LG Minibeam PH450UG

LG’s compact Ultra Short Throw LED Projector can turn any room into a cinema.

Fancy big screen entertainment at home, but don’t have the space, or funds for a large flat panel TV or home cinema projector? The LG DLP LED Minibeam PH450UG Ultra Short Throw (UST) could be the answer.

It needs only a dozen centimetres or so to cast a huge image onto a white wall or screen and it’s also ridiculously compact and relatively affordable at £529 ($650).

There is a catch. The PH450UG has a resolution of just 720p. If you need more, LG has the PF1000U, a slightly larger 1080p UST model, that sells for £999 ($1,399). There are other projectors in this price range capable of 1080p – such as the class-leading BenQ HT670 – but if you’re committed to the small form factor, the PH450UG is it.

Design

The LG PH450UG measures just 132 x 200 x 80.5mm (W x H x D), and weighs only 1.1kg. It’s more compact than most projectors in its weight class, but is also one of the brightest as well at 1,450 ANSI lumens. None of this compromises its contrast, which is rated at 10,000:1. Its small stature makes sense because it’s also fully portable, thanks to a built-in battery which runs for around 2.5 hours when fully charged.

Connections include a single HDMI, which is also MHL enabled for smartphone use, and a USB port. Focus is manual, via a thumb wheel. There’s also a mini headphone jack if you want privacy while watching your favourite flick.

You’re not limited to hardwiring sources. You can also mirror a compatible device using Screen Share (Miracast or WiDi). Screen casting from a mobile is a great way to share stills, but you can also mirror video apps. However, we experienced a sync issue between video and audio which rules out using it for a Luke Cage catch-up.