The best short -term projectors for each installation

I didn't plan to ditch my TV. It was big, it worked and it made Netflix look good. But after pulling one too many consoles across the floor just to arrange my installation for the hundred time, I began to wonder why I was working around A screen when I could only … project one.

This is where card throwing projectors come in. You do not need a nice installation. You don't need a screen. Hell, you hardly need a distance. These things sit a pair of feet or even inch From the wall and throw out massive, surprisingly wonderful pictures that make your TV feel like a relic. I chose a bunch, some cheap, some overdone – and found those who actually turn your wall into something worth watching. Let's take a look.

6

Optom GT2000HDR

I will start our list of the most budget -friendly choice I could find – Optima GT2000. It throws a 100-inch image from just 3.3 meters away, and optims it at 3,500 ansi lumen. It is native 1080p, which may sound dated, but it accepts your 4K HDR content and downhill it, so everything looks good.

Players will be satisfied with 8.6 ms delay of 1080p120, and the thing weighs only £ 6.6 and fits into an 11 × 8.5 × 4.5 inch footprint, so you can literally pack it for vacation if you wanted to. Power Draw remains reasonable at 100W in ECO mode, and the fan noise does not make you crazy.

Now the 15W Mono speaker sounds about as good as you can expect from something built into a projector, and you are stuck with basic rec. 709 colors instead of the wider games that make HDR content really appear. But honestly, to get into a short throw without selling organs, this thing works.

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5

LG Cinebeam HU915QB

Here LG did something smart instead of just making everything brighter. They divided their UST range into two models -HU915QE focuses on raw lumen while this QB version focuses on getting colors absolutely perfect. The 3-channel RGB laser setting delivers as much as 100% DCI-P3 coverage, which is something that the lighter model cannot match because it deals with some color accuracy for the extra lumena.

Cinebeam comes with a 3,000 ANSI -Lumen rating and 0.19: 1 -throwing relationship which means you can get a projection of 100 inches from just 3.9 inches from the wall. The entire unit weighs 27 kilos and comes in this discreet matte black finish that does not scream “expensive projector” when people come over.

WebOS 6.0 means you get the full smart TV experience with Netflix, Apple TV+, Disney+, Plus Airplay 2 if you are stuck in Apple's ecosystem. The 40W speakers actually sound good for built-in sound, but they are still struggling with bass (like almost every projector ever made).

Games are not really this thing – you look at about 67 ms delay, so maybe stick to RPG instead of competitive shooters. What makes QB Special is the calibration support – it works with Professional Calman AutoCal Systems, so that video nerds can call in reference quality accuracy that competes with studio monitors.

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4

Samsung LSP9T “Premiere”

Samsung went all-in on the movie experience with this, and you can say from the moment you see that the RGB Triple-Laser setting in action. This one covers about 108 % BT.2020 volume (and ~ 147 % DCI-P3), and the 2,800 ANSI lumen are not the highest on this list, but they are still enough for rooms where you can control the lighting a bit.

The ultra -card gets you 130 inches from just 9 inches from the wall. Samsung really aimed this at movie buffets with movie maker Mode and HDR10+ Support, plus a built-in 4.2-channel 40W sound system that can connect with its Q-Symphony-sound fields for some interesting surround sound tricks. Tizen OS brings with you all the smart features you can expect, including voice control through Alexa, Google Assistant and Samsung's own Bixby if you are in it.

Here, however, the thing – placement must be absolutely perfect as there is no lens shift or zoom to save you if you are even off. Samsung contains an automatic setting routine to help, but you will probably measure everything twice anyway. Again, the gaming delay is about 55 ms, so competitive players should look elsewhere.

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3

Benq x500i

Benq looked at the projector market and said “what if we did a specific one for players?” And this is what they came up with. The 4-led RGBB light engine eliminates completely rainbow items as there is no spinning color wheel to create them in the first place. More importantly, for competition games, the entrance delay drops to just 4.2 ms at 1080p240Hz and 16ms at 4K60, with Auto -game mode that automatically detects when you connect Xbox, Playstation or Nintendo Switch.

The 1.2x optical zoom plus digital shift gives you some flexibility in the placement – you can hit 100 inches from about 6 to 7 meters away, which is much more forgiving than the solid lens projectors that need millimeter precision.

It also has 84% ​​DCI-P3 color coverage (2200 lumens), which is quite impressive for an LED-based projector. Android TV 11 dongle is Google certified, although Netflix still requires some side load tricks that are not so difficult to find out. The USB-C input works with DisplayPort Alt mode, so you can connect laptops directly without adapters.

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2

Viewsonic X2-4K

This is different to be the world's first “designed for Xbox” projector, which means that it passed Microsoft's 63 -test -certification program -but honestly it is more a marketing case than anything that affects daily use. Game performance matches Benq with 4.2 ms delay of 1080p240Hz, 2000 lumens and 16ms at 4K60, so competitive players get what they need.

The throwing ratio 0.69-0.83: 1 with 1.2x zoom works well for 80-120-inch screens in rooms where you can control the lighting slightly. Throw in Harman Kardon 12W Stereo speakers and HDMI EARC support for external audio systems, and we have a decent choice.

Aptoide -Smart platform is quite limited compared to the correct Android TV or WebOS, so most people stop connecting an Xbox or Fire TV anyway, which kind of defeats the purpose of having smart features built. The cooling system can become aggressive when HDR content drives the LEDs hard – fan noise nails to 39dba, which can be a pain for some people.

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1

Xgimi Aura 2

This model is interesting because it provides a bunch of premium features without the premium price tag that usually comes with them. The double light 2.0 laser hybrid delivers 2,300 ISO lumen (which translates to approximately 2,600 ANSI lumen) with 99% DCI-P3 color coverage competing with projectors that cost twice as much.

What really differs this is to be the first UST projector with both Dolby Vision and IMAX Enhanced Certification, so HDR content actually maps correctly instead of blowing out highlights that some cheaper models tend to do. The throwing ratio 0.177: 1 gets you 100 inches from just over 7 inches from the wall.

The intelligent cutting system handles autofocus, keystone correction, wall color compensation and can even mask off areas that are not part of the screen automatically – it's like having a technical installer built into the projector. The 60W front Harman Kardon Soundbar actually goes toe-to-toe with some middle-class external bars, which is impressive considering it is built into the projector house.

Power consumption remains efficient at 180W in normal mode, which is quite good for this class of projector. Game delay is about 20 ms, which is good for relaxed games but not really a competitive level.

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Frequently asked questions

Q: Do I need a screen, or can I just point it on my wall and hope for the best?

TechnicallyYour wall will work. If it is flat, white and not structured as a popcorn roof. But if you want the crispy contrast and better brightness during the day, make a correct Alr screen a huge difference. Not necessary, but definitely upgrade path.

Q: What is the difference between short and ultra -card?

Short throwing projectors sit a few meters from the wall. Ultra-card-throwing projectors are in principle on the. Like, inch away. If you are dealing with crowded space or just hate to see wires, the UST move is.

Q: Will this replace my TV for everything?

If “everything” means Netflix, games, movie nights and occasional youtube rabbit holes, then it absolutely can. Just remember that most projectors are still not fantastic when it comes to handling news channels at 7 o'clock with sunlight that is poured.