Best selling 4k projector
What is a 4k projector?
A UHD projector is a digital one Video projector, the images from the TV, computer or Blu-Ray Player throws at the screen in enlarged form. With a 4K projector you can watch the latest movies on the big screen like in the cinema.
The high level of detail in the Beamer 4K test ensures fantastic pictures when watching sporting events with friends at home. The 4K projector in the test from 2018 already convinced with razor-sharp images that are projected onto the screen.
You can enjoy a movie night together with friends or family or look at the recordings from your last vacation. Even current game titles can be easily played on the enlarged screen.
You can compete with your friends in multiplayer mode and share a large screen. A projector with UHD has one Resolution of 3840 by 2160 pixels.
The Laser Beamer with 4K is therefore able to optimally reproduce the detail sharpness of Blu-Ray films on a screen.
How does a 4K projector work?
Basically, 4K projectors use different techniques. are commercially available DLP- And LCD-Projector. The latter project the image with the help of liquid crystals, which bundle different light beams into one projection beam.
The individual colors in the red, green and blue spectrum are projected as individual beams of light onto a mirror system inside the projector. This is translucent in certain places. Filtered, the light rays reach small LCD displays individually.
With the help of a chip, these can precisely control which colors are currently to be projected. Finally, the light beam is again focused with the help of a mirror before it is projected from the lens onto the screen.
With a DLP projector, the colorless light only gets its respective color through the integrated filter. Inside the DLP projector there is a color wheel that rotates constantly during operation. The individual parts of the wheel are kept in the red, green or blue spectrum.
Once the light has passed through this color wheel, it is already colored. In the next step, it is thrown onto a chip that is equipped with numerous moving mini-mirrors.
Each mirror represents one pixel of the screen and can be flipped up to 20.000 times per second. It is not for nothing that DLP projectors are called a miracle of micromechanics.
Advantages & areas of application of a 4k projector
Benefits
In the 4K projector test, the 4K projector can easily compete with the large televisions from 55 inches. In 4, the 2019K projector is able to project a razor-sharp image onto a huge screen.
While televisions are severely limited by the screen diagonal, the screen in the 4K projector test can be easily adjusted in just a few simple steps. In terms of price, the 4K projector already outperformed the large-screen televisions in the 2017 test.
Even in the cinema you can find the most modern UHD projectors these days, which is why it is no problem to recreate the home cinema feeling in your own four walls. Another factor in the UHD projector test are the smart apps that could already be seen on the first 4K projectors in 2018.
The pre-installed apps enable a direct connection to popular streaming services such as Netflix or Maxdome. Many of the new devices in the UHD projector test use LED light-emitting diodes.
These have the advantage that they do not consume too much electricity. A very big advantage, which was already highlighted in the 4K projector test from 2017, is the ability to easily transport the projector.
You can't just dismantle a large-screen television. The compact projector, on the other hand, fits in any transport bag. You can easily take the projector with UHD resolution to friends or the office.
Business projector
A portable projector in the 4k test can easily be taken on a business trip. Many brands even include the matching carrying bag in the scope of delivery. If you only want to use the business projector in the office, a stationary model is more suitable.
This can be done in a conference room under the blanket to be attached. Chip's projector test points out how important the light intensity is for a projector. Low-light models fail, especially in bright surroundings, which means that no sharp image is projected onto the screen.
This should be considered when purchasing a business projector. Especially if you are on business trips, the UHD projector must be able to work in different bright environments in the test.
Home theater
Rich colors, high light output and razor-sharp images thanks to Ultra High Definition (UHD). The 4K projector has four times the resolution of a normal Full HD projector. As soon as the light in the room is dimmed, a home cinema atmosphere is created with the laser projector in the 4K test.
The latest series from the major streaming services can be selected directly thanks to the Smart App. In the test, the UHD projector can be connected to the computer, laptop or a Blu-Ray player via the appropriate connections.
Many projectors in the chip test also had built-in WiFi, which allows them to be easily integrated into the home network. Modern projectors with UHD offer HDR compatibility, which throws a high-contrast and sharp image onto the screen.
Sporting events
Especially in summer, there are numerous sporting events that you can enjoy together with friends in private public viewing. For example, you can root for the national team at a World Cup or European Championship.
A portable 4K projector from 2018 only has to be set up on the patio at home. The screen can be set up quickly with a few supports. It is important to look for a model that is particularly bright.
The light output is specified in the Laser Beamer 4K test in ANSI lumens. The installation does not take much time. After a few minutes, you can root for every corner and, thanks to the razor-sharp display, enjoy every move in the highest detail.
What should I look out for when buying a 4k projector?
Before making a purchase, you should pay attention to several factors. The projectors in the Chip test can be used both stationary under the blanket fastened or simply transported as a compact device. This raises the question of the intended use.
If you are sure that you will only use the 4K projector in a certain room, you should use it below the blanket assemble. Therefore, when buying, it is important to make sure that the projector is installed under the blanket is possible.
Are the necessary assembly parts included or do you still have to buy them? It should also be considered how the cables are routed in such a case. As can be seen in the laser beamer test, most models cut Ton not particularly good.
Almost all models have an integrated Loudspeakers. However, its quality cannot compete with a home cinema sound system. If you want to create that home cinema feeling, you also need a home cinema system.
Another aspect is the volume of the built-in fan. A laser projector in the test generates a certain amount of waste heat that has to be blown out to avoid heat build-up. Small and compact devices in particular generate a lot of noise.
In quiet passages of a film, the fan can sometimes drown out the dialogue or is annoyingly perceptible.
Pay attention to lamp technology
Older projectors mainly use high-pressure lamps. These are less energy-efficient and the lamps do not last as long in the UHD projector test as the lamps in a 4K laser projector.
In the Laser Beamer 4K test, it can be assumed that the laser diodes have a very long life expectancy. There is no need to exchange the lamp, which is not only easy on the nerves, but also saves costs when changing the lights.
An important aspect that is pointed out in the Chip projector test is the luminosity of the laser projector test. Dimly lit models have great difficulties in bright rooms. The image is no longer projected clearly on the screen.
However, if the models are too strong, this also has a negative effect on the viewer. In general, the rule of thumb is that the number of ANSI lumens should correspond to the screen surface and brightness of the environment.
The brighter the environment, the stronger the luminosity must be. If you intend to use the device later in a dark environment, you should look for flexible models that can reduce the number of lumens.
If you want to control the projector with 4K via your home network, you should also buy a 4K projector with WiFi. Finally, pay attention to the number of available connections.
Especially if you intend to connect the laser beamer to a very specific output device in the test. Many projectors have one HDMI-Connection, with which the UHD projector can be easily connected to the computer or console in the test.
FAQ about the 4k projector
Do I need a screen for the 4K projector?
The 4K projector test shows that although it is possible to project onto a white wall, a screen improves the quality of the image considerably. This improves the yield of the light and is a smooth projection surface that can be rolled up again after the movie night.
Is the quality of the 4K projector worse than that of the LCD monitor?
No. After all, the UHD projectors in the test are also used in the cinema hall. In the test, the 4K projector can easily keep up with the LCD monitors in terms of color reproduction and image contrast.
How dark should the room be?
For the home cinema evening, you should choose a room that is best darkened. Either you close the shutters or install opaque blinds. In very dark rooms, you don't need a bright projector, whereas bright 4K projectors from 2019 can compensate for the brightness in the rooms.
Are projectors very loud?
In order to dissipate the waste heat, the 4K projectors need a fan. It is therefore advisable to set up the 4K laser projector a few meters away from the seats. Alternatively, we recommend attachment to the blanket.
Do 4k laser projectors consume more power in the test?
In the Chip projector test, the 4K laser projectors consumed no less power than conventional UHD projectors. On average, they had a comparable energy consumption.
Do the projectors support native UHD?
Almost all manufacturers advertise with native UHD. According to Chip's Beamer Test, UHD projection is achieved using a trick called either E-Shift or XPR-Shift. With this technology, the pixels are projected shifted, but this is perceived by the eye as UHD.
What types of 4k projectors are there?
LCD projector
LCD technology is familiar to many consumers of computer monitors and television screens. The advantages of using active matrix liquid crystal displays are the low price and a high-contrast image that makes text easier to read.
The beginnings of the technology go back to the 1970s, when General Electric, Sony and Epson invented different variants. LCD was then able to assert itself from the 2000s onwards. The projection of the separate LCD matrices is reflected using dichroic mirrors.
These are also used in larger video cameras to direct the incident light into the RGB color space split up. A disadvantage of liquid crystals is that the operating temperature must be kept lower. For this reason, the UHD projectors required a stronger fan in the test.
DLP projector
As the large 4K projector from 2018 showed, modern DLP projectors have a large number of micromirrors. DLP is an abbreviation for Digital Light Processing. The mini tilting mirrors can be controlled via a chip.
The light is then either directed to the projection optics or deflected away from it. A big advantage of this technology is the good response times, which is why the DLP projectors are particularly suitable for 3D video projections.
As the 4K projector test from 2017 showed, they have excellent black levels that even surpass those of the 4K LCD projector. One of the disadvantages of these projectors with UHD is that they cannot display the color space as well as other projectors. Flickering can occur in certain gray values.
LED projectors
LEDs are used in an LED 4K projector in the test. Just a few years ago, Light Emitting Diodes only used DLP elements. The 4K projector test from 2018 impressively proves that many modern devices rely on LCD technology for imaging.
A very big advantage of LED technology is that a strong white light can be generated with far less energy in the Beamer 4K test. Many 4K projectors from 2019 also use laser light-emitting diodes to increase the luminosity.
The low luminosity was seen as a major disadvantage for years. For example in the 4K projector test from 2017. As the projector test from Chip shows, the disadvantage is now compensated for by the new laser light-emitting diodes.
The advantage of the UHD projector with LED technology is the long service life of the lamps, which can last more than 20.000 hours.
Laser projector with 4K
As the projector test from Chip shows, some well-known manufacturers are relying almost entirely on laser diodes for 4K projectors in 2019. The laser projectors in the test were all equipped with blue laser light-emitting diodes.
Bundled, they create a white light that then runs through a traditional DLP image optics. One of the advantages of the laser projectors in the test is that they have a very long service life. Their maintenance is extremely easy, even for laypeople. They have excellent contrast and a very large color depth.
This is how 4k projectors were tested
In the 4K projector test from 2018, the experts from the specialist magazines bought several 4K projectors from 2018. The 4K projectors in the 2018 test were suitable for both short and long distances. The prices for the UHD projector were determined by comparing various national dealers.
The 4K projector was also checked to see how expensive a replacement lamp is. In order to achieve comparable values, the best image mode was selected for the 4K projector for the respective purpose. This corresponds to the 4K Beamer Text from 2017, which proceeded similarly on this point.
The 4K projectors were set up in a very dark room. In the 4K projector test 2018, the image was projected onto a matt white projection surface. The 4K projectors of 2018 were judged by several experts.
This should ensure that the evaluation picture is as neutral as possible. The projectors with UHD were first checked for their image quality. In addition, points such as color gradients, color space, brightness, contrast values and edge sharpness were checked.
In the Laser Beamer 4k test, films and series were played with the device. To evaluate the graphics, a presentation was projected onto the screen. Reaction times were measured using a computer game.
To evaluate the representation of the color space, the testers used a single photo. Another important point in the 4k projector test from 2018 was the evaluation of the handling.
Easy handling as a point of criticism
The Beamer 4k test checked whether the information in the instructions for use was correct and how easy it was to set up the 4K projector. Then it was tested how easy it is to switch between the different menus.
Finally, an intuitive menu control makes it easier to use the laser beamer with 4K. After evaluating the handling, the testers looked at the usage profiles for power consumption in the 4K projector test from 2018.
For example, how much power the UHD projector consumes during operation and in standby mode was measured. Furthermore, the heat development and the volume of the fan noise were checked in the laser beamer test.
There were deductions in the 4K projector test if the manufacturers provided insufficient information about lamp replacement or any dangers during operation.
Information on leading manufacturers of 4k projectors
Epson
Watchmaker Hisao Yamazaki founded Daiwa Kogyo in 1942. This received early support from the Hattori family, which, among other things, had founded Seiko in the 19th century. Daiwa Kogyo mainly manufactured watch parts for Daini Seikhosha in the early years of the company.
Dani Seikosha, also known as Seiko Instruments, opened a factory in Suwa. Together with Daiwa Kogyo, this merged in 1959 to form Suwa Seikosha, the forerunner of Seiko Epson. In 1961, Suwa Seikosha established a subsidiary company called Shinshu Seiki.
Seiko was chosen as the official partner of the Tokyo Summer Olympics and was tasked with manufacturing all stopwatches and timers for the event. A clock with a printing function was needed to keep accurate times. Shinshu Seiki was commissioned to build an electronic printer.
In September 1968, released the world's first mini printer with the EP-101, which was installed in many calculators. The abbreviation EP stood for Electronic Printer. When the first successor generation of the EP-1975 followed in 101, this was named Epson, which stood for Son of Electronic Printer.
The entry into the printer business was a complete success and changed the company from the ground up. Epson posted sales of more than 9,7 billion US dollars in 2015. More than 67.000 employees work for Epson.
Acer
The beginnings of the Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Acer go back to the 1970s. The focus of production was initially on the production of microprocessors. A major change took place at the turn of the millennium.
While the company had made a name for itself as a manufacturer of monitors, microprocessors and projectors for decades, it now deviated somewhat from pure production. Design and sales should be given more weight.
This change gave rise to BenQ, which was once a subsidiary of Acer. Company founder Stan Shih came out of retirement in November 2013 after the company reported weaker sales.
Acer is now one of the largest PC dealers in the world again. More than 7.000 employees work for Acer in over 70 countries worldwide.
Sony
Sony's company history begins just one year after the end of the Second World War. In 1946, Masaru Ibuka started an electronics store in Tokyo. The company has a starting capital of 190.000 yen.
In the same year, Akio Morita joined the new company Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo, which was to form the forerunner of the later Sony Corporation. The Morita family invested heavily in the newly founded company and thus also acquired numerous shares in what later became Sony. Morita had studied mathematics and physics at Osaka University.
Together, the new business partners built Japan's first tape recorder. In 1958 the name was changed to Sony in order to be able to better market the company in the western market. The TR-63 transitor radio became a bestseller because of its popularity with American youth.
Again and again Sony revolutionized the market with new inventions. For example, the development of the compact disc (CD), the Walkman or the PlayStation games console in the 1990s. The Sony 4K projector 2019 received top marks for image quality from Chip.
BenQ
BenQ Corporation is an international electronics group that focuses on manufacturing TFT LCD monitors, 4K projector in test 2017, digital cameras and mobile computing devices. BenQ emerged from a restructuring at Acer.
BenQ was once a subsidiary of Acer, but left the company in the early 2000s. BenQ's headquarters are in the Taiwanese capital, Taipei. BenQ was still focused on selling cell phones in the early 2000s.
The handset division was temporarily renamed BenQ Mobile after BenQ bought Siemens' mobile division. In 2007, however, it had to be restructured. Today, BenQ has a strong presence in the 4K Projector Test of 2017 and is also known to many sellers for its televisions and computer monitors.
Viewsonic
The American-Taiwanese electronics manufacturer ViewSonic specializes primarily in the manufacture of LCD displays, 4K projectors under test and digital whiteboards. Over a billion dollars in revenue is generated annually.
ViewSonic Corporation was founded by businessman James Chu. One focus of the company in the early years was the manufacture of monitors for color calibration. Since then, new records have always been broken in the field of monitors. Around 2002, when the world's first UHD monitor was presented to the public.
The company has offices around the world and almost 1.000 employees. The two company headquarters are located in California in the USA and in the Taiwanese metropolis of New Taipei City.
optoma
Optoma Corporation was founded in 2002 in New Taipei, Taiwan. Just one year later, she won the Consumer Electronic Show in the innovation category with the world's first 65-inch DLP television.
The world's first presented that they wanted to establish themselves in the home cinema market Full-HD Beamer impressively demonstrated in 2006. In 2014, Optoma acquired American audio electronics manufacturer NuForce.
The world's first ultra short laser 2016K projector was announced at Infocomm 4 in Las Vegas. The company operates worldwide and has just over 500 employees.
Product lines of the manufacturers of 4k projectors at a glance
Sony: VPL Projectors
The VPL series does not upscale 4K content with the 2019K projector from 4, which is reflected in the Chip projector test with top marks for image quality. The VPL series, which is priced in the upper segment of the 4K projectors in the test, is praised above all for the great HDR display.
The color display receives the best ratings in specialist magazines. The lack of equipment and the relatively high energy consumption are criticized. The VPL projectors do without the usual pixel shift, which uses a trick to simulate UHD to the eye.
Many UHD projectors use upscaling to project UHD content onto the screen. However, the native image output of the VLP projectors already corresponds to the UHD format with 4.096 x 2.160 pixels.
Acer: VL series
The devices from Acer from the VL series can be found among the high-end 4K projectors. A feature of the laser projectors with 4K in the test is the compact design. An interpolated 4K resolution brings 3.840 x 2.160 pixels to the screen and uses XPR technology.
The projectors produce rich colors, come with a lavish range of equipment and support HDR content. The built-in laser diodes have a much longer life expectancy than traditional UHP lamps, which is why lamp replacement is not necessary so quickly.
With the help of XPR-Shift technology, the image is projected twice onto the screen. The pixels are shifted slightly diagonally, which creates the UHD impression on the eye. The technology is used by many 4K projectors in the 2018 test to bring UHD to the screen.
Epson: EH series
Although the EH series uses a Full HD projector in the test, Epson uses a unique technology that can display the content in outstanding 4K image quality. The 4K enhancement ensures a high-contrast, bright and sharp projection.
As Chip's projector test states, the projected images can hardly be distinguished from other 4K projectors.
It is also praised that Epson's projectors are very quiet during operation. With over 1.400 lumens, they still generate enough brightness to deliver a good picture even in bright rooms.
Where is the best place to buy a 4k projector?
Online trade: Huge selection
There is hardly an article that cannot be obtained online. A big advantage of online shopping is that the 4K projectors are always in stock. In a specialist shop, on the other hand, it can happen that the 4K projector tested by a specific manufacturer cannot be obtained immediately.
In this case, the trip to the shop was free. Even if a certain online retailer does not currently have the desired item in stock, there is always one supplier among the retailers who has the 4K projector in their range of goods.
You can take your time and compare the values of the various projectors before you buy them. Is the luminosity sufficient? Is the other model you were considering maybe more powerful in terms of light output?
This comparison can be made in a comparison table with a single glance. This would not be possible in an electronics store. If you are not sure about a point, an online search will quickly yield the right information.
Online forums can be used to learn about the pros and cons of upscaling 4K content and what technology is leading the way.
Customer reviews indicate defects
If you are not sure about a UHD projector in the test, it is worth taking a look at the reviews left by the customers. By comparing the reviews, you can see whether the product has a specific defect and how satisfied the buyers were with the Beamer 4K in the test.
While such reviews could still be faked in the early years, there is now hardly an online retailer who does not write above the customer review whether the customer actually bought the item.
When it comes to speed, no one can beat online retail. Even with a slow computer, it takes less than ten minutes to process an order. In many cases, this corresponds to the journey to the nearest electronics store.
Ordering online is also convenient. After all, you don't have to fight for a parking space or queue at the cash register. The 4K projector is then delivered directly to your own front door.
Benefits
- Convenient shopping
- comparison easily possible
- wealth of information
- Price alert possible
- Large selection
Disadvantages
- shipping time
- return more difficult
Electronics store: customers are not transparent
Anyone who is interested in a specific article on the Internet will soon be amazed at advertisements that advertise exactly this type of product. Some online retailers use the information they have collected from browsing the retailer's site to design their advertising.
If you have looked at a 4K projector, for example, the online retailer registers this and will place advertising with products from the category in the future. This is simply not possible in specialist shops. However, the selection is far smaller than on the Internet.
There are also numerous disadvantages that the electronics store has compared to the Internet. For example, if you drive to the branch of the shop and then receive information that the desired 4K projector from 2018 is not in stock, the whole journey was in vain.
Instead, you are put off with a few days of waiting. In the meantime, the online retailer has already shipped it and you can test the projector with UHD in the household. A demonstration of the 4K projector from 2018 is very rare in specialist shops.
In the shop, there are hardly any opportunities to find out about the projectors on display. Instead, one is dependent on the opinion of the seller, whose level of knowledge can vary greatly.
The seller's expertise may already be outdated at the time of purchase. On closer inspection, the disadvantages outweigh the disadvantages in the specialist trade.
Benefits
- Customer is not transparent
- Return is easier
Disadvantages
- Little information
- No comparison possible
- Travel
- Opening hours
Cleaning a 4k projector and accessories
If the image appears blurry, cleaning the lens of a projector is almost always necessary. The lenses are particularly sensitive in video projectors. Even a fine grain of dust can cause small scratches on the lens.
To loosen them, it is advisable to use a brush. The dust brushes are used in particular by photographers to remove fine dust from the lenses. They are also good for cleaning hard-to-reach places.
A small bellows that simply blows the dust away is helpful for removing surface dust. The advantage of this method is that you don't have to rely on a gas mixture found in many sprays.
The latter can sometimes spray out a small film of ice, which is why they are not suitable for lens cleaning. A lens pen is more suitable if you want to remove dirt from the lens. These not only have a fine-hair brush, but also a dampened felt pad on one side.
Before cleaning, it is essential to disconnect the device from the power supply. If the device was used before, you should definitely wait until the projector has cooled down again. After all, the lamps can generate temperatures of several hundred degrees, which is why you can easily burn yourself.
Therefore, it is also important to follow the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning. Removable dust filters can be easily removed. A little compressed air is usually enough to blow the dust residue out of them.
With a Vacuum cleaner you can easily catch the swirling dust particles. The lamp can only be replaced when the device is switched off. The lamp must have cooled down completely. A clean work surface should be prepared for lamp replacement.
There is a maintenance hatch on the projector. This is opened with a screwdriver. Next to the lamp is also the air filter, which should be cleaned first, depending on how dirty it is. The projector lamp is in a screwed-on holder.
These can be removed and the projector lamp carefully lifted out with one hand. Then install the new replacement bulb. It is important not to touch the lamp with your fingers.
Because the fingerprint can then burn into the lamp when it is switched on. After thorough cleaning, nothing stands in the way of a home cinema evening.
Accessories for a 4k projector
projector bag
The projector bag is padded all around so that the projector is adequately protected against bumps during transport. Cables, a mouse or relevant documents can be stowed away in the additional compartments.
The projector bag is weatherproof and moisture cannot get to the projector. A shoulder strap makes transportation more convenient and easier. A handle allows you to carry the bag in your hand.
A good projector bag has several divided compartments, including a front pocket, mesh pocket, cable pocket and a document compartment.
ceiling mount
If you want to do without the portable transport of the projector and prefer to have it on the blanket attach, so you can not avoid a bracket. Good mounts have a cardan joint where the spacing of the holes is adjustable.
They can be rotated sideways and can be variably adjusted to all 360 degrees. When using the ceiling mount, make sure that the cable routing is integrated. This simplifies the installation. However, stability is the most important criterion for a ceiling mount for a 4K projector.
You shouldn't shy away from any expense on this point, since you've already spent a lot of money on the projector. The holder must be stable and must not simply give way, even with a heavy device.
Surface Fabric
A projector screen has far better reflection values than a white interior wall. It can also be folded and is suitable for transport. If the screen is only to be used at a certain location, a stationary solution must be used.
The roller screen is the cheapest option among screens. It does not need its own cables and can be deployed without electricity. The motorized canvas, in turn, is unfolded mechanically by a motor. It increases comfort and at the same time protects the cloth of the canvas.
rolls
In order to operate a projector, it is sometimes necessary to be able to darken the room. The opaque roller blinds can be installed directly in front of the window. The room can be completely darkened before the home cinema evening.
This has the advantage that you can even use a 4K projector, the light output of which is somewhat weaker. The models with fewer ANSI lumens are usually cheaper in the test and look just as good in a dark environment as the brighter models.
In summer, you can also use the blinds to keep the interior cool.