CompareForgeProjector Comparison
Compare two or three projectors across image, placement, inputs and light source — with brightness and contrast shown in the measurement method each manufacturer used, because those methods are not interchangeable.
Compare Projectors Side by Side
Choose up to three verified projector records. Brightness and contrast are printed exactly as the manufacturer states them, together with the standard used where one is stated — ANSI, ISO 21118 and IDMS figures are not the same measurement. Light-source life is a manufacturer figure that depends on the mode selected.
Compare Projectors side by side
4 verified projectors records · up to 3 at a time · every value carries a source.
Selected for comparison (2/3)
- BenQ TK705STi
- Optoma UHD55
| Specification | BenQ TK705STi | Optoma UHD55 |
|---|---|---|
| Image | ||
| Native resolution | 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) | UHD (3840 x 2160) |
| Projection technology | DLP | DLP |
| Brightnessin lumensMeasurement standards differ (ANSI, ISO 21118, IDMS). Values are not interchangeable. | 3000 lumens | 3600 lumens |
| Brightness as published | 3000 ANSI lumens | 3600 lumens (measurement standard not stated on the page) |
| Contrast as publishedContrast ratios are measured differently between manufacturers and are not directly comparable. | 600,000:1 (FOFO) | 1,200,000:1 (dynamic) |
| Placement | ||
| Throw ratio | 0.8 | 1.21:1 to 1.59:1 |
| Projection size | Not verified | 34.1" to 302.4" diagonal |
| Refresh rate | 23-60 Hz vertical scan rate | 240 Hz at 1080p; vertical scan rate 24 to 120 Hz |
| Sources and media | ||
| HDR | Not verified | HDR10, HLG |
| Inputs | 2x HDMI (HDCP 2.2), USB-A x2, USB-C (DisplayPort / PD out / reader), 12 V trigger | 2x HDMI 2.0, VGA (YPbPr/RGB), 3.5 mm audio |
| Built-in speakers | Yes | Yes |
| Build | ||
| Dimensions | 229.2 x 168.2 x 249.7 mm (W x H x D) | 315 x 270 x 118 mm (W x D x H) |
| Weightin kg | 3.8 kg | 3.9 kg |
| Light source | ||
| Light source | 4LED | Lamp |
| Light source lifeManufacturer figures depend on the mode selected and are not a warranty of image quality. | Normal 20,000 h, ECO 30,000 h | 4,000 h (Bright), 15,000 h (Dynamic), 10,000 h (Eco) |
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Rows you add appear as “Your own rows” in the table above and are filled in by you. Nothing is stored or transmitted — the table is computed in your browser. CompareForge does not invent specifications you have not provided.
What to Compare in a Projector
Projector specifications divide into the image it makes, the room it fits into, and how long the light source lasts. The fields below follow that order.
Native resolution
The pixel count the panel or chip actually displays, as distinct from any upscaling the set performs. Native resolution decides the sharpness of the image at a given screen size, and the wording matters: “4K display technology” and “4K UHD native” are not the same claim.
Brightness
Light output in lumens, with the measurement method where the manufacturer states one. ANSI lumens, ISO 21118 and IDMS measure different things under different conditions, so a figure from one method is not directly comparable with a figure from another. Ambient light and screen size decide how much you actually need.
Contrast
The ratio between the brightest and darkest image, as published. Contrast figures are measured differently between manufacturers — full-on/full-off, dynamic and sequential methods produce very different numbers from the same projector. Compare the method alongside the value, and treat the row as informative rather than decisive.
Throw ratio and projection size
How far back the projector must sit for a given image width, and the diagonal sizes it can produce. This is the placement decision: a short-throw unit can fill a large image from a few tens of centimetres, which changes where furniture can live far more than the resolution does.
Inputs
The connector list and versions — HDMI generation, HDCP support, USB, audio out and any control ports. HDMI version determines the resolutions and refresh rates it can carry, and eARC matters if the projector is feeding a soundbar.
Light source and life
LED, laser or lamp, and the hours the manufacturer states for each operating mode. Lamp figures are usually quoted separately for normal and eco modes; LED and laser sources last far longer but are still quoted as a mode-dependent figure. Brightness, colour behaviour and life trade against each other across the three.
Dimensions and weight
Chassis measurements and weight. Whether the projector is ceiling-mounted, shelf-mounted or carried between rooms decides how much this matters, and a ceiling install also needs the mount and cable run planned around the throw ratio.
What Matters When Comparing Projectors
A projector is decided by the room before it is decided by the specification sheet. These four checks establish the constraints, then the table resolves the rest.
Room light decides brightness
Measure the ambient light and the screen size you can install. Those two facts set the light output you need, and no specification compensates for a room the projector cannot overcome.
Distance decides throw ratio
Measure where the projector can physically sit relative to the screen. Throw ratio turns that measurement into the image size you will get, and it eliminates more models than resolution does.
Source format decides resolution and inputs
Check what you will feed it — console, player, laptop — and confirm the HDMI version and supported formats carry that signal at the resolution and refresh rate you want.
Light source decides the maintenance
Lamps are replaced; LED and laser sources are effectively sealed for the life of the unit. Compare the stated life together with the brightness figure, because the two are set against each other.
How to Use the Projector Comparison Tool
- 1Select two or three projectors from the record list.
- 2Measure the throw distance first and read the throw ratio row against it.
- 3Read brightness together with the measurement method noted under the row.
- 4Turn on “Differences only” to see where the selected projectors diverge.
- 5Check the inputs row against the sources you intend to connect.
- 6Read light-source life alongside the mode it applies to, then open the source under any row you act on.
Why Brightness and Contrast Figures Are Hard to Compare
Two projectors can both publish a lumens figure and be describing different measurements. ANSI lumens are taken across a checkerboard across the screen; ISO 21118 specifies its own procedure and tolerance; IDMS methods are used for colour brightness among others. The numbers look alike and are not the same measurement, which is why this page prints the method alongside the value wherever the manufacturer states one.
Contrast is worse. Full-on/full-off contrast, dynamic contrast and sequential measurements can differ by an order of magnitude on the same hardware. A longer list of contrast ratios is not evidence of a better image, and a page that sorted projectors by that number would be ranking measurement methods.
The practical reading is to take the method first, the number second, and the room third. Ambient light dominates both figures in a lit room, which is why we do not publish a brightness recommendation — it depends on screen size and room light that the table cannot see.
Planning Where a Projector Will Live
Start with geometry. Measure the distance from where the projector can sit to where the screen can be, then read the throw ratio row: it converts that distance into an image width. A projector that produces the right image from a shelf behind the sofa and one that needs three metres of ceiling are different installations even if their specifications are otherwise identical.
Then the light. Note the ambient light at the time you will actually watch — a room that is dark in the evening and bright in the afternoon is two different environments — and pair it with the screen size to judge how much light output matters.
Then the source list. Confirm the HDMI version carries your console or player at the resolution and refresh rate you intend, and whether audio return is needed for your sound system.
Finally the maintenance question. Lamp projectors need a replacement eventually and dim gradually; laser and LED units mostly do not. Read the stated life together with the operating mode it applies to rather than as a single headline number.
About product data on this page
Every value in this table was transcribed from the manufacturer or database page linked under each column and checked on 1 October 2026. The table covers 4 records — it is a sample, not a complete market list. A blank cell means the source did not publish that figure; it is shown as "Not verified" rather than filled with an estimate. CompareForge runs no lab tests, publishes no benchmark scores and no prices.
What a database-driven comparison looks like: Phone Comparison. Browse every published record on the product database, or read how we decide what to publish on the methodology page.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I compare two projectors?
Select both above, then work in this order: throw ratio against your available distance, brightness together with its measurement method, native resolution, inputs, and light-source type and life. “Differences only” shows just the rows where they differ.
How bright a projector do I need?
It depends on screen size and ambient light, both of which we cannot see, so we do not publish a recommendation. Read the lumens row together with the measurement method stated under it, then judge it against your own room.
Are all lumens figures the same measurement?
No. ANSI lumens, ISO 21118 and IDMS procedures measure differently and produce numbers that are not directly comparable. This page prints the method alongside the figure wherever the manufacturer states one, and leaves the row as “Not verified” where none is stated.
Lamp, laser or LED — which light source should I choose?
Lamps are usually cheaper and replaceable; laser and LED sources last far longer with less maintenance. Compare the light-source row together with brightness and the stated life for the mode you would run.
Do you publish projector reviews or image quality tests?
No. CompareForge does not measure image quality, brightness or noise, and does not assign scores. We compare published specifications, state the measurement method where one is given, and cite the page each value came from.
Does CompareForge have projector records?
Yes — a small number of records, each transcribed from the manufacturer page linked under its column. Fields the source did not publish appear as “Not verified” rather than an estimate.
Methodology
Every value in the table above was transcribed from the page linked under each column and carries that page's access date. Fields the source did not publish are left as "Not verified" rather than estimated. CompareForge runs no lab tests, publishes no benchmark scores, no prices and no rankings without a stated method. Read the full methodology →