Adam Breeden/ZDNETZDNET's key takeawaysThe Formovie Cinema Edge 4K UST projector is available now for $1,799 at Amazon.It has a sturdy construction and sleek design.It's great for cinematic viewing, although it could greatly benefit from having a dedicated sound system.The first ultra short-throw (UST) projectors hit the mainstream market in the US as early as 2014. (Thank you, Sony.) Collectively, they've come a long way since then in terms of design, performance, and affordability. Yet, even today, most USTs resemble the size and shape of a VCR from the early 2000s.Also:I tested this portable 4K projector, and it got bright enough to replace my TVWhile Formovie's flagship Cinema Edge Theater UST projector debuted a decade later with an upgraded Theatre Premium model, and the more affordable baseline Cinema Edge, they represent the progress that's been made in the home entertainment market.For the past month, I've been testing theFormovie Cinema Edge, which currently retails for $1,799, at our Louisville testing lab for this review. details View at Target Out-of-box impressionsFormovie's Cinema Edge follows the traditional UST projector design. Its flat, boxy form factor is common among USTs, and this one is fairly sleek and compact, weighing just over 15 pounds and measuring 18 x 12 x 3.6 inches. Its innards and capabilities, though, are in a different class than any television peripheral made two decades ago.Also: This 4K projector delivers an immersive viewing experience that can replace my TVThe Cinema Edge has two adjustable feet on the front for elevating the unit as needed. I didn't find that necessary at all, but it's a helpful option because you'll want to make every physical adjustment you can before activating keystone correction (generally speaking). Notably, I also never needed to use the keystone correction to get a proportional and sharp focus from edge to edge.The remote control has dedicated buttons for Netflix and YouTube, and a Google Assistant button for voice commands using its Google TV platform. Disappointingly, Formovie did not include AAA batteries in the box, and the remote does not come with a solar panel for infinite charging.Unboxing and setup is easy, although finding your ideal picture settings might take a minute. (More on that later.) First, I wanted to see how Cinema Edge's image is oriented on our big screen.Projection parametersTo qualify as a UST projector, the device must have a throw ratio of less than 0.40:1. With a 0.23:1 ratio, the Cinema Edge can ostensibly produce an 80-inch image while placed just 5.5 inches away from the projection surface.At the lab, my protocol is to achieve the largest and clearest projection possible. While testing, I found the sweet spot to be 25 inches from lens to screen to project a 150-inch image (at the resting height of a typical coffee table). Note that I said "lens to screen." The lens is situated at the front of the unit, which means the back of it (nearest to your screen) may be as close as 15 inches. Adam Breeden/ZDNETThis is all to say: setting the Cinema Edge -- or any UST -- within a foot from your wall surface to get a clear 16:9 image of that size is about as good as it gets.I should also note the unit emitted very little fan noise whilst setting it up. And its auto-shut off sensor, which dims the laser when something interrupts the path of its photons, spared me from being blinded at least twice.Testing the performanceWatching 4K nature footage on YouTube is an excellent way to check a TV's or projector's full potential in terms of color and brightness. The Cinema Edge did not disappoint.Supporting both HDR10 and HLG HDR, the Cinema Edge is plenty bright and its colors are vibrant, even when set on Movie mode -- a mode that often dampens vibrancy in favor of color accuracy. The clownfish swimming among coral looked like they were on the other side of a huge glass aquarium. A close-up of a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis included expressly clear detail. The images on our 150-inch screen looked superb, despite the Cinema Edge lacking Dolby Vision or HDR10+. These features are reserved for the pricier Theater and Theater Premium models.Also: Hisense's new laser projector is so sharp and vivid, it may just replace your 4K TVThe Cinema Edge's light source is an ALPD (advanced laser phosphor display), driven by a DLP (digital light processing) microchip equipped with XPR fast-switch pixel shifting. All these technical initialisms translate into 4K HD resolution with a color gamut rating of 110% of Rec.709 and a contrast ratio of 3000:1. Formovie rates the Cinema Edge as putting out 2,100 lumens, although most measurements reach about 1,900. It's certainly not the brightest 4K projector available, but it's plenty bright for a UST costing under $2,000. Adam Breeden/ZDNETWhile I cycled through my usual testing of picture modes and myriad slider settings, I eventually landed back at the defaults. This is partly because the default settings were already balanced just fine on our ALR screen, and partly because fiddling with the various sliders and options became highly convoluted.Every adjustment I made yielded decent contrast and ample color saturation. Where shadow detail felt lacking, I increased Adaptive Luma (a "dynamic" contrast setting) without touching other contrast controls to get a deeper black with stronger highlights. I didn't mind the slight soap opera effect of the default settings, but frame interpolation can be deactivated through the MJC (motion judder cancellation) setting.Also:I changed these 3 settings on my projector for the best picture qualityAfter so many tweaks with positive outcomes, I become prone to choice paralysis. This plethora of variables, though, can be an asset to those who are highly discerning (i.e., picky) with their visual preferences. From adjusting Local Contrast to Color Temperature, the options feel limitless. If you get a Cinema Edge, take your time to find the best combination for your eyeballs.Connectivity and audio experienceThe Cinema Edge's power plug port is on the rear left side. The backside also has its array of two HDMI ports, an eARC port, two USB ports, a 3.5mm line-out jack, an S/PDIF, and an ethernet port. Its faade has a soft aesthetic that resembles a speaker grill -- which it is.Behind that are two 15-watt speakers with Dolby Audio and DTS-HD, a setup that provided ample volume for our sound-dampened testing room. In a larger, more acoustic viewing area, the audio quality might leave you cold, although that can be easily remedied with the attachment of asoundbar.Some things to noteFor each streaming platform I visited (Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, etc.), the Formovie Cinema Edge looked just shy of exceptional, which is a favorable verdict for a 4K UST at $1,799. While I wasn't disappointed with its performance in any way, it's worth noting that the Cinema Edge lacks certain features, and these are justified by its price point.Also: How to disable ACR on your TV (and stop companies from spying on you)It has no 3D support, no Dolby Vision, no VRR, and is limited to a 60Hz framerate. This latter spec makes it fine for enjoying beautiful scenery, dramatic moviescapes, and casual gaming -- although it does feature ALLM (auto low latency mode) to mitigate input lag.ZDNET's buying adviceUltimately, the Cinema Edge is a single laser ultra short throw device. If you want extra color vibrancy and luminescence, be prepared to spend about $1,000 more for the Theater Premium version, a triple laser projector, at $2,799. Even stretching your budget to that extreme, you'll still be paying a little over half the price of a triple-laser like theHisense LQ9.If it makes sense for you to buy a UST because you can configure your viewing area accordingly, then the Cinema Edge is a good bet. Keep in mind that, like any UST, the Cinema Edge must be positioned front and center to your screen or projection wall, whether above or below it. (Some portable units might be positioned in a corner and still yield a sharp 16:9 projection after keystone adjustment.) The Cinema Edge can also be mounted on your ceiling, just inches from your projection wall, with the image inverted.Featured reviews