4K Projector Basics

With more movies, TV shows and gaming available in 4K resolution, you may want to invest in a projector that can deliver an incredible visual experience. However, there is a lot of jargon surrounding 4K projectors that can be confusing.

This guide will provide a clearer picture of what to look for when selecting the best 4K projector for your home or office.

Image Quality

The big selling point for 4K projectors is that they provide a sharper image than 1080p models. The higher number of pixels means that images and text are more crisp, especially when viewed from a distance.

A good native 4K projector has around 8 million pixels. This is a lot more than the 2 million in 1080p projectors, and it gives them a much clearer picture.

Non-native 4K models rely on a technique called pixel shifting to create their higher resolution. This is a good solution for people who don’t have the space or budget to get a native model but want the best possible image quality.

Native and pixel-shifting 4K projectors are both excellent for watching movies, sports and TV. They also support high dynamic range (HDR) video content for more impactful highlights and wide color gamut to make colors look truer to life.

Resolution

The resolution of a projector refers to the number of pixels that can be displayed on screen. The higher the resolution, the more detailed the image will be.

4K projectors have a resolution of up to 8 million pixels, which is four times as many as a standard HD or high definition TV. The extra pixels provide a crisper, more lifelike picture and allow you to see fine details like skin texture or individual leaves.

Pixel-shifting technology is used in some 4K projectors to boost the image resolution. This process works by shifting partial frames of a lower-resolution image in rapid succession. This creates “in between” pixel locations, making the image appear higher-resolution than its actual native resolution.

More movies, television shows, and video games are 4K Projector being produced in 4K resolution each year. This trend is expected to continue, so a 4K projector can future-proof your home theater system.

Contrast

A projector’s contrast determines how well dark and light images are displayed on the screen. The better the contrast, the more realistic and detailed the image will be. A projector with a higher contrast ratio will be more expensive than one with lower contrast, but it will also offer superior image quality.

When choosing a 4K projector, consider the environment where you will be using it. If the room is well-lit, look for a model with a high luminosity. The projection distance will also affect the required brightness, so consider how far you will be sitting from the screen when deciding on a model.

Check if the projector has input ports for connecting devices. It’s also a good idea to find out whether it has Wi-Fi capabilities so you can stream movies and TV shows. Look for a model with HDMI compatibility for connecting Blu-ray players and gaming consoles.

Brightness

Over the last few years, there has been a wave of affordable projectors that have entered the lifestyle category. They are aimed at users who want to enjoy their favorite media in 4K while also having the freedom to move the projector from room to room without the need for mounting or renovations of their interior design.

When choosing a 4K projector, it is important to consider the brightness of the unit as this will determine how well you can use it in your home cinema environment. Brightness is measured in lumens and a higher number means a brighter image.

Some manufacturers produce pixel shifting models that claim to deliver true 4K but in reality it is tough for these units to compete with native 4K. This is because native 4K has the ability to display all of the 8.8 million pixels and this delivers a picture that is far more crisp than that delivered by pixel shifting units.

Colors

The color quality of a projector depends on how it creates its colors. Lamp based DLP projectors use UHP lamps to radiate white light. Then, a color wheel is used to split this white light into the red, green and blue colors that make up a video image. Finally, this image is projected onto a screen for display.

Many Pro-AV products list their color capabilities in terms of billions of colors (RGB x 1024 + RGB x 864 = 1.07 billion). This can be confusing to buyers who are unfamiliar with this terminology.

The PT-RQ50K features 2nd generation laser phosphor technology that delivers a lamp-free lifespan of 20,000 hours. It has a lightning-fast bluetooth projector start up time, allowing you to get your entertainment going in an instant. It also offers a market-leading 0.22 ultra short throw ratio, letting you fit it into your home while maintaining its aesthetic and freeing up wall space.

Sound

A projector typically connects to a separate audio system — AV receiver/speakers or a soundbar — so there’s little reason to build a high-quality speaker into the device itself. That said, some feature a pair of decent-sounding built-in speakers or offer Bluetooth pairing.

Gaming projectors vary in their input lag, which can be measured at a specific resolution and refresh rate (how many times per second the image is redrawn). Hardcore gamers should aim for lower than 17ms at their desired settings, while casual players may want to go as low as 4ms.

This Epson projector includes a 120Hz refresh rate, which improves motion clarity for sports and video games. It also supports HDR10, the standard supported by most discs and streaming services, as well as Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG), which is becoming more common. It has a relatively quiet fan and includes manual controls for focus, zoom, and keystone.