Although projector categories change from one manufacturer to another and evolve over time, the application categories are consistent, if somewhat overlapping. Its small form manages to contain a long-lived laser light source, Android TV, Google Play Store apps and games, and even good audio. Above and below are our current top picks in home projectors.
It may be bulky, but if it fits into your home, the Xgimi Aura offers a quality UST performance that undercuts its competition. Testing projectors involves taking the time to explore their capabilities fully through lots of options-tweaking and content-watching.
Read the full Anker Nebula Solar Portable review. The sheer extent of its flexibility actually makes its performance feel better than we arguably have any right to expect, though. This is also where each of these projectors meets its rivals, as every product is tested side-by-side with the competition to ensure it meets expectations and so that its place in the market is considered as a whole no product exists in a vacuum after all. The biggest issue for gaming on a projector is input lag time, which is the time in milliseconds (ms) that a display adds between receiving a video frame and putting it on the screen. There's no iPlayer, Netflix or All 4 apps on the smart platform and we'd like Epson to have fitted an internal battery too but these are relatively minor gripes and nothing that neither a media streamer nor an extension cable can't solve. It's a 2 x 5W set-up that's been tuned by Yamaha. So when comparing prices, be sure to add in the cost of replacements. Compared to the lower-end SXRD projectors in the Sony range, the VPL-VW890ES really is next level. In the right setting, it's just the ticket. It's more accurate, however, to reserve it for projector use in a room with completely controlled lighting. Delivers a full 3,840 by 2,160 pixels on screen, 2,700-lumen laser light source rated to last the life of the projector, Good color accuracy, contrast, and shadow detail, plus dark blacks for a laser model, Easy to maintain image height for different aspect ratios, Three-chip LCD design guarantees no rainbow artifacts. In short, when looking at brightness, you need to consider your screen and projector as a single unit, even if you buy them separately. This big, brassy projector is as good as you'll get before forking out for the beauty of native 4K projection. As a rule of thumb, casual gamers will usually be comfortable with lags up to about 50ms (or a little higher), while serious gamers should look for lag timings no longer than 16.7ms for 4K 60Hz input, which is the shortest we've seen at 4K as of this writing.
Heres why you can trust us. Best projectors Buying Guide: Welcome to What Hi-Fi? Projectors can use one of three types of imaging chips: LCD, DLP, or LCoS. The Epson Pro Cinema LS12000 is the company's first home theater projector to put genuine 4K resolution on screen, but that's just part of the top-tier image quality and long feature list that make it worth its high price. Cue Samsungs The Premiere LSP9T: a projector designed from the ground up to deliver an epic TV-like experience for a fraction of the cost. They might not match up with the performance of dedicated home cinema projectors, but you're paying for the experience and versatility here you can't beat an open air cinema experience under the starry night sky after all. So when it comes to models at the more affordable end of the market, such as the Epson LS300, were inherently sceptical about the prospect of it producing a well-rounded and immersive big-screen experience. The entry-level standard for native 4K projectors. The Optoma UHD51 is probably the best bet or jump up a bit further to the Benq W2700. It may not have the highest spec, but Epsons LS300 brings convenient big-screen projection to a price point that is far less prohibitive than is usual for its class.
In perfect mirror image, some models, most notably from BenQ and Optoma,are labeled as gaming projectors, but are just as useful for other home entertainment applications. For pocket projectors, brightness is even lower, and the resolutions are lower as well, making even 640-by-360 resolution well worth considering. Then there are portable projectors, which are ideal of taking on the go or using outside to create a grab-and-go cinema experience. In all of these situations, you will usually be viewing in rooms (or backyards) where ambient light is a factor. It does well in projecting photos, and its video quality is fine for casual use.
Note that for any given projector, the input lag can vary with the resolution, the refresh rate, or both. For home theater, TV replacements, and gaming, 4K resolution is affordable enough today to be the preferred choice, while 1080p is the budget choice.
It's our top pick for portable streaming projectors. Within the mix are also some ultra short throw projectors. We do often recommend that you budget for a speaker when shopping for a projector, as although many options here include on-board speakers, they are invariably pretty poor. It comes with everything you need to get started with a home cinema set-up including integrated speakers, the ability to stream apps and HDR support. Before 4K resolution reached the projector world (4K resolution includes both 4,096 by 2,160 and the more common 3,840 by 2,160), the resolution spec that mattered most was the native resolution of the imaging chips, meaning the actual number of pixels on the chips themselves. The BenQ W1800s pictures immediately struck us as genuinely cinematic as soon as we clapped eyes on them and while deeper scrutiny uncovers a limitation or two, our first impressions hold well throughout our time with the W1800. The borders between different kinds of projectors can be as fuzzy as their images are sharp, and the deceptively simple term "home projectors" covers a dizzy mix of possible uses. It is less detailed and vibrant than its pricier 4K counterparts, but at this price it's hard to quibble with what is an authentically rendered, bright, big picture and the onboard streaming smarts it comes with. The higher-volume, higher-quality audio means less need to lug an external sound system with you, as well. That said, it's as much the convenience of this machine that makes it so good. Tonal detail in light and dark areas is excellent, even in scenes of mixed lighting, thanks to some pinpoint contrast control with help from the Dynamic Iris. The only lag that's relevant for your purposes is for the resolution and refresh rate that you plan to use. But as a general rule, they won't give you as bright an image as projectors in the 4-to-10-pound range at any given image size, even at full power when plugged into an AC power outlet. Any other suggestions to replace that top spot? As you'll notice, almost all of our top picks are either native 4K projectors, or achieve a 4K-like image through clever trickery for a higher picture quality. It throws big with a dramatic, vibrant picture bolstered by streaming smarts and the best quality sound system weve yet to hear in any projector. Lower resolution costs still less, but even a 720p image will be noticeably soft-focus compared with 1080p at the image sizes you'll likely be using for these applications. Also check which HDR formats are supported. The term "home theater" is often used loosely to include home entertainment. Colours are balanced and motion is naturally smooth. For native 4K projectors, the devil is rarely in the detail. The key to the experience, of course, is choosing one of the best projectors that money can buy and that's what we have for you right here. Many of these models are outdated, the same as others in the list, or or just very poor. Home projectors can be small enough to fit in a pocket, or big enough to need two people to move into place. Check out comments in reviews for any projector you're considering. The Sony VPL-VW890ES, and top-end machines like it, specialise in transcribing every crumb of picture resolution from source to screen. So this is an article from 2019, with the date changed to 2022? Our reviews always discuss image quality for both SDR and HDR. Not as easily portable as some similar projectors. 1080p (1,920-by-1,080) native resolution; accepts 4K (3,840-by-2,160) input, Supports HDR and copy protection standards used by 4K UHD discs, Battery life rated at 3 hours in Battery mode or 1.5 hours in Standard, Color accuracy is off by just enough to notice, Does not deliver improved image quality with HDR material. However, they tend to be more expensive than DLP (Digital Light Processing) LED and LCD projectors, which in turn have their own benefits and caveats. How's that for a superb family projector? The Kodak Luma 350 Portable Smart Projector is an Android-based palmtop that throws a larger-than-usual usable image given its brightness output. Home projectors and business models can overlap more than you might expect. In other words, an AVR, speaker package and home cinema room are not entirely necessary. Keep an eye on your inbox! That could be a dedicated home theater, or a family room equipped with shutters or curtains that can block all window light when needed. The onboard speakers are a touch weedy but the quality and spread of sound from them is good.
Like the LG other Nebula above, the Mars 2 is a smartbox style portable projector that offers both convenience and a good dollop of fun. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, You need to match your home projector's features to the applications you want it for. Read the full review: Samsung The Freestyle. Its pictures might not be the showiest around, but theyre refined, natural, authentic and, to use that word again, cinematic. f youre on the hunt for convenient and accessible home cinema solutions, ultra-short-throw (UST) projectors such as the Xgimi Aura can seem like an obvious choice. We test using a wide range of content from 4K Blu-rays, to streaming services, video games and standard definition DVDs to make sure all kinds of content are put through these projectors. Thats a useful array of abilities that makes this projector an appealing proposition for those after a fuss-free solution to their projection needs. It's an excellent pick up and put down mini-movie night in which ever room of the house you happen to be.
Laser-phosphor light source rated at 4,000 ANSI lumens, Epson's Pro-UHD matches the ability to resolve detail of true 4K resolution, Price includes 100-inch ambient light rejection (ALR) screen, Three-chip LCD design means no rainbow artifacts. Color accuracy isn't perfect, but it's good enough for most people to accept without a second thought. Specs are largely useless for deciding if a projector is bright enough. The Xgimi Aura puts in a thoroughly entertaining big-screen performance thats more impressive than the sum of its parts and almost makes us forget its flaws. Lower-resolution chips can show higher-resolution material, but down-converting the image gives it a soft-focus look and can introduce artifacts. The most important features to look for in specs and reviews include high contrast, good color accuracy, dark black levels, and good shadow detail. Just remember to save some money for the projector screen and the popcorn! There's an excellent smart platform, a three-hour battery life, a good degree of brightness and plenty of source material options. The Freestyle, Samsungs diddy new LED-based projector lives up to its name by enabling you to take projection to places its never really been able to go before.
It also has a 2 x 10W speaker system built in. is supported by its audience.
(More about brightness later.) DVD and Blu-ray sales continue to nosedive, The best home entertainment buying advice, Issues delivered straight to your door or device. That said, some laser projectors are now catching up on that score, so don't just assume a lamp will be better. Any projector with an HDMI port, which includes virtually all current models, can connect to a set-top box to give you a much larger display for your cable TV or equivalent TV source. This includes checking every item in the settings menu, and individually tweaking picture features to ensure the projector is giving us the best visual performance it can. Beyond that, any home projector that can handle film and video well can also handle text and presentations for business use. The key issue for preferring one over another is less about the chip technology than whether the design is based on one chip for all three primary colors, or a separate chip for each. Native 1080p resolution; supports 4K UHD (3,840-by-2,160) input and HDR, Three-chip LCD engine (3LCD) for equal color and white brightness and no rainbow artifacts. They're also a lot cheaper than 100-inch flat-screen TVs, even after adding in the cost of the screen. But even when it becomes one, it's unlikely that the projectors will be bright enough to give you a big enough image in most lighting conditions to see a difference between 1080p and 4K, or possibly even between 1080p and 720p, which remains a good choice for the 2-to-4-pound models. Ideally, this is where a 4K projector would be best for crisp and clear visuals.
What Hi-Fi? Epson's LCD-based EpiqVision Ultra LS500 is available with or without a screen, and costs more than some DLP-based projectors. For room-to-room portability and backyard movies, consider first whether you're going to be using a large enough image to be able to see any difference between 1080p and 4K or even between 720p and 1080p.
PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering lab-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Android 6 OS lets you download, run apps (including control app), Includes remote control, built-in battery, Projects a decent-size image for its brightness, Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. On the other hand, lamp-based projectors are more likely to deliver the dark blacks and top-tier contrast that matter for home theater. Even with SDR material, the results are quite astonishing. Today's most expensive 4K projectors use native 4K chips. Just be mindful of the image if you're sensitive to rainbow artifacts. As with most projectors, there's no Dolby Vision support, but Sony's own dynamic HDR technology can still provide a frame-by-frame HDR analysis for the best possible picture at all times. The so-called "flat-screen TV replacement," incorporating smart TV and streamingfeatures, is a key subcategory for home entertainment projectors. For portable models and some entry-level projectors, you'll often see little or no difference between home and business categories for how well the projectors handle film and video. Feature-wise, it's got almost everything one could need in an outdoor projector. Projectors that use a single chip, which includes all affordable DLP models, rotate through the three primaries in sequence, which can create rainbow artifacts, in the form of red/green/blue flashes. They can give you a 100-inch or larger image with the projector chassis sitting only inches from the screen, in much the same position where you might otherwise place a flat-screen TV. That said, as a general rule, business projectors much above entry-level pricing for their resolution and brightness level can't compete on the basis of film and video image quality with similarly priced home theater or home entertainment models. The result is a picture more involving than you'll find anywhere else at this price point with a sense of depth so absorbing that you'll pick up detail from your favourite films that you'll have always missed on smaller screens. Household projectors fall into two types. In addition to their longer life compared with lamps, solid state sources maintain a higher percentage of their initial brightness over a longer percentage of their life, which means it will take far longer before you notice any loss of brightness.
The point? The biggest impediment to setting up a projector as a TV has always been the need to mount the projector, most often on a ceiling or on a shelf in the back of the room, and then string wires through walls and ceilings to connect to video sources in the front of the room. Pay particular attention to descriptions of HDR brightness as distinct from SDR brightness, and whether the two are both acceptably bright at the same image size. Common names for projectors meant for home use include home cinema, home theater, pro cinema, home entertainment, gaming, and streaming.
The quicker you can spot what's going on in dark areas, the quicker you'll see an opponent sneaking up on you or spot other objects of interest. Dan is a staff writer at What Hi-Fi?
The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag.
It may be bulky, but if it fits into your home, the Xgimi Aura offers a quality UST performance that undercuts its competition. Testing projectors involves taking the time to explore their capabilities fully through lots of options-tweaking and content-watching.
Read the full Anker Nebula Solar Portable review. The sheer extent of its flexibility actually makes its performance feel better than we arguably have any right to expect, though. This is also where each of these projectors meets its rivals, as every product is tested side-by-side with the competition to ensure it meets expectations and so that its place in the market is considered as a whole no product exists in a vacuum after all. The biggest issue for gaming on a projector is input lag time, which is the time in milliseconds (ms) that a display adds between receiving a video frame and putting it on the screen. There's no iPlayer, Netflix or All 4 apps on the smart platform and we'd like Epson to have fitted an internal battery too but these are relatively minor gripes and nothing that neither a media streamer nor an extension cable can't solve. It's a 2 x 5W set-up that's been tuned by Yamaha. So when comparing prices, be sure to add in the cost of replacements. Compared to the lower-end SXRD projectors in the Sony range, the VPL-VW890ES really is next level. In the right setting, it's just the ticket. It's more accurate, however, to reserve it for projector use in a room with completely controlled lighting. Delivers a full 3,840 by 2,160 pixels on screen, 2,700-lumen laser light source rated to last the life of the projector, Good color accuracy, contrast, and shadow detail, plus dark blacks for a laser model, Easy to maintain image height for different aspect ratios, Three-chip LCD design guarantees no rainbow artifacts. In short, when looking at brightness, you need to consider your screen and projector as a single unit, even if you buy them separately. This big, brassy projector is as good as you'll get before forking out for the beauty of native 4K projection. As a rule of thumb, casual gamers will usually be comfortable with lags up to about 50ms (or a little higher), while serious gamers should look for lag timings no longer than 16.7ms for 4K 60Hz input, which is the shortest we've seen at 4K as of this writing.
Heres why you can trust us. Best projectors Buying Guide: Welcome to What Hi-Fi? Projectors can use one of three types of imaging chips: LCD, DLP, or LCoS. The Epson Pro Cinema LS12000 is the company's first home theater projector to put genuine 4K resolution on screen, but that's just part of the top-tier image quality and long feature list that make it worth its high price. Cue Samsungs The Premiere LSP9T: a projector designed from the ground up to deliver an epic TV-like experience for a fraction of the cost. They might not match up with the performance of dedicated home cinema projectors, but you're paying for the experience and versatility here you can't beat an open air cinema experience under the starry night sky after all. So when it comes to models at the more affordable end of the market, such as the Epson LS300, were inherently sceptical about the prospect of it producing a well-rounded and immersive big-screen experience. The entry-level standard for native 4K projectors. The Optoma UHD51 is probably the best bet or jump up a bit further to the Benq W2700. It may not have the highest spec, but Epsons LS300 brings convenient big-screen projection to a price point that is far less prohibitive than is usual for its class.
In perfect mirror image, some models, most notably from BenQ and Optoma,are labeled as gaming projectors, but are just as useful for other home entertainment applications. For pocket projectors, brightness is even lower, and the resolutions are lower as well, making even 640-by-360 resolution well worth considering. Then there are portable projectors, which are ideal of taking on the go or using outside to create a grab-and-go cinema experience. In all of these situations, you will usually be viewing in rooms (or backyards) where ambient light is a factor. It does well in projecting photos, and its video quality is fine for casual use.
Note that for any given projector, the input lag can vary with the resolution, the refresh rate, or both. For home theater, TV replacements, and gaming, 4K resolution is affordable enough today to be the preferred choice, while 1080p is the budget choice.
It's our top pick for portable streaming projectors. Within the mix are also some ultra short throw projectors. We do often recommend that you budget for a speaker when shopping for a projector, as although many options here include on-board speakers, they are invariably pretty poor. It comes with everything you need to get started with a home cinema set-up including integrated speakers, the ability to stream apps and HDR support. Before 4K resolution reached the projector world (4K resolution includes both 4,096 by 2,160 and the more common 3,840 by 2,160), the resolution spec that mattered most was the native resolution of the imaging chips, meaning the actual number of pixels on the chips themselves. The BenQ W1800s pictures immediately struck us as genuinely cinematic as soon as we clapped eyes on them and while deeper scrutiny uncovers a limitation or two, our first impressions hold well throughout our time with the W1800. The borders between different kinds of projectors can be as fuzzy as their images are sharp, and the deceptively simple term "home projectors" covers a dizzy mix of possible uses. It is less detailed and vibrant than its pricier 4K counterparts, but at this price it's hard to quibble with what is an authentically rendered, bright, big picture and the onboard streaming smarts it comes with. The higher-volume, higher-quality audio means less need to lug an external sound system with you, as well. That said, it's as much the convenience of this machine that makes it so good. Tonal detail in light and dark areas is excellent, even in scenes of mixed lighting, thanks to some pinpoint contrast control with help from the Dynamic Iris. The only lag that's relevant for your purposes is for the resolution and refresh rate that you plan to use. But as a general rule, they won't give you as bright an image as projectors in the 4-to-10-pound range at any given image size, even at full power when plugged into an AC power outlet. Any other suggestions to replace that top spot? As you'll notice, almost all of our top picks are either native 4K projectors, or achieve a 4K-like image through clever trickery for a higher picture quality. It throws big with a dramatic, vibrant picture bolstered by streaming smarts and the best quality sound system weve yet to hear in any projector. Lower resolution costs still less, but even a 720p image will be noticeably soft-focus compared with 1080p at the image sizes you'll likely be using for these applications. Also check which HDR formats are supported. The term "home theater" is often used loosely to include home entertainment. Colours are balanced and motion is naturally smooth. For native 4K projectors, the devil is rarely in the detail. The key to the experience, of course, is choosing one of the best projectors that money can buy and that's what we have for you right here. Many of these models are outdated, the same as others in the list, or or just very poor. Home projectors can be small enough to fit in a pocket, or big enough to need two people to move into place. Check out comments in reviews for any projector you're considering. The Sony VPL-VW890ES, and top-end machines like it, specialise in transcribing every crumb of picture resolution from source to screen. So this is an article from 2019, with the date changed to 2022? Our reviews always discuss image quality for both SDR and HDR. Not as easily portable as some similar projectors. 1080p (1,920-by-1,080) native resolution; accepts 4K (3,840-by-2,160) input, Supports HDR and copy protection standards used by 4K UHD discs, Battery life rated at 3 hours in Battery mode or 1.5 hours in Standard, Color accuracy is off by just enough to notice, Does not deliver improved image quality with HDR material. However, they tend to be more expensive than DLP (Digital Light Processing) LED and LCD projectors, which in turn have their own benefits and caveats. How's that for a superb family projector? The Kodak Luma 350 Portable Smart Projector is an Android-based palmtop that throws a larger-than-usual usable image given its brightness output. Home projectors and business models can overlap more than you might expect. In other words, an AVR, speaker package and home cinema room are not entirely necessary. Keep an eye on your inbox! That could be a dedicated home theater, or a family room equipped with shutters or curtains that can block all window light when needed. The onboard speakers are a touch weedy but the quality and spread of sound from them is good.
Like the LG other Nebula above, the Mars 2 is a smartbox style portable projector that offers both convenience and a good dollop of fun. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, You need to match your home projector's features to the applications you want it for. Read the full review: Samsung The Freestyle. Its pictures might not be the showiest around, but theyre refined, natural, authentic and, to use that word again, cinematic. f youre on the hunt for convenient and accessible home cinema solutions, ultra-short-throw (UST) projectors such as the Xgimi Aura can seem like an obvious choice. We test using a wide range of content from 4K Blu-rays, to streaming services, video games and standard definition DVDs to make sure all kinds of content are put through these projectors. Thats a useful array of abilities that makes this projector an appealing proposition for those after a fuss-free solution to their projection needs. It's an excellent pick up and put down mini-movie night in which ever room of the house you happen to be.
Laser-phosphor light source rated at 4,000 ANSI lumens, Epson's Pro-UHD matches the ability to resolve detail of true 4K resolution, Price includes 100-inch ambient light rejection (ALR) screen, Three-chip LCD design means no rainbow artifacts. Color accuracy isn't perfect, but it's good enough for most people to accept without a second thought. Specs are largely useless for deciding if a projector is bright enough. The Xgimi Aura puts in a thoroughly entertaining big-screen performance thats more impressive than the sum of its parts and almost makes us forget its flaws. Lower-resolution chips can show higher-resolution material, but down-converting the image gives it a soft-focus look and can introduce artifacts. The most important features to look for in specs and reviews include high contrast, good color accuracy, dark black levels, and good shadow detail. Just remember to save some money for the projector screen and the popcorn! There's an excellent smart platform, a three-hour battery life, a good degree of brightness and plenty of source material options. The Freestyle, Samsungs diddy new LED-based projector lives up to its name by enabling you to take projection to places its never really been able to go before.
It also has a 2 x 10W speaker system built in. is supported by its audience.
(More about brightness later.) DVD and Blu-ray sales continue to nosedive, The best home entertainment buying advice, Issues delivered straight to your door or device. That said, some laser projectors are now catching up on that score, so don't just assume a lamp will be better. Any projector with an HDMI port, which includes virtually all current models, can connect to a set-top box to give you a much larger display for your cable TV or equivalent TV source. This includes checking every item in the settings menu, and individually tweaking picture features to ensure the projector is giving us the best visual performance it can. Beyond that, any home projector that can handle film and video well can also handle text and presentations for business use. The key issue for preferring one over another is less about the chip technology than whether the design is based on one chip for all three primary colors, or a separate chip for each. Native 1080p resolution; supports 4K UHD (3,840-by-2,160) input and HDR, Three-chip LCD engine (3LCD) for equal color and white brightness and no rainbow artifacts. They're also a lot cheaper than 100-inch flat-screen TVs, even after adding in the cost of the screen. But even when it becomes one, it's unlikely that the projectors will be bright enough to give you a big enough image in most lighting conditions to see a difference between 1080p and 4K, or possibly even between 1080p and 720p, which remains a good choice for the 2-to-4-pound models. Ideally, this is where a 4K projector would be best for crisp and clear visuals.
What Hi-Fi? Epson's LCD-based EpiqVision Ultra LS500 is available with or without a screen, and costs more than some DLP-based projectors. For room-to-room portability and backyard movies, consider first whether you're going to be using a large enough image to be able to see any difference between 1080p and 4K or even between 720p and 1080p.
PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering lab-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Android 6 OS lets you download, run apps (including control app), Includes remote control, built-in battery, Projects a decent-size image for its brightness, Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. On the other hand, lamp-based projectors are more likely to deliver the dark blacks and top-tier contrast that matter for home theater. Even with SDR material, the results are quite astonishing. Today's most expensive 4K projectors use native 4K chips. Just be mindful of the image if you're sensitive to rainbow artifacts. As with most projectors, there's no Dolby Vision support, but Sony's own dynamic HDR technology can still provide a frame-by-frame HDR analysis for the best possible picture at all times. The so-called "flat-screen TV replacement," incorporating smart TV and streamingfeatures, is a key subcategory for home entertainment projectors. For portable models and some entry-level projectors, you'll often see little or no difference between home and business categories for how well the projectors handle film and video. Feature-wise, it's got almost everything one could need in an outdoor projector. Projectors that use a single chip, which includes all affordable DLP models, rotate through the three primaries in sequence, which can create rainbow artifacts, in the form of red/green/blue flashes. They can give you a 100-inch or larger image with the projector chassis sitting only inches from the screen, in much the same position where you might otherwise place a flat-screen TV. That said, as a general rule, business projectors much above entry-level pricing for their resolution and brightness level can't compete on the basis of film and video image quality with similarly priced home theater or home entertainment models. The result is a picture more involving than you'll find anywhere else at this price point with a sense of depth so absorbing that you'll pick up detail from your favourite films that you'll have always missed on smaller screens. Household projectors fall into two types. In addition to their longer life compared with lamps, solid state sources maintain a higher percentage of their initial brightness over a longer percentage of their life, which means it will take far longer before you notice any loss of brightness.
The point? The biggest impediment to setting up a projector as a TV has always been the need to mount the projector, most often on a ceiling or on a shelf in the back of the room, and then string wires through walls and ceilings to connect to video sources in the front of the room. Pay particular attention to descriptions of HDR brightness as distinct from SDR brightness, and whether the two are both acceptably bright at the same image size. Common names for projectors meant for home use include home cinema, home theater, pro cinema, home entertainment, gaming, and streaming.
The quicker you can spot what's going on in dark areas, the quicker you'll see an opponent sneaking up on you or spot other objects of interest. Dan is a staff writer at What Hi-Fi?
The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag.