We saw a lot of funky new projectors on show at CES 2025, and two of the most intriguing new models from the Chinese brand Yaber. They include its high-end ultra-short-throw laser projector model, the Yaber K300s, and a portable device called the Yaber L2 Plus.
With its new models, Yaber is taking on domestic rivals like Xgimi, which also offers both higher-end UST models and low-end portable projectors, as well as more established brands like Hisense and Samsung.
The Yaber K300s is the more powerful and expensive of the two, featuring UST technology that enables it to generate a huge, 100-inch image on any surface from a distance of just nine inches. The benefit of UST is that it makes it much more practical in smaller rooms, such as a bedroom or a cramped living room. Sometimes, it’s not always possible to set up a traditional projector due to the need to place it a substantial distance from the wall or projector screen.
Yaber is positioning its new UST model as a premium product, which suggests it’s looking to compete with the likes of Hisense and its popular laser TVs.
The K300s features a Triple RGB Laser that produces vibrant colours with more than 150% coverage of the NTSC wide colour gamut. It delivers 1080p resolution images with a contrast ratio of 1500:1 to ensure great image depth, and in terms of brightness it goes up to 1,000 lumens, which is not the brightest, but should be just about enough daytime viewing if the curtains are closed.
The audio is delivered by a pair of integrated JBL speakers that support Dolby Atmos surround sound, and there are instant autofocus and smart keystone correction features for easier setup.
Yaber said the K300s will go on sale in the U.S., Japan, Europe and Taiwan, and we know that it will cost $1,000 in that first market. That’s around £798 in U.K. money, but prices elsewhere are yet to be confirmed.
For those looking for something more affordable, the Yaber L2 Plus projector might be just the ticket. It’s priced at just $199 in the U.S. (around £159) and the company says it’s ideal for a “cosy movie night or lively summer camping trip”.
It’s a portable big-screen movie experience in a palm-sized package, and its bulky battery is good for around 2.5 hours of uninterrupted viewing. That’s good enough for most movies, though flicks like Interstellar might require that you bring along a power pack too.
Yaber is going up against an almost endless list of rivals in the portable project space, including Samsung’s The Freestyle, LG’s CineBeam, the Xiaomi Smart Projector L1, ETOE’s Seal Pro, the TCL Projector A1, Dangbei’s Freedo, Xgimi’s MoGo 3 Pro and Anker's Nebula models.
Yaber’s pitch is that the L2 Plus can “transform any space” into a private cinema, and it offers a 1.35:1 throw ratio that means it can be set pretty close to the wall, though not as close as any UST model. It throws up 1080p resolution pictures and in terms of brightness, it’s pretty powerful at 700 lumens, making it brighter than most other portable models that generally max out at around 400 lumens. There’s a pair of 8-watt JBL stereo speakers built into the device, offering “cinema-level audio”, a claim that isn’t really to be believed though it should be decent enough.
Other features include hands-free autofocus and intelligent screen alignment capabilities, and it’s pretty quiet too, operating at less than 35 decibels, the company said.
Yaber said the L2 Plus will be on sale via its website and in U.S. retailers by April, but did not confirm a U.K. release date.
