Home cinema – five things to look for when you buy a projector, including brightness, resolution and size
- Projectors have become an affordable option for microflats too small for a television; pricier models cater to those who want the cinematic experience at home
- Among the factors to consider is whether you will use a projector with a blackout or in daytime, and whether you want to be able to place it off-centre
Smartphones may be one of the main ways we watch video today, but we all know that movies look better on the big screen – and the bigger, the better.
For a long time, projectors were a luxury option for those of us with the room to dedicate to a home cinema. Now they are at last becoming affordable and – just as importantly – more practical for use in small and shared spaces.
You can spend as much as you want, but an excellent big-screen picture of 80 inches or more can now be had for less than US$650.
Here are five things to look out for when buying a projector for your home.
Size and shape
Firstly, there’s the size of the projector to consider. Most affordable options weigh less than 6kg (13lbs), which makes them easy to bring out from storage for special occasions. The more you pay, the bigger and heavier they tend to get.