A compact, mostly convenient ultra-short throw projector that’s capable of producing rich, bright (for a portable beamer) and colourful images. The sound quality is not too shabby either, though there are pain points with its app selection and lack of a fully featured Netflix app
Pros
- Colourful, bright image
- Better than expected black levels
- Decent sound system
- Compact and convenient size
Cons
- More expensive than rivals
- US-centric focus to streaming apps
- Netflix app awkward to use, is missing HDR
Key Features
-
LuminOS interface Based on Android with support for Prime Video, Netflix, and Hulu among others
-
1080p HDR support Projects images at 1080p Full HD and supports HDR10
-
Images up to 120-inches Ideally the best size is at 80-inches, but the UL5 can reach as far as 120-inches
Introduction
While TVs seem to be getting bigger and bigger, projectors are getting smaller – case in point, the Philips Screeneo UL5.
As an alternative to one of the best TVs, the UL5 takes up less space but can offer a screen size of up to 120-inches, dwarfing the screen sizes even the biggest (and most expensive) TVs can offer.
There are things a projector can’t do as well as a TV, but if you’re short on space and fancy a big screen experience without the baggage of a TV hogging what space you have, the Philips Screeneo UL5 is here to deliver home cinema in a small package.
Design
- Space-saving size
- Vertical or horizontal positioning
- Mains power delivery
The Screeneo UL5 is comfortably the smallest I’ve tested. At 206 x 94 x 86.6mm (HWD), it’s smaller than my size 11 Adidas trainers.
It’s initially confusing which way to orient the projector but the UL5 works both in vertical and horizontal placements. If you’re beaming onto a wall you’ll want to place it horizontally (lengthways), and as an ultra-short throw projector it can go close to a wall, saving space in the process. If you want to project an image on the surface the Screeneo UL5 sits on, then place it vertically.
Aesthetically it’s a smart looking projector, the white plastic meshes neatly with the grey fabric on its sides. There’s a grille on either side for ventilation (and I imagine it’ll help push sound away from the UL5 too), while dotted around the speaker are physical connections with HDMI 2.1, USB-A and two USB-C inputs (one of which is the power supply).
Powering the Screeneo UL5 can be done through either the button on the projector or the remote control, although regardless of which you use, it takes two presses to get the UL5 up and running (or powered down). There’s no built-in battery so the UL5 is reliant on mains power.
The remote itself is packed with all the buttons you’d need from keystone configuration to brightness, volume, source selection and others. The remote’s buttons aren’t backlit, which isn’t helpful in a dark room.
Interface
- LuminOS
- US-centric focus on apps
The Screeneo UL5’s interface is not powered by Google TV, Fire TV or any other major provider you may know of but by LuminOS, which is Android-based.
It is its own thing and keeps things simple with just two sections: Home and the App Store and that makes the interface easy to traverse. In terms of latency there isn’t an issue other than when the Screeneo UL5 is left idle for a few minutes it requires a second press to respond.
The main settings can be accessed through the remote, and the settings themselves are relatively simple. In most cases it’s a choice of on / off or choosing between presets.
Where things start to get odd about the LuminOS is with its selection of apps. What’s provided leans heavily toward the Americas with apps such as Claro TV+ (Latin American), Hulu and HBO Max (not Max, but the HBO Max version).
The UK catch-up and on-demand apps are not built-in (but BritBox makes an appearance), although for the technically more gifted they could be sideloaded as APK files or downloaded from the APK Updater app.
There are heavy hitters in the form of Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and Apple TV+; but that brings me to a few more awkward aspects with the LuminOS interface.
At the time of review Disney+ wasn’t working, with error code 83 popping up whenever I logged in. A check online revealed that the Screeneo UL5 was an incompatible device. A fix was in the works when I asked in early December 2024, the problem originating from the latest Disney+ app update.
Another issue is that the Netflix app requires turning the remote into a pointer and mouse control (there’s a button on the remote to switch), and it makes navigating the app impractical.
The app itself is a condensed version of Netflix, so it doesn’t have all the features of the TV app. But even trying to find my ‘My List’ was a painfully slow experience. If you’re based outside the US the app selection is not especially convenient.
Features
- HDR10 support
- Full HD resolution
- Triple laser RGB light source
The Philips Screeneo UL5 does not support 4K resolution, making do with Full HD (1920 x 1080p) instead. There is HDR10 (and apparently HLG) support but no Dolby Vision or HDR10+. I was told any app that supports HDR on Android will be supported on the Screeneo UL5, so expect the likes of Prime Video, YouTube to have HDR, although that courtesy doesn’t extend to Netflix.
The light source is a triple laser RGB, which Philips says is able to deliver “deep contrast and bright image in any conditions”, though I don’t agree with the second part of that statement (I’ll get to why in the next section). The throw ratio is 0.23:1, which allows the Screeneo to sit close to a wall, while the lifespan of the laser source is 30,000 hours. Suffice to say that’s a very long time.
Philips claims the best performance is had at around 80-inches, and also claims it can reach 120-inches in a dark room. The wall I used for testing was only big enough for 60-inches, but I felt that was fine enough.
According to Philips, the Screeneo UL5 Smart is the world’s first mini RGB laser ultra-short throw projector that can produce images that cover 100% of REC2020, 200% of REC709, and 150% DCI-P3 for a colourful image. There’s also 3D support but you’ll need to purchase 3D DLP Link glasses.
Keystone Correction is included and can be changed either automatically or manually. The image was slightly curved on my wall and playing around with the Keystone didn’t alter it for the better but the end result was still watchable.
Brightness hits 550 lumens – more than the Anker Nebula Capsule Max’s 200 and exactly the same as the Samsung Freestyle 2nd Gen. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2 are supported and the latter helps if you’re adding a Bluetooth speaker as the built-in sound system only yields 6W of power.
Performance
- Colourful, bright images
- Up to 120-inches screen size
- 6W built-in audio system
Few projectors are capable of matching the HDR performance of a TV, and at the price the Philips Screeneo UL5 Smart is at, you’re not getting that same level of contrast or precision with HDR highlights. But as long as you’re not expecting that level of performance, there’s much to like about the Screeneo UL5.
It’s not the sharpest image at 60-inches, and given that I’m projecting images onto a textured, yellow coloured wall, that doesn’t help detail levels either. But the Screeneo UL5 draws its lines and the defines edges well – outlines of characters or objects don’t look jagged or fuzzy – and it boasts a strong sense of colour with images that are punchy, rich and saturated.
It’s a bright-looking image too, though dark room conditions fare better as if you watch it during the day the image will appear blown out. Contrast, highlights, colour – everything is affected by ambient light.
So close the curtains and dim the lights and I think you’ll find that the Screeno UL5 is capable of pretty good black levels (with SDR – standard dynamic range content) and decent shadow detail, so you’re seeing most of what’s in the darkest parts of the image without being affected by black crush (which removes that detail).
With HDR content I find the Screeneo UL5 is capable of strong blacks that avoid looking grey with the Fallout TV series on Prime Video, but potentially at the expense of some dark detail.
The Standard and Movie modes aren’t much different from one another but across testing I found it depends on what you’re watching. With Fallout I couldn’t see much of a difference but with The Mitchells vs the Machines on Netflix (in SDR), the Movie mode offered stronger blacks and colours looked more accurate while in Standard it was brighter and colours appeared richer.
Highlights in general suffer but the Screeneo UL5 delivers an agreeable sense of contrast. Bright objects look bright, and black levels are solid. Playing with the brightness, and I didn’t go above 60% as that caused the image to look washed out.
The audio performance was a surprise for me. For such a compact device, the soundstage is big and spacious. There’s decent crispness to the highs and dialogue is naturally reproduced. Bass is flattened but for whatever reason I didn’t notice the lack of if. You can add a Bluetooth speaker to give it more oomph, or with the HDMI input you could consider adding a soundbar or even an AV amplifier to hook the Screeneo UL5 to a surround sound system.
Should you buy it?
For its rich, colourful images
The Screeneo UL5 is capable of some impressive images for a projector of its size, with solid contrast and better than expected black levels that’ll make for a suitably enjoyable cinema night indoors
It’s a more expensive option
The price makes the Screeneo UL5 an awkward option alongside the likes of the less expensive Samsung Freestyle 2nd Gen and XGIMI options. Add a US-centric focus to its app selection and it’s not the best in terms of value
Final Thoughts
I like the Philips Screeneo UL5 Smart projector – it’s the type of projector that’s easy to live with, and convenient for the most part, though it does cost more than some of its closest rivals.
The picture quality is better than I expected with rich, bright colours along with solid contrast and black levels. The audio quality is above expectations for a projector of its size, though don’t expect it to produce much bass.
There are awkward pain points about its interface. For one, it’s pitched towards American apps so if you’re after a smart projector that has the UK catch-up apps, they aren’t built in here. The Netflix app is also frustrating as it uses different control and navigation scheme than other apps, as well as not being the same fully-featured app that it is on TV.
Alternatives come in the form of the Epson EF-22N, which packs a more user-friendly Google TV interface. The Samsung Freestyle 2nd Gen also comes with a smart interface which is more convenient and better featured. There’s the XGIMI Halo+ to consider, which is still available and just as portable.
The Samsung is the better, slicker operator over the Philips, which makes the Freestyle 2nd Gen still our best overall pick for the best portable projector.
Trusted Score
How we test
We test every projector we review thoroughly over an extended period of time. We use industry-standard tests to compare features properly. We’ll always tell you what we find. We never, ever, accept money to review a product.
Find out more about how we test in our ethics policy.
- Tested across two months
- Tested with real world use
FAQs
The Screeneo UL5 supports HDR10 on all the available apps that support HDR on Android which include YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+. It does not support HDR with Netflix, however.
Full Specs
| Philips Screeneo UL5 Review | |
|---|---|
| UK RRP | £999 |
| USA RRP | $1199 |
| EU RRP | €1199 |
| CA RRP | CA$1749 |
| AUD RRP | AU$1999 |
| Manufacturer | Philips |
| Size (Dimensions) | 206 x 94 x 86.6 MM |
| Weight | 1.05 KG |
| Release Date | 2024 |
| Model Number | SCN355/INT |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
| Projector Type | Portable short-throw |
| Brightness Lumens | 550 |
| Lamp Life | 30000 |
| Contrast Ratio | 1800:1 |
| Max Image Size | 120 inches |
| HDR | No |
| Types of HDR | HDR10 |
| Audio (Power output) | 6 W |
| Colours | White |
| Display Technology | DLP |
| Projector Display Technology | Triple Laser DLP |
| Throw Ratio | 0.23:1 |
Features
| Resolution | 2048 x 1152 |