Best HD and 4K projectors review

Best projectors 2019, HD and 4K ready Projectors

DR.J Mini Projector doesn’t use the newer TFT LCD technology found in many other projectors on this list, it makes up for it in the quality and design of the projector lens. The high-quality lens produces a crisp image, which when combined with the solid brightness rating and high contrast ratio makes for vibrant and theatre-like image quality even in moderately lit rooms.

Another nice and unique feature of this projector is that the lens is designed to take advantage of diffuse reflection technology – a special lens design that reduces how much light bounces directly back from the screen into your eye and in turn reduces eye fatigue. One thing to remember is that in these price range, focus adjustment is somewhat limited so you will have to keep the projector within its recommended range. This is not in itself a deal breaker but something important to bear in mind.

Moving on, the cooling system is well-designed for a projector of this size and brightness. The unit includes two fans, which are quiet enough to not impede the audio experience and prevents the unit from overheating after hours of use. Plus, the 40,000-hour lamp life is attractive, since most users will never have to replace the lamp.

Short throw projectors are a great way of bringing big screen gaming to a small room at a lower price than a typical large TV. The Optoma GT1080 does exactly this and is able to create a 100-inch display from just a metre away, meaning that even the smallest gaming den should have room for it.

At just 2.65kg, the Optoma GT1080 is both small and light enough to be moved around, and also comes with a carrying case for extra portability. It’s adaptable, too, as it supports both inverted and mirrored projection should you wish to use a ceiling mount or place it behind your projection screen to save space. Each of its feet is adjustable and there’s vertical keystoning to ensure you get a proper rectangular image on to your projection surface regardless of the height the projector is sitting at.

The only video inputs available on the GT1080 are a pair of HDMI ports, one of which is compatible with MHL, which means you project your tablet or smartphone’s screen on to a bigger surface. We would have preferred a slightly larger selection of video inputs and would like a VGA input especially, but given that most modern consumer devices have HDMI outputs, we can just about forgive the omission of other ports.

This Mini Projector 1080P HD is really quiet to run if it wasn’t for the lamp illumination you would forget that it is on. Overall, the unit runs very cool, it is lightweight and once you download the manual you will find the directions to be very clear and concise. The only drawback for those working on imperial is that the measurements are in mm and centimetres, so you must convert to inches and feet. This is a very minor issue in itself but worth mentioning in case you find yourself scratching your head wondering.

With a contrast ratio of 10,000:1 this projector does hold its own in bright conditions. Still nowhere near the top end of the market for trust us, it will hold up far better than any projector in the cheaper end of the scale. There are two levelling adjustment knobs on the rear end which work just fine, however, the front height adjustment unit is a bit difficult to make minor adjustments with especially when using a projector screen. It would work much better with a knob similar to the two rear levelling feet.

The unit has a focus control ring which is ideal for when you move around and place it at a distance of your choosing, not the manufacturer’s choosing. Supporting 1080P video with a native resolution of 1280x 800 translate into better and crispier images, especially for video and movies. This projector surprises even more when you take into consideration the lamp is built to last a standard 80,000 hours, which is quite respectable and ensures future proofing your investment.

The HD27e is brighter and quieter than the Optoma HD27, and although it may not be 4K, with its stunning 3,400 lumens of brightness, built-in 10W speaker and compatibility with the likes of Google Chromecast and Amazon Fire TV, the HD27e does appear to be a versatile all-in-one projector.

At 316 x 244 x 108mm (11.7 x 3.7 x 9 inches) and 6.4lb/ 2.9kg, not only is the HD27e highly portable and easy to carry but, thankfully, it’s relatively simple to set-up, too.  Although it can produce, in theory, a 300-inch image, plan on creating an 80/100-inch image from about 2.5m away. Should you plan on moving it closer or further away, however, there’s always Optoma’s distance calculator.

The only problem we found during setup is that its rather weak manual 1.1 zoom does make it slightly tricky to position, but basic vertical keystone correction software should be able to accurately aim the HD27e. Shipping with a small remote that is instantly backlit the moment you touch it, the HD27e’s rear panel has a couple of HDMI inputs (both 1.4 specs), and a USB slot that can support the likes of Google Chromecast and Amazon FireStick.

That might be enough for some, but the absence of any legacy video inputs cold irritate if, for instance, you have an old Nintendo Wii hanging around. Other I/O back there include a 3.5mm audio output and a 12V trigger for using the HD27e within a home cinema control system. If you’re still watching 3D Blu-ray discs, know that the HD27e is compatible if you buy Optoma’s 3D specs.

As with all Optoma projectors, the Optoma HD143X is extremely easy to set up. Plug it in. Connect your media player of choice (ensuring that is connected to the relevant sound system) and that is basically it. You will have to sort out the focus using the large ring around the lens, but that is very simple to do. Then you can mess around with the various image settings to get it absolutely perfect for your viewing pleasure, but you can basically start watching something in a few minutes of taking it out of the box. It is a smaller unit than many other projectors – 316 x 244 x 108mm – and it weighs 2.75kg.

This one gives full 1080p HD and also has full 3D if you are projecting stereoscopic movies. Quite simply, sensational. It has a brightness of 3,000 lumens. That is slightly lower than some of the more expensive projectors, but it gave a perfectly clear image during the day and night due to its 23,000:1 contracts ratio. You can also go through the various settings to suit the lighting in the room.

That is another thing that has always impressed with the Optoma projectors. The menu system is very intuitive and you can quickly change many different settings to get the optimum performance from the projector.  It also allows you to move the image up and down, left and right so you can place the projector where you want it and then move the image on the screen or wall to fit. It also has settings that allow you to input the colour of the wall so it can take that into account as well.

This is an entry level projector in the high-end market, so it doesn’t have as many I/O options as some of the more expensive ones. However, it has just what you need. I had no problem connecting a Blu-ray player and a PS4 console to it. You could also attach an HDMI dongle like the Google Chromecast™, Amazon Fire TV or Apple TV™.