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Though I’ve covered a lot of ground in my review of the Sony VPL-XW5000ES, it’s a pretty simple formula – native 4K imaging, laser light engine, high brightness, accurate color, and high-end video processing. For $5,999. Though I wished for a larger color gamut, I never thought it looked anything less than very colorful showing both SDR and HDR content. Thanks to a high-end video processor, it scales lower resolution content expertly and delivers near-perfect frame-by-frame dynamic tone mapping for HDR content and even uses that capability to enhance SDR material.

Sony changed up the recipe for its most affordable native 4K home theater projector. The laser light source is a huge plus, as is the X1 Ultimate for Projector processor, but the new lens has limitations compared to the model it replaces.

This capable big-screen beamer represents the entry-point for native 4K laser projection, with a price less than half its nearest competitor. Sony has cut a few corners to get there, but class-leading processing, fluid motion handling, and a solid HDR performance makes it worth the trip.

This native 4K projector cuts a few corners to hit its price-point, but impressive HDR delivery and Sony’s all-round imaging wizardry pay dividends.

The Sony VPL-XW5000 offers a truly premium home cinema and gaming experience that only the best projectors offer: true 4K picture, with gorgeous visuals, and low input lag - but it all comes at a big price.

During my time with the XW5000ES I also had the Xgimi Aura UST projector (review available online), and it was interesting to compare the two. While the Sony was more than twice the price of the Aura, the picture quality was night and day better, easily justifying the higher cost. Watching the two, the differences between the Sony’s native 4K and “fauxK” were very apparent, with the Sony delivering crisp, tight fine lines and details without any twitter. The Sony also was terrific at resisting banding on streamed content, very rarely ever calling attention to itself. And even though the Aura was rated at 2400 lumens, the Sony appeared brighter, with more saturated colors, trouncing the Aura in every metric.

Surely it is no coincidence that the VPL-XW5000 and Sony's other XW models appeared fifty years after the company released its first home theatre projector. Not only is the VPL-XW5000 a quantum leap forward from Sony's early projectors, but also leaps and bounds ahead of its VPL-VW290ES predecessor. Excellent optics and Digital Focus Optimiser play no small part in providing crisp, sharp images. However, I believe it's the 'secret sauce' that brings the whole enchilada together…

4K content with HDR looks, by and large, formidably good, with lighting effects standing out well from the shadows. One slightly unfortunate artefact is that the HDR light burns out in white if the contrast is set too high. This is sometimes necessary to prevent the image from becoming too dark and dead. It’s all about finding a good balance. There are others who are better at tone mapping (JVC and Epson, I’m looking at you!).

Despite being Sony’s cheapest 4K laser projector ever, the XW5000ES still delivers gorgeously cinematic and detailed pictures

The Sony XW5000 projector manages to reach a previously unattainable price point for a native 4K laser beamer

The Sony VPL-XW5000ES is an accomplished projector that represents the entry-point for native 4K laser beamers at less than half the price of its nearest competitor. Sony has dropped a few features, but peerless processing, fluid motion, and a solid HDR performance make it well worth your while.