Black Friday Projector Deals 2022- What you need to know

Amazon Black Friday 2022

Amazon is well known for their huge promotions including Prime Day and Prime Early Access. November 25th is Black Friday and the date is sneaking up on us. Last year, during Amazon's annual Black Friday event, you could find top of the line projectors up to $200 off! If you are in the market for a new projector, now is the best time to prepare yourself and figure out which projector you want to look out for. Here is what you need to know about the projectors on the market and what great deals you can look for on Amazon during this year's 2022 Black Friday sales event.

The wide world of projectors

Projectors are incredibly versatile and can be a great investment. You can use them in the office, at home or on the go. There are three main types of image technology used for projectors: liquid crystal display (LCD), light emitting diode (LED), or digital light processing (DLP). Additionally, there are two main types of light source: laser and lamp. Laser projectors are generally about three times more expensive, however, they last longer and have a better image quality. There is one thing to keep in mind, before we dive into specs, and that is if you are searching for a projector to use as a home theater or recreate that drive-in feel- cinemas spend a ton of money on digital projector screens to provide the best cinematic experience. They create the perfect environment by eliminating all the ambient light (all the excess light around you), use the brightest film projection available with the best technology and unmatched Dolby surround sound.

Cinemas use Digital Cinema Initiative (DCI) compliant laser and lamp projectors. These run about $10,000 to over $100,000 for the projector alone and need special software to load and run a film. You can find a list of DCI compliant projectors here. So, trying to recreate that specific environment anywhere else would be an incredible feat. Therefore, there are a few things to consider regarding the type of projector best used in your personal environment that would make your experience what you want.

Considerations:

• Physical environment (room/space measurements)
• Natural environment (ambient lighting/indoor/outdoor)
• Technical priorities (what specs do you want, image clarity? brightness? wired/wireless? etc...)
• Accessories (set up equipment (screen, ports, speakers, Wi-Fi, mounting/ tripod)

Know your throw (ratio that is)

When you look for a projector you will want to know the size of your space so you know what your image will look like. Simply put, the throw ratio (TR) is your magic number as it tells you the size of the image you can project from the distance of your projector. Specifically, the TR is the distance between the lens of your projector and the viewing screen. There is a formula. Actually, there are a few. Don't worry too much, as many projector manufactures have tools your can use to help you identify your TR, For example, Epson has an online TR calculator that you can explore here [https://epson.com/Support/wa00814] . Some manufacturers provide this helpful information in their product specs for you. The distance will help you narrow down your list of appropriate projectors for your particular space. There are three throw ratios you will find with regards to projector specs:

• Standard Throw projectors are usually mounted from the ceiling and used in large rooms to project a large image
• Short Throw projectors are for mid-distance viewing
• Ultra Short Throw projectors are best for small spaces (4-8ft)

Projector Image Technology

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)

LCD technology works by utilizing backlit liquid crystals, polarizers, mirrors and prisms. The LCD light source is a laser or bulb. LCD projectors are often used with computer data (business meetings, seminars, project management). They are more affordable, bright and do not create a rainbow effect due to the nature of LCD technology. A rainbow effect occurs when the eye perceives a rainbow of colors (like an aura) around an image on the screen. This happens when the image technology processes differently due to the moving objects and colors that you view on the screen- so the technology used in the projector will affect the quality of the image you see. Great quality LCD projectors are pretty expensive, and are generally not used for everyday home theatre or gaming. However, it really depends on what you will be using your projector for. The manufactures of the LCD chip technology include some of the larger names in the home entertainment and office industry: Sony, Epson and Panasonic. A great quality LCD projector will range between $1,000-$6,000 (some going up to $20,000). In general, LCD projectors need the most maintenance as there is no lens shield to prevent dust build up.

The Epson Home Cinema 880 is one of the more affordable LCD options made by a reputable company in the home and office industry. However, the only two pros consumers have reviewed positively are how bright the image is and cost. The recommended lumen minimum for the LCD projector is 1500 (2500 desired). This model has 3300 lumens! The cost is relatively low ($600). Of course, this is compared to the rest of the LCD projectors on the market. This may be of interest for those in education or small business that need a projector for projects and data. This may not be your best option for moving animation, action viewing, color or image clarity.

Pros and cons

• Lumens
• Cost

• No 4K
• Minimal zoom capability
• Poor overall image quality
• Maintenance

Epson Home Cinema 5050UB 4k

The Epson Home Cinema 5050UB 4k has been highly rated as the go-to home theater LCD projector on the higher end. This Epson model has 2600 lumen and up to 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio. With great picture quality and a mechanical lens. The downside to this particular model is the price point, however, it is considered the best of the options under $3,000 for home theater projectors.

LIGHT EMITTING DIODE (LED)

LED bulbs use the principle of electroluminescence to emit light (photons). If you want to read more on the science of LED bulbs and how these photons are produced via electric currents passing through the diode (semi-conducting material) please, by all means, dive in . The science behind the LED bulb is truly fascinating and this technology has many benefits. LED projectors are cooler than other bulb or lamp projectors thereby far more energy efficient. They are long lasting up to 10 times that of other projectors (over 10,000 hours). Instead of using color filters or micro-mirrors like other projectors, LED projectors use red, green and blue LED bulbs to create the light that is then filtered through its lens-that creates the image you see. Additionally, because LED projectors emit less heat, they aren't equipped with large fans and that allows smaller more compact opportunities.

Also, far more quiet without the fan noise. One disadvantage of the LED technology is that it tends to be more expensive (price per lumen) but the cost often reflects their longevity. You can find very affordable options like this portable mini or the pico projector which illustrates the market for inexpensive, compact projectors. Pico projectors can be LED or Laser and tend to retain only on third of the battery life of the portable minis. Trends on social media over the course of the pandemic have influenced an influx of ultra short throw mini and pico projectors as they are being used as faux windows, static scenery and mobile work screens. As more people stayed home, or transitioned into the mobile workspace, the demand for small space mobile projectors literally went viral.

MICRO MINI pros and cons

• Portable
• Lightweight
• Affordable

• Lumens
• Image quality
• Not suitable for gaming, sports or fast action

DIGITAL LIGHT PROCESSING (DLP)

DLP uses digital micro-mirrors utilizing technology developed by Texas Instruments (if they sound familiar it is because they are also widely known for their calculators). These micro-mirrors are as small as a red blood cell. A light shines through a color wheel, the micro-mirrors and a lens to produce the image you see on the screen. The benefits of a DLP projector has more to do with the image quality as the micro-mirrors increase the pixels creating a higher definition for you to enjoy, DLP are fairly low maintenance but higher in cost.

There are more reports of the rainbow effect and shadowing with the high contrast screens (e.g., during the moving end credits). If you are a gamer, one of the top rated DLP projectors is the BenQ TH671ST 1080p. This projector is a short throw gaming projector with a projected 15,000 lamp life. While the contrast ratio meets the minimum standard (10,000:1) the lumens make up for some of the image quality (3,000). Overall, this projector is rated pretty high within the gaming community. An added benefit is that this projector is a great value for short throw projector movies as well due to the gaming specifications. GLP projectors are widely used in gaming, business, education and home entertainment.

Pros and cons

• Lumens
• Color accuracy
• Low lag
• Lamp life
• Warranty
• Light weight
• User friendly

• Cost
• Minimal ports

WEMAX Go Ultra Portable

Finally, an affordable DLP laser projector is the WEMAX Go Ultra Portable Laser Projector. Perfectly portable, this projector is great for camping and traveling. This model works best with low to no ambient lighting as the lumens are not very high (300). The WEMAX Go Ultra is considered a pocket projector and comes with a carrying case, charger and a one year warranty. WEMAX makes a variety of projectors and they are all currently on sale up to 40% off during Amazon's Prime Fall Deals Super Sale.

Pros and cons

• Portable
• Lightweight
• Affordable

• Lumens
• No built in battery
• No remote
• No stand

Conclusion

Once you think about how you will be using your projector, where and for how long, you can better identify the type of image technology and light source you will need. If you just want a comforting window with rain on your wall, you do not need to spend more than $50-$100 on a projector. If you are trying to recreate your own in-home cinema, you may want to look at the high end home entertainment projectors and deep dive into the specs for your space. One thing to note is that there are so many different products on the market, if you have a basic understanding of the 3 main image technologies (LCD, LED, DLP) and in what environment each perform their best, then you will have a much easier time choosing what is right for you and your space. The most affordable, best quality, minimal maintenance and longest lasting projector tends to be the LED technology. When it comes to your home entertainment and gaming needs there are many high quality, cost effective options out there. If you have a bigger budget and want a high end quality projector for home entertainment or gaming then check out the DLP technology. If cost is not an issue, the LCD projectors may be something for you to check out. They are, however, the highest maintenance with great picture quality. Depending on your environment and how you plan to use your projector, there is something out there for you.

Watch for your deals

Amazon's Black Friday deals tend to start 7-14 days before Black Friday, so keep checking in on your projector! If you plan on exclusively shopping online, keep in mind Cyber Monday will have more deals and you can stock up on any home theater, school or work accessories to go with your new projector. You will need a screen or surface area to project your image on. Some projectors come with a screen. Otherwise, you can think about other surfaces such as a wall, sheet or inflatable screen. Fall is such an exciting time for shopping and if you prepare now you will have a better chance at snagging the best deals and getting what you want at an incredible price. You can check out Amazon's Black Friday projector deals here starting November 25th. Good luck!