Hisense just put its new C3 laser projector family on US shelves, with three TriChroma models that share the same gimbal chassis and split mainly on brightness, laser hardware, and zoom.
The lineup is aimed at living-room movie nights and big-screen gaming rather than tiny portable throwers. All three project 4K UHD images from about 65 to 300 inches, use dedicated red, green, and blue lasers, and carry a Devialet-tuned 56W 2.1 speaker set with a built-in subwoofer. Dolby Vision and IMAX Enhanced are on every model, so the software side of the picture pipeline stays consistent as you move up the stack.
What each C3 model actually changes
The C3 Pro is the entry point at up to 3,000 ANSI lumens with a 1.6x optical zoom. The C3 Ultra steps to 4,000 ANSI lumens, keeps the 1.6x zoom, and switches to four dedicated laser imaging chips that Hisense says improve efficiency by about 5%. The C3 Ultra Max tops out at 5,000 ANSI lumens, keeps the four-chip design, and stretches zoom to 2x so you can sit the projector farther from the wall without shrinking the image as much.
Shared hardware still matters for day-to-day use. A seven-level adjustable iris targets up to 5,000:1 contrast, anti-glare tuning tries to keep ambient light from washing out the picture, and the built-in gimbal plus autofocus, auto keystone, screen adaptation, and obstacle avoidance handle aiming and alignment. Hisense also cites up to 118% of the BT.2020 color space across the family. The Ultra Max is the only model Hisense singles out for 1 ms latency aimed at gaming.
Who should pick Pro, Ultra, or Ultra Max
Pick the C3 Pro if you want the C3 feature set in a moderately bright room and do not need the brightest lamp or the longest throw flexibility. The Ultra makes more sense when you leave lights on, face windows, or simply want headroom so the picture stays punchy on a larger screen. The Ultra Max is the one to consider when the room is bright, the throw distance is awkward, or latency for console and PC games is part of the buy decision.
None of these is a short-throw living-room laser TV replacement. You still need distance for a 100-inch-plus image, and the gimbal is about flexible aiming rather than hiding the unit against a wall. The Devialet 2.1 audio is a real convenience for casual nights, but a separate soundbar or AVR will still outclass a projector chassis for serious movie audio. Compared with Hisense’s earlier PX4 Pro laser projector pitch, the C3 story is less about a single flagship and more about three brightness tiers in one design language.
Street prices on the Hisense US store
On the Hisense US shop today, the C3 Pro lists at $2,499.99 and sells for $2,299.99, the C3 Ultra lists at $2,999.99 and sells for $2,799.99, and the C3 Ultra Max lists at $3,999.99 and sells for $3,799.99. Each page showed the unit available to buy. TWICE and Notebookcheck reported the same MSRP ladder when US pricing went live on October 6, 2026, with availability through Hisense, Amazon, and Best Buy.
The $500 step from Pro to Ultra buys 1,000 more ANSI lumens and the four-chip laser path. The next $1,000 jump to Ultra Max adds another 1,000 lumens, the longer 2x zoom, and the gaming latency callout. That mid-to-top gap is steep if you only need a bit more light; it is easier to justify when throw flexibility and esports-style responsiveness are part of the brief.
Bottom line for US shoppers
Hisense stacked the C3 projector family so the software and placement tricks stay the same while brightness, zoom, and laser hardware do the separating. At current Hisense store prices, the Pro is the value play, the Ultra is the balanced bright-room pick, and the Ultra Max is for buyers who will actually use the extra lumen and zoom headroom. Check the Hisense C3 Ultra product page and the matching Pro and Ultra Max listings for live stock before you lock a cart.
| Spec | C3 Pro | C3 Ultra | C3 Ultra Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brightness | 3,000 ANSI lumens | 4,000 ANSI lumens | 5,000 ANSI lumens |
| Optical zoom | 1.6x | 1.6x | 2x |
| Laser imaging | RGB TriChroma | Four dedicated chips | Four dedicated chips |
| Latency callout | Not specified | Not specified | 1 ms |
| Shared picture | 4K UHD, up to 118% BT.2020, up to 5,000:1 with iris, Dolby Vision, IMAX Enhanced | ||
| Audio | 56W 2.1 Devialet-tuned with subwoofer | ||
| Image size | About 65 to 300 inches | ||
| Hisense US price (seen Oct 7, 2026) | $2,299.99 (list $2,499.99) | $2,799.99 (list $2,999.99) | $3,799.99 (list $3,999.99) |