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Hisense L9Q: two-minute review
The Hisense L9Q represents the pinnacle of what Hisense can do for home theater projection. It’s a sizzlingly bright 4K ultra short throw (UST) projector that boasts the wide color gamut of triple-laser projectors alongside the accurate color of Pantone Validated hardware.
The Hisense L9Q is a capable streamer on its own thanks to integrated Google TV, and it has fast-enough hardware to run the operating system smoothly. It can also serve as a hub for various video sources with its multiple HDMI ports and an ATSC 3.0 tuner enter – a uncommon function on the best projectors. And although it doesn’t embody a display like some earlier Hisense L9 fashions, this model has a variable focus to let it adapt to completely different setups.
Where most other projectors settle for two or maybe four speakers, the L9Q packs in a whopping ten Devialet-designed speakers in a 6.2.2 configuration for the most impressive sound I’ve heard from a projector. It may not beat actual surround sound speaker systems, but it’s enough to put even the best soundbars to disgrace.
The L9Q is even a stable gaming projector with its capability to show 4K 60Hz gameplay with low enter lag or change over to 1080p 240Hz for further clean visuals and responsive gaming.
It’s a severe package deal, however it comes with a significantly high-end worth at $5,999 / £3,999. That could seem steep, however contemplating how rapidly the costs of TVs ramp up once you go previous 75 inches, the mathematics begins to work in Hisense’s favor. The L9Q can put out a 150-inch image simply as simply as it may well do 100 inches, and has versatile setup options to rise up and operating.
For most individuals who don’t want the added brightness and have already got sound system, the $3,499 / £2,499 Hisense PX3-Pro will likely be a extra affordable possibility. But in the event you demand the perfect, the L9Q delivers.
Hisense L9Q Review: price and release date
- First available: September 2025
- MSRP: $5,999 / £3,999 / AU$9,999 (includes 120-inch screen)
The Hisense L9Q is available for $5,999 / £3,999. In Australia, the projector comes bundled with a 120-inch screen and sells for AU$9,999. Given that it launched towards the end of 2025, the L9Q is unlikely to see any major discounts until sometime in late 2026.
Hisense L9Q Review: Specs
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Screen sizes supported: |
80-200 inches |
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Brightness (specified): |
5,000 Lumens |
|
HDR support: |
Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG |
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Optical technology: |
3-laser DLP |
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Smart TV: |
Google TV |
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Connections: |
2x HDMI 2.1, 2x HDMI 2.0 (1x eARC), optical audio out, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, USB-C 3.0 (data only), Ethernet, RF antenna |
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Dimensions: |
24.6 x 12.5 x 6.5 inches (623 x 31.7 x 165cm) |
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Weight: |
28.4 pounds (12.8 kg) |
Hisense L9Q Review: design and features
- Stunning design
- Projector, sound system, and streamer all in one
- Plentiful connection options
Hisense here has created what I think is its best-looking UST projector yet. The L9Q borrows some of the ideas from the retro-futuristic PX line to deliver a bronze-kissed work of art. Most of the frame of the L9Q is a little boxy, keeping it simple with clean lines, but the front has small channels with power indicator lights and the top bears a curved sort of wave meant to evoke Roman amphitheaters. That’s not just for style either, as the top integrates several speakers. The front is emblazoned with concentric rings and a grille on the front hides even more speakers. Around the side, there are two discs housing yet another pair of speakers.
While the design is very appealing, it’s also functional. The projector sits on four height-adjustable feet to help you level the projector and get a perfectly square image. Where its Hisense L9G predecessor was designed with specific screen sizes in mind (and included those screens), the L9Q is more flexible, offering adjustable keystone and focus to let you adapt it to your needs. The flip side is that the L9Q does not include any screen, which was an addition worth easily $1,000 on earlier models. Whatever screen you do set it up with, the projector can automatically fit the picture to it, though it’s a software solution and will reduce the actual image resolution.
Another set of sensors at the top of the projector helps protect your eyes. When these detect someone is close to the projection, they’ll dim the display, and after 5 seconds, turn it off entirely. That’s good to have since this projector uses bright lasers, and in my testing, the sensors have been fairly responsive.
Another update with the L9Q is that the throw ratio has been reduced to 0.18:1. This lets you get a big image while getting the projector closer to the wall.
Around back, the L9Q has a good selection of connections. You get four HDMI ports, two of which meet the version 2.1 spec. A separate HDMI offers eARC, so you don’t have to use up an HDMI 2.1 port for audio output. There’s also an optical digital audio output, an Ethernet input, and an RF input for the L9Q’s ATSC 3.0 receiver. The projector even supports a PVR recording system for broadcast TV using an attached storage device. Three USB ports round out the options, with two offering USB 3.0 speeds, and one of those using a Type-C connection.
Even if you don’t connect the projector to an external source, you can stream content on the built-in Google TV operating system. While many projectors include built-in operating systems like this, the L9Q actually has the hardware to run it smoothly. In my time testing, the system remained responsive even as I launched and navigated apps, and I could reliably control the projector at all times. The Wi-Fi 6E connection used by the streaming platform is also robust.
Hisense’s included remote is almost the same as what came with the PX3-Pro. It’s a long silver handset made out of plastic with the typical Google TV navigation ring. At the top, it features a handful of shortcuts to streaming apps, including one customizable shortcut. There’s also a dedicated input select button, which is always handy to have.
One difference between the remotes is that instead of having a control for brightness, the L9Q remote has a channel select button. This and the volume controls are on tall, pill-shaped buttons that are easy to feel out. One great feature of the remote is that it reacts to movement and will light up many of the controls if you simply move it. This is very helpful in the typically dark home theater environment.
- Design and features score: 5/5
Hisense L9Q Review: performance
- Wonderfully bright picture with rich color
- Support for 1080p/240Hz gaming
- Potent 10-speaker Dolby Atmos sound
The Hisense L9Q brings UST projector picture quality to new heights. Hisense already impressed me with earlier models such as the L9G and PX3-Pro, but the L9Q carries the torch even further. It’s their brightest projector yet while still providing the stunning color of Hisense’s RGB laser light engine.
Ultimately, its specified 5,000 lumen brightness may be overstated, as maximum brightness comes via a high-brightness mode that results in some horrible color shift. But even without that, the projector beams a brilliant picture. The vivid colors it is capable of don’t mean a sacrifice in accuracy either, as the L9Q is both Pantone Validated and Pantone SkinTone certified.
All of that is delivered with strong contrast. The black levels aren’t so low that letterbox bars disappear completely, especially in darker movie scenes, but when the projector is beaming bright, the bars become hard to see thanks to the projector’s contrast.
The L9Q’s black levels and contrast aren’t quite on the level of the Sony Bravia Projector 7, however it will get nearer than most projectors I’ve seen, and it manages it with extra vivid shade and better brightness. Not to say that the L9Q is sort of half the worth of Sony’s projector.
With most image presets, you’ll be going through some unlucky movement smoothing, although, because the projector’s SDR and HDR image profiles default to utilizing movement smoothing. This has its advantages for some content material by smoothing out digicam pans and shifting objects, however it provides a cleaning soap opera impact to films. The “Film” setting avoids these ugly artifacts whereas nonetheless maintaining judder subdued, nevertheless.
The L9Q delivers good focus from nook to nook with handbook setup, taking advantage of its 4K decision. And the quantity of element you possibly can see with the image stretching as much as 100 inches or bigger is outstanding.
Gamers can get lots from the L9Q as properly. Even when it’s beaming a 4K 60Hz image, it’s in a position to preserve the enter latency low sufficient to make for a reasonably responsive expertise. Like the Hisense PX3-Pro, the L9Q can drop right down to 1080p and crank its refresh fee to 240Hz for tremendous clean gaming (simply be certain that to set the HDMI enter supply to Enhanced Pro or it’s going to prime out at 120Hz). I took it for just a few runs in Hades, and it was stunningly clean with just about no detectable lag.
Though the L9Q did job of hiding the rainbow impact more often than not, it’s vulnerable to it like many different DLP projectors. I didn’t discover it a lot when watching 4K content material, the place it solely often cropped up and was most seen on white areas of the picture. It was additionally extra noticeable whereas operating the projector at 1080p/240Hz.
The projector’s very strong speaker system was an additional nice shock. It makes use of a complete of 10 audio system in a 6.2.2-channel configuration. Four of these audio system are within the entrance, two on the perimeters, with 4 extra positioned alongside the curved prime. It’s not as engrossing as a correct encompass system or as booming as a double-sub setup (neither is it hitting deep sub-bass), however the sound is weighty, loud, and presents a surprisingly vast soundstage for such a small unit.
With Dolby Atmos audio piping out of the audio system throughout Star Wars: The Force Awakens, blaster pictures appeared to return out from completely different factors in area, there was some peak to the TIE fighters flying over, and explosions have been correctly booming. Ultimately, it’s price pairing a projector of this high quality with an exterior sound system, however in the event you don’t, there’s loads to get from the built-in audio system.
Hisense L9Q Review: value
- High price
- Extra value as an all-in-one system
- No projector screen included in US and UK
The Hisense L9Q is a serious piece of kit, and it has the price to match. At $5,999 / £3,999, you have to expect a lot from this home theater projector, and for the most part, it delivers. Its picture is bright and color-rich, it has powerful built-in sound, and it has Google TV for streaming. But for most people, the $3,499 Hisense PX3-Pro is going to be the more sensible option, since it offers much the same experience but without quite the same brightness, audio power, or extensive connectivity options.
It’s kind of a shame that the L9Q doesn’t come bundled with a projector screen in the US and the UK, but its flexible lens control means you can pair it with whatever screen you want for the most part. Hisense had offered pre-order customers the option of either a free screen or its HT-Saturn sound wireless speaker system, both of which would have made this an astounding value, but that deal appears to have since expired.
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Notes |
Rating |
|---|---|---|
|
Design and features |
The Hisense L9Q is gorgeously designed and feature-packed. It has the most robust sound system I’ve heard built into a projector, it offers bright and flexible projection, and it has Google TV and plenty of ports for other video sources. |
5/5 |
|
Performance |
The L9Q’s picture is gorgeous. This projector beams bright, has a wide color gamut, strong contrast, and great clarity. It works well for movies and games alike. And that picture is paired with impressive speakers. Even the operating system runs smoothly, which is not always the case with projectors running Google TV. |
5/5 |
|
Value |
The Hisense L9Q packs a lot into one package. Its price isn’t surprising for even just its projection, but the speaker system makes it even more reasonable. It’s just too bad Hisense isn’t throwing in a screen as well. |
4.5/5 |
Should I buy the Hisense L9Q?
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Also consider…
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Hisense L9Q |
Epson LS800 |
Xgimi Aura 2 |
Hisense PX3-Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Price: |
$5,999 |
$3,499 |
$3,499 |
$3,499 |
|
Screen sizes supported: |
80 to 200 inches |
Up to 150 inches |
80-150 inches |
80 to 150 inches |
|
Brightness (specified): |
5,000 lumens |
4,000 lumens |
2,300 lumens |
3,000 lumens |
|
HDR support |
HDR10+, HLG, Dolby Vision |
HDR10, HLG |
HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision |
HDR10+, HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision |
|
Optical technology: |
3 Laser DLP |
3LCD, Laser |
Dual Light 2.0 (Laser + LED) |
3 laser DLP |
|
Smart TV: |
Google TV |
Android TV |
Android TV |
Google TV |
|
Connections: |
2x HDMI 2.1, 2x HDMI 2.0 (1 with eARC), 1x optical, 1x coaxial, 1x optical |
3x HDMI 2.0 (1 with ARC) |
2x HDMI, 1x HDMI eARC, optical digital audio out, 3.5mm audio out, 3x USB-A, Ethernet |
2x HDMI 2.1, 1x HDMI 2.0 (with eARC), 1x RF, optical |
How I tested the Hisense L9Q
- Tested at home in multiple, real-world viewing conditions
- Presented the display with a variety of media and formats
- I have tested numerous projectors and displays over the last half-decade
I tested the Hisense L9Q at home, in real-world conditions. This saw it faced with ambient light coming in from numerous windows, in-room lighting, as well as ambient noise that both the projector and speaker systems had to overcome. The projector was tested both against a bare, white wall and an Akia Screens CineWhite screen. It was introduced with streamed content material, HDR and non-HDR, and PC gameplay.
My testing evaluates the projector’s efficiency with respect to its worth and competitors from different fashions that my colleagues and I at TechSwitch have examined.
I’ve been testing projectors since 2021 and shows for even longer.
First reviewed: December 2025