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I’ll be the first to admit that I’m new to the projector game. Anker won me over at the end of last year with the Nebula series. The capsule prioritizes ease of use and portability, above all else. Although it’s not cheap at $800, it’s a good starter projector, meaning it’s self-contained and works pretty much out of the box.
But since I bought a house this summer, I’ve started to rethink my relationship with the device. I have much more space in my new place, but despite its natural beauty, the Hudson Valley needs more entertainment options than it did nearly two decades ago in New York City.
I reached out to Hisense a few months ago, after hearing good things about their projector offerings. For once, my timing was perfect. In September, the Chinese company announced additions to its C-series “lifestyle” projectors. Going from the Nebula Capsule to the C2 Ultra is like replacing a Toyota Camry with a Porsche. They serve their own purposes, and comparing them directly seems unfair to all parties involved.
For one thing, the Hisense is within a tax bracket or two of projectors, at $3,000. At the same price you can receive Hisense 4K flat screen, 100 inches. This is a projector for people who are fully committed to the projector lifestyle.
It’s also much larger than a pod, so there’s a trade-off for portability. I’ve been pulling the Anker projector out of the closet several times a week when I want to watch something projected on the big screen. The C2 Ultra is the kind of projector you free up space for. Much like a television, it will always occupy a place in your living room. For me, that place is above my bookshelf.
The flagship line of projectors is the triple chroma RGB laser engine, a standout feature of Hisense’s high-end projectors. In addition to the wide and accurate color gamut, the projector is extremely bright, at 3,000 ANSI lumens. You can watch a movie during the day without blackout curtains.
The C2 can display images up to 300 inches from a distance of 6 metres, with a minimum size of 65 inches. That covers most home projector screens, and then some, if you want to watch a movie in the backyard. There are other innovative features on the panel too, including a 1.67 optical zoom that lets you capture the shot more accurately without affecting the image.
I was also surprised by the ease of setup. It’s not just plug and play, but it’s close. Automatic keystone correction quickly sets the projector screen. Ditto for auto focus. If you don’t have a monitor, the projector will detect the wall color and adjust the image accordingly. From there, it’s a matter of accessing Wi-Fi and logging into various streaming services.
The system comes pre-loaded with Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Paramount+, Tubi, Disney+, and more. Some, like Hulu and Max, were noticeably missing. In the end, I ended up connecting the Apple TV 4K through the first HDMI input. Plus a full suite of streaming services, allowing me to stream audio to a pair of connected HomePods.
However, JBL’s built-in speaker and subwoofer are perfectly serviceable while watching movies. However, I suspect that those looking to spend $3,000 on a projector might also invest in a standalone sound system. It comes mounted on a stand from which it cannot be detached. Besides increasing the height of the projector, it allows for smooth manual adjustments.
The C2 Ultra is a well-balanced, standalone projector packed with all kinds of nice touches. It’s available now.
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