Confused about what makes a good gaming projector? We are here to help with our handy gaming projector buyers guide! Also with brands such as; Predator, BenQ and Optoma available, we’re sure to be able to offer the right gaming projector for you!
Throw Distance/Screen Size
Gaming projectors are grouped into; long throw, short throw and ultra-short throw. “Throw” refers to the distance from the projector to the wall or screen that is being projected on.
Standard/Long throws – Usually cheaper however you need to ensure you have the space to first mount the projector and second, have an unobstructed space from projector to surface where the projection won’t be blocked.
Short throw – Again the best results for this are to mount the projector to the ceiling however, due to how much closer they are to the projection surface, they aren’t as easily obstructed, making them a greater choice for gamers as it means no random shadows on the screen to distract you.
Ultra-short throw – Cutting edge projection technology allows some models of gaming projectors to be placed as little as 5” away from the wall and still produce a projection of about 70”. Perfect if you don’t want to mount your projector to the ceiling and, no need to worry about obstructions!
Resolution
To get the most out of your gaming projector it is recommended that you don’t look for a resolution level of less than 1080p. Yes, a lower resolution will still give you a good visual experience and can easily double as a good home cinema system. However, in order to get the most out of modern games that are prepared for the leap to 4K, 1080p will not only give you a good experience now it will help future proof your investment in a gaming projector for the leaps into higher resolution further down the line.
Brightness
A key factor in deciding what projector suits your needs. As a gamer you need to see everything and be aware of everything around you. This makes it important to ensure that you get a gaming projector that suits the ambient light of the room you play in. If you are fortunate enough to have a gaming room/area that can be reduced to a low light then anything 1000 lumens or more will suit your needs however, if you are in a room with ambient light, you will need to look more in the range of 1500 lumen at a minimum. But if the room you are is open spaced with full lights you will require a minimum of 3000 lumens.
Ensuring it is a gaming projector
This might sound easy but it’s easy to see a high end full HD projector and decide that will provide the best experience. As much as this is true if it is being used just for watching movies and TV shows, for gaming it’s a bit different. A gaming projector is designed with gamers in mind, this means it is built to reduce lag, boost background colours and produce a more detailed experience for immersive gaming, whereas high end cinema projectors are not. On the other hand, if you are after a multiple use projector then look for “Game Mode”. On some models they have an extra feature which can alter the settings of a high end projector into a gaming one.
Inputs
Now this option will relate more to what devices you would like to use with your projector. Here is a list of the inputs available across the projector range with a little on how they can be used:
HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) - HDMI is the main input used for most gaming device connections as it is able to transfer decent audio with impressive visuals.
VGA (Video Graphics Array) – VGA is the oldest video out standard but can still be found on more modern gaming projectors as a basic connection port.
DVI (Digital Visual Interface) – DVI is also an old input but is still viable when it comes to projectors, similar to HDMI they transfer both visual and audio data. For this type of cable, again it will depend on the devices being connected and if they are compatible with DVI.
Composite Video (Recognised as Red/White/Yellow Connectors) – Probably one of the oldest connections around, it is still a viable extra option if the device you are going to connect is a little older. Gaming projectors understand the desire to play a game on a more retro console.