The Optoma UHD55 is a 4K DLP projector that retails for $1,799. It utilizes a single DLP (0.47” DMD) chip to reproduce 4K UHD resolution (3,840 x 2,160 pixels). The UHD55 measured 3,478 ANSI lumens which are 122 lumens less than Optomas estimated brightness rating of 3,600 ANSI lumens. Although this number is lower, it is not very far off the mark, and in my experience testing the projector, the UHD55 provides more than enough brightness to enjoy movies with the lights on or in the daytime.
With a 1,200,000:1 contrast ratio, the UHD55 supports High Dynamic Range (HDR) providing brighter whites and deeper blacks with detail in both areas of the picture.
The UHD55 color is excellent, not perfect as OTB color modes are overall warm
The UHD55 uses an 8-segment color wheel combined with Optoma's BrilliantColor technology and covers 97% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, enhancing the overall viewing experience.
The UHD55 offers smart functionality via the included USB WiFi dongle. This adaptor provides users wireless internet connectivity and access to Optoma's application portal, where a small number of apps are available for this projector. Internet access is also available via the projector’s RJ45 wired connector.
I projected an image on my yellow tone living room wall, and this feature works very well
The UHD55's smart setup features allow users to easily go from unboxing the projector to watching a movie or playing a game quickly. The built-in geometric correction tool adjusts individual points of the displayed picture to get the image perfectly square. The Wall Color adjustment makes it easier to get a good picture even if you don't have a projection screen because users can alter the projected image based on the color of their wall. The six modes to choose from are BLACKBOARD, LIGHT YELLOW, LIGHT GREEN, LIGHT BLUE, PINK, and GRAY, making it easier to compensate for the wall color and display the most accurate image possible.
The UHD55 projector is an excellent choice for a home theater or bedroom, where there's less control over ambient light. This projector does not need total darkness to shine.
120 Hz and 240 Hz gaming at 1080p and 4K gaming at 60 Hz
If you're a serious gamer, you'll want to turn on the UHD55's ENHANCED GAMING mode before starting up your gaming session to take full advantage of the projector's 4.4 ms input lag when console gaming in 1080p resolution.
Optoma has once again produced an excellent cinema gaming projector at a competitive price for the features and performance it offers. Next-Gen console gamers can take advantage of this projector's 120 Hz refresh rate at 1080p, and PC gamers have the option of a refresh rate up to 240 Hz. The UHD55 is an easy setup and delivers good picture quality out of the box. Optoma has done an excellent job tuning the projector's picture preset modes, and for those wanting to dial in the color just right, the UHD55 is capable of fine, detailed image adjustment. I was very pleased with how good an image this projector displays.
An excellent combination of features and performance
The bottom line is that the Optoma UHD55 is an excellent combination of features and performance at a $1,799 MSRP.
THE COMPETITION
Consumer choice is growing in this category, and competition from companies such as BenQ, ViewSonic, and others is heating up.
While there are other smart projectors on the market, the BenQ X3000i stands out from the crowd with its focus on elevating gaming quality while offering some serious home entertainment features. At an MSRP of $1,999, the X3000i provides a 3,000 lumen 4LED light source and multiple dedicated gaming modes that maximize the projector automatically for CINEMATIC, FIRST PERSON SHOOTERS, and SPORTS gaming out-of-the-box modes. I found the built-in DYNAMIC STEREO mode and support for eARC impressive. The X3000i meets almost all of the core features of the UHD55 except for the brightness and contrast rating.
The BenQ TK700 4K HDR Short-Throw DLP Projector is a $1,499 projector with 3200 ANSI lumens. The TK700’s lamp light source brightness is rated at 3,200 ANSI lumens. The DMD Texas Instruments DLP chipset imager does an excellent job reproducing 4K content in HDR and SDR. Like the UHD55, the TK700 targets gamers, so its gaming lag is also incredibly low. The TK700 has a BenQ rated input lag of 4K@60Hz: 16.67ms, 1080p@240Hz: 4.16ms, 1080p@120Hz: 8.33ms, and 1080p@60Hz: 16.67ms.
The UHD55 retails for $300 more, but it is 400 ANSI lumens brighter and includes vertical lens shift, which provides more placement flexibility.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The Optoma UHD55 directly succeeds the UHD50X, building on what was a 2020 class-leading product. Optoma has given the UHD55 a bump in brightness and contrast. They have added a 1.3x optical zoom and even made it networkable by including a USB dongle for WiFi connectivity and putting an RJ45 port on the projector, a feature not available on the UHD50X. Optoma also made the UHD55 easy to set up with their geometric correction feature.
With this projector, Optoma has built a solid, incremental step-up from the UHD50X adding additional features and performance improvements. Optoma added internet connectivity with smart applications via a WiFi dongle, but the application list is minimal compared to the competition. The UHD55 should be a serious contender if you are looking for an all-around home entertainment projector. The UHD55 is competitively featured and priced at a $1,799 MSRP.
Several of Optoma's competitors offer projectors with a few features and technologies not found on the UHD55. However, these projectors don't always have competitive levels of brightness, contrast, and, in some cases, picture quality which is where the UHD55 shines. The UHD55 produces a great-looking image. It is bright with balanced color and allows users to watch content in a room with the lights on.
If you're a gamer and love watching movies, the UHD55 may be one of the best all-around projectors you can buy at its price point.
PROS
You get a lot for the $1,799 MSRP
Well-tuned out-of-the-box color presets
Lots of adjustments enable fine image tuning, including Gamma and RGB levels
1,200,000:1 contrast and HDR provide some of the best blacks and details for a DLP at this price
Projects an image up to 300 inches
Wall Color adjustment for projecting on walls that are not white
3,600 lumens of brightness provide excellent lights-on viewing
