Pros:
– Solid image quality especially at 4K
– Great colours, with deep blacks
– Simple, but solid build
– Included Google TV
– DLP 4K resolution
– Gaming modes work decently
– Easy to set up, once you have the position figured out
– Good-sounding speakers with Dolby Atmos and DTS-HD support
Cons:
– Lacks support for No HDR10+, Dolby Vision
– Keystone corrections mess things up
– Focusing using the remote can be a bit tedious
– Navigating Google TV is cumbersome
Price: Rs 2.8 Lakhs
Rating: 4.25/5
For true home theatre enthusiasts, even massive 80-inch TVs just don’t cut it anymore — projectors are the way to go. The problem? High-end 4K projectors from brands like Epson, BenQ, and Sony come with price tags that can drain your bank account in an instant. That’s where Formovie comes in, a brand that’s quietly making waves in the home projector market, especially in India.
Formovie might not be a household name, yet. Backed by Xiaomi and APPOTRONICS, the pioneers of laser display technology, they are a serious contender in the premium projector space.
We’ve been testing out their Formovie Cinema Edge 4K UST Laser Projector for a couple of weeks, and to put it simply — we’re blown away. On paper, the Rs 2,80,000 price tag might seem steep, but once you experience it and compare it with similar 4K laser projectors, you’ll quickly realise it’s actually a bargain.
Ultra-short throw (UST) projectors like the Cinema Edge 4K have completely changed the game for home entertainment. Unlike traditional projectors that require a long throw distance, UST projectors sit just inches away from the wall while delivering a massive, cinema-quality display. Over the years, these projectors have seen major technological advancements, and the Formovie Cinema Edge 4K is a perfect example of just how far they’ve come.
For those who want to recreate the immersive experience of a movie theatre at home, projectors like the Formovie Cinema Edge 4K are among the best options available. They offer stunning visuals, deep contrast, and an ultra-clear 4K picture, making them a must-have for any serious home cinema setup—without the absurd pricing of other premium brands.
Formovie Cinema Edge 4K UST Laser Projector Review: Design and built
The Formovie Cinema Edge 4K is a solid, well-built projector that feels reassuringly sturdy. Measuring 456 x 308 x 91mm and weighing 7kg, it has a dense, premium feel that stays firmly in place. Even if you accidentally bump your table, the projector won’t slide around, which is a testament to its robust design.
A nice touch is the inclusion of height-adjustable feet on either side of the unit, allowing for precise levelling without having to rely entirely on keystone correction. While digital keystone adjustments are available, it’s always best to physically align the projector first, as digital corrections can degrade picture quality by reducing brightness and introducing artefacts.
Aesthetically, the Cinema Edge 4K sports a traditional industrial design — not overly modern, but not retro either. It’s minimalistic, clean and understated, making it a seamless addition to any media cabinet. The bulk of the unit is made of plastic with a matte finish, which looks good but is prone to smudging and scratches.
Inside, the Formovie Cinema Edge features multiple cooling fans, but they’re impressively quiet. Even during long viewing sessions, the fan noise is barely noticeable — and any sound they do make is easily masked by the projector’s excellent speakers.
Speaking of sound, audio performance is a standout feature. The projector is equipped with two full-range speakers, positioned at the front behind a hard plastic mesh, with some of the sound directed sideways. The result? Rich, full-bodied audio with plenty of bass, making it one of the better-sounding projectors available.
It even supports Dolby Atmos, and while it won’t completely replicate a true surround sound setup, the directionality is surprising.
The top of the unit keeps things simple, with a single large slit for the projection optics and a couple of sensors. However, there’s no dust cover or protection for the lens, which is a slight downside. Over time, dust will accumulate, which could become an issue, and a built-in cover or flap would have been a nice addition to keep the optics clean when not in use.
The power button is also placed on the top of the unit, maintaining the clean design but remaining easily accessible.
One of the biggest advantages of ultra-short throw projectors like the Cinema Edge 4K is the ease of setup. Unlike traditional projectors that need to be ceiling-mounted for the best results, UST projectors are designed to sit on a table, media console, or TV stand positioned close to the wall. It casts an image upwards, which makes installation far simpler — just place it on a flat surface, adjust the height if needed, focus the image and you’re good to go.
That being said, Formovie has also included standard mounting holes on the bottom of the unit, allowing for ceiling installation if that’s your preferred setup.
Formovie Cinema Edge 4K UST Laser Projector Review: Inputs and ports
The Formovie Cinema Edge 4K is pretty well-equipped in the connectivity department. You get a generous selection of ports, including three HDMI 2.1 inputs, with one supporting eARC for high-quality audio passthrough. There are also two USB 2.0 ports, an Ethernet port, an optical digital audio out, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
On the wireless front, the projector supports Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0, ensuring seamless streaming and low-latency wireless audio connections.
As a smart projector, the Formovie Cinema Edge comes with Google TV built-in, meaning you get access to Google’s full suite of services, including the Play Store, YouTube, and streaming apps like Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+. It also features built-in Chromecast support, making it effortless to cast content from your phone, tablet, or laptop.
Another standout feature is its far-field microphones, allowing for hands-free voice control with the Google Assistant.
Formovie Cinema Edge 4K UST Laser Projector Review: Features and performance
When it comes to image quality from a projector, brightness plays a crucial role, and the Formovie Cinema Edge delivers well in this area. With 1900 ISO lumens, it produces a bright and vibrant image that looks best in a dimly lit or dark room. In complete darkness, the projector shines, offering deep blacks and excellent contrast.
During the daytime, it remains usable, but without a dedicated ambient light-rejecting (ALR) screen the larger the image you project, the more it struggles with washed-out colours. If you plan to use it in well-lit conditions, sticking to smaller screen sizes will help retain detail and contrast.
Thanks to its ultra-short throw (UST) technology, the Cinema Edge can project a 40-inch image even when placed right against a wall. With a 0.23:1 throw ratio, you can achieve an 80-inch screen from just 14cm away, a 120-inch screen from 33cm, and a massive 150-inch display from 49cm. This flexibility allows for easy placement and reduced fan noise, as the projector can be positioned further from where you’re sitting.
Coming to setting up the projector, focusing and keystone correction are handled manually using the remote which is a bit of a drawback at this price point. While the menus offer four or eight-point keystone adjustments, there’s no automatic focus or keystone correction, meaning you’ll have to adjust them manually each time the projector is moved.
This can be tedious, especially if the projector is frequently repositioned. We also saw some latency issues creep up and some visual artifacts because of the keystone corrections.
As for the projection and image quality, the colour performance is solid when you set the projector properly, with 110% Rec.709 coverage ensuring rich, accurate colours. The ALPD laser technology enhances colour accuracy while eliminating speckling, a common issue with some laser projectors. The projector supports HDR10 and HLG, which is great for HDR content.
However, it does not support Dolby Vision or HDR10+, which means it won’t take full advantage of HDR content from streaming platforms that rely on these standards. HDR10 still delivers a decent experience in colour and contrast, the but lack of Dolby Vision feels like a missed opportunity, especially considering competitors offer it at this price.
Formovie includes three brightness modes: Office Mode, Standard Mode, and Night Mode. Night Mode provides the best colour accuracy, as it doesn’t artificially boost brightness at the expense of colour balance. There are also multiple preset colour profiles, but for those who prefer full control, a Custom mode lets you fine-tune settings like hue, saturation, brightness, and colour temperature.
We tested the Cinema Edge with a MacBook Pro M4 at 4K resolution, and the results were impressive. Text was sharp, and fine details were easy to read, making it a viable option for casual productivity tasks.
We also gamed a little on using a PC and the projector’s dedicated Game Mode, which lowered input latency to around 40ms, making it suitable for casual gaming. While not ideal for competitive FPS players, it works well for slower-paced games, racing titles, and RPGs.
We also tested 1080p gameplay, and thanks to Formovie’s internal upscaling, the image remained sharp without significant blurring. Although this projector isn’t marketed as a gaming projector, it’s more than capable of pulling double duty for casual gamers.
Since the Formovie Cinema Edge runs on Google TV, it functions much like a smart TV. The UI is familiar to those who have used Android TV before, though Google TV offers a more curated content experience. Apps like YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video run smoothly, with YouTube fully supporting 4K at 60fps with HDR. We were particularly impressed that HDR content automatically triggers the correct HDR mode, a feature that not all projectors handle properly.
Out of the box, the default settings offer solid image quality, but small tweaks to hue, saturation, brightness, and flesh tone adjustments can further refine the picture. While casual users will likely find the default settings more than acceptable, professional calibrators can access full-colour calibration settings for precise adjustments. One notable omission is the lack of 3D support, which may disappoint home theatre enthusiasts who still enjoy 3D Blu-ray movies.
The built-in Dolby Audio and DTS-HD support deliver surprisingly strong audio performance for a projector. The bass is punchy, and the dialogue remains clear, making it one of the better-sounding projectors on the market. While external speakers will still offer better surround sound, the Cinema Edge’s built-in speakers are good enough for most casual users.
Overall, the Formovie Cinema Edge 4K UST delivers excellent image quality, strong colour accuracy, and solid HDR performance in a compact, easy-to-set-up package. Its high brightness makes it versatile, though for daytime viewing, a dedicated projection screen is recommended.
Formovie Cinema Edge 4K UST Laser Projector Review: Verdict
With TVs getting bigger and more expensive, projectors are becoming a more viable mainstream option, offering larger displays without the astronomical price tags. The Formovie Cinema Edge 4K UST fits perfectly into this evolving trend, providing a smart, space-saving solution for those who want a big-screen experience without the complex installation of traditional projectors.
One of its strongest points is its compact size. Unlike traditional projectors that require a long throw distance, the Cinema Edge sits just inches from the wall, making setup far simpler. This eliminates the need for ceiling mounts or long cable runs, making it ideal for home theater enthusiasts and casual users alike.
Brightness is another highlight. With 1900 ISO lumens, it handles most lighting conditions well, though it performs best in dim or dark rooms. Even without a dedicated projection screen, it produces a sharp and vibrant image on a plain wall, which is impressive. However, for daytime viewing, especially in bright environments, an ALR (Ambient Light Rejecting) screen is recommended to maintain colour accuracy and contrast.
While the built-in speakers are decent, they don’t quite deliver the depth and power of a dedicated sound system. Adding external speakers or a soundbar significantly enhances the experience, and even with this addition, the Cinema Edge still remains more affordable than many competing projectors in its class.
Considering its price, the Formovie Cinema Edge 4K offers a fantastic balance of high-quality visuals, smart functionality, and ease of use. While it only offers manual setup, once everything is dialed in, it delivers a true cinematic experience. For those looking for a serious TV alternative, this projector checks nearly all the right boxes — as long as you can control the lighting in your room.