Olivia Cavallaro Tech 09.02.2022 07:Sep AM EDT

Leica Introduces Cine 1, A New Ultra-Short Throw Projector Coming 2023

The German camera maker has unveiled its first 4K laser projector that sits close to the wall.

This year's IFA 2022 is giving consumers a glimpse of the exciting new tech coming in 2023, including Leica's Cine 1, the German camera maker's first ultra-short-throw (UST) projector that is capable of beaming up 80 or 100 inch images while sitting as close as six inches from a wall, complete with Dolby Atmos sound.

While it may come as a surprise that a company specializing in cameras and lenses is releasing a projector, the process actually involves creating precise optics to build a square image, this type of research and innovation is exactly what Leica delivers, Engadget reported. Leica said that it is using its Summicron lens tech with aspherical elements that were manufactured with the brand's standards. The Cine 1 ultra short-throw projector is also equipped with a Texas Instruments DLP chip and a triple-RGB laser, which was built by both Leica and HiSense and has a 25,000 hour service life.

Leica Developing Two Types of Ultra-Short Throw Projectors Arriving in 2023

While all eyes are on the shiny new Leica Cine 1, the company is in fact creating two versions of the ultra-short throw projector, with the 80-inch screen version to be placed around six inches from the wall and the 100-inch screen version to sit at about 12 inches away. Leica recommends using the two kinds of Cine 1 specifically with these distances and positions and using the suggested screen sizes because the optics were designed to deliver the best quality picture given those settings.

Leica will also begin selling 80- and 100-inch ambient light-rejecting (ALR) screens, which output 2,100 and 2,500 lumens, respectively. Both versions of the Leica Cine 1 will come with Dolby Atmos-powered speakers that provide surround sound, as well as a TV tuner for linear TV and HiSense's VIDAA OS as a platform for a smart TV. Leica Cine 1 users will also be able to install external storage or connect Blu-ray players or consoles through its HDMI and USB inputs.

What Else to Expect from the Leica Cine 1

The Verge spoke with Leica's head of product management in the company's newly formed smart projection business unit, Ross Slavov, who gave more details about the upcoming Cine 1. Slavov said that specs, pricing, and delivery dates can still change ahead of the product's upcoming 2023 release

For those who are already looking to save up for the Leica Cine 1, the price tag for the 80-inch projector would be around $6,900, while the 100-inch projector would probably cost $7,900, Slavov said. Moreover, the US version of the Leica Cine 1 would "probably" run Android TV. Leica hopes to release the Cine 1 in the second quarter of 2023 in Europe, while China appears to be getting in in the third quarter. The US will have to wait for the fourth quarter of 2023 before getting their hands on Leica's first ultra-short throw projector.