The projector vs. TV question finally has an answer

Summary

New projectors feature smart systems for access to apps and services.
Projectors offer size flexibility for small workplaces or vast home theaters.
Setup, transport, and cleaning are much easier with projectors than a smart TV.

The center of any home entertainment system is likely a quality smart TV, one that provides access to all forms of entertainment you consume while hopefully featuring a display and hardware that suits your viewing preferences. With so many companies making smart TVs, and so many pushing the boundaries of innovation and technology, there are no shortage of novel and exciting models available tailored to everything you might want and need.

I’ve long sought out a smart TV to enjoy streaming and gaming and physical media. However, a recent exploration of the latest in projectors has me reconsidering. The best projectors today rival the top smart TVs in many categories, and even surpass them in others. Here’s why you should consider looking at a projector instead of a smart TV for your home.

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1

Smart operating system access

Enjoy all your favorite apps and services

Samsung homepage on Premiere 5 Projector

The latest and greatest projectors employ smart operating systems, just like TVs. With a built-in OS and Wi-Fi connectivity, you have access to all the streaming services, entertainment apps, casting options, and a range of other programs that you find on your smart TV. You don’t need to connect any other devices to access any online hub.

The presence of a smart system within a projector creates a lot of convenience and versatility, and immediately puts any projector on equal footing with a smart TV. You can access online gaming, workplace and productivity apps, and ambient modes, all of which can be controlled by a physical remote, a smartphone, or even your voice.

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2

Size is suited to your needs

Toggle your screen to fit your space

One of the big differences between what a smart TV offers and what a projector can do comes down to size. While a smart TV is clearly static, the best projectors offer a range of sizes depending on where you set them up. You can opt for a screen size that’s small and intimate or one that’s vast and immersive, catering to a group of people.

With options typically anywhere between 24 inches and 100, you can create both a small workplace for yourself or a huge home theater system depending on your needs. The option to toggle the size is ideal for those whose viewing arrangement and location may often change.

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3

Projectors offer portability and convenience

Setup, transport, and cleaning are much easier

A projector tilted upwards on its stand on a table.

A huge appeal of a quality projector is the opportunity to move it around. While some are indeed designed to be fixed in one position, many options, including those with smart systems and FHD resolution, allow you to transport with relative ease. That means you can set it up throughout your home, take it with you on vacation, or even try your hand at an outdoor movie night, provided the weather is cooperative.

While projectors vary in size, they’re going to be a lot easier to get around than a smart TV. That also means setting up will be a lot easier; most people opt to mount their smart TVs, and rightly so, but that process can take a lot of work and careful planning and execution. With a projector, you don’t need to worry about lifting and moving. If you ever need to rearrange your space or move entirely, you won’t have to worry about taking it down and tending to any holes in the wall. A projector also makes cleaning easier as there isn’t a screen you need to wipe down, and you don’t need to worry about any potential smudges or scratches.

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4

Better ambient and aesthetic opportunities

Create your own wall scene to set the mood

Ambient wall display on Samsung Premiere 5 Projector

The rise in popularity of lifestyle TVs is all about how they look in your space. The Frame and its ilk are the most popular, with these TVs boasting a decorative border and ambient mode that allows users to enjoy the TV as if it were a work of art. They are designed to sit flush against the wall while minimizing the mess of cords and granting access to extensive galleries.

Simply, a projector does it better. However thin a TV is, and however close it sits on the wall, it can’t come close to what a projector does, which is make the screen a part of the wall. While there is no frame in particular, with a flat surface and high-quality projector, you can display works of art, scenic vistas, and ambient views that look just as compelling and realistic, if not more. And with a projector, you’re not subject to a specific space.

The Frame and others boast about the chance for the TV to look good when it’s ‘off.’ But when it’s actually not displaying something, it’s still a large piece of electronics. A projector is discrete and can be hidden away.

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5

Projectors can feature high-quality audio

Top formats are compatible with the right accessories.

Even though many smart TVs feature better and better sound directly from the unit, they cannot rival the quality of a soundbar, which forms the basis of an immersive home audio experience. Just like smart TVs, many of the top projectors offer audio compatibility with the top DTS or Dolby formats, meaning you can connect your other devices to enhance your home theater.

With most new projectors, you can connect to devices via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or HDMI cables, just as you would a TV. That gives you a lot of options when it comes to how and when you’re setting up your entertainment: you take a portable speaker with you on the go, and you can also hook up a bunch of devices to create a five-channel experience. You won’t be limited when it comes to audio, a key component of watching any quality story, when you choose a projector over a smart TV.