Best in Class – $5,000+ Laser TVs (UST)/Bright Room Performance: LG HU85LA

Ultra-short throw laser projectors are hitting people’s living rooms, family rooms and bedrooms. So far, LG’s HU85LA is the standout projector, short of going really high end. If price is no consequence, you could go with this $5,999 list price LG, or you could drop $24,999 on Sony’s native 4K. As we say, there are always trade-offs, even at that price – the Sony is better when it comes to picture, but, it is also dumb as a rock.

Prior to this model, LG had already been making smart projectors for years – and we have reviewed a few. This HU85LA offers almost identical smart features to LG's premium OLED TVs. What are the differences, then, being different types of displays? I love the smarts, but it is the picture and the size that sell projectors.

Not only is the HU85LA loaded with apps, and has access to LG's well respected App Store, but you can control it with Google assistant. The remote control even has a microphone button to control the projector or ask questions of the Google Assistant. From a practical example, I walk into my living room where the LG is set up, I take out my phone, turn on airplay, and as soon as I do that, the Apple TV coming alive causes the LG to turn on, switch to the correct input, and change to the appropriate Picture Mode.

I did not have to do anything special beyond, of course, getting the projector onto my local Wi-Fi, and already having my Apple TV working. Basically, my devices were all talking to each other, and with the smarts they have, things like this happen without any programming on my part. Sweet!

Ultimately, though, it is the picture of that counts. This is a bright room projector that wasn't designed for the dedicated home theater, although it will be perfectly at home in one. The presumption is that you have all those lumens because you’re in room that is not perfectly dark, or even close – and perhaps you even like to watch sporting events with friends with the light on in the room.

Eric calibrated this projector and the color came out rather good. Color was just about right on. In 4K, it could not get to P3, but overall, color looks rather good in the best modes this projector. The LG HU85LA has several modes pumped up for cutting through ambient light – in its brightest mode, it even beat its claim. Black levels are decent and suitable for a bright room projector in a room that's not pitch black. The projector automatically switches to HDR when using 4K, but it only supports HDR10 – not HGL for broadcast.