Are you looking for the best 4K projector to buy in 2021? Click here to view the best 4k projectors for this year. Below are a list of some of the best 4K projectors we reviewed in 2021. Now, we did not review every 4K projector on the market, but we did review several, these are the projectors we were most impressed by and think would make a great addition to any home theater system.
Take a look and see if your pick made the list.
Sony VPL-VW915
The VW915ES excels at just about everything picture wise, and for that matter, feature-wise as well. Its best modes are very close to calibrated color, without any adjustment at all. Sharpness is very natural looking. The Reality Creation (detail enhancement feature) in its setting of 20 settings of provided great sharpness with virtually no visible artifacts.
When it comes to HD and 4K SDR content, as expected, the Sony VW915ES was outstanding. While calibration will improve the picture quality, the VW915ES delivered an accurate, natural-looking picture right out of the box. Once the projector is calibrated, its laser light engine combined with the unit’s Auto Calibrate feature ensures that the VW915ES will deliver “calibrated” color accuracy for several years.
Add to that excellent black level performance. Only the top of the line JVCs might rival or beat this Sony, but it’s likely that nothing else even comes close.
SONY VPL-VW915ES SPECS
Price
$19,999.99
Technology
3 LCoS panels
Native Resolution
4096x2160
Brightness
2000
Zoom Lens Ratio
2.06:1
Lens Shift
Yes
Lamp Life
20,000 Hours
Weight
44.0
Warranty
3 Years Parts and Labor
VW915ES Overview
The VW915ES supports both the HDR10 standard as well as HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma). I was excited to review the VW915ES when I learned it was one of three new 4K SXRD projector models that offer frame by frame HDR tone mapping. I have long believed that dynamic tone mapping is absolutely necessary to extract the maximum image quality from HDR10 content. I can confess that the VW915ES produced the best looking HDR picture I have ever seen on my screen in my room.
Sony was the first company to introduce a 4K projector and they still have the widest product selection. Like all Sony 4K HDR home theater projectors, the VW915ES utilizes three SXRD panels to deliver true 4K resolution (4096 x 2160).
The most notable features of the VW915ES are:
Laser Light Engine - VPL-VW915ES is least expense Sony 4K SRXD projector that utilizes their Z Phosphor Laser Light Source. The new projector optimized X1 processor controls both the projector’s dynamic iris and the unit’s laser engine’s dynamic dimming which results in outstanding dynamic contrast and black level.
Advanced Video Processing - the VW915ES and the VW715ES utilize a version of X1 processor optimized for projectors. The projector’s Reality Creation feature analyzes HD, 4K, and HDR content frame by frame to enhance detail, colors, and detail. The X1 ensures that Full HD is upscaled close to 4K quality.
Compatible with HDR10 and HLG - HDR provides a major improvement in dynamic range as well as color. It lets you see more detail in the shadows and the bright areas and delivers more saturated lifelike colors.
Frame-by-Frame Dynamic HDR Tone Mapping - The VW915ES (along with the VW715ES and GTZ380) has a new feature called Dynamic HDR Enhancer. By utilizing a version of Sony’s X1 processor optimized for projection, these are the first Sony projectors that are able to measure HDR content frame by frame for precise dynamic tone mapping of HDR10 content.
Motorized Lens – lens has motorized zoom along with optical horizontal and vertical lens shift adjustment. This makes it easy to adjust the image’s position compared to the installed location. Making this adjustment optically rather than using digital keystone or other digital geometry correction offers the best possible image. horizontal/vertical lens shift and zoom.
Picture Positioning - This feature lets you store up to five combinations of lens settings (including focus, picture size, vertical/horizontal shift) and aspect ratio. You can quickly match a movie’s aspect ratio of a masking screen including 16:9 and Cinemascope and store these settings in the projector for easy recall.
The VW915ES retails for $19,999.99 making it the least expensive Sony 4K SXRD projector equipped with a laser light source. Sony claims the VW915ES can produce 2,000 lumens of brightness and the unit’s laser light source has a rated life of 20,000 hours.
The DLA-RS3000 retails for $17,999 and delivers 2200 Lumens with a high contrast ratio of 1000,000:1. It can also deliver rich vibrant colors. JVC also claims that with the Cinema Filter engaged, the RS3000 can reproduce to 100% of the DCI-P3 color space.
The DLA-RS3000 is equipped with a 100 mm diameter lens which adopts an all-glass design with 18 elements in 16 groups to deliver a high-resolution image with sharp focus across the entire screen.
On a lot of projectors, HDR content can appear dull due to a lack of brightness. The Adaptive HDR tone mapping combined with Theater Optimizer feature eliminates this problem. This feature dynamically measures the brightness of HDR10 content and automatically adjusts the DLA-RS3000’s settings to deliver the best HDR picture possible.
JVC RS3000 SPECS
Price
17,999
Technology
DILA, 3Chip
Native Resolution
4096x2160
Brightness
2200
Contrast
100,000:1
Zoom Lens Ratio
2.00:1
Lens Shift
Yes
Lamp Life
4,500 hours
Weight
48 lbs
Warranty
3 years
JVC RS3000 Overview
The JVC DLA-RS3000 is an HDR commercial projectorthat delivers true 4K resolution (4096 x 2160). With a retail price of $17,999, the DLA-RS3000 sits at the higher end of JVC’s 4K FPJ lineup but its high native contrast combined with 4K resolution results in exceptional performance. Since this is a native 4K unit (unlike a 2K pixel shifting projector), it can faithfully reproduce all 8.8 million pixels found in 4K content.
The RS3000 is rated at 2200 lumens and has an estimated lamp life of 4,500 hours in Low Mode. Even with the Low Mode’s reduced lumen output, the RS3000 is still capable of producing more than enough light for a home theater or conference room. The RS3000 uses the same bulb as the predecessor RS2000 but better optics realize an additional 300 lumens of brightness.
The most notable features of the RS3000 are:
Frame Adapt HDR with Theater Optimizer - This new feature automatically adjusts the projector’s HDR settings (tone mapping) to optimize HDR10 image quality. JVC uses the static HDR meta data to make tone mapping adjustments to better use the projector’s brightness capabilities based on the on-screen image.
8K E-Shift Technology - The RS3000 utilizes JVC’s proprietary 8K e-shift which shifts pixels diagonally 0.5 pixel to quadruple the projected resolution to 8192 x 4320.
100MM All Glass Lens Assembly - Good optics have a major impact on picture quality. The better lens assembly is one of the major reasons why the RS3000 (NX9) costs $10,000 more than the RS2000 (NX7).
Native 4K D-ILA LCoS Panels - The JVC NX-Series and RS-Series projectors use JVC’s new 3rd generation 0.69-inch native 4K D-ILA devices. These new panels offer a noticeable native contrast improvement over the previous generation 4K panels found in their flagship RS4500 laser projector.
Compared to the competition, I have yet to find a single chip consumer 4K DLP projector that could come anywhere close to the color fidelity, contrast, and black level of a JVC LCoS projector like the DLA-RS3000. It is not even a fair fight – the DLA-RS3000 is in a whole other league. If you have the budget to step up from a 4K DLP projector to a 4K JVC D-ILA, you should absolutely do it.
The JVC DLA-NX7 is an HDR home theater projector that can deliver true 4K resolution (4096 x 2160) and its high native contrast, combined with 4K resolution, results in a great amount of performance at a reasonable price. Since this is a native 4K unit, unlike a 2K pixel shifting projector, it can faithfully reproduce all 8.8 million pixels found in 4K content.
All JVC NX series projectors utilize JVC’s new 3rd generation 0.69-inch native 4K D-ILA devices. These new panels offer a noticeable contrast improvement over previous-generation 4K panels found in their flagship RS4500 laser projector.
JVC claims the NX7 can produce 1,900 lumens with a high contrast ratio of 800,000:1. It can also deliver rich, vibrant colors. JVC also claims that with the Cinema Filter engaged, the NX-7 can reproduce to 100% of the DCI-P3 color space.
JVC NX7 SPECS
Price
$8,999
Technology
DILA, 3ChipNative
Resolution
4096×2160
Brightness
1900
Contrast
80000:1
Zoom Lens Ratio
2:00:1
Lens Shift
Yes
Lamp Life
4,500 hours
Weight
43.6lbs
Warranty
3 Years
JVC NX7 OVERVIEW
The NX7’s high contrast ratio combined with 4K resolution and JVC’s industry-leading best black levels results in exceptional picture quality.
JVC offers both Consumer and Professional versions of their projectors. The main difference between the two lines is mostly cosmetic. I reviewed the JVC DLA-NX7 from their consumer lineup. The nearly identical Reference Series (professional) version is the DLA RS2000.
The most notable features of this projector are:
Frame Adapt HDR with Theater Optimizer – The Theater Optimizer feature combines information provided by the user with the projector’s current status information to provide a more accurate baseline for applying Dynamic Tone Mapping. Theater Optimizer and Frame Adapt HDR result in great-looking HDR10 content while eliminating the hassle of constantly making manual Brightness and Contrast adjustments from bright to dark scenes or from movie to movie.
Multi-Element All-Glass Lens Assembly – The DLA-NX7 is equipped with a 65 mm diameter lens, which adopts an all-glass design with 17 elements in 15 groups to deliver a high-resolution image with a sharp focus across the entire screen.
Native 4K D-ILA LCoS Panels – This projector uses JVC’s new 3rd generation 0.69-inch native 4K D-ILA devices. These new panels offer a noticeable native contrast improvement over the previous generation 4K panels and further enhance black level performance by using a dynamic iris.
Motorized Lens With Memories – The NX7 has motorized horizontal/vertical lens shift and zoom. Lens memories allow the ability to save different motorized lens settings, use one for HDTV and one for widescreen movies. This is a useful feature for someone who opts for a 2.35:1 screen because they want to take advantage of the entire screen area when watching a widescreen movie.
Compared to the competition, I have yet to find a single chip consumer 4K DLP projector that could come anywhere close to the color fidelity, contrast, and black level of the DLA-NX7. Due to its Dynamic Tone Mapping capabilities, the HDR picture quality is outstanding as well. If you are looking for a projector at this price point, the NX7 so be at the top of your list.
The Sony VPL-VW325ES is a 1500 ANSI lumen 4K SXRD home theater projector and the successor of the highly-rated VW295ES ($5000 SRP) which we reviewed a few years ago. The VW295ES was one of our favorite projectors, offering an outstanding picture that very few models in its price range could match.
All Sony 4K home theater projectors deliver outstanding picture quality. As you move up the lineup, you get additional features that further improve the image, maximize reliability, and simplify installation/operation.
SONY VW325ES SPECS
Price
$5500
Technology
SXRD (3)
Native Resolution
4096×2160
Brightness
1500
Zoom Lens Ratio
2.06:1
Lens Shift
Yes
Lamp Life
8000 hours
Weight
31 lbs
Warranty
3 years
Sony VW325ES Overview
The VW325ES is like a base model Porsche 911 compared to the fully loaded VW915ES Porsche 911 Turbo. While the base model doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of the better model, it still outperforms most vehicles in its class. In fact, except for a few models like the JVC NX5/RS1000, the VW325ES outperforms most projectors near its price range.
As expected, when it comes to HD and 4K SDR content, the Sony VW325ES was outstanding. While calibration will improve the picture quality, the VW325ES delivered an accurate, natural-looking picture right out-of-the-box.
Once the projector is calibrated, the unit’s Auto Calibrate feature ensures that the projector will deliver “calibrated” color accuracy for years, even as the lamp ages.
Many projectors deliver significantly less than their rated brightness when placed in their most accurate picture mode. It is not uncommon to see the brightness cut in half. The VPL-VW325ES produced close to its rated brightness of 1500 lumens even in its most accurate picture modes.
The most notable features of this projector are:
Native 4K SRXD – Sony VW325ES uses Sony’s 4K SXRD (4096 x 2160) panels. Since this is a native 4K unit, unlike a 2K pixel shifting projector, it can faithfully reproduce all 8.8 million pixels found in 4K cinema content. The VW325ES uses the same type of 3 chip 4K SXRD imaging system used in Sony 4K cinema projectors found in the world’s best movie theaters. It increases contrast, color depth and minimizes the “screen door effect” (blocky image distortions) compared to most 3LCD projectors.
Advanced Video Processing - the VW325ES utilizes a version of X1 processor optimized for projectors. The projector’s Reality Creation feature analyzes HD, 4K, and HDR content frame by frame to enhance detail, colors, and detail. The X1 ensures that Full HD is upscaled close to 4K quality.
Frame-by-Frame Dynamic HDR Tone Mapping - The VW325ES has a new feature called Dynamic HDR Enhancer. By utilizing a version of Sony’s X1 processor optimized for projection, these are the first Sony projectors that are able to measure HDR content frame by frame for precise dynamic tone mapping of HDR10 content.
IMAX Support – This Sony VW325ES is one of a handful of Sony projectors to receive IMAX certification.
Motorized Lens – lens has motorized zoom along with optical horizontal and vertical lens shift adjustment. This makes it easy to adjust the image’s position compared to the installed location. Making this adjustment optically rather than using digital keystone or other digital geometry correction offers the best possible image. horizontal/vertical lens shift and zoom.
While the VW325ES is Sony’s most budget-friendly 4K SXRD Home Theater model, it’s still packed with “installer-friendly” features including a motorized lens with tons of zoom and lens shift. With a retail price of $5,500, the VW325ES is more expensive than a DLP based laser home theater projector, but if you truly care about picture quality and can fit the VW325ES into your budget, it should be at the top of your list.
The Pro Cinema 6050UB is one of the most versatile and capable projectors around. Excellent color – best in class (by far) black levels, great placement flexibility is why the Pro Cinema 6050UB, or the less expensive HC5050UB will remain our top recommendations in this price range.
Epson Pro Cinema 6050UB includes a spare lamp, a ceiling mount, a cable cover, and a loner 3-year replacement warranty are not included with the HC5050UB.
When it comes to placement flexibility, you will be hard-pressed to find any projector offering more vertical and horizontal lens shift even at twice the price.
EPSON 6050UB SPECS
Price
$3999
Technology
3 LCD
Native Resolution
1920×1080
Brightness
2600
Contrast
1,200,000:1
Zoom Lens Ratio
2.10:1
Throw Ratio
1.35:1 - 2.84:1
Lens Shift
Yes
Lamp Life
5000 hours
Weight
24.7 lbs.
Warranty
3 years
Epson 6050UB Overview
Epson’s UB series (Ultra Black) projectors use special high contrast 3LCD panels that aren’t used in any of Epson’s other home or commercial projectors, except the near-identical Home Cinema 5050UB. Epson Pro Cinema 6050UB includes a spare lamp, a ceiling mount, and a cable cover, and those goodies are not included with the HC5050UB. The Pro Cinema 6050UB also gets an upgraded warranty – three years parts and labor with a rapid replacement program.
The Pro Cinema 6050UB had good color reproduction “right out of the box.” The black levels were better than most competitive home theater projectors. The PC6050UB supports HDR (high dynamic range), both the HDR10 standard for 4K UHD Blu-ray discs and streaming, and HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma), which is optimized for live broadcast.
The most notable features of this projector are:
4K PRO-UHD Projection Technology – A new approach to 4K home theater projection utilizing dedicated hardware processing for resolution enhancement, HDR, and image processing – resulting in an exceptional 4K home theater experience.
True 3-Chip Projector Design – Advanced 3LCD technology ensures 100% of the RGB color signal is displayed for every frame. This ensures outstanding color gamut while maintaining excellent brightness, without any bothersome “rainbow effect” nor “color brightness” issues typical of single-chip projectors.
Dedicated 4K Pixel-Shift Processor – Advanced 4K pixel-shifting hardware precisely controls three-individual high-definition LCD chips to parallel process up to 12 million pixels of information. This breakthrough in resolution enhancement technology results in an exceptional 4K visual experience – surpassing virtually all other forms of 4K home theater projection.
3-Axis Motorized Lens – For maximum placement flexibility. You can shift the lens up to 96% on the horizontal axis and up to 47% on the vertical axis. You can also set the zoom and focus, then store all the settings in one of ten presets. The lens’s 2.1:1 zoom range provides maximum placement flexibility.
These Epson projectors are great examples of getting the biggest bang for your buck. Razor-sharp 4K content, stunning P3 color, HDR reproduction, and an extensive feature set truly sets the 6050UB apart from the competition. For a list price of $3999, owners will get to enjoy some excellent picture quality, with best in class black levels for great handling of really dark scenes.
With proprietary dedicated processors for resolution enhancement, HDR, and image processing – the result is incredible brightness, color accuracy, and image detail – faithfully displaying all your favorite content from the classics to the latest blockbusters.
The Pro Cinema 6050UB is Epson’s flagship home theater projector. Black levels are excellent for the price. Of lower cost projectors, nothing but the 5050UB comes close to the 6050UB’s black levels. The great blacks truly enhance those really dark scenes and separate “serious” projectors from merely “home entertainment.”
Due to its performance and feature set, the Pro Cinema 6050UB or the less expensive HC5050UB will remain our top recommendations in this price range.
The LG AU810PB is a 4K DLP Laser Smart projector with a suggested retail price of $3999. This projector offers a great deal of performance and numerous advanced features for its price. It has a rated brightness of 2700 Lumens, and its Laser-light source is rated to last up to 20,000 hours.
AU810PB is a 1920x1080x4 pixel shifter – using a DLP (0.47″ DMD) chip to leverage the immense speed of the DMD (Digital Micromirror Device) to process pixels faster than the rate of the video signal. This system works so well that it would be difficult for any viewer to see a difference in resolution from a native 4K UHD (8.3 megapixels) imager.
The AU810PB delivered a great picture and is packed with firsts, which is why we gave it a Projector Reviews Hot Product Award.
LG AU810PB SPECS
Price
$3999
Technology
DLP with XPR
Native Resolution
1920x1080x4
Brightness
2700
Contrast
2,000,000:1 (Dynamic)
Zoom Lens Ratio
1.6:1
Throw Ratio
1.30:1 - 2.08:1
Lens Shift
Yes
Lamp Life
20,000 hours
Weight
24.3 lbs.
Warranty
3 years
The LG AU810PB combines all the Smart capabilities of flat-panel TVs but with the high-quality, maintenance-free Laser-light engine and 4K resolution to make it a true flat panel TV replacement.
Some of the most notable features of this projector are:
Dual-Channel Laser Light Engine — The AU810PB’s 2-channel Laser-light source is more sophisticated than the blue laser phosphor systems utilized in many home theater projectors that cost significantly more, and it can dramatically reduce the breakup of color or rainbow effect.
Brightness Optimizer — The projector can adjust its light output by changing the size of the iris opening. In addition to the three preset levels (BRIGHTROOM, MEDIUM, DARKROOM), there is a USER mode which gives you the ability to manually adjust the iris size. It also has a feature called Adaptive Contrast, which adjusts the Laser output to increase the dynamic contrast ratio.
HDR Pro — The AU810PB can dynamically tone map HDR content, which lets you see more detail in the darker images and shadows and it delivers more vibrant, lifelike colors in the brighter images. The AU810PB also includes HGiG, which is designed to improve the HDR gaming experience.
HDMI 2.1 Features — The AU810PB is one of the first projectors on the market equipped with eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel). The AU810PS is also one of the first projectors with Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM). When you play a game on a compatible gaming console or PC, this feature automatically switches into its “Game Mode” for smooth, lag-free game play.
WiSA — The AU810PB is WiSA ready. If you plug an optional third-party WiSA transmitter into one of the projector’s USB ports, the projector can wirelessly transmit 7.1-channel audio to a compatible set of speakers via the high-resolution WiSA.
Smart TV Features — The AU810PB utilizes the same ThinQ AI webOS that is found in LG’s current flat panel lineup, with Voice Control (including Google Assistant and Alexa), the LG Content Store, where you can access many popular streaming services, and Wireless Connectivity and Media Playback.
Calman Auto Calibration — The AU801PB, just like LG high-end flat-panel TV, can communicate directly with the Calman calibration software to auto-calibrate itself. The software takes a reading and adjusts the projector’s menu settings to fine-tune the onscreen image quickly.
The AU810PB offered accurate out-of-the-box color reproduction, and it is one of a few projectors with Dynamic HDR Tone mapping and HGiG. It is also one of the first projectors equipped with the latest HDMI 2.1 features, including eARC and ALLM.
Since the AU810PB was designed to replace a flat panel TV, it has all the Smart features customers expect from a Smart TV. You can use the Smart remote for voice control with its built-in microphone to control basic projector features and control a wide variety of compatible Smart devices via Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
The AU810PB is also the first projector we have reviewed that is WiSA-compatible so that it can broadcast sound to multiple wireless speakers. This eliminates the wires and the A/V receiver, so it is easier for anyone to set up a stereo or a full surround system.
The LGAU810PB is by far the most advanced and feature-packed model on the market below $5000.
The Epson Home Cinema 5050UB offers capabilities rivaling many much higher-priced competitors. And, they offer dramatically more capabilities than any 4K capable projectors currently listing less than $3,000.
Great in a dedicated home theater and it works well in media rooms, living rooms, dens, family rooms (thanks to 2600 max lumens) as long as you have some reasonable lighting control. With its expansive and capable feature set, there are few projectors anywhere near the price that can take on this Epson, feature for feature.
When it comes to placement flexibility, it offers great vertical and horizontal lens shift even more than some projectors that are twice the price.
EPSON 5050UB SPECS
Price
$2999
Technology
3LCD
Native Resolution
1920×1080
Brightness
2600
Contrast
1,000,000:1
Zoom Lens Ratio
2.10:1
Throw Ratio
1.35:1 - 2.84:1
Lens Shift
Yes
Lamp Life
3500 hours
Weight
24.7 lbs.
Warranty
2 years
Epson 5050UB Overview
When we reviewed this projector we were impressed by its high performance at an affordable price point. The HC5050UB had good color reproduction “right out of the box”. The black levels were better than most competitive home theater projectors.
The HC5050UB supports HDR (high dynamic range) both the HDR10 standard for 4K UHD Blu-ray discs and streaming as well as HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) which is optimized for live broadcast.
The most notable features of this projector are:
4K PRO-UHD Projection Technology – A new approach to 4K home theater projection utilizing dedicated hardware processing for resolution enhancement, HDR, and image processing – resulting in an exceptional 4K home theater experience.
True 3-Chip Projector Design – Advanced 3LCD technology ensures 100% of the RGB color signal is displayed for every frame. This ensures outstanding color gamut while maintaining excellent brightness, without any bothersome “rainbow effect” nor “color brightness” issues typical of single-chip projectors.
Dedicated 4K Pixel-Shift Processor – Advanced 4K pixel-shifting hardware precisely controls three-individual high-definition LCD chips to parallel process up to 12 million pixels of information. This breakthrough in resolution enhancement technology results in an exceptional 4K visual experience – surpassing virtually all other forms of 4K home theater projection.
3-Axis Motorized Lens – For maximum placement flexibility. You can shift the lens up to 96% on the horizontal axis and up to 47% on the vertical axis. You can also set the zoom and focus, then store all the settings in one of ten presets. The lens’s 2.1:1 zoom range provides maximum placement flexibility.
These Epson projectors are great examples of getting the biggest bang for your buck. Razor-sharp 4K content, stunning P3 color, HDR reproduction, and an extensive feature set, truly sets the 5050UB apart from the competition. For a list price of $2999, owners will get to enjoy some excellent picture quality, with best in class black levels for great handling of really dark scenes.
With proprietary dedicated processors for resolution enhancement, HDR, and image processing – the result is incredible brightness, color accuracy, and image detail – faithfully displaying all your favorite content from the classics to the latest blockbusters.
If you’ve been looking for the best possible 4K home theater experience for an affordable price, the HC5050UB just may be the one!
While the TK850i’s dynamic iris improves the units contrast, its home theater focused sibling, the BenQ HT3550i, can deliver deeper blacks. However the TK850i is significantly brighter making it a better choice for an average living room. The TK850i delivered bright accurate colors out-of-the-box which made both broadcast and HDR content look great.
The TK850i projector claims 3000 lumens and it will perform remarkably well both in darkened rooms or in rooms with uncontrolled ambient lighting.
BENQ TK850i SPECS
Price
$1699
Technology
DLP with XPR
Native Resolution
1920x1080x4
Brightness
3000
Contrast
30,000:1
Zoom Lens Ratio
1.3x
Throw Ratio
1.13:1 - 1.47:1
Lens Shift
Yes
Lamp Life
20,000 hours
Weight
9.3 lbs.
Warranty
3 years
BenQ TK850i Overview
The BenQ TK850i is an excellent home theater projector that sells at an MSRP of $1,699. The TK850i is a pixel-shifting projector that displays a native 4K resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels on screen.
One really nice feature to note is that the TK850i supports both HDR10 and HLG HDR. The TK850i features a dynamic iris designed to enhance black-level performance. There’s an onboard speaker system featuring two 5-watt speakers that gives the TK850i some decent stand-alone sound capabilities should you choose to use it without plugging into an external sound system.
Some of the most notable features of this projector are:
HDR — BenQ integrates software and hardware technologies in order to present an authentic HDR image with more detail and better picture quality than non-HDR systems.
HDR-Pro Technology — The BenQ HDR-PRO implementation is made of three different components: HDR Brightness, Tone Mapping and Dynamic Iris. These three features combined improve the TK850i’s picture by improving the projector’s dynamic range.
3D — The BenQ TK850i features a 3D function that allows you to enjoy 3D movies, videos, sporting events and games in a more realistic way, by adding depth to the image when you are wearing a pair of optional compatible 3D glasses.
Android TV OS — The TK850i gives you access to apps and services like Google Play, Prime Video and YouTube right on the projector. Once installed, the included Android TV USB dongle acts as a streaming and media box with many channels and apps built in.
Wi-Fi — The BenQ TK850i streaming stick comes with Chromecast built in. Cast your favorite entertainment from your Android or iOS device, Mac or Windows computer or Chromebook to your projector, all without needing to purchase a TV stick. The TK850i’s media adaptor also supports AirPlay, with a compatible Apple device.
Google Assistant — Android TV with Google Assistant provides you with a smarter viewing experience. You can easily search and watch movies, stream apps and play games. You can even ask questions and see answers from Google on the big screen.
This is a projector designed to handle the latest and greatest 4K content with HDR. The BenQ TK850i stands out from the DLP pack when it comes to bright accurate color s accuracy and good black levels.
The HT3550 was designed for dark theater environments where black level and accurate colors are more important than maximum brightness. It is one of the least expensive 4K DLP projectors equipped with a dynamic iris and ships color calibrated from the factory. Performance-wise, the HT3550i is identical to the older HT3550 but is equipped with an Android OS, which adds tons of smart features. The HT3550 won one of our Hot Product Awards in 2019 due to its good black levels and accurate color reproduction at an affordable price.
The HT3550 is geared toward serious movie enthusiasts who care about picture quality enough to optimize their rooms for the best picture. The HT3550 is a home theater projector that works best in rooms with little or no ambient light.
The BenQ HT3550 is a 4K DLP projector part of BenQ CinePrime series projectors designed for home theater applications where deep blacks and accurate colors are more important than maximizing brightness. It is one of the least expensive projectors equipped with a dynamic iris, giving The HT3550 an advantage in black level compared to most projectors in its price point. The projector’s six-segment RGBRGB color wheel combined with a built-in cinema filter can reproduce 100% Rec.709 color gamut and 95% DCI-P3. The HT3550 supports both HDR10 and HLG, using auto HDR tone mapping to maximize the projector’s brightness.
Some of the most notable features of this projector are:
Dynamic Iris – This may be the most significant feature of the HT3550 because it noticeably improves black levels. None of the 4K UHD competition, anywhere near the HT3550 price point, offers an iris.
4K UHD Capable – While the HT3550s DLP (0.47″ DMD) chip isn’t native 4K, rapid pixel shifting gives the DLP chip the ability to deliver a perceived resolution 8.3 million pixels. This system works so well that it would be difficult for any viewer to notice a difference in resolution from a native 4K UHD (8.3 megapixels) imager.
Cinema Filter – When the filter is slid into the projector’s light path, the unit can reproduce a claimed 95% of P3 color with HDR in D. Cinema Mode. Note when engaged, like other projectors with this feature, there is a noticeable reduction in brightness.
Six Segment Color Wheel – BenQ’s CinematicColor™ technology combines an RGBRGB color wheel with light source management to more accurately reproduce the Rec. 709 color gamut.
Factory Color Calibrated – Each HT3550 is tested and adjusted to ensure accurate white balance and color reproduction. Included in the box is a factory calibration report guaranteeing accurate playback of Rec.709 content right out of the box.
The unit’s cinema filter expands the color gamut at the expense of some brightness, but the HT3550 can project some colors that other projectors in its price point simply cannot. It is also one of the least expensive 4K HDR compatible projectors to sport a dynamic iris to improve black levels. The HT3550 won one of our Hot Product Awards due to its good black levels and accurate color reproduction at an affordable price.
BenQ has introduced a “Smart” version of the HT3550 called the HT3550i (the “i,” moniker denotes “intelligent”). It offers the same outstanding performance but is equipped with an Android OS, which adds tons of streaming apps and voice control.
XGIMI has released its most powerful series of home projectors. I introduce you to the Horizon Series, the flagship of the XGIMI projector lineup.
The XGIMI Horizon Series includes the Horizon and the Horizon Pro. The Horizon is a Smart all-in-one 1080p portable DLP projector, and the Horizon Pro is a smart all-in-one 4K portable DLP projector.
The only difference between these two projectors is the resolution. Both of them measure in at 8.2″ H x 8.6″ W x 5.4″ D. Their portable design makes them easy to bring anywhere you have a power outlet and a flat viewing surface, for a quick plug-and-play experience. A tripod mount is located under the projector to make placement even more effortless.
XGIMI Horizon Pro Specs
Price
$1,699.00
Technology
Texas Instruments™ 0.47” DMD
Native Resolution
3840x2160
Brightness (Manufacturer Claim)
2200
Contrast
N/A
Zoom Lens Ratio
N/A
Lens Shift
No
Lamp Life
25,000 Hours
Weight
6.39 lbs
Warranty
One (1) Year
XGIMI Horizon Pro Overview
The XGIMI Horizon Pro is a 4K DLP LED projector with an MSRP of $1,699. The Horizon Pro has a rated brightness of 2200 ANSI lumens. An ANSI lumen is a unit of measurement developed by the American National Standards Institute to measure brightness. The LED light source is rated to last up to 25,000 hours.
The XGIMI H2 1080p projector with 1350 ANSI lumens was XGIMI’s reigning champion. However, with 2200 ANSI lumens and 4K, the XGIMI Horizon Pro is XGIMI’s new top-of-the-line projector. The H2 is currently available on Amazon, click here.
The Horizon Pro can project an image as small as 40.38 inches and up to an image of 300 inches; the projector has you covered when it comes to screen size choice. With its native resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels, the Horizon Pro adopts the latest in DLP technology to provide sharp images.
Some of the most notable features of this projector are:
LED Light Source – XGIMI rated the Horizon Pro LED light source at 2200 ANSI lumens for 25,000 hours. At 25,000 hours, the light source would last 8.5 years if used for 8 hours every day; a lot of years of worry-free operation.
Intelligent Screed Adaptation Technology – The integrated Artificial Intelligence (AI) allows the Horizon Pro’s AI-powered object detection, auto screen detection, and intelligent spatial sensing algorithm to work together. Together, they intelligently identify and avoid obstacles in the projection area.
HDR Compatible – The Horizon Pro supports HDR10 and HLG which are the major High Dynamic Range format for high-quality decoding for enhanced color and contrast.
X-VUE Image Technology – This feature works with their MEMC (Motion Estimation, Motion Compensation) to solve any potential image flutter or tailing problems that might occur when projecting high dynamic range. The goal is to increases the clarity and fidelity of SDR and HDR.
Smart TV Features – The Horizon Pro is powered by Android TV with 5000+ native apps and allows the user to easily set up the built-in Android TV with an Android phone option.
The XGIMI Horizon Pro is an excellent value in our book. We really appreciate the simple plug-and-play capability of the Horizon Pro; it almost sets itself up. Now add in the portability of the Horizon Pro due to its small size, and my friends, we have a winning combination.
