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If you’re looking to change up your current setup from having a “boring” old smart TV, then a smart projector might have come up on your radar as an option to make your screen and experience that much bigger and better. This might be a new area for you that you don’t know much about, but if you’re looking for a more cinematic feel then why not project onto a big screen or wall to make your living room your own theatre? If you feel like you don’t know where to start, then don’t worry because we here at Systems Insights are here to break down and compare smart TVs and smart projectors to give you our recommendations based on what’ll suit you the best.
Are Smart Projectors that different to smart TVs?
Smart projectors work in a similar way to smart TVs. They contain their own operating systems similar to ones you’ll have used already which’ll give you access to your favourite apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime and YouTube. Better yet, you can also connect your phone or laptop to it directly without having to dig around the back of your smart TV every time. So, you don’t need to worry about how to watch your favourite streaming services if you’re switching to a smart projector.
But What about the Technology Behind Smart Projectors?
With smart projectors also comes more technology that you’ll need to consider but might not be familiar with like lumens. This measures the brightness of the projector, with a higher lumens count meaning a higher brightness of the image it’ll display. If your room is pretty dark with the blinds closed and lights off, then you’ll only need around 1,000 to 1,200 lumens for a clear and bright display. However, if it’s during the day or there’s plenty of light in the room when you’re watching, you’ll need a higher lumens count of at least 2,000 to 3,000. This’ll be more expensive, but you’ll need it to avoid having a washed-out picture that’s hard to see during the day. So you’ll need to consider what time of day it’ll be and how light or dark the room will be when you’re watching your smart projector to get one with the right lumens count and avoid being frustrated with a hard to see image.
As well as lumens count, contrast ratio and throw ratio are two measurement you’ll need to consider to understand the quality of the image a smart projector displays. The contrast ratio explains the difference between the brightest white and darkest black that the projector can display so you can understand how vibrant the image is going to be. While you might think that getting the highest contrast ratio possible, you’re also going to need to consider the throw ratio of the projector as well to understand how close or far away it’ll be positioned in your room to project an image.
So, if you’re looking for a short range projector, we recommend KOGATA’s 4K Smart Projector, as its 6D Keystone technology will auto-focus and adjust the picture to perfectly fit whatever space you’re projecting in. This means you won’t have to spend forever having to manually adjust the complex settings yourself and can spend more time enjoying the fantastic 4K picture with your family and friends.
Or if a long range projector suits you better, then AMEELA’s Portable Movie Projector is our recommendation. It’s 30,000 lumens count means that it’ll be bright enough for any situation no matter the distance. It also makes use of Keystone Correction to help manage the sizing, making it an easy choice as our preferred long throw smart projector.
What About Where I’m Projecting it?
You’ll also need to consider if you’re going to project directly onto your wall or onto a projector screen. These projector screens come especially made to be projected on, giving you a better and more consistent quality of image. You’re probably already considering just projecting onto your wall so you don’t have to pay extra, but there’s a lot of benefits that getting a projector screen gives. It’s also pretty useful to get one if you’re taking the projector on the go as you don’t know if there’ll be a wall to project on if you’re outside or at your friend’s house. So, if you’ve not got a clear enough space on a wall or are thinking about taking the smart projector out and around with you, then you might need to invest in a projector screen as well.
We personally recommend ABIS’s 120″ Electric Motorised Projector Screen if you’re looking to keep your smart projector in the same room. It can be easily installed on either the wall or the ceiling of your room to provide a high-quality white matte screen for a perfect screen to project on. With a 16:9 aspect ratio, you can easily adjust your smart projector to get the perfect image using a smart projector with this projector screen.
Or, if you’re looking to take your smart projector out and about with you, why not get a mobile projector screen instead? This way, you can always be sure that you’ve got a great setup wherever you end up. These can work out cheaper as well as you don’t need any fancy motor systems like our other recommendation! So we recommend this Excelimage Projector Screen as it’s perfect for taking on the go. Being lightweight and easy to setup, this projector screen is an easy and cheap pickup to take your smart projector experience to the next level wherever you take it.
So, Is it worth it to switch from a Smart TV to a Smart Projector?
Really, it’s easier to understand the size and quality of picture you’re going to get with a smart TV than a smart projector. It might be a bit difficult to really understand how a throw ratio and a contrast ratio will affect the image quality, so you might want to stick with what you know in a smart TV. If you’re just looking for a bigger screen size, then check out this blog to find the best screen size for you. If you’re wanting a better or brighter screen instead, check out this blog comparing OLED and QLED screens to find out what smart TV type is best for your viewing experience.
There’s a lot more to consider when trying to decide between a smart TV or a smart projector than you might’ve thought, as there’s a lot of different technology for smart projectors you might not understand yet. If you’ve got a big space or empty wall that you want to fill, then a smart projector will do this cheaper than a smart TV. However, if you want a more consistent picture quality that won’t be affected by the time of day depending on the lumens count or without needing to spend extra on a projector screen, then a smart TV wins. Ultimately, it’ll come down to your setup and how or when you watch to decide what’s best for you. Once you’re sure, check out our recommendations in this article for the best smart TV or smart projector for your viewing pleasure.