LG CineBeam Q 4K projector review: I might break up with my TV for good

We have a lot going on these days, and a lot of it causes anxiety and stress. A bright spot for most of us is sitting down to stream our favorite shows and movies. Sometimes the perfect weekend is simply booting up Disney+ and tuning into the classics while relaxing. Sure, you can do this on a TV, but those have size restrictions for most of us. Projectors, on the other hand, can give us a massive screen. We’re talking watching every Lord of the Rings movie on a 120-inch display. While projectors used to be something fancy we only saw in the classroom or the boardroom, we’ve come a long way with projector technology, and now they can replace your home's TV without costing a fortune.

The LG CineBeam Q is a perfect example, coming in at under $1,000. While it does have some drawbacks, I’m thrilled with the CineBeam Q and haven’t used my normal wall-mounted TV since I started testing this projector. I might not go back.

Right off the bat, the LG CineBeam Q gives a beautiful display. I’ve powered this thing on hundreds of times, and I still say, “Oh that’s pretty,” every single time, and this checks out when we consider the specs. The LG CineBeam Q is a 4K UHD laser projector with a native resolution of 3840 x 2160. Of course, you can do whatever you’d like, but LG recommends opting for a screen size somewhere between 50 and 120 inches with the CineBeam Q.

Does it get any better than a summer movie night? Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

During the month I tested the LG projector, I used it on an Elite Screens Yard Master Plus, which I mostly used indoors, despite the name, but carried outside if the Seattle weather allowed. Since not everyone has a projector screen, I also used the classic substitute of a white sheet. While the Elite Screens offered a noticeably better viewing experience, a backyard movie night would work just fine with the CineBeam Q and a white sheet or inside on a white-ish wall.

While I absolutely love the portability and overall user-friendliness of the Nebula Capsule 3 Laser projector, the display quality of the LG CineBeam Q is noticeably better in a side-by-side comparison. And that’s to be expected since the Nebula maxes out at 1080p and 300 lumens while the LG boasts a 4K display at 500 lumens.

For those interested, here are some noteworthy details of the LG CineBeam Q 4K projector:

• Size: 3.1 in. W x 5.3 in. H x 5.3 in. D

• Weight: 3.3 pounds

• Rated brightness: 500 ANSI lumens

• Native resolution: UHD 4K 3840 x 2160

• Inputs and interface: HDMI, UBS-C (charging and display)

• Warranty: 1 year

We have tons of home appliances and tech that focus on function and forget about looks. Air purifiers tend to stick out, and that set of adjustable dumbbells is not great decor, but the LG design team really made an effort with the CineBeam Q, and it pays off. It’s a great-looking projector, and I wouldn’t hesitate to use it as bookshelf decor or keep it safely on a side table when not in use. It looks modern and high-end with silver housing and an accented pink gold around the projector’s lens.

Props to the LG design team on this one. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

Like all good projectors, the CineBeam Q has automatic focus and keystoning. For those unfamiliar with projector jargon, keystoning removes distortion that can occur to provide a perfect rectangular display, instead of one in a wonky shape. If your projector isn’t sitting directly in front of the display area, it would show up in a distorted shape. Keystoning adjusts this to always project in a perfect rectangle. The automatic focus and keystoning on the LG produces a great result, eventually. The process is quick but can take a few attempts, and the remote lacks a button to command the projector to redo it.

Given that it weighs only 3.3 pounds, the LG CineBeam Q is great for homes that don’t want or have space for a traditional TV. Maybe you live in an apartment and move often or you only watch TV once a new season of The White Lotus drops. For whatever reason, the LG CineBeam Q makes for a great alternative viewing method if you’re not interested in owning a TV. The sleek and modern design makes the projector quite nice to store on a bookshelf, or its compact size will easily slide into a closet.

In addition to its compact size, the projector's built-in stand can rotate to the top, serving as a convenient carrying handle. This makes for a super portable projector that would be perfect for outdoor movie nights, camping trips, or even packing along for the holiday season at the in-laws'. However, there’s a glaring flaw in this portability — the LG CineBeam Q does not have a built-in battery and must connect to external power. In more disappointing news, the included adapter is chunky and subtracts from the portability points I so wanted to give the LG CineBeam Q. The good news is that you can charge via USB-C, so I immediately ditched the included adapter and shifted to my laptop and phone charger, the Anker 737 GaNPrime charger.

That's a satisfying handle. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

I love an outdoor movie night, so despite the need for power, I still took the CineBeam Q on field trips to the yard. I powered it up thanks to an Anker Solix C1000 portable power station. If you don’t have that option, you’ll have to go with running an extension cord across the yard. That also means it’s probably not worth packing along on a camping trip unless your site has hookups.

In testing, I found the built-in speaker on the LG CineBeam Q to be the projector’s greatest downfall. The sound is tinny and outdated, like something you would expect from a projector made for a classroom in the 1990s. Instead, I used a Bluetooth speaker and recommend others do the same. I used my current favorite, the Fender x Teufel Rockster Cross, but go with whatever you have. Another issue in this LG speaker mess is the lack of a 3.5mm audio jack on the projector, which feels like a move Apple would pull on us. That means you won’t be able to connect your home’s sound system to the projector and will be forced to use a Bluetooth connection. Since most people own a speaker capable of Bluetooth, this doesn’t feel like a deal breaker but it seems like an oversight in the otherwise thoughtful design.

Since it’s essentially functioning as your TV, you’ll want a remote control to use with the projector. LG’s included CineBeam remote has all the usual buttons you’d want, although I’d love an auto-focus addition, as sometimes when moving the projector to center on your screen, it can become quite autofocus-happy and constantly readjust, throwing off your attempts at a perfect fit. The real annoyance here is that this remote operates with a standard IR (infrared) signal and needs to be physically pointed at the receiver on the back of the projector in order to work. Most modern remotes these days operate via Bluetooth, so you don’t have to hold the remote at arm’s length in the air and, in my case, dodge around the Bluetooth speaker sitting behind it, or get up when the projector was sitting on a shelf behind me. While this is a small gripe, it came up more often than expected.

USB-C charging is a major plus with this model. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

If you’re one to watch every Oscar-nominated film during regular movie nights, the CineBeam Q 4K could be awesome. With the rising cost of movie theatre tickets and concessions, watching via a 4K projector at home could save you big bucks in the long run. Plus, there’s something special about watching big-screen movies on an actual big screen, but at home.

The one thing to keep in mind here is the max 500 ANSI lumens on the CineBeam Q, which make it ideal for watching in dimly lit or dark rooms. If you want to spend the afternoon binge-watching Cheers, you probably want a 4K projector with higher lumens, like up in the thousands. The 500 lumens on a portable projector that weighs close to nothing is still impressive, but you’ll want to make sure that works with your viewing desires.

Given that the number one priority of a projector is image quality, the LG CineBeam Q is impressive. The contrast, sharpness, and colors from this 4K resolution have me tempted to not go back to a traditional TV. For a compact projector that weighs about three pounds, the display quality is absurdly good. The design of the projector itself is also really nice, and I don’t mind that it hangs out in my living room.

LG considers the CineBeam Q to be a portable projector, and that’s mostly true in terms of weight and dimensions, but it needs an external power source. That’s no problem if you’ll be taking it from room to room in your house, but it poses a logistical question if you’re going for an outdoor movie night. But again, the picture is just so damn nice that I didn't mind solving the power issue.

The LG CineBeam Q is well worth the price if you’re considering a 4K projector since most options cost far more. Keep in mind the 500 lumens mean this model is best for dimly lit or dark rooms, and it won’t impress as much if you’re watching mid-day reruns in a bright living room.