Posted Jun 2, 2026 at 1:00 PM UTCTLeica’s cheaper mini projector will still cost you $2,000.For a fraction of Leica’s first $7,900 ultra-short throw projector, the new Cine Compact 1 is built around a triple RGB laser and 360-degree mount to project a 4K image onto walls and ceilings. The all-in-one projector runs the Linux-based VIDAA OS originally developed by Hisense which supports Netflix streaming, AirPlay, and Dolby Vision. Leica says brightness can hit “1,700 lumens,” but fails to say how they’re measured — shame, shame.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Thomas Ricker
Leica’s cheaper mini projector will still cost you $2,000.
For a fraction of Leica’s first $7,900 ultra-short throw projector, the new Cine Compact 1 is built around a triple RGB laser and 360-degree mount to project a 4K image onto walls and ceilings. The all-in-one projector runs the Linux-based VIDAA OS originally developed by Hisense which supports Netflix streaming, AirPlay, and Dolby Vision. Leica says brightness can hit “1,700 lumens,” but fails to say how they’re measured — shame, shame. [Image: That 360-degree rotation system makes it easy to project from almost any angle. https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/Leica-Cine-Compact-1.jpg?quality=90&strip=all]
TL;DRAI
Leica launches Cine Compact 1 at $2,000, a 4K laser projector half the cost of its $7,900 flagship, running Linux-based VIDAA OS with Netflix and AirPlay. The $2K entry point signals Leica's strategic pivot toward accessible premium market, directly competing with mid-range alternatives for corporate installations and high-end home displays.
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