We have tested the LG HU810PW laser projector!

We have tested the LG HU810PW laser projector!

LG HU810PW Projector Review

The LG HU810PW is equipped with a dual-laser light source that utilizes green phosphor to achieve extremely lifelike colors and a sharp, vibrant image—thanks in part to its 4K DLP chip. While the overall image quality is impressive, the DLP technology results in a moderate contrast ratio, which places the HU810PW behind the best-performing home theater projectors we’ve tested in terms of depth and shadow detail.

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Image Quality and Performance

One of the biggest advantages of the HU810PW is its native Ultra HD 4K resolution, which delivers breathtaking clarity and fine detail across all video content. It produces an impressive brightness level of around 1,500 lumens, resulting in vivid and saturated colors that truly pop on the screen.

However, when it comes to black levels and shadow performance, the projector falls short. Instead of deep, inky blacks, it renders darker areas in a somewhat greyish tone, limiting its performance in contrast-rich scenes. This weakness in dynamic range becomes especially apparent in darker viewing environments.

Moreover, the price tag is on the high side—particularly when compared to better-performing and more affordable 4K alternatives like the Optoma UHD30. As such, we wouldn’t recommend the HU810PW for users prioritizing high contrast at this price level. However, if you’re after high brightness, rich color reproduction, and razor-sharp detail, this projector still stands out.

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Features and Durability

The HU810PW supports HDR and native 4K content but does not offer 3D compatibility. It includes manual zoom and lens shift features, providing some flexibility in installation and positioning. According to LG, the laser light source has an impressive lifespan of up to 20,000 hours, making it a low-maintenance solution for long-term use.

HDR Handling and Optical Flexibility

The LG HU810PW performs better with HDR and 4K content than most so-called “HDR” projectors we’ve tested recently. That said, it’s important to remember that no projector—regardless of price—can truly replicate the full effect of HDR in the same way as high-end TVs. Still, the HU810PW comes close, offering impressive brightness and color accuracy that make HDR content look exceptionally good.

As a premium projector, it also includes both vertical and horizontal lens shift—an essential feature for flexible setup and alignment. The zoom capability is respectable, with a 1.6x manual zoom range, allowing for easier placement in different room sizes.

Physically, the HU810PW is quite large—nearly twice the size of many compact projectors—and noticeably heavier, which may require more permanent installation planning.

The LG HU810PW has two lasers, one is blue and the other one red. In addition to producing all the blue light, the blue laser transmits some of its light to the green phosphor. Consequently, the lasers are not only up to create light but also colour. DLP-based projectors usually separate these two functions; in their case the lamp generates a white light, and then colour filters get some of the light to the screen when needed. Colour wheels are not as effective in the first place, which is one of the reasons why lasers work with a higher efficiency in projectors.

Another advantage is that lasers have a much longer lifespan than UHP lights. The life of the 810PW is estimated by the manufacturer to be up to 20,000 hours, or about 14 years if operated for 4 hours every night. It turns on and off much faster than most similar projectors, which is another good point for this projector. If you were to think that lasers need less cooling and thus fewer fans than traditional incandescent projectors, you would be wrong. In general, the 810PW is quieter than small, inexpensive DLP projectors, but you can still hear the sound of the fan.

Connectivity and Smart Features

The LG HU810PW offers a solid selection of ports, including 3 HDMI inputs, 2 USB ports, 1 optical digital audio output, a LAN (Ethernet) port, and built-in Wi-Fi. However, it lacks certain connections that might be important for some setups—such as PC input (VGA), RS-232 control, and a 12V trigger output.

Two of the three HDMI inputs support HDMI 2.1 features, including ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) and eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel), which are especially valuable for gaming and advanced audio setups.

A backlit remote control is included, adding convenience for use in dark home theater environments. The projector also comes with built-in streaming apps, though notably, it does not support Netflix or HBO Max, which may require the use of an external streaming device to complete your media experience.

Remote Control and User Experience

The HU810PW comes with one of the most unconventional remotes we’ve encountered in a projector. It closely resembles LG TV remotes, featuring a motion-sensitive cursor that appears on screen with even the slightest movement—an unusual but sometimes unintuitive control method in a projector context.

The projector provides a wide range of settings, but many of them can be overwhelming or confusing. For instance, both Adaptive Contrast and Dynamic Contrast are placed in entirely separate submenus, apart from the standard contrast settings, making fine-tuning more complex than necessary.

Perhaps the most frustrating issue we encountered was significant audio delay. While there is an audio sync adjustment available in the menu, it only affects the projector’s built-in speakers. If you’re using external audio systems—such as a soundbar or AV receiver—they must support their own independent audio sync features, as the projector itself offers no global fix for this problem.

Picture quality

Contrast, Brightness, and Image Clarity

Let’s be direct: the contrast ratio of the LG HU810PW is poor—arguably its most significant weakness. Even much cheaper projectors like the Optoma UHD30 deliver deeper blacks and sharper contrast, contributing to a more immersive image. And since contrast is the single most important factor in overall image quality, this limitation holds back the HU810PW from reaching top-tier status.

That said, brightness is equally vital in projection—and this is where LG shines. The dual-laser light source, combined with its advanced phosphor system, generates incredibly vivid, vibrant colours that are truly stunning to watch.

One of the core strengths of DLP technology is its ability to produce razor-sharp images with minimal motion blur. Every wrinkle, hair, and blade of grass is rendered in fine detail. While the Optoma UHD30 performs well in this area, the LG feels even sharper, delivering exceptional clarity and resolution. Apart from its contrast shortfall, the overall image quality of the HU810PW is surprisingly good.

However, LG’s projector also introduces a curious issue not observed in other laser-based units—commonly referred to as “specking.” Some pixels appear slightly brighter than others, creating a subtle but noticeable visual inconsistency.

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Struggles with Black Levels

Throughout our testing, we consistently tried to improve black level performance, but the contrast remained disappointing. LG has implemented various technologies to mask this shortcoming, but the limitations of Texas Instruments’ DLP technology leave little room for deeper shadow reproduction. In brighter scenes, the HU810PW produces breathtaking images. But in dark scenes, the projector’s high light output tends to wash out detail, blurring the image instead of revealing nuanced shadow depth.

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Picture Settings and Colour Accuracy

Another quirk we encountered was the shifting colour temperature, which appeared to be influenced by the iris setting. At lower brightness levels, the image took on a noticeable blue cast.

The projector offers several picture adjustments, including energy-saving modes, brightness optimization, and dynamic contrast settings. In the “Warm” colour temperature mode—typically the most accurate—we observed a lack of green in brighter scenes and too much red in darker ones. With HD content, colours were generally accurate, although blue and magenta tended to lean slightly red.

Brightness performance, on the other hand, was excellent. In HDR mode, peak brightness reached up to 2,600 lumens in its most intense picture setting. However, this came at the cost of colour balance, shifting the image toward a bluish-green tone.

Our opinion about the LG HU810PW laser projector

Thanks to the two lasers, this projector has stunning brightness and produces amazing colours. Unfortunately, the contrast ratio is extremely poor, the black level is also very unsatisfactory. The noise level is low, but you can still hear the fan. The price is too high compared to its performance and to other projectors of a similar category.

When building home theatre systems, we not only have to pay attention to what brand and quality of audio, video and hi-fi products we buy, but we also have to take care of the acoustics of the cinema room if we want clear sound. Acoustic sound-absorbing and diffuser panels, which can be mounted on the walls, are the most suitable for improving acoustics. In the cinema room, you can have a real cinema like experience by placing acoustic, sound-absorbing blackout curtains in front of the windows, so that even complete darkness can be achieved.

G.H.

Written by Róbert Polgár