The best way to enjoy modern entertainment is through the audio-visual way of consuming media. Through whatever sources of consuming media alone or together with family. It is safe to assume Everyone loves seeing clear and vivid video alongside hearing crisp audio.
Thus you pick out the best entertainment system for yourself and everyone around you to seriously show off and enjoy to the fullest.
Fret not, we are going to help you pick one or the other if you have ever wondered if you want to go for that super high resolution 4k TV or that 1080P projector.
Things to remember while trying to pick and choose your Video source.
⦁ What you are going to be using the device for, whether its gaming or just movies and non-interactive usage.
⦁ What resolution your entertainment system can support.
⦁ Spatial setting of the place it’s going to be in.
⦁ Lighting condition of the environment.
Most devices these days do natively support up to 4k resolution, therefore selecting a device that can view content up to that resolution may not entirely be a bad purchase. Gaming consoles of the latest generation or even prior such as the ps4 may support up to 4k resolution in certain games.
The question at hand might only be constricted to choose however the factors of feature of one or the other may affect that choice. Most projectors may not have a very high refresh rate and that may be a make-or-break feature for many right off the bat. Projectors can do up to 48 hertz refresh rate or more generally only 24 frames per second.
Although the case might be that most movies are shot in 24 frames per second natively, recent films coming out in Netflix have been noticed to have up to 60 FPS. Setting a new standard for people to enjoy films at an increased intensity of immersion.
Depending on what you might use the device for heavily depends on whether you would be using it for gaming or watching films. It ultimately boils down to what you prefer doing most in your free time. Be it gaming or enjoying a good flick. Choosing one or the other will allow you to enjoy one with no compromises whatsoever.
Resolution
Until recently you were given the option to just pick up to 1080p and that was your best pick right off the bat for getting the most out of your visual immersion. However recent findings have unlocked a whole range of clarity and precision for your film/gaming indulgence needs. Resolutions to be considered high end starts from
⦁ 1920×1080 (FHD, Full HD, 1080p)
⦁ 2560×1440 (QHD, WQHD, Quad HD, 1440p)
⦁ 3840×2160 (UHD, Ultra HD, 4K, 2160p)
⦁ 7680×4320 (8K Ultra HD, 8K, 4320p)
Although the mileage may vary from what system you have available at the moment, having a component that will future proof your studio is never a bad idea. Most of these resolutions can be found on both projectors or TVs. But the availability is more prominent on the TVs as that industry is not very niche and has active buyers nonstop that compete within themselves.
Fangor
An example of one of the best budget options available on the market is the Fangor 6500 lumen which spans upto 230″ on flat surface. This version of the Fangor mini projector supports 1080p natively which means right off the bat you are able to secure crystal clear view from your home device. As presumed you are already equipped with a 1080p supported device.
This mini projector out of the box comes with a tripod and a bag hinting that not only is it jam packed with features but it is also extremely portable as well. It has the latest WiFi chip on board enabling several different possibilities to do with WiFi with great speeds as it is quicker than bluetooth. It also has bluetooth and surround sound built in.
The onboard stereo might not be the loudest but it is a great feature to have if you are not equipped with a sound system already. It comes with ample options on the IO (Input/Output) ports, Including HDMI, AV, VGA, SD card port. This selection allows you a vast range of connectability. You could connect to Laptops, PCs, TV Box, TV sticks, Roku, ChromeBooks, Tablets, Blu-Ray DVD players, Micro SD cards, USB flash Drives, Media players and smartphones.
Thus indicating that it barely makes any compromises to usability when you need to connect to a device for that extra bit of free screen real estate for entertainment. However some reviews suggest some shortcomings with connectivity but those are special cases. It’s hard to really complain about much when you are getting this device at a bargain. Other projectors are also available such as the Goodee Upgrade HD video projector 4500L outdoor movie projectors.
The LC350 prices at around 50$ making it a great alternative on a budget if you are looking to halve your budget. Similarly if you are looking for budgeted options and are unsure to splurge about a 100 dollars you can settle for the QKK mini projector 5500 Lumens LCD projector.
Yaber Y30 vs Yaber Y31
The Yaber Y30 and its counterpart Yaber Y31 are currently budget friendly options in the higher mid-range to mid-range options. They are 4k capable for devices that support and output upto that resolution. They both can span upto 45″ to 200″ however the Y31 being the better of the both can span upto 50″ to 300″ if you are really into that extra 50″ inches. They are able to zoom out upto 50% on the Y30 and 25% on the Y31. A comparison table is being provided below to highlight the differences between the two devices
Elephas 2020 Wifi Projector
The elephas is assumed to do a great job at manufacturing small factor projectors that are of superior quality. Their GC333 mini projector is a great budget option to opt for. Priced at only $63 is a great way to assign for something to spice up your home or outdoor setup. But since we are talking about Wifi projectors we will be shifting our attention to the ELEPHAS W13 mini WiFi projector.
It natively once again comes with 1080p but at a price of only around 100$ or 120$. The W13 video projector is equipped with the latest WiFi connection that is compatible with Android/IOS/Windows/Mac OS. It is possible to cast on to the projector as it has WiFi.
The contrast ratio is not as great as your other options but it still gives out 3500:1 and the brightness goes upto 6000 lumens. It has Mini speakers built in but it is best advised to use an external sound system. The item is weighed at 1.5kgs which is about as heavy as mini projectors. The rest of the specifications are pretty much standard in terms of IO and other features.
TV vs Projector Which do we choose?
Once again to select it is purely proprietary to preference. However we are going to guide you towards maximum comfort without compromising any of your personal desires. Thus diving deeper into the question of which system offers what for your home entertainment system. Upon investigation we have deduced that the projector options are very modular.
As portable as the option of projector or a mini projector might be you may as well be limited because there’s not alot of flat clear surfaces around your home unless it is planned by you. The TV at this day and age given the evolution due to the competition may clearly reign superior. It is a great way to enjoy and set up in your home theater apart from the eye strain you might get from extended viewing. The eye strain might be because the light source is direct and it’s shooting directly to your eyes.
Especially in options of LED or OLED screens, while you may get sharp and complete blacks in the dark it still contrats so while that option is available and is a feature to be enjoyed and cherished it is not always the case that you choose to look at dark images and pitch black. If health is a concern it is always a smart choice to go for the other option which are the projectors.
The projectors display an image on a surface that is reflective so on a white surface through a lens and a keystone. If on the long run the system is primarily used for Film and entertainment then its a safe bet to go for a Projector budget friendly or otherwise the choice is yours.
If it’s mainly for gaming then a high refresh rate high resolution screen is a great investment without a doubt. Since you will be up to pace with the specification each game requires such as 4K resolution immersion and high response rate and a refresh time is required to keep up with the game and to enjoy the maximum that the gaming console and the game has to offer.
Best Budget 4k TV For gaming and entertainment
At the current moment in 2021 the best 4k gaming TV can also double as your home theater setup. However compromises in size will be made as a large sized TV is very hard to acquire without breaking the bank or spending a significant amount on the screen itself. Gaming on an incredibly large screen might not be optimal as you would have to interact with a lot of things on the screen before you and it simply would be a sensory overload causing you to not enjoy the experience as much. Casual gaming, sure.
Hardcore gaming, not so much. Needless to say some people are not into hardcore gaming rather casual gaming plus enjoying your daily blockbuster movie whichever poison you pick. Thankfully in 2021 the standards are only going up while the prices go down, where you might not break the bank but still be able to get something good in terms of size, features, immersion and even audio immersion.
Vizio M7 Series Quantum 2020
The Vizio M7 series Quantum 2020 is priced at $499.99 USD on the market as of this date and that’s the price for a 55” 4k TV. This is a great entry level option and it’s most likely not a bad investment if you are looking to get into the big screen scene on a budget. Consequently one would only assume with low budget comes high compromises but this device is packed with the latest features with only a few compromises.
At entry level it does not unfortunately come with an OLED panel rather a VA panel. It falls short on the color vibrance and brightness department and that can be replaced with an alternative such as the HISENSE U6G if you are residing in a bright environment. It is natively a 60 Hz refresh rate ranging from 40 Hz which is great for gaming at an entry level.
You can pair this up with your Xbox series X or your PS5 to get the best bang for your buck when gaming. Low input lag and an incredibly quick response time making it so that it is great for gaming once again. Despite having great color gamut it falls short on the HDR correction category where it can not go up to the mark in terms of brightness while viewing your favorite Netflix release. Regardless of all this it still holds true to its name of being one of the best budget gaming/entertainment TV of 2020 that you can still purchase in the year 2021.
LG – 55” Class UP7000 Series LED 4K UHD
Our next contestant came up at almost the same price point with a better bang for the buck budget friendly 4k UHD large class class TV. While it is great for wide seating arrangements for decently big view parties due to it having really good viewing angles without compromise in quality and visibility it does fall short in a few areas.
It is still however great for gaming as it has low input lag and a standard refresh rate. It does not have great color correction or local dimming and the blacks are not as dark as one would like leaving a bit of gray. Which indicates a low contrast ratio. The reflection is minimal on this particular screen. The color gamut is lacking in the HDR sector but that is clearly an understandable compromise for a large class TV coming at a budget of under 500 dollars. Feel free to splurge or not if you claim yourself to be an HDR enthusiast who loves the blackest black and the brightest color gamut and contrast ratio.
Philips 55 OLED 805
Our last unit being reviewed is the Trustworthy Philips brand coming out at 2020 with the best TV award being priced at a not so budgeted but well priced 1400 dollars. This in the high range spectrum is a great aggressively priced TV due to them offering so much at so little especially it being an OLED screen. Meaning that you are able to see true blacks and a highly immersive color gamut.
Although it may not be the greatest choice for gamers it is still a great device to add to your home setup. 55 inches in pure OLED greatness is no small boast and the experience to come with it is immaculate. Gaming may not be optimal or competitive on this yet you have the greatness to experience games in the highest possible comfort if you are playing a Triple A title on a 4k OLED screen.
All other issues might just fade away due to the immersion so very little to no complaints there since obviously you are not professionally gaming on a 55 inch large display. What you can boast doing “professionally” if you are a movie buff is experiencing your favorite titles in UHD greatness by just the click of a button which is a feature on the Philips 55 OLED. Once again reminiscing the price range to be at least a fist shy you are paying for a 4k Sony TV or a 4k Sony projector.
In conclusion, Who wins the battle of TV vs Projector
The clear winner is an infinitely long research shy of showing itself. It shows itself in your own true preferences what you would like to go for. Whether you are a hardcore film enthusiast or a die hard gamer determines what is truly suited to your taste. The Mini beamers such as the topvision could even be your pick.
However that is not the case since we have tried to pick and evaluate some of the best options on the market. Ultimately bringing us to the conclusion that if you are an enthusiast of keeping your eyes strain free to go for a projector or a TV if you are not so fond of anti eye strain.
If you want a gratuitous experience in terms of size, the projector is a great option especially if you want to travel and view things or if you are pent up in your glorious home theater a TV is more suited to your tastes. Hopefully upon these reviews, evaluations and advice you are able to settle for the best bang for your buck (or not so budget) options for your absolute glory of a home theater.
Finally You may pick your best or even some great alternatives if what you so truly desire does not fit the size of budget you may fit in your pocket.
Engineer and Tech Journalist.Read More
