Projectors

Samsung probably isn't the first name that springs to mind when thinking about projectors, but based on the company's new LSP9T 4K HDR beamer that might be about to change. Christened 'The Premiere', the brand backs the hyperbole with a seriously impressive set of specs that includes a three-colour laser light source, ultra-short-throw (UST) optics, beefy sound system, built-in tuners, and full Tizen smart platform.

No consumer-focused home cinema projector manufacturer has more experience with both native 4K resolution and laser lighting than Sony. I've known this for a while, but I still wasn't prepared for the performance prowess of its £12,000 VPL-VW790ES. This is a premium beamer that's capable of leaving your jaw on the floor.

There are four things you need to know about the BenQ TH535 right off the bat. First, it's a DLP projector that costs just £500. Second, while pitched as a home entertainment projector, it's also got a Presentation preset. Third, it's a Full HD model with no 4K or HDR capabilities. And, finally, it's really bright – a claimed 3,500 Lumens bright, to be precise.

Epson's latest 4K Pro-UHD LCD projector promises serious bang for your buck. For £1,500, the EH-TW7100 claims a maximum brightness of 3,000 nits and contrast ratio of 100,000:1, and image sizes up to 500in. It even packs a Bluetooth output for streaming audio to external speakers, in addition to its onboard 2 x 10W sound system.

Smart and compact, with a glossy white finish, this new 1080p DLP projector from Optoma is designed for living room rather than dark theatre use. So far, so typical, but what makes the HD29H particularly interesting is that while it's unequivocally a Full HD model, it's also HDR compatible. It'll read HDR10 metadata and attempt to produce a correctly balanced dynamic image.