Ultimea Nova C40 review – Home Theater on a Budget

Creating a home cinema is a dream for many movie lovers who love the big screen experience, but it usually requires a considerable amount of money to make it happen.

Technology is constantly evolving, RGB laser light sources, huge brightness levels, user-friendly features with wonderfully integrated smart interfaces and many other innovations that have really improved our home theater experience to the maximum.

But what if your budget can’t support these amazing but expensive home theater setups that costing thousands of dollars? Are you going to stuck in front of your 50 inches TV, cursing the global recession or banging your head against the wall for not buying Bitcoin at $1 back in 2010?

No, of course not!

Fortunately, the technological progress we have seen in the field of video projection has not left out a certain category of projectors.

I am referring to a category that I am sure you are all familiar with. You know it because the prices in this category are exceptionally low, ranging from a few dozen up to 200-300 dollars. These are usually cheap Chinese projectors that have flooded Amazon or AliExpress and often come with “unreal” specifications that are out of proportion to their price.

These are usually LCD projectors with relatively simple in design and feature a single 4-5 inch LCD panel, a powerful white LED light source (usually 50-100W), a simple plastic lens for focusing the image and a simple controller for the LCD panel, which also houses the input connectors.

I have tested similar projectors in the past, most recently the BlitzWolf BW-VP13, which you can read about here:

The 159.99$ full HD projector | is it worth it?

Since then, however, there have been real leaps in development and I decided it was time to introduce you a new model from a very reliable company, i am talking about the ULTIMEA Nova C40.

So the question to be answered is this: Can we set up our own personal movie theater in our living room and enjoy our favorite movies on a big screen for just $299?

Lets find out together..

 

ULTIMEA Nova C40

The Nova C40 is a compact projector, weighing around 3Kg and measuring 236 × 186 × 240 mm, including its gimbal stand!

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Yes, it comes with a gimbal stand that allows it to tilt up to 90 degrees (completely vertical), making positioning a breeze! This design not only adds flexibility in where and how you can set it up, but it also enables quick adjustments for perfect screen alignment. 

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Whether you want to project onto a wall, ceiling, or any other surface, the gimbal stand simplifies the entire setup process.

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The Nova C40 has a native resolution of 1920×1080, paired with an aspheric 4-layer coated lens that gives a throw ratio of 1.25:1. This means that to achieve a 2-meter-wide image, you’ll need to position the projector 2.5 meters from the projection surface.

The light source of the Nova C40 is LED-based, with a power consumption of up to 75W and a lifespan that exceeds 10 years with daily use. The brightness that ULTIMEA announces for the Nova C40 is 600 ANSI lumens.

Here’s where the innovations for its category truly begin, the Nova C40 features a motorized lens with autofocus, powered by a ToF (Time of Flight) sensor!

This infrared & LED ToF sensor doesn’t just handle autofocus, it also enables 6D auto keystone correction, ensuring a perfectly rectangular image even if the projector is positioned at an angle. 

The ToF sensor

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This advanced technology that we usually find in more expensive models allows the Nova C40 to instantly adjust focus and correct image distortions, making setup even more convenient and seamless. Whether you place it on a table, mount it on the ceiling, or project at an angle, the Nova C40 automatically optimizes the image instantly for a flawless viewing experience every time.

The ULTIMEA Nova C40 comes with built-in Google TV 11, complete with official licenses for all major streaming platforms! This means you have direct access to popular apps like Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, and more, all from the projector itself, and all in high resolution up to 4K. With Google TV 11, you get a user-friendly interface, personalized recommendations, and seamless integration with Google Assistant, allowing you to enjoy a full smart TV experience without needing any additional streaming devices.

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The Nova C40 is equipped with a MediaTek SoC, backed by 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. This hardware configuration provides smooth performance for streaming, app navigation, and multitasking, ensuring a responsive and lag-free experience.

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On the back we find the connections such as an HDMI 2.0b port accepting up to 4K60Hz signals and a USB 2.0 port where you can connect an external hard drive to play your movies directly. It also offers two analog inputs/outputs, one AV input and one exclusively output for audio.

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For wireless connectivity, the Nova C40 offers a 2.4/5GHz Wi-Fi and the latest generation Bluetooth 5.3, allowing you to connect external speakers or a soundbar seamlessly. In fact, ULTIMEA even offers an impressive Soundbar Bundle Bluetooth set, which they pair with the projector at an exceptional price! This combination enhances the audio experience, transforming your home theater setup into a full cinematic experience with less than 400$ including the projector!

 

The Nova C40’s features don’t stop there, it’s also equipped with an integrated sound system, featuring two 5W drivers. This built-in audio setup transforms the Nova C40 into an excellent choice for those seeking an all-in-one projector without the need for external speakers.

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It’s also worth noting that the Nova C40 is the first projector in this affordable category that I’ve tested, with a fully sealed optical block. This design prevents dust from entering the LCD panel and causing unwanted spots on the image, a problem that many owners of LCD projectors with previous models have probably experienced and can be quite frustrating. This feature ensures a clean and reliable image reproduction and makes the Nova C40 stand out in its class.

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The cooling system in the Nova C40 is also well-designed and carefully engineered to minimize operational noise, a common issue in this projector category. A dual fan blower pulls fresh air in from the bottom of the projector, efficiently cooling the large LED heatsink and expelling the warm air from a small side vent. This setup not only keeps the projector running at optimal temperatures but also significantly reduces noise levels, allowing you to enjoy your movies without the distraction of loud fan noise.

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Finally, the projector’s packaging includes an HDMI 2.0b cable, a power cable, a warranty card, and the familiar Google TV remote control, just like those we’ve come to know from other Android-Google TV devices. This remote offers intuitive navigation and easy access to your favorite streaming platforms, making the Nova C40 ready to use right out of the box. The remote control, of course, supports dual infrared/Bluetooth functionality and it has also an integrated microphone for voice control.

 

Firing up the Nova C40 and diving into the menu

As you can imagine, setting up, powering on, and creating a beautiful cinema screen with the Nova C40 is remarkably easy. All you need is a power source and a blank wall (if you don’t have a dedicated projection screen). The automatic electronic focus, the gimbal stand, and the automatic frame correction make installation a breeze, allowing you to be ready in under a minute.

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In addition to the remote control, the Nova C40 features an on/off button on the top of the projector. You need to hold it down for more than a second to power on the projector, preventing accidental activation—like if you’re dusting the projector one day.

What also exemplifies ULTIMEA’s attention to detail and design philosophy is the very beautiful aesthetically circular LED light surrounding the power button. This ring glows blue when the projector is in use and shifts to red when it’s in standby mode. 

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Let’s take a closer look at the Nova C40’s menu interface and explore its features in detail to give you a full understanding of its layout and functionality.

The projector boots directly into the Android TV interface, giving you immediate access to streaming apps and content. However, if you press the central button on the remote control—the one with a projector icon—you’ll be taken to the projector’s main menu.

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From this main projector menu, we can select the following options:

1. Android TV – If we want to return to the Android TV interface for streaming apps and content.

2. HDMI – To switch to HDMI input if we’ve connected a device like a Blu-ray player or Apple TV.

3. AV – For devices with analog video output, such as an old camcorder.

4. Settings – This option brings up the core settings of the Nova C40, primarily related to setup and installation. We’ll delve into these settings in more detail below.

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Within the settings menu, we find the following options. The Projection Settings section focuses exclusively on the setup and installation of the Nova C40.

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Here, we can choose the installation type, as the Nova C40 offers multiple mounting options:

– Desktop front projection

– Desktop rear projection

– Ceiling front projection

– Ceiling rear projection

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In the Zoom In/Out menu, you can adjust the image size to fit your space by digitally reducing the image dimensions—a feature the Nova C40 offers to a significant degree! This flexibility allows you to achieve the perfect screen size without physically moving the projector.

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In the Focus Settings menu, we have the following options:

1. Power on Auto Focus – When enabled, the projector will automatically adjust the focus every time it powers on, regardless of whether the projector has been moved. Personally, I turned this off once I had the projector in a fixed position.

2. Auto Focus – Here, you can choose whether the Nova C40 will perform autofocus via its ToF sensor. 

3. Picture Calibration – Selecting this option initiates a full calibration process, resetting the ToF sensor. We have to place the projector perfectly horizontally in order the ToF sensor be recalibrated to zero position and the auto focus can be completed in any gimble angle perfectly.

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In the Keystone Settings menu, we have the following options:

1. Power on Automatic Correction – When enabled, the projector will automatically adjust the frame every time it powers on. If the projector hasn’t been moved since the last use, no changes will be made..

2. Auto Keystone with Move – This option enables automatic keystone correction whenever the projector is moved. Naturally, this is enabled, and it works exceptionally well on the Nova C40 keeping the frame aligned without any manual adjustments.

3. Picture Calibration – Selecting this option initiates a full calibration process, resetting the ToF sensor. We have to place the projector perfectly horizontally in order the ToF sensor be recalibrated to zero position.

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In Corner Correction, you can manually adjust each of the four corners to achieve the precise frame shape you want. This feature is especially useful when projecting at an angle or in spaces where perfect alignment is challenging.

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On the Other Settings tab we can find useful information and minor settings like the Language settings (with 23 available languages!)

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In the About tab, you can access essential system information, including the current system temperature. This section also allows for local firmware upgrades via a USB stick. If ULTIMEA releases a new firmware update and makes it available for download on their website, you can download it, transfer it to a USB stick, and perform the upgrade directly through this menu.

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That covers the basic central projector menu. Naturally, if you press the Android TV or restart the projector, you’ll be greeted by the main Google TV/Android interface.

It’s a familiar layout for Android users, designed to make content browsing simple and enjoyable, with quick access to popular apps and services.

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Now it’s time to explore the Main Picture Menu, which you can access directly using a dedicated button on the remote control.

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In the Image Mode we find the following available modes:

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In the Picture Menu, selecting the Personal mode unlocks access to the core picture parameters, such as Brightness and Contrast. Interestingly, the other preset modes have fixed settings for these parameters, meaning you can’t adjust them individually.

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Just to have an idea how those modes behave, here are some screenshots.

Standard Mode

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Light Mode

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Soft Mode

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Game Mode

Personal Mode

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In the next session we find the Color Temp tab with the following available options:

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Once again, by selecting the Personal tab, you gain access to a basic White Balance RGB setting. This feature allows you to adjust the three primary colors (Red, Green, and Blue) within the greyscale, enabling finer control over color temperature and greyscale balance.

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To give again a taste of the different temp modes, here are some useful screenshots.

Cold Temp

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Standard Temp

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Warm Temp

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Personal Temp

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In the next submenu, called Sound Mode, we find options for the Nova C40’s built-in audio settings. Here, as you might expect, we can customize the projector’s sound output by selecting between three factory optimized sound modes. By selecting the fourth, the Personal tab, the Nova C40 provides a detailed equalizer allowing us to adjust each frequency individually!

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In the Aspect Ratio submenu, the options are straightforward: you can choose Auto or 16:9. However, if you’re watching a classic black-and-white film, like your favorite, Twelve Angry Men by Sidney Lumet, featuring the legendary Henry Fonda, you can switch to the 4:3 aspect ratio for the authentic vintage experience!

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Among the remaining menu options, one notable feature is the HDMI EDID tab, where you can select the HDMI version, ranging from the classic 1.4 up to 2.1. This flexibility allows you to match the projector’s HDMI settings to the capabilities of your connected devices, optimizing compatibility and performance, especially for content that demands higher bandwidth, like 4K or high-frame-rate video.

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I should mention that there’s also a quick-source access menu available on the Android interface. You can open it by pressing a dedicated button on the remote.

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Now that we’ve covered the menu and features of the Nova C40, it’s time to dive into the real test: measurements and performance!

 

Measurements

Lets start with the white balance (greyscale) measurements.

Standard picture mode – Standard white balance

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Soft mode- Standard white balance

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Light mode – Standard white balance

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Here is the Standard mode, but with the Warm white balance

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And here is the light mode, but with also the Warm white balance

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As we can see, the high delta error across all modes and the excessively high blue levels fall short of what we’d consider an “acceptable picture.” The situation improves somewhat when selecting the Warm White color temperature, especially in Standard Mode.

The image correction tools provided by the Nova C40 aren’t ideal for those who enjoy fine-tuning their display device. With the limited adjustments available, the best result I managed to achieve is shown below—not perfect, but still a reasonably good outcome. These tweaks bring the picture closer to a balanced look, but advanced users may find the options somewhat restrictive for precise calibration.

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The settings i used are the following:

Color Temp “Personal”

Red 45

Green 43

Blue 36

There’s also an issue with the factory brightness setting. To prevent black levels from crushing and losing detail, you need to increase the brightness from 50 to 60. This adjustment helps reveal shadow details, ensuring a more balanced image with improved depth in darker scenes.

No black details with contrast setting on 50

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Increasing the contrast setting to 61 the black details are now there

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With all the adjustments mentioned above, the Nova C40 performs quite well, and I’d say the picture quality improves dramatically.

Now, let’s take a look at the color performance. The Nova C40 covers around 60% of the Rec.709 color gamut—a typical range for projectors using this technology (single LCD). While it may not achieve the full Rec.709 spectrum, this level of color coverage is standard for its class, delivering satisfactory colors for general viewing.

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Here’s a summary of the Nova C40’s overall color performance. Unfortunately, there’s limited room for improvement, as it lacks a Color Management System (CMS) to fine-tune color saturation, hue, and brightness. However, for its class of single LCD projectors, I’d say its color performance is quite decent.

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How about contrast and brightness, Nikos? Hang tight, everyone, here’s the scoop.

The calibrated brightness of the Nova C40 is around 400 lumens, and in “Light Mode,” it reaches close to ULTIMEA’s claim of 600 lumens.

Now, something curious is happening with the contrast. ULTIMEA lists the Nova C40’s on/off contrast ratio at 1000:1. However, in my measurements, I found it to be 2740:1. I double-checked my results, and I genuinely can’t explain the discrepancy. The black levels on the Nova C40 are impressive, and the contrast difference is very apparent when watching movies. Could it be a mistake in their specs?

While 400 calibrated lumens might sound low, it’s actually more than sufficient. In a well-controlled dark environment, with a screen size up to 100 inches, those 400 lumens are more than enough to satisfy a viewer. Combined with the high on/off contrast of the Nova C40, I’d say the viewing experience is quite satisfying.

 

Performance

The Nova C40 is a cinematic projector. What do I mean by that? I mean that if you connect it to a computer and try to read a PDF, you won’t get the best image quality you’ve ever seen. But as soon as you feed it with high quality 1080p movie content, it transforms, showing exactly what it was built for. It’s clear that its purpose is to project movies.

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I noticed a strange behavior after watching several hours on the Nova C40. This concerns an unusual contrast issue where bright areas in many scenes lose detail and appear blown out. Take a look at the bright details on Morris Chestnut’s face in the movie Kick-Ass 2, for example.

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This unusual behavior is also visible here, in this screenshot from Kick-Ass 2. In some scenes, it can give a boost of contrast to the viewer’s eyes, but in others, it becomes distracting. This effect can be significantly reduced by lowering the contrast in the settings, but that introduces other issues affecting the image quality. Notice the blown-out whites on the road behind the actors. 

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Here’s a scene from The 6th Day with Arnold Schwarzenegger, a classic and one of my favorites. The dark details are excellent, and the ANSI contrast holds very well in this mixed but overall low-ADL scene. The slightly blown-out whites are also present here, notice the windows of the house behind the cab, but they’re not as intense as in other, brighter scenes.

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The challenging jungle scene with the helicopters at the beginning of Predator is handled exceptionally well by the Nova C40, thanks in part to its low black levels. Since I know this scene very well, I have to say I’m impressed that an affordable projector of this technology can render it so effectively.

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This scene is from a 4K video on YouTube, which, of course, plays at 1080p on the Nova C40. But look at how well it handles it! My camera worked absolutely perfect here, capturing exactly what I was seeing.

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Despite its limited color gamut, it won’t disappoint in scenes that require color accuracy.

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Unfortunately, the Nova C40 does not natively support 24 frames per second, it converts them to 60Hz, and the familiar 3:2 pull-down effect is present. I hope that this issue will be resolved with a future update. ULTIMEA is a reputable company that supports its products and listens to feedback, so if they read this review, they might address this issue quickly. Here is the screenshots from the well known 24 frame test video.

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The overall performance of the Nova C40 may not be award-winning, but given its exceptionally affordable price, it is totally acceptable.

For its category,, I can honestly say its performance is quite surprising. It’s true, there’s been a remarkable step forward even within this compact, budget-friendly category of single LCD projectors.

 

Gaming

As a true gamer, I couldn’t resist connecting the Nova C40 to one of my consoles to enjoy some classic gaming! For this test, I hooked up the PS5 and tried to play The Silent Hill 2.

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I bought the game on its very first day of release in mid-October, holding onto it tightly while waiting for the perfect moment to dive in. You know, the full immersive experience—turn off the phone, close the blinds, maybe even call in sick to work. The whole package! Finally, I unwrapped it and set it up to launch on the Nova C40.

It took less than a minute of gameplay to realize that the Nova C40 is far from a gaming projector. While the picture quality was excellent, with impressive detail in the dark areas, and the sound was decent, the input lag was unbearable. Without having measured it, I can confidently say it’s over 50 ms. Such lag turns action games that demand full control into near “torture”. I turned off the PS5 right away and put Silent Hill 2 back on hold, it was clear that its time hadn’t come yet.

 

Ιmportant Νotes

The Netflix app works flawlessly and even recognizes the Nova C40 as a 4K-capable projector. The Nova C40 can receive and play 4K HDR content, but who are we kidding? A projector with 450 lumens (not to mention that its resolution is only Full HD, not 4K) cannot truly deliver HDR. Thankfully, 1080p SDR movies still hold up very well, in my opinion (over 50% of the movies I watch in my personal home cinema are SDR 1080p), and that’s the sweet spot for the Nova C40.

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I installed PLEX on the Nova C40 and connected it to the server on my PC. I did quite a bit of streaming, even with HDR 4K movies, without any issues over Wi-Fi. Truly impressive for such an affordable device. I should mention that a Xiaomi Android box I own struggles to stream consistently over Wi-Fi with Plex. Keep in mind, a basic Android box costs around 150 euros. The Nova C40 costs only double that, and besides being a capable Android box, it’s also a projector!

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Let me not forget to mention that the Nova C40 can also play content directly from its USB port using its built-in media player. Just go to the main menu and select the USB port. You’ll see the contents of the USB stick or external hard drive you’ve connected, displayed similarly to the screenshot below. Everything I played from the USB port, even though it’s USB 2.0, worked without a single issue.

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Integrated Sound and Operation Noise

Perhaps the biggest upgrade I personally noticed in the Nova C40 isn’t about the image quality, it’s the operational noise. This projector may not be “completely silent,” but it’s nothing like other models in this category and technology that sound like planes ready for takeoff. Here, the Nova C40’s carefully designed cooling system truly makes the difference. You can watch a movie with the projector close by, and there is not issue at all.

As for sound, don’t expect too much. The two built-in 5W drivers are mounded in the front and do their job well enough, you can comfortably hear the movie without distortion or unpleasant sound and at decent volume. But don’t expect anything jaw-dropping in terms of audio quality.

A good portable Bluetooth speaker for example will certainly deliver better sound. Fortunately, ULTIMEA has equipped it with Bluetooth 5.3, so you can easily connect your JBL, a stylish Marshall Bluetooth speaker perhaps, or any other you have and get the audio upgrade you want quickly and easily.

 

What i didn’t like about the Nova C40

24p Playback – For me, one of the biggest drawbacks is the lack of native 24fps playback. I hope this can be addressed in a future firmware update.

Weird White crashes – There’s an odd behavior in some scenes where it feels like the contrast has been suddenly increased. This can be a bit distracting.

Input Lag – While the input lag isn’t prohibitive for casual gaming, it’s certainly not at the level serious gamers would expect.

Interface Lag – Navigating the Android TV interface isn’t lag-free. There are times when you’re left wondering if the remote has frozen (it hasn’t) or if the projector’s processor is struggling. It feels like a low-end Android box, if you know what I mean.

Picture Settings – I’d like more adjustment options, particularly for white balance with classic offset (for low IRE) and gain controls across the grayscale range. It would also be great if basic settings like brightness and contrast were adjustable in all factory picture modes.

Lens Offset – I would have preferred a 100% offset, where the image starts at the height of the lens. This way, we wouldn’t need to use keystone correction in a typical setup, unlike the current configuration where the Nova C40’s lens is positioned right in the center of the image when projecting horizontally.

 

What i Like about the Nova C40

Contrast – The Nova C40 delivers unexpectedly impressive contrast levels, which really stand out.

Android TV – The built-in Android TV licensed for major streaming platforms like Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Hulu is a huge advantage, making streaming simple and convenient.

Plug & Play – With its automatic focus and keystone adjustments, plus a highly practical gimbal, the Nova C40 is extremely easy to set up and operate, no extra hassle.

Sealed Optics – This is a significant benefit for an LCD projector, providing peace of mind with long-term, trouble-free use, free from dust.

Low Noise Operation – certainly one of the quietest projectors in its category.

Price – The price is exceptionally fair for what the Nova C40 offers, it’s a great value, without a doubt.

 

The Random Feature of the Day

The Nova C40 has a mode that can be selected either from the menu within the Android interface or by pressing the off button on the remote control. Besides the option to turn off the projector, it gives us the option to switch it to Ambient Mode. In this mode, the Nova C40 offers various options, like displaying a lively landscape, such as a beach with live sound of waves crashing on the shore, or showcasing one of the famous paintings built into the projector, uniquely enhancing the aesthetic of our space.

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The LED light source with its long lifespan and the excellent cooling system of the Nova C40 allow us to use it for many hours daily in this mode. At this price range, the Nova C40 gives us the freedom to project a galaxy on our ceiling for example, a beautiful painting, or a lively landscape on our wall for as many hours of the day or night as we wish.

As always, here’s a short video I prepared for you to give you a taste of the Nova C40. Enjoy!

 

Conclusion

So, what is the answer? Can we set up our own personal movie theater in our living room and enjoy favorite movies on a big screen for just $299? Absolutely, yes.

You know, I own quite a few projectors—over 15, maybe even 20, including some high-end models. During this review, as I thoroughly tested the Nova C40 like I do with every projector I present, I found myself dusting off my library of 1080p movies. At one point, I got so absorbed in The 6th Day with Arnold Schwarzenegger (what a nice movie!) that I ended up watching it all the way through on Nova C40. In fact, one of the screenshots in this review—the one with the cab—is from that movie.

The magic of a big screen, paired with a great telling story in a well-made movie, is an addictive and immersive combination. And that big-screen experience is something the Nova C40 delivers generously, despite its modest $299 price tag.

You won’t get the vivid color gamut of pricier models, nor will it work well in a brightly lit room. But turn off the lights, grab that warm popcorn you just made, and dedicate two hours to treat yourself after a long day with a classic masterpiece like The Shawshank Redemption or The Terminator 2 – Judgment Day. You won’t just be entertained, you’ll be transported, as only the grandeur of cinema can do.

Do I recommend the Nova C40? If your budget is tight and your love for cinema is strong, absolutely!

Here is the official website of the ULTIMEA Nova C40 – https://www.ultimea.com/

Stay tuned, because the next ULTIMEA projector I’ll try to test and introduce to you, will be the Thor T60 Laser TV, the one so many of you have been asking me about for months!

 

Nikos Tsolas