BackComprehensive buying guide for projectors: Keep these things in mind before replacing your TV
Comprehensive buying guide for projectors: This guide helps you pick the perfect one by exploring factors like type and resolution to find the projector that fits your space and needs. Become a projector pro and enjoy the magic of a true home theatre experience.
PremiumA projector can be a fantastic alternative to your living room TV. It can turn your nights into an amazing theatre-like experience. Imagine projecting a big-screen film onto a wall, creating a cinematic vibe that goes beyond what any TV can offer. Projectors are super versatile, letting you display presentations for work or school, have epic gaming sessions, or even enjoy outdoor film nights under the stars.
With so many options out there, picking the right one can be a bit tricky. But don’t worry! This projector buying guide will give you all the info you need to find the right projector for you. We’ll look at important things like brightness, resolution, throw distance, and connectivity to make sure you get the best picture quality and features for your space.
We’ll also check out different types of projectors and what they’re best for, so you can find one that fits perfectly into your life. By the end of this guide, you’ll have all the information you need to choose the best projector model for your home experience.
What are different types of projectors?
There are various types of projectors to pick from. When selecting one, you need to consider several factors, such as picture quality, longevity, and the available space. Each type of projector has its own strengths and weaknesses, so understanding these factors will help you make an informed decision.How to choose between LED, LED, or laser projectors?
Beyond screen size and resolution, projector technology plays a key role in image quality and value. DLP projectors utilise millions of tiny mirrors to manipulate light and create an image. It excels at sharp detail and fast refresh rates, making it ideal for fast-paced content like sports or video games. However, some users report a rainbow effect with DLP technology.
LCD projectors, similar to TVs, use liquid crystals to control light. LCD projectors often deliver accurate colour reproduction and are generally more affordable than DLP. However, their contrast ratio is comparatively lower, impacting black levels.
Laser projectors are a cutting-edge alternative to LCD and DLP projectors. They use lasers as a light source, offering exceptional brightness, vivid colours, and superior contrast. Additionally, laser projectors boast longer lifespans compared to lamp-based models. Laser projectors are also much more expensive than the other two.
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Short throw vs long throw projectors
Most projectors are long throw projectors and need distance between the projector and screen to project the picture clearly. If your living room has enough space, then a long throw projector is perfect for you. If not, then short throw projectors are going to be the best choice. Short throw projectors sit right next to the screen to project the picture. You can replace your TV with this projector without moving a single thing in your living room. It can sit on the same TV stand and project the picture to the screen behind it.
Also read: Best 4K home projectors: Experience ultimate home entertainment that delivers unmatched quality
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How to pick the right resolution for a projector?
Resolution is similar for every gadget with a display, whether it's a TV, smartphone, or your laptop. And projectors are not any different, the higher the resolution, the clearer the picture quality. But there are still a few things to keep in mind when comes with projectors.
A projector does not have a specific display size and you can make the screen as large as you want. So we recommend going for a 4K projector for crisp picture quality, no matter the size of the projection you want. For a portable projector, Full HD resolution is sufficient.
Always look for multiple connectivity options in projector
Projectors, just like TV, comes with multiple connectivity options including HDMI ports, USB ports, Ethernet port and more. These different type of ports let you connect various external sources to enjoy the content from. Connect your Blu-ray player to enjoy the movie time with your family. If you are a gamer, then connect your X-box or PlayStation and compete with your friends in multiplayer games. Or if you are a sports fan then connect a smart TV stick and stream T20 World Cup or Euro Cup 2024 with your friends.
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And not only wired connectivity, you should also consider wireless connectivity like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Modern projectors come with their own built-in OS and smart features, including streaming services. You can connect the projector to your home Wi-Fi network and enjoy your favourite shows without any hassle. And for Bluetooth, you can connect multiple accessories like gaming controllers or Bluetooth speakers to enhance the viewing experience.
Should you invest in a portable projector?
With technology getting advanced with time, our gadgets are getting compact and portable. The same goes for projectors, and we now have projectors that you can carry in your pocket and power from an external source like power bank. Both work the same way, the only difference is the use case and budget. The pocketable and compact projectors can be carried to camping to enjoy all your favourite content on the go.
Portable projectors come with their own disadvantages like lower resolution and hassle to find space and carry a screen with you. The life is also much shorter than a regular projector for home.
If you are all about nature at camping and don't like to carry around technology, then skip investing in a portable projector and buy a good quality project. These projectors often comes with a mounting system to fix the unit to the wall or to the ceiling. Once mounted, you can just kick back and enjoy your favourite film or show.
Also read: Best Epson projectors: Top 6 options with latest features for movies, gaming and presentations
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What about the sound quality of a projector?
All projectors come with a built-in speaker but because of space constraints, you can only get smaller speakers. This can drastically affect the viewing experience. This is where the versatile connectivity steps in, you can connect a wireless Bluetooth speaker, sound bar or a home theatre system to the projector.
However, ensure that the projector supports Dolby Atmos or DTS-X so that your external speaker system can take full advantage of these technologies. This will enhance your evening film time or World Cup experience, providing crisp sound or powerful bass whenever needed.
Do you require a projector screen?
Projectors can project the picture onto any surface, whether it be a wall, ceiling, or a screen. Portable projectors come with a feature called keystone that automatically adjusts the projection to give you a straight picture without manual adjustments. You can project the picture to the ceiling and enjoy the content from your bed.
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But we recommend you to invest in a good quality projector screen to enjoy the vibrant colours and crisp picture quality. And these are not very expensive as well, you can get a good quality projector screen in ₹4000 to ₹5000 easily. There are retractable screens that you can pull down only when required.
Can a projector replace a TV?
Yes, in a nutshell, but to get the full picture, it depends on a lot of factors. Do you want to enjoy your content on a larger screen without investing in a big-sized TV? Then go for it because TVs get much more expensive with size, and a projector can give you a similar experience at a much lower cost.
But if you are anyone who appreciates details, contrast, and vibrancy in a picture quality then we recommend you to stick with a TV. Because a projector that can match a TV's picture quality can cost a fortune while TVs are getting cheaper with new innovations every next year.
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