LG CineBeam S Ultra Short Throw Projector Review: The Future of Home Entertainment
When it comes to immersive entertainment, projectors have always held a certain magic. They bring cinematic visuals to your home, transforming an ordinary wall into a massive screen. But traditional projectors often come with limitations — large space requirements, complex setups, and less-than-ideal brightness in small rooms. That’s where the LG CineBeam S Ultra Short Throw Projector changes the game.
This ultra-portable, 4K-capable device delivers the performance of a full-fledged home theater system in a sleek, compact design. After testing it extensively in different lighting and room conditions, I can confidently say that LG has struck an impressive balance between convenience, power, and design.
In this in-depth LG CineBeam S Review, I’ll walk you through its design, performance, setup, image quality, sound experience, smart features, and overall value to determine whether it’s truly worth your investment in 2025.
Design and Build: Minimalism Meets Functionality
At first glance, the LG CineBeam S looks like something out of a futuristic home. Compact, cube-like, and modern, this projector manages to combine elegant aesthetics with practical engineering. Its matte finish and minimalist lines fit effortlessly into any home décor, whether in a bedroom, office, or living room.
Despite its small footprint, the CineBeam S is built to perform. The short-throw design allows it to project a massive image — up to 100 inches — from just 40 centimeters (around 16 inches) away from the wall. This makes it ideal for apartments, dorm rooms, or any small environment where space is at a premium.
The body features a front-facing grille that doubles as both ventilation and speaker housing. You’ll also find practical design elements like a ¼-inch tripod mount, multiple USB ports, a full-size HDMI port, and a USB-C power input. These give you flexibility whether you’re streaming content directly or connecting external devices like game consoles or laptops.
The tactile power button sits neatly on the side, while the compact remote control provides all essential functions, including dedicated buttons for Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Sling, and LG Channels. It’s a sleek, intuitive controller that perfectly matches the simplicity of the projector’s interface.
Setup and Installation: Simple, Fast, and Flexible
Setting up the LG CineBeam S is refreshingly simple. There’s an installation wizard that guides you step by step, from image adjustment to Wi-Fi connection. Within minutes, you can go from unboxing to watching your favorite show.
The ultra short throw distance flexibility is one of its strongest points. You can position the projector as close as 8 centimeters for a smaller but sharper image or move it back to 40 centimeters for a full 100-inch display. This versatility means you can easily shift between “TV mode” and “cinema mode” without rearranging your furniture.
One of the standout setup features is the wall color adjustment option. Since not everyone projects onto a perfect white screen, LG included color compensation technology that adjusts image tones depending on the wall’s color. Whether your wall is light gray, beige, or pastel, the CineBeam S fine-tunes brightness and contrast to maintain accuracy.
Additionally, the image scaling and shifting feature is a lifesaver for unconventional wall layouts. If you have a fireplace, photo frame, or any obstruction, you can digitally move or resize the projection without physically shifting the device — a level of customization that elevates the user experience.
“Read Also: Insta360 Link 2 Review“
Smart Features and Interface: LG’s WebOS at Its Best
If you’ve used an LG smart TV, you’ll feel instantly at home with the CineBeam S. It runs LG’s WebOS interface, offering access to a wide range of streaming apps like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, YouTube, Apple TV, and UFC right out of the box. Navigation is smooth and responsive, with a quick settings panel sliding in from the side for easy access to picture modes, network settings, and more.
Gamers will appreciate the Game Optimizer mode, which reduces input lag and tailors image settings for different genres — from FPS to RPG and RTS. This addition makes the CineBeam S not just a movie machine but also a capable gaming projector.
The AirPlay support is another welcome feature. Sharing content from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac is seamless. Whether it’s a presentation, personal video, or streaming from your device, AirPlay integration ensures full wireless compatibility.
“Read Also: LG vs Samsung Washing Machines“
Image Quality: Bright, Crisp, and Cinematic
Let’s get to the heart of it — image quality. The LG CineBeam S 4K Ultra Short Throw Projector delivers an image that’s surprisingly crisp and bright for its size. In dimly lit environments, the visuals are stunning, with excellent color saturation and contrast. The 4K resolution provides exceptional clarity, and the projector handles motion beautifully, whether you’re streaming a movie or playing a high-speed game.
Under ideal conditions — a dark room and a white wall — the CineBeam S truly shines. The projected image feels larger than life yet natural, with a matte texture reminiscent of the silver screen experience. Unlike traditional TVs, the lack of glare and reflections adds a nostalgic cinematic feel to the viewing.
Even in moderately lit environments, the image remains vibrant and visible. Of course, darker rooms bring out the best contrast levels, but LG’s image processing does a commendable job of maintaining brightness balance without oversaturating colors.
For those who want to tweak their setup, multiple preset modes like Cinema, Sports, and Game make optimization straightforward. You can also manually adjust color temperature, sharpness, and brightness to your liking.
Sound Performance: Compact Yet Functional
While the CineBeam S includes built-in speakers, it’s fair to say they don’t quite match the impressive visuals. The sound is clear but lacks the depth and punch you’d expect for a truly immersive experience. That said, it’s still perfectly adequate for casual viewing, especially in smaller rooms.
For a richer audio experience, LG smartly includes Bluetooth audio output, allowing you to connect wireless speakers or soundbars effortlessly. Pairing a good Bluetooth speaker instantly transforms your setup into a mini home theater.
And honestly, it’s impressive that LG managed to include functional speakers in such a compact form factor. For impromptu movie sessions or outdoor gatherings, not having to rely on external audio equipment is a huge plus.
“Read Also: Best 43-Inch TVs in 2025“
Portability and Versatility: Perfect for Small Spaces
One of the biggest advantages of the CineBeam S is its portability. It’s light enough to carry from room to room or even take outdoors for backyard movie nights. The compact design and simple setup mean you can enjoy cinematic experiences anywhere — living room, bedroom, office, or even on vacation.
This projector redefines entertainment for small-space living. Whether you live in an apartment or dorm, you can enjoy a massive screen experience without mounting anything or needing a large viewing distance. Simply place it near a wall, power it up, and you’re good to go.
In that sense, the CineBeam S isn’t just a device — it’s a lifestyle product designed for flexibility, convenience, and fun.
“Read Also: Best Mixer Grinder“
Gaming on the LG CineBeam S: Low Latency and Smooth Performance
Gamers, take note. This isn’t just a projector for Netflix and Disney+ binges. Thanks to its low latency mode and Game Optimizer, the CineBeam S handles console gaming surprisingly well. Whether you’re on PlayStation, Xbox, or even a handheld console, response times feel snappy and visuals crisp.
During testing, the projector automatically detected my gaming console and adjusted its settings for optimal performance. The image remained bright and fluid, even during fast-paced gameplay. While the built-in speakers might not deliver booming sound effects, pairing with a Bluetooth speaker or headset easily solves that.
For casual and moderate gamers, this projector is more than capable of delivering an enjoyable experience.
Performance in Different Lighting Conditions
Ambient light has always been a projector’s biggest enemy. But the CineBeam S performs admirably under varying conditions. In bright daylight, the image remains visible — though understandably less vibrant — while in dimly lit or dark rooms, the picture quality becomes truly cinematic.
Its brightness levels and contrast ratio are tuned well enough that you don’t need blackout curtains to enjoy a decent picture. This makes it perfect for mixed-use environments like living rooms or offices where you might not always have full control over lighting.
Comparing Ultra Short Throw vs. Medium Throw Projectors
Having used LG’s previous medium-throw projectors, I can confidently say that the ultra short throw design is the future. The convenience of positioning it close to the wall eliminates the need for long cable runs, ceiling mounts, or large projection distances.
Medium throw projectors still have their place — especially for larger dedicated theater rooms — but for most modern homes, the flexibility of ultra short throw projectors like the CineBeam S simply makes more sense. You get a larger image in less space and fewer installation hassles.
Everyday Use: A Smart Entertainment Companion
The CineBeam S doesn’t just sit in your entertainment setup — it becomes part of your lifestyle. Whether you’re hosting a movie night, gaming session, or simply watching YouTube, it adapts quickly. The interface loads fast, transitions are smooth, and the built-in apps make it a self-sufficient entertainment hub.
I also love how seamlessly it integrates into smart home ecosystems. With Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and casting support, there’s virtually no limit to how you can use it — from streaming to presentations and beyond.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Stunning 4K image quality with great color and contrast
- Ultra short throw projection up to 100 inches from 40 cm
- Compact, portable design suitable for small spaces
- Easy setup and smart wall color compensation
- WebOS interface with popular streaming apps
- Low input lag for gaming
- Bluetooth audio support
Cons:
- Built-in speakers are decent but lack bass
- Optimal performance requires dim lighting
- Limited brightness for very bright rooms
Final Verdict: Is the LG CineBeam S Worth It?
After spending considerable time with the LG CineBeam S Ultra Short Throw Projector, I can confidently say it’s one of the most impressive compact projectors on the market in 2025. It offers a true cinema-like experience in a form factor small enough to fit in your backpack.
Its 4K resolution, smart features, and portability make it a perfect choice for those who want a large-screen experience without the bulk of a traditional home theater setup. While the built-in audio could use improvement, that’s a small trade-off for everything else it delivers.
Whether you live in a studio apartment or just want a flexible home entertainment solution, the LG CineBeam S offers outstanding value. It’s proof that you don’t need a massive space to enjoy massive entertainment.
Conclusion: The Future of Portable Cinema
The LG CineBeam S Ultra Short Throw Projector redefines what a home projector can be — compact, smart, powerful, and user-friendly. It merges the cinematic charm of big-screen projection with the practicality of modern smart tech.
From casual movie nights to gaming marathons, it delivers consistently high performance in any scenario. And most importantly, it turns any wall — big or small — into a window to the future of entertainment.
If you’re looking for the best short throw projector in 2025, the LG CineBeam S deserves to be at the top of your list.
