WEMAX Nova Pro
A mid-priced laser UST for watching movies and TV in a living room. Gamers should look elsewhere, since testing found it laggy.
Amazon $1,799.99 WEMAX $1,799$1,799
The WEMAX Nova Pro is the better projector overall, rated 3.9 to 3.6. The WEMAX Nova Pro leads on brightness and value. The Optoma Photon GO wins on setup. The Optoma Photon GO costs $900 less ($899 vs $1,799).
Optoma Photon GO
#10 in Ultra short throwFull review
A battery powered ultra short throw projector for people who want a big picture without placing a projector across the room, in a dark room or outdoors at night.
Amazon $899$899
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.
Which should you buy?
- Choose the WEMAX Nova Pro for brightness (2,100 ISO lumens vs 650 ISO 21118 lumens) and value ($0.86 per lumen vs $1.38 per lumen).
- Choose the Optoma Photon GO for setup (Autofocus, auto keystone vs Manual focus and keystone).
Scores side by side
Each factor is scored 0-100 against the same fixed reference points for every ultra short throw projector; a clear win is highlighted. How we rank explains each one.
| Factor weight | WEMAX Nova Pro | Optoma Photon GO |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 3.9/5 | 3.6/5 |
| Brightness 25% | 54 2,100 ISO lumens | 0 650 ISO 21118 lumens |
| Value 15% | 76 $0.86 per lumen | 41 $1.38 per lumen |
| Resolution 10% | 100 4K (pixel shift) | 100 1920 x 1080 native |
| Streaming 15% | 100 Google TV with licensed Netflix | 100 Google TV with licensed Netflix |
| Setup 10% | 0 Manual focus and keystone | 100 Autofocus, auto keystone |
| Light life 10% | 100 25,000 hour laser | 100 20,000 hour RGB laser |
| Gaming 10% | 50 input lag not published (neutral score used) | 55 27 ms input lag |
| Warranty 5% | 50 2-year warranty | 50 warranty not published (neutral score used) |
Independent measurements
WEMAX Nova Pro
| Tested by | Brightness | Input lag | Contrast | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Smart Home Hookup: Best UST Projector of 2025 | 2,234 lm | - | - | 2,234 lumens in Office mode. It dropped frames at 120 and 240 Hz and was the only tested UST that did not stay under 50 ms at 4K/60 with keystone on. |
Optoma Photon GO
No independent test published yet.
Specifications
| WEMAX Nova Pro | Optoma Photon GO | |
|---|---|---|
| Picture | ||
| Brightness | 2,100 ISO | 650 ISO 21118 |
| Native resolution | 1920 x 1080 (1080p) | 1920 x 1080 (1080p) |
| Picture resolution | 4K (pixel shift from 1920x1080) | 1080p |
| Display | DLP | DLP |
| Light source | laser | RGB laser |
| Light source life | 25,000 hours | 20,000 hours |
| HDR | HDR10, HLG | HDR10, HLG |
| Color gamut | 110% Rec.709 | 110% BT.2020 |
| Native contrast | 3,000:1 | - |
| Dynamic contrast | - | 2,500,000:1 |
| Placement | ||
| Throw | Ultra short throw (0.2:1) | Ultra short throw (0.2:1) |
| Largest image | 150 in | 100 in |
| Autofocus | - | Yes |
| Auto keystone | - | Yes |
| Optical zoom | None | None |
| Streaming and gaming | ||
| Built-in apps | Google TV, licensed Netflix | Google TV, licensed Netflix |
| Input lag | - | 27 ms |
| Top refresh rate | - | 60 Hz |
| HDMI ports | 2 | 1 |
| Speakers | 30 W | 20 W |
| Build | ||
| Battery | None | 1.5 hours |
| Fan noise | - | 30 dB |
| Power | - | 85 W |
| Dimensions | 18.0 x 12.1 x 3.6 in | 9.92 x 6.18 x 2.56 in |
| Weight | 15.4 lb | 3.8 lb |
| Warranty | 2 years | - |
| Released | 2025-08 | 2025-07 |