Epson's latest LCD projector does 4K for $2,000
Now there's more competition for 4K -ish projectors.
If you need another option for a 4K projector that won't completely break the bank, Epson recently introduced this Home Cinema 4010. Like the BenQ HT-2550 projector we reviewed earlier this year, it's doing a bit of trickery to hit that 4K-resolution number. While Epson uses three LCDs instead of DLP, it's still applying "pixel shifting" to the output of three 1080p microdisplays. I haven't seen this projector or its slightly pricier Pro Cinema 4050 sibling introduced at CEDIA, but in my experience, it's very difficult to tell apart from native 4K projector technology in practice.
The Home Cinema 4010 is HDR10 ready (although, like other projectors it doesn't support Dolby Vision or HDR10+) and claims a 200,000:1 contrast ratio. If you're ready to live the projector life of huge screens and a true home theater experience, it can be had online or in-store for just under $2,000.
The HT-2550 is available for $1,500, while Optoma also has a DLP 4K projector that adds Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant that costs $1,700. One thing to consider is whether or not you're sensitive to the "rainbow trail" effect some people notice with DLP projectors, that shouldn't be an issue here. Of course, if you demand every single pixel of 4K technology, there's always Sony's SXRD technology, available in projectors that start at prices as low as $5,000 or so with newer models on the way.
