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TECH REVIEW

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Note: While highly portable, there is no inbuilt battery; if you want a movie night outdoors, you’ll need a long extension lead. Simple streaming LG’s smart TV webOS user interface

is inbuilt with preloaded apps for simple streaming, and accessible from the Home button on the remote, which also has dedicated buttons to take you directly to Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video. The projector also supports AirPlay and Screen Share to mirror/cast photos and videos from an iOS or Android device. There is a single HDMI input on the rear to connect a 4K Blu-ray player, games console, laptop or soundbar, which can be easily managed from the Home Dashboard display. And a Game Optimser mode enables Dynamic Action Sync and HDMI Deep Colour when a The Cinebeam Q is a DLP projector that uses an RGB laser light source for higher brightness and vivid colours. It also supports 4K Ultra HD 3840 x 2160p resolution and HDR10 – features generally reserved for more expensive home theatre projectors, and a huge plus for a portable. There is also Filmmaker Mode to preserve the director’s vision with no image processing, making the Cinebeam Q highly desirable for cinephiles and movie buffs that want to watch 4K restorations of their favourite films on a big screen. This reviewer streamed Dawn of the Planet of the Apes in 4K HDR10 and then plugged in a 4K Blu-ray player to watch Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning . The picture clarity and colour was very impressive from a portable projector with 500 ANSI lumens of brightness, and with a high contrast ratio of 450,000:1, blacks remained deep and consistent with good shadow detail for HDR. We found that the darker the room is, the higher the quality and brightness when viewing on the maximum screen size of 120 inches. Pump up the volume The Cinebeam Q has inbuilt 3W speakers that don’t have a lot of grunt, but are sufficient for casual viewing. A big screen demands big sound to match and the HDMI port supports ARC for connecting a soundbar. Alternatively, two Bluetooth devices can be paired to the projector simultaneously, so adding a pair of Bluetooth speakers will also pump up the volume. And if you want private immersion, Bluetooth headphones or earbuds can also be paired quickly and easily. The bottom line The LG Cinebeam Q is a terrific little projector that combines simple functionality, flexible projection, and premium features like 4K resolution, HDR10 support, and inbuilt streaming into a compact and highly portable unit. console is connected. 4K all the way

REVIEW

LG has packed premium features into a stylish and compact portable projector for a big screen experience in stunning 4K Ultra HD. Words Scott Hocking LG CINEBEAM Q PORTABLE PROJECTOR

Out of the box What immediately stands out when you unpack the LG Cinebeam Q is its stylish, minimalist design and retro look, which evokes an old school box camera in a silver metallic casing. This is an aesthetically pleasing projector that you’ll want to keep on display on a bookshelf or a coffee table when it’s not in use, rather than store away in a cupboard. It’s incredibly compact too, at 135 x 135 x 80mm and weighing a light 1.5kg, with a 360° rotating handle that doubles as a kickstand for flexible projection angles and ceiling cinema. It can be picked up and positioned wherever you need it. Plug in and project Connect the AC power block and switch it on, follow the onscreen set up prompts, enter your Wi-Fi password to connect, and it’s ready to go within minutes. The remote puts all the basic functions at your fingertips, although it’s not a Magic Remote with a floating onscreen cursor as per

LG TVs – it’s infrared, so needs to be pointed at the rear of the projector for use. This little projector can beam a big screen size up to 120” from a distance of around three metres, and if wall space is limited, simply move it closer to fit. Wherever you choose to place the Cinebeam Q, its automatic screen adjustment function will properly align the picture on the wall or screen, while autofocus keeps it sharp and clear. There's also keystone and multi-point screen correction should you need to manually adjust the framing.

22 JUNE 2024

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