AWOL Vision Aetherion Max RGB Laser Projector Earns 9/10 From Wired

AWOL Vision's Aetherion Max RGB Laser UST Projector scored 9 out of 10 in a review published by Wired on Oct. 16, with reviewer John Brandon writing that the ultrashort-throw model "gives movie theaters a run for their money" in both dark rooms and daylight settings, according to Wired's review.

The projector lists for $4,499, with a listed price of $3,799 at Amazon, according to the review. AWOL Vision's own site lists the unit at $4,999, discounted to $3,999, the review said.

How Does the Aetherion Max Perform in Bright and Dark Rooms?

Brandon tested the projector on a 120-inch screen with Dolby Atmos sound, writing that when he projected the film "Supergirl" in his basement, "the film looked stunning" despite the movie's dark visual tones, according to the review. He credited picture settings called Dark Detail and Enhanced Black Level with making "reds and blues pop with amazing vividness," the review said.

"Supergirl might suffer from bad CGI and even worse dialog, but the projector's features, like Dark Detail and Enhanced Black Level, brought the film to life, making reds and blues pop with amazing vividness," Brandon wrote in the Wired review.

Wired's rating breakdown listed the projector's ability to work "well in a dark room or in daylight" and its "brilliantly colorful video image" among its strengths, according to the review.

What Hardware Powers the Picture and Sound?

The Aetherion Max runs on Google TV, which Brandon said made setup take "only a few minutes," according to the review. The unit includes 8 GB of internal RAM and 128 GB of internal storage, the review said. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 7 for wireless streaming and a 1 Gbps Ethernet port for wired streaming, according to Wired.

On the back panel facing the screen, the projector carries three HDMI 2.1 ports, including one with eARC passthrough audio, a USB-A port, and optical and 3.5mm audio-out ports, the review said. Wired's pros list specifically cited the projector's built-in sound, noting it "packs amazing sound quality."

Key Specs From the Review

• Price: $4,499 list; $3,799 at Amazon, according to Wired
• AWOL Vision site price: $4,999 list; $3,999 discounted, per the review
• Weight: 19.3 pounds, versus 23 pounds for the competing Hisense XR10 Smart Projector, which Wired rated 8/10
• Memory and storage: 8 GB RAM, 128 GB internal storage
• Wired's overall score: 9 out of 10

How Does Setup and Design Work?

Brandon described the projector's design as resembling a Tesla Cybertruck, with sharp edges and a single white light line on the front panel that animates on power-up, a detail he said he found "distracting" and turned off, according to the review.

Auto-keystoning with manual screen-size options worked as expected during testing, the review said. A QR-code feature meant to automate keystone correction via smartphone did not work in Brandon's dark testing room, though AWOL Vision representatives told him "it should have worked fine even in a dark room like mine," according to the review.

At 19.3 pounds, the unit was lighter than the 23-pound Hisense XR10, a competing ultrashort-throw model Wired has also reviewed, making it easier to carry between rooms, Brandon wrote.

What Problems Did the Review Identify?

Wired's listed drawbacks were narrow. The outlet's "Tired" section flagged "slight issues with auto-keystoning and height channel audio" as the projector's main shortcomings, according to the review. Beyond the keystoning glitch in a dark room and the QR-code hiccup, Brandon did not report other performance problems with picture quality, color accuracy, or brightness in his testing.

How Does It Compare to Other Home Theater Options?

Brandon drew one direct comparison in the review, likening the Aetherion Max's adjustable picture-quality settings to those of the LG Micro RGB Evo television, though he said he ultimately favored the projector for its wide, colorful image over a traditional TV screen, according to Wired. The review also placed the Aetherion Max against the Hisense XR10 Smart Projector on weight and, implicitly, on Wired's own scoring system, where the Hisense earned an 8 out of 10 compared with the Aetherion Max's 9 out of 10.

For buyers weighing an ultrashort-throw laser projector against a large-screen television or a dedicated home theater setup, Wired's review positions the Aetherion Max as a projector capable of holding up in rooms with ambient light as well as fully darkened viewing spaces, a combination the outlet said is uncommon among the projectors it tests.