Comparison / 16 projectors tested January 2022 By Tanguy Andrillon
Updated on 28/06/21 at 07:00 am Share:
This comparison includes all types of projectors: Home Cinema models, pico projectors or even short and ultra short throw projectors. There is something for all tastes and for all budgets.
The video projector remains a complement to the television since it can only be used in the dark, or even better in the dark to give the impression of being at the cinema. In addition, video projectors work with a consumable: the lamp which has a limited lifespan. On recent models, the lifespan is a little longer (up to 6 hours of light in eco mode), ie 000 years at the rate of 8 hours of daily use. Models with LED or using a laser have a lifespan of at least 2 hours. Full HD models remain the majority on the market. If the Ultra HD 10K models are starting to be affordable, only Sony products – very expensive – offer satisfactory quality in 000K. Depending on the technology used, the quality of the projection differs.
Three technologies dominate the video projector market: the DLP, LCD and the SXRD.
This comparison includes all types of projectors: Home Cinema models, pico projectors or even short and ultra short throw projectors. There is something for all tastes and for all budgets.
The video projector remains a complement to the television since it can only be used in the dark, or even better in the dark to give the impression of being at the cinema. In addition, video projectors work with a consumable: the lamp which has a limited lifespan. On recent models, the lifespan is a little longer (up to 6 hours of light in eco mode), ie 000 years at the rate of 8 hours of daily use. Models with LED or using a laser have a lifespan of at least 2 hours. Full HD models remain the majority on the market. If the Ultra HD 10K models are starting to be affordable, only Sony products – very expensive – offer satisfactory quality in 000K. Depending on the technology used, the quality of the projection differs.
Three technologies dominate the video projector market: the DLP, LCD and the SXRD.
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Let yourself be guided by our experts
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?How is the image quality of a video projector evaluated?
The quality of the image of a video projector depends on several criteria such as the respect of colors, the linearity of gray levels (average gamma) and the color temperature. The sharpness of the image which depends on the quality of the optical unit is also taken into account. The maximum brightness is also important for viewing HDR content, but this use remains very limited on modern video projectors which cannot go very high in brightness compared to televisions.
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?What is contrast?
Contrast is important since it determines the ratio between the deepest black and the brightest white. The higher the contrast, the more dynamic the image. Here again, the contrast is very important for HDR content which will be able to display greater dynamics of the image. Despite everything, the limited brightness peak of video projectors remains a handicap compared to televisions.
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?Can I use a video projector in broad daylight?
It's possible, but it's not recommended for a fairly simple reason: black. Indeed, a video projector does not produce black and it is dependent on the black of the room. This is why a video projector must be used in complete darkness or in the dark. It is possible to use a day projector if it is very powerful and with bright content (football match, TV show, etc.), but it is not always comfortable.
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?Is ergonomics important?
The ergonomics of a video projector remains fairly basic. It concerns the connection (number of HDMI ports, audio output, USB connectors, etc.), the readability of the interface and the remote control which is essential here, especially when the projector is fixed to the ceiling. However, new projectors integrating a complete operating system (webOS, Android TV) have appeared on the market and can more easily be used as a television.
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?Is the noise of a video projector an important criterion?
Noise is a very important criterion since it can be annoying during use. A noise level of less than 40 dB(A) is mandatory for minimum comfort, but this depends on the distance from the projector.
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?Is a video projector a big consumer of energy?
Energy consumption is important. The least greedy models on the market go below 100 W thanks to the use of LEDs. The more classic tube models consume between 200 and 350 watts. Models using a laser light source consume slightly more power than LED models while displaying a brighter image than ultra-high pressure (UHT) lamp models.
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?How are projectors tested?
We use a test methodology very similar to that of televisions, since it is the same video analysis software that now records the measurements: the HCFR colorimeter. We can thus evaluate the luminosity, the depth of the black, the colorimetric space, the RGB levels, the color temperature, the saturation, or the curve of gamma. In addition to this, practical tests (reading HD films, game consoles, TV, etc.) allow us to complete the purely technical measures. We also measure consumption and noise during operation.
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?How is light output determined?
The light output of a projector is communicated in lumens by the manufacturers. The higher this value, the brighter the projector is supposed to produce. Depending on the light source used (lamp, LED or laser), the ratio between the advertised lumens and the actual brightness is more or less important. In our tests, we systematically measure the luminosity in candela per square meter (cd/m²) which allows us to compare the real power of the different projectors measured using our probe.
