On September 15, 2026 in Qingdao, Hisense announced the global launch of its all-new C3 projector family, comprising three 4K RGB triple-laser home projectors: the C3 Pro, C3 Ultra and C3 Ultra Max. The lineup was first showcased at IFA 2026. The C3 Ultra and C3 Ultra Max are rolling out across global markets starting this month, with the C3 Pro set to follow.
The Three Differences at a Glance: Brightness, Zoom and Lens Shift
All three projectors share the same premium platform, and their differences come down to three things — brightness, optical zoom range and lens-shift range — which in turn determine how large a room and how large a screen each model suits.
The C3 Pro anchors the range with 3,000 ANSI lumens, a 1.6x optical zoom (throw ratio 0.9–1.5:1) and optical lens shift of ±100% vertical and ±35% horizontal. The C3 Ultra keeps identical optics and raises output to 4,000 ANSI lumens. The flagship C3 Ultra Max pushes brightness to 5,000 ANSI lumens, widens the optical zoom to 2x (throw ratio 0.85–1.7:1) and expands lens shift to ±120% vertical and ±47% horizontal.
On screens significantly larger than 120 inches, that extra light output means more than raw brightness: it also gives HDR highlights more headroom and improves uniformity across a big image.
The C3 Pro and C3 Ultra are identical in size and appearance, both with a 1.6x optical zoom lens — the difference is brightness (pictured: C3 Pro)
RGB Triple Laser and 118% BT.2020: The Shared Foundation
All three models use direct red, green and blue laser illumination (TriChroma triple laser) paired with a Texas Instruments 0.47-inch DLP chip and XPR4 pixel shifting to deliver a 3840×2160 4K UHD image. Colour coverage reaches 118% of BT.2020 with a factory Delta E below 0.8, well beyond the classic Rec.709 and DCI-P3 envelopes, for more intense red, green, blue and cyan tones.
For contrast, the lineup combines a seven-stage mechanical iris in the lens with CineBlack Pro dynamic processing to achieve up to a 5,000:1 native contrast ratio, a clear step forward in shadow detail and black-level control over the previous C2 generation. The laser light source is rated for more than 25,000 hours, so consumables are effectively a non-issue.
HDR support is comprehensive: Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG are all on board, alongside IMAX Enhanced certification, Filmmaker Mode and active 3D playback (BD 3D / DLP Link). Projection sizes span 65 to 300 inches.
C3 Ultra Max: Liquid Cooling, 2x Zoom and a Stronger Optical Platform
The C3 Ultra Max upgrades go well beyond brightness. It is the only model in the family with a liquid cooling system — a thermal approach Hisense previously reserved for its higher-tier XR10. It is also the only one to move to a 0.47-inch DLP473TE-SST chip with a DLPC8455 controller (the other two use the DLP472TP with DLPC8445), and the only one to add both Dynamic Grayscale Technology and Enhanced Black Level for finer gradations near black.
The flagship also carries a unique cinema technology that reduces rainbow effects to below 0.001% and cuts laser speckle by 10% compared with the C2 Ultra. On audio, it steps up from “Tuned by Devialet” to “Designed by Devialet,” with a 2.8-litre acoustic chamber and bass extension down to 50Hz.
The trade-off is size and weight: the C3 Ultra Max measures 256×315×256mm and weighs 11.7kg, while the C3 Pro and C3 Ultra share a 271×279×245mm chassis at 7.8kg and 8.0kg respectively. The former reads as a fixed home-theatre installation; the latter two are gimbal projectors you can carry between rooms.
The C3 Ultra Max is noticeably larger than its siblings, with 2X OPTICAL LENS SHIFT marked on the lens barrel and additional front sensors
Gimbal Design and AI Auto-Setup: Ready Wherever You Put It
The C3 family carries over the signature gimbal architecture of the C2 series, with an integrated metal stand offering 360° horizontal rotation and 135° vertical tilt — so it can sit on a coffee table or shelf, or project straight onto the ceiling.
The Auto Magic AI Adjusting 3.0 suite is built on multi-zone 3D ToF sensing and combines seamless auto focus, nine-point auto keystone correction, auto obstacle avoidance, auto screen fit, intelligent wall-colour adaptation (supporting up to seven wall shades) and intelligent eye protection that dims or cuts light when someone approaches the lens, greatly reducing manual setup work.
Built for Gaming and Big-Screen Entertainment
Every model accepts 4K/60Hz input and supports refresh rates up to 240Hz at 1080p/1440p, with VRR, AMD FreeSync Premium, ALLM and HSR240. Input latency drops as low as 1ms (Hisense applies that figure specifically to the C3 Ultra Max; the C3 Pro is quoted at under 20ms at 4K/60 and 1ms at 1080p/240).
The smart platform is Hisense’s own VIDAA U9 (U9.6 on the Ultra Max), with built-in access to Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, Prime Video and other major streaming services, plus native Xbox Cloud Gaming — after an OTA update, Xbox games can be streamed directly on the projector with no console required. Xbox, PlayStation and Switch Pro controllers are all supported.
Audio, Connectivity and Environmental Certification
All three projectors pack a 56W 2.1-channel audio system built from five drivers (bass, full-range and treble) with a dedicated built-in subwoofer, co-engineered with Devialet and supporting DTS Virtual:X and Dolby Audio. Connectivity includes two HDMI 2.1 inputs (HDMI 1 with eARC), two USB 3.0 ports, a gigabit RJ45 LAN port, optical S/PDIF output and a 3.5mm jack; wirelessly there is Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, AirPlay 2, Miracast and DLNA/UPnP. Operating noise is rated as low as 28dB.
Worth noting: earlier this year the C3 underwent Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and product carbon footprint (PCF) verification by SGS, which Hisense says supports transparent evaluation of environmental impact across the product lifecycle.
Pricing and Availability
Hisense’s official release did not publish pricing for any of the three models. US specialist dealer ProjectorScreen.com has opened pre-orders at $2,297.97 for the C3 Pro, $2,797.97 for the C3 Ultra and $3,797.97 for the C3 Ultra Max (dealer pricing, not official MSRP, for reference only). In Europe, German retail channels list the C3 Pro at an indicative €2,499 with delivery expected in November.
As for the rollout: the C3 Ultra and C3 Ultra Max went on sale across global markets from September 2026, with the C3 Pro to follow later. No date has been announced for the Pro.
| Specification | C3 Pro | C3 Ultra | C3 Ultra Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brightness | 3,000 ANSI Lumens | 4,000 ANSI Lumens | 5,000 ANSI Lumens |
| Native Contrast | 5,000:1 (IRIS) | 5,000:1 (IRIS) | 5,000:1 (IRIS) |
| Light Source | RGB Triple Laser | RGB Triple Laser | RGB Triple Laser (MCL3A) |
| Laser Life | 25,000+ Hours | 25,000+ Hours | 25,000+ Hours |
| Resolution | 4K UHD 3840×2160 | 4K UHD 3840×2160 | 4K UHD 3840×2160 |
| Colour Gamut | 118% BT.2020 | 118% BT.2020 | 118% BT.2020 |
| Throw Ratio | 0.9–1.5:1 | 0.9–1.5:1 | 0.85–1.7:1 |
| Optical Zoom | 1.6x | 1.6x | 2x |
| Lens Shift | ±100% Vertical ±35% Horizontal | ±100% Vertical ±35% Horizontal | ±120% Vertical ±47% Horizontal |
| Projection Size | 65″–300″ | 65″–300″ | 65″–300″ |
| HDR | Dolby Vision / HDR10+ / HDR10 / HLG | Dolby Vision / HDR10+ / HDR10 / HLG | Dolby Vision / HDR10+ / HDR10 / HLG |
| IMAX Enhanced / 3D | Yes / Active 3D | Yes / Active 3D | Yes / Active 3D |
| Gaming | 4K/60Hz, up to 240Hz, VRR, ALLM, FreeSync Premium | 4K/60Hz, up to 240Hz, VRR, ALLM, FreeSync Premium | 4K/60Hz, up to 240Hz, VRR, ALLM, FreeSync Premium |
| Input Latency | < 20ms at 4K/60; 1ms at 1080p/240 | < 20ms at 4K/60; 1ms at 1080p/240 | 1ms |
| Audio | 56W 2.1ch Tuned by Devialet | 56W 2.1ch Tuned by Devialet | 56W 2.1ch Designed by Devialet |
| Cooling | Air | Air | Liquid |
| Smart Platform | VIDAA U9 | VIDAA U9 | VIDAA U9.6 |
| Connectivity | 2× HDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC), 2× USB 3.0, RJ45, Optical, 3.5mm | 2× HDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC), 2× USB 3.0, RJ45, Optical, 3.5mm | 2× HDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC), 2× USB 3.0, RJ45, Optical, 3.5mm |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 7 / BT 5.4 / AirPlay 2 | Wi-Fi 7 / BT 5.4 / AirPlay 2 | Wi-Fi 7 / BT 5.4 / AirPlay 2 |
| Noise | 28dB | 28dB | 28dB |
| Dimensions / Weight | 271×279×245mm 7.8kg | 271×279×245mm 8.0kg | 256×315×256mm 11.7kg |
| Dealer Price (Ref.) | $2,297.97 | $2,797.97 | $3,797.97 |
| Availability | Later in 2026 | From September 2026 | From September 2026 |