Formovie Theater Review: Transforming Home Cinema Experiences

Formovie is a relative newcomer to the projector world but they’ve already made a big splash, recipient of international awards like the CES Innovation Award and iF Design Award within five years of their founding. In this Formovie Theater review, we’ll take a closer look at their flagship UST 4K projector and why it’s a very appealing option for a modern home theater space (>>> Find on Amazon).

Formovie Theater Review of Main Specs:

Formovie Theater
Resolution 3840x2160
Contrast 3,000:1
Brightness (Lumens) 2,800 ANSI
Input lag 34ms-41.9ms
Throw Distance 1.4' - 2.5'
Screen size 80" - 150"
Speakers 15.0 Watts × 2
Today's Best Price

Check on Amazon

ProjectorScreen.com

Space and Setup

With its ultra-short throw lens and powerful RGB laser light source, the Formovie Theater has the versatility to work in most rooms and homes. It can produce a clear picture from as little as 16 inches away and can fill a 100-inch screen from less than 2 feet away.

It’s also not prone to washout from lamps and other indoor light sources. While it’s not quite bright enough for daytime outdoor use, it’s a great choice for everything from living rooms and home theaters to studio apartments or dorm rooms.

That short throw distance also make the Formovie Theater very easy to set up. There’s no need to mess with zoom or focus controls—just place it on a shelf or table, plug it in, and power it on.

It has the connectivity you need to connect a range of content sources, including 3 HDMI inputs as well as USB, audio, and network ports. You may not even need to connect content sources, considering its Android TV 11.0 interface, which supports streaming from services like Hulu and Disney+. 

Formovie Theater front
Formovie Theater

Pros

  • Sharp and colorful 4K image
  • Bright enough to use with the lights on
  • Good variety of connection options
  • Ultra-short throw distance
  • Built-in streaming and voice control
  • High-quality sound from built-in speakers

Cons

  • Doesn’t support 3D content
  • Image may need adjustment out of the box

Picture Quality

Babylon film watching on Formovie Theater
Colors on the Formovie Theater during Babylon (Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures)

The Formovie Theater delivers cinema-level performance when it comes to the picture quality. This starts with its ALDP 4.0 triple laser light source, which produces an ultra-wide color gamut that exceeds even the BT.2020 color space. This is paired with a True 4K resolution and a contrast ratio that’s three times the typical DLP ultra-short throw projector for truly inky blacks and realistic picture depth. Click here, if you’re looking for a top laser projector.

Sound

The dual 15-watt speakers on the Formovie Theater are tuned by Bowers & Wilkins audio engineers and support Dolby Atmos sound. This gives them a volume output and audio quality on par with most soundbars, though it does lack the 3D surround sound effect that would make the audio truly immersive. Still, you don’t need external speakers to enjoy watching shows and movies on the Formovie Theater.

Smart Features

Formovie Theater connections
Formovie Theater connections

Along with the streaming capability mentioned above, the Android interface of the Formovie Theater supports Google Assistant far-field voice commands for hands-free navigation and control, so it’s a great fit for Google-based smart homes. Bear in mind, however, that it doesn’t support other voice control services, so while it can be utilized in some smart entertainment systems, we wouldn’t go so far as to call it a “smart projector.”

Formovie Theater Review In Summary

The MSRP of the Formovie Theater puts it comfortably in the mid-range of the projector market, and its performance is comparable to similarly-priced models from better-known brands like BenQ or Optoma. It’s easy to install, produces a fantastic picture, and has true all-in-one capability that makes it a convenient way to turn any space into a home theater (>>> Check on Bhphotovideo).

FAQ
Is the Formovie Theater good for gaming?

For most players, yes, the Formovie Theater will perform as well for gaming as it does for watching shows and movies. However, its input lag is a smidge high for serious or competitive players, at around 34ms even with its Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), and can measure as high as 42ms depending on your picture settings. It ultimately depends on the type of games you play and how sensitive you are to lag while gaming. More casual players may not notice the lag at all, especially those who mostly play more slow-paced puzzle games or RPGs, but it may be frustrating for fast-paced games that require quick reflexes.

Can I connect the Formovie Theater wirelessly?

Yes, the Formovie Theater can connect wirelessly through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz connections). It also supports Chromecast for wirelessly mirroring content from devices like phones and tablets.

Is the Formovie Theater compact?

No, that is one of the potential downsides of the Formovie Theater, which is larger and heavier than many home theater projectors. It weighs around 20 pounds, so while it’s still light enough to move around your home easily, it’s not the best choice for travelers.

Comparisons with other projectors:

Recommended