One minute review
The Hisense PX1 Pro is a brilliant ultra-short throw (UST) projector that manages to cut its way perfectly through serious competition from the best projectors on the market. At $3499 (about £2850, AU$5035) it's not a budget home theater set-up, but it does provide a significant improvement over some more expensive projectors and doesn't fall too far below those priced lower.
Although it only takes up a small space on a shelf or media center, the Hisense PX1 Pro can project an image from 90 to 130 inches using a triple laser light source. It's on the safe side at 2200 lumens, though that's well below the 3000 lumens of the L9G at the top of Hisense's UST projector lineup.
The PX1 Pro's bright image is beautifully complemented by its color, which comes from these three red, green, and blue lasers. In general, the PX1 Pro dazzles when it's in a dark room, though it doesn't do as well displaying dark landscapes unless the ambient lighting in the room is dimmed.
Hisense's package here is pretty complete. The built-in speakers will get the job done in no time, though they'll be easily outclassed by even a modest soundbar. However, these speakers can still come in handy as the projector is easy to move around with just a 20+ pound hair and you can adjust focus for different settings, connect to Wi-Fi and pull content through its AndroidTV interface.
The PX1 Pro doesn't put on as strong a show as the L9G, but it's more flexible and much cheaper. The L9G costs €2,000 more, though part of that cost covers an included screen that rejects ambient light. It beats out the $2,499 / £2,149 (about AU$3,550) Xgimi Aura, which doesn't do as well in color rendering. There's stiff competition from Epson for those who don't have a preference for the UST design, as the LS1100 (slightly smaller sister to the phenomenal Epson Pro Cinema LS12000) gets brighter at 2500 lumens and costs a bit more, though it lacks smart tv platform and speakers
If you're looking for a great all-in-one theater system, the PX1 Pro can definitely deliver. Ultimately, configuration will be what you make of it. An extra $200 for a sound bar and blackout curtains can give the PX1 Pro a huge boost that pretty much erases its weaknesses. If you already have a streaming device and speakers, you might be better served by the Epson LS11000, while other UST projectors like the LG HU85LA CineBeam and Optoma CinemaX P2 could serve as upgrade options for a higher price.
Price and Availability
The Hisense PX1 Pro is available for €3,499 (around £2,850, AU$5,035), though it can regularly be found at a discount.
Design and features
- all in one unit
- Modest built-in speakers, but plenty of options for external sound
- Integrated Android TV
The Hisense PX1 Pro UST laser projector is a nice addition to the living room, not only for the impressive home theater experience it can provide, but also for its sleek profile when placed against the wall. It has a small and elegant case that takes up as much space as you would expect from an AV receiver. In this space, the PX1 Pro packs a triple laser DLP projection system, a smart TV deck, and a pair of 15W speakers. The all-in-one unit weighs just 20.3 pounds, making it much easier to install. install.
Hisense has opted for a somewhat old school aesthetic to accompany this more futuristic technology. Silver accents and asymmetrical styling make it look like it wouldn't be out of place next to a turntable. Interestingly, like the Hisense L9G, there's a small slab on the back of the projector that looks like it could serve as a cover for the optics, though it doesn't move. The PX1 Pro uses a pair of sensors to detect if someone is approaching and will dim the lasers, eventually turning them off, to protect people's eyes.
Unlike its Hisense "Laser TV" siblings, the PX1 Pro is designed for more flexible setups. To that end, it has variable focus, so it can be used to deliver an image from 90 to 130 inches. It uses separate red, green, and blue lasers as light sources, delivering 2200 ANSI lumens and boasting a 25-hour lifespan.
The PX1 Pro has Android TV built in, which makes it efficient enough without doing much more than plugging it into the mains and connecting it to Wi-Fi. However, it's one of the many smart projectors that can't get Netflix. Fortunately, that shortcoming aside, it has plenty of smarts in the settings to tweak the image just the way you like it. (Whether it's filmmaker mode or as bright and saturated as possible with tons of motion smoothing is up to you.)
The system can also connect to many other devices. It has two HDMI 2.1 ports, one with eARC, 3,5mm optical and digital audio jacks, antenna, two USB and Ethernet ports. Bluetooth wireless audio and WiSA are supported.
Image quality
- Flexible 4K picture (90-130 inches 4K) bright (2200 ANSI lumens) and vibrant (107% Rec.2020)
- Low input lag
When the conditions are right, the Hisense PX1 Pro is a fantastic watch. Its 2200 lumens of brightness combined with a wide color gamut for HDR can put on a spectacular show. Bright content can sing even during the day in a room with some light filtering like basic blinds, and when you dim the lights at night the PX1 Pro will still excel.
This beautiful image works even when the projection is extended to considerable sizes. Given that this projector takes up less than two square feet of space in a media center, it's amazing how good a 100-inch image can be. At 4K resolution, that big picture stays satisfyingly sharp, too.
Hisense PX1 Pro Specifications
Supported screen sizes: 90 to 130 inches | 8K: Yes | HDR: Yes | Optical technology: Tri-laser DLP | Smart TV: Yes | Dimensions: 12,8 (W) x 6,3 (H) x 20,5 (D) inches | Weight: 26,5 pounds | 3D: Yes | Inputs: 2xHDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC), optical digital audio out, 3,5mm analog audio out, two USB ports, Ethernet, Bluetooth and WiSA wireless audio
The biggest flaw with projectors is showing dark images in a bright room. There really is no winner under these conditions for a projector, although some extremely bright options like the Epson LS12000 do a little better. The situation could be improved with a projection screen, but installing blackout curtains would also make a big difference. The latter solves the problem of brightness, but a projection screen can also solve any projection problem on a wall that is not perfectly smooth or flat.
Although the Hisense PX1 Pro doesn't go above 4K/60Hz, it manages low enough input lag to create a fun gaming display. Our entries in Smash Bros are quickly displayed on the screen, following the frantic pace of the game.
About the only piece of the package that doesn't hold up here is the speakers. They can fill a small room with enough sound, but they lack bass, get a bit crowded in the mids, and can't even stand up to a budget soundbar with a subwoofer.
Should I buy the Hisense PX1 Pro UST projector?
Buy it if...
You want everything in one purchase
Just like a TV, you get your picture, sound, and access to content all in one with the PX1 Pro.
You have good light control.
As long as you can darken one room, the Hisense PX1 Pro can handle the rest. Its picture is great in a dark room, though it can still work well for lighter cartoons and sitcoms in a dimly lit room.
You like a little portability
The Hisense PX1 Pro benefits greatly from its all-in-one nature and decent portability. You may get a better image or a lower price, but this projector makes power something you can easily move from one place to another.
Don't buy if...
You can't darken your room.
While many pieces are easily dimmed with just a few shades, that's not necessarily true for everyone. If you enjoy daytime viewing but can't dim the ambient light, this projector (and many others) will struggle with some content.
You worry about frame rates in games
4K/60 can be good, but there are options that can go faster than that. Some require a drop down to 1080p but can go up to 240Hz, while others, like Epson's LS12000, can hit 4K/120Hz.
You are not picky about image quality
The PX1 Pro costs quite a bit of money, but it gives you a nice picture that you can adjust to your liking. If you don't have everything, you can save a bit and still get a similar experience with Xgimi Aura.