In some instances, a TV just doesn't cut it, especially if you're after a screen size above 100 inches. Here's where we would recommend that you buy a home cinema projector, but admittedly, they can be a bit of a hassle to set up.
They're also more suited towards home cinema rooms rather than your traditional living room, so what's the answer?
We'd point you towards an ultra-short-throw projector, as they can deliver large-scale cinematic thrills with minimal setup headaches. This form factor has become increasingly popular in recent years, with Hisense leading the pack.
We recently awarded two of its models, the PL2 and PX3-Pro, five stars due to their top-notch picture quality and impressive features. Coincidentally, both of these projectors are subject to some decent discounts; the PL2 has dropped to £1599 at Richer Sounds (a tasty £400 saving), whereas the PX3-Pro can be yours for £2299 (down from £2499).
The real question is this: which one should you buy?
The PL2 and PX3-Pro are part of Hisense's Laser Cinema range, which aims to deliver large-scale cinematic thrills without the hassle of setting up a long-throw home cinema projector.
If anything, these are designed to occupy your TV's spot, as they don't need a lot of space to operate, and they feature streaming and audio capabilities built in.
Setup for both models is fairly simple, thanks to automatic screen calibration systems and the same Vidaa smart system that can be found on Hisense's Mini LED TVs.
Where these two models differ, however, is in their feature sets. The PL2 features an X-Fusion Laser Technology chipset, which can project a 4K image up to 150 inches, and a maximum refresh rate of 60Hz, despite the inclusion of two HDMI 2.1 sockets.
It also features a claimed maximum brightness of 2700 lumens, a significant upgrade over the PL1's 2100 lumens.
The PX3-Pro, on the other hand, amps up the brightness to 3000 lumens and carries Xbox certifications, meaning it can hit 4K/120Hz when connected to an Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5.
It also features a Trichroma RGB laser light system, which is Hisense's name for a triple laser light source.
Both models support HDR playback in the HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision and HLG formats, and Dolby Atmos is supported via the built-in speakers and through HDMI eARC connected home cinema audio systems.
After testing both projectors side-by-side, we confirmed that they both offer a suitably cinematic performance, though the differences aren't as distinct as we expected.
We complemented both projectors' capabilities to deliver balanced and detailed images, with solid amounts of dark detail and excellent handling of HDR content. We found both of them to deliver an immersive and cinematic image, even if the sound performances failed to match.
The PX3-Pro is unquestionably brighter and is a touch better at handling contrast, but the PL2 offers an equally impressive image for £700 less.
Which one should you buy?
My advice would be that if you're a serious gamer looking to beam your favourite titles onto a big screen, then the PX3-Pro is the better buy.
With the inclusion of proper HDMI 2.1 integration, it is better suited to be paired with an Xbox, PlayStation or Nintendo Switch.
However, if you're strictly using your projector for films and TV shows, then the PL2 is the one to go for. It offers a very similar experience, albeit not as bright and not quite as adept with dark details, at a much lower price.
Plus, it has the bigger discount of the two, so if value is your goal, then you can't go wrong with the PL2.
MORE:
Check out the best projector deals here
And read our full Hisense PL2 review
As well as our Hisense PX3-Pro review
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