Hisense offers a powerful portable projector, where equal attention is paid to both the picture and sound, as well as to a range of other important details.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Resolution: 3,840×2,160 (16:9)
- Display Technology: DLP with laser light source
- Bulb Brightness: 1,600 ANSI lumens (all colors)
- Diagonal: Up to 300 inches
- Video Inputs: HDMI 2.1 eARC, HDMI 2.0
- Sound Outputs: Optical (S/PDIF), 3.5mm analog
- Network Connectivity: Ethernet (10/100), Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth
- Software Platform: VIDAA OS
- Dimensions and Weight: 245 x 216 x 179 mm, 4.6 kg
- Warranty: 2 years
Impression Hisense
C1 is formally categorized as a smart mini projector, and indeed it is. It is a modern DLP projector with a laser light source, based on the very usable VIDAA OS software platform, for which you don’t need much more than a relatively flat surface and a white wall to operate. Although strictly speaking, the C1 cannot be called miniature, considering its external dimensions of 24.5 x 21.6 x 39.1 centimeters and weight of 4.6 kilograms, it is undoubtedly much more compact than traditional home projectors. At the same time, it is much simpler to install, so it is conceivable that its owners will not keep it exclusively in one place in the house but will also, as needed, transport it – to a weekend house, to friends’, or to some other place where a large diagonal image is needed.
Depending on the distance from the projection surface, the C1 can display an image up to a monstrous 300 inches. According to official specifications, which we confirmed through testing, a 65-inch diagonal is achieved from a distance of 1.73 meters. For a 110-inch image, you will need to move 2.92 meters away from the wall or screen, for a 150-inch one 3.98 meters, and the maximum, 300-inch, requires a distance of 7.97 meters.
Decor for Space
The elegantly square projector housing is clad in gray-blue aluminum, with plastic front and rear panels. On the top are buttons for adjusting the volume, pausing, and starting the currently playing content, as well as turning the device on and off. The front features a lens and a few sensors, while the connectors are at the back. These include an external power connector (180-watt “brick”), optical audio output, 100-megabit Ethernet port, 3.5-millimeter analog audio output, USB 2.0 connector, HDMI 2.1 eARC input, HDMI 2.0 input, and a USB 3.0 port. Another HDMI input would be desirable, and two more optimal. All connectors are physically spaced enough to be used without any complications, even when connecting cables with wider connector housings. In addition to wired connections, the C1 is also networked wirelessly. It supports Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) and all older ones, in the 2.4 and 5-gigahertz frequency bands. Finally, the built-in wireless module also supports Bluetooth, which serves multiple purposes. First and foremost, Bluetooth is used to communicate with the included compact remote control. Therefore, it functions perfectly anywhere in the room with the projector, without the need to direct it towards the projector. This is especially useful when positioning the projector at an elevated position behind our backs or when mounted on the ceiling. The second purpose of Bluetooth is to use the projector as a handy wireless speaker. After establishing a Bluetooth connection with an audio source, such as a mobile phone or tablet, the C1 will play our music through its speakers. The display conveniently switches to a charming visualization of the spectral analyzer, which, though, moves without any connection to what is currently playing. Also, a shortcut is displayed for quickly turning off the projection, thus saving the laser system while listening to music – handy.
Sound Surprise
The side panels are perforated for dissipating heated air and sound waves produced by integrated JBL audio. If the idea of using a projector as a Bluetooth speaker sounds comical to you, we don’t blame you – it sounded the same to us. Projectors typically have speakers that fall into the category of “just enough.” However, the small plate on the front of the device, proudly displaying the inscription “Sound by JBL,” hinted to us that perhaps it wasn’t the case with Hisense’s projector. After playing the first test videos from Netflix and YouTube, accessed via the corresponding shortcuts on the remote control, we were positively shocked: the C1 sounds excellent! Its acoustic performance wouldn’t be ashamed of even quite ambitious Bluetooth speakers. Whether we’re talking about the volume range, bass quantity, or vocal clarity, in all these aspects, Hisense’s projector greatly exceeds expectations. Various sound profiles are offered in the sound settings (Standard, Theater, Music, Voice, Night, Sports), and there is also a 7-band equalizer, where we can further adjust the sound to our preferences. Although more demanding users will still probably leave sound reproduction to their hi-fi system, even they will appreciate the integrated audio of Hisense’s projector because it will be very usable when temporarily moving the device to another location. However, we must also emphasize that there will certainly be those who will never feel the need to upgrade the projector’s audio, at home or outside it.
When mentioning sound, let’s also talk about the noise of the device itself, or rather its surprising absence. The built-in fans are very refined and unobtrusive. You might hear them in a completely quiet room, from a distance of up to two meters; whenever you watch something, the sound of your content will completely drown out the built-in fans, even if it’s not particularly amplified.
THREE LASERS
For displaying images, Hisense C1 uses DLP technology and a laser light source, which the manufacturer calls TriChroma Laser. The image is reproduced using separate red, green, and blue laser beams, providing the ability to reproduce 1.07 billion colors and 110% coverage of the BT.2020 color space. The declared lifespan of the built-in light source is at least 25,000 hours. This, of course, does not mean that the projector will stop working after 25,000 hours; it just means that noticeable degradation in display quality may occur by then. The mentioned 25,000 hours translate to three years of continuous operation. If you use the projector, for example, eight hours a day, you will need more than eight years of use to accumulate those 25,000 hours of operation.
AUTO MAGIC AI – ALWAYS FLAT IMAGE
Putting Hisense C1 into operation could hardly be easier, thanks to the technology the manufacturer calls Auto Magic AI. It is an automatic system for adjusting image geometry and focusing. Just place the projector in the desired location and turn it on; the automation will do its job, and within a few seconds, you will get a sharp and properly shaped display. The feature works even if the projector is not positioned vertically to the projection surface. Automatic trapezoidal alignment works flawlessly in all situations. If the projector recognizes that it has been moved, it recalibrates itself, sparing us the need for manual adjustment. Within the Auto Magic AI system, an additional function can be activated to avoid obstacles. When enabled, the front sensors will detect obstacles on the projection surface (such as flower petals “entering” the picture) and reduce the size of the image, so it is displayed only on the “clean” wall. Excellent! The declared maximum brightness of the built-in laser system is 1,600 ANSI lumens. In practice, this figure will vary depending on the diagonal size or distance of the projector from the projection surface. Thus, the further away, the larger the image, the lower the maximum brightness. Therefore, although the C1 technically can display a 300-inch image, the practical upper limit is around 150 inches – this refers to the diagonal size where the image still has sufficient brightness and dynamic range for a striking HDR appearance. Speaking of which, C1 supports HDR standards like HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, and Dolby Vision. Hisense C1 is a 4K projector, achieving a resolution of 3,840×2,160 pixels using a technique called pixel shifting, where two shifted images with a resolution of 1,920×1,080 (Full HD) are displayed. Ultimately, this results in a display that is slightly less sharp than native 4K, but it is cheaper to produce and easier to process, making it an acceptable compromise. The compact remote control contains all the essential buttons – for quick activation of popular streaming services, selecting inputs and picture/sound profiles, adjusting volume and laser brightness, starting the geometry and focus adjustment system, and quick access to VIDAA OS. It communicates with the projector via Bluetooth and also has a built-in microphone for voice control. Overall, the display quality is very good in terms of sharpness, color richness, and brightness uniformity. Depending on the selected picture profile, the display can range from vibrant and rich to extremely saturated, or even overly “amped up” (Dynamic profile). Although the instant appeal of such an image is understood, it’s worth noting that the most faithful display comes from some other profiles. For example, for HDR, the “HDR Day” profile worked excellently for us, and for SDR content, we switched between the “Standard” and “Day Cinema” profiles. The FILMMAKER mode, theoretically supposed to provide the most faithful display, often made the image appear too yellowish in many contents, almost as if a sepia filter were activated. The motion reproduction is surprisingly good – the built-in smoothing algorithms successfully handle judder and related issues. There are several different smoothing profiles available, so everyone can choose the one that offers the optimal balance of motion fluidity and “soap opera effect.”
SERVING ITS PURPOSE
The black level, of course, cannot and should not be on par with OLED TVs or even LCDs with Mini-LED backlighting, but the C1 compensates for it with its diagonal size. If we were to achieve a 100-inch or larger diagonal in the form of a TV, it would necessarily occupy half of the living room and cost at least two to three times more than Hisense’s projector. Therefore, the C1 is not a device for users seeking the best possible display but for those looking for a combination of a very good picture and the largest possible diagonal. In a similar vein, we would actually classify all other serious home projectors. There is no model that will deliver a display on par with the best TVs, but that is not their point.
VIDAA OS – FAMILIAR ENVIRONMENT
Hisense’s projector is based on the VIDAA OS software platform, reminiscent of a blend of newer versions of webOS and Google’s Android TV. Therefore, if you have used any modern smart TV, you will immediately find yourself in familiar territory. The main screen is divided into horizontal strips displaying installed applications and personalized recommendations – what the device thinks we might want to watch, available on all services for which we have entered user data, such as Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video. At the top of the interface are menus for search, input selection, and system settings (picture, sound, network, projector settings, etc.), as well as a shortcut for accessing the VIDAA App Store, where various applications and games can be downloaded. The number of applications is nowhere near the level of Android TV, let alone some other popular “TV” OSes; for example, there is no HBO Max or Spotify, but Plex, Deezer, NBA, YouTube Kids, and EON TV are available, to name a few. It is possible to cast content from Netflix and YouTube, and AirPlay 2 is supported, which is good news for owners of Apple devices.
VIDAA OS responds quickly to inputs, and it is a pleasant environment to use. Users of Android TV (or Google TV) are accustomed to almost unlimited access to applications and much richer casting options – for them, we suggest considering getting a Chromecast, which can be plugged into one of the two available HDMI inputs. When it recognizes a signal from a computer or console, the C1 offers the option to activate Game Mode, a mode where input lag is reduced to around 50 milliseconds. This is a considerable delay, which rules out playing titles like online shooters (the same applies to 60Hz refresh rate). However, it will serve well for a round of football or some Mario Kart.
Like all other projectors, the C1 performs best in a darkened room. In rooms with strong natural or artificial light coming from all directions, its colors will appear subdued, and the display will look washed out. Therefore, if you don’t have a way to control ambient lighting or you mostly watch videos during the day, you should still consider a projector with a brighter light source (or a TV). However, when provided with adequate lighting conditions, Hisense’s projector returns a truly attractive display. Adding its excellent sound, highly usable software platform, quiet cooling system, ease of use, and compactness, making it genuinely portable home cinema, it remains to be concluded that it is a successful product. Priced at 2,000 euros, it clearly targets more demanding users, so it’s all the better that Hisense has paid attention to every essential aspect of it.
