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Before you take the plunge and transform your lounge room or backyard into a personal cinema, let’s dive into the fundamental features and functions to look out for in a projector. Words Scott Hocking FROM SPECS TO SCREEN 10 THINGS TO LOOK FOR IN A PROJECTOR

1 Versatility

can beam pictures in up to 4K resolution with HDR for a vibrant and detailed image that’s comparable to the best 4K TVs. Many entry-level, mini and portable projectors offer Full HD 1080p resolution, while the more premium and mid-range models

Projectors are all rounders that can be set up wherever you want a big screen experience, although large home theatre models are mainly designed to stay put in a dedicated setup, or replace a TV in the lounge or living room. If you want the flexibility of watching movies in the backyard, on the beach, in bed, or on a camping trip, a portable projector is the way to go. A good portable can perform well in a home theatre and lounge room too, and they’re also handy for boardroom business presentations. 2 Screen size You want big? That’s what a projector is for! Many can beam a picture surpassing the size of the biggest smart TV, peaking at a whopping 120 inches, while some models upsize that to 150” and a truly cinematic 300”. Projector screen sizes are variable for more flexibility and generally range from 60” to 120”, with 100”–120” considered optimal for a large lounge or living room. How big you want the screen ultimately depends on the amount of wall real estate that you have. If you don’t have the space for a supersized screen, you can opt for a smaller size to get the perfect fit. When projecting onto a wall-mounted screen or a portable one, the size of the screen will determine the maximum size of the picture.

support 4K Ultra HD and HDR. 4 Brightness and lamp hours

Perhaps the most important thing to look for in a projector is its brightness level, which determines the quality of the picture according to lighting conditions, screen sizes, and the distance between the projector and the wall/ screen.

3 Picture quality Old school projectors delivered a decent enough image, but often it was a case of the bigger the picture, the lower the clarity. That’s not the case with modern projectors, which

Look for the number of ANSI lumens of brightness. For a screen size of 100–120 inches, 2,000 lumens is a good baseline for a dark home theatre room, while 3,000 lumens or more is best for a regular lounge room with some ambient light. And if you’re taking a

12 JUNE 2024

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