Hisense PL2 Ultra-Short-Throw Projector Is a Serious Cinema Upgrade

Kai Brauer
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Kai Brauer
Tech writer at All Things Geek. Covers consumer audio, home entertainment, and AV technology.
7 Min Read

The Hisense PL2 ultra-short-throw projector is a 4K laser cinema projector made by Hisense, designed to sit just centimetres from your wall and throw an image up to 150 inches across. It features 2,700 ANSI lumens of brightness, Dolby Vision HDR, Dolby Atmos audio support, Google TV, and a 0.22:1 throw ratio that makes it genuinely practical in living rooms where a traditional long-throw projector would be impossible. With a price cut now bringing it within reach for more buyers, it’s one of the most compelling home cinema arguments in the current market.

TL;DR: The Hisense PL2 ultra-short-throw projector packs 4K resolution, 2,700 ANSI lumens, Dolby Vision, and a 150-inch maximum image into a unit that sits flush against your wall. A recent price reduction makes it a serious contender for anyone looking to replace a flat-panel TV with a proper cinema setup.

What makes the Hisense PL2 ultra-short-throw projector stand out?

The PL2’s defining feature is its 0.22:1 throw ratio — meaning it can produce a massive image from an incredibly short distance. Most traditional projectors need several metres of throw distance to fill a large screen. The PL2 does not. Place it close to your wall and you get up to 150 inches of 4K picture, which is a screen size that no flat-panel television can match at any price.

The 2,700 ANSI lumens output is meaningful in real-world use. Ultra-short-throw laser projectors compete directly with ambient light in a way that ceiling-mounted projectors do not, because the image is projected at a sharp upward angle. At 2,700 lumens, the PL2 holds its own in a room that isn’t completely blacked out — not perfect in direct sunlight, but genuinely watchable in typical evening living room conditions.

Dolby Vision support is the headline HDR credential here, and it matters. Dolby Vision is the more demanding of the two major HDR formats, requiring dynamic metadata that adjusts tone mapping scene by scene. Getting it on a projector at this price tier is not a given — many competitors at similar price points top out at HDR10.

How does the PL2 compare to traditional projectors and large TVs?

Against a conventional long-throw 4K projector, the PL2 trades some installation flexibility for radical convenience. A long-throw projector mounted to the ceiling can produce a comparable image, but it requires ceiling mounting, cable routing, and a darkened room. The PL2 sits on a unit or shelf, connects like a soundbar, and gets out of the way. For most households, that’s not a minor convenience — it’s the difference between actually doing it and not.

Against large-format TVs, the comparison is starker. An 85-inch 4K OLED is a genuinely excellent display, but it costs significantly more than the PL2 and tops out at 85 inches. The PL2 starts at 80 inches and scales to 150. If screen size is your primary metric — and for cinema immersion, it should be — the projector wins by a margin that no television can close.

The integrated Google TV platform means the PL2 isn’t dependent on an external streaming stick or box. Netflix, streaming apps, and the broader Google TV ecosystem are built in, which removes one layer of complexity from the setup.

Is the Hisense PL2 worth the price after the discount?

At its standard retail price of $2,499, the PL2 is a considered purchase. At the discounted price of $1,799.99 seen at some retailers, the calculus shifts considerably. That reduction closes the gap between the PL2 and mid-range large TVs significantly, while the PL2 still delivers a screen size those TVs cannot match.

The Dolby Atmos audio support is worth noting separately. Many projectors at this tier ship with underwhelming built-in speakers and assume you’ll route audio to a separate system. The PL2’s Dolby Atmos support suggests Hisense has put genuine effort into the audio side, though buyers with dedicated AV setups will still want to connect to an external system for the best results.

Wi-Fi 6E connectivity is also included, which future-proofs the streaming side of the device and reduces buffering risk on high-bitrate 4K HDR content. It’s the kind of spec that doesn’t make headlines but matters daily.

Is the Hisense PL2 good for a bright room?

The PL2’s 2,700 ANSI lumens makes it more capable in ambient light than most ultra-short-throw competitors, but no projector performs at its best in a sunlit room. For evening use or a room with controllable lighting, the PL2 handles real-world conditions well. A dedicated projection screen designed for UST projectors will improve contrast and brightness perception significantly compared to a plain white wall.

What image sizes does the Hisense PL2 support?

The Hisense PL2 supports image sizes from 80 inches up to 150 inches, using its 0.22:1 ultra-short-throw ratio to achieve this from a position just inches from the wall. The 4K UHD resolution is maintained across the supported size range, and Dolby Vision HDR is active regardless of image size setting.

The PL2 is one of the few projectors at this price point that combines laser light source longevity, Dolby Vision HDR, Google TV, and a genuinely practical UST form factor. The price cut doesn’t just make it better value — it makes it the most logical step up from a large TV for anyone who has been waiting for the right moment to commit to a proper home cinema setup. That moment is now.

Where to Buy

£1,199

Edited by the All Things Geek team.

Source: What Hi-Fi?

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Tech writer at All Things Geek. Covers consumer audio, home entertainment, and AV technology.