Our pick · No. 3 of 15
AWOL Vision Aetherion Max
3,300 ISO lumens · RGB triple laser · 0.2:1 throw
$3,999$4,499Nov 13, 2026
AWOL Vision Aetherion Max vs AWOL Vision Aetherion Pro
AWOL Vision Aetherion Max or Aetherion Pro? They finish 0.2 apart in our formula, so pick on the detail that matters in your room.
The challenger · No. 5 of 15
AWOL Vision Aetherion Pro
2,600 ISO lumens · RGB triple laser · 0.2:1 throw
$3,499Nov 13, 2026
9.2/10ExcellentShort answer: AWOL Vision Aetherion Max wins this one, 9.4/10 against 9.2/10, mainly on brightness. AWOL Vision Aetherion Pro answers with price.
What really separates them?
Same cabinet, same contrast, same color, same ports, same Google TV. The only line that changes on AWOL's comparison page is brightness: 3,300 ISO lumens for the Max, 2,600 for the Pro, for $500. So this is a question about your room, not about the projectors. Dark room, screen up to 120 inches: the Pro, and keep the difference. Living room or a bigger screen: the Max. Look at the bundles before you decide, because they don't match: on November 13, 2026 the Pro's same-price bundle had a soft gray screen and speakers, the Max's cheaper bundle a real ALR screen.
Which one is for you?
Choose the AWOL Vision Aetherion Max if
- Your room gets daylight: 3,300 ISO lumens against 2,600 ISO lumens
Choose the AWOL Vision Aetherion Pro if
- You want to spend less: $3,499 against $3,999
AWOL Vision Aetherion Max vs AWOL Vision Aetherion Pro: the numbers
Add a third projector2 projectors in this table: scroll sideways to see them all
| Projector | ||
|---|---|---|
| Brightness (brand) | 3,300 ISO lumens | 2,600 ISO lumens |
| Light source | RGB triple laser | RGB triple laser |
| Throw ratio | 0.2:1 | 0.2:1 |
| Lens to wall, 100 in picture | 17.4 in | 17.4 in |
| Resolution | 4K UHD | 4K UHD |
| Native contrast | 6,000:1 | 6,000:1 |
| Color gamut | 110% BT.2020 | 110% BT.2020 |
| HDR formats | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, IMAX Enhanced | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, IMAX Enhanced |
| Lowest input lag | 1 ms (brand) | 1 ms (brand) |
| Gaming features | VRR, ALLM | VRR, ALLM |
| Smart TV | Google TV | Google TV |
| Speakers | Dolby Atmos (watts not stated) | Dolby Atmos (watts not stated) |
| Picture size | 80 to 200 in | 80 to 200 in |
| Focus | Motorized | Motorized |
| Alignment | Manual keystone | Manual keystone |
| Fan noise | No dB figure | 28 dB (brand) |
| Size (W × D × H) | 22.1 × 12.7 × 5.5 in | 22.1 × 12.7 × 5.5 in |
| Weight | 18.4 lb | 19.3 lb |
| Laser life (brand) | 25,000 hours | 25,000 hours |
| Warranty | 2-year | 2-year |
| Returns | 30 days | 30 days |
| Shipping | Free shipping | Free shipping |
| Screen bundle | $3,799 with 120-inch fixed-frame Cinematic ALR | $3,499 with 100-inch soft gray fixed screen |
| Sold by | AWOL Vision | AWOL Vision |
| Where to buy | Check price at AWOL | Check price at AWOL |
✓ marks the better figure. "Not stated" means the brand doesn't publish it. Prices checked November 13, 2026 on each brand's own US store.
Which one has the better picture?
AWOL Vision Aetherion Max: rGB triple laser, 3,300 ISO lumens, 6,000:1 native contrast, 110% BT.2020, HDR in Dolby Vision, HDR10+, IMAX Enhanced. AWOL Vision Aetherion Pro: rGB triple laser, 2,600 ISO lumens, 6,000:1 native contrast, 110% BT.2020, HDR in Dolby Vision, HDR10+, IMAX Enhanced.
The Aetherion Max is the brighter one on paper, by 700 lumens. These are each brand's own figures; brightness matters most in a lit room, native contrast in a dark one.
Which one is better for gaming?
AWOL Vision Aetherion Max: 1 ms, per AWOL (no resolution given on the page); gaming features listed: vRR, ALLM. AWOL Vision Aetherion Pro: 1 ms, per AWOL (no resolution given on the page); gaming features listed: vRR, ALLM.
Both brands publish a figure. Check which resolution each one applies to before you compare them: the lowest numbers are usually reached at 1080p and a high refresh rate.
Which one is easier to place and live with?
With a 0.2:1 throw ratio, the Aetherion Max needs about 17.4 inches between lens and screen for a 100-inch picture, and so does the Aetherion Pro. Picture size: 80 to 200 in for the Aetherion Max, 80 to 200 in for the Aetherion Pro. The Aetherion Max measures 22.1 × 12.7 × 5.5 in and weighs 18.4 lb; the Aetherion Pro, 22.1 × 12.7 × 5.5 in and 19.3 lb.
Built in: AWOL Vision Aetherion Max has Google TV and dolby Atmos (watts not stated) of sound; AWOL Vision Aetherion Pro has Google TV and dolby Atmos (watts not stated) of sound. Our throw distance calculator gives the distance for your own screen size.
What do they cost, and what cover do you get?
On November 13, 2026, each on its brand's own US store: AWOL Vision Aetherion Max $3,999 ($4,499 regular), AWOL Vision Aetherion Pro $3,499. That is $500 between them. AWOL Vision also sold the Aetherion Max with a screen: $3,799 for the 120-inch fixed-frame Cinematic ALR bundle. AWOL Vision sold the Aetherion Pro with a screen too: $3,499 for the 100-inch soft gray fixed screen bundle.
Warranty: AWOL Vision Aetherion Max, 24-month warranty, per AWOL's product page; AWOL Vision Aetherion Pro, 24-month warranty, per AWOL's product page. Returns: AWOL Vision Aetherion Max, 30-day money-back guarantee, per AWOL; AWOL Vision Aetherion Pro, 30-day money-back guarantee, per AWOL. A projector is a big box to send back: read the return terms before the specs.
Where to go from here
Full reviews: AWOL Vision Aetherion Max review and AWOL Vision Aetherion Pro review. Both appear in our ranking of the best ultra short throw projectors, best ust projector for bright room, best ust projector for gaming, ust projector with screen, best ust projector for home theater.
Other head-to-heads: AWOL Vision Aetherion Max vs Hisense PX3-PRO.
Still deciding what kind of projector you need? Read our guide: ALR screens for UST projectors.
By Owen Whitaker, editor, home theater projectors · updated November 13, 2026
AWOL Vision Aetherion Max or AWOL Vision Aetherion Pro: quick answers
All head-to-headsIs the AWOL Vision Aetherion Max better than the AWOL Vision Aetherion Pro?
In our formula, yes: 9.4/10 against 9.2/10, with the edge on brightness. The AWOL Vision Aetherion Pro is ahead on price, which may matter more in your room.
Which is brighter, the Aetherion Max or the Aetherion Pro?
The AWOL Vision Aetherion Max: 3,300 ISO lumens against 2,600 ISO lumens, per each brand.
Which is cheaper, the Aetherion Max or the Aetherion Pro?
The AWOL Vision Aetherion Pro: $3,499 against $3,999 on November 13, 2026.
Which sits closer to the wall?
Both have a 0.2:1 throw ratio: about 17.4 inches from lens to screen for a 100-inch picture.