Leica Cine Compact 1

Project a large image onto the living room wall, the bedroom ceiling, or a screen set up in the garden, without a fixed installation: that is the direction of this compact laser projector. Leica is extending its home cinema range with a mobile 4.4 kg model that combines Summicron optics, a triple RGB laser, and 4K resolution in a chassis that can be moved from room to room in just a few seconds.

A compact format that fits anywhere

At 209 mm wide and weighing 4.4 kg, the Cine Compact 1, offered in a gray metal finish, fits on a shelf, a coffee table, or its rotating stand. The latter allows 360-degree orientation: the image can be directed at a wall, up to the ceiling, or projected onto an outdoor surface, without a fixed screen or wall mount. For the optics, Leica chose a Summicron zoom with aspherical elements, named after its family of photographic lenses, ensuring sharpness right to the edges of the image.

The projector remains discreet in use, below 29 dB(A), with a silent mode for quiet scenes. On delivery, a recyclable EPP carrying case comes with the Cine Compact 1, making it easier to move between the living room, a bedroom, or a terrace.

4K image powered by triple RGB laser

Projection is based on a 0.47-inch DLP chip and native Ultra HD 4K resolution (3840 x 2160 pixels). The light source is a triple RGB laser, meaning three dedicated red, green, and blue lasers, which Leica states have a lifespan of more than 25,000 hours, or several years of daily use without bulb replacement. This type of source covers more than 100% of the Rec.2020 color space, the broadest reference for 4K HDR content, resulting in deep reds and greens.

Brightness peaks at 1,700 lumens in Ultra mode. This figure places the Cine Compact 1 in rooms where lighting can be controlled rather than in living rooms in broad daylight: the more ambient light increases, the more the image size must be reduced to preserve contrast. Native contrast, rated up to 1500:1, remains moderate, a common limitation of this projection technology that the in-house processing seeks to compensate for.

Leica adds its LIO (Leica Image Optimization) video processing to the electronics, tasked with maintaining image quality regardless of the projection size or surface. HDR compatibility includes Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG, the four high dynamic range formats used by platforms and discs. Motion compensation (MEMC) smooths pans and fast scenes, and 3D playback via DLP Link active glasses is also included.

For image size, Leica recommends a diagonal from 152 to 559 cm, or 60 to 220 inches. The optical throw ratio ranges from 1.0 to 1.3, extended from 1.3 to 3.2 by a digital zoom that increases usable distance at the cost of a slight loss in sharpness.

Startup without manual adjustments

Installation relies on several automatic features. Focus is automatic, keystone correction straightens the image when the projector is not perfectly perpendicular to the surface, screen detection aligns the frame to a screen or wall, and intelligent alignment adjusts the geometry without intervention. In practical terms, you set down the Cine Compact 1, power it on, and the image adjusts itself, which supports its mobile purpose: the same projector can move from one room to another without tedious recalibration every time it is relocated.

Low latency in Game mode

Game mode brings display latency below 20 ms, compared with 60 ms in normal use. This delay between controller input and on-screen display remains low for shooting or racing games, where the large diagonal adds to the sense of immersion. The Cine Compact 1 supports 4K up to 60 Hz and lowers resolution to increase refresh rate: 120 Hz in 2K, up to 240 Hz in 2K, enough to target smoothness in fast-paced titles.

Built-in audio and HDMI connectivity

The built-in audio system uses two channels, or 2 x 10 watts, with Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Plus decoding and DTS Virtual:X processing that simulates sound depth from the two speakers. The whole setup is sufficient for an impromptu session; for an evening movie, it is better to connect a soundbar or an amplifier.

That is the role of the single HDMI 2.1 input compatible with eARC, which sends sound back to an external system while receiving the image from a source. A USB-A 3.0 port completes the connectivity for playing local files. The Cine Compact 1 does without a headphone output, digital S/PDIF audio output, and RJ45 network port: stream transport relies on wireless and this single HDMI port, a choice consistent with the portable format, but one that requires a reliable Wi-Fi network and limits the number of wired sources used simultaneously.

VIDAA, streaming, and wireless connections

The projector runs on the VIDAA system, which gives direct access to Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and YouTube without an additional box. The VIDAA Voice assistant responds to voice commands, a web browser and parental controls complete the package, and software updates arrive remotely (OTA), with no cable handling required.

For connections, the Cine Compact 1 includes Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, and Apple AirPlay compatibility, with a screen-sharing function from a smartphone or computer. The supplied aluminum remote combines infrared and Bluetooth and includes a microphone for voice search.

Its place in the Leica home cinema range

Leica has been making projectors since 1926, an optical lineage that the brand now links to its move into home cinema. The Cine 1, an ultra-short-throw laser video projector, led the way at the end of 2024, followed by the Cine Play 1, a portable mini projector capable of very large diagonals.

The Cine Compact 1 occupies the most mobile segment of this range: smaller, 360-degree adjustable, suited to rooms where light can be controlled. Its brightness is concentrated on a smaller surface, so a 100-inch image appears as bright as a 140-inch diagonal on the Cine Play 1. The choice between the two therefore comes down to room size and the desired image format rather than optical quality, which is shared across the family.

Technical specifications

Video projection

• Projection technology: DLP 0.47” Pico DMD
• Native resolution: Ultra HD 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels)
• Recommended image size: 152 to 559 cm (60 to 220 inches)
• Light source: triple RGB laser (RGB Direct Triple Laser)
• Light source lifespan: more than 25000 hours
• Brightness: up to 1700 lumens
• Native contrast: up to 1500:1
• Color gamut coverage: more than 100% of Rec.2020
• Video processing: Leica Image Optimization (LIO™)
• Motion compensation (MEMC): yes
• HDR compatibility: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG
• 3D compatibility: yes (DLP Link Active Shutter)
• Optical throw ratio: 1.0 to 1.3
• Digital zoom: throw ratio 1.3 to 3.2

Game Mode

• Display latency: ≤ 20 ms in Game Mode
• Standard latency: ≤ 60 ms
• Display frequencies:
  • 4K up to 60 Hz
  • 2K up to 120 Hz
  • 2K up to 240 Hz

Audio

• Integrated audio system: 2.0 channels
• Output power: 2 x 10 W
• Dolby Audio compatibility: Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus
• Sound processing: DTS Virtual:X

Wireless connectivity

• Wi-Fi 6 (802.11a / b / g / n / ac / ax)
• Bluetooth 5.4
• Apple AirPlay compatible
• Built-in screen sharing function

Connectivity

• 1 HDMI 2.1 input with eARC
• 1 USB-A 3.0 port
• No headphone output
• No S / PDIF output
• No Ethernet RJ45 port

Smart TV

• Operating system: VIDAA
• Built-in apps: Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, YouTube
• VIDAA Voice voice assistant
• Built-in web browser
• Parental control
• OTA (Over The Air) updates

Remote control

• Bluetooth / infrared remote control
• Aluminum chassis
• Built-in microphone for voice commands

Multimedia compatibility

• Video: AVI, WMV, MP4, MOV, MKV, MPG, MPEG, FLV, WebM
• Audio: WMA, WAV, FLAC, MP3
• Images: JPEG, BMP, PNG, GIF

General features

• Noise level: below 29 dB(A)
• Silent mode: yes
• Power consumption:
  • Operation: 120 W
  • Standby: 0.5 W
  • Network standby: 2 W
• Automatic standby: after 15 minutes without signal
• Power supply: 100 to 240 V

Dimensions and weight

• Dimensions (W x H x D): 209 x 226 x 193 mm
• Weight: 4.4 kg

Operating conditions

• Operating temperature: +5 °C to +40 °C
• Storage temperature: -20 °C to +65 °C