Are Projectors Good For Gaming
For everyone who loves gaming, there is no doubt that every gamer wants to experience it on a much bigger screen than our regular laptops and PCs.
But of course, today, in the current generation, television is available at the size of more than 80 inches or above but at an expensive price of more than $2000.
So, in this case, a decent projector with higher lumens and contrast ratio with minimum lag time and produces a screen size of more than 100″ inches comes at a price of less than $1500.
You can even use them for daily usage in the daytime, viewing your favourite episodes by connecting them to the cable box.
Also, having a projector gives many other advantages and can be a worthwhile long time investment.
So, the question arises are projectors good for gaming, or does television still dominates the market when it comes to playing games on our latest PS5 or Xbox consoles?
Contents
Benefits & Drawbacks of Gaming on a Projector
No matter how many benefits you have while playing games on the projector, there are still some drawbacks that I think you should know before going for a gaming projector.
Benefits
Gaming On a Bigger Screen
Gamers like to play games on a bigger screen, and the main advantage of using a projector is playing your favourite games on a giant screen size. You get to enjoy gaming on a 120-inch massive screen.
It is a fantastic experience if you enjoy playing split-screen multiplayer games like Mario kart 8 with your family or friends, where each player gets a significant portion of the screen.
A big screen is satisfying even when you are playing alone, like the first shooting mission game, which makes it more enjoyable.
Space Saver
Yes, projectors save lots of space when mounted on the ceiling or on a table to display pictures on the screen or wall.
But still, you will need an empty wall or free space to set up a large screen to produce the content.
Also, many people have motorized ALR screens which automatically go up and down according to the viewing, saving lots of space.
On the other hand, if you use an ultra-short throw projector like lghu915qe, it can provide a screen size of 120″ inches from just 2 feet away, saving lots of space.
Higher Refresh Rates
In my opinion higher refresh rate plays an important role no matter how premium or budget-friendly projector you are going for gaming.
A minimum refresh rate of 60hz is enough if you play at a basic level without any competitive level.
But if you are going to play as a professional gamer or do some multiplayer competition, go with at least 120hz for the competitive level.
Although if you choose the 144hz model, you will have a slight advantage, giving you a responsive gaming experience.
Another advantage you will get if your competitor uses a 60hz refresh rate projector is that you will see the action much faster if your projector has a higher refresh rate.
Input lag
After the refresh rate, it is time to talk about input lag which also plays an important role when playing games on a projector with your favourite consoles.
The input lag is the time taken from the screen to the original gamer. So basically, if your projector has a higher input lag, it will delay the action on the screen.
If you go with less-priced televisions for playing games, it will surely provide higher input lag, which is sometimes easily noticeable in high-end gaming.
Due to these delays, gamers have started taking delay time seriously in recent years because the level is relatively high in costly TVs due to technologies like HDR.
Similarly, in a projector, you can get models of lower input lag time of 8ms in the price range of below $3000.
There is a separate menu option for gaming mode in the gaming projectors, which offers a faster performance by disabling some video processing.
Any level below 40ms is considered an okay amount of lag for gaming. You can find good options if you research well.
Less eye strain.
Playing a game on television will surely strain our eyes if played for a few hours because televisions are known to emit lights to create images on the screen.
But projectors do emit light on the screen. But when projected on screens, it will absorb the light and thus reduces stress levels on your optic nerve or eyes giving an advantage.
You also have to face less glare. This can be a better and healthier option overall.
Easily portable.
If you are going to permanently mount your projector, then this point is not valid, and you can proceed to the next section.
Having said that, if you use a pico gaming projector, you can easily take them outside for a party or even to your friend’s house for challenging in any gaming match like FIFA.
Drawbacks
Every electric gadget comes with a few drawbacks, which should be discussed and known by everyone using them.
The same way when using the projector for gaming does also have some cons, which I have listed down below.
Internet Speed
If you are streaming online gaming on a bigger screen with your friends, you will need a higher data connection to stream and play smooth games with them.
If you play at UHD resolution with a higher lag time, the amount of data used will be huge compared to a low resolution and lower refresh rate projector.
Adding External Speakers
Today, the speakers used in flat panel TVs have better speakers, hence no external ones a required.
Most objectives also come with built-in speakers, but they are typically not that great.
Unless you want to rely on headphones, you will likely need to purchase external speakers to make the most of your gaming experience.
The projector is noisy when running in a higher setting or gaming mode, and the built-in speakers will not give you a true gaming experience.
So, investing in external speakers or a soundbar is a good idea if you want to keep using the projector for gaming in the long term.
You can place the speakers just beneath the projected surface, which helps in saving space as well.
Gets Noisy
Yes, the current projectors still make lots of noise, no matter what the manufacturer claims when running on higher brightness and in gaming mode.
Almost every electronic device emits noise; it is okay until it’s very distracting. You will notice a constant humming sound with projectors, which becomes easier to tune out after a while.
Heating
Another issue is heating; you will not be able to place anything on or near the projector while you are using it.
The heat also affects the lifespan of the projector’s bulb and puts a significant amount of strain on it.
Regarding power efficiency, projectors may not be the best option for gaming as they consume a lot of power.
Are projectors good for gaming?
If you want a short answer- it is yes. If the projector you choose comes with an HDMI port, you can use it for gaming.
But not every basic projector will do the job well. When buying a gaming projector, you must look for some key factors.
However, you will also come across brands that sell projectors specially designed for gaming and can give you a stunning experience. But of course, it is not necessary to go for those.
Purchasing a projector is somewhat similar to purchasing a television set. If you are not careful, you may end up with the useless one.
There are many constraints as well to consider. But before looking at those factors, let us check the pros and cons of using a projector for gaming.
Conclusion.
Hopefully, this article has answered the question- are projectors good for gaming? You are now well aware of the pros and cons of using a projector for gaming and the various factors you need to consider before purchasing.
The three key features you need to look for are the refresh rate, resolution, and input lag. Playing games is all about quick actions and being responsive on the field.
Hence the three features will help you greatly in this matter.
You can always go through the advantages and disadvantages to figure out whether using a gaming projector will be suitable for you and then make the decision accordingly.
At that moment, I thought, why should I restrict myself to a smaller screen when an alternate option like a projector is available on the market.
So, I began searching the internet for the best projectors in 2014. And to be honest, I didn't find the information I was looking for.
But then, on my friend's suggestion, I purchased a BenQ 1080p projector in 2015. After that, my love and interest in Projector started, and I kept reviewing the latest available projectors available in the market.
I wrote down each advantage and disadvantage of the current Projector model. I gave only an honest reviews to my readers on projectorsplace.com and my social media pages like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, etc.
If you feel I have left any projector model uncovered, let me know on my official email id: [email protected]
You can meet me here:-
Thanks
Carry
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