Legendary camera company Leica is dipping further into the home entertainment game with the Leica Cine 1 Laser TV, the brand’s first-ever ultra-short-throw projector.
With internals from Hisense, Leica has moved away from its vague Pradovit brand, which it used to use to sell projectors. Now, the camera specialists have their very own branded high-end projector offering a super small entertainment hub with dimensions of 24 x 16 x 6 inches. The top model is priced at US$8,295 (AU$12,079), because why would you expect anything less from Leica?
The super portable Leica Cine 1 Laser TV uses proprietary image processing – Leica Image Optimization – to help differentiate it from some of the other portable projectors on the market, such as the excellent Samsung Freestyle. The size is also one of the biggest factors helping this ultra-short-throw projector stand out on the market against more affordable competitors. Leica has designed the Cine 1 Laser TV so that it can sit just inches from the wall and still produce a clear, intelligible image.
Leica’s image processing uses triple RGB laser technology to produce a high-quality image that’s supposedly much easier on the eyes, reducing any strain and upping comfort for those who would be watching the screen for hours on end.
There are two models of the Cine 1 Laser TV in development. The first can produce up to 2500 lumens of brightness and a 100-inch 4K image with a 60 Hz refresh rate at 30 cm distance from the display wall. The second, which is slightly more affordable, can reach up to 2100 lumens of brightness and project an 80-inch 4K image with a 60 Hz refresh rate from a distance of 15 cm.
Both models are the same when it comes to connectivity. You’ve got three HDMI ports on the device, one USB 2.0 and one USB 3.0m alongside a built-in TV tuner and a Common Interface slot. And while things may change once Leica has this projector ready for shipping later this year, the company is promising 4.2 Atmos-certified audio, which should help it justify that solid price tag.
