Vava shakes up the market with a new 4K HDR short-throw projector for $3,500

One of the biggest trends of CES 2019 appears to be consumer-focused laser projectors. We’ve already seen familiar brands like Hisense and LG unveil their own home theater projection system this year. Now newcomer Vava is stepping up to the plate with its own 4K laser projector.

From a distance, it appears that Vava is checking all of the boxes on its latest release. You’ll find 4K and HDR certification here, along with a 30W Harman Kardon audio system plus support for select DTS codecs. The question is, can Vava compete in an already crowded market dominated by some of the biggest names in the game? More below.

Vava introduces aggressively-priced 4K short throw projector

The first major projector release to hit the mainstream from Vava sports an ultra-short throw design with support for HDR. Its 2,000 ANSI lumen-rated bulb helps project images that top out at 150-inches in size. The entire system is powered by Android OS 7.1 but you won’t find the arguably more appropriate Android TV here.

Users will be able to access a variety of streaming media platforms thanks to the integrated software, along with a host of apps from the Google Play store. The thing is, majority would likely prefer the more intuitive experience that Android TV or Chromecast would offer.

Vava has certainly nailed it in one area: ports. There are three HDMI inputs on the back, along with support for USB, various audio and Ethernet. That’s a welcome sight in a product category that often goes light on the connectivity.

Notable specs include:

• 150” 4K HDR10 Large Vivid Display
• ALPD 3.0 Technology Theater-like Experience
• Harman/Kardon Speakers Premium Stereo Sound
• Eye-protection Comfortable Diffuse Light
• Smart Android System Universal App Download

Lower(ish) MSRP makes Vava a competitor

Vava is slated to sell its new 4K projector for $3,500 later this year, a price tag that puts it ahead of other 4K short throw options on the market. While that’s certainly going to upset the market to a point, we wouldn’t recommend gunning for a new home theater system just yet.

You see, Vava is a relatively new player in this space. So while it is undercutting the bigger names like LG and others on price, there are a few things to take note of before making this kind of investment.

Vava looks like a spec king from the outside, but further investigation reveals that the brand is using some older specifications to achieve this result. For instance, Digital Trends noted that Vava does not use the recommended 2020 color gamut spec on its new projector. Instead, it skips the standard 4K HDR certification in favor of the older Rec 709. These are details worth considering when making a $3,500 investment into any home theater system.

Vava has yet to release a ship date for its new 4K projector but you can expect it to hit the market in the second half of 2019.

Hit up our CES 2019 guide for all the latest news and more out of Las Vegas this week.

Subscribe to the Electronicsforward YouTube Channel for all of the latest videos, reviews, and more!