Skip to main content

LG’s compact ProBeam laser projector lets you hold 2,000 lumens in your hand

lg probeam compact laser projector available header
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Projectors can often be big and heavy, often requiring a dedicated spot in your home theater. LG wants to make things easier on customers with its new compact smart home laser projector, the LG ProBeam, which launched Wednesday.

One of the ProBeam’s defining characteristics is the advanced laser engine that gives it the ability to project a full HD, 120-inch picture at 2,000 lumens of brightness. While most projectors require either very dim to dim lighting, this level of brightness allows for viewers to watch even in bright rooms. If you’re looking for a projector you can use instead of a TV rather than alongside one, this is a big deal.

Recommended Videos

The ProBeam does not support 4K, which may disappoint some customers, but at $1,500 it’s much more affordable than many 4K projectors out there, some of which cost tens of thousands of dollars. The ProBeam does include some cool picture features, however. Projectors can be fickle and touchy, often getting bumped out of alignment, but the ProBeam Auto Keystone Alignment can detect any distortion in the image and automatically correct it. A similar feature, Manual Keystone Alignment, gives users the ability to fine tune the image themselves.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Another feature often found in TVs but not projectors is “smart” functionality. The LG ProBeam is unique here as well, as it packs in the company’s webOS smart TV platform. This includes the LG Magic Remote, one of the major selling points of the company’s smart TV offerings, and plenty of streaming apps like Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube.

Connections include two HDMI ports, two USB Type 2 ports, 3.5mm analog out, optical audio out, Ethernet, and digital TV tuner. While the project has two 3 watt speakers for stereo playback, it also supports Bluetooth, so it can be paired with Bluetooth speakers and headphones.

While the vast majority of users will likely never take the LG ProBeam out of their living rooms, it’s not because they can’t. Weighing in at just 4.6 pounds, LG says the ProBeam is capable of allowing customers to entertain with backyard viewings of movies or sports events.

“As a leader in LED projectors worldwide, LG is confident its expertise in the home entertainment sector will make its first compact laser projector a hit with consumers,” LG Electronics USA head of product marketing Tim Alessi said in a statement. “LG is proud to continue pioneering the home cinema experience in dynamic new ways.”

The LG ProBeam is available for $1,500 from online retailers like Amazon, and Newegg.

Updated 5-31-2017 by Brendan Hesse: Updated to announce the ProBeam projector’s launch

Kris Wouk
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…
Best headphone deals: AirPods, Sony, Sennheiser and more
Beats Studio Pro sitting on travel case.

A new set of headphones is a great way to enjoy your favorite content. There’s a lot of savings out there right now, with some impressive headphone deals to shop among the current Beats headphone deals, AirPods deals, Bose headphone deals, and Sony headphone deals, and more. And because some of the best headphone deals are scattered across Amazon deals, Walmart deals, and Best Buy deals we’ve decided to round them all up in one place. Reading onward you’ll find our selections for the best headphone deals going on right now, as well as some information on why each set of headphones might best suit your listening needs. If you’re also looking for some cool devices to pair them with you can shop TV deals, gaming console deals, phone deals, and tablet deals.
JBL Tune 770NC -- $90 $130 30% off

JBL is known for its great audio, and since it was taken over by Samsung it has continued that excellent tradition.. The JBL Tune 770NC wireless headphones have surprisingly good audio for how much they cost, with solid mid-performance and a clear soundstage, but more interestingly, they have really great noise canceling that comes with an ambient noise boost mode so you can stay aware of your surroundings. It also comes with a solid app that has an EQ that lets you adjust the levels if you don't like the sound out of the box, and the Tune 770NC are capable of reaching up to 70 hours of battery life on a single charge.

Read more
This Insignia 55-inch 4K TV is only $240 today
The Insignia 50-inch F30 Series 4K Smart Fire TV hangs in a living room.

If you’re shopping around for a budget-friendly TV, one of the best brands to go with is Insignia. This is a Best Buy house brand that’s been around for a while, and Insignia TVs are designed with cost-cutting in mind. You won’t find all the bells and whistles of more advanced QLEDs and OLEDs on these models, but Insignia doesn’t skimp on picture quality and powerful smart TV tools. And one of the best TV deals this week just happens to be for an Insignia set:

When you purchase the Insignia 55-inch F30 Series at Best Buy or Amazon, you’ll spend $240 today. At full price, this model size goes for $350.

Read more
Best gaming TVs of 2024 for Xbox Series X, PS5, and more
LG C4 OLED

The best TVs should look great, sound fantastic, and feature numerous optimizations for the types of content people love watching most. And while it would easy to say that a TV billed as 4K is all you need for a great gaming TV, pixel count is just one checkbox. If you’re a diehard gamer (console or PC), there are plenty of other picture specifications to consider when buying a new TV. And while 4K resolution is still essential, features such as HDR (high dynamic range), input lag, and response time are far more critical tech specs to gamers who want their games to be smooth, fast, and looking as good as they can. 

Not all TVs are created equal, and even some of the best TV brands have one or two sets that aren’t great for gaming. That’s why we’ve put together this list of all the best gaming TVs you can buy in 2024. With options from Samsung, Sony, LG, Hisense, and TCL, there’s a gaming TV on this list for just about everyone.

Read more