Mar 03, 2020 ·  The Kodak Luma 150 is a tiny, highly portable projector that can show content from a range of sources, both wired and wireless, but its brightness is low enough to crimp image size. 

Dec 23, 2020 ·  Kodak Luma 150 review: Video and audio quality While some projectors are aimed at a specific audience, the Kodak Luma 150 Pocket projector is positioned as an all-rounder that is equally comfortable projecting movies and showcasing professional presentations. 

Read what Crutchfield customers have to say about the Kodak Luma 150 Portable DLP pocket projector with wireless mirroring. 

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Kodak Luma 150 Portable Wireless Projector at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products! 

The Optoma HD28HDR is a well-designed home theater projector. It delivers good color accuracy and contrast for movies and video at a high enough brightness to stand up to ambient light. It also... 

Optoma HD28HDR 1080p Home Theater Projector for Gaming and Movies | Support for 4K Input | HDR Compatible | 120Hz refresh rate | Enhanced Gaming Mode, 8.4ms Response Time | High-Bright 3600 lumens: Bought it and loved it, until 5 months later (only 300 hours of use) the lamp goes out. 

Apr 13, 2020 ·  Optoma's lineup of projectors includes a number of options cut out for gaming. The HD39HDR sticks with a 1080p resolution — though it can handle 4K and HDR input — and brings up to a 120Hz ... 

Sep 22, 2015 ·  Optoma HD28DSE Review John Archer &vert; September 22, 2015 1:02 pm BST. Sections. Page 1 Optoma HD28DSE Review; Page 2 Picture Quality Review; Page 3 3D, Sound and Conclusions Review; 

Optoma

One of the cheapest HDR-compatible projectors isn't quite as dynamic with standard video.

Optoma HD28HDR

Optoma HD28HDR review: Bright HDR projector on a budget

Optoma HD28HDR review

The Optoma HD28HDR gives away its claim to fame right in its pithy name: HDR. Unlike most inexpensive projectors, it works with high dynamic range video. With higher-end TVs HDR makes a big difference in image quality, but with projectors it's a different story:&nbsp;Projectors lack the HDR-friendly hardware like OLED and full-array local dimming that can make HDR sources on TVs shine. This Optoma is quite bright but its HDR compatibility doesn't make it massively better than the non-HDR competition.&nbsp; I compared the HD28HDR to two non-HDR projectors we like, the BenQ HT2050A, and the Epson HC2150. Both are close in price and in many ways close in performance, but with HDR sources the Optoma HD28HDR does look slightly better than either one. But standard, non-HDR video is still way more common than HDR, and with standard video the Optoma HD28HDR is fairly average. This projector is the best among the three if you're the kind of person who watches mostly HDR -- reserving the projector for high-end games or special movie nights for example -- but the other two are superior all-around choices. 	Basic specs Native resolution: 1,920x1,080HDR-compatible: Yes4K-compatible: Yes3D-compatible: YesLumens spec: 3,600Zoom: Manual (1.1)Lens shift: NoLamp life (Normal mode): 6,000 hoursThe HD28HDR can accept and display 4K sources but unlike the higher-end Optoma UHD60, it's not a true 4K projector. One of the HD28HDR's HDMI inputs is HDMI 2.0&nbsp;and can accept a 3,840x2,160 60Hz (4K) signal, but the most that is ever displayed on screen is 1,920x1,080 (1080p). When you send this projector 4K, it's identified on screen as such, but you're still only seeing HD. Read more: TV resolution confusion: 1080p, 2K, UHD, 4K, 8K, and what they all meanWhy allow 4K input but only display 1080p on-screen, you might ask? Technically you can have 1080p or even 720p resolution signals with HDR, but most streaming services and devices lump 4K and HDR together. The HD28HDR provides a cheaper way to get high dynamic range since it doesn't need to use a 4K DLP chip. If you're still into 3D, that's here too, though no glasses are for sale on Optoma's site. You'll need to get some third-party models from Amazon. Optoma claims 3,600 lumens of brightness, and I measured around 1,500. It's normal for a projector to measure lower than its claimed numbers. For projectors of this price, this is a solid result and creates a very bright image, albeit slightly dimmer than the Epson HC2150 and BenQ HT2050A.As is common with DLP projectors in this price range, there is no lens shift. The BenQ is one of the few sub-$1,000 DLP projectors that does, while the Epson, an LCD projector, does as well. The Optoma's zoom range is very limited, even by affordable projector standards. These two things mean the HD28HDR has limited placement options compared to projectors with a larger zoom range and/or lens shift, like the BenQ and Epson. Lamp life, in the Normal mode, is a claimed 6,000 hours. In Eco mode this jumps up to an impressive 10,000 hours, though at a cost of 30% of the brightness. Turning on the Dynamic Black feature expands this all the way to 15,000 hours, or about 10 years at 4 hours a day. In this mode the lamp brightness decreases with dark scenes. The fan speed varies with it, though this isn't as noticeable as with the HD28HDR's cheaper brother, the HD146X.  	Connectivity and convenience HDMI inputs: 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x HDMI 1.4PC input: NoUSB port: 1 (1.5A power)Audio input and output: 3.5mm audio outDigital audio output: NoLAN port: No12v trigger: NoRS-232 remote port: NoMHL: NoRemote: BacklitThere are two HDMI inputs on the HD28HDR. One is HDMI 1.4, which covers you for any standard HD sources, or older 4K sources up to 30 Hz, you want to connect. The other is HDMI 2.0 and can handle 4K sources. In a typical home theater setup, where all the sources run through a receiver, there's no need to run two HDMI cables. HDMI 2.0 is backward compatible, so your HD sources will work fine on this input.&nbsp; The only other connection, other than the 3.5mm audio output, is USB. This will power a streaming stick like a Roku or Amazon Fire. There is no internal speaker, however. The remote's backlight is brighter than some projectors I've reviewed. Featuring a design shared across multiple Optoma projectors, there are input buttons here that aren't found on the HD28HDR itself.  	Picture quality comparisons Overall the Optoma HD28HDR is slightly better than the cheaper HD146X, thanks to its prowess with HDR, but I didn't like its picture as much as the BenQ's. The Epson, meanwhile scored the same in image quality as the HD28HDR but for different reasons.&nbsp;As usual, I connected these projectors to a Monoprice 1x4 distribution amplifier that gave each one the same source, and then compared everything on a 102-inch 1.0-gain screen.&nbsp; The Epson is a good projector, especially for viewers who can't stand DLP's rainbow effect. Its performance lags a bit behind the BenQ, so I ended up looking at it less than the others. The face-off gets narrowed down by one. That leaves us three DLP-based units. On the outside the HD146X looks like a virtual twin to the HD28HDR. The casing is glossy black instead of glossy white, but is clearly the same design otherwise. Inside is a different story, however, leading to different performance. The BenQ is consistently our benchmark, as it has a great contrast ratio for the price and fairly accurate colors.&nbsp; When viewing standard HD video, aka not HDR, I saw very little difference between the HD28HDR and the HD146X. I think most people, viewing the images created by both on the same screen, would assume they were the same projector. Perhaps with a few settings moved one tick in one direction or another. While the 28HDR does have a slightly higher contrast ratio, it's not particularly noticeable. Their color accuracy, such as it is, is similar as well. The BenQ does look better than both Optomas, though perhaps not as much as the numbers suggest. Its contrast ratio is nearly 3 times higher than the HD28HDR, which adds a bit more depth to the image. It looks a little less washed out. That said, it's not as big a difference as you'd expect. More noticeable are the BenQ's richer, more accurate colors, especially green. The HD28HDR has a fairly muted green, and it's particularly noticeable when side-by-side with something with more accurate colors. On the BenQ,&nbsp;The Incredible Hulk looks a bit more incredible, if you will.&nbsp; Given that the BenQ is only slightly more expensive, while also being quieter, with a better zoom and as well as lens shift, it seems like a slam dunk winner over the HD28HDR. However... The HDR wild cardThe above setup put all the projectors on the same level playing field, showing the exact same content on all four. To test HDR I connected a separate streaming stick to the 28HDR and left the others connected to the same SDR source. This setup let me play the HDR version of a movie on the 28HDR and the SDR version on the other projectors. It took some fiddling, but I was able to get the sync between the different feeds close enough that it wasn't annoying. At this point I need to take a step back and explain something about HDR. You can read more about it in What is HDR for TVs, and why should you care? and Why you shouldn't expect great HDR from a projector, but the short version is, budget projectors, even those as bright as the HD28HDR, aren't able to reproduce HDR like modern TVs can. They have neither the light output, the dynamic range, nor the colors for wide color gamut content. So they have to remap the HDR signal in a way so it looks acceptable, while not completely ignoring the extra HDR info.&nbsp; A projector that is able to read and readjust HDR content could, in theory, look better than a projector that can't. It won't look as good as a TV that has actual HDR-friendly performance but feeding it "better" content could nonetheless result in a more compelling image. I think you can see where I'm going with this. With no other changes other than an HDR version of the signal, the HD28HDR looks noticeably better than the HD146X, and ends up giving the BenQ a run for its money. How is this possible? Well, the differences are still subtle, but again, viewing them side-by-side reveals them.&nbsp; The brightness, dynamic range, and colors of the projector haven't changed, it's how the content is able to better use that same performance. Think of it like a professional driver going around a racetrack in your car. You'd probably have a blast clocking in a great time, but no matter how well you did, Lewis Hamilton would be able to get a better time in the same car.&nbsp; With Thor: Ragnarok, such differences are easy to pick out, given the lavish sets and broad fantastical colors. There is more detail in bright objects, like clouds. What is a flat white on, say, the BenQ, has detail/texture and some color on the HD28HDR. Brighter colors are more saturated. While the black bars above and below the screen reveal that the BenQ has a much lower black level, and by extension, a better contrast ratio, the image itself looks far more similar than you'd expect. While the issue with a weak green is still there, other colors, especially brighter ones, look better and richer on the HD28HDR.&nbsp;  	Conclusion: HDR-ish This is a tale of two projectors, trapped inside the same small case. Fed standard SDR content, the HD28HDR's fairly average contrast ratio and colors are fine, but they don't make it stand out. Fed HDR content, it's a different story. Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, if you will. While the HD28HDR can't do nearly as much with HDR content as a more capable projector, it's not doing nothing, so to speak. It's doing the best with what it has -- and looking better for it. Punching above its weight and looking quite good. That all said... the difference is still fairly slight. With HDR content, I'd put the HD28HDR very slightly above the BenQ HT2050A, though they have very different strengths and weaknesses. With SDR content, that is, the vast majority of what you'll be watching, the BenQ looks better. Not a huge amount, but enough. The BenQ, with its greater zoom range and lens shift, will also fit better in far more homes than the HD28HDR. So I'd lean that way for most people, but the HD28HDR is a solid alternative, especially if you watch predominantly HDR content.  	Measurement notes This is a peculiar projector, looking quite different with HDR content than with SDR, even with the SDR settings as close to correct as possible. I found the Cinema mode to be most accurate, along with the Standard color temperature and Standard (2.2) gamma settings. The color temperature is slightly lacking blue, with slightly too much green, but it's reasonably close. Colors are another story. Green is quite undersaturated, and blue is slightly teal. Some slight adjustments to these were possible, but not to any great extent. Once sent an HDR signal, the projector switches over to its HDR picture mode, giving access to a new setting in the menu: Dynamic Range. Since a projector like this has no hope in creating the nits required by HDR content (see main text), it needs to re-map the image to something closer to what it can create. One possible way is to just lop off all the bright detail (think textures in clouds during daylight). This is inelegant, and can create other issues. A potentially better way is to remap some of the bright detail so it's "dimmer" so to speak. This can have its own issues as well. Conveniently, Optoma gives you a choice in how it does this: Standard, Film, Bright and Details. It's worth flipping through these while you're watching HDR content to see what looks best to you on that content. Since the projector is going to have to re-map the HDR regardless, there is no right or wrong answer here.&nbsp; In the Cinema picture mode and Standard color temp mode, the HD28HDR puts out a very respectable 170 nits, about the same as the BenQ and Epson. Turning up the Brilliant Color, or switching to the Vivid mode, can increase this even more, to 215 nits, though the overall image doesn't look as good or as accurate. The Eco lamp mode drops either by about 30%. The Dynamic Black mode, which decreases lamp power for darker scenes, also seems to cap maximum light output by about 10%, but has a much lower black level and therefore a greater dynamic contrast ratio. The native contrast ratio itself is fairly poor, at an average of 716:1. The LCD-based Epson is around 1,200:1, and the BenQ nearly 2,100:1.&nbsp; Picture mode: Cinema Expert settings: Brightness: 1Contrast: -4Sharpness: 10Gamma: Standard (2.2)Brightness Mode: BrightColor temp.: StandardDynamic Black: Off (On is also fine)Brilliant Color: 8

As the model name implies, the ViewSonic PX703HD ($649.99) home entertainment projector has a lot in common with the ViewSonic PX701HD ($589.99) that we've also reviewed. It shares most of the... 

The ViewSonic PX706HD ($650 street) is designed with a focus on video gaming first and home theater second. The most obvious gaming-related feature is the 16.4 ms input lag, as fast as it gets on projectors and ideal for serious gamers. 

Sep 13, 2018 ·  Featuring low input latency, a compact form-factor, and a short-throw lens, this new display solution from ViewSonic redefines the “big-screen experience.” Keep reading our hands-on review to see if the ViewSonic PX706HD Gaming Projector is the upgrade your living room needs. Special thanks to ViewSonic for loaning us a projector for this ... 

Mar 08, 2017 ·  The Good The Viewsonic PJD7828HDL offers very good image quality for the price, with full HD resolution, a bright image and solid contrast. A short-throw lens helps it project a larger image in ... 

ViewSonic

With an impressive picture for the price, the Viewsonic PJD7828HDL is a top choice for projector seekers with smaller rooms.

ViewSonic PJD7828HDL

Viewsonic PJD7828HDL review: Excellent value for a big picture in smaller rooms

Viewsonic PJD7828HDL review

The Good: The Viewsonic PJD7828HDL offers very good image quality for the price, with full HD resolution, a bright image and solid contrast. A short-throw lens helps it project a larger image in smaller spaces. There's a nook that's perfect for a streaming stick. The Bad: Somewhat lighter black levels and less accurate color than some more-expensive competitors; poor remote. The Bottom Line: If you're short on space yet crave the huge image only a projector can deliver, the Viewsonic PJD7828HDL is worth a close look. Projectors typically require a lot of space, but ones with short-throw lenses can achieve that huge projected image without needing quite as much distance between the projector and the screen.The Viewsonic PJD7828HDL is one of the cheapest short-throw projectors with full-HD resolution available, and its image quality is very impressive for the money. It also comes with a couple of unusual conveniences like a "hidden" HDMI input perfect for wireless dongles (and streaming sticks) and a cable management cover to improve its looks.Best projectors you can actually affordIts main competition among projectors I've reviewed recently is the Optoma HD142X ($550). The two have very similar image quality that's good enough to please the most persnickety of viewers, to the extent that it's tough to justify a better performer like the BenQ HT2050 ($800). While I liked the Optoma a bit better than the Viewsonic overall, the two were close enough to earn the same picture quality score. The Optoma and most other projectors in this price range require more room to get huge, however, so if space is tight and you want to maximize that screen size, go with the Viewsonic.Basic specs        Native resolution: 1080pLumens spec: 3,200Zoom: Manual (1.3x)Lens shift: No3D-compatible: YesLamp life (Normal mode): 4,000 hoursReplacement lamp cost: $220The Viewsonic's lumens rating is legit; this thing measured brighter than any home theater projector I've tested this year, which makes it a better choice than many projectors if you have some ambient light in the room. Of course, for best results you should turn off as many lights as possible.The Viewsonic has a relatively short-throw lens, so it can sit closer to the screen than some other projectors to get an image of the same size. To fill my 120-inch test screen, for example, it could be as close as about 10 feet, compared with 13 feet for the Optoma. The 1:1 ratio holds at closer distances too; at just 7 feet from the screen the Viewsonic's image was about 7 feet (84 inches) diagonal. Have you checked the prices on 80-inch TVs recently?If you want to use 3D with the Viewsonic you'll need to buy 3D glasses. The projector uses DLP Link, which should be compatible with numerous third-party glasses (starting at $25 each on Amazon) or Viewsonic's own like the PGD-350 ($50 each). The lamp will burn out faster and cost more to replace than the Optoma, judging by the two projectors' specifications using their brightest default ("Normal") settings. Both units, as usual, have modes that dim the bulb and extend that lifespan.Connectivity and convenience        HDMI inputs: 2AV input: 2 (composite and S-video)PC input: Analog RGBUSB port: 1MHL: YesRemote: Not backlitBuilt-in speaker: YesThe Viewsonic stands apart in this category, with a full complement of analog jacks and a "hidden" HDMI port behind a hatch on top. I actually prefer both HDMI ports to be on the back for easier connection, like they are on the Optoma, because using the second doesn't require running a wire around to the front of the projector.The idea of the second port is to "discreetly stream multimedia content from an optional wireless dongle," and even includes a Micro-USB cable for power. The dongle costs $160, however, so you'll probably want to use another device. Both a Roku Streaming Stick and an Amazon Fire TV Stick fit fine, and even pass audio via the Viewsonic's audio output so you don't have to suffer listening to the built-in speaker. The HDMI port is compatible with MHL as well.

https://cnetvideo.cbsistatic.com/vr/2019/10/05/888636995921/Projectors_6things_UPDATE_147370_740.mp4

If you're short on space yet crave the huge image only a projector can deliver, the Viewsonic PJD7828HDL is worth a close look.

Projectors are awesome, delivering huge, beautiful images for less money than you'd think. But they're not for everyone.

Six things to know about home theater projectors

Jul 31, 2020 ·  The Anker Nebula Mars II Pro has much to recommend it as an entertainment projector. It packs 720p resolution, and at 500 lumens it is brighter than many of its peers. With twin 10-watt speakers ... 

Nebula Mars II Pro. As I had shared earlier, I somewhat reluctantly purchased the Anker Nebula Mars II Pro after seeing how happy children were watching movies while camping in the backyard or going on a road trip. The additional benefit of having the engaged kids stay safely seated nearby while the adults were preparing dinner at camp made the ... 

Sep 13, 2018 ·  The Anker Nebula Mars II projector is available now, priced at £469.99 ($499.99, around AU$850). That’s about the going rate for a decent portable pico projector, but the Nebula Mars II is far ... 

Sep 03, 2019 ·  Build. (Image credit: Nebula) The Nebula Mars 2 is a mini lunchbox-like projector that seems to have taken its cues from the Bang & Olufsen Beolit range of wireless speakers. While not tiny, a carry handle means you can take it anywhere without much fuss or inconvenience. Anker Nebula Mars 2 (Black) at Amazon for £594.44. 

Feb 19, 2021 ·  Overall Take. The crisp, clear video you'll get with the Anker Nebula Mars is thanks to 3,000 lumens and 800p definition. You'll pay for that quality, though, since this projector retails at a higher price than other mini projectors. With up to three hours of battery life and JBL speakers built in, this projector is for the most serious ... 

Apr 09, 2020 ·  The Anker Nebula Capsule II is a cylindrical portable projector that easily fits in a bag for transport. With a diameter of 3.1 inches and a height of 5.9 inches, it’s a midrange size for a ... 

One of the coolest aspects of the Anker’s new Nebula Astro projector is the small size. A little larger than a navel orange, the Astro is only 3.6″ high, 3.2″ in diameter and weighs less than a pound. In fact, although I had the projector already setting on the table, one of my friends asked, “Where is the projector? That’s it?!” The minimalist design is geared toward kids with a fun, colorful UI to navigate the installed apps. You can even select a fun background and add your child’s name to the interface. On the back of the Astro projector, you can find a USB-C port for both charging and USB storage and an HDMI input. 

Jul 14, 2021 ·  The BenQ GS2 gets enough right—image quality, water resistance, easy setup—to make it worth considering. 

Aug 12, 2021 ·  The UK price on Amazon of the BenQ GS2 is £549, and on the US-based Amazon.com, that translates into $599. It may be possible to find it cheaper elsewhere, but we didn’t see that bargain. The ... 

The most important features for a portable projector are, not unexpectedly, its portability and the set- up capabilities. The cube-like GS2 is 5.7 x 5.5 x 5.5 inches (HxWxD) and weighs only 3.6 pounds. There's a built-in stand that can adjust up to fifteen degrees and has a tripod screw hole to attach a mount plate. I should note that the tripod screw hole is a bit shallow, so my standard tripod mount plate couldn't secure flush to the projector base, causing the projector to wobble a bit if touched. Both auto keystone and auto focus can be accessed through the menu or, in the case of focus, with a single button press on the remote. Both do a decent job, although I needed to fine-tune the keystone and sometimes the auto focus took two or three attempts to get the picture as good as could be. As always, it's best to set up a projector so no keystone adjustment is necessary, but with small portable projectors that's not always possible. It's good to know that the built-in adjustments... 

Sep 15, 2020 ·  BenQ’s GS2 portable projector is a joy to use and has everything you would need from a wireless outdoor projector. A 500 lumens 720p LED projector that packs a powerful punch in terms of features, design and performance is something hard to not consider. 

Straight out of the box BenQ’s new GS2 projector looks different, lacking the rectangular look so common to projectors. This is squat, blockyin its cube shape and rather “toad-like” as my daughter called it. The colour choice of its beige housing is somewhat questionable as it gives the projector an old-school feel, but the inclusion of direct access controls on the projector's top-face pulls you back to remind you that it's designed for modern-day needs. In fact, you'll notice the familiar Android phone navigation options present to traverse the projector's embedded user interface and Aptoide TV app store which is optimized for large-screen devices comfortably. The BenQ GS2 is meant to be an ideal garden, camping or family holiday projector, so it has a built-in battery, splash proofing (IPX2 rated), and dropprotection. Even if you don't plan to move much beyond our home, it's portable and rugged nature is also perfect anywhere at home when you've kids around. To accompany its life... 

Sep 03, 2020 ·  The biggest gripe is the sound quality that the BenQ GS2 projector provides. The GS2 is marketed as a projector with 4 watt Bluetooth Speaker capabilities but the audio feels underwhelming and flat. It may suit the taste of those who like the tunes of that old crackly radio from the past but it won’t make for an immersive movie audio experience. 

BenQ America Corp.

BenQ GS2 - DLP projector - portable - 802.11a/b/g/n/ac wireless / Bluetooth overview and full product specs on CNET.

BenQ GS2

Apr 08, 2021 ·  The AAXA P6X Pico Projector is light enough for road warriors and bright enough for presentations in small conference rooms, with a convenient onboard battery and a well-tuned speaker. MSRP $359.00... 

Mar 17, 2021 ·  The AAXA P6X is a pico projector, or a small, portable, battery-operated projector. Clocking in at a mere 1.8 pounds, the P6X is extremely lightweight. Its massive 15000mAh battery doubles as a power source for the projector itself as well as a charger for external devices. The built-in battery delivers a whopping four hours of usage in Eco mode. 

Mar 18, 2021 ·  The AAXA P6X is like a breath of fresh air for projectors. It will never replace a full-size home or office projector but is so small, light and surprisingly bright that it has a place for watching TV or running an impromptu video meeting. 

Sep 28, 2012 ·  Portability is key when it comes to pico projectors. Featuring a built-in battery and the ability to operate sans notebook, the Aaxa P4-X pico projector ($299) certainly meets that requirement. 

Jan 08, 2021 ·  The BenQ TH685 is a solid 1080p choice for gaming or for viewing movies or video even in a room with ambient light. The package of good color accuracy and contrast, fast input lag, high brightness,... 

Sep 17, 2020 ·  30-second review On paper, there’s a lot to like about the BenQ TH685: it’s an affordable 1080p projector with HDR support that can put out 3,500 lumens of brightness and has an input lag of less... 

Jul 20, 2020 ·  BenQ TH685 Console Gaming Projector Reviewed There are a bunch of junk projectors under $1,000 with minimal light output and atrocious color. But with enough brightness for high-ambient light... 

Sep 17, 2020 ·  The BenQ TH685 was released back in February 2020 and comes in at a very reasonable $749 (£659, AU$1,349). That’s a bit pricey compared to some 4K TVs, but in the grand scheme of serious AV equipment, the BenQ TH685 is surprisingly affordable. Take, for example, its 4K stablemate, the BenQ HT3550 that comes in at $1,499. That’s undeniably ... 

Apr 05, 2020 ·  Meet the BenQ TK850. With the TK850, BenQ continues its tradition of setting a high bar when it comes to bang for the buck in the world of consumer-grade projectors. Having just completed the review of the BenQ HT3550, it was interesting to compare the TK850 to its HT3550 big brother. It turns out that the TK850 is extremely similar to the ... 

BenQ has always been great with colour reproduction and the TH585 does a commendable job given its segment and price. The bundling of the FireStick HD makes the deal even sweeter and it quickly becomes an all-in-one unit if you want to consider using the in-built speaker for casual viewing. 

This bright projector aimed at gamers nails its niche admirably, but outside that role it stumbles.

BenQ TH685

BenQ TH685: Ginormous image specialized for gaming

BenQ TH685 review

Sometimes, a specialized tool is required. Maybe that Swiss Army knife has gotten you out of a few jams, but it lacks useful things like a hammer or a belt sander. Most home theater projectors are generalist tools as well, equally adept at a variety of content. BenQ TH685 is not a Swiss Army knife. It's a hammer. With low input lag and a massive, bright image, this is the kind of display gamers can use to effectively pwn the noobs, on a 100-plus-inch screen, while even leaving some lights on.&nbsp;The downside is that its contrast ratio and overall image quality come up a little short, and when used in its most accurate mode for color, its brightness is basically the same as the competition. The TH685's short-ish throw distance lets you get a huge image from your coffee table, but combined with lack of lens shift it limits placement compared to other projectors.The BenQ TH685 was designed to fill its niche as a gaming projector, but outside that role it falters a bit. The cheaper BenQ HT2050A has a superior picture with punchier contrast and comparable brightness in accurate picture settings, making it a better choice for all kinds of general viewing. But if your primary use is playing games, and you want to fill a massive wall doing it, the TH685 is an excellent tool for the job.Basic specsNative resolution: 1,920x1,080HDR-compatible: Yes4K-compatible: Yes (1080p resolution)3D-compatible: YesLumens spec: 3,500Zoom: Manual (1.3x)Lens shift: NoLamp life (Normal mode): 4,000 hoursThe TH685, like the Optoma HD28HDR, can accept a 4K resolution signal, but it's a 1080p projector. Ultra HD images will be scaled down to 1080p. This is likely done because 4K and HDR often go hand in hand, even though that's not technically necessary. Both HDMI inputs can accept 4K.&nbsp;If you're still a fan of 3D, the TH658 can do that too, though the glasses aren't included.BenQ claims 3,500 lumens of brightness. In its most accurate setting, with color close to what you want in a home theater environment, I measured just over 1,600. In the Bright picture mode the image is noticeably and unpleasantly green but measures an impressive 2,782 lumens. I don't recommend watching in this mode for any length of time, but if the room has ambient light, gaming with the lights on during a party, say, having the ability to be this bright can come in handy.&nbsp;Though I should mention, no projector can compete with ambient light. All projectors will look better with some light control.There's no manual lens shift, a feature found on the TH685's cheaper brother, the HT2050A. The TH685's digital lens shift isn't as good, but it is something. It moves the image center up or down on the DLP chip, cropping whatever part of the image doesn't fit. If you're watching a widescreen movie, for example, you can position the image up or down the screen since the back bars can be cropped out without losing any pertinent info.Read more: Home theater projectors: Eight tips for set up, placement and picture settingsThrow distance is on the shorter side. Despite having a 1.3x zoom, it requires closer placement to the screen than some of its direct competition. If you don't want to mount it on the ceiling, it's not going to work behind your head unless your sofa is fairly close to the screen, or the screen itself is quite massive. Conversely, you can put the projector closer to the screen, so coffee table placement would still allow a big image. It is not, however, a true short-throw projector.For perspective, I have a 102-inch screen, and most sub-$1,000 projectors can fill that sitting on a stand behind my sofa, roughly 12 feet from the screen. The TH685 joins us on the couch like an untrained puppy. Also like a puppy its breath is hot and its bark is loud -- when you sit too close to any projector you can feel the heat as well as hear more fan noise.Lamp life is a fairly average 4,000 hours in the Normal mode. This jumps up to 10,000 hours in the Eco mode, though you lose about 35% of the light output. There are two other lamp modes that sound like they do the same thing, but work slightly different. SmartEco mode decreases lamp power in darker scenes "while optimizing display quality," as BenQ describes. This results in a claimed lamp life of 8,000 hours. LampSave, on the other hand, decreases lamp power in darker scenes "while offering a longer lamp life." It does this primarily by limiting maximum light output to what you'd get in the Eco mode. It balloons lamp life out to 15,000 hours. Since the lamp itself is around $160 as of this writing, and even in the Normal mode will last upwards of three years, you probably don't need to sweat this too much.Connectivity and convenienceHDMI inputs: 2PC input: Analog RGB (also Analog RGB out)USB port: 1 (1.5A power)Audio input and output: 3.5mm for eachDigital audio output: NoLAN port: No12v trigger: NoRS-232 remote port: YesMHL: NoRemote: Not backlitBoth the HDMI inputs are HDMI 2.0 and have HDCP 2.2, so they can accept 4K HDR signals from any current source. The USB has 1.5 amps of power available, meaning you can drive a streaming stick like the Roku or Amazon Fire.&nbsp;Interestingly, there's a legacy analog PC input and output, though I can't imagine either will be used by many people. The same goes for the RS-232 port, something required by some high-end home theater control systems.There's a 5W internal speaker that is about as good as you'd expect. A 3.5mm audio output is available to connect an external speaker. The remote isn't backlit, but it's small and simple and has dedicated and color coded on and off buttons.Picture quality comparisonsI connected these three projectors via a Monoprice 1x4 distribution amplifier, and viewed them on a 102-inch 1.0-gain screen. The TH685 was like a combo of the Optoma and the HT2050A, sharing the above-average color accuracy of the HT2050A with the middling contrast ratio of the Optoma.The BenQ TH685's color accuracy is welcome, and rare with projectors in this price range. Most sacrifice color for light output. The TH685 has both, which is great. Greens, like grass, plants or a TIE fighter's lasers, are all especially realistic. What, are you saying TIE fighters aren't real? How dare you. Both the BenQs outdid the Optoma here, with the 28HDR just looking a bit less vibrant.Contrast ratio, as has been the case with all the projectors I reviewed this year, ended up being a no-contest win for the HT2050A. It's just noticeably better in this incredibly important test. The TH658 and 28HDR are basically tied, in terms of contrast. Their slight differences aren't visible side by side. The HT2050A has nearly 3x the contrast ratio, and it's obvious. Shadows are darker, the image has more apparent depth, it just has more punch. The other two look flat in comparison. I wouldn't call them "washed out" like early LCD TVs or projectors, but the 2050A just draws the eye to its more pleasing image.&nbsp;The HT2050A isn't HDR, so for my final test I focused on the Optoma and the TH685. The Battle of Crait in the Last Jedi was a good test of the HDR, with bright white salt/sand, explosions, and the vivid reds of the underlying minerals. The TH685 had more natural colors, and a more natural color temperature, the Optoma having a green tint. The sky, however, was a richer blue on the 28HDR. In the end, the TH685's extra brightness and greater color accuracy won out, but it was hard to pick a favorite here. Neither looked hugely different with HDR compared to SDR, which is to be expected with projectors.There is one last oddity. There are slight chromatic aberrations, caused by, I think, inexpensive lens elements. It's not really obvious from a normal viewing distance, but with fine lines, like white on a dark background, the issue becomes quite obvious. Closing credits in a movie, for instance. One edge will have a green tinge, the other magenta. It looks like a panel misalignment, except this is a single-chip projector. This slight tinted halo isn't something that you might notice when watching a movie, but if you've got a menu up, you might notice it.&nbsp;Conclusion: Game onThere are two things that stand out about the TH685: the brightness and the color. It's great to have both those things available in the same projector. Adding in low input lag, and it's easy to see a place for this projector in some people's homes.&nbsp;That said, more people would probably have better luck with the HT2050A. Putting out the correct color temperature, these two projectors have basically the same light output, with the HT2050A having a significantly higher contrast ratio. The HT2050A also has a game mode that matches the HT685's input lag, and it has lens shift.&nbsp;So when it comes down to it, the TH685 is really just for people who need the extreme light output potential, either for a ginormous screen or if they want to leave some lights on in a room. If that's not you, the more well-rounded HT2050A is a better option.Measurement NotesFor the most accurate picture, I used the Cinema mode, along with the Normal color temperature mode. This resulted in a fairly consistent and fairly accurate color temperature across the brightness range, though it was a bit warmer than D65 with an excess of red. With these settings, the TH685 was capable of 182 nits on a 102-inch, 1.0-gain screen, which calculates out to around 1,641 lumens.Switch to the Bright mode and things change quite a bit. Color temperature accuracy goes out the window, everything looks quite green, but there's a nearly 70% increase in light output, approximately 309 nits, or 2,782 lumens. In a dark room this is incredibly bright. So bright, I doubt most people would use it in this mode to watch a movie. Movie theaters, for comparison, are a faction of this.Back in the Cinema mode, colors are surprisingly accurate. Red is a little orange, magenta a little red, and green a little undersaturated, but overall quite good for a projector in this price range. You can adjust these some in the picture menu, but not perfectly. Color temperature adjusts far better, though it's pretty close out of the box.Contrast ratio is fairly average for this category, measuring an average of 853:1 across multiple lamp modes. For comparison, the BenQ 2050A, which is also a DLP projector, averages over 2,000:1. This improves a bit in the Bright mode, thanks to the far greater light output. SmartEco, which varies lamp output depending on video content, has a dynamic contrast ratio of 2,844:1. This mode keeps the light output of the Normal lamp mode. The LampSave mode does the same, but uses the max light output of the Eco lamp mode. This mode has a dynamic contrast ratio of 2,208:1.Picture Mode: CinemaExpert settings:Lamp: Normal, Eco, or SmartEcoBrightness: 47Contrast: 49Sharpness: 12Color: 50Tint (G/R): 50Brilliant Color: 6-10Color Temp: NormalGamma: 2.2

Best 7 projectors under $750 based on 35 expert reviews

1: Kodak Luma 150 Portable Wireless Projector

2: Optoma HD28HDR

3: ViewSonic PX703HD

4: Anker Nebula Mars II Pro

5: BenQ GS2

6: AAXA P6X Pico Projector

7: BenQ TH685