Hisense C3 Ultra

Mounted on a swivelling gimbal stand, this triple-laser 4K projector sits on a piece of furniture and points towards the wall, screen or ceiling to project an image from 65 to 300 inches. It succeeds the C2 Ultra with more light, a lens with image shift (absent from the previous generation) and 2.1 sound tuned by Devialet. It works independently thanks to its smart system, or joins an existing setup via its two HDMI 2.1 ports.

A gimbal stand and a lens with shift

The optical unit is suspended in a metal gimbal stand. It rotates 360° horizontally and tilts through 260°, enough to aim at a screen or the ceiling from a simple shelf, without an additional mount. The housing measures 271 × 245 × 279 mm and weighs 8 kg. It is easy to move from one room to another, but it is not a portable device: it has no battery and consumes 250 W during operation.

The main upgrade in this generation concerns the lens. In addition to optical zoom (throw ratio of 0.9 to 1.5:1), it now offers optical image shift, or lens shift, of ± 100% vertically and ± 35% horizontally. In practice, you can move the image up or down by a full image height without tilting the projector. The image stays rectangular, avoiding the loss of resolution caused by digital keystone correction. With the C2 Ultra, you had to adjust the position of the projector. The C3 Ultra can stay on a low cabinet, or slightly off to the side of the room, and still project a straight image.

If it is positioned at an angle, automatic geometric correction uses a time-of-flight (ToF) sensor and can be fine-tuned at 9 points. Focusing is automatic. The obstacle avoidance function shrinks the image to avoid a frame or piece of furniture on the wall. The stated operating noise level is 31 dB.

Three lasers for colour, an iris for blacks

Light comes from three separate lasers, one red, one green and one blue, instead of a blue laser paired with a phosphor wheel. Each primary colour is produced directly. This delivers a stated coverage of 118% of the BT.2020 colour space, the reference standard for Ultra HD HDR content. With 4,000 ANSI lumens (compared with 3,000 for the C2 Ultra), the image remains clear in a living room where daylight is not completely blocked out. A sensor adjusts brightness to match the room. The laser light source has a lifespan of 25,000 hours, and there is no lamp to replace.

Black levels remain the weak point of DLP projectors in this category. Hisense addresses this with the CineBlack Pro system, which combines image processing with a 7-level mechanical iris. In dark scenes, the iris closes to limit the light that gives the image a grey cast, and the stated contrast reaches 5,000:1. Light-coloured walls and ceilings still reflect some light back towards the screen: a dark room with matt surfaces remains essential for truly deep blacks.

All four HDR formats are supported: Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG, the latter used for television broadcasts. The projector is IMAX Enhanced certified and offers Filmmaker mode, which disables motion smoothing and edge enhancement to preserve the look chosen during the film’s colour grading. Conversely, MEMC motion compensation creates intermediate frames to make sports and camera movements more fluid, resulting in a smoother image.

Gaming in 4K at 60 Hz or Full HD at 240 Hz

The two HDMI 2.1 inputs accept 4K at up to 60 Hz and Full HD at up to 240 Hz, with a response time of 1 ms. On a console or PC, you choose between resolution and fluidity depending on the game: 4K for an adventure game, 240 Hz for an online shooter. Variable refresh rate (VRR) prevents screen tearing when the game’s frame rate fluctuates. Auto low latency mode (ALLM) switches the projector to game mode as soon as the console turns on.

Without a console, the Xbox Cloud Gaming app launches games via streaming. You need an Xbox Game Pass subscription that includes online gaming, a Bluetooth controller and a stable Internet connection. The C3 Ultra also supports 3D.

2.1 sound tuned by Devialet

The built-in audio system combines two pairs of drivers (2 × 10 W and 2 × 8 W) and a 20 W subwoofer, for a total of 56 W. Tuning, handled by JBL on the C2 Ultra, has been entrusted to Devialet, which calibrated this model’s drivers. The projector decodes Dolby Audio, DTS:X and AC-4. DTS Virtual:X processing expands the soundstage beyond the housing. Five modes (standard, cinema, music, voice, night) and an advanced equaliser let you adapt the sound to the programme.

This sound is sufficient for an impromptu viewing session or an image projected onto a bedroom ceiling. For a 120-inch image, however, drivers grouped in a single housing cannot recreate the channel separation provided by speakers distributed around the room. The HDMI eARC port then sends audio from apps and connected sources to a soundbar or home cinema receiver, including multichannel sound. An optical S/PDIF output takes over for older equipment. WiSA Sound-compatible wireless speakers and Bluetooth 5.4 headphones are also supported.

VIDAA U9, Wi-Fi 7 and home automation control

The VIDAA U9 system provides access to a streaming app store, an Internet browser and parental controls. The supplied remote control includes a microphone for the VIDAA Voice assistant, and Alexa is also supported. From an iPhone, iPad or Mac, AirPlay 2 sends videos and photos to the wall. Screen sharing also works from a computer, tablet or Android phone, and DLNA lets you play files stored on a server on the local network.

For networking, you can choose between Wi-Fi 7 and a Gigabit Ethernet port, the most stable solution for 4K HDR streaming. Two USB 3.0 ports play video files from an external drive. For a home automation setup, the C3 Ultra is Control4 compatible: it switches on with the rest of the room’s equipment and can be operated with the same remote control as the lighting and blinds.

Technical specifications

Image and projection

• Display technology: DLP with DMD chip, triple laser
• Resolution: Ultra HD 4K (3840 × 2160 pixels)
• Projection diagonal: 165.1 to 762 cm
• Brightness: 4000 ANSI lumens / 5000 ISO lumens
• Native contrast: 5000:1
• Iris system: CineBlack-Pro
• Throw ratio: 0.9 to 1.5:1
• Lens shift:
  • Vertical: ± 100%
  • Horizontal: ± 35%
• Optical zoom
• Gimbal stand:
  • Rotation: 360°
  • Tilt: 260°
• Refresh rate:
  • Ultra HD 4K: 60 Hz
  • Full HD: 240 Hz
• Response time: 1 ms
• 3D compatibility
• Light source lifespan: 25000 hours

Video processing and color reproduction

• HDR formats: Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG
• IMAX Enhanced compatibility
• Filmmaker Mode
• MEMC motion compensation
• Ultra HD upscaling
• Color gamut: 118% BT.2020
• Color depth: 10 bits
• Number of colors: 1.07 billion

Image adjustment and adaptation

• Geometric correction: 9-point Flat TOF and automatic
• Obstacle avoidance
• Ambient light sensor

Audio

• Audio system: 2.1 channels by Devialet
• Total power: 2 × 10 W + 2 × 8 W + 20 W subwoofer
• Built-in soundbar
• Surround sound effect
• Audio compatibility: Dolby Audio, DTS:X, DTS Virtual:X, AC-4, WiSA Sound
• Equalizer: advanced settings
• Sound modes: standard, cinema, music, voice, night

Smart features and networking

• Operating system: VIDAA U9
• Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 7
• Bluetooth: 5.4
• Streaming compatibility: AirPlay 2, DLNA
• Xbox Cloud Gaming
• Voice control: Alexa, VIDAA Voice
• Internet browser
• Screen sharing: computer, tablet, mobile phone
• Apps: built-in app store
• Home automation control: Control4
• Parental controls

Connections

• HDMI: 2 × HDMI 2.1
• HDMI eARC / CEC: 1
• USB: 2 × USB 3.0
• Digital audio output: 1 × optical S/PDIF
• Audio input: 1 × 3.5 mm jack
• Ethernet: 1 × Gigabit RJ45 for local area network
• Service port: 1

Power and operation

• Noise level: 31 dB
• Power consumption:
  • In operation: 250 W
  • In standby: ≤ 0.5 W
• Power supply: 100–240 V, 50 / 60 Hz

Included accessories

• Voice remote control
• 2 AAA batteries
• Power cable
• Quick start guide

Dimensions and weight

• Dimensions (width × depth × height): 271 × 245 × 279 mm
• Weight: 8 kg