Before gamers used to play in whatever screen is available. We took out our gaming console, hook them to the family television and we are set. On the other hand, PC gamers are satisfied with boxy monitors; however, this is no longer the case today.
Because in the last few years flat-screen panel is made affordable while sizes and resolution are getting bigger and better. However, if you fancy a gaming screen as big as your bedroom wall, then no TV can give you that, but with a gaming projector its possible.
#Premium Pick
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If you want the best of the best, then prepare to blow in some cash. These projectors are premium built to ensure top-notch gaming experience.
1. Sony Home Theater Projector VPL-HW45ES
The Sony VPL-HW45ES is a Full HD 3D with 1920×1080 native resolution. This home theater projector is equipped with a 1.6x manual zoom lens plus a vertical and horizontal lens shift. Picture quality is impressive, especially in games with rich environments like Deus Ex: Human Revolution. The color is vivid, crisp and you can literally feel the dystopian future vibe.
Thanks to its wide selection of enhanced video processing features, there is no drop-in performance even in dark or low light ambient setting. The brightness is 1,800 lumens, with an impressive lamp life of 6,000 hours. Though you must use low-intensity lamp mode to prolong its life by that much. But then again, it’s still one of the highest figures that I’ve seen from a projector that is LED powered.
But what made me double take on this projector is it’s “low latency” feature, and as a gamer, this means a lot. The input lag was measured at 22 ms with the Input Lag Reduction feature on. There is also a Game Mode feature in which the 22ms is its default input lag.
2. LG Cinebeam 4k HU80KA
The LG Cinebeam can project a 150-inch image in Ultra HD 4K resolution. Yes, that is awesome especially in games like The Witcher 3, with its boreal forest and mist-covered mountains. It is also a short-throw projector, so you will have no problem even if you place it beside your gaming couch.
HU80KA brightness is rated at an impressive 2,500 lumens, and according to LG, its laser life is estimated to up to a whopping 20,000-hour laser life.
It is also armed with 4K’s 8.3 million pixels, so even the largest images will remain crisp and crystal clear. The HU80KA is compatible with industry standard HDR 10 or High Dynamic Range. This means that this projector is capable of almost infinite color range and with best-possible brightness.
The HU80KA is supported by LG’s TruMotion Technology. This means an increase in the projector’s refresh rate, so fast-action pictures won’t suffer from motion blur or jagged fast-motion edges. Making this a wise choice for smooth gaming.
However, the TruMotion feature is not that friendly to input lags. Disable the TruMotion, and input lag will be minimized down to 71ms. Sure, it is still a bit high if you’re playing competitive online games, but for offline games, it is the right choice.
#Best Value
Gaming projectors need not break the bank, especially when best value projectors are available. A lower price point does not mean poor quality.
1. ViewSonic PA503S
Though this is a budget-friendly projector, ViewSonic is a reputable brand, so shop with confidence. After all, they are known to manufacture preferred monitors and projectors by gamers for years. Luckily the ViewSonic PA503S is no exception.
This projector has a short throw distance and can project 120 inches even from just 15 feet away. The brightness it offers is 3600 lumens, and if you run it with the SuperEco mode, its lamps are rated to up to 15,000 hours. The ViewSonic PA503S also have excellent after-sales support and a three-year warranty and a one-year lamp coverage.
It is also equipped with SuperColor technology, so gaming is made even better. Playing Grand Theft Auto 5 using this display is fantastic. Colors are accurate and more realistic. Plus, I notice no drops in performance no matter what the lighting condition of the environment is. It is also great for competitive online games, thanks to its ultra-low 16ms input lag, ensuring a faster frame-by-frame action.
2. WOWOTO T8E HD
The WOWOTO T8E HD is powered by DLP technology to ensure the most high-grade quality images. Games like Subnautica, with its rich marine environments, are given justice. Though it has a native resolution of 1280 x 800, it can support resolution up to 1920 x 1080. Brightness is also rated at about 2000 lumens, with lamp lifespan to up to 20,000 hours
It can also produce a large image size to up to 300 inches maximum. Astonishingly, even at this size, the colors remained vibrant, and pictures remained sharp. This projector’s performance will not be affected, no matter the lighting condition is in your gaming room.
3. VANKYO Performance V600
VANKYO Performance V600 is a cost-effective gaming projector. It has a native 1080p resolution, guaranteeing better display during your game time. This LED powered projector features 4000 lumens, two HDMI-in ports, decent stereo speakers plus a crisp 300-inch viewing area.
Based on its specifications and considering its price point, it’s a remarkable gaming display alternative. Playing Mafia 2 on the VANKYO Performance V600 is pretty satisfying as it gave the 1940’s atmosphere its due.
#Best Response Time (Perfect for Fast-paced Games)
Gamers hate latency, and in competitive online games, a split-second delay spells a catastrophic defeat. As a gamer, you know this is not an exaggeration as you can attest to this. That is why I’ve listed the best projectors which will guarantee low input lags.
1. Optoma GT1080 Darbee Gaming Projector
The GT1080Darbee main focus is video-gaming and quality video processing. Thanks to its native 1080p resolution, the picture quality is perfect for budding gamers. The GT1080Darbee peak brightness is offered at 3000 lumens. On the other hand, its contrast ratio is equally promising at 28,000:1.
One of this projector’s exciting feature is its Enhanced Game Mode setting. This unique mode is attractive to gamers like you, because of its promise of optimized gaming performance. This feature increases contrast and color and to top it all off, it also delivers a remarkably low input lag measurement of just 16ms. This is a big deal for gamers who values fast response time above anything else.
2. ViewSonic PX706HD
The ViewSonic PX706HD is a DLP projector that boasts a 1080p (1920 x 1080) native resolution. Playing Mad Max is such a treat thanks to the striking colors and sharp pictures. Basically, the PX706HD is made for gaming, considering its reduced input latency at 16ms. This means that smooth gameplay and high framerates are ensured for gamers like you.
This is also a short throw projector, which means that a few feet away from the screen will produce a 100 inches display. And boy, does that sound like the perfect immersive gaming! Now imagine playing Dark Souls 3 on this projector, praise the sun!
3. BenQ HT2150
The BenQ HT2150ST gaming projector is also built with hardcore gamers in mind. The color is also well-balanced, and a full native 1080p resolution translates to crisp and crystal bright display output.
It offers a 16 ms input lag plus a low fan noise and ample light output guaranteeing a better gaming experience. In addition to really short lag time, another factor to make this projector awesome is the RGBRGB color wheel. This means that the BenQ HT2150ST can deliver an outstanding color brightness that measures up to 100% of white in Game mode. Perfect for colorful game environments, plus it guarantees better gamer immersion.
#What to Look for in a Gaming Projector
I have listed the best there is; however, you might be thinking, what makes a good gaming projector? Well, sit back and read on, to know the features that separate the good ones from bad ones.
a. Resolution
Full HD and 4K has become the standard resolution in displays, so it’s no brainer that proper resolution is essential. Remember, you should not go lower than 1080p. You game for the adventure, so the best one who can give you the best immersion experience should always win.
b. Response time
Response time or input lag is crucial for gamers. Because as you know, lag kills, and we don’t want to be subjected to this kind of defeat. That is why you must always pay close attention to the projector’s response time. Though you can’t compare projectors with gaming monitors, some projectors have decent input lags.
c. Brightness
A projector’s brightness is measured in lumens, and this will measure the projector’s capacity to function in lit areas. Around 1000 plus lumens are sufficient for dimly lit rooms, and 3000 is acceptable even for brightly lit rooms. This is important because to be able to game anywhere at any time of the day is something that we want.
Wrap-Up
Gaming evolves, and gamers are trying to follow the ever-changing trends. That is why gaming projectors are gaining momentum. We game to feel the virtual adventure and the thrill of competition and having a bigger stage for our exploits is a gamer’s dream come true.