How to choose a projector? (2023 useful tips)

How to choose a projector? As people’s living standards improve, their demands for daily viewing are also increasing. After all, who can resist turning on a drama or finding a movie to watch at home? Especially for many families and young people who rent apartments, the immersive large-screen experience and portability brought by 4k projectors have already become their favorite.

As a movie enthusiast in college, I started to get in touch with projectors early on and consider myself a seasoned Pericat projector enthusiast. It took me about a week to organize this article, in which I share what I believe to be important projector knowledge and purchasing tips, hoping to be helpful to everyone.

What is a projector?

A projector, also known as a projector, is a device that projects an image or video onto a curtain.

First of all, the projection works by using the principle of convex lens imaging.

In convex lens imaging, the object to the lens distance is greater than 2 times the focal length, the imaging effect for the inverted, reduced real image, we commonly use the camera is the principle of this.

When the distance from the object to the lens is less than 2 times the focal length or more than 1 times the focal length, the imaging effect is inverted, magnified real image, which is the basic working principle of the projector.

How to choose the right projector?

How to pick the right projector 4k, first according to your budget to decide, when you determine your budget range of how much, you then go within the budget to select a cost-effective projector for you.

It is not complicated to choose a projector, you need to consider two aspects, one is the hardware parameters, and one is the functional experience.

Hardware parameters are to see the projector material enough, material does not just refer to the individual material workmanship. The projector’s components and chips are not the most advanced, and the combination of software and hardware is not practical.

The function experience is used to target according to their own needs, environment, and conditions, to accurately choose the right projector for themselves.

The hardware parameters are divided into the following aspects:

• Brightness
• Resolution
• Contrast Ratio
• Projection ratio
• CPU
• Light source

Hardware parameters are more content, but the most important is to look at the brightness and resolution.

• Brightness

Projector brightness units are mainly divided into two categories: the brightness of the light source and ANSI lumens.

Light source brightness

The so-called light source brightness refers to the projector’s internal components of the original brightness, not after the light and other factors under the influence of brightness, it can be said that this brightness is idealized brightness.

ANSI lumens:

ANSI lumens refer to the brightness that can be conveyed to our naked eyes after layers of factors.

Therefore, the choice of brightness mainly depends on ANSI lumens, ANSI lumens, the larger, it means that the higher the brightness. If you have daytime viewing needs, it is recommended to choose a brightness of 2000 ANSI lumens or more; for office workers, who most of the night to watch, choosing ANSI lumens lower projector may be more cost-effective. Click here to find out how many lumens for the outdoor projectors.

• Resolution

Resolution is the most intuitive place to affect the clarity of the screen, the same screen size, the higher the resolution, the more delicate and clear display. For example, the clarity, 4k>2k>1080p>720p>480p. everyday TV resolution is basically 1080p, or 720p.

• Chip size

The size of the chip also affects the display effect. The larger the rated size of the chip, the clearer the projected image will be.

DMD = 0.33 inches: the resolution of 720P

DMD = 0.47 inches: the resolution of 1080P

DMD = 0.67 inches: the resolution is 4k.

However, there are some projectors on the market with a DMD of 0.33 inches but marked with its 1080P resolution, which is the projector through high-speed dithering micro-mirror technology to achieve increased pixels. But compared to 0.47 DMD display out of the 1080P resolution, there will still be a difference.

• Projection ratio

Projection ratio is simply understood as the ratio of the distance projected and the width of the display screen, if the family living room is relatively large users, try to choose a small projection than the model, you can enjoy the effect of the giant screen. Most of the projectors on the market today are in a projection ratio of about 1.2:1, reference to this ratio can be selected, basically can meet the family viewing use

• Contrast Ratio

Contrast refers to the measurement of the different brightness levels between the brightest white and darkest black in an image, with the greater range of difference representing contrast.

The higher the contrast ratio, the stronger the picture’s hierarchy, we see the picture is also more gorgeous, and high contrast ratio for the projection of the image clarity, detail performance, and gray levels have a great impact, in short, the higher the contrast ratio is the better.

• Operating speed (CPU, operating memory)

The CPU is the computing center and control center of the machine, and the performance of the CPU directly determines the performance of the machine. Like cell phones and computers, the higher the number of CPU cores, the faster the projector will run.

The operating memory is the memory space that the machine needs to use during operation. If the memory is small, the machine will run very fast or even be unable to open programs. So the more memory you have, the smoother it will run, and the faster the projector will run.

In the home theater projector, the high configuration of the CPU chip and the running memory can make the algorithm and function to the maximum, NPU arithmetic power to trillions, so the projector’s running speed will naturally increase.

• Intelligent adjustment

Support fully automatic trapezoid correction function, a hand can automatically put a full screen, side projection can also be automatically corrected into a square rectangular screen.

Support curtain adaptive function can automatically identify the curtain area, and automatically align the screen to the edge of the curtain, no need to spend time and effort to manually adjust the projector screen size.

Support screen intelligent obstacle avoidance function can intelligently identify the projection area obstacles, to find a more suitable projection surface, whether it is a switch or a mural, and other obstacles can be automatically avoided.

At present, the domestic intelligent projector brands do a good job of Dangbei, Polaris, JMGO, and Pericat these big brands do the best system when the Dangbei OS intelligent system, known as the intelligent projection world of ios system.

Which projector brand is better?

At present, the projector market is divided into two kinds of projection brands, respectively:

Intelligent brands: Dangbei, Polaris, JMGO, Pericat, and other brands

Traditional brands: Sony, Panasonic, Epson, BenQ, Aptus, Acer, etc.

Traditional projector advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages: Most ultra high-pressure mercury lamp light sources, high brightness, good color performance, high color reproduction, high contrast, richer levels of light and dark, more delicate details, suitable for daytime viewing without curtains, general office, classroom, and large living room will choose the traditional projector.

Disadvantages: The short life of the projector bulb, heat, loss, need to regularly replace the bulb, so the cost will be higher, and the most traditional projector does not carry an intelligent system, need to be an external box to use, the use of the smart projector is not convenient.

Intelligent projector advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages: The domestic intelligent projector is more popular, intelligent projectors generally use LED lamps, have life than a light bulb, a service life of up to 20,000 hours, and heat small, intelligent projector small in size, easy to use, equipped with an intelligent system, operation with the TV almost.

Disadvantages: The disadvantage is that the brightness is relatively low, the contrast ratio is relatively low, and the picture quality is not as fine as the traditional projector.

Conclusion

Domestic brands focus more on home projectors, and Epson, Panasonic, and other traditional projector brands tend to be more commercial, this is because most of them are light bulb light sources, with no intelligent system, so we buy home projectors, is recommended that you can buy: Dangbei, Polaris, and Pericat such brands designed for home, especially when the laser system of Dangbei focus on the projector bright field, the brightness can reach 3200ANSI lumens, can make up for the shortcomings of intelligent projectors in brightness.

The projector care maintenance

Regular projector maintenance and a clean projector are important parts of keeping your projector in good working condition and ensuring that it continues to perform well over time.

• Clean the lens: Use a microfiber cloth to gently clean the lens, being careful not to scratch the surface. If the lens is especially dirty, you can use a mixture of water and mild soap to clean it.
• Dust the interior: Regularly dust the interior of the projector to prevent overheating. Use a soft, clean cloth to gently wipe away any dust or debris.
• Keep the projector cool: Make sure the projector is not placed in direct sunlight or near a heat source. This can cause the projector to overheat, leading to reduced performance and a shorter lifespan.
• Handle with care: When moving the projector, make sure to handle it gently and avoid exposing it to sudden jolts or impacts.
• Store the projector properly: When not in use, store the projector in a cool, dry place. If you need to transport the projector, make sure to place it in its carrying case to protect it from scratches and bumps.
• Update software and firmware: Regularly check for software and firmware updates for your projector, and install them as needed. This can help improve performance and address any security vulnerabilities.

Conclusion

By considering these factors, you can choose a projector that meets your needs and provides a good experience. Set up a projector home theater of your own so you can enjoy the big screen experience.

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