Leica Cine Play 1 projector review

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The Leica Cine Play 1 is the second home cinema projector from Leica, and unlike its predecessor, the Ultra Short Throw Leica Cine 1, this  versatile model embraces a compact design, is easily transportable (but still requiring mains power) and has a short throw lens.

The idea is to bring celebrated Leica image precision to a more compact, portable form factor without sacrificing image quality. So does it live up to its promise? Inside CI has been putting the model through its paces..

Leica’s legacy meets Home Cinema

Leica has long been synonymous with optical excellence, and its leap into the home cinema market is nothing if not ambitious. The Cine Play 1 marks Leica’s second entry into this space, once again engineered in partnership with Hisense, and it's aimed at users who desire a premium home cinema experience without the need for permanent installations.

Unlike its ultra-short throw sibling, the Cine Play 1 is a short throw mini projector, making it incredibly flexible and suitable for a wide variety of applications.

This projector is designed for users who want to enjoy large-screen entertainment without dedicating a fixed media space to it. Whether it’s for movie nights in the living room or a portable big-screen experience iunder the stars, the Cine Play 1 promises maximum visuals with minimal fuss.

Leica Cine Play 1 projector: Features & Installation

We certainly like the look of the Leica Cine Play 1. It boasts a sleek, modern design with a cube-shaped body finished in an elegant battleship grey. It sits on a circular pedestal with an angled hinge, allowing easy beam adjustment. Thanks to extremely accomplished auto keystone correction, setting up the projector is a breeze; simply adjust the angle, and it automatically corrects the geometry for a perfectly aligned image.

The use of premium materials like aluminium and glass, speaks of durability and a premium feel. Even the remote control feels solid and luxurious, adding to the overall high-end experience.

The Cine Play 1 offers a range of connectivity. When it comes to wireless, there’s Apple AirPlay, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi support. Physical Ports comprise a pair of HDMIs (one with eARC support), two USB 3.0 ports, an optical audio output, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and an Ethernet LAN port.

The Cine Play 1 runs the VIDAA smart TV system, which offers a variety of built-in apps, including Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, YouTube, and Paramount+. Although at the time of testing, UK catch-up services were missing, it covers most major streaming platforms.

While the projector needs mains power, its compact size and lightweight design make it relatively easy to move from room to room. An optional Leica Floor Stand (priced at £335/€395) is available for those looking to give the projector a more permanent home. A hidden power connection keeps cabling to a minimum.

The Leica Cine Play 1 projector: Picture & Sound performance

The Leica Cine Play 1 is a DLP projector powered by a triple RGB laser light engine. Powering up, the image is immediately bright, with vibrant colour reproduction. Rated up to 3000 ANSI lumens, this projector excels in various lighting conditions, making it suitable for both darkened home theatre setups and brighter living rooms.

The Cine Play 1 delivers 4K resolution picture, via pixel shifting, and can project images up to 300 inches.

Such is the detail cast that it’s easy to imagine this is a native 4K model. An 80-inch screen projected from less than two metres resulted in a blistering sharp picture, crisp from the centre of the frame to the very edges, a benefit of Leica Summicron optics.

The picture isn’t just razor sharp. There’s subtle nuance there too. Much of this can be attributed to Leica’s proprietary LIO technology which optimises colour gradation and contrast. The projector supports Dolby Vision encoded content, enhancing HDR content with deeper blacks, shadow detail and bright specular highlights.

Black level performance is extremely good, comparable with other laser projectors - it’s certainly dark enough to convince when it comes to movies. Features films, TV show and animation all looked excellent.

With multiple picture presets available, including Filmmaker Mode, Cinema Day, Cinema Night, and Dynamic, users can tailor the viewing experience to match their preferences, but for everyday use we’d advocate one of the Cinema options.

For sports fans, Ultra Smooth Motion interpolation is available in Smooth, Standard, Clear, and Film flavours. Visual artefacts are low.

Despite its compact form, the Cine Play 1 doesn’t skimp on audio. It features 2 x 10-Watt speakers, with DTS Virtual processing. Sound modes range from Theatre and Music to Late Night and Sports. However, if you’re looking for a true cinematic experience, the eARC connection allows you to connect the projector to a more powerful sound system.

Operating noise can be considered minimal and unobtrusive.

The Leica Cine Play 1 projector: Verdict

We rate the Leica Cine Play 1 a compelling addition to the home cinema projection market, blending Leica’s optical heritage with modern smart features. It’s an ideal solution for those who want the flexibility of a portable projector without compromising on picture quality.

The combination of 4K imagery, laser technology, and Leica’s legendary optics make for marvellous picture quality.

At £2,950 (€3,500), the Cine Play 1 is positioned at the higher end of the short throw market. It’s available now from select Leica Stores and specialist home cinema dealers. The optional Leica Floor Stand, priced at £335 (€395), is a recommended accessory for a more permanent media room installation.