Projectors are devices that help to display images or moving pictures (videos) or even slides on the wall or screen. These projectors are mainly used in schools, colleges, and companies to give a demonstration to people in massive numbers. On the account, projectors are becoming more important as people are using them as a home theatre as well.
But while choosing projectors or home theaters, it will be very confusing because of the technical terms that they use. So to make it very simple, I have simplified those terms for you. I’m sure at the end of this article you will get to know about the technologies and you will choose the right projector for your needs.
In the market, there are lots of famous projectors are available like ViewSonic, Optoma, and BenQ. But before buying projectors you have to consider some of the major things as discussed below. Though we have various projectors in the market, having some research about the projector will give you an idea to buy the best one.
5 things that you have to consider before buying projectors or home theaters
If you want to learn about projectors and the technologies used in them. Read these 5 must things to buy a projector of your own.
- Room Size
- Projector Type
- Resolution
- Brightness
- Price Range
1. Room Size
In projectors, there are two types namely,
- Long-throw projector
- Short throw projector
LONG THROW PROJECTORS provides larger images. This is used in the auditorium, huge halls, etc., This can be attached only on the ceilings. So when you choose Long throw projectors, the screen width must be 100 or 120 inches or even more than that. And the projector must be placed 13 or 14 feet in height.
SHORT-THROW PROJECTORS can be attached to the ceiling or else they can be placed on a table. Easy to carry. These Short throw projectors are kept 3 to 8 feet distance from the screen.
And this is calculated with the Throw ration measurement. The throw ratio is the distance between the Screen and the Projector.
How to identify if it’s a Long-throw or Short- throw projector?
To identify the projectors, look at the throw ratio in the manual or box.
- Long-throw projector: 1 or above.
- Short-throw projectors: 0.6 to 0.8.
- Ultra Short-throw projector: 0.4 or less.
2. Projector Type
Next, let us see the projector types. That is the technology that projectors are made of. We have three major types of projectors,
- DLP (Digital Light Processing)
- LCD (Light- Crystal Display)
- LED (Light-emitting diode)
1. DLP Technology (Digital Light Processing)
DLP uses millions of micro scoping mirrors to generate an image. Let us see the Pros and Cons of the DLP projectors.
The Pros
- Display Sharp Images
- It doesn’t need any filters
- Better response Time
- It can project 3D images as well.
- As it uses micro scoping images, it uses less space.
The Cons
- Color ghosting images (rainbow effect)
- Lamp life (2,000 -5,000 hours)
2. LCD (Light Crystal Display)
It uses Liquid crystal displays, so there are no moving parts that are involved while displaying images on the screen. Single-chip LCDs are the most basic type of LCD projectors and it is inexpensive. Whereas the 3 chip LCDs are expensive.
The Pros
- It gives better color saturation
- Lower noise levels
- Better for movies and entertainment.
The Cons
- Less contrast display
- Constant filter maintenance
3. LED (Light-emitting diode)
LED technology uses physical light-emitting diodes.
The Pros
- Consumes less power
- Produce less heat
- Has impressive contrast ration
- Impressive colors
- Long lifespan (20,000 hours)
The Cons
- Limited Brightness ( Can’t be used in the rooms with brighter ambient lights)
3. Resolution
Resolution is one of the most important parts that we have to know before buying a projector.
There are two things that you have to keep in mind while selecting projectors with the resolution.
- If you are buying projectors for home theater, then choose 1920 X 1080px. That is the full HD resolution.
- If you are searching for a business, then choose projectors with 1920 X 1200, 3840 x 2160 or, 4K (4096 x 2160) 4K resolution projectors.
4. Brightness
Resolution and Brightness play a major role in projectors. The brightness is calculated according to the Lumens present in the projector. This is really a tedious job, cause some projectors may be good in resolution but the (ANSI) Lumens capacity may be lower. So we have to be very careful while choosing. Let me give you an example to make it clear. For this, I’m going to take BenQ projectors.
The resolution of this model is 4k, but the Lumens capacity is just 3,000 lm. It is best for dark rooms but not for living rooms with lots of ambient lights.
It has XGA resolution and the Lumens capacity is 4000 lm.
5. Price Range
The amount varies from the model and the technology that they are made of.
- DLP Projectors start from $ 300.
- LCD projectors start from $ 550 to $ 2000.
- LED projectors start from $ 3000 to $5000.
So, you can choose according to the budget.
Suggestions:
Here are some of the suggestions that I would like to give you rather than I mentioned above.
- Zooming Capacity– Before buying check whether the projector is having zooming capability. The zooming indicator will help you to increase the size of the display.
- Contrast Ration– The measurement of black to whites. The colors are displayed in the displaying image.
- Lamp Life- To extend the lamp’s lifespan you change the Lamp mode in the settings. You can also replace the lamp but you have to pay additionally.
I hope you guys will surely have some ideas for buying the projectors according to your needs. Now let me show you some of the models with variant features to adjust your needs.
1. Xiaomi Mijia Mini Youth 4k Video Projector 2GB+8GB 3D ($594.67)
Xiaomi Mijia I love this projector for its unique design and easy handling. First I was unaware of this projector and later on, after surfing through the net, I came across this projector. Xiaomi products are different from others. So I prefer this projector. As I said unique, this projector has an Intelligent cooling system with a smart silent fan that other projectors don’t have. Once I saw a video about Xiaomi Mijia, that was really impressive. The video was projecting in one particular building and he projected it through the window to the next building wall. The video was so clear and it was not broken. So, that was the reason why I choose this as first.
Smart Features:
- Best for presentations and you can use it as a home theatre as well.
- Projector Type: DLP Display
- Resolution: 1920 X 1080 and supports 4K resolution as well.
- Brightness level: 500 ANSI Lumens
- Zooming Capacity: NO, but can be easily movable.
- Contrast ration: 1200:1
- Projection Distance: 1 to 4 m
- Throw Ration: 1.2:1
- Interface: 3.5 mm Audio, HDMI, and USB 3.0
- WiFi Connectivity: YES
- Lamp: LED
- Lamp Lifespan: 30,000 hrs.
- Bluetooth: YES
- 3D Support: YES
2. Epson PowerLite 1781W WXGA 3LCD Projector ($629.99)
When talking about Epson PowerLite 3LCD I loved its slim body and the technology that delivers up to 3 times wider color gamut and brightness. It is also a wireless projector that is easily controllable.
Smart Features:
- Best for Business Travellers as it weighs only 4lbs.
- Projector Type: LCD TECHNOLOGY
- Resolution: 1280 X 1080
- Brightness level: 3,200 ANSI Lumens
- Zooming Capacity: YES
- Contrast ration: 10000:1
- Projection Distance: 0.671 – 8.169 m
- Throw Ration: 1.04 to 1.26:1
- Interface: HDMI
- WiFi Connectivity: YES
- Lamp: UHP / UHE / UHM
- Lamp Lifespan: 4000 hours (In normal mode)
- Bluetooth: YES
- 3D Support: YES
3. BenQ TK810 4K HDR Projector ($1.655.23)
BenQ TK810 4K HDR while comparing this projector with other projectors it has a very good brightness with high ambient light. This is very good for the living room and great for business as well. Good for boardrooms and you can accommodate up to 40 participants.
Smart Features:
- Best for meetings and home theater.
- Projector Type: HDR Display
- Resolution: 4K UHD
- Brightness level: 3200 Lumens
- Zooming Capacity: YES
- Contrast ration: No Dynamic Contrast
- Projection Distance: 2.6m to 5.4m
- Throw Ration: –
- Interface: HDMI, USB, RS 232 IN
- WiFi Connectivity: YES
- Lamp: –
- Lamp Lifespan: –
- Bluetooth: YES
- 3D Support: YES
4. Sony VPL-VW295ES Projector($4,399)
The Sony VPL-VW295ES offers Motion flow for smooth and clear motion, even when viewing 4K content. Motionflow adds frames to reduce blur while maintaining brightness, making it ideal for fast-moving sports content. It gives a true theatre experience with Threatre mode.
Smart Features:
- Best for entertainment.
- Projector Type: SXRD (3 Chip)
- Resolution: 4K (4096×2160)
- Brightness level: 1,500 Lumens
- Zooming Capacity: YES
- Contrast ration: No Dynamic Contrast
- Projection Distance: 12.3 – 30.1
- Throw Ration: 1.36:1 – 2.79:1
- Interface: HDMI
- WiFi Connectivity: –
- Lamp: UHP (High-pressure mercury lamp)
- Lamp Lifespan: 6000 Hours (In normal mode)
- Bluetooth: NO
- 3D Support: YES
5. BenQ TK800M 4K UHD Projector ($ 1487.48)
The BenQ TK800M is a 4K HDR projector with high brightness for gaming or watching content with ambient light in the room. Its display pretty good even when the curtains are open, but you have to keep the screen out of direct sunlight.
Smart Features:
- Best for Home entertainment.
- Projector Type: DLP (One Chip)
- Resolution: 3840 x 2160 (UHD 4K)
- Brightness level: 3000 Lumens
- Zooming Capacity: YES
- Contrast ration: 10,000:1
- Projection Distance: 0.91 to 2.5 m
- Throw Ration: 1.50-1.65
- Interface: HDMI, USB
- WiFi Connectivity: –
- Lamp: UHP / UHE / UHM
- Lamp Lifespan: 4,000 hours (In normal mode) Lampsave mode (15,000 hours)
- Bluetooth: NO
- 3D Support: YES
Final Verdict
I have given you some of the best projectors for your Business and Home entertainment. But before buying, please consider all the above details that I have explained to you. Cause these projectors may vary according to the size of your room, the light you have, etc., So cross-check the details before buying the projector of your needs. Thanks for reading, leave your suggestions and doubts in the comment box an as well as if you have some other points that I have missed to explain, please leave that too in the comment box.
