The advantages of having a video projector are multiple, its essential advantage is the feeling of immersion and being in the very centre of the action. However, it is important for this purpose to choose the equipment that best suits your needs. We have selected for you the best Full HD and 4K Ultra HD projectors available on the market.
What is the best projector on the market?
Of course, the choice of the best projector is not made easy, especially since these devices can sometimes be particularly expensive. This is why we recommend that you pay particular attention to the guides that we have written for you. For example, you will be able to learn how to choose the right projector to be sure that when you use your next equipment, your absolute satisfaction will be there, because all your requirements, even the most demanding, will be fully met. Finally, we will explain the main criteria of choice to take into account when buying a video projector, and of course all the benefits of it.
1. Optoma UHD40 – Ultra HD Projector
You want to offer you 4K images for all your films, but you fear the prices too high. So you will no doubt change your mind with the Optoma 4K projector. It already seduces with its small size, which allows it to remain discreet. But don’t be fooled by this, as it promises no less than 8.3 million pixels per image. Exceptional quality.
Depending on the distance, these can range from 0.78 to 7.68 meters diagonally, thanks to the Lens Shift Vertical! Sports matches, action films, animal reports, live the emotion in big with this high-flying device. Rather a gamer? You will feel like you are in the game. Not only are the images impressive, but Optoma also wanted to offer you high-quality sound.
Indeed, the two stereo speakers produce powerful sound. This Optoma UHD40 projector also incorporates two HDMI ports, one VGA port and two USB ports. The format of the images is in 16/9, as in the ciméa. The brand guarantees its device for two years. It does not work on Bluetooth or WiFi.
2. BenQ W2000 – Full HD projector
Do you want to see your Blu-ray to perfection? This model is the one that you have to choose. It’s not exactly cheap, but it’s worth it: it has a resolution of 1920x1080p, 2000 lumens and good connectivity options (composite video input x 1, Component video input x 1, HDMI x 3).
It has a minimum of rainbow effect, some not so black levels and a pinch of vibration, but it is one of the best options for a quality/price to see Blu-rays with good quality. It has an excellent built-in speaker. It is not cheap but the quality of the projector is undoubted.
3. Epson EH-TW7400 3LCD 4K Projector
Do you have different native formats, depending on your movies or games? This will not be a problem for this Epson brand 4K video projector. The projection mode adapts thanks to ten image positions adjustable on the remote control. We can only appreciate the sharpness and the precision of the images of this machine. Even in semi-darkness, the images remain perfect.
You will find on the machine, two HDMI ports integrated into the device, as well as two USB ports, a VGA input and an Ethernet port. It is HDR compatible, to play Blu-ray, series, videos in 4K. The horizontal and vertical lens shift allows this 4K Epson EH-TW7400 projector to express all its intensity in a large room, even if it can adapt its image accordingly.
The lamp guarantees 5000 hours of viewing in eco mode. The brand interprets it as the duration of a film of 1h45 per day, for 7 years. Something to see coming before considering changing the lamp. Bonus, it is compatible with 3D movies, if you are equipped with suitable glasses. This 4K projector comes with its remote control, the power cable, batteries and a user manual.
4. BenQ TK800M True 4K HDR Home Theatre Projector
The Benq TK800M offers very good image quality through aresolution in 4K UHD. It embeds HDR technology to allow reproduction of colours as well as natural shades. The colours are vibrant, regardless of the amount of ambient light. This allows you to use it as much at night as during the day. Regarding the appearance of the product, its aesthetic realization, as well as its light and compact profile, favour its assembly which is done easily. In addition, the device has the zoom function and the vertical keystone.
It is qualitative technology equipment that will amaze you with its image quality. Indeed, HDR is sublime when you play video games in particular. As for the speaker, it reproduces the audio sound as it should.
5. Sony VPL-VW520 – Premium projector for the most demanding
Its resolution is 4096 x 2160px, it has 1800 lumens of brightness, 2 HDMI inputs, 2 outputs of 12V, an RS232 port to support the integration in a domestic control system and a LAN port to support service updates over the internet.
It is a pity that you do not include 3D glasses. If you want a complete home theatre experience in 4K HDR resolution, and you can face its high price, tears will come out of your eyes every time you put a movie. You can only buy it if you have a lot of money in your pocket.
6. Epson EH-LS10000 – premium projector
The Epson EH-LS10000 is an excellent home theatre projector. Good levels of black, great colours, a lot of features are able to provide spectacular Full HD images.
And it has a very interesting feature: scaling at 4K resolution, which works wonders, rivalling the Sony models in its terrain.
7. BenQ W2700 4K Projector
This device displays a beautiful image quality through a4K UHD resolution, that is to say, 3840 x 2160 with 8.3 megapixels distinct with each image. It incorporates many technologies including “CinematicColor” which allows loyalty to the original colours. You can enjoy a qualitative audiovisual experience through the Cinema Master Video + and Audio + 2 systems, a technology from BenQ. It takes on ten-watt speakers that transform your living room into a real movie theatre.
This equipment benefits from a well-worked hull as well as complete connectivity. The zoom function, the lens shift and the vertical keystone correction automatically optimize its editing. You can view content from a USB stick. This device is therefore ideal for a movie night at your home through an image dynamic that can be complicated to match for this price.
8. Optoma HD27 – Excellent projector for a good price
A projector that has come down lately and has really good quality. It has a brightness of 3200 lumens and a resolution of 1920x1080px. That spectacular brightness will allow you to watch movies or TV in broad daylight. It has excellent colours (colour accuracy Rec.709), bright images and decent levels of black. Your sound system is not a wonder.
It has 2 HDMI inputs, MHL support and integrated 10W speaker. It also has a USB port for charging, not for viewing content. The HD27 supports 3D content, but you should invest in the Optoma 3D emitter and in glasses that are not included with the projector.
9. LG PH450U – AEG – Portable ultra-short throw LED projector
Do not you have a lot of space to place a projector? This LG model is the best solution. You only need a few centimetres to project a large image, specifically 33 cm away. The downside is that it only has a resolution of 720p, and if you want something more, 1080p, you’ll have to buy the LG CineBeam HF65LSR, which is quite expensive, about 900 pounds compared to 500 pounds for this model. It has 450 lumens of brightness and has an HDMI (MHL) input.
10. BenQ W1700 Projector
A Home Cinema projector with UHD resolution 4K HDR (3840 x 2160px), 2200 lumens, 3D DLP that offers impeccable image integrity and tremendous colour accuracy thanks to its HDR10 support as it complies with the Rec. 709 standard that guarantees cinematic colours. The sound it offers is acceptable without having to put speakers. It comes with remote control. The only addiction is that it does not have WIFI. Its price is high, but not crazy to be a projector with 4K resolution.
Why buy a projector?
The video projector is a very important tool because it will allow you to stand out in certain areas, namely: the field of business (presentation of projects) and the field of education (presentation of lessons or dissertation). But also, it has a certain effect in everyday life which is the cinema effect.
Presentation of projects
Whether you are an employee or an employer, the video projector is an essential tool for you. Indeed, he will accompany you, as an employee, in your words or explanation likely to convince your interlocutors. It will allow your listeners to better understand and integrate your ideas or suggestions. You can then perform a quality demonstration using an object in keeping with the technology of your time.
As an employer, you can also make your presentations with a video projector. It will allow you, first, to pass your information to the greatest number, and secondly, to make your requests so that the greatest number is aware.
Presentation of courses
The video projector is not an instrument which is only intended for employers and employees. It is also for university or high school teachers and students or pupils.
The latter can, when they are at the end of their training, make different kinds of presentation (students) or simply make the presentation of their presentations (students).
If you are a student, can it guarantee you a very good mention? Whether for a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, the video projector is, therefore, an essential tool for you since it will allow you to present your thesis or thesis more aesthetically. It will certainly allow you to present your ideas, solutions or proposals in a most sophisticated way; and therefore will facilitate your obtaining the favours of your jury who will find themselves seduced by your presentation.
As for the students, they will be able to develop their thematic to their colleagues who will not only be interested in their style of a presentation but also envious of the method used. The video projector will allow you, if you are in the case, to seduce your teacher and for sure to earn very good grades.
The cinema effect
Apart the use from companies and education, the video projector has a no less important role. If you wish, it can allow you to watch images and videos (clips, feature films, films or series). Indeed, you can install it in your bedroom or in your living room to take full advantage of the American series you have. Comfortably installed, lights off, you will really feel like you are in a cinema worthy of the name.
Different types of projectors
Projector for living room
This type of device is the most represented in the comparative. It is not necessarily the best but it offers a rare opportunity for any lover of the seventh art: transforming a living room into a real cinema, provided, however, that there is sufficient space because a projector requires a specific, distant placement. screen or wall. It is possible to associate it with an assortment of loudspeakers in order to reinforce this very special atmosphere that is found in dark rooms.
Portable projector
What is a portable projector in a comparison? As the name suggests, this type is smaller. Easier to transport, a mini projector is the best accessory for professionals on the move, students or audiovisual players.
All you have to do is find a white wall with a flat surface to enjoy the benefits of a compact projector. However, the quality is reduced and is therefore not suitable for films broadcast in high definition, for example, according to the criteria of best comparisons.
3D projector
A projector benefiting from 3D technology is obviously ideal for a cinema session since it allows a total immersion in the projected work, but imagine for a moment the potential of this device during a product presentation, a medical conference or again during the development of an art project!
However, it should be borne in mind that to take full advantage of this product, an impeccable projection surface is essential. The addition of a sound optimization system is a substantial investment, but complementary and relevant. The opinion of experienced users confirms this beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Different technology
LED video projector
Here is a light-emitting diode lamp which generates the projected image. The advantage is obviously economic. Indeed, an LED lamp consumes very little energy and has a very long lifespan compared to others. In addition, they heat little and therefore require less powerful and energy-consuming fans. From a performance point of view, LED video projectors are less bright than the others but offer high contrasts, which is eminently interesting for enjoying a film.
DLP video projector
Their operation is based on the rotation of a colour wheel in front of a powerful lamp. This results in significant brightness and very intense contrast. These materials are often favoured by moviegoers. In addition, these models can be adjusted more finely in terms of an image rendering and offer very well defined blacks and dark colours. Unfortunately, it is an expensive technology, with lamps with a relatively short lifespan and which may annoy some people sensitive to the rainbows produced on the images. Eye fatigue is a major drawback.
LCD video projector
Here is the other sales star with LED models. Here, the images are produced thanks to filters polarizing the light which extinguishes or not the colour pixels. The undeniable advantage of this technology lies in the extremely fine definition of colours and images. Optimal resolution is often one of the criteria of choice, LCD and tri-LCD technologies are certainly a choice of the reason for many, and really turned towards home-cinema systems. On the other hand, the choice of this high technology requires to envisage a replacement of the lamps quite frequent, with a cost really to be taken into consideration. To summarize, you have beautiful images, but they will cost you dearly.
Laser projector
It is a technology close to that of BluRay. In the radius of the advantages: lamps with an extraordinary lifespan (more than 20,000 hours), instant lighting and a device often of very small size and turned to nomadic use. Unfortunately, Full HD models are slow to arrive which reduces their use for home cinema. Finally, their price may seem discouraging with models over £2000 for interesting performances.
Things to consider when choosing a projector?
The lumens
This measurement makes it possible to judge the light intensity produced by the device, it is expressed in lumens. The bottom line here is that the brighter the image, the more pleasant it will be to look at. Prefer here powers greater than 1000 lumens, and more if you can. Unless you install your equipment in a dark room, stray lights can tarnish the image.
The contrast
This is certainly an essential point in thinking about the choice of your future device. It is expressed by a ratio between a lit point and an extinct point, you thus obtain measurements which resemble 2000: 1, that is to say, that the lit point is 2000 times brighter than the extinct point. Contrast is important because it is what will allow your image to diffuse deep blacks, vibrant colours. Beware, however, of the manufacturers’ figures which are obtained under ideal conditions, in particular in the dark room.
Projection distance
Video projectors are made to broadcast very large format images, more than 100 inches diagonally to give you an idea, where the most high-end televisions do not exceed 60. In general, a good device allows 3m distance to generate an image 50 diagonal. In order to properly calculate the possibilities of the devices, you will multiply the size of the base of the image that you would like, by the projection ratio announced for the device. This gives you the maximum distance between the screen and the device. Calculate well before your purchase so as not to go wrong.
Lamp life
It is often on this point that detractors of video projectors rely on to qualify these devices as a financial pit. This is not entirely false, but it must be put in context. Indeed, the average price of a lamp is between £100 and £300. Depending on the use you make of your device, and the life of a lamp, this is an element that you will have to take into account. In general, there are easily compatible generic brand lamps that will save you a few euros. LED technology is popular because its lamps last 10 times longer than conventional models. It will be a choice to take into consideration.
Conclusion
As you can see from the comparisons, there is not a perfect projector for everyone, but among these 6 that we comment here, I’m sure you will find the one that best suits your needs.
It is possible that the 4K models escape your budget, but they will begin to fall in price over time. Full HD projectors are a good option at this time, especially if they have 4K scaling.
For less than 1000 pounds or around we have very good options that can get you out of a hurry.
