Joseph Minetto | Your Complete Guide to Choosing a Projector in 2020, 2021

Whether you’re screening the world cup or your next business presentation, choosing a projector can be daunting with so many models out there. Before you choose the right one for your event, check out our comprehensive guide to projectors for all occasions.

Three Common Types Of Projector

LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)

Transmissive projectors, otherwise known as LCDs (Liquid Crystal Display), work by splitting light into three wavelengths and passing them through an LCD panel into a prism where the wavelengths are recombined and projected. LCDs generally produce a bright image, with good color saturation and low noise levels. They do, however, require a certain degree of maintenance as their filters need cleaning regularly.

DLP (Digital Light Processing)

Reflective projectors or DLPs (Digital Light Processing), use tiny mirrors to project the light into an image and do not require any filters. They can still produce a sharp image with strong brightness so can be used in larger venues and brighter rooms. The only drawback here is the lifespan of the lamp which is limited to about 1,500–2000 hours though newer models can last up to 5,000 hours.

LED (Light Emitting Diode)

LED projectors are in a slightly different category because it refers to the bulb type rather than display technology. Consequently, though LED projectors are technically a category of their own, some DLP projectors can also use LED bulbs. Efficiency is the main advantage of the LED projectors; their bulbs can last for up to 20,000 hours (more or less the lifespan of the projector itself) and they do not require filters. The LED projector is also smaller, quieter, and more energy-efficient, yet they lack the brightness intensity of LCDs or DLPs.

Best Categories By Event

Mini Projector

Mini projectors are ideal if you are looking for something more movable than the monster projector your teacher used at school. Mini projectors can weigh as little as 0.14kg and can fit into your bag or even pocket, making them perfect for travel or presentation on the go.

The APEMAN’s low price (just £169.99 on Amazon) is no indicator of poor quality. This is one of those DPL projectors that uses an LED bulb that we mentioned above, giving it both high resolution for its size (854 x 480) and long bulb life. Despite its small size — the Apeman measures just under 10cm in diameter — it can still produce an image size range from 80cm — 260cm. The reason why this model wins the top spot, however, is for its user-friendly features. The Apeman has an inbuilt rechargeable battery removing the dependency on electric sockets and has the capability to connect to multiple devices — laptops, tablets, cameras, and smartphones.

Short Throw Projector

Short throw projectors are projectors that can sit close to the surface they are protecting against and shoot upwards. This is ideal for use in limited space, crowded rooms, or tricky installations. Since the projector sits close against the screen/ wall there is no danger of people walking through the beam and it takes the work out of finding a surface the right exact right height and distance away from the wall.

Our top pick for the short throw projectors has to be the ViewSonic, for its good value and flexibility. Though this model doesn’t have as large an image size as some of its competitors, it makes up for it with its built-in optical zoom — meaning you have the freedom to place it where ever you like and adjust the image accordingly. A massive point in this projector’s favor is the 3,300-lumen lamp with a 20,000:1 contrast ratio, allowing it to produce a bright, clear image even in daylight conditions. It’s got a great short-throw capacity producing the ideal image just 128cm from the screen. The ViewSonic is all wrapped up in a stylish curved designed shell for just £379 on Amazon.

Large Venue Projector (HD Projector)

Large venue projectors are often but not exclusively installation projectors — projectors used primarily for venues and installed permanently to the wall or ceiling. This is primarily because large venues are often set up require a certain set of qualities — a large display image and very high lumens to create an HD image on a large scale. This can be achieved by installing large projectors or by stacking cheaper ones and overlapping their displays.

When it comes to high lumens, the Epson Powerlight is really streaking ahead with 5,500 lumens (in both white and color lumens), creating a display that will show up in even the largest venues. Despite its power, Epson describes the projector as a portable business projector rather than a large venue model. Yet, this is exactly what puts this model ahead for us, as it has all the power of a large venue projector but encased in a far smaller body weighing just 4.6kg. As well as its brightness, the 2265U offers a large image (up to 7.62m) but maintains high resolution (1920 x 1200) and capacity for full HD (1080p).

Home Cinema Projector

If you are planning on getting a projector for use at home, there are a couple of things to consider. Firstly, what sort of space are you working with? What are you planning on using it for? What are you planning to connect it to?

This DLP Optoma projector deservedly takes the top spot as the best home screening projector. Its double HDMI port makes it easy to set up and perfect for connecting to multiple types of devices. As a home projector, this feature is key, as it means you can watch movies or sport via a laptop, pc Blu-ray player, and a media streamer. You can even connect it to a games console so you and your friends can play on a bigger scale, or turn it into a smart projector by hooking it up with Apple TV or Chromecast directly. This model of Optoma is also lightweight and portable, weighing less than 2.5kg so you can easily move it about the house or garden and has a respectable brightness with 3000 lumens.

Originally published at https://galido.net.