If you miss the big screen theatre experience, a projector could fill that void at a relatively low price of entry
BenQ GV1
Projectors have always been the domain of enthusiasts, mostly because they used to cost a bomb. However, there are now lots of entrants in the market that have several low-cost options. Cheaper than their professional-grade cousins, these offer enough value, despite having a lower resolution and often lower brightness, to take the plunge.
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Pay attention
There are a few things to look at while buying a projector. The first is resolution. You want to get the highest resolution you can afford. In this price range, the best you can get is 1080p.
Next is lumens which indicated brightness, the higher the lumens better the brightness. Brightness also affects what amount of darkness you can watch on your screen.
Next, the size of the screen it is rated for. Some projectors can handle 300-inch screens while others can do just 100. For most households, 100 is more than enough.
The third is the Android version, while most projectors don’t come with an OS. In case yours does, make sure you get the latest version rather than the older ones. As for now, Android 8 and 9 are acceptable.
Portability; this depends on your use. If it is something you want to take on a holiday then you can consider a smaller portable one that runs on battery. However, the best images and brightness come on the larger machines.
BenQ GV1
BenQ GV1 is a palm-sized projector that comes with a built-in battery and speaker system. It has three-hours battery life and can be used as a Bluetooth speaker. The device doesn’t have Android built-in but can connect via Apple Airplay and Google Cast to your mobile devices. The brightness is not the best but the LEDs have a life of 30,000 hours. The picture offered is low-res at around 480p.
Price: Rs 29,990
Portable: Yes
Resolution: 854x480
Brightness: 200 Lumens
Android: No
Maximum screen size: 100-inches
ViewSonic PA503SE
This is a lamp-based projector with a resolution of 1024X768, which is lower than the ideal 1080p. The internal lamp has a life of 15,000 hours much lower than an LED. The brightness is rated for a 120-inch screen, you can technically push the screen size to 300-inches at lower brightness. There is no Android OS so you will have to connect to this projector via HDMI or VGA cable.
Price: Rs 35,316
Portable: Semi
Resolution: 1024x768
Brightness: 3800 Lumens
Android: No
Maximum screen size: 120-inches
WZATCO S4
If you are looking for a projector that comes with built-in Android TV, Wzatco S4 offers a compelling package at a relatively cheap price. Having Android means this projector can natively install Netflix, Hotstar and other OTT platforms, it also lets you play android games directly off the projector and install Kodi. The projector is rated at 5500 Lumens and this should offer decent viewing in semi-lit conditions. The LED lamp has a life of 20,000 hours, which is decent for this price range. You can input video via USB, VGA and HDMI and
Price: Rs 24,900
Portable: Semi
Resolution: 1920x1080
Brightness: 5500 Lumens
Android: Yes (Android9.0)
Maximum screen size: 300-inches
AUN AKEY7
AUN is new in the Indian market, but it offers excellent value for money. The Full HD projector has high brightness and offers 55,000 hours of LED life. It has built-in speakers and optical audio output. The size makes it portable, but it doesn’t have built-in batteries and requires to be plugged in.
Price: Rs 16,630
Portable: Semi
Resolution: 1920x1080
Brightness: 6500 Lumens
Android: No
Maximum screen size: 300-inches
Gobran Mini Projector FH3
If you are looking for something that can handle projection outdoors, Gobran is what you need. The projector has a very high level of brightness and can project even in semi-lit conditions. It offers 50,000 hours of LED life. The projector has no built-in Android OS and uses HDMI, VGA and USB as video inputs. The speakers on the projector offer decent sound output.
Price: Rs 32,183
Portable: Semi
Resolution: 1920x1080
Brightness: 8000 Lumens
Android: No
Maximum screen size: 300-inches
Enhance your theatre experience
A good soundbar
Great sound is one of the key components of a great movie experience. You can of course splurge and buy something fancy, but even something like the Creative Soundstage soundbar offers great sound on a budget. The Creative’s Stage V2 soundbar costs just R7,999 and it comes with an additional woofer to enhance bass sounds. The speaker also emulates surround sound and has a dedicated button to enhance dialogues in a movie.
Roll-out screen
A roll-out screen is a great way to watch your projector, especially if you do not have a blank large wall. The small factor and permanent location make it a great choice if you are looking to not increase clutter as well. A 100-inch roll-out screen will set you back by R2000, you also get a nice 120-inch foldable variety for around the same price online. A motorised 100-inch will cost around R7,500.
Popcorn
No theatre experience is complete without popcorn. Fortunately, there are plenty of microwavable popcorn options available with flavours that range from salted to peri peri cheese. You can even skip microwaving and go straight for the pre-popped packaged popcorn.
Recliners
To complete the experience, you need the gold standard of theatre seating, the recliners. These magical moving seats can cost upwards of Rs 12,000. However, if you are on a budget look at zero gravity chairs, they are ultra-comfortable and during sales, you can pick one up for less than R3,000. The cushioned ones cost around Rs 5,000.
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