Hisense L9Q Ultra Short-Throw Projector May Be the One to Beat: CES 2025

At CES 2025, we got a sneak peek at Hisense’s new flagship UST (ultra short-throw) projector, which they are again referring to as a “Laser TV.” The new model is named the L9Q TriChroma Laser TV and will replace the previous top-of-the-line L9H Laser TV from 2023. With its improved brightness and contrast and wider color gamut, we thought the L9Q was the best looking UST at the show and awarded it our “Best in Show” award for UST projectors at CES 2025.

The term “TriChroma” is a pending Hisense trademark, and it’s their way of describing the three primary color lasers used to form TV images (red, green and blue — often abbreviated as RGB). It’s not brand new technology, per se, but the triple laser lighting system Hisense uses is developed in house, while most other UST projector makers use a third party triple laser mechanism such as the ALPD 4.0 triple laser module from Appotronics. The L9Q also uses Texas Instruments DLP device with pixel shifting to support full Ultra HD 4K native resolution as well as support for Dolby Vision and HDR10 high dynamic range content.

Bigger Picture, Brighter Picture, Better Colors

The biggest change, compared to the previous L9H is that the L9Q will not necessarily be bundled with a screen as it has an adjustable focal length and focus, compared to the previous model’s fixed focal length. Hisense will offer screen bundles at 100, 110, 120, 136, and 150 inches, but buyers also have the flexibility of using their existing screen or buying a new one from a company that specializes in such stuff.

The L9Q will support larger screen sizes up to 150 inches in diagonal, which is up from the 120 inch cap from the L9H. Also, since the L9Q has a variable focal length, in-between screen sizes will also work with a little help from the new Auto Screen Alignment and Manual Keystone Correction features.

Like the L9H, the L9Q features a triple-laser light engine which company reps told us offers an increased contrast ratio (5,000:1) as well as higher peak brightness (5,000 lumens) — up from 3,000 on its predecessor. Hisense has also further widened its color gamut from 107% to 110% of BT.2020 for improved color accuracy and realism.

The throw ratio has also been tightened from 0.25:1 to 0.18:1. This means the projector can be placed closer to the screen or wall for a sleeker look.

Built-in Immersive Sound

The Hisense L9Q boasts the first-ever “6.2.2” channel surround sound system in a Laser TV. Its 15° tilted sound bin, inspired by Roman amphitheaters, creates an immersive soundstage with Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X processing. The projector supports eARC HDMI so you can connect it to an external sound system as well. You’ll also find Google TV on-board for access to all of the popular streaming services, including Netflix, AppleTV+, Max, Amazon Prime Video and more.

The Bottom Line

With Hisense having won the top spot in last year’s UST Projector Showdown with the PX3-PRO, we expect great things from the new flagship L9Q TriChroma Laser TV. From our initial look at the unit at CES 2025, eCoustics Founder and CEO, Brian Mitchell and I were very impressed with what we saw. The brightness and contrast on a high gain screen approached flat panel TVs in its vibrancy and contrast. No word on pricing or availability yet. We’ll update this article as we learn more.

Related Reading:

• More stories from CES 2025
• More stories about Hisense
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