Choosing a projector

As the cost of TVs and projectors are coming down and there are multiple options available some people are looking towards projectors as they take up less permanent space, can be more easily hidden, and can generally cover a much larger area for the price. This article attempts to break down the basics you should consider when looking in to purchasing a projector.

Brightness. You mentioned windows and having a well-lit room and with natural light and artificial light, light pollution becomes a factor to consider. A reputable company will list the amount of lumens (measurement of light) a projector will utilize to project the picture. For a well-lit space, anything less than 2000 is probably a waste of time and the larger the number the clearer it will look despite the ambient light.
Resolution. A lot of “inexpensive” projectors you see on Amazon are projecting at 720p which was considered HD in 2000 but is now considered substandard. If you’re planning to view or watch anything with detail (spreadsheets, high-detail pictures/video) you’re going to want to look for something that projects in 1920x1080 or higher.
Form Factor. Do you want an ultra-portable projector that can fit in a laptop bag, one that can be installed permanently in a space, or one that is so small it can fit in a purse. All of these are options and the general rule of thumb is the smaller it is, the more expensive and less features you get.
Throw distance. How far from the projector lens to the wall/screen is there? If its too far away you’ll need a special lens to keep the picture from being too stretched out. If it’s too close, you’ll need a special lens to keep the picture viewable and not the size of a cell phone screen.
Connection. Are you planning to plug the projector in via HDMI, or are you hoping to wirelessly stream to it? I don’t personally think any of the projectors out there have their wireless options down to a science as all the reviews I see usually have some complaints about the reliability of those methods. At least make sure the projector you choose has HDMI as an option.
Lifecycle. Some of these less expensive projectors are cheaper simply because they’re built to last a very short time with very cheap components. Generally this is harder to differentiate and I rely generally on specific brands which I have confidence in their lifecycle planning.

That being said, I have a few brands I’d recommend. Epson, Panasonic, NEC, & Barco are probably the best options you can look at other than the more commonly recognized (Sony, LG, etc…)

The last thing I have to say is that in my opinion (although based on outdated research) spending less than $500 for a projector will mean giving up some of the basics I’ve mentioned above.

For reference, http://projectorcentral.com has a very thorough group of testers who put almost all major projector brands through tests to determine their recommendations. You can also use projectorpeople.com but they don’t seem quite as research-focused.

Finally, I’m going to include the projectors we typically purchase for MVNU so you can see some options:

Believe it or not, there are other things to consider, but I wanted to try and keep this one brief so you have a guide for finding what will work best for you.

If you have any questions about this guide or anything else, please don’t hesitate to contact the HelpDesk.