Projector development has come a long way since first being invented more than a century ago. One of the most exciting breakthroughs in projector technology is the invention of the short throw or ultra short throw projector. The term “throw” is an industry word that refers to the distance that the projector has to “throw” an image or video onto the screen. New advances in lenses and lighting sources now allow short throw projectors to be used in smaller spaces, allowing for more convenient presentations and demonstrations in offices, classrooms, and other places where placing a projector may be limited.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Short Throw Projector
Once you’ve figured out that a short throw projector is definitely the right move, it’s important to understand some of the more important technical aspects of these advanced devices.
Lumens
From a Latin term for “light”, this technical specification refers to the brightness of the projected image. The amount of lumens a projector has is not related to the brightness of the light source but how bright the image on the screen will be. Most projectors have a lumen rating of 3000, so go for a higher number if you plan on doing a lot of presentations in brightly-lit rooms.
Throw Ratio
It may sound complicated, but the throw ratio is simply taking the width of the projected image or video and dividing it by the distance of the projector from the screen. A small throw ratio means that you’re getting a wider screen image from a projector that is closer to the screen. Top-quality short throw projectors have a throw ratio beginning as low as 0.38 and go up to around 0.5 or so.
Lighting Source
Essentially, all projectors use one of a handful of technologies to create the light that beams the image onto the screen. The fancy term “digital light processing” (DLP) refers to what is essentially a fancy light bulb. Other technologies include lasers and LEDs (light emitting diodes). Remember that light bulbs eventually will burn out and need replaced while lasers and LEDs are usually rated to last for decades with little or no maintenance.
10 Best Short Throw Projector Comparison Table
| Product | Image | Features | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ViewSonic PJD5155 SVGA HDMI DLP |  | SVGA (800x600) 3300 Lumens Projector 20,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio Screen Size of 83-Inches from 12-Feet or 207-Inches from 30-Feet | $$ | CHECK DEALS ON AMAZON |
| LG Electronics PF1000U Ultra Short Throw Smart Home Theater Projector |  | Ultra Short Throw Full HD (1920 x 1080) with up to 1000 lumens 30,000 Hour Lamp Life | $$$$$ | CHECK DEALS ON AMAZON |
| Optoma GT1080 |  | 111-inches from 4 feet; 166-inches from 6 feet Contrast Ratio: 25,000:1 1-Year Limited Parts and Labor, 90-Days on Lamp | $$$ | CHECK DEALS ON AMAZON |
| iRulu BL20 Video Projector |  | 5 inch LCD TFT LCD panel From 1.2 to 6 meters, Aspect Ratio: 4:3/16:9 Front / Rear / Ceiling Projection Methods | $ | CHECK DEALS ON AMAZON |
| LG Electronics PH450UG Short Throw LED Projector with Screen Share |  | Project 80" from 13" away Wireless Screen Share Connection Bluetooth Sound Out, 30,000 Hour Lamp Life | $$$ | CHECK DEALS ON AMAZON |
| ViewSonic PJD5553LWS LightStream |  | 3200 Lumens with a 20,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio 3.5mm Audio In/ Out, RS-232, HDMI 1.4, VGA In(x2), VGA Out, Composite RCA, S-Video, and Mini USB | $$$ | CHECK DEALS ON AMAZON |
| ASUS S1 |  | Built-in 6,000 mAh rechargeable battery (up to 3 hrs per charge) 30,000-hour LED lifespan, 200 lumens brightness | $$ | CHECK DEALS ON AMAZON |
| Epson VS240 |  | SVGA resolution (800 x 600) 3lcd, 3-chip technology | $$ | CHECK DEALS ON AMAZON |
| Optoma GT750ST |  | Project a 50 diagonal inch image from only 32 inches away Wireless Android, iOS, and Windows Device Mirroring, and Multimedia Playback capability | $$$ | CHECK DEALS ON AMAZON |
| Philips HDP1690 Screeneo |  | Video projection range 50" - 100" ProGleam engine and NaturaColor technology Built-in loudspeakers and sub-woofer | $$$$ | CHECK DEALS ON AMAZON |
10 Best Short Throw Projector Reviews
After carefully combing through user reviews and analyzing all of the most popular models on the market, we have assembled our list of the best short throw projectors available today:
ViewSonic PJD5155 SVGA HDMI DLP
With a powerful 3300 Lumens rating, the ViewSonic short throw projector is great for both low-light and brightly lit settings. Rated as Blu-ray ready and coming with an HDMI input, the ViewSonic has five presets to ensure a perfect viewing experience every time. The ViewSonic also comes with an amplifier, outstanding sound, and a convenient tactile keypad.
LG Electronics PF1000U Ultra Short Throw Smart Home Theater Projector
This projector from one of the most recognized names in electronics can deliver a full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) image up to 100 inches across at up to 1000 lumens from just 15 inches away from the screen. With a number of wireless connection possibilities including DLNA, Miracast, and WiDi, the LG ultra short throw projector is perfect for home theaters, presentations, and more. The LG is also smart TV enabled and can work with Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu Plus, and other popular services.
Optoma GT1080
With a stylish white design, the Optoma GT1080 can deliver a 111-inch wide image from as close as four feet from the screen or up to 166 inches across when placed six feet from the screen. A powerful 2800 Lumens lamp and contrast ratio of 25,000 ensure crisp and clear images every time. The ptoma GT1080 comes with two HDMI connections, one MHL v.1.2 audio out, one 3.5 mm standard headphone jack, and 3D-Sync capability for maximum versatility.
iRulu BL20 Video Projector
This powerful short throw projector delivers full HD (1080p) images using a powerful 2600 lumens lamp. A convenient five-inch LCD panel gives the operator outstanding control or you can use the included remote. Projected images can be set to an aspect ratio of either 4:3 or 16:9, and the iRulu BL20 comes with two USB, two HDMI, a TV/DTV, AV, YPBPR, VGA, and audio connectors for superior versatility.
LG Electronics PH450UG Short Throw LED Projector with Screen Share
Looking like something out of a sci-fi movie, the LG PH450UG can project images 80 inches across from distances as close as 13 inches from the screen. A convenient Bluetooth connection allows for wireless audio connection with other devices, and the powerful 450 Lumens lamp delivers a crisp and bright image. The LG PH450UG can also operate as a wireless screen share connection with Android, iOS, and WiDi sources for enhanced versatility.
ViewSonic PJD5553LWS LightStream
The ViewSonic comes with an innovative design that produces best in class color accuracy and a warm, enhanced two-Watt speaker system producing rich audio for home theater, gaming, and presentation use. The ViewSonic has a powerful 3,200 Lumens lighting system that can produce full WXGA (1280 by 800 pixels) resolution with an incredibly low 0.49 throw ratio. The DynamicEco system reduces power consumption by as much as 70% while the HDMI and VGA ports allow for great connectivity.
ASUS S1
The only pocket projector to make our list, the S1 from Asus features a 200 Lumen lighting system that can deliver full 1080p images from ultra close distances. The S1 can project images up to 100 inches across in a device that weighs less than a pound and is small enough to fit in your pocket. The S1 comes with full HDMI and MHL ports for connectivity as well as a USB port for charging third-party devices.
Epson VS240
From one of the industrial leaders in smart peripherals, the VS240 from Epson features a powerful 3000 Lumens DLP lighting system. With SVGA resolution (800 by 600 pixels) and a special three-chip image technology, you’ll always get clear, crisp images with the VS240. The VS240 supports HDMI for video and audio connections, and is easy to set up and get running with the included remote control.
Optoma GT750ST
Another outstanding model from Optoma, the GT750ST can project a 50-inch image onto a screen from just 32 inches away. The built-in media player is ideal for showing still images, video, or even playing music while the multimedia compatibility allows the GT750ST to be used with Android, iOS, and Windows devices. Compact enough to fit in your hand and weighing less than one pound, the GT750ST comes with a 700 Lumens LED lighting system for home theater, gaming, and presentation use.
Philips HDP1690 Screeneo
The HDP1690 is a sleek ultra short throw projector from Philips that can deliver images up to 100 inches in size. The proprietary ProGleam engine and NaturaColor technology guarantee incredibly crisp and sharp images. The HDP1690 can be paired with a number of devices over Wi-Fi or DLNA networks to browse the web or stream video. The HDP1690 also comes with an HDMI connection and a powerful 26-Watt sound system for outstanding audio reproduction.
The Benefits of Using a Short Throw Projector
The name might sound a little weird coming off of the tongue, but once you see the benefits of a short throw projector, you’ll wonder why this technology hadn’t been invented decades ago. The short throw projectors are great for setting up presentations and movies in even the most intimate spaces while still being powerful enough to use in larger spaces.
Here are some additional benefits to choosing a short throw projector:
Avoid the Duck and Cover
Invariably, whenever you’re giving a presentation, someone is going to get up and walk between the projector and the screen. With a short throw projector, you never have to worry about this, as there’s often just two feet or less between the projector and the screen. No more need to try and duck underneath the projector when participants need to go check their phone messages!
In Focus
Being closer to the projector means you’ll never have to worry about fuzzy, distorted images on the screen. Old-fashioned projectors often seem to be either too close or too far away to get the image looking sharp and in focus on the screen, but a short throw projector never has that problem. All of your images and video will be ultra-crisp and looking great with a short throw projector.
Blindingly Obvious
Anyone who has given a lot of presentations with old-fashioned projectors knows that there’s nothing worse than making the mistake of accidentally looking right into the eye of the projector. In a split second, you get blinded by the light, and then have to spend the next few minutes trying not to crash into furniture as you continue your presentation. With short throw projectors, you’ll never have to worry about accidentally coming in between the machine and the screen.
Conclusion
Before choosing the right short throw projector, it’s important to assess the conditions and likely usage scenarios for the projector. If you plan on transporting the projector to multiple locations, be sure to pick a compact model that can be quickly closed and packed away for further use. If you intend on using the projector in small or more intimate spaces, choose a model with a lower throw ratio to ensure you get the best quality image possible. Carefully assess all of the technical features, including the brightness of the projected image, before choosing the right short throw projection for your needs.
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