Size
The size of the panel/chip affects the depth and final quality of the image. The larger the panel/chip, the more light it is able to process, which means the picture will be clearer and more structured. The average projector has a sensor of 0.5-0.7″, advanced projectors use sensors of 1.2-1.5″ and more.
Real resolution
The native resolution of the image produced by the projector matrix.
The minimum for modern projectors is actually
the VGA standard, which assumes a resolution of 800x600 or close to it. The most limited of modern high-definition standards is
HD (720); the classic size of such a frame is 1280x720, but projectors also have other options (up to 1920x720). A more advanced HD format is
Full HD (1080), which also has several variations (the most popular is 1920x1080). And among high-end projectors there are models of
Quad HD,
Ultra HD (4K) and even
Ultra HD (8K) standards.
In general, the higher the resolution, the clearer and more detailed image the projector can produce. On the other hand, this indicator directly affects the cost, and all the benefits of high resolution can only be appreciated if the reproduced content also corresponds to it. Note that modern projectors can work with higher resolutions than the “native” ones – for more details, see “Maximum video resolution”.
Image size
Size of the image projected by the projector. Usually, it is indicated as a range — from the smallest, at the minimum throw distance, to the largest, at the maximum. About throw distances, see above; here it is worth saying that the choice of diagonal size depends both on the distance between the screen and the audience, and on the format of the projector. For example, to watch a video, the best option is the situation when the distance from the viewer to the image corresponds to 3-4 diagonals, and a relatively large picture can be useful for working with presentations. More detailed recommendations for different situations can be found in special sources; here we only recall that the image must fit on the screen used with the projector.
Throw ratio
The projector's throw distance is vital in determining what size projection screen to use and how far away it should be from the projector. Most projectors have a variable throw ratio. In the extreme positions, these are wide-angle mode (smallest value) and telephoto lens mode (largest value). Knowing these values, you will be able to determine the range of throw distances within which the projector must be placed in order for the projected image to match the specified dimensions of the projection screen.
According to these values, you need to check or set the optical zoom. We divide the larger value by the smaller value, and we get a figure, for example 1.33-2.16: 1.
If we want to calculate whether this projector is suitable for a certain image size, we do this: 1.33*3 (image width)=the distance at which the projector should hang.
HDMI inputs
The number of HDMI inputs provided by the projector.
HDMI is a comprehensive digital interface originally designed for high-definition video and multi-channel audio. Today, it is actually a generally accepted standard, outputs of this type are available in the vast majority of HD-enabled video devices — media centers, Blu-ray players, computer graphics cards, etc. The presence of several HDMI inputs allows you to simultaneously connect several signal sources to the projector and switch between them in the projector settings without having to connect and disconnect cables.
Noise level (nominal)
The maximum noise level generated by the projector.
In most models, the main source of noise is the cooling system — it often uses fans to efficiently remove the heat generated by the lamp. Of course, the lower the noise level, the more convenient the projector is to use, the less inconvenience it causes, and the better the sound accompaniment of the “picture” is heard (if it is provided at all). On the other hand, as the size and power increase, the noise level also inevitably increases, and measures to reduce it significantly affect the cost of the projector.
Portable models are the
quietest (see "Main purpose") — most of them do not have active cooling and practically do not make noise, except for control keys clicking and other similar sounds. Therefore, this indicator for such projectors may not be indicated at all. The most "loud" are
professional projectors — in them the noise level can reach 50 dB (human speech level at medium volume).
