Samsung at CES announced an ultra-short projector with 8K resolution called The Premiere. It’s an updated version of the 4K Premiere 2020, a single box designed to sit on a low table directly below and a few inches away from your wall or screen. Using special lenses and video processing, you can create images up to 150 centimeters diagonally.
There are built-in speakers and Dolby Atmos to fill a room with sound and light. As you’d expect, it also has the Samsung TV feature, with Netflix, Disney Plus and more.
Read more: Here’s another Samsung device we’re excited about (Hint: foldable phone)
While the idea of an 8K projector capable of producing large images on any wall may seem intriguing, the UST projector is not the magic it first appears to be. Here’s what we know so far.
8K?
Ultra-short throw projectors, like this 4K The Premiere from 2020, claim to be able to create images on any wall, but any projector can do this.
Samsung
Yes, 8K. This is four times the resolution of a 4K projector. There isn’t a lot of 8K content out there right now, a problem that plagues 8K TVs as well. Without 8K content, you won’t be able to take full advantage of the extra pixels, although the projector will upscale everything you send to 8K, so it may look sharper than a 4K projector projecting an image of the same size. Keep in mind that there are more important aspects of image quality than resolution.
The Premiere is not the first 8K projector, but there are only a few on the market. JVC has several models, starting at $11,000 and up. They use a 4K imaging chip and pixel shifter to create 8K resolution on the screen. This is similar to how most 4K projectors create 4K, by using a 1080p or lower chip, and doubling or quintupling the imager’s pixels for roughly 4K resolution. there. Although Samsung didn’t reveal the projector’s specs, it’s pretty sure that’s how it created 8K as well.
On the professional side, Digital Projection has several 8K models, but these are designed for cinemas and other large venues.
What is an ultra-short throw projector?
It is important to remember that ambient light will affect the image from a projector, including UST projectors.
Samsung
Traditional projectors need a distance of about 10 meters to create a 100 inch image. High-end models can sit farther, while short-throw models can sit closer. UST projectors sit only a few centimeters from the wall and can still produce large images thanks to the camera and video processing.
The two main disadvantages with all UST projectors are cost and image quality. Because of their sophisticated design, UST projectors are more expensive than conventional projectors.
Another disadvantage, as a result of their method of operation, is the reduction of contrast ratio. UST projectors often have worse contrast ratios than conventional projectors, making their images look better with less “punch”. Manufacturers often try to compensate for this by increasing the brightness significantly, but this does not improve the quality of the image, it just makes the image brighter.
The considered features
No matter how bright, the UST projector will not be able to compete with ambient light without a special screen. And even then, it will look much better with the curtains drawn.
Samsung
Samsung hasn’t revealed anything specific about the new The Premiere, but we can guess a few things. The previous model was laser beam, and the new model may be the same. This is because lasers offer better performance in terms of light output (brightness) and color. They usually last the life of the projector, as opposed to the replaceable lamps in most low-end projectors.
The 4K The Premiere had a built-in speaker, allowing it to function as a personal speaker. This is another feature that most UST projectors aim to be as a one-stop shop when it comes to in-room entertainment. The new model will have Dolby Atmos, which the old one did not have.
It is also safe to assume that it will shine. The 4K The Premiere had two versions, the “120-inch” version, and the “130-inch” version. Both of them do not come with a screen, and can create a variety of image sizes from 90 to 120 inches with the first, and 100 to 130 inches with the last. The difference is the light output, which is said to be 2,200 and 2,800. Those are pretty good numbers, even if other UST projectors at the same price point are brighter. The $4,000 Epson LS500, for example, puts out a claimed 4,000 lumens. Samsung says that the new model can have a “150-centimeter” image, so we expect the lumens to rise.
Price and availability
Samsung has not yet announced pricing or availability. Products announced at CES usually come out in the spring or summer. As for the price, it certainly won’t be cheap. The previous Premiere was $3,500 for the “120-inch” version, and $6,500 for the “130-inch” version. Since the only consumer 8K PJs start at $11,000, and these are designed for traditional (aka non-UST) formats, it seems safe to assume that 8K The Premiere will cost at least what the earlier models, and possibly more.
Keep an eye on CNET’s CES coverage for more information.
