Although it is obvious televisions and projectors differ greatly, so we should not pay attention to the same characteristics when we go to buy one device or another. In the case of televisions, the resolution, screen angle and type of panel is the first thing we must take into account. However, in projectors things change.
When we decide to buy a projector we have to be clear if we want a model for interiors or also for exteriors. Depending on this, we must focus our search and not depend on its resolution or screen size. These last two features are less important.
What to consider when buying a projector
- Light is one of the key pieces.. Those projectors with less than 500 ANSI lumens are intended for interiors with very little sunlight, while those that reach a figure of 1,000 lumens They can be used in a dim light. If you are thinking of taking the projector outside and watching a movie or series under sunlight, the minimum to have a clear image is 1,000 or 1,500 lumens.
- Size is important, but without going overboard. Projectors typically have a variable screen angle to fit both small and large spaces. Many of them reach very high figures, up to more than 300 inches that without a good configuration and features will be of little use. The maximum measurement in most projectors to have a clear and sharp image is 100 inches, although with exceptions this figure may be higher.
- The type of panel will determine how much money you want to spend. Currently there are different panels -also called projection technologies- that mark the price of the projector. The most common panels are LEDs, an evolution of 3LCD panels that guarantee a longer useful life, and lasers, which offer the best image quality and usually have a higher cost.
- The resolution depends on what you want to see with the projector. If we are in an office, it is not necessary that the resolution of the projector be very high, but this changes when having a projector at home. Depending on the size of the screen and the experience we want to have, we can choose between different resolutions, the most common currently being Full HD and 4K.
- Connectivity will be key if you want to add other additional devices. Normally the projectors are somewhat tight in connectivity, but there are models with operating systems similar to those of televisions (Android TV, webOS and more), Wi-Fi or even Bluetooth and HDMI to connect a sound bar, although we can find projectors that integrate their own speakers. Of course, they usually stay very fair.
- It is useless to have a projector without a surface on which to project the image. Projection screens are a key part of setting up a home theater, although today there are projectors that can emit a clear and sharp image, with good contrast, on colored surfaces, such as a wall for example.
Best indoor projectors
Xiaomi Mi Smart Projector 2 (B09K7T92DV)
Xiaomi is everywhere, and it could not be missing in the projector sector. The most recommended model is the Mi Smart Projector 2, which costs 607.55 euros and is an LED projector intended, above all, for interiors due to its 500 ANSI lumens. The resolution it achieves is Full HD and its screen angle is variable from 60 to 120 inches.
Xiaomi Mi Smart Projector 2
It has different automatic focus modes and automatic trapezoidal correction. Comes with 16 GB internal storageWi-Fi, integrated speakers with 10W in total and compatibility with Dolby Audio. In addition, one of the best additions is its operating system android tvsomething that we rarely see in projectors.
BenQ GV30 (B09BF6KVQ8)
There are projectors that want to stand out, and one of them is the BenQ GV30 model. But this design has its functionality by integrating 16W power speakers. Its price is 599 euros and it is not recommended to use it outdoors in full light, since it is limited to 300 lumens ANSI. Its compact design is ideal for taking it to second homes and reaches a resolution of 720p.
BenQ GV30 Portable Projector
Like almost all projectors, it features a variation in its screen angle, peaking at 100 inches for dark environments, 60 inches for softly lit rooms, and 40 inches for well-lit rooms. For the latter case, include a daytime picture mode that allows to display an image with better lighting and contrast.
It also includes some interesting specifications that we do not see in other projectors, such as a projection angle of 135º and android tv 10 as an operating system, in addition to Wi-Fi to download applications.
Philips NeoPix Ultra One (B0B7249JB6)
If we go to cheaper prices, the Philips NeoPix Ultra One projector is one of the most recommended. We currently find it for 299 euros and, although it does not have as many specifications as the previous models, it is pretty good to set up our first home theater.
It has an LCD LED light source with a bulb life of 30,000 hours of reproduction. reach a maximum of 65 inches and a minimum of 24, manually adjustable to Full HD resolution. Its speakers are 10W and it does not come with wireless connectivity, but by cable: two HDMI ports, one USB, MicroSD and 3.5mm audio output. In this case, the mark does not detail the value of ANSI lumens.
Best outdoor projectors
BenQ TH671ST (B075JH2J42)
If, in addition to a cinema, you want to have a ideal projector for video gamesthe BenQ TH671ST model is a short throw and has a DLP (digital light processing) projection system with resolution Full HD and up to 100 in. All this for a price of 879 euros. This figure is justified by its specifications and by its 3,200 lumens ANSIideal for outdoors.
It includes different image setting modes for movies, video games, sports, 3D and others that we can configure ourselves. The power of its speaker drops to 5W, although it includes a 3.5-millimeter audio input to connect sound bars or speakers by cable.
The icing on the cake lies in its fluidity with a lightning fast response time thanks to its DMD chip, something intended for video games. In addition, we do not need a white wall or a projection screen, since it is capable of displaying sharp images with a high level of color on colored surfaces.
Epson EH-TW7000 (B07XTWF3XV)
From the Epson brand, we find some interesting outdoor models, such as the EH-TW7000 projector that reaches a price of 1,299.99 euros. Comes with 3LCD technology (uses three chips to improve image quality) and a total of 3,000 ANSI lumens. The big difference with the rest of the projectors is that this one manages to reach a 4K resolution and supports HDR10 and HLG.
It has a 60% vertical and 24% horizontal manual zoom, it is capable of projecting images of 40 to 500 inches (100″ at a distance of 2.95 – 4.77 meters) and is compatible with 3D formats. It also includes different color modes and connectivity is only by cable.
Epson EH-TW6250 (B0B984BLMZ)
Another projector practically identical to the previous one is the Epson EH-TW6250 model, an earlier version that we found for 1,249 euros. The biggest difference lies in its design, since it presents a square format. But it also comes with 4K resolution and, in this case, a total of 2,800 ANSI lumens.
It has 3LCD technologyA maximum of 500 inches and Android TV as an operating system, something that we always miss in other even more expensive projectors, or even the previous Epson model.
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Image | BenQ, Xiaomi, Philips, Epson
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