Hisense C3
#7 in 4KFull review
A bright, self-setting lifestyle projector for buyers who want to move a big picture between rooms or onto the ceiling, with streaming built in.
Amazon $1,999.99$1,999.99
The Hisense C3 rates 4.4 among 4K projectors; the AWOL Vision Aetherion Pro rates 4.1 among ultra short throw ones. The Hisense C3 costs $299.01 less ($1,999.99 vs $2,299).
AWOL Vision Aetherion Pro
A triple laser ultra short throw TV replacement for movie and gaming rooms that want deep blacks and a huge picture. Best in a dim room on a proper UST screen.
Amazon $2,299$2,299
Prices were last checked October 29, 2026 and are subject to change; the price and availability shown by the retailer at the time of purchase apply.
Scores side by side
These two sit in different type classes (4K and ultra short throw), and each is scored against the reference points for its own class, so a rating says how well each does among its own type peers. How we rank explains each factor.
| Factor weight | Hisense C3 | AWOL Vision Aetherion Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 4.4/5 | 4.1/5 |
| Brightness 25% | 77 2,500 ANSI lumens | 69 2,600 ISO 21118 lumens |
| Value 15% | 71 $0.80 per lumen | 74 $0.88 per lumen |
| Resolution 10% | 100 4K (pixel shift) | 100 4K (pixel shift) |
| Streaming 15% | 100 VIDAA with licensed Netflix | 50 Google TV, no licensed Netflix |
| Setup 10% | 80 Autofocus, auto keystone, 1.3x zoom | 50 Auto keystone |
| Light life 10% | 100 25,000 hour RGB laser | 100 25,000 hour RGB laser |
| Gaming 10% | 71 20 ms input lag | 100 1 ms input lag |
| Warranty 5% | 50 warranty not published (neutral score used) | 50 2-year warranty |
Specifications
| Hisense C3 | AWOL Vision Aetherion Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Picture | ||
| Brightness | 2,500 ANSI | 2,600 ISO 21118 |
| Native resolution | 1920 x 1080 (1080p) | 1920 x 1080 (1080p) |
| Picture resolution | 4K (pixel shift from 1920x1080) | 4K (pixel shift from 1920x1080) |
| Display | DLP | DLP |
| Light source | RGB laser | RGB laser |
| Light source life | 25,000 hours | 25,000 hours |
| HDR | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG |
| Color gamut | 110% BT.2020 | 110% BT.2020 |
| Native contrast | 2,000:1 | 6,000:1 |
| Dynamic contrast | - | 60,000:1 |
| Placement | ||
| Throw | Standard throw (1:1) | Ultra short throw (0.2:1) |
| Largest image | 300 in | 200 in |
| Autofocus | Yes | - |
| Auto keystone | Yes | - |
| Obstacle avoidance | Yes | - |
| Auto screen fit | Yes | Yes |
| Optical zoom | 1.3x | None |
| Streaming and gaming | ||
| Built-in apps | VIDAA, licensed Netflix | Google TV |
| Input lag | 20 ms | 1 ms |
| Top refresh rate | 240 Hz | 240 Hz |
| HDMI ports | 2 | 3 |
| eARC | Yes | Yes |
| Speakers | 20 W | 40 W |
| Build | ||
| Battery | None | None |
| Fan noise | 26 dB | 28 dB |
| Power | 180 W | - |
| Dimensions | 246 x 246 x 252 mm (9.7 x 9.7 x 9.9 in) | 22.1 x 12.7 x 5.5 in (W x D x H) |
| Weight | 13.7 lb | 19.3 lb |
| Warranty | - | 2 years |
| Released | 2026-02 | 2026-05 |