Verdict
The Hisense PL1 combine the big - screen fun of a projector with the restroom of a television set to deliver an agreeably cinematic experience at a very low-priced terms . Built - in utterer and a sassy system add to the appeal , while support for HDR10 + and Dolby Vision key out this ultra brusk - throw beamer from most of the competition .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The Hisense PL1 is the latest ultra short - stroke ( UST ) projector from a brand name that has promote this technology more than most other manufacturer .
This 4 super acid HDR beamer use an X - Fusion optical maser light source with a claimed luminance of 2,100 lumens and a life of 25,000 hr , combined with ultra short show optics that deliver a giving screen figure of speech when placed very near to the wall .
The PL1 is contrive as a cost good choice to a enceinte screen TV , and as such it include a built - in sound system with Dolby Atmos , along with Hisense ’s VIDAA U6 operating system for a full smart program . There ’s also patronage forHDR10+and Dolby Vision , and about the only TV - concern feature missing is a establish - in tuner . Otherwise this capable beamer might be just the ticket .
Availability
The Hisense PL1 is available now and can presently be picked up for £ 1,999 in the UK , $ 2,499 in the US , € 1,599 in Europe , and AU$2,999 in Australia . All these prices are reasonable for a 4 K HDR projector with an extensive feature computer software , especially in the UK .
If you ’re look for alternatives , there are n’t many that can fit the PL1 ’s price and features , but you could consider the Epson EH - LS650 , which does n’t support HDR10 + or Dolby Vision , but is significantly brighter and cheaper at £ 1,749 in the UK , $ 2,299 in the US , € 2,699 in Europe , and AU$3,999 in Australia .
Design
The Hisense PL1 is more compact compared to most other UST projector , but this is good because it mean the beamer can baby-sit unobtrusively at the front of your sofa or living elbow room . The build caliber is solid , while the stylish but understated esthetic blends seamlessly into the surround . There ’s a curved chassis that sports a brushed coating on top , triangular cutout vents at the sides , and fabric - embrace speakers at the front .
At the rear , which is the part of the projector that confront the rampart , you ’ll rule the connection . There are only two HDMI stimulant , but one isHDMI 2.1while the other is HDMI 2.0with eARC . There are also two USB ports ( 3.0 and 2.0 ) , an ocular digital output , a 3.5 millimetre phone jackfruit , and an Ethernet port . The wireless connectivity offers dual - band Wi - Fi , Bluetooth andAirPlay 2 .
The include distant command is well design and well-heeled to hold . It includes all the independent control to setup and work the PL1 , along with verbatim admission clitoris for all the principal video recording pennon . My only ill would be the lack of a backlight for employment in the dark , but otherwise it ’s a good zapper .
Features
The Hisense PL1 is an ultra short - throw projector with a cam stroke proportion of just 0.25:1 , which means it can produce 80 to 120 - inch screen sizes from a special distance . There are adjustable foot for level the projector , but no lens system controls . rather you just physically move the PL1 to center the image with your rampart or screen , and then move it back or forwards to exchange the size of the projected mental image . There is an automated geometric calibration feature article that adjusts for any distortion and focuses the image – all of which makes setup very well-fixed .
The X - Fusion optical maser light source has the benefit of long life ( 25,000 hours ) , which is of import for any projector looking to contend with a TV , but a claimed brightness of 2,100 lumen means the PL1 will struggle in room with ambient light . The darker you could make the environs the better the results , and generally I found a screen size of around 100 - inch deliver the good combination of range size and luminance for HDR in particular .
The PL1 is a passably stock individual - fleck DLP projector with a claimed resolution of 4 K – although this is actually achieved using pixel shifting despite some rather misleading marketing from DLP creator Texas Instruments . The Hisense also supports every data format of high dynamic range of mountains – HDR10,HLG(hybrid logarithm - da Gamma ) , HDR10 + andDolby Vision . The latter remain something of rarity in projector .
This projector sports a built - in reasoned system based around a pair of symmetrically positioned driver with 15W of amplification for each channel . The beamer also supports Dolby Atmos , although a degree of arithmetic mean management is required here as there ’s only so much immersion you could achieve with two speakers – no matter how expert the psychoacoustic processing .
Finally the PL1 includes Hisense ’s VIDAA U 6.0 operating system , which is simple but efficacious thanks to an interface that presents subject matter in a superimposed and nonrational fashion . The system is easy to navigate and customisable , with a comprehensive choice of video streamer that includesNetflix , Prime Video , Disney+,Apple TV+ , Now , YouTube , and all the UK TV catch - up overhaul .
This projector does make a viable alternative to a TV , with the elision of not give a make - in tuner . you’re able to use the TV snap - up apps rather , but if you really want to watch live linear broadcasts you need aset - top boxof some kind . you’re able to also envision onto a white wall , but for the good result you should invest in a secure screen , which means additional disbursal .
Performance
The Hisense PL1 delivers excellent movie character with both SDR and HDR content . The use of a exclusive DLP chipset ensures crisp and acute images with no alinement outlet , while the use of a optical maser light source should understate potential rainbow artefacts , but it ca n’t be ensure . The accuracy is also excellent , especially inFilmmaker mode , which is my preferred pick of characterisation preset .
At only 2,100 lumens it is n’t the bright of UST projector , but pull the curtains and endow in a decent fixed forcing out screen and you ’ll be rewarded with an icon that ’s punchy and pleasingly cinematic . for maximize the brightness you should n’t crusade the icon size too far , and a screen of 100 - inches would be my suggested alternative .
Watching Avatar : The mode of Water and the concealment flare-up into life with gorgeously detailed views of the ocean of Pandora . The people of color are saturated and as lifelike as a gloomy cat - person can face , while the tone function is excellent thanks to Dolby Vision , with highlights that are free of clipping .
As you ’d have a bun in the oven from a DLP beamer motion handling is superb , with the lightning fast response time of the technology swimmingly delivering all the movement as various aquatic animals swim around the filmdom and the Na’vi slide elegantly through the water .
The blacks are pretty stock for a DLP projector , more of a drear grey really , but they ’re certainly not the spoilt I ’ve picture . The on / off demarcation proportion clock in at about 3,000:1 , and in most environments outside of a bat cave the black levels should reckon okay with less challenging content .
The tantrum in 1917 where it switches to night is a good example of the limitations of DLP when displaying a virtually sinister screen , but the 4 K disc offers the the choice of HDR10 , HDR10 + and Dolby Vision . This allow for some interesting comparisons , with the two dynamic metadata format including extra information for flavour mapping , which resulted in greater point in the fantasm and a skillful overall prototype when compared to just HDR10 .
Overall the Dolby Vision version was the good , with accurate colours , cleaner highlight and more mien just above black . However the timbre mapping was in the main very near even with HDR10 motionless metadata , and the PL1 oversee to ward off unneeded use of the PQ curvature , thus quash squelch lightlessness and clipped highlights .
The PL1 is a capable performing artist with SDR , producing aggressively delineated images , well - defined active compass , and very accurate colour reproduction . The HDR exposure is a footprint - up , and while it miss the brightness to add serious pop , there is still undeniable punch when compare to the same range of a function in SDR .
As a gaming display the PL1 is tolerable , but not necessarily the good choice . The picture is for certain detailed enough , the tone single-valued function is good , and the pantry placid motion a definite benefit , but you are circumscribe to playing at 4K/60Hz despite the HDMI 2.1 input . The lack of 4K/120Hz andVRRwill put off more serious gamers , although there isALLM , even if in the game mode the reaction time is still a fairly laggy 60ms .
The build - in speech sound system is serviceable for watching the news or a game show , but anything more ambitious and the limitations of two small speakers and a amount of 30W of amplification becomes very apparent . If you ’re going to watch movies and TV dramas on a 100 - in cover , you owe it to yourself to at least invest in a good soundbar with a freestanding subwoofer .
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Should you buy it?
The PL1 is one of the few projectors to admit every HDR format , including HDR10 + and Dolby Vision . The active metadata included with these two formatting will allow you to get the most out of this capable beamer .
The PL1 is n’t the brilliant ultra light - stroke projector out there , and it will struggle if there ’s a lot of light in the elbow room . You really need to block out as much igniter as possible to get the best out of this beamer .
Final Thoughts
The Hisense PL1 delivers crisp and elaborate large screen figure of speech , with fantabulous accuracy and every HDR format available . It ’s not the brightest beamer out there , but darken the room and invest in a nice screen and you ’ll honour with some pure and punchy SDR and HDR image .
It would be gracious if it had more HDMI inputs , but aside from the lack of a receiving set the PL1 makes for a genuine option to a turgid screen idiot box . At this cost it ’s a bargain , and you definitely wo n’t get a video with a 100 - inch screenland for less .
Trusted Score
How we test
We try every projector we review good over an extended period of time . We usePortrait Displays Calman colour standardisation softwareand industry standards to equate features decently . We ’ll always severalise you what we regain . We never , ever , accept money to review a product .
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FAQs
There ’s financial support for HDR10 , HLG , HDR10 + , and Dolby Vision HDR .