The AWOL Vision Aetherion is a new Ultra Short Throw (UST) 4K Android TV 14 projector built around the MediaTek MT9655 TV SoC. Additionally, the projector includes 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and 2.5GbE networking for high-bitrate local media streaming.
The projector is available in two variants, Aetherion Pro and Max, with the main difference being brightness. Other than that, it features a 6000:1 native contrast ratio, up to 3300 ISO lumens (for the Max model) of brightness, and covers 110% of the Rec. 2020 color gamut. It uses a triple RGB laser light with PixelLock optics for edge-to-edge sharpness on screens from 80 to 200 inches. Gaming features include Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), MEMC for smoother motion, Anti-RBE technology for reduced rainbow artifacts, and dynamic tone mapping for HDR content. With quiet (~28–30 dB) operation, it’s designed for movies, gaming, and general entertainment in living rooms or dedicated home theater setups.
AWOL Vision Aetherion specifications:
- SoC – MediaTek MT9655 (Pentonic 800)
- CPU – 4x Arm Cortex-A73 cores clocked at up to 1.8 GHz
- GPU – Arm Mali-G71 MC1 / Mali-G52 MC1 with support for OpenGL ES 3.2, Vulkan 1.1, OpenCL 2.0
- VPU
- Video Decode – AV1, H.264, H.265 (HEVC), VP9 up to 4Kp144 (supports up to 240Hz/288Hz via MEMC)
- Video Encode – H.264/H.265 up to 1080p
- AI accelerator – Dedicated MediaTek NPU with support for AI Super Resolution (AI-SR 3.0) and AI-Contrast 2.0
- Projection System
- Display Technology – 0.47-inch Texas Instruments DLP chip (with 4K e-shift)
- Throw Ratio – 0.2:1 Ultra Short Throw (UST)
- Brightness – 3,300 ISO lumens on Aetherion Max / 2,600 ISO lumens on Aetherion Pro
- Contrast Ratio – 6000:1 native (60,000:1 via 7-level dynamic iris system)
- Color Gamut – 110% Rec. 2020, ISF-certified color accuracy
- Hardware-level Anti-Rainbow Effect (RBE) technology for 2D and 3D
- Pure RGB triple-laser light source
- 4K UHD resolution
- 80-inch to 200-inch projection size
- Video Input
- 3x HDMI ports (HDMI 2 supports eARC; standard presumed to be HDMI 2.1 for 4K @ 120Hz and VRR support)
- 3.5mm AV jack
- Audio
- S/PDIF optical audio out
- eARC via HDMI 2.1 (Enhanced Audio Return Channel)
- Onboard speakers
- Connectivity
- 2.5GbE RJ45 port (1000Mbps processing limit mentioned by AWOL)
- Wi-Fi 7 with Miracast, AirPlay, and Windows screen mirroring support
- Bluetooth 5.4
- USB
- 1x USB Type-C port
- 1x micro USB port for debugging (not confirmed)
- 2x USB Type-A ports (1x side-mounted USB 3.0, 1x rear-mounted)
- Serial – 3.5mm jack marked as RS-232
- Misc
- Power button
- Motorized lens dust cover
- Ambient lighting sync
- Power Supply – Mains AC
- Dimensions – 22.13 x 12.72 x 5.49″ (562.102 x 323.088 x 139.446 mm)
- Weight – 19.3 pounds (8.75 kg)
The Texas Instruments 0.47-inch DLP (Digital Light Processing) chip is the core imaging engine of the projector. It acts as the “canvas,” utilizing an array of millions of microscopic mirrors (a Digital Micromirror Device, or DMD) that rapidly tilt to reflect light and create the picture. While the physical mirror array on a 0.47-inch chip is 1080p, it uses a high-speed pixel-shifting technology (known as e-shift or XPR) to flash the mirrors multiple times per frame. This rapidly shifts the pixels to display a true 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) image on your screen.
The company mentions that with support for “PixelLock” lens technology, it maintains edge-to-edge sharpness even when scaled up to a 200-inch projection, an issue commonly found in standard UST optics like Xiaomi WEMAX ONE Android laser projector.
The company mentions the projector also supports 3D viewing, with Full HD resolution per eye and support for active 3D formats such as Side-by-Side and Top-and-Bottom, along with automatic Frame Packing detection for 3D Blu-ray content, while Anti-RBE technology remains active to reduce color breakup and visual artifacts.
The projector is currently available through a Kickstarter campaign, where the company has raised over 18 million dollars so far, with a while over 24 hours to go. Early Bird pricing starts at $2,099 for the Pro and $2,299 for the Max, with bundle options also available. Shipping is expected to begin in April 2026. For more information, you can check out the product page and the video review by The Hook Up, who tested an early sample of the Aetherion projector.
Debashis Das is a technical content writer and embedded engineer with over five years of experience in the industry. With expertise in Embedded C, PCB Design, and SEO optimization, he effectively blends difficult technical topics with clear communication
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