Ultra short throw projectors are a relatively new type of projector that sits directly under the screen. But which laser TV is the best? We'll answer that question as part of our ultra short throw projector shootout series. Let's see who wins this battle between the new LG HU915Q and the older LG HU85LA.
LG is no stranger to the ultra short throw projector game. Their triple laser LG HU85LA was the first of it's kind to hit the market and continues to be one of the best laser TVs available. LG wanted to expand their offerings with a lower priced UST and they did just that with the LG HU715Q CineBeam ultra short throw projector. But now LG has just released the new LG HU915Q UST projector. There are two models that are available, the LG HU915QE and the black LG HU915QB. You can read our review of the LG HU915QE here and the LG HU915QB here.
Just like the HU85LA, the HU915Q is a triple laser projector. So what's the difference between the LG HU85LA and the new LG HU915Q laser TV? How do they compare? And most importantly, which is better the LG HU85LA or the LG HU915Q?
Well, you'll just have to read this expert comparison of these two fantastic ultra short throw projectors to find out. It's a battle of the LG triple laser CineBeams!
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LG HU915QE |
LG HU85LA |
Our Thoughts: |
Brightness |
3700 |
2700 |
The LG HU915Q is much brighter than the already bright, HU85LA, meaning you can use the new on in even the brightest of living rooms. The new CineBeam is the second brightest on the market |
Throw Ratio |
0.19:1 |
0.19:1 |
Both laser TVs have the same throw ratio |
Chipset |
.66" DLP |
.66" DLP |
Both projectors use the same .66" DLP chipset |
Light Source |
RBB Triple Laser |
RBB Triple Laser |
Both are triple lasers, but unlike the other triple laser USTs on the market that use seperate, dedicated red green and blue lasers, these LG Cinebeam laser TVs use a red, blue and a second blue laser that hits a filter to create green |
Color |
94% DCI-P3 |
94% DCI-P3 |
Both projectors have a fantastic color gamut and cover about the same amount |
Contrast Ratio |
2707:1 |
2338:1 |
Both projectors have a reported 2,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. However with our own more accurate on/off contrast ratio tests the LG HU915Q had a significantly better ANSI contrast, and it shows in the content |
Input Lag |
53.3 |
71 ms |
The HU915Q has a lower lag time. It's good for most gamers but not for competitive gaming |
Audio |
40W (2.2ch) |
5W + 5W Stereo
|
The LG HU915Q is designed to be a living room television replacement, as such it has significantly more powerful speakers |
Price |
$3,199.00
|
$4,996.99
|
The HU85LA does have a lower price but is now 2 years old |
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Add to Cart
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Add to Cart
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LG HU85LA Vs. LG HU915Q Side By Side Comparison
We put together this video of the LG HU85LA and the LG HU915QE USTs comparing them side by side to show you how the image looks in a well lit room. Keep in mind that neither projector has been calibrated and this is how the projectors look out of the box. We'll be putting out a full in depth breakdown of the side by side comparison in a future video on our YouTube channel. Make sure to subscribe so you can get notified!
Pros And Cons Of Each UST Projector
LG HU915Q
The Pros
- Uses super bright triple laser light source
- Best throw ratio available
- Realistic and vibrant looking colors
- One of the best built-in soundbars
- Phenomenal black levels
- Auto Brightness, IRIS Mode, Adaptive Contrast
- Includes built-in Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime and more
- Comes in either a porcelain or black chassis
The Cons
- Colors are not as vibrant as other UST Projectors
- Remote is overly complex
- Only comes with a 1 year limited warranty
- Doesn't support 3D
- No antenna and TV tuner built in
LG HU85LA
The Pros
- Best throw ratio available
- Bright triple laser light source but not as bright as the HU915Q
- Realistic and vibrant looking colors
- Has antenna and TV tuner built in
- Includes built-in Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime and more
The Cons
- Built-in soundbar is somewhat weak
- Remote is overly complex
- The black levels are good but not as good as the HU915QE
- Doesn't support 3D
- Only comes in white
So Which Is Better, The LG HU915Q Or The LG HU85LA UST?
Both these UST projectors are great choices. You would be absolutely thrilled with either laser TV. But one of them has the edge in this fight.
So between the LG HU85LA and LG HU915Q the winner is………
The LG HU915Q
We often say in this business, "Bigger is better." The LG HU915Q shows that "Newer is better" too.
The LG CineBeam HU915Q wins because it provides a much brighter RBB laser light source,has deeper black levels, more powerful built-in speakers, brightness optimizer, and a few other features that makes the LG HU915Q one of the best ultra short throw projectors available. The New LG CineBeam UST also offers a lower lag time than its predecessor.
All that said, despite being two years old the LG HU85LA still provides one of the best pictures from a laser TV. If you don't want to spend the full amount for the new model, you'll definitely be content with the HU85LA.
We'll be breaking down the comparison between the LG HU915Q and LG HU85LA UST even further in our Ultra Short Throw shootout series on YouTube. So make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you can get notified when our shootout goes live plus other great content in our pipeline.
We'll also update this projector comparison as measurements and information comes in
If you have any questions on these projectors or anything else projection related don’t hesitate to hit us up at ProjectorScreen.com. You can also read more about ultra short throw projectors in our extensive guide. Thanks for reading and keep on projecting!
Projector Resolution: | 4K |
Brand: | LG |
Product Status: | Leaves Warehouse within 2-3 Weeks |
Lumens: | 2700 |
Projector Type: | Ultra Short Throw |
Light Source: | Laser |
Contrast Ratio: | 2,000,000:1 |
Chipset: | DLP |
Aspect Ratio: | 16:9 [HD] |
Throw Ratio: | 0.19:1 (D:W) |
Native Resolution: | 3840x2160 |
Lens Shift: | No |
Input Lag: | 4K/60Hz: 55ms |
Built-In Speaker: | Yes |
Warranty: | 2 Years |
Standard Lens Focus: | Manual |
Projector Resolution: | 4K |
Brand: | LG |
Product Status: | In Stock |
Lumens: | 3700 |
Projector Type: | Ultra Short Throw |
Light Source: | Laser |
Contrast Ratio: | 2,000,000:1 |
Chipset: | DLP |
Aspect Ratio: | 16:9 [HD] |
Throw Ratio: | 0.19:1 (D:W) |
Native Resolution: | 3840x2160 |
Lens Shift: | No |
Input Lag: | 4K/60Hz: 53.3ms |
3D Support: | No |
Built-In Speaker: | Yes |
Warranty: | 1 Year |
Standard Lens Focus: | Manual |
ARC/eARC: | eARC |
Operating System: | webOS |
Projector Resolution: | 4K |
Brand: | LG |
Product Status: | In Stock |
Lumens: | 3000 |
Projector Type: | Ultra Short Throw |
Light Source: | Laser |
Contrast Ratio: | 2,000,000:1 |
Chipset: | DLP |
Aspect Ratio: | 16:9 [HD] |
Throw Ratio: | 0.19:1 (D:W) |
Native Resolution: | 3840x2160 |
Lens Shift: | No |
Input Lag: | 4K/60Hz: 67ms |
3D Support: | No |
Built-In Speaker: | Yes |
Warranty: | 1 Year |
Standard Lens Focus: | Manual |
ARC/eARC: | eARC |
Operating System: | webOS |