27/03/2017
There are 4K projectors, and then there are 4K Projectors – to paraphrase James Bond in Casino Royale.
Sony's VPL-HW300ES is one projector that offers true 4K resolution.
Sony’s VPL-HW300ES is one projector that offers true 4K resolution.
That is, some projectors have true 4K resolution while others can accept 4K content, and use techniques to get improved results out of 2K projectors.
This section’s list of projectors includes both types, that is projectors with true 4K panels/chips, and those accepting 4K content that are 2K projectors, but using techniques to put something on the screen that has higher resolution than 2K. That means we are including projectors using pixel shifting, such as currently shipping JVC home theater projectors and Epson home theater, and business projectors, it also includes some “shipping soon” projectors supporting a new “above 2K” DLP chip, that’s really 4 a megapixel chip with pixel shifting, that meets the 4K UHD standard. True 4K is 8 megapixels, these 4K UHD chips, are 4 megapixels but fire twice with the pixel shifting to deliver 8 megapixels, for the 4K claim. By comparison, pixel shifting 1080p projectors like the JVCs and Epsons only deliver 4 megapixels of data not 8.
I previewed one in the 4K UHD DLP prototype projectors in the DLP suite at the CES show, while Optoma showed one on the show floor, and BenQ announced one. See my blog regarding the new chip.
The era of 4K projectors is really just getting going. At the moment there are a few true 4K projectors and a number of other ones that can accept and process 4K content. The numbers may be few now, but by 2018, projectors accepting 4K content or doing pure 4K will be far more common, and prices will fall dramatically.
At this time (1/2016) there are four different classes – types of projectors claiming something of being 4K.
True 4K Projectors! There are a few true 4K projectors, there will shortly be “3K” projectors claiming to be 4K, using pixel shifting techniques, and there are already 2K (1080p) projectors using pixel shifting that can accept 4K content.
True 4K projectors are pretty rare. As of this time, only Sony is offering true 4K projectors for home, while Sony and Canon have models shipping for business/education. Note, both are LCoS technologyThose would be true 4K projectors – they essentially use 8 megapixel devices (whether DLP, 3LCD or LCoS). They have the smallest sized pixels thus can provide maximum resolution.