Astronaut Galaxy Projector Star Projector, Galaxy Lampwith Remote Control Space Homie, Galaxy Light 360° Space Projector, Space Buddy With Nebula Galaxy Projector Light For Bedroom (White Star)

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Another thing to consider is refresh rate, and again that's something TVs tend to be better at –so if you're buying for gaming, you'll get a smoother performance from one of the best 120Hz TVs with a fast response time than you'll get from a similarly priced projector. And you're more likely to find HDMI 2.1 ports with gaming-friendly features in a TV than in a projector. Will a projector play Netflix, Disney Plus and the rest? It certainly doesn’t have the bells, whistles or crispness of other, more expensive projectors on this list, but the Yaber V7 Pro is a good budget option. The free carry bag is a nice bonus too. Bear in mind that it’s not the quietest model around, though, and produces a noticeable fan whirr. The LS800 has claimed a place for anyone who wants a simple, powerful projector that lets them beam a huge image they can view at any time of day they want.

Most such models use four sets of 1,920 by 1,080 to put a full 3,840 by 2,160 matrix on screen. The majority of Epson's pixel-shifting models use two sets, which puts only half as many pixels on screen. But largely thanks to the limits of human visual acuity, the image using Epson's approach is impossible to distinguish from a full 3,840-by-2,160-pixel image, unless you're far closer to the screen than normal seating distances. Finding the perfect projector isn't as straightforward as it sounds, though. We've rounded up our favourite projectors, including Full HD and native 4K models, which also support HDR, and some short throw projectors too for those with smaller spaces.There's even an ultra-short throw model that's designed to replace your TV. The only question is how much do you have to spend? We do often recommend that you budget for a speaker when shopping for a projector, as although many options here include on-board speakers, they are invariably pretty poor. Similarly, while some projectors do now feature built-in streaming platforms, they're often a bit patchy in terms of performance and app selection, so it's often worth keeping some cash aside for a dedicated streamer. How we test projectorsWhile we love the LG and Epson, there’s no denying that this sleek Samsung ultra-short-throw model oozes style while delivering many of the same specs. You can put it right up against your wall and still project a whopping 120-inch display – perfect if you want to save space for a popcorn maker. Throw Ratio X Desired screen size (Inches or Centimeters) = Distance from screen (Inches or Centimeters)

Putting laser technology within reach of mere mortals, Sony’s VPL-XW5000ES is the best projector for most people, delivering a stunning 4K picture without ever having to replace a lamp. Some people argue that no pixel-shifting scheme qualifies as "real" 4K. However, most will tell you that they can't see any difference between images produced by projectors with native 4K chips and the best pixel-shifting models, including Epson's models that put lower resolution on screen. Ultra short-throw projectorsare becoming much more frequent within the projector market at large, and for good reason. Designed as a TV alternative that can reach up to 100 inches without costing nearly as much as a super-large TV would, as well as having the added benefit of being practically plug-and-play (obviously with some fiddling required), a UST projector strikes a nice balance between practicality and theatricality. The projections of stars and constellations are suitable for a small room, but it doesn't have the 'wow' factor of the lasers used in some more sophisticated models of star projector. This is suited to a young audience though, and LED's are safer for young eyes. There is an abundance of blue stars visible in a dark room, and you can overlay constellations to enhance learning. The stars and constellations closest to the projector's position are sharper, the sharpness falls off towards the edges, however, they are sufficient for the young target audience.

You’ll need the space – this is a large and heavy model that’s nearly 70 cm in width and more than 12 kg in weight – so it’s not ideal for smaller rooms, but we love that you can get such a big image from a projector that’s placed just 2.3 cm from the wall. There is a solid selection of apps via Android TV software, including Google Play, Prime Video and YouTube (although Netflix is not supported). The Sony VPL-XW7000ES takes everything up a notch, pushing brightness up to 11 and featuring a more comprehensive set of motorised lens controls. Its native 4K resolution and notably high lumen count should catch the eyes of those looking for a flashy projector that will have people talking about the device as much as the content that's being watched on it. Although projector categories change from one manufacturer to another and evolve over time, the application categories are consistent, if somewhat overlapping. Here's a brief look at the most common categories and subcategories of applications, and which features are most important for each. Lasers are better still, with a similar lifespan to LED but much better brightness. However, they generally cost more too.