STACK #249 July 2025

TECH FEATURE

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HOME THEATRE PROJECTORS

What to consider: Portability: While home theatre projectors are typically larger than portables, many are still easy to move about. Want flexibility? Consider a compact model. Screen size: Choose a screen size that suits your wall space. For top image quality, pair the projector with an Ambient Light-Rejecting (ALR) screen.

Dreaming of the cinema experience without leaving your couch? A home theatre projector could be the ultimate entertainment upgrade. Whether you're watching a blockbuster movie, cheering on your team, or navigating a game, home theatre projectors immerse you in all the action. Setting up a home theatre is as easy as plugging in a projector and

streaming your chosen content. Movie lovers will relish the chance to re-watch classics in a whole new way, while casual viewers will be wowed by the scale and clarity. And yes, your phone videos can look epic, too!

Resolution: Dedicated theatre rooms deserve premium visuals. Look for 4K UHD and HDR10 or Dolby Vision support for dazzling detail and contrast.

Connectivity: Need multiple HDMI ports for your soundbar, laptop, gaming console or 4K Blu-ray player? Home theatre projectors generally offer more inputs than portables.

PORTABLE PROJECTORS

GAMING PROJECTORS

Love movie nights under the stars? With a portable projector, you can turn any space – from your backyard to your bedroom – into a pop-up cinema. Portable projectors pack serious punch in a pint sized package. Lightweight and compact, these travel friendly beamers bring big-screen entertainment wherever you go, whether

The bigger the screen the greater the immersion, and that’s just as true for gaming as it is for watching movies. The good news is that many home theatre projectors are now designed with gaming in mind, but if you’re a diehard console user, a dedicated gaming projector with custom tech to enhance play could take your game to the next level! What to consider: Latency (Input lag): This is the delay between your button press and the onscreen action. For competitive shooters or fighters, look for figures under 20ms, while narrative or casual games will still feel responsive below 40ms. Refresh rate and VRR: The refresh rate (measured in hertz) is how often the onscreen image updates each second. While 60Hz suits most genres, 120Hz lets fast racers and FPS titles glide more smoothly. Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) matches a projector’s output to your console or PC frame by frame, eliminating screen tearing and stutter. Peak brightness: Brightness determines where you can play – a minimum of 1500 ANSI lumens delivers vivid colour in a dark games room, while 2500+ keeps the image punchy under ambient living room light or during daytime sessions.

that’s the beach, bush, or balcony. More affordable than home theatre projectors, portables are great for casual indoor viewing too. They’re also super-handy for work presentations, classroom use, or even creative displays like art installations. What to consider: Power: Not all portables are created equal when it comes to power supply. Some run solely on AC, while others include a built-in battery – perfect for off-grid adventures. Battery life generally lasts around 2.5 hours, enough for a feature film. Just don’t forget to charge up before you head out! Operating system and apps: Look for a portable with a built in OS like Google TV, which lets you stream content directly. No Wi-Fi? No worries – you can cast from a phone or play media via a USB drive. Brightness: Portables generally aren’t as bright as home theatre projectors, but a unit with 300+ lumens will still deliver a decent picture in most settings. For best results, use them in low-light environments. Resolution: HD (720p) is common for budget models, but Full HD (1080p) is the sweet spot for most users. If you're going all in, some high-end portables even support 4K UHD.

36 JULY 2025

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