4K televisions and projectors are extremely prevalent. However, while you can find tons of native 4K projectors that display 8 million pixels, many of those utilize pixel-shifting technology to achieve a 4K resolution. But for home theatre enthusiasts, a projector that doesn’t use pixel-shifting is a compelling home upgrade. Check out the best true 4K projector options for enjoying native 4K without pixel-shifting!
Are 4K Projectors Really 4K?
There are loads of 4K projectors on the market. In order to fit the criteria for 4K, it’s necessary to display a full 8 million pixels. However, not all 4K projectors include native 4K chips. Instead, some projectors rely on pixel-shifting to achieve a 4K resolution.
Most pixel-shifting projectors use a 1080p, or 1920 x 1080 chip. This panel then fires multiple times, each time physically shifting pixels and creating overlapping images. In that way, a pixel-shifting projector can utilize a 1080p image processing chip to create four identical images and, by physically shifting the pixels, create an image that has 9 million pixels.
Native 4K projectors on the other hand don’t need to shift any pixels. Instead, a 4K-capable chip can process a full ultra high definition (UHD) signal and display a 4096 x 2160 image with 8 million pixels directly.
Are 4K projectors actually 4K: Yes, all 4K projectors can display a full 8 million pixels. However, native 4K projectors don’t rely on pixel-shifting to create a picture that’s 4K.
What is a Native 4K Projector?
A native 4K projector, like a pixel-shifting 4K projector, displays an image with a resolution of 4096 x 2160, and has a complete 8 million pixels. However, whereas a projector with pixel-shifting must create multiple images, physically move the pixels and overlap them to make a 4K image, a projector with a true 4K chip can process UHD images directly.
Native 4K projectors that don’t need to use pixel-shifting can deliver stunning image quality with unrivaled sharpness, color accuracy, contrast, and black levels. That’s not to say pixel-shifting projectors are bad looking. On the contrary, many pixel-shifting 4K projectors look absolutely stunning. But a projector that utilizes pixel-shifting may produce an image that’s not quite as crisp as a native 4K unit. Still, native 4K projectors are pretty pricey. You can usually expect to pay about $5,000 to $10,000 for a true non-pixel-shifting 4K projector.
Native 4K projector: Can display a full 8 million pixels (4096 x 2160) pixels without the need for pixel-shifting, and features a 4K chip rather than a 1080p chip.
Best Native 4K Projector Overall – JVC DLA-NX7
The JVC DLA-NX7 is an exceptional true 4K projector. Boasting 1900 ANSI lumens, the DLA-NX7 produces a bright, vivid image. At its core, the JVC NX7 features a native 4K chip, a 0.69-inch 4096 x 2160 D-ILA, that delivers outstanding picture quality. Contrast and black levels produce pure eye candy. High dynamic range (HDR) tone-mapping is fantastic, and there’s excellent sharpness. Capable of yielding a 4K 4096 x 2160 image with 8 million pixels without pixel-shifting, the JVC NX7 is the best home cinema projector on the market.
With its 3D capabilities, the NX7 showcases little to no cross-talk. Unfortunately, 3D content does require the PK-EM2 emitter, sold separately. As is common with many home theater projectors, the DLA-NX7 is fairly hefty at around 21 pounds. Thus, it could be difficult to ceiling mount. Additionally, it’s fairly pricey. Still, if you want the best possible picture quality from an actual 4K projector that doesn’t rely on pixel-shifting, the JVC NX7 is hands-down the greatest option available.
Pros:
- Native 4K chip without pixel-shifting (0.69-inch 4096 x 2160 D-ILA)
- Excellent picture quality: Wonderful black levels and contrast
- Phenomenal HDR tone-mapping
- 3D-capable
- 1900 ANSI lumens
- Produces a big, bright, realistic image
Cons:
- Expensive
- Heavy – 21 pounds
- 3D requires an optional transmitter
Best True 4K Projector – Sony VW715ES
Sony’s VPL-VW715ES is a phenomenal true native 4K projector that eschews pixel-shifting. At its core, you’ll find a native 4K chip that processes a 4K signal directly to show 8 million on-screen pixels. Contrast and color accuracy are both top-notch. Because of its native 4K chip, the VW715ES exhibits excellent sharpness. Sporting 1800 lumens, the VPL-VW715ES offers a big, bright, bold image.
Making use of Sony’s SXRD panel, the VW715ES is a liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) projector with mind-blowing performance. There’s an incredible lifelike quality to its picture. A digital focus optimizer ensures a crisp, clear image across the entire screen. Its dynamic HDR enhancer improves the contrast in 4K high dynamic range content. Low input lag makes the VPL-VE715ES great for gaming. And a slew of different image adjustments such as a powered zoom lens and wide lens shift offer flexible installation options.
However, the contrast ratio of the JVC NX7 does have a slight edge over the VW715ES when it comes to contrast. A big, bulky, heavy projector, the Sony VPL-VW715ES may be difficult to mount in certain rooms. And with a fairly steep price tag, it’s not a cheap home cinema projector. But, if you want awe-inspiring picture quality from a native 4K projector without pixel-shifting technology, the Sony VW715ES is a stupendous pick.
Pros:
- SXRD (LCoS) projector technology
- Native 4K chip – no pixel-shifting
- 1800 ANSI lumens
- 350,000:1 dynamic contrast
- Digital focus optimizer
- Dynamic HDR enhancer
- HDR reference mode
- Low input lag (40ms) – great for gaming
- Powered zoom lens and wide lens shift for flexible installation options
Cons:
- Expensive
- Heavy and bulky
- Contrast isn’t quite as good as other options like the JVC NX7
Best Mid-range True 4K Projector Without Pixel-shifting – JVC DLA-NX5
Avoiding pixel-shifting to generate an actual 4K image, the JVC DLA-NX5 is a spectacular home theatre projector. Contrast, color accuracy, and black levels are absolutely stunning. Like its JVC DLA-NX7 older sibling, the NX5 utilizes a D-ILA native 0.69-inch 4K chip to display a full 4096 x 2160 image without the use of pixel-shifting. There’s 3D support and flawless picture quality. When compared with the NX7, the JVC NX5’s contrast and brightness aren’t quite as impressive, although for the price, it’s a stellar true 4K non-pixel-shifting projector.
Pros:
- Outstanding color accuracy, black levels, and contrast
- D-ILA native 0.69-inch 4K chip – no pixel-shifting
- 4096 x 2160 native resolution (8 million pixels)
- 3D support
- Dynamic 400,000:1 contrast ratio, 40,000:1 native contrast ratio
Cons:
- Pricey
- Heavy (45 lbs.) and bulky
- Brightness, color accuracy, black levels, and contrast aren’t quite as good as the NX7 (but excellent for the price)
Best Budget Native 4K Projector – Sony VW325ES
The Sony VPL-VW325ES is the cheapest native 4K projector that doesn’t use pixel-shifting to achieve 8 million pixels. It’s powered by a 3 SXRD LCoS chip. You’ll enjoy bright, vivid images. Color accuracy is extremely good and HDR performance is excellent. With its IMAX enhancement, the VW325ES brings the box office to your home.
A slew of projection adjustments including vertical and horizontal lens shift make installation a breeze. An impressive 1500 ANSI lumens create a realistic image. Black levels are terrific, and contrast is gorgeous. There’s also a low 40ms input lag for gaming. Disappointingly, the VW325ES lacks 3D support which may be a downside for some home cinema enthusiasts. Although image quality might not quite be as good as the Sony VW715ES, the VPL-VW325ES is the cheapest native 4K projector that doesn’t require pixel-shifting to create a display a 4K image and because of its low inupt lag, the best true 4K gaming projector.
Pros:
- 3 SXRD native 4K LCoS chip
- Low input lag (40ms) – great for gaming
- IMAX widescreen enhancement
- Lots of image adjustments – +85% -80%vertical lens shfit, +/-31% horizontal lens shift
- Excellent color accuracy, contrast ratio, and black levels
- 1500 ANSI lumens
- Fantastic HDR performance
Cons:
- Not as good picture quality as the Sony VPL-VW715ES
- Only 1500 ANSI lumens
- Lacks 3D compatibility
What to Look for in a Native 4K Projector Without Pixel-shifting
When you’re selecting a true 4K projector for your home theatre, you’ll need to select the right option for your needs and budget. The main factor in picking out a native 4K projector is finding a device with a 4K chip rather than a 1080p pixel-shifting 4K projector.
Resolution: First and foremost, a native 4K projector can display a full-fledged 8 million pixel image without the use of pixel-shifting. Check on what chip is at the core of a projector. While there are a lot of projectors capable of displaying an actual 8 million pixels, only a select few can accomplish a 4096 x 2160 image sans overlapping images.
Cost: You can generally expect to pay anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 USD for a native 4K projector. Set a budget and find a non-pixel-shifting projector in your price range. If you’re willing to opt for a pixel-shifting 4K projector, there are tons of great 4K projectors for $1,000 or so.
Brightness: Projector brightness is measured in ANSI lumens. Generally, for a projector to use with ambient lighting, you’ll want around 2,000 to 3,000 ANSI lumens.
Input lag: For gaming on a projector, you’ll want low input lag. Anything under 50ms should be fine for casual gaming and offline single-player games. 20ms or less is best for more competitive gaming.
HDR support: While resolution is key, high dynamic range or HDRmakes a huge difference. Basically, HDR expands the range of color as well as contrast ratio of an image which allows for more depth. There are a few different HDR standards including HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, and Dolby Vision.
Connectivity: Consider what devices you want to hook up to your projector, and how many. Most modern devices will use HDMI.
3D support: Although 3D on televisions has all but faded away, 3D movies on projectors look stunning. If you want to enjoy 3D Blu-rays on your home theatre projector, you’ll want to find a projector with 3D capabilities.
Image adjustments: There are plenty of different image adjustments you can make on a projector. Keystone lets you maintain a perfectly rectangular image even when projecting from an angle, and can be vertical or horizontal. Many times, keystone is performed manually, though it can be automatic. Focus is an important image correction feature. Additionally, you may value certain video presets and customizations like a game mode, sports mode, cinema preset, or eco-mode.
Picture quality: Particularly when blown up to over 100-inches, image quality is crucial. Contrast ratio and black levels will largely determine image how good a projector’s picture looks.
Audio quality: If you’re watching on a big screen, you’ll probably want sound big enough to match the massive on-screen image. Therefore, I highly recommend pairing your projector with a decent soundbar or receiver and surround sound system. But for a pinch, you may want a decent set of onboard speakers.
Throw ratio: A projector’s throw ratio indicates how far back from the screen the lens needs to be in order to achieve a desired image size. Generally, there are three types of projectors: standard or long-throw projectors, short-throw projectors, and ultra-short throw projectors. The average projector requires roughly 8 to 10 feet of space between the lens and screen to produce a 100-inch or larger image. A short-throw projector necessitates anywhere from 4 to 7 feet to generate a 100-inch image. Then, ultra-short throw projectors require only a few inches to case an over 100-inch image. Projector throw ratio is given as a number, a colon, then another number. The first number represents distance in feet from the projector lens to the screen, while the number after the color shows one foot of screen real estate. For instance, you may find a projector with a 1.5:1 throw ratio. This means that for a 10-foot or 120-inch screen, the projector’s lens needs to be 15-feet back from the screen. The smaller the first number, the closer you can place your projector to the screen while still enjoying a big picture.
What to look for when buying a projector for gaming:
- Brightness
- Input lag
- Resolution
- HDR support
- Connectivity
- Image adjustments
- Picture quality
- Audio quality
- Price
- Throw ratio
Best Native 4K Projector – Best True 4K Projectors Without Pixel-shifting
Although there are plenty of good 4K projectors that utilize pixel-shifting to show a full 8 million pixels, hardcore cinephiles will benefit from top-nothc picture quality and sharpness with a native 4K projector that doesn’t rely on pixel-shifting. The JVC DLA-NX7 is the best overall true 4K projector on the market, with the Sony VPL-VW715ES as a close second. JVC’s DLA-NX5 is a solid projector with a 4K chip that will save you a few thousand over its NX7 older sibling, while the Sony VPL-VW325ES is the cheapest native 4K projector sans pixel-shifting that you can find.
Your turn: Which 4K projector are you using in your home theatre?
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