LG CineBeam UHD
Pros
A balanced and detailed image
The design is pleasing
Features that are comprehensive
Cons
I don’t think it sounds as good as it should
Thertech.com reviewers test and compare products and services for hours, so you can make an informed decision. Learn more about how we test products and services.When you want the big screen theatrics of a projector with the convenience of a television, ultra short throw projectors, or USTs for short, have become increasingly popular. The UST is a space-saving projector that does not require mounts or dedicated home cinema rooms to house bulky traditional projectors. It’s main advantage is that it can still produce a huge image even when placed against a wall. Read more on Optoma GT1090HDR Short-Throw Gaming Projector
As close as a projector can get to being a TV, the LG Cinebeam HU715Q has a sleek design, a sharp picture, and webOS built-in. But could it actually replace your TV? The LG is priced at £2999 / $3000 / AU$5795. Next to its main competitor, Samsung’s The Premiere, the LG is actually a fair bit cheaper, with Samsung’s UST currently retailing for £3499 / $3499 / AU$6999.
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Build
LG HU810PW 4K UHD
As you will be watching the Cinebeam’s image in direct eyeline, it has to be attractive. An off-white box design makes this speaker look like the center speaker in a larger home cinema setup, and it comes in an appealing shade of off-white. Under the overhanging front panel, there is a small multi-function power button hidden that gives the projector an appealing appearance. Read more on BenQ HT3550i 4K projector review
With its moderate size and light weight, the projector can easily be moved into place, and its moderate size should fit comfortably on any standard television cabinet. Port selection can easily be accessed from the back panel. The projector’s bottom is equipped with four adjustable feet that can be screwed in and out to adjust the image’s position.
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Features~LG CineBeam UHD
Even though the HU715Q looks like a TV in use, it really is a projector at heart, and a laser model at that. With a native resolution of 3840 x 2160 (4K), LG claims the laser should last 20,000 hours on high brightness and 30,000 hours on low brightness. It has a peak brightness of 2500 ANSI lumens. On average, the HU715Q generates 27dB of fan noise, which isn’t obtrusive in practice, but only noticeable when you’re pausing your film. Read more on ViewSonic X2000B-4K Ultra Short Throw 4K UHD.
HLG and HDR10 are the HDR formats supported. However, the HU715Q doesn’t support the dynamic HDR formats Dolby Vision and HDR10+, which isn’t unusual for a projector. It does, however, have its own Dynamic Tone Mapping feature for automatically optimizing otherwise static HDR signals.
Additionally, there’s a HGiG setting that gives a better performance with many modern games, and the Brightness Optimiser II feature adjusts brightness based on ambient light.
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LG CINEBEAM HU715Q TECH SPECS~LG CineBeam UHD
Native resolution 4K (3840 x 2160)
HDR HDR10, HLG
Light source Laser
Operating system webOS
Picture size 80-120 inches
Contrast 2,000,000 : 1
Brightness 2500 ANSI lumens
HDMIs 1 x HDMI 2.1, 2 x HDMI 2.0
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More on the specs
CineBeam UST is based on LG’s webOS operating system, which has been adapted from its TV DNA. By using this fully equipped smart system, you won’t need a dedicated streaming device like an Amazon Fire TV to download Netflix, Disney Plus or Amazon Prime Video natively onto the projector. With the HU715Q’s webOS running smoothly and well-optimized apps, it’s pleasing to use on a daily basis — and with dedicated shortcut buttons on the remote, you can access streaming apps quickly and easily.
A comprehensive backlit remote controller is included with LG’s TVs, and it feels more or less the same as the one that came with them. It also features a scroll-wheel center button that makes it easy to navigate menus and app homepages, like the motion pointer navigation option on the Nintendo Wii. This projector has a high-quality controller, so if you’ve used LG TVs before, you shouldn’t have any trouble using it.
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Connectivity
In terms of connectivity, the HU715Q is decent, with three HDMI ports, including one HDMI 2.1. Gamers don’t need to be excited about HDMI 2.1, as 4K at 120Hz and VRR don’t support the HU715Q.
As a result of its UST nature, the LG setup is easy, and you won’t have to worry about further adjustments or recalibrations once you’ve got it setup and ready to go. One of the main disadvantages of USTs is that they lack motorised lens controls, making positioning somewhat awkward. However, the adjustable feet do most of the work here.
The distance from your wall or screen can greatly affect the size of the picture when projecting with an Ultra Short Throw. With the HU715Q, LG says the image size can range from 80 to 120 inches, with a 100-inch image achievable when the projector is 21.7cm from the projection surface.
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Picture
Its native 4K resolution shines in the LG’s picture performance, with No Time To Die appearing particularly crisp and clear. The LG is admirable when it comes to picture performance. Bond’s skin and clothing textures are well-defined without looking overly etched, and edges are clearly defined. As Bond picks up a business card from the evil Spectre organization, the sharp image highlights smaller details like Bond’s hand texture. Projectors can achieve cinematic flair only by using 4K images, which evoke a TV-like experience.
It is striking to see textured details in the clouds as Bond strides across a bridge against an overcast Italian horizon, demonstrating the LG’s ability to handle contrast. You will find it is particularly remarkable how the clouds differ in color and detail, particularly the rippling gray dusted with golden sunlight. It is also notable for its deep detail, with faces still retaining plenty of information even when shadowed.
Despite the vast amount of beige in this scene, the LG’s careful handling of the colours ensures that each shade has a unique hue. Overall, the balance between vibrancy and naturalism is very pleasing. In addition, the movement of Bond as he trudges along the Acropolis is smooth, with little noticeable judder. Fast-moving vehicles and frantic action scenes are also impressive.
Cinema Home HDR is the best mode for balancing colour and detail, and although it tends to lean towards the vibrant side, skin tones remain vibrant and warm without looking overdone. You can, however, tweak the picture to fit your needs with a variety of presets and settings included by LG.
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Rainbow effect ~LG CineBeam UHD Review
The LG doesn’t suffer from the “rainbow effect” nearly as much as Samsung’s The Premiere – a visual artefact in which small bursts of colour can appear around the edges of your vision when compared to Samsung’s The Premiere. Obviously, this is not something everyone is susceptible to, but it’s another reason to consider the LG if you are. It is not surprising that low-resolution content looks blocky and shows noticeable artifacts on this 4K projector. However, you are unlikely to buy a 4K projector to view standard-definition DVDs.
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Sound
On paper, the LG HU715Q sounds good, but in practice, it’s only okay. It has a built-in, front-firing 2.2 Quad Woofer system, but it’s not very good. The sound doesn’t seem to punch out or project well, and it is rather contained within the projector, rather than firing out into the room. There is some bass present, but the metallic crunch of car crashes and gunshots sound hollow and light, while the bass is present.
Although the speakers aren’t usable, they fulfill the projector’s plug-and-play nature. You can use the projector without having to spend a lot on external sound options, as voices are clearly heard and it is a perfectly usable presentation that allows you to make full use of the projector. This projector (as well as almost every other) should be paired with a decent soundbar, however.
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Final thoughts on LG CineBeam UHD review
With the LG HU715Q, you can switch out your TV for an ultra-short throw projector for the most convincing reason yet. The picture is much larger and more cinematic than what you get with a 77-inch LG C2 OLED, but at a much lower price it offers inky blacks, striking contrast, and next-gen gaming specs.
There’s also no question that a traditional home cinema projector might be a better choice, but if you’re lacking in space and/or patience, a UST might fit the bill. And if you fall into that category, this is our recommendation for the best UST projector you can buy.
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