Last updated on July 1st, 2021
A projector can be better than a TV, but it depends on the projector and TV you are working with! Typically, projectors will deliver larger images (think about the size of a screen at the movies) and have better contrast ratios, providing you with better image quality than your TV most of the time. Still, these large-scale projectors can be expensive.
Cheaper, short-throw projectors are commonly what people buy. These are used at homes or gardens to create an outdoor cinema on a budget and often aren’t that great. In addition, the image can be washed out in brighter lighting, giving the image a poor quality look that reminds most of us of old-school projectors used in schools.
On the other hand, a TV will typically have a smaller screen, and when it comes to image quality, you get what you pay for. Compared to a few years ago, large-screen LCD or OLED TVs have fallen in price, and compared to cheap projectors, the quality of a TV will always be superior.
It comes down to what you want. If you watch a lot of HD TV (which most of us do), you will need to spend big bucks on a projector to have it match a TV’s quality. However, if it’s a large screen you want, a large projector will always win! For most of us, though, we will be hard-pressed to find a projector that matches or is superior to our fancy TVs.
Can you watch Netflix on a projector?
Yes, you can watch Netflix on a projector! To do so, you will need to use your laptop to broadcast Netflix to the projector so you can watch your favorite movies and shows on a super large screen.
To do this, you will need either a USB or HDMI cable to connect your laptop to the projector. Some projectors do offer wireless connections these days, which makes the process a little easier.
Simply follow the steps on your laptop to connect to the projector. Apple users can easily do this with the airplay function on their devices, but you might need to enter settings and connect via Bluetooth for others.
Alternatively, you can also use any streaming sticks that you have. Providing you are connected to the internet, you can plug your Chromecast or Amazon Firestick into the projector and an external power source. Then, you can follow the instructions on the screen to access your Netflix account and start watching.
Be sure to check that your devices are connected to the internet and one another to avoid any issues when it comes to streaming Netflix. Remember, you are streaming the show or movie across the internet, so if your connection is bad, it can impact the quality of the image, and you should address this before checking if it’s an issue with your projector.
Can I watch TV on a projector?
Yes, just like with Netflix, you can watch TV on a projector. To do this, you will need an HDMI cable box to connect your projector to your TV box or cable box, depending on how you get your TV channels in your home.
Connecting is simple, run an HDMI cable from your box to your projector, and your TV channels will appear. The projector here is acting as a screen, so you will need your cable box remote to change channels, and remember to point the remote at the box!
Once you have the image up and running, you will need to address the sound. While some projectors do come with built-in speakers, they aren’t the best and tend to have poor sound quality. So to enjoy the clear and crisp sound, we think it’s best to also connect a sound bar or another audio device to your projector too.
You can often connect a sound bar to the cable box your projector is plugged into to add sound. You can use the RCA, optical, 3.5mm, or other output and inputs on your cable box and soundbar to connect them.
An HDMI ARC is a handy port to use to achieve this! Simply run your jack/audio cable between the two devices, and sound shall appear! It’s best to use the sound coming from the cable box to avoid syncing issues with the image and the sound, we think.
You could also use stereo speakers if you have them; just ensure that they have outputs that match those on your projector. Generally speaking, you should have no difficulty connecting via an AUX cable.
Is a projector better than a TV for gaming?
For some people, a projector can be better than a TV when it comes to gaming, but you need to make sure that you choose the right projector. To ensure you have a smooth and enjoyable gaming experience, you will want a projector that can deliver outstanding graphics.
Look out for projectors that are not only the right size for you, but are pixel-dens, feature fast refresh rates, a high contrast ratio, and have a high color gamut. All the features you would look for when purchasing a monitor or TV will apply here. After all, a projector is just a larger version of these!
When it comes to projectors, you will need to pay close attention to the brightness and contrast. Part of this can be controlled by your room’s brightness, with too much brightness washing out the image on the projector.
Here the TV still reigns supreme. Turning the lights off in your room or spending the big bucks on a 4k projector are the best solutions here, but often leave many of us preferring a TV.
Once you have found the perfect screen, turn your attention to the sound. A TV will provide better sound quality than a projector, but not much better. External speakers or sound bars are your best bet. We would also invest in a good pair of headphones to get that immersive sound and gaming experience!
While the TV might seem the safer bet, a projector can be better for gaming, providing you find one that meets your criteria and doesn’t bankrupt you in the process!
