How to Choose a 4K Smart Projector
Whether you want to watch movies, play video games or stream content, you can find the right smart projector for your needs. These devices come in different form factors and sizes.
This model has solid brightness uniformity and great contrast, but it doesn’t match our top pick’s image quality. You also get less flexibility with the light calibration settings.
More Color Details
A 4K smart projector can show more color details, making your image look crisper and more realistic. This makes it great for watching movies and sports events in high definition. However, it’s important to know how you’ll be using your projector before buying one.
For example, if you plan to use your projector for work presentations and education, a lack of HDR support or poor HDR handling won’t matter. You also may not need a very bright projector for those situations, so a lower lumen count can save you money.
On the other hand, if you plan to use your projector mostly for gaming and cinema, make sure it can handle both SDR and HDR content. This Epson projector does both and did well in our tests, even though it doesn’t support 3D video playback. It does, however, have an easy-to-use setup process that allows you to calibrate its colors to get the best results. This is especially important for gamers who want to be able to tweak their image settings on the fly.
Large Screens
With a 4K smart projector, you can watch large screens without straining your eyes. The high resolution of these devices reveals intricate details in colors, so you can follow a movie or TV show with ease and never miss a moment.
The LG CineBeam Q is a top-rated model that uses a 3,000-ANSI-lumen RGB laser DLP light engine to deliver sharp images with rich colors and deep blacks. It also offers Dolby Vision support, which is a variation of HDR that improves image quality and contrast while maintaining realistic colors.
It has a short throw ratio of 0.8:1 and can display a 100-inch screen from just 1.77m away, so you can fit it in almost any space. The smart projector has frame interpolation technology to eliminate pixel blur and deliver smooth delivery of fast-moving images. It also has a low-blue light mode that reduces the amount of blue light emitted by the device, which can protect your eyes from eye strain over long viewing periods. It also has a convenient wireless connection that lets you stream video content from your phone or other devices.
Portable Design
The most popular smart projectors are portable, so they can easily go from room to room or even to your backyard. Unlike traditional projectors, they also feature built-in Wi-Fi, making it easy to stream movies and TV shows from your favorite content providers. Many of these 4k smart projector models also support Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant so you can control them with voice commands.
The CineBeam Qube supports both 4K HDR and 1080p high dynamic range, so you can watch a variety of media sources with its built-in LG webOS 6.0 smart TV system. This is the same operating system used by the company’s TVs, and it includes device-optimized versions of popular apps like Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video.
Its built-in ultrasonic sensor can also detect objects near its lens, which is useful for keeping kids and pets from getting too close to the projection screen. And if you happen to accidentally stare directly into the lens, it shuts off automatically thanks to eye protection features. These technologies may not make a huge difference on small screens, but they’re essential on large projections that can be seen from far away.
Screen Mirroring
The best smart projectors have screen mirroring capabilities that enable you to display your phone’s screen on a bigger display. The process usually requires a Wi-Fi network and an app that supports video streaming or mirroring. Most of these apps are available for iOS and Android devices.
To use an AirPlay-compatible projector, ensure your devices are on the same Wi-Fi network and that both the projector and the mobile device have the same screen resolution. Open the Control Center on your 1200 ANSI super bright projector iOS device and tap “Screen Mirroring” to activate the feature. Then, choose your projector from the list of available devices.
Unlike enhanced 1080p displays on PC monitors and cell phones, true 4K projectors reveal more explicit details in every color. This is particularly noticeable on giant screens that offer a more immersive viewing experience for movies, TV shows, and pictures.
Moreover, most 4K portables use LCD technology that doesn’t produce the rainbow artifacts seen on some lower-resolution models. They also support Dolby Vision and HDR10, which provides greater contrast and better shadow detail than standard dynamic range (SDR). Look for projectors with a high ANSI lumen count, especially if you plan to use them in a bright room.
Eye Protection
With the built-in Harman Kardon speakers, this smart projector has a cinematic sound. The screen size can be projected up to 120” for an immersive movie experience. It is also equipped with Smart Home technology, which allows you to control your projector via an app. It also supports HDMI 2.0 and Display Port 1.2 inputs, making it easier to set up and maintain.
With True 4K UHD resolution and 8.3 million pixels, this projector delivers a stunning picture. It features Dolby Vision and HDR support, which enhances the image by bringing out more detail in dark scenes and giving colors more vibrant.
It uses TI’s XPR Fast-Switch pixel shifting technology, which splits the 4K image into four sets of 1,920 by 1,080 pixels and displays them onscreen one at a time, shifting their position between each frame. The eye blends the sets together to perceive a single image, with color accuracy and contrast similar to those of models using Epson’s older pixel-shifting technology. Look for a brightness rating of at least 1,500 ANSI lumens for the best picture in a well-lit room.