Samsung Launches Premiere 7 and Premiere 9 Ultra-Short Throw Projectors [CNET]

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Both promise huge pictures with minimal setup and require less space than a traditional projector, but they won’t be cheap.

Samsung has launched the Premiere 7 and Premiere 9 ultra-short throw projectors first announced at CES. These relatively small boxes can project huge images on just about any wall from just a few inches away. Designed to look as unobtrusive as possible, they don’t look like a traditional home theater projector, featuring curved edges and fabric highlights. 

While UST projectors tend to be much more expensive compared to non-UST projectors with similar specs, their ability to sit on a TV stand or low cabinet and project a wall-sized image is unmatched. Inside the Premieres is Samsung’s Tizen OS, offering a similar experience to Samsung TV like the S95D OLED, including preinstalled Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and so on. Both Premieres have 4K resolution and HDR10 Plus compatibility, though no projector can truly take advantage of HDR. The lenses on both models allow for images up to 130 inches diagonal. 

The built-in speakers mean a soundbar isn’t required, though the lack of a full-sized subwoofer means there won’t be much low-frequency rumble. A microphone allows for voice control and also means you can use both Premieres as a hub for other SmartThings-enabled gear. While you’re not watching movies or TV, the Custom Ambient mode allows you to view photos or “interactive widgets,” which presumably include things like weather or news.

The Premiere 9 will retail for $6,000, and the step-down Premiere 7 will cost half as much at $3,000. The main differences between the two are their relative brightness and the fact that the Premiere 9 has a three-laser design. Here are the details.

Samsung Premiere 9 specifications

The Premiere 9 is lit using a three-laser design, which Samsung claims improves color accuracy and light output. We’ve found that generally to be the case with other projectors we’ve reviewed recently that also have a laser light source. They claim 3,450 ISO lumens, an 18% improvement over its predecessor. 

This is pretty bright, though most UST projectors can throw a lot of light on a wall. A brighter image allows a projector to fill a larger screen and shows up better in rooms with tons of ambient light.

Sound-wise, the 9 has a “2.2.2” design, which means two small subwoofers, two upward-firing speakers and two main speakers. This lineup has 40 watts of power, which should be enough for most small- and medium-sized rooms.

Samsung Premiere 7 specifications

The Premiere 7 is rated for 2,500 ISO lumens, an 8.7% increase over its predecessor. It has a 2.2-channel design powered by 30 watts. 

Do you even need an ultra-short throw projector?

UST projectors are exceptionally expensive compared to traditional projectors, often costing two or three times more than even “regular” short-throw projectors, which have their own premium over nonshort-throw projectors. While bright, UST’s performance doesn’t typically compare well against projectors of the same price, which include high-end LCD models. Some models are similar in price to some high-performance LCOS projectors from Sony and JVC that will offer significantly better image quality. 

The UST promise of a big image with minimal setup isn’t exactly true, either. To get any semblance of a decent image, you really need to install a dedicated screen. Just shining the image on a painted wall can result in color shifts that can’t be entirely removed by adjusting image settings. Worse, any texture of the wall will be visible in the picture. 

If all you have space for is a device that sits a few inches from a wall, UST is unquestionably the way to go. However, a regular or non-UST short-throw projector on a coffee table or a shelf or stand behind a couch can result in a better image for a fraction of the price of a UST. 

Traditional TVs are getting more affordable at sizes that encroach on projector territory, however. Samsung’s own 98-inch TVs, for example, start around $3,000. 

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As well as covering audio and display tech, Geoff does photo tours of cool museums and locations around the world, including nuclear submarines, aircraft carriers, medieval castles, epic 10,000-mile road trips and more.

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