Why Are Projectors So Expensive? (Top 5 Reasons)

Why are projectors expensive?

It is a common question that most people get to ask frequently.

However, This can be a difficult question to answer.

There are so many types of projectors in the market.

They have distinct features that make them be either very costly or cheap.

For instance, you will come across some projectors with higher resolutions than others.

So they will be more costly.

Others have a small throw distance, so you need to sit near the screen to see more explicit images.

Also, other projectors allow you to sit far and still get to see the entire field of vision.

It is because of their long throw distance.

The materials used in manufacturing have an enormous influence on the ultimate price.

Metal is more expensive than plastics.

Also, a projector with many features will cost you more than fewer ones.

But looking at all these factors, we have come up with a list of top 5 reasons that make projectors so costly.

Why are projectors so expensive?

Projectors are pretty expensive.

But just like any other product, there are reasons behind the premium prices.

Below are five reasons why projectors are so expensive.

Projector technology

Projectors have three key technologies.

They include the LCD, the most common type, Laser and DPL, used mainly in movie theatres.

The laser projector is the most expensive one among the three.

It reduces maintenance because it does not have a lamp unit.

It also comes with 2000 maintenance hours and gives a higher quality image.

The other two types have similar prices.

So the more advanced technology a projector has, the higher the price.

Brightness

A projector has some moving parts.

Its component is an optical lens used to reflect a lamp or laser light.

The shape of the lens determines the angle at which the light gets reflected.

A projector with a reflection of 8 degrees projects the same degrees to the screen.

Also, a projector with a review of 30 degrees projects an image at a distance of 30 degrees.

So it means that the lighter the projector can reflect, the higher the lumen value.

A projector that 8 lumens emit 8,000 lumens, while an A12 lumen projector will emit 12000 lumens.

The brightness of a projector is usually expressed in lumens per watts.

The higher the lumen, the brighter the projector’s image and the better quality. 

Projector manufacturers use a prism that makes light move through it at an angle.

Also, they use them because they are cheap and easy to manufacture.

But focusing on a prism is pretty costly because the lens must be made using a specific optical glass.

The optical lens is relatively expensive.

So it means that the brighter and better the image appears on a projector, the higher the cost.

Resolution and image quality

The projector’s resolution is also another factor that makes it costly.

Resolution is the number of pixels projected onto the screen.

The high the projector’s resolution, the shaper, and better the image will be.

And the higher the number of pixels a projector has, the more costly it will be.

The best resolution of a projector is 1920*1080 on average.

So when buying a projector, it is good to know that projector resolution.

It plays a massive role in the outcome of an image.

For example, a projector with a resolution of 1920*1080 can display a photo with 1280*720.

In contrast to one with 1280*720, which can only display poor pixels.

The higher the resolution, the more costly the projector will be.

A projector with 1920*1080 pixels can cost twice more than the one with 120 by 720 pixels.

Refresh rate and Contrast ratio

These two factors also influence the premium prices of projectors.

One can measure the refresh rate using frames per second.

A refresh rate o 60 or more is considered a good start.

The higher the refresh rate is, the better the projector is.

The contrast ratio measures how much light a projector can display for power input.

It is the difference between the brightness of the lightest color to be displayed.

The contrast ratio also shows the quality of the image of an LCD projector.

So, the higher the contrast ratio of the LCD projector, the brighter the image it reflects.

The refresh rate is the ability of a projector to turn on and off faster.

The faster the refresh rate, the smoother the image will be, and also the costly the projector.

Projector types

There are various types of projectors.

Also, their prices vary in size and model.

Different types include.

Long-throw-these are portable ones, or you can mount them on the ceiling. 

Short throw.- they are mounted on the wall.

Ultra short throws are the ones that are mounted on the wall or close to the wall.

Interactive-they are ultra-short projectors within built interactivity.

Large hall projectors-They have high brightness, resolutions, and multiple lens options.

They are also the most expensive.

So the pricing depends on the type of projector.

The ones with high brightness, high resolutions tend to cost more.

Are expensive projectors worth it?

Expensive projectors are worth every coin.

Some people think that any projector can work as long as it can cast an image.

But when you compare a cheap projector and an expensive, the difference is noticeable.

Expensive projectors are costly, but they have so many benefits in the long run.

They will give you quality images, and they are long-lasting.

You don’t have to keep replacing them.

Their screens are more extensive compared to the regular ones.

Also, they avoid wrinkles using different features to make the display more pleasant. 

Mostly you will find expensive projectors being used in cinemas.

So if you want to have the feeling of cinema in your home, it is good to go for the most costly.

Premium projectors display images in their exact resolution, color, and quality.

After looking at all these factors, you will notice that they are worth it.

How much should I spend on a projector?

The amount of money you can spend on a projector depends on the size and type you need.

If you want a petite size, you will spend less, but a larger size will cost you more.

A projector will cost a bare minimum cost of $50.

However, some will cost up to $500 or more.

Any projector below $500 is always considered cheap.

And if you want to buy a quality 4K projector, you should be ready to spend more.

So, in conclusion, the average cost of a good quality projector should be anywhere around $200-$500.

But it can go up to $1k if you want something with a 4k.

How to save money on expensive projectors

Expensive projectors are pretty costly, but you can still save some money on them.

You can do this by applying some tricks we will discuss below. 

You can buy from a secondhand online store like eBay at a lower price, and you will end up saving some money.

Also, you can buy from local retailers who will sell for you at a discount. 

Another way of saving money is buying from listings groups like Facebook marketplaces.

Here you can get a well-maintained projector at affordable prices.

Another tip that can save your money is to ensure that you buy it yourself.

If you send someone, they can decide to increase the price on top to con you, or you pay for the errand fee.

But if you buy by yourself, you will save something.

You can also buy from online stores like amazon who sells products at a discount.

You can get a high-quality projector at a lower price, especially during a sale season.

Or even during Black Friday, where they sell products as low as 50% off.

You can be lucky to get a good projector at that discounted rate.

The last saving tip is to ensure you buy a high-quality projector.

It will save you the money and hassles of keeping repairing and also you will not have to buy another one.

Best inexpensive projectors

Although projectors are expensive, there are still other cheaper options in the market.

If you can not afford the most expensive one, you can go for them.

They work perfectly.

Below are the top 9 best inexpensive projectors that are worth mentioning.

1. BenQ HT2150ST projector
2. AXAA BPI DLP Projector
3. Top Vision T21
4. Kodak Luma 150 pocket projector
5. Anker Nebula Capsule Max
6. Epson EX3280 XGA Projector
7. Phillips NeoPix Easy Projector
8. Vanko Leisure 3
9. Miroir M75 Micro
10. Xiaomi Mi Smart Compact Projector

Conclusion

As we wrap up this article, it is now easy to understand why projectors are expensive.

They can be helpful most times, especially when you have to project images on a large screen for a large group to see. 

A good quality projector is expensive because of its brightness, resolution, and contrast.

It also has accurate colors that sharpen the images.

So, when you look at all these benefits, you find them worth the cost.