Are projectors really better for your eyes than TVs? Before buying a projector, just know these 3 things!

There are so many projectors on the market now, not only with many brands but also many models.

If you want to buy a projector that suits you but don’t want to be cheated, then take a look at today’s article, it may be helpful to you.

01

Is a projector what you really need?

Before choosing a projector that suits you, you first need to be clear about whether the projector is your "real need" or whether it is just a momentary impulse after seeing too many bloggers recommending it. Rational shopping is important.

Projectors do have many advantages:

A 100-inch giant screen TV costs at least 20,000 yuan, which is difficult for an average family to afford. But a projector, no matter what the price, can fill the entire wall as long as there is enough space, so that you can watch movies at home with a large screen and immersion.

In addition to being "big", the projector is also very flexible to use. It can be moved freely in the living room or bedroom without taking up any space. There is no need for a TV cabinet or drilling into the wall, which saves a large area in the living room.

But while enjoying the size and convenience, projectors also have some disadvantages:

For example, many projectors require curtains to be drawn during the day, the picture and sound quality are not comparable to TVs of the same price, and the operation of smart projectors is complicated and not very friendly to the elderly...

02

Which parameters should I consider when choosing a projector?

If you still want to buy it now, you can start from the following three aspects to choose a projector that suits you:

1. Resolution

The resolution of the projector is similar to the resolution of the videos we usually watch, including 720P, 1080P and 4K.

Projectors that cost a few hundred dollars usually have a 720P image quality, and the images projected on the wall are blurry and look quite old-fashioned.

Currently, the mainstream projection resolution on the market is 1080P, and more advanced ones can be "shaked" to 4K through technology.

"Shaking 4K" is not real 4K. There is a technology called XPR, which helps the projector achieve 4K resolution through the phenomenon of visual persistence and rapid shaking of the display chip.

The dynamic effect is better than 1080P, and it is not easy to have ghosting when taking a quick shot. In fact, it is still the physical resolution of 1080p.

The advantage of this technology is that it allows us to enjoy better visual effects at a relatively cheap price.

Because a native 4K projector can cost tens of thousands of dollars, while a 4K projector using XPR technology may only cost around ten thousand dollars.

Similarly, there are also cases where the actual resolution is 720P, but it is jittered to "compatible with 1080P".

It doesn’t matter if you find the principle a little hard to understand. Just remember to choose the one with a physical resolution of 1080p when purchasing.

The resolution of a projector is directly related to the chip size. Some manufacturers may falsify the standard resolution to get away with it.

It needs to be considered comprehensively based on the standard resolution and display chip size provided by the manufacturer.

2. Brightness

Brightness is an important indicator for us to choose a projector because it will directly determine the usage scenario and viewing experience.

If the projector is not bright enough, it is basically unusable during the day and you can only hear a noise. It is also very tiring to watch it at night with the lights off, and your eyes will easily get tired.

At present, the situation of false labeling of projector parameters is quite serious. Many manufacturers do not mark the brightness according to the standard unit ANSI lumens, but randomly use other units to deceive people. The numbers sound large but are very small when converted into ANSI lumens. Some even falsely label ANSI lumens.

Based on my personal experience, I feel that the projector products on the market marked as around 500 ANSI have a brightness that is basically sufficient for viewing at night, and are not a big problem as an entry-level model .

There is a huge difference between 200~300 ANSI. Your eyes will get tired if you look at it for a while at night. I don’t recommend you to buy it.

If you want to see it during the day, choose a higher brightness setting.

High brightness means better picture details and color performance. Of course, the higher the brightness, the more expensive the machine is. You can consider it comprehensively based on your budget.

It should be added that single-chip LCD projectors can achieve higher brightness at a lower price due to their lower technical cost, while DLP projectors have a much lower cost-performance ratio in terms of brightness and have a greater advantage in terms of picture reproduction.

The above table is only for reference of DLP projection (single-chip LCD technology is often used in mid- and low-end projectors).

3. Memory

Like a TV, a projector has RAM and storage memory.

The running memory determines whether the playback is stuck, while the storage memory determines how much software and resources you can download.

Within the same price range, the larger the memory, the better.

2G of RAM is enough for watching movies smoothly. If you want to play games, try to choose a model with 3G or above.

03

How much is the right amount for a projector?

There are many projectors that cost a few hundred dollars that are hyped up online, and some even cost only one or two hundred dollars. They claim to be able to project high-definition images, and the buyer reviews also show good results.

If your budget is limited and you can tolerate the blurry image quality, brightness that hurts your eyes after a while, slow operation, loud noise and other shortcomings, you can buy it.

Those buyer shows that look very impressive are either fake in appearance or the cartoons are watched in a dark environment, where you can't see the true clarity, brightness and color performance at all.

If you want to buy a projector that is comfortable to look at and can improve your happiness in life, then it is recommended that you directly choose a big-name projector that costs more than 1,000 yuan.

If you have a budget of 1,000 to 2,000 yuan, you can buy an entry-level smart projector, which is suitable for use in dim light conditions.

At this price, a single-chip LCD will be more cost-effective (brighter) than DLP.

With a budget of 2,000 to 3,000 yuan, try to choose one with clearer color performance and better color performance, such as one with intelligent functions such as motion compensation, which will improve the image quality to a certain extent.

A mid-to-high-end projector priced between 3,000 and 4,000 yuan has improved brightness and can be viewed with the curtains drawn during the day.

Projectors priced between 4,000 and 5,000 yuan are high-end projectors with a brightness of more than 2,000 ansi, which can be viewed normally during the day. You can choose a smart projector or a lamp projector.

Projectors priced above 5,000 yuan are "4K" projectors (which do not actually reach the physical resolution of 4K), which are suitable for larger spaces and have better picture effects.

If you are looking for the ultimate audio-visual experience and have no demand for extra-large size, it is recommended to buy a TV.

After all, for the same price, projectors cannot beat TVs in terms of audio and video quality.

There is also a saying on the Internet that "the projector is not an electronic screen, so it will not hurt the eyes." Many parents have also installed projectors in their homes for the sake of their children. Is this statement true?

Compared with TVs and mobile phones, projectors are indeed more friendly to the eyes because there is no direct LED illumination.

However, projectors usually require very dim ambient light, which can easily induce acute attacks of glaucoma in the elderly.

For children, if the picture is not clear enough or the environment is dark, it is relatively easier to cause visual fatigue.

Therefore, the statement that projectors are more eye-friendly than TVs is not absolute. Choosing a projector with insufficient brightness and clarity will affect your vision.

In short, when buying a projector, you should consider your own conditions and needs. If conditions permit, it is often a wiser choice to buy a reliable brand with better performance.

After all, market prices are relatively transparent, and the technical costs of electronic products are there. Trying to save a little money may result in a big loss.

Author｜Chunhua Popular Science Writer

Review | Liu Zhihai Dean and Professor of the School of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Harbin Engineering University