1080p projectors: From budget to billfold-busting

David Katzmaier, Senior Editor April 6, 2009

We've spent a lot of time and energy trying to convince our readers that, for most HDTV screen sizes, 1080p native resolution simply doesn't matter. When you're watching a 32-inch LCD or even a 50-inch plasma, those extra pixels just aren't that important.

The story changes when the screen sizes get huge. Front projectors can easily create pictures that measure 100 diagonal inches or more, and true home theater buffs know that sitting close to a big image, especially an ultracrisp 1080p image from a Blu-ray player, makes for an experience in immersion that blows the exit signs off the local megaplex. At those sizes and seating distances, 1080p really starts to strut its stuff.

The latest crop of high-resolution projectors spans the gamut from somewhat inexpensive to downright wasteful. The models below represent that range nicely, and it's no coincidence that we reserve our highest praise for the more expensive models. Buffs on budgets certainly have a lot of choices themselves, however, and the proliferation of 1080p projectors at every price point means more big pictures for everybody.

More Resources

Editors' top home theater projectors,

Front projection TV explained,

All 1080p home theater projectors,

All home theater projectors