CES 2022 – Projector Reviews Tradeshow Report

CES 2022 Wrap-Up

CES 2022, produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), was another successful event despite being smaller than usual due to the ongoing global situation. The CTA took proper safety measures to manage COVID-19, helping attendees feel safe and comfortable.

Sony at CES 2022

Sony did not announce any new projectors at the show.
Instead, they highlighted the upcoming movie Uncharted, based on the popular Sony PlayStation game series.
Tom Holland, who stars as Nathan Drake, appeared on stage to promote the film.
The trailer featured an exciting plane sequence inspired by Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception.
The movie was set to release on February 18, 2022.
With its action-packed visuals, Uncharted looks like a great movie to enjoy on a home projector.

Projector Reviews arrived in Las Vegas on January 4, 2022, to attend media-only press events and covered the latest updates, even with limited projector news from some brands.

Pepcom’s Digital Experience!®

After Sony’s media event, both Samsung and Pepcom hosted media-only presentations. With events happening at the same time, Phil and I split up — Phil attended Samsung’s event, while I went to Pepcom’s Digital Experience!®, the largest media gathering held the night before CES officially opens.

At Samsung’s event, Phil and Technical Reviewer Philip Boyle gathered all the details on Samsung’s new portable projector, The Freestyle. (Click here to see their full coverage.)

Inside Pepcom’s Digital Experience!®

The event was exclusive to registered media — filled with editors, reporters, influencers, and bloggers.
The theme was “Back to the Future”, with fun signs like “Welcome Back to the Future” and even a DeLorean on display.
I got my badge and powerwalked through the show, looking for projector tech — and it paid off.
I found displays from Anker, XGIMI, and ViewSonic, each showcasing at least one projector.

The event was energetic, well-themed, and packed with tech highlights — a great start to CES for media professionals

Anker at Pepcom’s Digital Experience!®

At Pepcom’s Digital Experience!®, I visited Anker’s booth and spoke with Tyler Mallery (Head of US Media Relations) and Adam Weismann (Senior PR Manager). Although their projector wasn’t powered on, Anker had the Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K projector on display.

Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K Key Features:

Portable 4K laser projector with a built-in carrying handle
Runs Android TV 10 via an included dongle
Includes Chromecast and Dolby Audio
Uses ALPD® 3.0 Laser Display Technology by Appotronics — a system that combines laser-excited fluorescent materials with multicolor laser lines for vivid image quality
Brightness: 2,400 ANSI lumens
Image Size: Up to 150 inches

The projector is designed for high-quality 4K viewing on the go.

Availability:

Pre-orders start January 11, 2022, via Kickstarter
MSRP: $2,200
General availability expected a few months later

For more, check out Philip Boyle’s article on the Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K projector.

XGIMI at Pepcom’s Digital Experience!®

At Pepcom’s Digital Experience!®, XGIMI showcased most of its projector lineup. The demo station was staffed by Senior Director Andres Gomez and Ari B. Morguelan, CEO of CommunicateMore. They had several models on display, including the HORIZON Pro, which was actively projecting onto the wall.

However, their latest and most advanced model, the Aura 4K Ultra Short Throw (UST) Smart Laser Projector, was not demoed at Pepcom. Instead, they reserved its demonstration for their main CES booth. The Aura, also referred to as a Laser TV, was still highlighted as their top-tier product.

XGIMI Aura Key Details:

Price: $2,499 MSRP
Release Date: October 12, 2021
Ultra Short Throw:
- Projects a 150-inch image from 17.3 inches away
- Projects an 80-inch image from just 4.3 inches away
Offers a sleek design, great build quality, and excellent value for money
Designed as an all-in-one home cinema solution

While full details weren’t shared at Pepcom, you can find an in-depth review of the XGIMI Aura 4K UST projector on the Projector Reviews website.

ViewSonic at Pepcom Digital Experience!®

At Pepcom’s Digital Experience!®, Joey Lee, Principal at JSL Communications for ViewSonic, showcased the ViewSonic X1 Smart LED projector. The X1 is a native 1080p home theater projector featuring Smart LED technology.

ViewSonic X1 Key Specs:

Brightness: 3,100 LED lumens
Light Source Life: Up to 30,000 hours
Color: Cinema SuperColor+™ with 125% Rec.709 wide color gamut
Audio: Built-in Harman/Kardon speakers
Lens Features: Standard throw lens, vertical lens shift, 1.3x optical zoom, H/V keystone, 4-corner adjustment
MSRP: $999

ViewSonic X2 Differences:

Same specs as the X1, but with a short-throw lens
1.2x optical zoom
MSRP: $1,099
Both models are expected to launch in April 2022

ViewSonic had one of the three projector displays at the event, alongside Anker and XGIMI. No other projector brands were present. After the event, the team regrouped and prepared for CES 2022’s opening day。

Sony at CES 2022

XGIMI Aura Key Details:

ViewSonic X1 Key Specs:

ViewSonic X2 Differences:

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply