The LG CineBeam S is an ultra-short-throw (UST) 4k pixel-shifting DLP projector with a triple laser light source that's rated for 20,000 hours. This projector has a 0.25 throw ratio that can project a 40-inch image from about nine inches (about 23cm) away, and a 100-inch image from about 22 inches (about 56cm) away. It comes with auto-focus and auto-keystone for easy setup, and if you're not projecting onto a screen, it also includes a feature that adjusts the image based on a wall's hue. The projector runs LG's proprietary webOS with built-in apps like Disney+, Netflix, and Prime Video, and it also supports casting using AirPlay 2 and Miracast Screen Share. It includes 2x4W built-in speakers, while it can also connect to Bluetooth speakers and soundbars for an extra punch. It includes one HDMI 2.0 port (eARC), as well as two USB-C ports that can be used to power the projector via its 65W power adapter, or to display content via an external device.
Our Verdict
The LG CineBeam S is an okay projector for watching movies. One of its biggest strengths is its strong contrast; blacks stay deep across the vast majority of scenes, and it also has a very wide color gamut that helps deliver a vibrant experience. However, its brightness is disappointing, which limits the impact of these strengths, so it's strongly recommended to use this projector in a dark room with the curtains drawn to keep out ambient light. Out of the box, the projector's white balance and color mapping are poor, so it requires calibration for the best movie-watching experience.
Blacks stay deep, even in very bright scenes.
Amazing color gamut.
Too dim to combat ambient light.
Not accurate out-of-the-box.
No Dolby Vision support.
The LG CineBeam S is a bad projector for gaming. Its input lag, even in Game Optimizer mode, is too high for slow-paced games, and it only supports up to 60Hz. Its triple laser light source helps colors pop, though the projector's dim brightness limits this, so moving it to a dark room is recommended if using it for gaming.
Blacks stay deep, even in very bright scenes.
Amazing color gamut.
Terrible input lag on 4k and 1080p.
Too dim to combat ambient light.
Not accurate out-of-the-box.
No Dolby Vision support.
Only supports up to 60Hz.
The LG CineBeam S has disappointing brightness. While it projects very uniform brightness across the screen, images are dim for an ultra-short-throw projector, so it should be used in a dark room with curtains drawn for the best experience.
Great brightness uniformity.
Too dim to combat ambient light.
Banding on the left and right sides of image.
The LG CineBeam S has impressive contrast. While it underperforms a bit in near-black scenes, blacks stay deep across all other scenes, even very bright ones. Overall, contrast is one of this projector's main strengths.
Blacks stay deep, even in very bright scenes.
Underperforms slightly in near-black scenes.
Changelog
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Updated Feb 18, 2026:
We corrected mistakes to properly identify this projector as having a triple laser light source.
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Updated Jan 29, 2026:
Mentioned the newly reviewed Dangbei Atom in the Brightness section of this review.
- Updated Jan 23, 2026: Review published.
- Updated Jan 20, 2026: Early access published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
LG sells the CineBeam S (also known as the LG PU615U) as a single hardware model. It has different suffixes in some regions (including PU615U.AAU in Australia), but the core specs remain the same, and we expect all of them to perform similarly, if not identically. While not technically a variant, this projector has many of the same features as the LG CineBeam Q, with the main differences being that the CineBeam S is an ultra-short-throw projector with eARC support, while the LG CineBeam Q is a short-throw projector with only ARC support.
Our unit was manufactured in Korea in December 2025 and was tested using firmware version 03.11.12.
Popular Projector Comparisons
The LG CineBeam S is an adequate projector for watching movies, but it's ideal for those looking for an entry-level or portable ultra-short-throw (UST) projector without spending typical UST prices. It outputs pixel-shifted 4k, has amazing contrast across most scenes, and its triple laser light source helps make colors pop. Compared to most USTs, it's very compact and lightweight, making it easy to move from room to room; it just needs to stay plugged in when in use since it doesn't have an integrated battery. On the other hand, its dim brightness makes it better suited for use in dark environments with the curtains drawn. As for gaming, it caps out at 60Hz and has awful input lag, resulting in a frustrating experience even when playing slow-paced games. If you're looking for a portable short-throw projector that performs similarly to the LG CineBeam S, and aren't locked in to buying a UST projector, consider the LG CineBeam Q. Otherwise, if you're looking for a UST that's brighter and has more gamer-friendly features, and portability is much less of a priority, check out the NexiGo Aurora Pro or the Hisense PT1.
For more options, check out our recommendations for the best home theater projectors or the best 4k projectors. If you're looking for a short-throw projector, but aren't limited to only UST projectors, consider the best short-throw projectors as well.
The LG CineBeam Q and the LG CineBeam S perform very similarly. The main difference between the two is that the CineBeam Q is a short-throw projector with ARC support, while the CineBeam S is an ultra-short-throw projector that supports eARC. Otherwise, both projectors have impressive contrast, wide color gamuts, and are very accurate after calibration. On the other hand, both have disappointing brightness and high input lag for gamers.
The NexiGo Aurora Pro is an upgrade over the LG CineBeam S. The NexiGo is much brighter, quieter, supports Dolby Vision, and has more gamer-friendly features like better input lag and a 240Hz max refresh rate. On the other hand, the LG is much more accurate after calibration, has autofocus and auto-keystone correction for easier setup, and is much smaller and lighter for better portability.
The Hisense PT1 is an upgrade over the CineBeam Q. Both ultra-short-throw projectors have impressive contrast, wide color gamuts, and are very accurate after calibration. The PT1 takes the edge by being significantly brighter, having three HDMI ports (including two HDMI 2.1), on top of having more gamer-friendly features like 240Hz support and better input lag. On the other hand, the CineBeam Q is much more portable than the PT1.
We've independently bought and tested over 75 projectors and published detailed results for each, so you can decide which one to buy. These have all been tested under the same standardized methodology, allowing you to compare them side by side. We still have all these projects in our lab, so we can continually go back and compare them to ensure our reviews are still accurate. All our test methodologies are also public on our website, so you can validate the results yourself.
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