By Christine Cheng, Sharmane Lin, Jennifer Lin, Rebecca Wang
It is a common occurrence to see a television setup in almost every household. While televisions have long been an inseparable part of a domestic unit, the statement now might be called into question with the rising availability and popularity of projectors.
In contrast to televisions whose usual size averages between 45 and 65 inches and cost ranges from $500 to $1,500 US. New-generation projectors feature a wall-size image, 4K definition, eye comfort function, and some even with portability at a lower price. With that being said, which suits your living room better, a television or a projector, still depends on the consumer’s needs. Here are some crucial criteria to ponder on when making your final decision.
Sizes and Pricing
The size of televisions is fixed and less flexible. The common screen sizes usually range from 13 inches to 80 inches diagonally. Even though there are televisions with screens from 90 to 150 inches, they are more for special needs and cost a lot more when compared with average ones. Compared to televisions, projectors seem to be more cost-effective. The price of televisions rises as the screen size becomes larger; conversely, one can easily purchase a 108-inch projector at the price of no more than a thousand dollars, while a television with the same size and equivalent picture quality might cost tens of thousands. Projectors’ image size is also adjustable, so users are allowed to adjust the screen to any size in accordance with projector-to-screen as well as seating-to-screen distance freely, and to create a more cinematic experience at home. On that account, unless one is looking for supreme picture resolution that is higher than 4K, projectors would be a better option with their future-proof adaptability and customizable screen size.
Viewing Experience and Portability
For those who are expecting to obtain a cinematic viewing experience at home, the projector is capable of more customizations, especially when it comes to high-resolution movies with the premise that everything is conducted in complete darkness. Surely, in terms of sources such as Blu-ray or Ultra HD discs, over-the-air television, 1080p/4K streaming, cable, or satellite, a 65-inch television performs well; yet, a larger projection screen that delivers a movie-theater-like viewing experience appears to be a more alluring option, not to mention its much more affordable price than a television counterpart.
A stark discrepancy between television and projector viewing is that televisions are designed to present the best image quality under normal lighting conditions. Whereas the projectors perform better in a darkened room despite the fact that both are enabled to provide viewable images in a space with either ambient or dim light. Aside from that, projectors hold an advantage where users needn’t be concerned about the issue of reflections on the screen as long as projectors do not project images on any glossy surfaces, which is also easier for the eyes. Most projectors are equipped with eye protection functions, so they could actually help protect users’ eyesight. Hence, owing to the larger screen size, lower general brightness, along with the non-existent problem of reflections, projectors can provide a more immersive and comfortable viewing experience for users.
Another benefit of projectors is their portability. This is particularly true for mini projectors, which can weigh as little as a few hundred grams. The feature comes into place and brings great convenience for people who would like to carry their projectors outdoors and perhaps have a backyard movie night. Since projectors are able to project images on any kind of surface, which still had better be smooth and flat, what users have to do is simply fit them in their backpack and they can enjoy their wonderful outdoor viewing experience. On the flip side of a coin, it is likely not a good idea to carry a television around, it may cause damage and is not a feasible solution for setting up an outdoor movie night.
Image Quality
Generally speaking, 4K image quality has become one of the basic features that both large-screen televisions and projectors should be fitted with, and they both perform well in displaying high-definition pictures; nonetheless, the difference between HD and 4K won’t be noticed easily unless one is sitting up close to a 70-inch television screen. Projectors, thus, really outshine here on the grounds that users can acquire a large screen showing tremendous details with 4K resolution at a favorable price.
Contrariwise, a television will be more cost-effective if color accuracy is taken into account from a value perspective. Yet it may be conjectured that one can end up paying a premium for the best quality color from a television since it requires much processing power to deliver it. Even though projectors have been catching up in terms of quality, one will again need to spend more to attain the very best color experience.
Conclusion
“One of the biggest pros of projectors is the fact that there isn’t much they can’t do, making them a solid choice for almost every need and environment. Even extremely large, high brightness images can be achieved with multiple projectors and edge blending.” said Rob Meakin, European product manager at Sony Professional Solutions Europe. Both televisions and projectors have their benefits and different scenarios where they’ll be better used. While televisions might be a more common choice to make, projectors offer an innovative and life-changing alternative. Not only are projectors suitable for those looking for a more dynamic approach to home entertainment, but they are also able to rejuvenate and add new color to the overall atmosphere of the entire environment with its flexibility in terms of screen size and portability. In spite of the fact that they indeed require a bit of extra effort for setup and premier picture quality, it is still a cost-efficient investment worth a try.
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