The price of 4K TVs has plummeted in recent years, but you might want to look at home laser projectors before springing for one.
The Xiaomi Mi Laser Projector is an ultra-short-throw projector that can create an image as large as 150 inches on your wall. The company claims the device has a shelf life of 25,000 hours, or 34 years if you watch TV two hours every day.
The projector is said to produce “cinema-quality” picture using custom lasers produced by Appotronics, the company that makes laser tech for about 90 percent of China’s theaters, according to Engadget. There are a number of benefits to using lasers over traditional projector technology, including a wider color gamut, longer shelf life, and increased energy efficiency.
The display can reach up to 5,000 lumens, which is significantly brighter than most of its competitors. It will also come with built-in speakers and streaming content displayed on an interface from Xiaomi’s Mi TV set-top box.
Home laser projectors aren’t a new invention, but they are typically more expensive than even the priciest TVs. Those that are affordable tend to produce worse images compared to their TV equivalents. At just 9,999 yuan ($1,460), the Xiaomi is looking like a steal—if you can get your hands on one.
The Mi Laser Projector will be available for pre-order in China on July 4 at Xiaomi Mall and the company’s MIJIA app.
H/T Engadget
