED The LG C4 has higher brightness and more gaming features than the Panasonic Z85A, including four HDMI 2.1 ports and 144Hz support. In terms of picture and sound quality, it's close between the two. This is the Panasonic Z85A's closest rival.
Sony Bravia 8 OLED The Sony Bravia has bolder colors than the Panasonic Z85A, but the Z85A takes the crown for contrast and detail. Sound is another area where the Bravia 8 has the Z85A beat. In terms of gaming features, they're even.
Philips OLED809 Both the Philips OLED809 and Panasonic Z85A are close to one another in terms of picture quality and gaming features, but the Philips has the added benefit of Ambilight and marginally better sound. If you're in the UK, it'll be a close call between these two.
Measurements were taken using Portrait Displays' Calman calibration software
Before testing, I did some casual viewing with the Panasonic Z85A to establish the most accurate picture mode and after scrolling through presets, I decided on Filmmaker Mode as the most accurate, with True Cinema mode a close second.
After this, I began my critical testing using SDR sources, such as broadcast TV and standard Blu-ray and HD movies, and HDR sources, such as 4K streaming and 4K Blu-rays. 4K Blu-rays were played using the Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray player.
For critical testing, I used reference scenes from movies and TV shows. I tested picture quality, focusing on color, contrast, black levels, motion, detail, and upscaling, as well as the audio quality of the built-in speakers.
I also tested the Panasonic Z85A's gaming features and performance using an Xbox Series X.
After subjective testing, I moved onto objective testing, taking measurements using specialized equipment. This consisted of a test pattern generator, a colorimeter and Portrait Display's Calman calibration software to record the measurements.
The measurements taken included HDR and SDR brightness, measured on white window patterns ranging from 1-100% in size, with a focus on 10% for peak brightness and 100% for full-screen brightness.
I took measurements for HDR color gamut, analyzing the BT.2020 and UHDA-P3 color spaces. I also took measurements for color accuracy and grayscale in HDR, taking an average of each's Delta-E values (the margin for error between the test pattern and what's shown on screen).
Finally, I measured the Z85A's input lag using a Leo Bodnar 4K HDMI Input Lag Tester.
