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The rise of on-demand streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu has made people forget traditional cable connections. With thousands of movies and TV shows available at the click of a button, more and more people are finding it hard to justify the hefty cable fees that bring a relatively small selection of media. Today, people rarely invest in TV boxes anymore, and they instead connect their computers to their TVs to enjoy their on-demand streaming content on a wider and more versatile screen. It doesn’t matter if you’re TV is a smart one or not; all you need to do is plug your PC or laptop using an HDMI cable. TVs undoubtedly allow you to have a more cinematic experience at home, but if you really want to feel like you’re living like a King, it would be best to invest in a premium home theater projector. These projectors can give you a theatre-sized display, and their quality matches any fancy smart TV. There are even high-end options that come with a smart TV system built-in, so you don’t need to rely on external devices to stream content. Since you’re paying a premium price, you can expect to get the same experience celebrities have in their home theaters. Let’s look at some of the best premium projectors you can find on the market in 2022.
Samsung has created many incredible smart TVs over the years, so it’s no surprise that they have also released top-notch projectors. They have an excellent ultra-short-throw smart home theater projector called The Premiere. It features a maximum screen size of 130 inches, making you feel like you have a massive high-end TV on your wall because of its 4K UHD resolution. It uses triple laser technology that makes you feel like you’re in a real cinema. You can expect vibrant content with accurate colors thanks to its HDR10+ support. The projector has 2800 lumens of brightness, so you will get to watch your favorite movies or shows clearly at any time of day. The projector comes with a Filmmaker Mode, primarily available on Samsung smart TVs in the past, allowing viewers to watch movies in the settings their director would’ve wanted. The Premiere projector will easily blend into any living space because of its modern and stylish design. Since it’s an ultra-short-throw projector, you can position it close to your wall and still get a fantastic quality. Users might not need a soundbar anymore since the projector comes with a 4.2.2 channel system featuring 40W speakers, and you get an immersive experience thanks to its Acoustic Beam technology. You can stream content from your computer using an HDMI cable, but you don’t need it since the projector already has a smart TV system built-in. You’ll get to download all the top streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, etc. Users can also stream content from their iOS or Android smartphones wirelessly. The projector comes with a remote, but you can also control your device using your voice since the projector has Alexa built-in.
4K UHD resolutionMaximum screen size of 130 inchesSmart TV systemAlexa built-inMinimalist and stylish design2800 lumens of brightness40W speakers
Software could be snappierYou can experience rainbow effect at timesLimited availability
The Epson Pro Cinema LS12000 can be a great addition to your home cinema if your budget can handle it. It delivers spectacular 4K PRO UHD quality thanks to its advanced pixel-shifting technology and high-definition LCD chips. Its Precision Shift Glass Plate Technology allows it to reach 8.29 million pixels and a resolution of 3840 x 2160. You can project a screen as small as 50 inches or as massive as 130 inches. The projector prioritizes accuracy when casting your source material, and it does a fantastic job because of its 32-bit Epson ZX picture processor. It features a multi-array laser light source that promises viewers superb color accuracy, brightness, and contrast. You use the projector even in bright rooms because of its 2,700 lumens of brightness. Its contrast ratio is around 2,500,000:1, thanks to the Epson UltraBlack Technology. The Epson Pro Cinema LS12000 has a wide color gamut, made possible by its advanced 3LCD technology. Your movies and shows will have impressive quality since the projector supports HDR, HDR10+, and HLG. Users will love watching action-packed scenes on this projector and even playing games because it has a refresh rate of 120 Hz. The projector comes with two HDMI ports, one of which has eARC/ARC support. You also get a USB Type-A port and LAN port. Finding the perfect position and angle for the projector is easy since it has a 3-axis motorized lens shift. Customers will also get a ceiling installation kit, so you can save even more space.
Superb 4K quality120Hz refresh ratePrecision Shift Glass Plate Technology2,700 lumens of brightness and 2,500,000:1 contrast ratioHDR, HDR10+, and HLG support3-axis motorized lens shift
Not ideal for small roomsCould use more portsNo smart TV system
The Xgimi Aura is another spectacular premium projector because it already comes with the Android TV system built-in. It utilizes advanced laser technology to achieve a 4K UHD resolution that offers realistic and cinematic visuals. The projector won’t take up too much space since it features ultra-short-throw technology, and you can have a screen size up to 150 inches. All the fast-paced scenes in the movies or show you watch will look clear and smooth because of the projector’s MEMC technology. The Xgimi Aura features 2400 ANSI lumens brightness, so your content will look bright and detailed even during the daytime. Yes, the projector may be expensive, but you can trust that it will last you a long time since it has a lamp life of 25,000 hours. Customers won’t need to purchase a home theater speaker system for the projector since it has four built-in 15W Harman Kardon speakers, and its Dolby Audio support will deliver a premium surround sound experience. Since the projector runs on Android TV, you can easily download your favorite apps from the Google Play Store. You also get a voice-enabled remote with a projector for easy voice control using Google Assistant. The Xgimi Aura doesn’t disappoint in terms of connectivity because it comes with three HDMI 2.0 ports, three USB 2.0 ports, Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi support, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Some unique features the projector has is its Full HD 3D support and low blue light capabilities.
Ultra-short-throw technology4K UHD resolution150 inches maximum screen sizeMEMC technology2400 ANSI lumens brightnessLamp life of 25,000 hours4 15W Harman Kardon speakersAndroid TV built-in with Google Assistant supportTons of portsBluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi support
Rainbow effectLimited image setting customizationsBulky Lacks keystone correction and autofocusAndroid TV performance needs improvements
For those who want an excellent projector with many smart features and reliable all-around performance, you can’t go wrong with the Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS500. This projector has a maximum screen size of 130 inches, and you will get sharp and detailed content because of its 4K PRO-UHD resolution. It features ultra-short throw laser-array technology, so you can place the projector close to the wall and still get a massive screen. The projector has advanced image and color processing, so you can expect the sharpest and most realistic picture possible. Its 3-chip 3LCD technology ensures that you get superior color accuracy each time you use it. You can expect it to project movies or shows with superb quality because of its 10-bit HDR processing. Customers will enjoy the projector day and night because of its 4,000 ANSI lumens brightness. Dark areas of each scene will also be clear and defined because the projector has a dynamic contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1. You can stream content from your computer via the HDMI 2.0 port with ARC support, but you can also access apps through its Android TV system. Upon purchase, you will get an Android TV dongle that you can use to access apps like Netflix.
4,000 ANSI lumens brightness and 2,000,000:1 contrast ratioSuperb image qualityMaximum screen size of 130 inchesUltra-short throw laser-array technology3-chip 3LCD technology and 10-bit HDR processingComes with an Android TV dongle
Android TV isn't integrated into the projector
The Optoma UHD35 is perfect who aren’t tight on their budget but are still not willing to spend more than $1,500 on a projector. This projector is ideal for those with large spaces because it can project a screen as big as 300 inches. You will enjoy your content every time because you will see it in 4K Ultra HD. It supports HDR10 & HLG technologies, allowing your content to have deeper blacks and brighter whites. The Optoma UHD35 features 3,600 lumens of brightness, so you can expect everything to remain clear and vibrant even in the daylight. You will love its UltraDetail technology and RGBWRGBW 8 segment color wheel because they enhance image sharpness and increase the color ratio. The projector also has a high contrast ratio (1,000,000:1) because of its Dynamic Black technology. Gamers will love this projector because you can get a refresh rate as high as 240Hz and a response time as low as 4.2ms. These are possible at a 1080p resolution, but if you want to game in 4K UHD, you can expect a 16ms response time, which is still pretty impressive for a 4K projector. Customers can set up the projector on a table or the ceiling, and its ±40° keystone correction and 1.1x zoom help you find the best position. The Optoma UHD35 has HDMI, VGA, and USB ports, so you can connect your streaming devices, computers, laptops, and gaming consoles. The lamp life of the projector is about 15,000 hours.
More affordable than rivalsMaximum screen size of 300 inches4K Ultra HD resolutionUp to 240Hz refresh rate when on 1080p3,600 lumens of brightnessImpressive sharpness and color accuracy
No lens shiftZoom is limitedContrast ratio could be betterNo integrated smart TV system
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