Katarzyna Petru
Amidst the huge televisions showcased at the CES 2026 exhibition, it's easy to forget that you don't need a massive LCD or OLED screen to achieve a truly large image in your living room. Projectors remain an alternative – increasingly smaller, brighter, and more technologically advanced. This year's exhibition featured new models from Xgimi and AWOL Vision, which target the premium segment of ultra short throw projectors.
Xgimi Titan Noir Max – cinema ambitions
Xgimi has presented a new model, the Titan Noir Max, described by the manufacturer as the most "cinematic and accessible" pro series projector in its line-up. The Chinese brand, which started with simple portable projectors, has clearly shifted towards the high-end segment in recent years. In 2025, models like Titan and Horizon 20 Max debuted, and the new model aims to fill the gap between them.
The Titan Noir Max is a 4K projector equipped with the most advanced dynamic IRIS aperture system in Xgimi's history. The manufacturer claims a native contrast ratio of 10,000:1 and new optics intended to provide better control of lights and shadows, along with more precise colour reproduction. However, Xgimi has not provided information regarding brightness or gaming capabilities, which is a significant omission for equipment in this class. It is known, however, that the model will be priced between the Titan (£3,499) and the Horizon 20 Max (£2,599).
This means direct competition with models such as the Leica Cine Play 1 Plus, which offers 3,500 CVIA lumens, 110% coverage of BT.2020 and costs around £2,950, as well as the JMGO O2S Ultra with a brightness of 3,600 ISO lumens, a contrast ratio of 4,000:1 and a price of around £2,799.
ChooseTV Vision enters the elite realm of UST projectors
The debut of ChooseTV Vision is looking even more interesting, a company previously known mainly as the owner of the Valerion brand. At CES 2026, the manufacturer showcased two new ultra short throw projectors – Aetherion Max and Aetherion Pro – which are set to be the first models in the world capable of displaying a 4K image with a diagonal of up to 200 inches. Both projectors offer a latency of less than 1 ms, making them particularly appealing to gamers. The difference between the models primarily comes down to brightness:
Aetherion Max – 2,600 ANSI lumens
Aetherion Pro – 3,000 ANSI lumens
The remaining specifications are identical: native contrast of 6,000:1, refresh rate up to 240 Hz, support for VRR and ALLM, and a new PixelLock system.
PixelLock – technology of sharpness without compromise
PixelLock is a proprietary technology by AWOL Vision, designed to eliminate typical issues found in UST projectors, such as pixel drift and colour separation. The system combines optical, digital, and mechanical elements, compensating for lens tolerances, thermal expansion, and DLP sequencing artifacts.
The projectors utilise sapphire glass lenses, rare earth element coatings that reduce chromatic aberration to almost zero, a special optical film, and a motorised lens cover that protects against dust. It also features the MT9655 chipset with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, a seven-stage IRIS system, and a claimed dynamic contrast of up to 60,000:1.
Prices and Competition
AWOL Vision has yet to reveal prices in the UK, but in the US, the Aetherion Max and Pro are expected to cost $3,499 and $4,499 respectively, which translates to about £2,581 and £3,320. Sales will start with a campaign on Kickstarter, with early bird offers scheduled for March.
The new models from Xgimi and AWOL Vision will also have to contend with the Hisense PX4-PRO – a UST projector showcased at CES, although announced before the holidays. The PX4-PRO features a new IRIS system, brightness of 3,500 ANSI lumens, IMAX Enhanced certification, and a contrast ratio of 6,000:1. The price has not been disclosed yet, but the specifications suggest it will be one of the strongest contenders in the UST projector market in 2026.
