How to Find the Best Home Theater Projector?
by floy xiong | Oct 14, 2021
When you’re looking to purchase a smart projector for the first time, it can be daunting. We’re here to help you break down the technical terms so that you know exactly what you should consider when buying a projector in 2021.
Look at the Lumens
The main factor is brightness. This is measured in ANSI Lumens, and the higher the number, the brighter the image will be. There are some other factors to consider here, too.
Depending on the projection technology, you’ll find that some projectors are brighter than others, even with a lower ANSI Lumen rating.
Digital Laser Processing (DLP)
This is a lamp-based projector that uses small mirrors to bounce light until it reflects onto the screen. DLP projectors tend to be smaller and offer more contrast and richer blacks, although the lamp can get quite hot.
This is one of the most common projector types, and our Around the Home series features this technology.
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
This is another lamp-based projector and another common projector type. This projector uses three LCDs to process and create images onto your screen. Compared with DLP’s, these projectors tend to have brighter images even with a lower Lumens count.
Light Emitting Diode (LED)
Less commonly, you’ll find LED projectors, which generate energy to create an electric signal to emit a particle of light. They produce less heat than lamp-based projectors, but they can also suffer from too much blue light in the image.
Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCOS)
This type of projector is similar to DLP’s, but it doesn’t have a color wheel inside. Instead, the three crystals work together to generate colors. LCOS projectors have excellent resolution, but they also have a high price tag to go along with it.
Laser
This is the newest type of projector on the market, and laser projectors are powerful! They supercharge the brightness and provide a rich array of true color selection. You’ll also never have to worry about replacing the lamp inside.
Screen vs Screenless?
What’s the Projection Size?
With a projector, you are not limited to the size of a monitor. You can maximize the image to be as large as you like. The limitations now become the size of your wall or screen. You don’t need to buy an Anker Nebula projector, but our Around-the-Home series can display images from 40” to a whopping 150”.
What’s the Projection Size?
What’s the Resolution?
The higher the resolution, the crisper the picture quality is going to be on the screen. The standard for smart home projectors is 1080p HD, but you can also upgrade to 4K ultra-high definition (UHD). That makes sure that every single pixel pops out of your screen so that you notice every fine detail of the 4K resolution. You may want to review Cosmos Max, an ultra HD home theater projector that projects lifelike, realistic images to draw you straight into the movie.
Another technical aspect you’ll likely see on projectors is high dynamic resolution (HDR). That technology enriches the image to create a fantastic display of breathtaking color, purer white levels, and deeper black levels.
Consider the Audio
Movies aren’t all about visuals. Sure, we love a good fight scene full of a flurry of kicks and punches, but without those thuds and cracks, that scene just lacks the impact.
When considering a projector, review the wattage of the speakers inside. The higher the number, the more power the speaker will have.
If you’re the type that likes to throw watch parties, you’re going to want a more powerful speaker so that the entire room can hear the content on the screen. If you’re planning to watch something by yourself, you can get away with a less powerful speaker.
You may also want to consider Dolby Audio and Ai-Fi technology. These features can deliver true 3D sound to make you feel like you’re right there with the characters.
Is It Easy to Set Up?
Unlike a TV that just turns on, projectors do require more time to set up, but not much more if you get the right one.
Physical Considerations
Consider a portable projector if you plan on moving it around your home or creating an outdoor cinema. The wireless technology gives you the ultimate freedom to set up. Portable projectors are small and come with built-in batteries, but may lack the visual or audio punch that could make your cinema shine.
In addition, you’ll want to look for features like automatic keystone correction, so you don’t need to spend a lot of time aligning the projector to get the best image. Projectors with this feature only take a couple of seconds to get the display just right.
A Bluetooth device is also a great addition. That allows you to use your connected devices to stream your content without needing to access the menu.
You also may want to consider purchasing a tripod for your projector. A tripod raises and lowers the projector to the perfect height without needing books or magazines to get the correct level.
User-Interface Considerations
You’ll also want to look at the software user interface. Review projectors that give you more options to watch the content that you love. Projectors with Android TV have 7,000+ apps built inside so that you can find Netflix, YouTube, TikTok, and more already installed and ready to stream your favorite TV shows.
To make your cinema watching more convenient, also search for smart projectors with Bluetooth technology. You can connect your phone, tablet, or laptop to cast your content for a seamless and effortless experience.
Final Thoughts
Now you know what to look for when considering a home theater projector. You can choose a portable movie projector, a home theater projector in 4K, or a projector with a combination of features that fits your home entertainment dream.
You don’t need to buy an Anker Nebula projector, but we’re confident in our products. We recommend that you look at our Around the Home series for a high-quality projector designed for your home.