The best TVs have gotten better and better for gaming in the past few years. Between high refresh rates, HDR, and so on, gaming on a TV has never been better. But what if you want a really big-screen experience? In that case, it may be worth considering a gaming projector.
Projectors are a little more common for watching movies than gaming, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some great gaming projectors out there. In fact, the best projectors benefit from some of the same technological advancements as gaming TVs, with the added upside of being able to display far bigger pictures than the so-called super-sized TVs out there.
Interested in getting a gaming projector for yourself? Here’s everything you need to know.
Why a gaming projector?
There are some serious advantages to getting a gaming projector instead of a gaming TV. Perhaps the most obvious, however, is display size. Sure, TVs are getting bigger and bigger, but you still can’t get a TV that’s more than 70 inches or so without needing some serious cash.
While most TVs sit in the 55 to 65 inch range, projectors are able to project onto screens over 100 inches, with some even ranging into the multiple hundreds of inches. If you want the screen to expand well into your periphery, a projector is easily the way to go.
Other advantages can be found too. For example, a gaming projector is a lot more portable, as long as you have a space to display it. And you can change the display size if and when you want, which can come in handy.
Gaming projector prices: what does it cost?
Projectors exist in all price ranges, however if you want one specifically for gaming you should probably think about spending a little more than if you were buying one just for movies. That’s because better projectors will feature lower input lag – the metric for how long it takes for controller inputs to register onscreen – something that’s crucial for fast-paced competitive gaming.
On the low end, you should be able to get a basic projector that you can use for gaming for around $600-$700 (£450-£550 / AU$800-AU$950). On the high-end, however, the sky’s the limit. If you want a 4K resolution with support for HDR and relatively low input lags, you’re looking at spending at least $1,500 (£1,150 / AU$2,000), and you could spend a whole lot more for something that offers high brightness or for ultra-short throw technology.
What gaming projectors are there?
Thankfully, there are some excellent gaming projectors out there, and we’ve reviewed the best of the best ones, so you don’t have to go out and do all the research yourself. Here’s a rundown of some of the better gaming projectors on offer.
The Optoma UHD50X is a perfect compromise on image quality and price. The projector offers 4K resolution, a low latency, and a solid brightness, making it a great choice for those that want a gaming projector for gaming. You’ll get 3,400 lumens brightness, and a contrast ratio of 500,000:1, which is excellent. There’s also a refresh rate of a whopping 240Hz, which is perfect for gamers.
The projector is available in the US and Australia for $1,599 or AU$3,199. In the UK, it’s available under a different name – the Optoma UHD42, and it’s available for £1,199.
Source: techradar.com