Philips Screeneo UL5 Smart Projector Review

I get a lot of cool products to review here at eTeknix, but this is the first time I’ve had a premium projector in for testing. I’m a big fan of projectors too, having a 100″ screen at home with a 4K HDR projector, and as a pretty enthusiastic movie buff, I spend a lot of time in front of it. Philips has sent me the Screeneo UL5 S Ultra Short Throw Projector which comes equipped with a state-of-the-art triple laser design, promising truly incredible colour reproduction, Full HD resolution (the Screeneo U5 is 4K, but is a less compact device), fantastic brightness, and best of all, a 100″ image from just 20″ away and it’ll go up to 120″ if you need a bit more, making it easy to deploy in a wide range of spaces.

Key Features

• Display technology: DLP (0.23-inches DMD)
• Light source: Triple laser RGB
• Brightness: 550 ANSI Lumens
• Light sources: last over 25.000 hours
• Colorimetry & metadata: REC.709 (200%) and REC.2020 (108%) – DCI-P3 (150%) – HDR10
• Contrast ratio: 1800:1 (using ISO21118)
• Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 pixels
• Throw ratio: 0.23:1
• Screen size (diagonal):  101 cm – 305 cm / 40-inches – 120-inches (we recommend to use with a 100-inches screen size for the best contrast and brightness)
• Screen distance: 4.5 cm – 56.5 cm / 1.77-inches – 22.24-inches
• Aspect ratio: 16:9 and 4:3

Launch Trailer

One thing I have to give Philips credit for is their product trailer, as it showed the projector being used in less than ideal conditions, which is what most of us will do. It showed someone projecting it onto a wooden floor, onto a white painted wall rather than a proper screen, and lack of proper light controlled spaces, and I think that should be commended as a more accurate bit of marketing, rather than just showing it in a base-use-case scenario.

Colour Reproduction

Setting a new standard in visual excellence, the Screeneo UL5 Smart features a Full HD 1080p resolution, 550 ANSI Lumens brightness, and HDR10 compliance. Thanks to its state-of-the-art Triple Laser technology, this projector offers an expansive colour gamut coverage of 200% Rec. 709 (sRGB), 150% DCI-P3, and 108% Rec. 2020. The Rec.2020 gamut is much wider than common colour gamuts such as sRGB, DCI-P3 or AdobeRGB, making it one of the widest: It covers more than 75% of the total range of colours a human eye can perceive (defined by CIE 1931 colour space). With 108% Rec.2020 coverage, the image projected by the UL5 Smart thus displays colours users can otherwise only see in nature itself. Each image is rendered in stunning detail, with colours that closely mimic reality for an unforgettable viewing experience.

What Philips Had to Say

Ease of setup is paramount with the Screeneo UL5 Smart, featuring autofocus and vertical keystone features that ensure a perfectly aligned picture every time. The integrated LuminOS smart operating system provides a suite of apps for direct streaming from the projector, enhancing usability and convenience. Reliable connectivity is at the core of the Screeneo UL5 Smart, with dual Wi-Fi bands ensuring smooth, uninterrupted streaming. Versatile power and video connectivity options are available through various ports, including HDMI and USB-C slots. Sound quality is not compromised with the Screeneo UL5 Smart, offering stereo speakers that fill the room with clear audio, even at low volumes. For those seeking an even larger sound experience, seamless connection to any external Bluetooth speaker is possible.