The TV has become a redundant piece of the device thanks to the internet. But getting rid of it is also something we tend to avoid. So instead of having an empty living room, why not replace it with something more useful?
We are talking about projectors. Over time these devices have become a lot more versatile, they are brighter, carry more adjustment features, and have become more affordable for the average joe as well.
They come in two pieces instead of one, and carry options that you let change viewing angles, brightness and so much more, making it more flexible and customizable than a TV.
If you want to find out more about buying the best projectors to replace TV, take a look down below for more details on factors as well as projectors suitable for the job. It will change the way you see videos at home!
Contents
IMAGE | Name | Resolution | Light Output | Contrast Ratio | price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VANKYO Leisure 510 | 1080P | 4500 Lux | 3000:1 | |
| VANKYO LEISURE 3 | 1080P | 2400 Lumens | 2000:1 | |
| Hompow | 1080P | 3600 Lumen | 2000:1 | |
| DR. J Professional HI-04 | 1080P | 50 ANSI Lumen | 2000:1 | |
| APEMAN | 1080P | 3800 Lumen | 2000:1 | |
| VANKYO Performance V600 | 1080P | 6000 Lumen | 5000:1 | |
| CiBest | 1080P | 4200 Lux | 2000:1 | |
| YABER Y30 | 1080P | 7000 Lux | 8000:1 | |
| GooDee | 1080P | N/A | 500:1 | |
| QKK | 1080P | 4500 Lumen | 2000:1 |
One of the very first concerns users have when replacing TVs with a projector is the brightness. They are worried that a projector might not be able to provide that intense luminosity that an LCD TV can.
If that is where the concern lies, then the Leisure 510 by VANKYO is the projector you should check out.
It has 4500 lumens, which can provide high brightness. Thanks to this, the projector can be used in large spaces, and even in bright lights. While you do not normally watch TV outdoors, if you can still take this out to the backyard for a video display night.
You should also note, that because of the high brightness it is recommended that you do not use this in small spaces like the bedroom where the light can take a toll on the eyes.
The contrast ratio is also higher than average at 3000:1. But you will not be able to experience it with a lot of light around. This is why we recommend that when watching videos or games where colors matter a lot, turn the lights down to get maximum effect and depth.
For the audio, you have two 3-watt speakers built-in. Having two ensures that a wide range of space is covered, and you also do not need external speakers either, so no extra cost there!
Besides using it as a TV, you can switch it up if you want, and use it with gaming consoles, smartphones, or other multimedia devices.
Leisure 3 by VANKYO is one of the more popular projectors in the market for this versatility, and likewise, it can be a good replacement for TVs as well. This is well suited for living rooms, or moderately large bedrooms with its 2400 lumen count.
Plus, it supports a 1080P resolution and has a 2000:1 contrast ratio. These two factors ensure good quality images on the screen by enhancing colors, details, and depth.
To ensure proper color quality, the projector is also powered by MStar Advanced Color Engine that creates better color representations on-screen creating the right sort of display for a home entertainment system.
The lamp life comes at 40,000 hours which lets you use the projector for a good number of years before you notice a lower light.
When it comes to the screen size, you can take a pick between 32 and 170 inches. For this, you require a projection distance of 4.9 to 16.4 feet. Anything between this creates a good screen size, but the recommended one is 6.5 feet.
This is especially good for watching TV, and when you want to binge on videos, you can go back to a larger screen again.
If you have a big family and a large living space, then the Hompow projector might be able to meet your TV replacing requirements. It boasts a 3600-lumen count, making it suitable for spaces with adequate light. In fact, it can be used outdoors as well!
It supports a 1080P resolution and has a 2000:1 contrast ratio. Both these features are pretty great and good enough to recreate the TV feel with deep colors and details.
For the size, the maximum you can reach is a 176-inch screen, which is great for mass video display.
But if you want something more casual and every day, we suggest going with a smaller screen, maybe one that matches a TV screen or is a little bigger, since a huge screen all day can be overwhelming.
Lamp life is 50,000 hours. This can serve you for a good 30 years with average usage. Even if you end up overusing, you will still get to use it for a long time, and given the lower prices compared to TVs, it is definitely worth it.
The device also comes with speakers built-in just like any TV, so you do not have to get external ones unless you plan on hosting parties in bigger spaces.
Not everyone has their TVs in their living rooms, a lot of people tend to keep one in their bedrooms. And when in smaller and more compact spaces like this, you need to be careful of the brightness since a brightness too high can hurt the eyes after long times of exposure.
This DR. J Professional HI-04 projector has 50 ANSI lumens for brightness. It might seem very low compared to some others, but it is designed for smaller spaces where this lumen count is just enough without stressing the eyes.
Not to mention the screen size you create also plays a part. For the bedroom, we don't expect you to have a 176-inch screen, which is the maximum listed on this model. But smaller and more comfortable ones like a 100-inch screen will suffice. And a 50 ANSI lumen does a great job here.
And if you are new to the projector scene, you will love that this one comes with a 100-inch screen as a bonus!
Even though this is made for smaller spaces, brightness is the only factor that changes.
You still get a 1080P supported resolution for crisp details and a 2000:1 contrast ratio for vibrant pictures. And for a finer display, it has a 5-layer lens that creates a clearer projection for a flawless a TV-like view
A good choice of a projector to replace television for users who want to keep this in a fairly large and well-lit space, the APEMAN projector has a 3800-lumen count for increased brightness.
It comes with a 4.0 LCD technology that creates a smooth and clear display to mimic the screen of a television.
Not just that, 3800 lumens also mean it can be used with all the lights on and without the screen being washed out.
The display size is just as large, 180 inches being the maximum. To get this it is recommended to keep the projector 8 feet away from the screen. Being a mini projector, movement is never going to be an issue here.
And if you do not want that big of a screen at all times, bring the distance down to 5 feet, and the screen size will also decrease to resemble that of a good LCD.
Advanced dual speakers are built-in to remove the need for external sound systems completely. Even if the space is large, you won't need any.
With 45,000 hours of lamp life, you can rest assured that the projector can serve you for long times to come.
If you are looking to replace a TV, it means you want a projector that has fairly good brightness. But the lumen count alone cannot determine what you need, you must look to the ambient light in the room.
To replace a living room LCD, high brightness is required since space tends to be more open than other rooms, and have more light. A 3000-lumen count is what you should aim for, and higher if space is larger than average.
The bedroom on the other hand should contain a projector with 2500 lumens or anything below this. As space is naturally darker and is smaller, too much light can be overwhelming.
The brightness also depends on how big the projection size is. For images that go above 110 inches diagonally, a higher brightness like 2500-3000 is suitable since it will be covering a larger screen.
Smaller screens below 100 inches can do with brightness below 2000 lumens because too much will wash out the screen.
The best TV replacing projectors must have a good contrast ratio if you want to get the same kind of depth you do on TV. A high contrast ratio adds dimension and improves the picture quality.
But one thing you must keep in mind is that the room you place the projector in should have dimmed and low lights. This way you can get the maximum benefit from the contrast ratio. 3000: 1 is a good ratio for such spaces.
But if you cannot control the lighting, then opt for a 2000:1 ratio since going too high will not show up properly.
We all love a good resolution on our devices, but to be good enough to replace a television set, you need an incredibly high resolution. The very minimum to settle for is a 1080p resolution.
Few projectors have a native resolution of 1080P, but do support it nonetheless. Meaning, videos which are in 1080P can be scaled down to the lower native resolution, and projected.
But the best resolution projectors have today is 4K. It creates the most stunning visuals, and will probably give you the closest thing to an LCD TV screen.
TVs do not move, but a change in the projector's position or screen can affect the way you see the display. For times like this when you cannot or do not want to move the projector itself, you can use the lens shift option to move the projection and get the perfect view.
Televisions come with their own set of speakers, and so do so most good projectors. What you need to check here is the number of speakers built-in.
But regardless of size, dual speakers are good to have for better sound coverage. For external speakers, look for a 3.5mm jack to be able to plug them in.
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If you are here, we assume you have gone through our entire guide on how to score the best projector to replace TV. We agree, it is not easy to get something to replace the age-old TV, but with modern technology, it is easier now than ever before.
If you can score the right features, you have to make little to no compromise in the experience.
It is cheaper, larger in size, and a full-blown entertainment system when hosting larger groups. Not to mention a lot more portable if you have some clean walls around the home, which a large flat screen surely is not.
About Dror Wettenstein
Dror Wettenstein is a software engineer and entrepreneur with more than 15 years of experience in the industry. He is the founder of TechTreeRepeat, a company that enables technical writers to publish their work faster and share it with readers across the globe. Dror has a master’s degree in computer science from San Diego State University and a bachelor’s degree in physics from UC Irvine.
When he’s not working on software projects, Dror enjoys writing articles and essays on various topics. He also likes playing guitar and spending time with his wife and two young children.
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