Gaming Projectors

Choosing the best Gaming Projector

Are projectors good for gaming?

Absolutely. A good quality projector can match the quality of a TV whilst also providing a far more immersive large-screen experience. Projectors usually will feature the same HDMI connection as on a TV; therefore, any modern games console or PC can be connected easily.

What type of projector is required for gaming?

Whilst any reasonable projector is capable of being used for games, the responsiveness and overall quality of the image will vary between models. For best results we recommend a projector designed for home theatre use. These home theatre projectors tend to feature improved contrast levels, colour reproduction, and generally are relatively quiet. A home theatre projector with an added ‘gaming mode’ would be ideal. The gaming mode reduces some image processing functions to decrease input lag, which anyone who plays fast motion 1st person shooter or racing games would appreciate.

What is an Enhanced Gaming Mode?

What is a projectors Input Lag?

The input lag of a projector refers to the time taken from when your projector receives a frame of digital video to when it displays it on screen (or essentially the delay from when you press a button on your controller or keyboard to when the corresponding action occurs on screen). A projectors input lag is affected by advanced features like frame interpolation, an auto iris, keystone correction, digital zoom, or any other processing. Using a projectors Enhanced Gaming Mode will reduce some image processing functions to provide a better input lag, which is ideal for fast-paced gaming. Input Lag is of no significant consequence for TV and Film but should be considered by those who regularly play online multiplayer games.

How bright should a gaming projector be?

The brightness rating on gaming projectors is generally measured in ANSI Lumens or ISO Lumens. A projector with more lumens will provide a more vibrant image however higher brightness levels can also mean lower contrast levels, reduced colour accuracy, and louder fan noise.

Most gaming projectors will feature brightness levels between 2000 and 4000 ANSI Lumens. It is in this brightness range that a projector will provide the best balance or vibrancy, colour, and contrast. If your room is quite dark then a projector with 2000+ lumens would easily suffice, while in brighter areas a projector closer to 4000 lumens would be required.

Full HD or 4K for gaming?

Projector resolution determines the image detail. It's expressed as the number of pixels displayed horizontally and vertically (e.g., 1920 x 1080 for Full HD). Higher resolution means more detail

For projector gaming there are 2 recommended resolutions:

• FULL HD - 1920x1080
• 4K/UHD - 3840x2160

Full HD is the most commonly used resolution for movies and games. It is the default resolution on many gaming devices, such as the Xbox One and Playstation 4, and offers a high level of detail.

The 4K resolution is equivalent to having 4 Full HD displays together, it provides 4 times the level of detail... a huge increase. The newer Xbox Series X and Playstation 5 consoles, and most modern PC's, will use this 4K resolution. Due to the high level of detail, we highly recommend the use of a 4K projector for movies and games, however 4K gaming usually comes with increased input lag. If you are playing competition level, very fast-paced games, utilising a Full HD projector, or your 4K projectors Enhanced Gaming Mode, will assist in reducing input lag as much as possible.

What gaming projectors do you recommend?