Last updated on January 23rd, 2024 at 02:31 am
In many countries cinemas are closed during the Covid-19 pandemic, depriving movie buffs of their regular fixes.
It isn’t a hopeless situation, however.
Movie buffs can still satisfy their cravings for the big screen by bringing the cinematic experience right into their living rooms. Yes, through a projector.
Yes, many avid cinemagoers wouldn’t mind spending on a video projector to get the fix they have been missing.
However, they may be deterred from doing so. Their living rooms or whatever free space they have available may not provide sufficient space for the placement of a projector.
So, what do they do? Forget the idea of watching a movie on the big screen and just stick to their ‘glass’ TV?
No, they don’t have to. There are short throw projectors ready to come to their aid.
What is a Short Throw Laser Projector?
You may be hearing of a short throw laser projector for the first time. A short throw projector is one that can be placed very close to the wall where your TV would normally be.
Short Throw Projector Advantage
The main advantage of a short throw projector is you don’t have to worry about the availability of a large screening space.
Also, you don’t have to go through the hassle of mounting it on the ceiling and running wires through it.
That’s nice to hear, but what about picture quality? What kind of picture quality do you get on a projector placed too close to the wall?
Not to worry. Ultra short throw projectors can offer picture quality movie buffs desire at least in a home setting.
4K HDR is not uncommon in ultra-short-throw projectors. They can project clear pictures on a screen size of up to 150 inches, although 120 inches is the standard.
Ultra short throw projectors are powered by laser illumination technology. What’s so special about it?
The lifespan of a laser-illuminated projector is much longer than a lamp-powered projector.
A laser projector can last up to 30,000 hours. Its lamp counterpart can manage about 6000 hours.
If a short throw laser projector is put to normal use, it could last you up to 10 years. A lamp-based projector can last you for about 2 years,
Ultra Short Throw Projectors
The ultra short throw projector is the in-thing in the projector world. You can place it very close to the wall like you would do with a TV.
Even with the projector so close to the wall, you get decent picture quality on a screen size of 120 inches. You can’t dream of getting that big a picture size with a TV.
Installation Drawback
But then installation of an ultra short throw projector can be a little tricky. You’ll need a flat wall or a screen.
Otherwise, irregularities will show as shadows when a movie is playing. This will especially be so if you use a roll-down screen that has minor ripples here and there.
But then this problem can be taken care of by an Ambient Light Rejecting (ALR) screen.
That would set you back by a couple of hundred bucks, but you wouldn’t mind for the sake of an immersive movie-watching experience, would you?
Some ultra short throw projector models come bundled with ALR screens. But then you don’t have to run out and buy an ALR screen before trying to screen a movie on your wall first.
What to Look Out for in an Ultra Short Throw Projector
Resolution
Ultra short throw projectors can support native 4K resolution with HDR10. But then if you’re upscaling 1080p video to 4K you may face a pixel shifting issue.
Apps
Most of the ultra short throw projectors come with built-in popular apps like Netflix and Disney+ to facilitate your movie-watching experience.
If Netflix is your video streaming service of choice, then you should ensure the projector comes with the built-in app. Some don’t include it due to licensing issues.
Others will require you to connect a separate streaming stick.
Distance
A good ultra short throw projector will not require you to place it beyond 20 inches from the wall.
Lag Time
If you’ll also be using the projector for gaming, you should look for an ultra short throw projector that doesn’t exceed 40ms.
Brightness
The higher the brightness level a projector can support, the clearer the picture would be, especially in a bright room.
Settle for a minimum brightness level of between 2500 to 3000 ANSI Lumens for picture clarity.
Single or Triple Laser
Most short throw projectors come with a single laser and a color wheel.
A single laser short throw projector has a single color laser (usually blue) shining through a spinning wheel.
The wheel has red, green, and blue filters which project a color image onto the screen.
A 3-channel laser short throw projector delivers the three colors separately, offering enhanced color clarity.
The source light is a red laser which supports a wider color reproduction of up to 12 bits.
This feature is found on higher-end 4K ultra short throw projectors. But then to an untrained eye, there isn’t much difference between the color quality of a single and a triple laser projector.
Connectivity
4K projectors come with WiFi-enabled.
If you’ll be connecting it to your home theater system you’ll have to ensure that it has the necessary AV ports.
Now that you have an understanding of ultra short throw projectors, let’s look at some ideas for the best ultra short throw projectors available out there.
Best Ultra Short Throw Projectors
WEMAX 4K HDR10 Nova Short Throw Laser Projector
With the WeMax Nova 4K Ultra Short Throw Projector, you can enjoy movies on a screen size of up to 150 inches.
The brightness level is at 21000 Lumens.
This ultra-short throw projector will be a delight for gamers. Its lag time is only 40ms.
Also, there will be no pixel-shifting if you try to upscale 1080p video to 4K.
Laser life is estimated at 25,000 hours.
The downside is you can’t stream 4K Netflix streaming.
For 4K streaming, you would need a Firestick or Roku. This would require an additional remote which may not please everyone.
But then Android apps are supported. Other apps include YouTube, Youtube TV, Disney+, Hulu, Prime Video, Vudu, HBO Go, Showtime, ESPN, Crunchyroll, Nick, Cartoon Network, YouTube Kids, and PBS Kids.
Check out the affordable WEMAX Ultra Short Throw Projector with 4K HDR10 support.
Samsung LSP7T 4K Ultra Short Throw Projector
The maximum image size this Samsung model can display is 120 inches.
It comes with the following built-in apps – 4K Netflix, Disney+, and other popular apps.
There is also built-in support for smart features like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Bixby.
The standout feature of this ultra short throw projector is the low startup time – only 10 seconds. Add to that the low fan noise that doesn’t interfere with your enjoyment of a movie.
The 2200 Lumens brightness level should provide you with bright enough pictures even in low light conditions. This is made possible with its HDR10+ support.
You need only place the projector about 16 inches from the wall to get a clear picture on a 120-inch screen.
Check out the Samsung LSP7T 4K Ultra Short Throw Projector, one of the best ultra short throw projectors in its price range.
LG HU85LA 3 Channel 4K Ultra Short Throw Laser Projector
If price isn’t an issue and you want the best quality an ultra short throw projector can offer, then opt for this 3-channel laser projector.
As has been explained above a 3-laser projector offer superior picture quality compared to a single laser model.
You can watch movies in bright daylight with such a quality.
You need only place the projector about 7 inches away from the screen to get a sharp picture on a 120-inch screen.
App support is impressive. You have 4K Netflix and other popular apps like Amazon Prime and VUDU.
It comes with built-in Alexa and Bluetooth support as well.
Check out the LG HU85LA 3 Channel 4K Ultra Short Throw Laser Projector.
You may also want to check out more Best Short Throw Projectors.
