Ultra Short Throw projectors are the hottest thing in the world of projection. These visual displays sit directly under the movie screen so they don't need the room size required by a regular projector. These high-tech projectors are powered by laser light sources, and are designed to be a television upgrade, which is why they're also referred to as laser TVs. Because they're meant to be used as a television they're extra bright and built to work in even well-lit environments.
This post is a part of our UST shootout series to help you decide which Laser TV is the best. Today's matchup pits the former king of the hill, the Samsung LSP9T and the new reigning champion, the Formovie Theater. But which ultra short throw is better, the Samsung LSP9T vs. Formovie Theater?
Let's find out!
When Samsung entered the ultra short throw game with the Premiere line of projectors, they busted in with great fanfare thanks to the triple laser, LSP9T and it's little brother, the single laser, Samsung LSP7T.
The Premiere LSP9T from Samsung is a triple laser 4K projector who's specs were unmatched by just about any other laser TV. It has been called the cream of the crop, the king of the hill, the best of the best when it comes to ultra short throw projection. However the Samsung LSP9T is almost two years old. You can read our Samsung LSP9T review here. So how does it stack up against the newer UST projectors.
The top selling Formovie Theater ultra short throw projector launched here in the USA earlier this past summer and is the enhanced and updated version of it's Chinese counterpart, the Fengmi T1. This triple laser UST utilizes advanced ALPD® 4.0 RGB+ technology which helps give it some of the best black levels we've seen on a projector. It might be a bit of a spoiler for this projector shootout but, these amazing specs helped the Formovie Theater take 1st place in the 2022 Laser TV Showdown. As our #1 selling ultra short throw projector, it will be hard to beat the Formovie Theater. You can also check out our in-depth Formovie Theater review.
So which is better the Samsung LSP9T or the Formovie Theater UST?
Check out our expert comparison of these two fantastic and bright triple laser ultra short throw projectors to find out.
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Samsung LSP9T |
Formovie Theater |
Our Thoughts: |
Brightness |
2800 |
2800 |
Both projectors offer the same high level of brightness |
Throw Ratio |
0.19:1 |
0.23:1 |
The LSP9T sits closer to the projector screen than almost any other laser TV |
Chipset |
.66" DLP |
.47" DLP |
The Samsung UST uses the larger .66" DLP chip from Texas Instruments, while the Formovie uses the smaller .47" chip |
Light Source |
RGB Triple Laser |
ALPD® 4.0 RGB+ Triple Laser |
Both USTs use true RGB triple laser technology but Formovie gets the edge with the advanced ALPD 4.0 technology |
Color |
106% BT.2020 |
107% BT.2020 |
The Fomovie theater has a slight edge with its wider color gamut |
Sequential Contrast Ratio |
2243:1 |
3333:1 |
The Formovie Theater has better contrast largely thanks to its outstandingly deep black levels |
Input Lag |
55 ms |
41.9 ms |
While not the best for competitive gaming, the Formovie has lower lag time for playing video games |
Audio |
10.0 Watts × 4 |
Full-range×2 + Tweeter×2 (30W) By Bowers & Wilkins
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The Formovie arguably has the best built-in sound bar of any ultra short throw projector |
Price |
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Despite being about two years older, the Formovie Theater is around $3,500 less than the Samsung LSP9T |
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Add to Cart
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Add to Cart
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Pros And Cons Of Each UST Projector
Samsung LSP9T
The Pros
- Super bright 3 laser light source
- Most vibrant colors
- Great black levels
- Better dynamic tone mapping
- Larger .67 DLP chipset
- Can produce an image up to 130 inches
- Built-in streaming apps includes Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV and more
- Easy to navigate interface
- Sits closer to the cinema screen than just about any other UST
- Built in TV Tuner
The Cons
- Higher price tag
- No bundled screen
- Only comes in white
- Slight red push out of the box
- Not great for gaming
Formovie Theater
The Pros
- Very low price tag, especially given the incredible performance
- High lumen output with a RGB triple laser light source
- Vibrant colors out of the box
- Laser speckle reduction technology
- Best native contrast for a .47” XPR DLP
- Supports Dolby Vision
- Sits closer to the screen than most other USTs
- Can make an image size up to 150 inches
- Winner of the 2022 Laser TV Showdown
The Cons
- Menu is sometimes less intuitive
- Fan can be a little noisy
- Lacks 3D support
- Fixed-level line output for attaching a sub-woofer; volume controls on remote will change levels of built-in speakers but not adjust volume of the attached subwoofer
- Netflix app is not included
So Which Is Better, The Samsung LSP9T Or The Formovie Theater UST?
Both these laser TV projectors are great choices. But one of them has a significant edge in this fight.
These are two phenomenal ultra short throw projectors. Without a doubt, you'll be absolutely thrilled with either one you choose. But ultimately a decision had to be made. So between the Formovie Theater and Samsung LSP9T the winner of this ultra short throw projector shootout is………
Formovie Theater!
While the Samsung LSP9T was once the king of the USTs, that title now belongs to the Formovie Theater.
Why You Should Buy The Formovie Theater
There are a number of ways the Formovie Theater is superior to the Samsung LSP9T, but the number one reason is that the Formovie is more than half the price of the Samsung LSP9T. You could buy two Formovies for the price of just one LSP9T despite it being over two years older.
Aside from price, when it comes to picture quality the Formovie has an edge in several areas. With superior contrast, wider color gamut and some of the best black levels found on any UST, the Formovie Theater offers an incredible image not matched by any laser TV on the market today. When you add the top rated built-in speakers you've got an absolute winner on your hands.
Why You Should Buy The Samsung LSP9T
The Samsung Premiere LSP9T is by all measurements an all around great projector. It provides a fantastic image, with plenty of brightness and contrast and has a powerful built in soundbar, making it an ideal replacement for a living room TV. If you like a sharp image, there are few sharper than the LSP9T.
Because it's a Samsung product, you get the great & familiar Samsung Tizen Smart TV OS. Unlike the Android OS of the Formovie, Samsung's includes Netflix built in so you don't need an external media player to watch every single popular streaming service. If there are any issues, you get some of the best customer service in the industry. The Samsung LSP9T features a unique built in TV Tuner for those cord-cutters wanting to get rid of cable TV.
Samsung is a brand with a trusted reputation. But if you want to get the best picture from your ultra short throw projector possible, then buying the Formovie Theater is a no-brainer.
Subscribe for more great content
We'll be breaking down the comparison between the Samsung LSP9T and Formovie Theater 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.
If you have any questions on these ultra short throw projectors or anything else projection related don’t hesitate to hit us up at ProjectorScreen.com. Thanks for reading and keep on projecting!
Projector Resolution: | 4K |
Brand: | Samsung |
Product Status: | Leaves Warehouse within 4-6 Weeks |
Lumens: | 2800 |
Projector Type: | Ultra Short Throw |
Light Source: | Laser |
Contrast Ratio: | 1,500:1 |
Chipset: | DLP |
Aspect Ratio: | 16:9 [HD] |
Throw Ratio: | 0.19:1 (D:W) |
Native Resolution: | 3840x2160 |
Lens Shift: | No |
Input Lag: | 4K/60Hz: 55.9ms | 1080p/60Hz: 55.9ms |
3D Support: | No |
Built-In Speaker: | Yes |
Warranty: | 1 Year |
Standard Lens Focus: | Motorized |
Projector Resolution: | 4K |
Brand: | Formovie |
Product Status: | In Stock |
Lumens: | 2800 |
Projector Type: | Ultra Short Throw |
Light Source: | Laser |
Contrast Ratio: | 3,000:1 (full on/off) |
Chipset: | DLP |
Aspect Ratio: | 16:9 [HD] |
Throw Ratio: | 0.23:1 (D:W) |
Native Resolution: | 3840x2160 |
Lens Shift: | No |
Input Lag: | 4K/60Hz: 43ms | 1080p/60Hz: 41ms | 1080p/120Hz: 37ms | 1080p/240Hz: 34ms |
3D Support: | No |
Built-In Speaker: | Yes |
Warranty: | 2 Years |
Standard Lens Focus: | Motorized |