TVs have gotten bigger and cheaper in recent years, but they still can’t quite match the theater-like experience that comes with a solid projector. Right now, XGIMI projectors are deeply discounted at Amazon. Models include everything from portable 1080p units for impromptu outdoor movie nights to high-end 4K projectors ready to help you see Shrek like you’ve never seen him before. These deals run through 5/12, so maybe splurge and get Mom something really amazing this year for Mother’s Day.

XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro 1080P Portable Projector $399 (with coupon, was $599)

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This compact projector weighs less than 2.5 pounds, but it includes a ton of advanced features that make it a stand-alone portable theater. A pair of surprisingly powerful speakers augment the 400-lumen light output, which is plenty bright for an interior space or an outdoor nighttime feature. The Android TV operating system includes built-in Chromecast functionality, so you can easily stream content from your phone to the projector. If you want to connect your playback device with a cable, this pint-sized projector offers several USB ports (including USB-C and USB-A), as well as an HDMI, and Wi-Fi for streaming. It doesn’t have a built-in battery, but you can power it off a 65w portable charger if you want to project on the go—like when you take the one you bought yourself over to your mother’s house. She misses you. You should call.

More XGIMI projector deals:

• XGIMI MoGo 2 Portable Projector, Mini Projector with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth $299 (was $399)
• XGIMI Halo+ 1080P Portable Projector, 700 ISO Lumens with Harman Kardon Speakers $649 (was $849)
• XGIMI HORIZON 1080p FHD Projector 4K Supported Movie Projector, 1500 ISO Lumens $699 (was $999)
• XGIMI Horizon Pro 4K Projector, 1500 ISO Lumens, Android TV 10.0 Movie Projector with Integrated Harman Kardon Speakers $999 (was $1,699)
• XGIMI HORIZON Ultra 4K Projector – 100″ + Dolby Vision, Dual Light, ISA 3.0, 2300 ISO Lumens $1,599 (was $1,699)

The post Upgrade Mom’s movie experience with these deep discounts on XGIMI projectors appeared first on Popular Science.

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My living room isn’t well-suited for testing OLED TVs. There’s a pair of large windows off to the side of the viewing area, and when they’re not busy leaking, they’re letting in enough ambient light to wash out a typical OLED. This type of TV excels in contrast and color reproduction but can only pump out comparatively paltry max brightness levels. That makes even a moderately bright room a no-go. And let’s be honest, that’s what most of us have. So, instead of appealing just to people with perfectly treated home theaters, Samsung aimed to fix that issue with its new S95D QD-OLED TV. And after a few weeks spent watching content and gaming to the best of my very pathetic abilities, I can confirm it as a huge success. The S95D’s defining feature may have caused some controversy in the hardcore AV world (more on that later), but it’s easily one of the best TVs I’ve ever seen.

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Specs

• Resolution: 4K
• Refresh rate: 144Hz
• Sizes: 55”, 65”, and 77”
• OS: Tizen
• HDMI ports: Four HDMI 2.1 ports
• Wireless: Wi-Fi 5
• Bluetooth: BT5.2
• Processor: NQ4 AI Gen2 Processor

Pros

• Excellent color accuracy and contrast, as you’d expect from OLED
• Exceptional brightness thanks to Quantum Dot tech
• Anti-glare coating works phenomenally
• Ports and connectors live on a box connected to the display by a single wire for flexible installation
• Built-in speakers provide clear, crisp audio that makes dialog easy to hear (credit to Samsung processing)
• Low input lag
• Responsive operating system

Cons

• Anti-glare tech comes with very slight compromises in terms of pure picture quality
• While the speakers provide excellent clarity, they’re not overly powerful

Verdict: Just about every OLED TV looks phenomenal in the dark, but the S95D’s ability to shine (literally) in a room full of ambient light makes it one of the most impressive pieces of TV technology to come around in years. 

How I tested the Samsung S95D QD-OLED TV

I have been writing about and reviewing TVs for roughly two decades for outlets including this one, Men’s Journal, Sound & Vision, AOL, and others. For this test, I placed the Samsung S95D QD-OLED TV directly in front of my typical TV to get a true real-world experience. I played regular Blu-rays, 4K Blu-rays, and games through a PlayStation 5. I also connected the TV to my Wi-Fi router and compared content through the native Samsung apps with the most recent Apple TV 4K (my preferred hardware for streaming media). 

We do some scientific testing on equipment like this, but we don’t publicly post the results because we don’t control the environment in a way to capture publishable results. I use a Datacolor Spyder X Pro device to measure brightness and color accuracy as a reference for our internal testing. Other sites provide excellent test results from labs, but that information doesn’t always reflect the real-world experience that comes from watching a TV.

The Samsung S95D’s picture quality

There’s a lot about the ultra-slim S95D that’s impressive and we’ll get into the build below, but we’re here first and foremost for the panel’s picture quality. If you’re spending the extra money for an OLED, it’s for the on-screen image. 

Brightness

Brighter isn’t always better. Even casual TV snobs know this fact. But, the S95D changes the math on that old rule. The first time I turned on our review unit, I couldn’t believe how much light it put out. I was standing in my sunny living room at two in the afternoon, and this OLED display was blasting over the ambient light without hesitation. The S95D is noticeably brighter than its predecessor or really any OLED TV I’ve ever seen. It’s brighter than the middle-of-the-road LG TV I bought on Black Friday a few years ago to use between TV reviews. The S95D is just plain bright and truly improves its overall performance. 

In addition to the increased light output, the S95D is the first TV non-Frame-series TV to get the full anti-glare treatment, which was a standout feature in our first impressions and remains one now that we’ve gotten to try the TV outside of an impromptu showroom setting. As a result, the screen has a more matte appearance than its glossy ancestors and competition—in the high-end printing world, I’d call this a pearl finish. Even with the TV off, it’s apparent just how well the surface resists reflections. Even bright objects, which would typically render as a sharp reflection on a glossy screen, wash out to a dull, nebulous blob. The turtle tank with a UV light that typically occupies a full quarter of my TV screen when it’s turned on? Pretty much gone. I’m impressed. 

Even when a light shines directly onto the surface, the anti-glare surface renders it nearly invisible. This does come at a slight cost. As some other reviewers have noted, the anti-glare makes the perceived black level seem a bit brighter than a glossy screen would. Thus, the controversy mentioned in the intro. But, the benefits will drastically outweigh that tiny complaint for the majority of the TV-watching public. The anti-glare tech seriously changes the OLED game.

Bring on the content

For the early tests, I left the TV in standard mode, which doesn’t quite max out the TV’s light output, but it’s decidedly more luminous than the more subdued movie mode or Filmmaker Mode. All the typical OLED benefits shine through immediately. I popped in a Blu-ray of Venom: Let There Be Carnage, which isn’t a great film, but it’s a meat grind of a test for just about any TV. Its extremely high contrast, fast motion, and vivid colors quickly expose a TV’s shortcomings. The S95D handled it all with aplomb. 

I like Filmmaker Mode, which is designed to depict the movie as the creators intended. But it’s typically only usable in very dark situations. I still preferred standard, or maybe movie mode for viewing content while the sun was up, but Filmmaker Mode was still totally viable. You can be a snob at any time of day.

I put on the first Timothée Chalamet Dune movie out of pure curiosity. In a dark room with standard mode turned on, the jarring dark-to-bright transitions from dingy interiors to blazing desert scenery were enough to make me wince, literally. That’s the kind of impact I like to see. 

Those transitions are also a great test for a TV like this. Going from bright to dark doesn’t leave any lingering brightness. Bright don’t bleed into dark areas next to them (a phenomenon called blooming) to ruin the overall clarity of the image. 

A little help from AI

You can’t get away from AI in the gadget world and this TV is no exception. The S95D comes toting Samsung’s latest image processing chip, which puts a heavy emphasis on AI. Multiple neural networks analyze every single image and frame to emphasize subjects, upscale the picture, and improve audio performance.

Even as a TV reviewer, I still watch streamed content more than pristine 4K Blu-rays. I imagine you’re the same way. Luckily, my review unit arrived just as the new Fallout series premiered on Amazon Prime. Like Dune, the post-apocalyptic series jumps freely between dingy underground silos and sun-blasted desert landscapes. The S95D, once again, excelled. The deep blacks retain tons of detail, though just slightly less than a high-end Mini-LED (like Samsung’s own QN900/D). But the inkiest blacks are why you go OLED. You want that contrast, and the S95D dishes it out in spades. The streamed image looked excellent. I again found myself defaulting to standard picture mode because it feels like it uses more of the panel’s dynamic range without losing anything. 

When it comes to 4K upscaling, the S95D does a great job across the board. The final result will vary depending on the bitrate and quality of the original content (don’t even try to watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer on Amazon Prime because no amount of AI can save that mess) but don’t expect extra artifacts or other upscaling nastiness to become apparent very often if at all. 

Gaming performance

Several features apply specifically to gaming performance, including the maximum 144Hz effective refresh rate. For this test, I jumped into Helldivers 2 on the PS5. While it’s not the pinnacle of graphical achievements in terms of gaming, it is a challenging title thanks to tons of fast-moving on-screen objects and shadowy environments. 

Input lag is nearly non-existent, essential if you want a good gaming TV. Response times are also miniscule, which fares well for fast on-screen action. I died—a lot—during the test session, but I looked great doing it. The TV will automatically enable game mode when you start gaming, and you’re best served to leave it be once it makes the switch. That’s how it unlocks game-specific features like the maximum refresh rate and the lowest possible input lag.

The Samsung S95D’s sound

While OLEDs often excel in terms of picture quality, their super-thin panels don’t leave much room for audio firepower. Samsung made hay with the space it had in the S95D, packing a total of eight circular speakers onto the back of the display. They won’t blow you away with power, especially on the low end, but Samsung has emphasized its strengths, which are clarity and understandability. The AI-powered chip enables Dolby Atmos compatibility and localized audio, which creates a discernible directional audio effect depending on which on-screen object is making noise. You can hear a spaceship zoom across the screen. It’s not nearly as pronounced as with a true surround sound system, but it’s noticeable and appreciated. 

Even cranked to max volume, the speakers don’t offer much in terms of crackle or distortion. The voice clarification tech really does make a difference, though, which is handy for people like me who have trouble hearing words through ambient noise. 

Overall, the sound performance is solid, but with a TV this nice, you’re doing yourself a disservice by not adding a more powerful stand-alone system to the mix. [Related: Look for our review of Samsung’s new flagship wireless soundbar system, the HW-Q990D, coming very soon.]

The Samsung S95D’s design and setup

Another impressive aspect of the S95D is that this deep feature set fits in a strikingly shallow enclosure thanks to thoughtful design decisions. As a high-end TV, Samsung didn’t skimp on the S95D’s build quality. The panel connects via a single wire to a compact interface containing all the necessary ports and connections. The “One Connect Box” is about the size of a stand-alone DVD player and can sit horizontally or wall mount vertically. I chose to use the included stand instead of putting the display on a mount, though I could have easily mounted it thanks to VESA compatibility. The bezel is skinny. The panel is flat. The external I/O box is a nice touch. The setup and build quality really didn’t give me anything to complain about. 

I can’t say quite the same thing about the remote. I love that the Samsung remote charges via the onboard solar panel, but I still find the layout annoying. The flat rocker buttons for channel and volume changes aren’t designed for my clumsy hands. The remote is also tiny and somewhat non-descript, so it’s easy to lose it in a pile of other remotes (though that may only be a problem if you’re also a reviewer with too many remote-controlled devices).

So, who should buy the Samsung S95D?

If you’ve been craving the contrast and color accuracy that comes with OLED but are worried your space is too bright, then your worries are over. The extra brightness and the very impressive anti-reflective coating have truly changed the game. With help from Samsung’s new AI-powered image processor, the S95D QD-OLED creates one of the best viewing experiences of any TV I’ve tested.

The post Samsung S95D QD-OLED TV review: Stunning in any setting appeared first on Popular Science.

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Sony launched its new TV and soundbar lineup April 17 with the tagline “Cinema is coming home.” But a month earlier, they invited me to travel far from home—from the East Coast to Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, Calif.—for a behind-the-screens preview of the philosophy and technology that went into the 2024 models. 

Ecto-1. Johnny 5. BRAVIA 9. Our two-day tour of the lot showcased applied science of the past and present. Movie props and filmmakers giving Sony engineers props. Classic characters and new naming conventions. I found myself in JEOPARDY! and on a holodeck. It was a soup-to-nuts, lens-to-living room look at mastering monitors, home theater setups, and the push to narrow the gap between creators and consumers.

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Seeing what we’re not seeing  

Sony’s new TVs include four models and two important acronyms: BRAVIA and HDR. The “Best Resolution Audio Visual Integrated Architecture” brand has been part of Sony’s televisions for almost 20 years but is now the unifying label for the BRAVIA 3, 7, 8, and 9 screens, as well as the BRAVIA Theater Bar 8 and Theater Bar 9. For anyone used to Sony’s sets like the X95L, X90L, etc., X no longer marks the spot except on the SKU. (The A80L is also gone—no more separate LED and OLED series—but that didn’t fit the last sentence’s wordplay as well.) 

The BRAVIA 9 is now the Mini-LED flagship, with the most expanded, authentic contrast, while the BRAVIA 8 is a 4K OLED alternative. The BRAVIA 7 is a premium but more approachable 4K Mini-LED, while the BRAVIA 3 is an entry-level 4K 60Hz Direct LED. Is making shopping simpler versus the previous system the rename of the game? Debatable, and it doesn’t help that the flagship A95L will remain on the market. At the very least, the new monikers make it clear that the BRAVIA 9 is the set Sony considers the true peak of this year’s innovations—peak brightness particularly.

On to that second acronym. The ability to turn off every diode independently allows OLED screens unbeatable black levels and contrast, given a low-light environment to show its best. But when it comes to HDR, or High Dynamic Range, the peak brightness levels achievable by a Mini-LED screen allow for more control over fine highlights and luminance that can stand up to rooms with more natural light. 

Sony’s brightest 4K TV to date (50% brighter with 325% more dimming zones), the BRAVIA 9’s High Peak Luminance sets out to narrow the gap with OLED’s pixel-level control while improving the ability to perform accurately wherever people want (or need) to set up their TV, not just in an optimized home theater or demo den. Sony hosted its product reveal throughout the studio lot, and invited directors and cinematographers to speak to us, to reinforce the part the company plays in every stage of the cinema signal chain—from professional Venice cameras used in aircraft on Top Gun: Maverick to Gran Turismo’s object-based sound design to color-grading monitors. And it’s Sony’s belief in the ability of HDR to preserve the detail and intent of every frame that explains why the first, foundational screen we saw was one none of us will ever buy.

Shining a light on backlighting

The HX3110 is an if-you-have-to-ask-you-can’t-afford-it 31-inch 4K reference monitor with a dual-layer LCD panel capable of color grading up to 4,000 nits. To date, most films are mastered to 1,000 nits because of the limitations of previous monitors. With the NX3110, even the smallest highlights can be displayed without clipping, and 2,000/1,000 nits settings allow filmmakers to ensure details translate to any current display scenarios. And the gradients on display were compelling. But it’s that 4,000 nits future that informed the development of the BRAVIA 9’s local dimming and backlight processing. 

Handing out sunglasses, our hosts had us turn to the other side of the darkened room, draped in blackout curtains. On one table was a BRAVIA 9 without its LCD panel, with an intact TV on the floor in front of it. To the side were two sets from a competitor in an identical arrangement [see image below]. Can the BRAVIA 9 reach the brightness levels or shading of a tens of thousands of dollars professional monitor without clipping? No, but it did demo the response time and object recognition of the “XR Backlight Master Drive” and newly developed IC [LED Driver] system [see above], as well as show off the color volume and specular highlights, which emulated some of the HX3110’s vivid reproduction admirably. The naked backlight, well, illuminated the level of definition 22-bit channel control can produce. And a granular grasp of each component and current also means 20% less power consumption, according to Sony.

This will also come into play in one of Sony’s new partnerships. The BRAVIA 7, 8, and 9 will all feature Prime Video Calibrated Mode—announced at the event by BA Winston, VP, Technology, Amazon Prime Video. A Sony-exclusive feature (at least initially), this algorithm auto-adjusts picture settings for the content streaming (movies, TV, live sports, etc.), screen type, and the light conditions in the room. (Prime Video joins similar processing for Netflix and the Sony Pictures Core app.) IMAX Enhanced, Dolby Vision, HLG, and HDR10 support—plus 4K 120Hz, VRR, ALLM, Auto Tone Mapping, and other “Perfect for PS5” features for gamers—make sure all the picture mode boxes are checked. 4K X-Reality PRO, XR Clear Image, XR Triluminos PRO, XR Motion Clarity (120Hz native refresh rate), and X-Wide Angle with X-Anti-Reflection underlie upscaling, color mapping, etc.

As for the BRAVIA 8 OLED, it’s 10% brighter while being 30% slimmer than 2023’s A80L. The BRAVIA 7 is 790% brighter than last year’s full-array LED X90L but lacks the flagship’s precise lighting and peak management. It’s the BRAVIA 9 that’s an upgrade from every angle—including the viewing angle, which exhibited low off-axis desaturation. I look forward to testing one to bring all the shadowy details into the light.

Elevating more than brightness

Obviously, Sony believes Mini-LED has a … bright future. But what’s cinema without being equally saturated in sound? Whereas the BRAVIA 9 operates under a mantra of more is more, the BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 makes a statement that less isn’t less. The 2024 soundbar, which replaces the HT-A7000 [a Dolby Atmos soundbar that impressed our reviewer], is 36% smaller with no decrease in capability thanks to its 13-driver array and 360 Spatial Sound Mapping technology filling in the virtual channels for spatial audio. Integrated with a BRAVIA 9 TV and augmented by wireless SA-RS5 satellite speakers and the SA-SW5 subwoofer, the Theater Bar 9 delivered 7.1.4 channels and plenty of energy. Thanks to AI-powered Voice Zoom 3 and “Acoustic Center Sync,” which uses the BRAVIA 9 as the center channel (and the TV now has up-firing Beam Tweeters and Frame Tweeters), dialog stayed anchored and audible even as action swelled. The demo was dynamic, despite the challenges of being in an acoustically treated recording studio full of irregular surfaces. (The Theater Bar 8 offers similar soundfield features but with 11 drivers within a slimmer, less powerful footprint.)

The real surprise was the BRAVIA Theater Quad system, which maximizes minimalism with four fabric-wrapped panel-like powered speakers with four drivers each (tweeter, mid, woofer, and up-firing). The wireless speakers self-calibrate to adjust volume and create 16 phantom channels based on their placement (and they’re purpose-built to be wall-mount friendly but also stand-suitable). They’re also wireless subwoofer compatible. Flanking a BRAVIA 9 hung a touch above eye/ear level, with the other two Quad components behind the sitting area, the Theater Quad system delivered an even more immersive experience than the Theater Bar 9, with audible overhead effects. Flexible positioning plus fluid sound? Yes, thank you. Speakers that stand out by blending in are so hot right now.

There was one last stop on our tour of Sony Pictures and Sony products, and that was to Pixomondo—a virtual production company/LED soundstage. Combining a modular wall of 1,400 display panels with infrared motion-tracking cameras to render perspective changes in real-time, Pixomondo allows directors to film free-flowing action in virtual environments (like, say, a starship). It also allows journalists to take pictures of the TVs and soundbars staged in multiple suites of varying moods, all without leaving one space [as shown below]. Placed against a towering crescent of monitors, the new BRAVIA setups were visually eclipsed yet still stood out. Colorful screensavers cranked, it was quite the contrast(s) … talk about heightening the experience.

BRAVIA TV and soundbar models and prices, once available 

BRAVIA 9 Mini LED

• 85″ Class (84.6″ diag): $5,499.99 USD MSRP
• 75″ Class (74.5″ diag): $3,999.99 USD MSRP
• 65″ Class (64.5″ diag): $3,299.99 USD MSRP 

BRAVIA 8 OLED

• 77″ Class (76.7″ diag): $3,899.99 USD MSRP 
• 65″ Class (64.5″ diag): $2,799.99 USD MSRP  
• 55″ Class (54.6″ diag): $1,999.99 USD MSRP 

BRAVIA 7 Mini LED

• 85″ Class (84.6″ diag): $3,499.99 USD MSRP
• 75″ Class (74.5″ diag): $2,799.99 USD MSRP
• 65″ Class (64.5″ diag): $2,299.99 USD MSRP
• 55″ Class (54.6″ diag): $1,899.99 USD MSRP

BRAVIA 3 LED

• 85″ Class (84.6″ diag): $1,799.99 USD MSRP
• 75″ Class (74.5″ diag): $1,299.99 USD MSRP
• 65″ Class (64.5″ diag): $999.99 USD MSRP 
• 55″ Class (54.6″ diag): $849.99 USD MSRP
• 50″ Class (49.5″ diag): $699.99 USD MSRP 
• 43″ Class (42.5″ diag): $599.99 USD MSRP

BRAVIA Theater Quad has a suggested retail price of $2,499.99 USD 

BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 has a suggested retail price of $1,399.99 USD 

BRAVIA Theater Bar 8 has a suggested retail price of $999.99 USD 

BRAVIA Theater U has a suggested retail price of $299.99 USD

The post Sony’s new TVs take Mini-LED to the max: Here’s what you should know appeared first on Popular Science.

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So many choices when it comes to television. It starts with the size and resolution, but there are competing backlight technologies to consider as well. So before you plunk down serious cash, make sure you’re getting the lighting style you want by understanding the differences in QLED vs. OLED vs. Mini-LED.

What is LED?

LED is an acronym for “light-emitting diode.” You likely interact with LED tech in some form multiple times per day, including the screen in your phone, light bulbs, and many other sources of illumination. LEDs are the small elements of a television screen that light up in order to produce an entire image on the screen. 

Basically, when an electrical signal runs through these cells, they emit light, and the television controls the electrical impulses in order to produce the image it wants to show. QLED, OLED, and Mini-LED are all variations of this basic technology, which was used in electronic devices as early as the 1960s and became popular in TV technology thanks to refinement and eventual adoption by Samsung in 2007. 

LED replaced CCFL (cold-cathode fluorescent lighting), which typically illuminated the screen from the edges. Some LED TVs use this edge-lit formation, others have moved on to more sophisticated setups. LED arrays with many points of light behind the screen now offer manufacturers more meticulous control over how each segment of the screen is lit. In some cases, like with OLED, the black areas of the screen can go completely dark to give the picture more contrast and dynamic range.

What is QLED TV?

QLED is a Samsung technology that builds on the typical LCD (liquid crystal display) television with LED backlighting. This is the same tech, many iterations over, which Samsung introduced in 2015. The Q in QLED stands for “Quantum Dot.” They are embedded directly into the stack of materials that make up the LCD display, such as in the flagship Samsung QN90A NEO QLED. When light hits them from the LED backlight, these dots emit their own light to enhance the image on-screen. The goal is to lessen one of the main weaknesses of LED technology, which is the “blooming” effect of brighter parts of an image slightly lighting the areas around the image, and color bleeding. 

While QLED offers some improvement over traditional LED, it doesn’t always mitigate this blooming and the contrasts between light and dark are not as stark as with some other technologies.

What about color?

When it comes to color, QLED is excellent. There is a tremendous amount of color variety available in QLED screens, with good color contrasts. QLED also tends to be cheaper at larger sizes than other backlighting techs, meaning that QLED is the best budget-conscious choice when it comes to a new higher-end TV. QLED also tends to result in screens that can reach a higher level of overall brightness, which may be desirable depending on your screen needs.

If you want to experience this type of screen, a strong budget 4K UHD option is Samsung’s 43-inch TU-8000 series from 2020. This Samsung QLED TV is a very cost-conscious choice that delivers 4K and is great for a dorm room, a child’s room, or as a second/third display. At only $379.99 MSRP, it’s about as cheap as you want to go. But if you’re looking to build a home theater set-up, or care about getting the best picture quality and options, this is not the television for you. QLED TVs can climb into the higher-end, and you can check out our recommendations for some of the best QLED TVs, but they face stiff competition from OLED and now Mini-LED.

What is OLED TV?

OLED is “organic” LED. An OLED consists of organic materials that produce similar effects when current runs through them. But OLED displays work fundamentally differently than typical LED-lit LCDs. 

LCD TVs rely on a backlight to shine through a stack of display materials to create an image. This puts them in a category called transmissive screens. OLEDs, however, are different. OLED screens consist of many tiny diodes that emit their own light, which lands them in a category called emissive displays. When an OLED display wants an area of the screen to show black, it simply turns off the pixels in that area, which creates much darker tones without concern for light bleeding through from brighter surrounding areas.

When it comes to color, OLED can have some lifespan issues. While red and green OLED pixels have a pretty long lifespan (over 45,000 hours), blue OLED pixels tend to have one-third of that lifespan. This means that long-term, an OLED display may have issues with color accuracy as the blues start to die off. Displays inside businesses experience this even more often than sets in homes. Of course, for the average home user, the 15,000-hour lifespan of a blue OLED pixel may never become an issue.

QLED vs. OLED: Other drawbacks

OLEDs are more expensive than QLEDs and are much more difficult to scale at size. The larger an OLED screen gets, the more you end up paying for the tech. OLED qualifies as a more “premium” technology and is featured in high-end products, such as the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. 

Another drawback is power use. OLEDs display dark areas very easily, white or very light images can require up to three times the power that a traditional LED would consume. This often leads to OLED displays being overall more power-hungry.

If you’re going to spring for an OLED TV, you might as well get one of the best OLED TVs available. The king of the current crop of OLEDs is Sony’s Bravia XR A90J Master Series, available in 55-inch, 65-inch, and 83-inch models and one of the best gaming TVs on the market. If you have a PS5 or Xbox Series S/Xbox Series X and can afford to throw down several thousand dollars on a new television, the Sony A90J will get the most out of those high-end consoles. The 55-inch has an MSRP of $2,799.99, 10 inches more will cost you $1,000 more, and the big boy, the 83-inch, runs $7,999.99 MSRP.

Another top-tier option among the best TVs for PS5, etc., is the LG C1, assuming your budget still starts in the multi-thousands. If that price tag turns you off, consider VIZIO’s OLED H1 televisions, available in 55-inch and 65-inch models, which are about almost half the price but don’t offer quite the level of picture. It’s an acceptable compromise for a picture quality that can still be considered stunning.

What is Mini-LED TV?

Mini-LED is similar to QLED, but the backlights get even smaller. These LEDs are so small they can be almost as small as a single pixel. QLEDs are significantly larger than one pixel, while OLEDs are the size of a single pixel. 

Mini-LED represents the halfway point between QLED and OLED, taking the older tech and trying to approximate what the newer tech can do. Mini-LED offers noticeably better than QLED or typical LCD and it may be hard to discern a difference between the contrast on Mini-LED and OLED, as the Mini-LED diodes can get almost to the pixel level. The deep blacks that OLED promises are essentially available with Mini-LED.

You won’t be able to get the same pixel-level control over black levels as you would with OLED, but some Mini-LED TVs promise up to 3,000 backlight zones. It’s likely this difference is barely noticeable to the average consumer. Mini-LED scales to cost at a more expensive clip than QLED, and is essentially the “premium” version of that same base technology, at least for now until it becomes more widespread.

Still accessible

Being the newest technology of the three, you’d think Mini-LED would have the highest price tag, but there’s actually an option that is a “best of both worlds” solution between price and quality. TCL’s 6-series Mini-LED televisions (available in 55-inch, 65-inch, 75-inch, and, at some point, 85-inch variants) offer image quality that far surpasses the expectations for their price. The 55-inch 4K R635 slides in at just under $1,000 MSRP but has all the features even high-end users would look for. While it’s not the best television on the market overall, it may be the best television on the market dollar-for-dollar.

Expect to see some large variations in Mini-LED prices here at the beginning of its run in the TV world as companies try to nail down the sweet spot between price and performance when it comes to determining the number and type of backlight zones.

What does this mean for streaming, movies, and gaming?

Backlight tech is just one of several things to consider when buying a TV. On the whole, OLED and Mini-LED TVs will produce attractive pictures, but there are some variables within the segments. 

Contrast is important for deep black and low levels of light bleed, giving images a much more sharp and film-like image. When it comes to movies, where light is very important to set moods, contrast is extremely important. When looking for the best TVs for gaming, certain genres (like horror games and games inspired by the “Dark Souls” series) really improve with great contrast, as you can get light and show without the “foggy” greys that you’d need to settle for on worse displays.

Brightness will matter depending on how much light pollution you have in your room. Mini-LED can produce a brighter picture than OLED, which comes into play if you get a lot of ambient light on your screen during the day. OLEDs really shine when you can control the environmental illumination. Anyone who buys a high-end screen wants rich colors in everything they watch, but to truly get rich colors you need media with rich colors. OLED excels in this arena, but Mini-LED has made the contest surprisingly close already. 

QLED vs. OLED: What kind of TV technology should I buy?

For now, OLED and Mini-LED are premium technologies that will deliver the kind of images you want with a high-end system. OLED promises slightly better contrast, with the drawback of a possibly shorter lifespan. Mini-LED sits just below in terms of performance, but the technology itself is a little more reliable. In effect, they are both good choices. If you’re looking to get value, I’d recommend the TCL 6-series. If money is no object, go with the A90J Sony OLED.

But before you simply take those recommendations, it’s really going to come down to see for yourself. Even if you plan to buy online, you should visit some stores and look at OLED and Mini-LED displays to determine which one looks better to your eye. Don’t be afraid to ask at the store to fire up some different demos on the screen, so you can get a sense of what different media looks like. While I stand by the suggestions above, a price drop or sale could make the difference, as could an aesthetic that you enjoy more in your room when the television is turned off. Don’t be afraid to sleep on a decision like this, especially if you’re going to shell out a grand or more for the higher-end models.

Keep in mind that TV prices tend to fluctuate a bit more widely than a lot of other electronics, with the best deals coming around Black Friday in late November. Another great time to pick up a television is late January and early February, when the upcoming Super Bowl, combined with stores starting to try to open up shelf space for new models that get released in June.

The future is soon

A new iteration of Mini-LED, called Micro LED, is available on some ultra-high-end models. Micro LED miniaturizes LED technology even further. Micro LED is considered by many to be even better than OLED, but it comes with a price tag that reflects that assessment, with televisions whose MSRPs start to match those of low-end cars.

No matter what technology you choose, know that, eventually, even the most advanced television will not hold that title for long. Today’s high-end is tomorrow’s standard model, and further in the future is a budget model. If you always want the biggest and the best, expect to replace your television within three to five years. That may be a consideration when it comes to how “futureproof” you want your purchase to be.

The post QLED vs. OLED vs. Mini-LED: Understanding TV backlight tech appeared first on Popular Science.

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Lots of companies will give you something free with a purchase, but it’s not often you get a full-on 65-inch 4K TV as a little treat. That’s the deal right now, however, if you pre-order one of Samsung’s new 2024 TV offerings. Pre-order any of the new 2024 Samsung TVs (which we recently got to preview) from 43 inches all the way up to 98 inches and you’ll get a 65-inch UHD Samsung TV for free. This isn’t limited to super-expensive models, either. The 55-inch QN85D is just $1,399 and qualifies for the deal.

Click here to see all the models included in the free 65-inch TV promotion

The free TV in question is a 65-inch Crystal UHD TV that retails for just under $500. While this line doesn’t have any of the fancy Quantum Dot tech that Samsung uses in its higher-end models, it does offer full 4K resolution, the Tizen OS for full smart TV functionality, and oh yeah, it’s free.

Samsung – 43” Class LS03D The Frame Series QLED 4K Smart Tizen TV $999 (Includes free 65-inch TV)

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If you want the cheapest way into the free TV deal, then this is it. You get a 43-inch version of Samsung’s Frame TV, which displays high-res works of art when you’re not streaming content. You can switch out the physical frame around the TV to match your room’s design. Plus, it has one of the most impressive anti-glare coatings we’ve ever seen.

Samsung – 55” Class QN85D Series Neo QLED 4K Smart Tizen TV $1,399 (Includes free 65-inch TV)

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If you don’t want a Frame TV and you’d rather get something with a bigger focus on image quality, then this is your option. It employs Samsung’s high-end Neo QLED backlight tech, which improves both contrast and brightness compared to normal LED-lit displays or even QLED models. It’s a great-looking TV overall and worthy of the main spot in an entertainment system.

Samsung – 55” Class S95D Series OLED 4K Smart Tizen TV $2,599 (includes a free 65-inch TV)

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If you want to go with something high-end, I can recommend the new S95D OLED. It’s brighter than many past OLEDs thanks to Samsung’s backlight tech. Plus, it employs that ridiculously effective anti-glare coating, which helps your content shine through, even when there’s lots of ambient light in the room. It’s a fantastic-looking display and one of the best TVs we’ve seen this year.

The post If you buy a 2024 Samsung TV, you get another 65-inch 4K TV completely free while they last appeared first on Popular Science.

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We recently had the opportunity to spend a day with Samsung’s 2024 TV offerings, as well as its updated HW-990D soundbar and new Music Frame speakers. Overall, the 2024 lineup isn’t a revolution from the 2023 offerings, but the company has placed a clear influence on AI capabilities for features like upscaling and analyzing audio in order to emphasize dialog so it’s easier to hear through ambient noise. 

To test the TVs to the best of our ability, we spent some time streaming content with the built-in Tizen OS smart TV apps, including Netflix and other popular streaming services. We also used 4K Blu-ray copies of Alien and Blade Runner 2049 to test Ultra HD playback. 

Here are some first impressions about the new gear, with more in-depth reviews to come down the line:

S95D OLED 4K TV

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LG has historically dominated the OLED segment of the TV market, but Samsung took a big swing with last year’s S90C. It offered all the poppy contrast and deep black levels you’d expect from an OLED, adding amplified brightness to make it more watchable in a bright room. Now, Samsung has introduced its successor, and it is making even more strides to battle back against bright environments.

The S95D employs an impressive glare-resistant matte coating to reduce reflections that can ruin your watching experience. Glare can be especially problematic for OLEDs since they typically can’t achieve the same brightness levels QLEDs or even typical LEDs provide. During our time with the S95D, we were very impressed with the brightness, color gamut, and anti-reflective properties. Shining a lamp directly at the screen from just a few feet away created a dull blob of illumination rather than a clear image of the lamp or a well-defined specular highlight (a bright light source reflecting directly back at the viewer from within the frame). 

The demo room where we watched the TV had ample ambient light, but we could still clearly make out details in dark scenes from most angles. The Pantone-validated screen predictably excels with the lights off, but the daylight performance was truly impressive. That doesn’t come as too much of a surprise as Samsung has been honing its anti-glare screen tech for years with its design-oriented Frame-series TVs. 

We spent most of the demo watching 4K Blu-ray content in Cinema mode. And while that’s our preferred mode for most content, the overall picture does benefit from a little bit of added brightness. If you’re blacking out your room completely, Cinema mode may be fine, but those dark OLED blacks everyone loves so much can still get a little too black without a little tweaking. 

Overall, we were very impressed with the S95C, and the S95D seems like a very worthy successor. It maintains the gaming-friendly “Motion Xcelerator” 144Hz maximum refresh rate with 2.0ms lag (only available in specific modes); Samsung’s smart TV features; support for HDR10, HDR10+ (adaptive and gaming), and hybrid log gamma (HLG) HDR profiles (but still no Dolby Vision on any Samsung sets); and very fast upscaling thanks to the new NQ4 AI Gen2 Processor. 

It’s available in 55-, 65-, and 77-inch models and is currently up for pre-order.

QN900D Neo QLED 8K TV

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While the OLED TV is flashy, the QN900D 8K TV is Samsung’s true flagship and offers the top-end bells and whistles you’d expect. Samsung is touting its new AI-based upscaling powered by the NQ8 AI Gen3 Processor. Upscaling acumen is crucial in this case since you don’t really have any native options for 8K source material at the moment. You’ll always be upscaling no matter what you watch. 

We got the chance to check out the 65-inch mode, and the 4K Blu-ray content looks spectacular, as you might expect. From an appropriate couch distance (roughly 6 to 8 feet), I don’t think the average person will notice an appreciable difference from a typical 4K display, thanks to the algorithm-based upscaling, motion-tracking (particularly useful for sports), “Motion Xcelerator” 240Hz refresh rate, and Auto HDR (with the same profiles as the S95D). The image is bright, the colors are simultaneously vivid and accurate, and it provides an overall excellent picture. Is it overkill for most people? Sure. But that’s always been part of a flagship experience. 

The panel itself is one of the most impressive parts of the whole experience. All of the HDMI 2.1 ports, etc., reside on a remote box connected by a single wire, which is something Samsung has been doing with many of its high-end TVs for a while now. (The S95D above also has a “One Connect” box.) Thanks to its flexibility, installation is relatively simple. The panel itself is wildly thin with a barely noticeable bezel (Samsung calls it the “Infinity Air Design”). In a darkened room, the image looks like it’s floating. 

Despite its diminutive thickness, this flagship TV provides fairly impressive sound. You’re still going to want a soundbar or some other home audio setup to do justice to the image, but the onboard 6.2.4-channel speaker system does an admirable job right out of the box. The TV supports Dolby Atmos with its built-in sound system. The directional audio is subtle compared to a dedicated system, but it is noticeable if you’re paying attention. The TV tracks objects as they move across the screen and tweaks the sound output to mimic the movement. 

It comes in 65-, 75-, and 85-inch configurations and is currently available for pre-order.

QN90D Neo QLED 4K TV

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This is Samsung’s bread-and-butter QLED 4K TV. It eschews 8K but comes in a wider variety of sizes, including 43, 50, 55, 65, 75, 85, and a massive 98 inches.

The backlight includes Quantum Matrix Mini-LED technology, which allows for hyper-local dimming. It can’t quite reach OLED levels of contrast, but it does offer considerably more brightness, which is crucial if you’re battling lots of ambient light. I did notice that specular highlights sometimes cause a curious red, green, and blue halo effect on the screen. It’s not a problem in most settings, but it’s noticeable if you have a light directly near the TV, especially if you’re off the center axis.

Generally, though, the TV performs excellently. The extra brightness from the Mini-LEDs makes the Filmmaker Mode usable in just about any lighting situation. I still prefer a little bit of added brightness, but if you’re in a pitch-dark room with eyes adjusted to the dark, you can really appreciate the subtlety. 

The QN90D’s processing hardware isn’t as robust as the flagship’s chip, but it doesn’t need to be since it’s not on constant upscaling duties. You do, however, still get the AI-powered features. The voice enhancement tech really does make it easier to understand people when they’re speaking on-screen. And once again, the Dolby Atmos performance provides noticeable directionality without any extra hardware. 

We’re looking forward to spending more time with a review unit, during which we can test it in a wider variety of settings. If you want to try one before we do, every size except the 98-inch is currently available for pre-order.

HW-990D Soundbar

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While Samsung’s TVs have received noticeable upgrades and improvements, the company’s flagship soundbar for 2024 is similar in many ways to the 2023 edition. But that’s not a bad thing. This celebrated Dolby Atmos soundbar’s hefty hexagonal hardware (say that five times fast) still delivers 7.1.2 channels when paired with its wireless subwoofer. And that channel count continues to expand to 11.1.4 when you add in the optional wireless rear satellites with their additional upfiring drivers (the configuration we wholeheartedly recommend).

The soundbar remains 48 inches long (fitting between the width of 55- and 65-inch TVs), 2.7 inches tall, and 5.4 inches deep, so measure your credenza/media stand pre-purchase. Within that 17-pound enclosure are 15 front-facing, side-firing, and top-mounted drivers in total. The sub is relatively slim for its 26 pounds, housing an 8-inch driver with a rear port and a distinctive acoustic lens. The two 7-pound satellites, which each require a power output, share design language with the soundbar’s metal grille. It’s still a Wi-Fi-enabled setup, with AirPlay 2/Chromecast/TIDAL Connect/Spotify Connect for network music streaming, as well as support for Bluetooth 5.2 for less advanced-resolution content. As for the system’s differences, the 990D’s ports are now HDMI 2.1 with 4K 120Hz passthrough and VRR, which is great for gamers. 

Just because the 990D looks the same doesn’t mean it sounds the same, however. Thanks to AI (the buzzword at CES 2024 in January), the 990D has “SpaceFit Sound Pro,” an auto-calibration system that analyzes room surroundings for optimal response based on the layout of soundbar, satellites, and sub. In addition, a new Game Pro mode promises to adapt playback to different game profiles (FPS, racing, RPG, etc.). Oh, and a pro tip: Make sure the TV is set to properly passthrough bitstream audio so that the soundbar can properly decode it (a setting we had to tweak on the demo unit after an initially confusing, underwhelming minute).

We didn’t get any gaming in, but we did cycle through several Dolby Atmos albums (Rage Against the Machine’s self-titled debut was a pummeling highlight), as well as select scenes from Blade Runner 2049. There’s a sequence in the film where cars, flying through a violent storm, crash land at a seawall. Parts of the action take place above and below water, featuring immersive, operatic sound design alternating between claustrophobic and crescendo. Our general takeaway was that the 990D extracted even more intent and impact than the already impressive 990C. Even when the ambiance was meant to be crushing, there was clarity—precise imaging and clear dialogue aided by the Q-Symphony synchronization of sound and on-screen action. The subwoofer, given a thorough workout, never felt overwhelmed. The overall experience was never just a case of everything being louder; it was an ability to make everything feel larger. From flyovers to drum fills, the 990D deftly rendered a sense of spaciousness and dynamic tension.

Sound like something you’d like to hear? The HW-990D is available to purchase now.

The post Samsung 2024 TV and soundbar lineup: First impressions appeared first on Popular Science.

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March Madness is coming to a close, with the men’s tourney tip-off on April 8 and the women’s championship the day before. Maybe your television was a causality in an upset or kicked the bucket at the perfect time. However, not everyone has new TV money or wants to leave their house to watch the game. You can get stunning 4K Hisense TVs for far less than their competitors at Amazon, coming to your house just in time for the final 2024 March Madness games.

Hisense 75-Inch Class U6HF Series ULED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV $629.99 (Was $1,149.99)

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Hisense makes our favorite television for watching sports, the 65-Inch Class U8 Series Mini-LED ULED 4K UHD Google Smart TV. Its almost $1,000 price tag is a steal compared to other models, but $1,000 is still $1,000. The Class U6HF also sports QLED tech and is Alexa-compatible, but comes at a much cheaper price tag. Support for Dolby Vision HDR, HDR10, and HDR10+ lends stunning clarity to movies and television after the March Madness trophy is awarded to the winning team.

More March Madness cheap television deals:

• Hisense 50-Inch Class U6HF Series ULED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV $299.99 (Was $499.99)
• Hisense 65-Inch Class U6HF Series ULED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV $549.99 (Was $749.99)
• Amazon Fire TV 40″ 2-Series HD smart TV $178.99 (Was $249.99)
• INSIGNIA 42-inch Class F20 Series Smart Full HD 1080p Fire TV $149.99 (Was $199.99)
• INSIGNIA 65-inch Class F30 Series LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV with Alexa Voice Remote $329.99 (Was $449.99)
• LG QNED80 Series 75-Inch Class QNED Mini LED Smart TV $1,096.99 (Was $1,496.99)
• LG 75-Inch Class UR9000 Series Alexa Built-in 4K Smart TV $796.99 (Was $899.99)
• Toshiba 50-inch Class C350 Series LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV with Alexa Voice Remote $249.99 (Was $319.99)

The post Save up to 45% on a Hisense 4K TV at Amazon before March Madness ends appeared first on Popular Science.

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Best overall		XGIMI Horizon Ultra		SEE IT	A bright 4K projector with a sound system that’ll cut through noise in the great outdoors.
Best HD		Epson Home Cinema 3800		SEE IT	A 3LCD HD projector that competes with 4K.
Best portable		Dangbei Atom		SEE IT	Ultra-portable and bright for taking the show(s) on the road.

As the weather warms up, outside activities heat up, and outdoor projectors transform the natural world into open-air movie theaters. They feature powerful lamps for use even when the sun hasn’t fully set or the streetlights are on, and they’re light enough to make moving them from your media room to your deck easy on your back. Many projectors suited for outdoor use include features like rechargeable batteries, smart TV operating systems, and robust speakers to help streamline set-up. Most importantly, just like any projector you’d buy for indoor use, they don’t skimp on important image specs, such as color, contrast, and resolution. When you don’t want your cul-de-sac drive-in to become a giant car wreck of a viewing experience, turn to the best outdoor projectors. 

• Best overall: XGIMI Horizon Ultra
• Best HD: Epson Home Cinema 3800
• Best portable: Dangbei Atom
• Best for daylight: Anker Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K Projector
• Best for rooftops: Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12
• Best for streaming: XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro Mini Projector
• Best budget: GooDee Video Projector

How we chose the best outdoor projector

When considering the best outdoor projectors for our recommendations, we relied on our experience with home-theater projectors. Also, we reached out to professionals in the TV and AV worlds to discuss their favorite projector brands and the types of specs they care about when shopping. We read trade journals and websites, sifting through reviews to get the impressions of typical users. We narrowed our selection of projectors down to 10, focusing on image quality. Color, contrast, and resolution were all taken into account. Balanced against these specs were features making the projector most suited to outdoor use, including brightness, portability, and versatility. Price was an important factor, especially regarding “bang for your buck,” though it wasn’t of primary concern when judging the higher-end categories of projectors. 

The best outdoor projectors: Reviews & Recommendations

Shopping for outdoor projectors can be tricky, filled with jargon, numbers, and an endless parade of acronyms. If you want the most out of your home-theater experience, there’s much to learn, especially when hosting a backyard movie night. So read on for guidance in choosing the best outdoor projectors to watch the stars under the stars.

Best overall: XGIMI Horizon Ultra

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Specs

• Brightness: 2,300 ANSI Lumens
• Ports: 2 x HDMI, 2 x USB-A, 1 x Ethernet, 1 x Optical, 1 x AUX
• Weight: 11.24 pounds

Pros

• Stunning video quality
• Surprisingly good audio system
• Snappy user interface

Cons

• No native Netflix
• Can’t run on battery power.

XGIMI’s Horizon Ultra is hands-down the best 4K projector we’ve tested yet, and at 2,300 lumens, it has enough brightness to handle projections in the great outdoors. One of the biggest strengths this projector offers as an outdoor projector is the fact that it’s all in one. It runs an operating system (Android TV) that allows you to stream TV shows and movies from most services (Netflix is conspicuously absent) without plugging in a media streamer. The Horizon Ultra’s processor is also powerful enough to run this operating system without lagging, which is helpful if you’re switching between apps regularly.

This projector has a pair of built-in Harman Kardon speakers loud enough to cut through most ambient outdoor noise and provide a surprisingly good audio experience when watching videos and playing games. It’s also compact and light enough to fit comfortably in a backpack for easy transport. It doesn’t run on battery power, so you’ll need access to a consistent power source, but this won’t be a problem for backyard movie nights. While it’s inessential, we were really pleased with the Horizon Ultra’s overall build quality, from its mesh outer covering to the fact that its remote is made from metal instead of plastic.

From a performance perspective, this projector is hard to beat. The Horizon Ultra continually produced a bright, colorful image even in a room with some light leakage. It won’t be able to compete with bright sunlight, but that’s the case with all projectors. This is the first long-throw model with support for Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG, so it’ll product a clear image regardless of what’s being shown on screen. Automatic keystone correction will keep the screen aligned, whether you’re projecting a 40- or 200-inch screen. XGIMI’s upcoming Horizon Max, announced at CES 2024, offers an IMAX 1.90:1 aspect ratio, more lumens, an updated Intelligent Screen Adaption system, and more immersive sound if you need a larger screen (albeit at a higher price).

Our tests included playing video games like Phantasy Star Second Story R, wherein characters dart across the screen while visual effects pop up constantly. This was no problem for the Horizon Pro’s 18ms latency and 60Hz refresh rate, which handled the task with aplomb. This 4K projector’s color reproduction was fantastic, and shows or games with support for HDR (high dynamic range) look even better. The Horizon Ultra’s speakers, which we mentioned earlier, could decode Dolby and DTS and deliver clear dialogue and deep bass. We never needed to connect external speakers to the projector, which was quite the feat. Our only complaint with this projector remains its lack of native Netflix support, which is a bummer given the ubiquity of the service. If you don’t mind plugging in a media streamer or sideloading apps, this won’t be an issue, so it’s hardly a reason to ding the Horizon Ultra too harshly.

Best HD: Epson Home Cinema 3800

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Why it made the cut: This ultra-bright HD projector delivers a cinema-like picture with brilliant colors and deep blacks even when it’s not completely dark. 

Specs

• Brightness: 3,000 ANSI Lumens
• Contrast Ratio: 100,000:1
• Weight: 15.2 pounds

Pros

• Accurate color
• Can display 4K content using pixel shifting
• Easy-to-adjust settings
• Wide variety of inputs

Cons

• Expensive
• Somewhat heavy

The Epson 3800 projector is an excellent outdoor choice for anyone who doesn’t need native 4K resolution but still wants a large, movie-theater-quality picture. And with a contrast ratio of 100,000:1 and 10-bit HDR color processing, this 3LCD projector will give you deep blacks and bold colors (100% of the RGB color signal) on a screen up to 300 inches from corner to corner. 

What’s more, the 3800 can still deliver a 4K image—sort of. While its native resolution is 1920 x 1080, it uses a technology called pixel shifting to interpolate the missing pixels and fill out a full UHD frame. Is it perfect? No, and at the maximum screen size some loss of sharpness has been reported. But at, say, 150-200 inches, issues become much less noticeable. 

At 14.1 pounds, the projector isn’t as heavy as units meant to live permanently in a media room, but it’s also not a complete lightweight. The same could be said for this smart projector’s $1,700 price tag, which is a bit high for an HD unit. On the other hand, the superb picture quality and ability to play 4K movies without having to down-res them to HD are worth the extra bucks for this high-quality projector. The Epson also features dual HDMI 2.0 ports, dual USB ports, dual 10-watt speakers, and Bluetooth connectivity for easy integration into an external audio environment.

Best portable: Dangbei Atom

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Specs 

• Brightness: 1200 ANSI Lumens
• Contrast Ratio: N/A
• Weight: 2.82 pounds

Pros

• Fantastic color reproduction for its size
• Built-in speakers
• Bright for a compact projector

Cons

• Single HDMI port

We ranked Dangbei’s Atom as the best mini projector, and if you’ve got minimal space for your outdoor home theater setup, it’s the one to get. The Atom comes in at just 1.87 inches thick and under three pounds, which is a technical triumph of engineering given its size. It has a 1200 ANSI Lumen bulb, which is exceptionally bright compared to similarly sized models, supports HDR10, has a pair of built-in stereo 5W speakers that do a surprisingly good job, and a processor capable of running Android TV 10 smoothly. This is one of the few Android TV projectors that supports Netflix, which means you won’t have to plug in a media streamer to get access to the popular video streaming service, further improving its portability.

We tested the Atom by playing video games on the Nintendo Switch. In general, colors looked good and games sounded pretty rich. There wasn’t a discernible amount of latency when playing games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and/or Tears of the Kingdom, which admittedly runs at 30 frames per second. Having said that, a 1080P image projected on a 100-inch screen does look worse than one at 4K. If your outdoor projector needs are more modest, or you’re willing to give up some visual fidelity in the name or portability, this is a fine tradeoff. However, if you stream a lot of 4K content, it may be wise to look elsewhere. Our only technical complaint is that its single HDMI port means you’ll be swapping out components whenever you want to use a different device. Again, this is less of an issue thanks to the Atom’s support of Netflix out of the box.

Given the Atom’s size—it was practically effortless to carry the projector and power cable in one hand from room to room—you can easily take it outdoors or set up and break down your big-screen home-theater setup in a couple of minutes. The Atom is the ideal mini projector for outdoor movie and gaming enthusiasts.

Best for daylight: Anker Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K Projector

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Why it made the cut: This 4K UHD laser projector provides images you can watch in daylight with built-in Android TV, two 10-watt speakers, and a handle that lets you easily transport it.

Specs

• Brightness: 1,840 ANSI Lumens
• Contrast Ratio: 1,500,000:1 dynamic 
• Weight: 10.7 pounds

Pros

• Impressive brightness
• 3840 x 2160 display resolution 
• 4K laser system
• Built-in Android TV

Cons

• Expensive

For those looking to create a cinematic experience in all kinds of light, the Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K Projector can help you do it. The 4K UHD laser projector comes equipped with 1,840 ANSI Lumens and 3840 x 2160 display resolution for a bright and vivid picture even on a sunny day. Outdoor projector setup is easy for this model, which is available in 1080p and 4K versions. The Nebula Cosmos is also designed with intelligent technology that allows it to adapt to the environment for a display of up to 150 inches. This daylight projector also has two 10-watt speakers and two 5-watt tweeters, creating an immersive sound experience. 

The built-in Android 10 TV provides access to more than 400,000 movies and 7,000 apps and streaming services. And it’s designed with an ergonomic handle that lets you easily move it from the living room to the backyard. That said, the lack of battery and corded electric power will be a factor in the settings in which you can use this projector.

Best for rooftops: Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12

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Why it made the cut: This small and light projector is easy to lug up a few flights of stairs, but it comes in heavy with its picture quality and built-in Android TV. 

Specs

• Brightness: 1,000 ANSI Lumens
• Contrast Ratio: 200,000:1
• Weight: 4.7 pounds

Pros

• Native 1080p resolution
• Supports 4K media (down-converted to HD)
• 3-chip LCD avoids rainbow artifacts
• Built-in Android TV
• Excellent speakers

Cons

• No 3D support
• Could be brighter

Movies on the rooftop in the summer—what could be more fun? The EpiqVision Mini EF12 is small and light enough to perch on even the highest roof and delivers a gorgeous 1080p picture once you’re there. The integrated Android TV means you don’t have to go back downstairs to grab a Blu-ray player, and the built-in 5-watt Yamaha stereo speakers save you a trip for extra audio. The 1,000-lumen MicroLaser light source is bright enough for a 140-inch outdoor projector screen if it’s really dark out. Still, it’s more reasonable to expect 80 inches on most neighborhood rooftops awash in light pollution. Thanks to the projector’s 200,000:1 contrast ratio, colors are nicely saturated, and shadow details pop. Three-chip LCD technology displays 100 percent of the RGB color range. Besides the built-in streaming functions, the EpiqVision Mini also has two HDMI inputs for external players. 

Best for streaming: XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro Mini Projector

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Why it made the cut: This lightweight mini projector is Full HD (1080p), has Android TV 11 built-in, and can work with Netflix.

Specs

• Brightness: 400 ISO lumens
• Contrast Ratio: Not available
• Weight: 4.6 pounds

Pros

• Full HD (1080p)
• Android TV 11 built-in
• Lightweight

Cons

• Doesn’t provide as much brightness as other models

The XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro Mini Projector makes it easy to stream your favorites. This mini projector comes internet-ready with Android TV 11 built-in, providing quick access to over 5,000 apps, including Paramount+ and HBO Max (and you can use a streaming device or contact customer service to watch Netflix.) At 4.6 pounds, this wireless projector is designed for portability and just requires two AAA batteries (we recommend rechargeables) to operate. 

The MoGo Pro 2 supports HDR 10 and features intelligent screen adaption technology that automatically adjust to the viewing space. It’s also 3D-ready. And its two 8-watt speakers work with Dolby Audio for quality sound. That said, it’s not as bright as some other models.

Best budget: GooDee Video Projector

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Why it made the cut: Despite some flaws, this projector impressed with its 1080p native resolution and a wide variety of inputs—all for about a 10th of the cost of our top picks.

Specs

• Brightness: 300 ANSI lumens
• Contrast Ratio: 3,000:1
• Weight: 5 pounds

Pros

• True HD resolution
• Dual 3-watt speakers
• Incredibly inexpensive

Cons

• No control for display size
• Hard to adjust the unit height
• No wireless connectivity

The most recent upgrade to the GooDee projector raises the native resolution from 1280 x 768 to full 1080p, a welcome upgrade that improves picture sharpness. A 300-lumen LED doesn’t provide the most light, but the projector can still create a 200-inch picture with respectable color and contrast—thanks in part to a 3,000:1 contrast ratio. It won’t win any awards for the picture quality, but considering that all this is delivered for less than $200, it’s an impressive device.

Expect some compromises at this price when purchasing a budget-friendly projector, however. For one thing, the projector doesn’t perform well with ambient light; wait until the sun is truly down before starting your movie. It also suffers from a dearth of adjustment controls. For instance, you’ll need to move the projector closer or farther from the screen to make the picture bigger or smaller. But the wealth of connectivity and dual 3-watt speakers add to the convenience and value.

What to consider when shopping for the best outdoor projectors

Projectors shine light on a surface that reflects the light back to our eyes. That means using a projector with a plain, white wall isn’t going to deliver the best picture because too much light gets absorbed by the paint. For the optimal viewing experience, you need to buy a screen—which can run from around $25 to a little over $130, depending on sizes, stands, and accessories. These have reflective surfaces that increase perceived brightness, contrast, and color saturation—all of which our top picks for best outdoor projectors deliver. 

Luminosity

Brightness, measured in ANSI lumens, is one of the most important specs for an outdoor projector. This describes how much light the projector creates. The more light, the bigger and brighter the picture. It also determines how dark a space needs to be for the best projector performance. Since outdoor projectors can’t take advantage of blackout curtains to fight ambient light from a full moon or from inside your neighbor’s home, putting out as much light as possible has distinct benefits. High-end projectors have brightness ratings of 2400 lumens or more, while less-expensive machines deliver somewhat less. While manufacturer claims don’t always match independent testing, the numbers are useful for making general comparisons—a 3,000-lumen projector will be about three times brighter than a 1,000-lumen one. Remember, you can’t ever go wrong with more light, but brightness isn’t the only specification that matters when selecting a projector. 

Let there be light

Images are created by focusing a light source onto a chip, and that image is then sent through a lens to your screen. Light sources come in three varieties: Lasers, LEDs, and Ultra High Pressure (UHP) lamps. UHPs are most common in mid-range and higher-end projectors and are essentially high-end light bulbs. Yes, they’re bright, but they also generate a lot of heat and, over time, can burn out. Replacements aren’t cheap, though you won’t have to swap out UHPs anywhere near as often as you might have replaced the old incandescent bulbs in your hallway. LEDs and lasers are far more efficient than UHPs, but there’s a significant increase in cost vs. performance, and they’re usually built into high-end models. 

Chips

As mentioned above, projectors use imaging chips to create a picture, and there are three types: Digital Light Processing (DLP), Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), and Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS). DLP chips find a home in units at all different price points and deliver average contrast and nice color. Sometimes units will use one DLP chip, while sometimes they use three: one each for the Red, Green, or Blue colors that make up an image. LCD chips can be found on budget to mid-range projectors and often have better color than DLP projectors, but contrast ratios sometimes suffer. Lastly, LCoS chips are used in mid- to high-end projectors; they tend to deliver the best picture quality overall, but cost more.

Single-DLP projectors sometimes suffer from what’s known as “the rainbow effect,” where bright objects on the screen leave very quick, multicolored pixel trails behind them. Many people don’t even notice these artifacts, which is why thousands of single-DLP projectors have been sold and continue to sell. Some people simply aren’t bothered by them. If you have an opportunity to test a single-DLP projector at a store, consider doing so in order to gauge how you feel about the rainbow effect should you encounter it. 

Contrast ratio

Another aspect of picture quality is contrast ratio, or the difference between the black and white output. This is usually expressed as a number representing black followed by a number representing white, with each separated by a colon. So, for instance, something like 15,000:1. 

The greater the difference between black and white, the more color variation the projector displays. An image from a projector with an 18,000:1 contrast ratio will, in most cases, look better than one with a 3,500:1 contrast ratio, with bolder, more true-to-life colors, subtler gradients, and richer blacks. Remember, though, contrast isn’t the only factor in determining picture quality, so always look at the number in the context of all the unit’s specs.  

Resolution

Resolution describes the number of pixels that make up a digital image. A high-definition image is 1920 pixels wide by 1080 pixels high—we often simply call this 1080p. A 4K image (also called Ultra High Definition, or UHD) is twice as large, at 3840 pixels wide (close enough to 4000 to earn the name 4K). The higher the resolution, the sharper the image at large sizes.

A projector that can display a 4K image is wonderful and, since these units also play HD media, you’re covered for whether you’re streaming the latest Marvel movie in ultra-high-def or you’ve dug out an older Blu-ray. At the same time, many HD projectors use a technology called pixel-shifting to double the 1920 resolution. It’s not perfect, but many people won’t notice the difference, and these projectors cost less money. Also, the resolution isn’t the only factor determining picture quality; many movies look fantastic in HD, especially if you’re not blowing up the picture to monumental proportions. 

FAQs

Final thoughts on the best outdoor projectors

• Best overall: XGIMI Horizon Ultra
• Best HD: Epson Home Cinema 3800
• Best portable: Dangbei Atom
• Best for daylight: Anker Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K Projector
• Best for rooftops: Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12
• Best for streaming: XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro Mini Projector
• Best budget: GooDee Video Projector

Choosing the best outdoor projector isn’t too different than choosing the best projector for your home. To capture that cinema experience, you want one that delivers a large picture with bold colors and rich blacks. On top of that, it needs to be bright enough to overpower ambient light and mobile enough to move in and out of the house easily. A tall order, but one we think XGIMI’s Horizon Ultra accomplishes with ease. Our other recommendations, all suited to handle different resolution, size, and locational requirements, excel in their respective categories without being a better all-around option.

Why trust us

Popular Science started writing about technology more than 150 years ago. There was no such thing as “gadget writing” when we published our first issue in 1872, but if there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for everyday readers means we would have been all over it. Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now.

Our writers and editors have combined decades of experience covering and reviewing consumer electronics. We each have our own obsessive specialties—from high-end audio to video games to cameras and beyond—but when we’re reviewing devices outside of our immediate wheelhouses, we do our best to seek out trustworthy voices and opinions to help guide people to the very best recommendations. We know we don’t know everything, but we’re excited to live through the analysis paralysis that internet shopping can spur so readers don’t have to.

The post The best outdoor projectors in 2024 appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Best overall		Roku 32" Select Series 720p HD Smart RokuTV		SEE IT	Intuitive and easy-to-use.
Best smart		Amazon Fire TV 32" 2-Series HD smart TV		SEE IT	Connect other smart home devices to your TV or connect it to your voice assistant of choice.
Best budget		TCL 32-Inch Class S3 1080p LED Smart TV		SEE IT	1080p resolution at a great price.

A 32-inch TV is a perfect choice if you’re got a tight space and are looking for a TV that’s “just right” by Goldilocks standards: It’s not too big, but not too small. Although we all dream of an 85-inch TV that’s large and cinematic, not everyone has 85-inch television space or money. In many cases, too large of a television can overwhelm a room. You want space and wall clearance for your knick-knacks, doodads, and various trinkets you’ve collected over the years, after all. If you’re shopping for a college student, most housing and res-life offices will recommend televisions that are 32 inches or less. Personally, I was only allowed to bring a television that was 17 inches or less. Kids these days really have it all, considering television tech has advanced exponentially compared to when I was in college a decade ago (Shudder! Ick! Time!). The best 32-inch televisions pack high-tech features into a small package for modest rooms.

• Best overall: Roku 32-inch Select Series 720p HD Smart RokuTV
• Best smart: Amazon Fire TV 32-inch 2-Series HD smart TV
• Best value: TCL 32-inch Class S3 1080p LED Smart TV

The best 32-inch TVs: Reviews & Recommendations

Bigger isn’t always better. One of our choices will look great in the guest room or a 200-square-foot dorm room.

Best overall: Roku 32-inch Select Series 720p HD Smart RokuTV

SEE IT

Specs

• Resolution: 720p
• Ports: 2x HDMI, 1x HDMI eARC, USB
• Operating system: Roku OS
• Refresh rate: 60 Hz

Pros

• Voice-controlled remote
• Bezel-less design
• Compatible with lots of home control devices like Alexa

Cons

• Brightness is not the best
• No Ethernet port

We love Roku TVs for their combination of quality and price. One of our favorite Roku TVs is the 65-inch Roku Select, so we weren’t surprised that we loved its pint-sized cousin. We also love vacationing in Roku City and taking in all the sites it has to offer, like the monsters attacking the city proper and the movie theater.

All jokes aside, this is a solid TV under $300. You can customize the home screen so your favorite streaming apps, inputs, and Roku’s free live TV are just a remote click away. Speaking of, the remote is push-to-talk compatible, meaning you don’t have to spend three minutes picking at letters. We also love the remote’s no-nonsense layout. You can also use the Roku app as a bonus remote to bring some peace to the home or if you lose the one it comes with.

Although it’s not 4K, 720p resolution is great if you don’t need that level of detail. However, the brightness is lacking, which is only a problem if you want a blindingly bright TV. It also doesn’t come with an Ethernet port. If that’s too large of a con, consider upgrading to the Roku Select Series 4K. The smallest size is 43 inches, just a heads-up, but it does have an Ethernet port.

When you activate your device, you get a one-month trial of AMC+ and Starz on the Roku Channel. Plus, it’s compatible with Apple AirPlay and HomeKit, Alexa, Google Home, and Roku Smart Home. It’s quick to set up, has great sound, and comes at a great price. What’s not to like?

Best smart: Amazon Fire TV 32-inch 2-Series HD smart TV

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• Resolution: 720p
• Ports: 2x HDMI 1.4, 1x HDMI ARC, 1x Ethernet, 1x USB 2,0
• Operating system: Fire TV OS
• Refresh rate: 60 Hz

Pros

• Lots of ports
• Dolby Digital Plus compatible
• Synchronicity between Fire TV devices

Cons

• Slow interface

This smart television is great for the freshman who needs a TV with all the bells and whistles for their dorm, or someone looking to stay entertained in your tiny home or RV. The image quality isn’t 4K—like the Roku, it comes at 720p resolution—but support for HDR 10, HLG, and Dolby Digital Plus makes it kick just a little harder. Our favorite feature is its synchronicity: You can pause your show in one room and pick up where you left off on another Fire TV in a different room. You can also control other smart home devices from your TV and ask Alexa to tell you a joke right in your living room.

If you participate in late-night binge-watching, you can connect your Bluetooth headphones to your TV so you don’t disturb sleeping roommates (who may or may not be your children and spouse). You also get six months of MGM+ when you purchase this TV. We recommend using it to watch FROM, which is equal parts scary and addicting.

Unfortunately, the interface on this TV is a little lagging. If you’re patient, you won’t mind. If you’re not … you could probably use it to practice waiting a little for once.

Best value: TCL 32-inch Class S3 1080p LED Smart TV

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• Resolution: 1080p
• Ports: 2x HDMI, 1x HDMI ARC, 1 USB
• Operating system: Roku OS
• Refresh rate: 60 Hz

Pros

• Higher resolution
• Bezel-less design
• Easy to install

Cons

• Sound quality could be better

If you’re bummed about the prices and resolutions of these TVs and you’re dead-set on a 32-inch TV, consider this one from TCL. It comes with 1080p resolution and Dolby Digital Plus compatibility for decent picture and sound quality. Reviews note that the sound could be better, but there’s nothing a cheap soundbar can’t fix.

This TV is also VESA-compatible, which means you can mount it on your wall in case you’re not feeling the included legs. We’re particularly fond of the Game Mode, which reduces lag and latency so you can demolish aliens in Helldivers II with ease. Unlike the aliens, you’ll enjoy the company of the TCL S3 and the entertainment it brings.

Here are more 32-inch TVs to stream all your favorite shows:

• Samsung The Frame 32-inch TV
• SAMSUNG 32-inch Class LED Smart FHD TV 1080P (UN32N5300AFXZA, 2018 Model)
• Hisense A4 Series 32-inch FHD 1080p Smart Android TV
• VIZIO 32-inch D-Series HD 720p Smart TV

FAQs

Final thoughts on the best 32-inch TVs

• Best overall: Roku 32-inch Select Series 720p HD Smart RokuTV
• Best smart: Amazon Fire TV 32-inch 2-Series HD smart TV
• Best value: TCL 32-inch Class S3 1080p LED Smart TV

A smaller form factor doesn’t mean you will have a worse viewing experience. Good things come in small packages, after all. A 32-inch television is perfect for a dorm room, guest room, or pool house … if it’s a tiny room and you want to watch things in it, 32 inches is the perfect TV size for you.

Why trust us

Popular Science started writing about technology more than 150 years ago. There was no such thing as “gadget writing” when we published our first issue in 1872, but if there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for everyday readers means we would have been all over it. Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now.

Our writers and editors have combined decades of experience covering and reviewing consumer electronics. We each have our own obsessive specialties—from high-end audio to video games to cameras and beyond—but when we’re reviewing devices outside of our immediate wheelhouses, we do our best to seek out trustworthy voices and opinions to help guide people to the very best recommendations. We know we don’t know everything, but we’re excited to live through the analysis paralysis that internet shopping can spur so readers don’t have to.

The post The best 32-inch TVs for small apartments, dorms, and bedrooms in 2024 appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Best overall		Danbei Atom		SEE IT	A light, bright, mini streaming machine.
Best for movies		Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12		SEE IT	Advanced imaging offers a cinema-like experience.
Best budget		Kodak FLIK HD9		SEE IT	A projector that’s road-worthy and feature-rich.

Mini projectors balance size, features, price, and image quality. Is it easy to pack big entertainment in a small package? Nope, so when purchasing a mini projector, managing your expectations is important. These units will never match the brightness, resolution, color saturation, contrast, or picture size you get from a full-size projector. On the other hand, try slipping one of those 20-pound monsters into your carry-on bag or using it in a small office or a dorm room. Ideally, the best mini projectors weigh a few pounds or less—sometimes much less—but are bright enough for presentations and to display photos, spec sheets, or whatever else you’d like. 

These small entertainment units often include built-in batteries for truly portable play, and some have Android TV functionality for easy streaming. Integrated speakers are common, and there are often HDMI and USB ports for external media like Blu-ray players, set-top streaming boxes, or USB streaming sticks. Finding the best mini projector that meets your priorities isn’t always easy, so we’ve gathered six of the best mini projectors while also providing some insight into what to look for when you’re shopping.

• Best overall: Dangbei Atom
• Best for movies: Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12
• Best for gaming: XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro
• best pocket-sized: AAXA P6 Ultimate
• Best for travel: NEBULA Capsule 3
• Best budget: Kodak FLIK HD9

How we chose the best mini projectors

When selecting the best mini projectors to include in our recommendations, we relied on our experience with home projectors, and we reached out to professionals in the TV and AV worlds to discuss their favorites—as well as the types of specs they care about when shopping. We read trade journals and websites and sifted through online reviews and comments to get the impressions of typical users. We narrowed our selection of projectors down to 10, focusing first and foremost on how the unit balanced image quality against its small, portable size. Color, contrast, and resolution were considered, as were size and weight. Price was an important factor, especially in terms of “bang for your buck,” and additional features—like built-in streaming apps, batteries, and speakers—were evaluated as well.

The best mini projectors: Reviews & Recommendations

A little more compact than some portable projectors, while not as limited in features as a pico projector, the best mini projectors are all-in-one entertainment.

Best overall: Dangbei Atom

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Why it made the cut: This small, light projector ticks all our boxes with a native 1080p picture, a reasonably bright lamp, a built-in battery, and an onboard speaker. 

Specs 

• Brightness: 1200 lumens
• Size: ‎10.03 x 10.03 x 4.92 inches
• Weight: 2.82 pounds

Pros

• Fantastic color reproduction for its size
• Built-in speakers
• Bright for a compact projector

Cons

• Single HDMI port

Leave it to Dangbei to make a mini projector good enough to compare favorably to significantly larger models. It has every essential projector feature, from HDR10 support and solid-sounding built-in speakers to a 1200 lumen bulb, and the ability to project a 180-inch screen. Additional features, like having enough processing power to run Google TV smoothly, Netflix support, the ability to trigger the Google Assistant, and an auto-keystone correction feature that keeps your screen looking tidy, are also available. On a technical level, it’s hard to find any fault with the Dangbei Atom, given its ultra-thin and compact profile and every feature the company managed to cram into this projector.

Our primary tests included playing video games on the Nintendo Switch. In general, colors looked good, games sounded pretty rich, and there wasn’t a discernible amount of latency when playing games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which admittedly runs at 30 frames per second. The Atom, which clocks in at just 1.87 inches thick and under three pounds, is a technical triumph of engineering given its size. That said, a 1080P image projected on a 100-inch screen does look worse than one at 4K. This wasn’t an issue when playing games on the Nintendo Switch, which tops out at 1080P, but was noticeable when watching videos. If you stream a lot of 4K content, it may be wise to look elsewhere. Our only other complaint is that its single HDMI port means you’ll be swapping out components whenever you want to use a different device.

But the Atom’s size—it was easy to carry the projector and power cable in one hand from room to room—means you can easily take it with you on vacation or set up and break down your big-screen home theater setup in a couple of minutes. The Atom is the ideal mini projector for spaces like dorm rooms or studio apartments.

Best for movies: Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12

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Why it made the cut: Superior contrast, a relatively bright lamp, and advanced imaging technology work to deliver what’s by far the best-looking movies you’ll see from any other projector on this list.  

Specs

• Brightness: 1000 ANSI Lumens
• Size: 6.9 x 6.9 x 5 inches
• Weight: 4.7 pounds

Pros

• Native 1080p resolution
• Supports 4K media (down-converted to HD)
• 200,000:1 contrast ratio
• Built-in Android TV
• Excellent speakers

Cons

• A bit heavy by mini standards
• Expensive

The EpiqVision Mini EF12 is more expensive than most other mini projectors, but that’s the trade-off for a positively cinematic movie-watching experience. With a native Full HD 1080p resolution and 1,000-ANSI lumen MicroLaser light source, the unit projects a sharp 140-inch picture. Three-chip LCD technology displays 100 percent of the RGB color range, while high contrast and adaptive color correction deliver shadows full of detail and saturated colors that positively pop. 

Built-in Android TV provides access to a full suite of streaming apps, and the EpiqVision Mini has two HDMI inputs for external players. A 5-watt Yamaha speaker delivers robust and clear audio. 

Unfortunately, this Android projector doesn’t have an internal battery, so don’t expect to use it without having access to AC power. It’s also a chunkier piece of gear than many mini projectors on this list—this isn’t dropping into anyone’s pocket. And, again, the price—close to $1,000, compared to all our other sub-$500 choices—might make it a tough buy for anyone watching their budget. But if you prioritize your movies above all else, there’s a reason this is one of our favorite home theater projectors.

Best for gaming: XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro

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Why it made the cut: The XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro mini projector enhances gaming by providing a crisp picture, a 3D mode, superior audio quality, and low latency.

Specs

• Brightness: 400 ANSI lumens
• Size: 7.76 x 9.57 x 9.69 inches
• Weight: 4.6 lbs.

Pros

• Ultra-portable
• Good image quality for its size
• Great price

Cons

• Dim bulb

If you’d like to game on a mini projector, your best choice is XGIMI’s MoGo 2 Pro. Its only drawback is the brightness of its bulb, which at 400 lumens means you’ll only want to use it in dark rooms. This limitation may be a dealbreaker for you, but if you’re fine with the limitation, you’ll be rewarded in other ways. XGIMI managed to fit a dual-speaker audio system, a processor fast enough to run Android 11 (sans Netflix), object avoidance, and auto keystone correction into a compact package. It lacks HDR, which will matter if you play video games on a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, or pay for the highest tiers of some streaming services, but Nintendo Switch owners and casual streamers won’t be missing out.

A feature called uninterrupted keystone correction will keep your screen—up to 200 inches in size—looking even while you use it. If you’ve been flummoxed by finicky slightly tilted projection screens in the past, this may end up being your favorite features. XGIMI has continually proven it knows how to eke out as much performance as possible from its hardware. This is your answer if you’re a casual gamer who wants to play on the biggest possible screen.

Best pocket-sized: AAXA P6 Ultimate

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Why it made the cut: With native 720p resolution, this pint-size player delivers a much better picture than you usually get from such a small projector. 

Specs

• Lumens: 417 ANSI lumens
• Size: 5.25 x 5.7 x 3.1 inches
• Weight: ‎4.07 pounds

Pros

• Extremely small size
• 3-hour battery life
• 200-inch maximum screen size

Cons

• One HDMI port

AAXA’s ultimate version of its P6 projector is so small it could actually fit in the pocket of a pair of cargo pants. With a native resolution of 720p, it’s hardly the most powerful projector we’re recommending, but it does support the ability to accept 4K signals. The mini projector’s 417 ANSI bulb is impressive, but be mindful that AAXA lists the projector as having 1,000 LED lumens, which, while accurate, may give the impression that the P6 Ultimate is brighter than it really is. If screen size is your most important metric, the P6 Ultimate holds up well, with the ability to project a 200-inch image. Be mindful that a 200-inch 720p picture will look blurry when compared to higher-resolution projectors.

What makes the P6 Ultimate the best pocket-sized mini projector is its battery, which allows you to run it for up to six hours per charge. You’ll get less watch time if you crank up its brightness to the max, but it’s still impressive that a projector this small has a battery inside. Similarly, AAXA built a speaker into this projector, which is almost unimaginable given its size. The AAXA P6 Ultimate runs AndroidOS natively, so you’ll be able to stream media to it without plugging in a media streamer. That’s great because this mini projector only has a single HDMI port, which is understandable but still a drawback. If you want to get a mini projector that really lives up to that adjective, AAXA’s P6 Ultimate is the one to get.

Best for travel: NEBULA Capsule 3

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Why it made the cut: Lightweight and featuring a built-in Android TV, this battery-powered projector travels easily. 

Specs

• Brightness: 300 ANSI Lumens
• Size: 3.3 x 3.3 x 6.7 inches
• Weight: 1.98 pounds

Pros

• Up to 2.5 hours of battery life
• Built-in Android TV
• Native HD resolution but can accept 4K inputs

Cons

• Price

If we could only recommend one mini projector for travel, it’d be the latest model in NEBULA’s capsule series. The Capsule 3’s slim, cylindrical shape makes it easy to carry in a backpack. And its battery means you can use it on travels where outlets are fewer and further between. Its technical features, including its native 1080P resolution, eight-watt speaker with Dolby Audio, AndroidOS support, and laser projection system help it stay competitive in this category. NEBULA doubled the Capsule 3’s contrast and improved its color accuracy when compared to the previous generation for those looking to upgrade.

Most importantly, the Capsule 3 is 55% smaller than the model it replaced, and at just under 2 pounds, it’s a lot easier to carry around on trips. Our primary technical complaint is that this projector has a brightness of 300 lumens—the other is its single HDMI port. This is understood given its smaller size and to accommodate the fact that it runs on battery power, but it’s still something to be aware of. If you’re more concerned with how to broadcast a 120-inch screen on any trip you go on, the Capsule 3 is the mini projector to get.

Best budget: Kodak FLIK HD9

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Why it made the cut: This inexpensive and ultra-small projector is a great way to share presentations, photos, or videos. 

Specs

• Brightness: 200 ANSI lumens
• Size: ‎5.1 x 4.3 x 5.9 inches
• Weight: 3.3 pounds

Pros

• 1080P resolution
• Runs AndroidOS
• Built in speakers

Cons

• Not very bright

Kodak’s FLIK HD9 is better than any budget-friendly mini projector has any right to be, and it’s an inexpensive way to share content from your smartphone or stream your favorite media. It runs AndroidOS for easy video streaming, has a built-in speaker system, and has a native resolution of 1080p. Its remote even allows you to access the Google Assistant, so you can use the projector completely hands-free. These specs and features are unheard of for a projector that costs just $250—though its 200-lumen bulb is its Achilles heel. You’ll only be able to use this mini projector in absolute darkness. As far as mini projectors go, you’ll need to spend over $100 more to get one that bests it in meaningful ways.

Things to consider before buying a mini projector

It’s not easy for something that potentially fits in your palm (or at least can be easily carried with one hand) to throw a picture that’s around 100-200 inches from corner to corner, in 720p or 1080p, with accurate colors and decent shadow detail. Here are the specs to watch for as you shop:

Brightness

ANSI lumens describe how much light a projector creates, which determines how bright and large your picture will be—especially in less-than-ideal situations where you can’t achieve a completely dark room. Brightness levels of around 200 to 500 ANSI lumens are common, with picture sizes of around 80-120 inches. That said, some projectors can achieve much brighter pictures than that, even some that could be used in daylight. 

Chip

Projectors use imaging chips to create a picture, and there are three types of them: DLP, LCD, and LCoS. DLP chips find a home in units at all different price points and deliver average contrast and nice color. LCD chips can be found on budget to mid-range projectors and often have better color than DLP projectors, but contrast ratios sometimes suffer. Lastly, LCoS chips are used in mid-range to high-end projectors; they tend to deliver the best picture quality overall but, not surprisingly, cost more and don’t show up in budget units. 

One last thing to know about chips: Single-DLP projectors, which comprise most budget-priced units, sometimes suffer from “the rainbow effect.” This is when bright objects on the screen leave very quick, multicolored pixel trails behind them. With thousands upon thousands of single-DLP projectors sold, it’s obvious that most people don’t even notice them—or aren’t bothered. But if you have an opportunity to test out a single-DLP projector at a store, consider doing so in order to gauge how you feel about the rainbow effect.

Pico and palmtops

There’s mini, and there’s mini. Pico projectors, also sometimes called pocket projectors, are about the size of a smartphone. They’re extremely portable, of course, but their pictures rarely match the brightness or quality found on bigger machines. Palmtop projectors are larger and brighter than pico projectors, with more connections, but still light enough to drop into a bag for travel or presentations. Many models also connect with smartphones, making them ideal cell phone projectors.

Power

Many mini projectors run on internal batteries for at least a couple of hours, making them even more portable. That said, it’s not enough juice to binge an entire series or watch some of the longer Marvel movies. Luckily, mini projectors also come with AC cords, so when you’re at home, in an office, or at a friend’s place, you can just plug them in.

Screens

Projectors shine light on a surface that reflects the light back to our eyes. That means using a projector with a plain, white wall isn’t going to deliver the best picture because too much light gets absorbed by the paint. For the optimal viewing experience, you need to buy a screen—which can run from around $25 to a little over $100, depending on sizes, stands, and accessories. These have reflective surfaces that increase perceived brightness, contrast, and color saturation—all of which are especially important when using a mini projector, which is likely already hobbled by a dimmer light source.

Audio

Because they’re built for portability, mini projectors often include speakers. Three or more watts can generally fill a small space, but volume isn’t everything. Ensure the speakers produce clear audio to separate voices from background noise or music in busy scenes. Decent bass response will contribute to the sound’s fullness, too. Many mini projectors also include an audio-out jack for using external speakers. 

FAQs

Final thoughts on the best mini projectors

• Best overall: Dangbei Atom
• Best for movies: Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12
• Best for gaming: XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro
• best pocket-sized: AAXA P6 Ultimate
• Best for travel: NEBULA Capsule 3
• Best budget: Kodak FLIK HD9

Mini projectors almost never live up to the specs of larger, more permanent units—but they cost less and travel easily. Anyone looking to purchase a mini projector needs to first accept that reality before deciding which unit suits them best. After that, it comes down to priorities. If you want a great picture and don’t care about much else, Epson’s EpiqVision Mini EF12 delivers a cinema-like picture. On the other hand, the AAXA P7 Mini Projector trades off some brightness and a bit of image quality for portability. It features a battery and costs much less. In striking that balance and embracing what’s great about mini projectors, the AAXA P7 edged out the Epson for our top pick.

Why trust us

Popular Science started writing about technology more than 150 years ago. There was no such thing as “gadget writing” when we published our first issue in 1872, but if there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for everyday readers means we would have been all over it. Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now.

Our writers and editors have combined decades of experience covering and reviewing consumer electronics. We each have our own obsessive specialties—from high-end audio to video games to cameras and beyond—but when we’re reviewing devices outside of our immediate wheelhouses, we do our best to seek out trustworthy voices and opinions to help guide people to the very best recommendations. We know we don’t know everything, but we’re excited to live through the analysis paralysis that internet shopping can spur so readers don’t have to.

The post The best mini projectors for 2024 appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Best overall		XGIMI Horizon Ultra		SEE IT	It has the trifecta that gamers are looking for in a projector: 4K support, a high refresh rate, and a low response time.
Best portable		Dangbei Atom		SEE IT	You can easily fit it in a bag for a camping trip or the like, and 1,200 lumens is more than enough to conduct a clear image in dark or dim conditions.
Best budget		XGIMI Mogo 2 Pro		SEE IT	For well under $500 this compact, powerful projector is hard to beat.

Whether you’re more into the frenetic gunplay of Call of Duty or the slow charms of Stardew Valley, the idea of playing your favorite games on a 20-foot-tall screen is undoubtedly appealing, and projectors for gaming can make it happen. Though projectors were considered a generally weak option for gaming in the past, improvements in resolution and response time have dramatically increased their appeal to everyday consumers. The top-of-the-line projectors are still going to make a major dent in your wallet, but there are good budget options, too. While a 4K TV or monitor is the traditional choice for most gamers, there’s no better pair in the AV world than a projector with games. We looked at dozens of projectors to determine the best projectors for gaming in your specific setup, and here are our top picks.

• Best overall: XGIMI Horizon Ultra
• Best 4K: BenQ X300G
• Best portable: Nebula Mars 3
• Best short-throw: Hisense PX2-PRO
• Best mini: Dangbei Atom
• Best budget: XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro

How we chose the best projectors for gaming

I’ve been a professional tech writer for about a decade now, as well as a contributor to PopSci writing about everything from 3-D printers to VPNs. I know my way around gadgets for every level of consumer, from entry-level to industrial. To make these recommendations, I consulted personal testimonials, peer recommendations, consumer reviews, and tests conducted by top-quality professionals. This helped me to determine which projectors shone brightest.

The best projectors for gaming: Reviews & Recommendations

As you’ll see in our list, some projectors are so portable that you can take them on a road trip, or perhaps even on a plane. They’re also more outdoor-friendly than traditional TVs, so you can have a backyard grill or bonfire as you play games with your friends.

Best overall: XGIMI Horizon Ultra

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Why it made the cut: The XGIMI Horizon Ultra is a reasonably priced projector that delivers everything that a gamer could ask for. 

Specs

• Price: $1,600
• Throw ratio: 1.2 to 1.5:1
• Brightness: 2300 lumens
• Resolution: 4K
• Response time: 18ms (4K)
• Refresh rate: 60Hz (4K)
• Other features: Dolby Vision support
• Screen size range: 40 to 200 inches
• Source lifespan: 25,000 hours

Pros

• 4K support
• Excellent color reproduction
• Solid speaker system

Cons

• Two HDMI ports

We chose XGIMI’s Horizon Ultra as the best 4K projector you can get in 2024, and stand by that recommendation if you’d like to use it primarily for gaming. Everything from its premium metal remote (surprisingly more high-quality feeling than plastic) to its industrial design, to overall perfromance is a slam dunk. We played Nintendo Switch games on this projector during our tests and were consistently impressed with its color accuracy, response time, and overall fidelity. Any missed frames were on account of the game, not this hardware. The Horizon Ultra allowed us to fully appreciate the candy-colored Penny’s Big Breakaway and Star Ocean: Second Story R especially. Gamers who play on the Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5 will appreciate the fact that this projector supports Dolby Vision, the latest HDR (High Dynamic Range) video standard. Games that support HDR have even deeper colors, and the Horizon Ultra will allow you to see every one.

One of this projector’s most surprising features is its relatively robust stereo speaker system, which was developed by Harman Kardon. The speakers were so good that we never felt the need to plug in an external pair, as game soundtracks and dialogue were clear and rich. The projector is equipped with an HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) port, so you’ll only need a single cable to connect it to a surround sound system. The only issue with this projector is that it only has two HDMI ports, which could pose a problem for multiplatform gamers. The best solution is to hook the Horizon Ultra to an AV receiver, but that’s an added expense. You can also get an HDMI splitter if you’d prefer.

The Horizon Ultra runs on a version of Google TV based on Android 11, and we found the user interface to be snappy and easy to navigate. You can access a handful of popular streaming services from the remote itself, and download new or more obscure ones from the app store. It doesn’t support Netflix—an issue with the operating system, not the projector—which is a bummer if you’d like to access that service. This isn’t a dealbreaker, but something to note.

If you’d like a fantastic-looking projector whose gaming performance has proven to be excellent, we highly recommend XGIMI’s Horizon Ultra.

Best 4K: BenQ X300G

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Why it made the cut: The BenQ X300G is an incredible premium 4K gaming projector that provides a crisper image and better contrast than most of its competitors.

Specs

• Price: $1,800
• Throw ratio: .69 to .83
• Brightness: 2000 lumens
• Resolutions supported: 1080p, 4K
• Response time: 4.2ms (1080p), 16.7ms (4K)
• Refresh rate: 240Hz (1080p), 60 Hz (4K)
• Other features: HDR support, eARC sound, smart features
• Screen size range: 30 to 150 inches
• Source lifespan: 30,000 hours

Pros

• High frame rate and low reponse times
• Short throw ratio
• Smart features

Cons

• Slightly smaller maximum screen size

BenQ has been making projectors and monitors specifically suited for gamers for several years now, and the X300G proves the company isn’t slowing down. Its lower bulb luminosity and screen size range kept it from being our number one choice, but it has no major downsides. In fact, its 150 inch maximum display size will likely be just fine for most people because of space limitations. That said, its lower-than-average throw ratio means the limiting factor will likely be the size of your wall or screen, not the depth of your room.

On a technical level the X300G checks all the boxes gamers would need for a projector. It supports HDR, has a game mode the optimizes its performance to reduce input lag as much as possible, and supports spatial audio for more immersive sound thanks to a DSP (digital signal processor) chip. This is the only projector for gaming we’re recommending with a built-in passive radiator on the bottom to improve bass performance. The X300G runs on Android TV, so you can access the latest apps through it directly, which is helpful for non-gaming purposes.

A feature called SettingXchange allows you to download custom video profiles to the projector via an app on your computer, so you can have per-game settings to make that particular title look as good as possible. This is an exclusive file format to BenQ’s projectors, and you can even create and upload your own profiles so other gamers can download them. This ecosystem is completely free to use, and the type of feature serious gamers will appreciate. On the port selection side the X300G features a pair of HDMI ports (one is an ARC port), plus a DisplayPort, so you can easily hook up a computer to it using the right USB-C cable.

Hardcore gamers will found a lot to love in BenQ’s X300G, a projector for gamers who are serious about getting the highest levels of color accuracy possible when playing.

Best short-throw: Hisense PX2-PRO

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Why it made the cut: The Hisense PX2-Pro is an excellent gaming projector with the specs to please any player, and its short-throw ratio makes it suitable for any living situation.

Specs

• Price: $2,800
• Throw ratio: .25:1
• Brightness: 2,400 lumens
• Resolutions supported: 4K
• Response time: 16.67ms (4K)
• Refresh rate: 60Hz (4K)
• Other features: 30 Watt speakers
• Screen size range: 90 to 130 inches
• Source lifespan: 25,000 hours

Pros

• Short throw picture possible to use in any room with a blank wall
• Spports 107% of the BT.2020 color gamut
• Three HDMI ports

Cons

• Expensive
• Large size

Hisense’s PX2-Pro requires a huge financial commitment, but it makes gaming on a projector possible for people in tight spaces. It has an incredibly small throw distance, and can create a 100+ inch screen while being only a couple of feet away from your wall. If you have an existing media center with a TV on top of it, you can simply replace it with the PX2-Pro, and be good to go. This style of projector feeds an image through multiple a concave mirror and curved lenses to achieve its ultra throw performance. The result is the ultimate projector for those with little room to spare. The downside to this style of projector is that its maximum screen size is lower than most projectors for gaming. Still, the difference between playing on a 65-inch display and 130-inch display is significant, and its increased luminosity more than makes up for this shortcoming.

This is the largest projector for gaming we’re recommending, but Hisense used this extra space wisely. The PX2-Pro is equipped with a 30 watt audio system with support for Dolby Atmos right out of the box, three HDMI ports (including an ARC port), and a video system that supports Dolby Vision, and can show 107% of the BT.2020 color gamut. If color accuracy and audio fidelity are your biggest concerns when playing games, you won’t find a finer 4K projector than the PX2-Pro. The inclusion of an extra HDMI port is a very welcome feature for multiplatform gamers who want to keep all of the current-generation consoles hooked up at once.

The PX2-Pro runs on Google TV, and it’s one of the few to support Netflix right out of the box. In fact, there’s a shortcut button to it right on the remote. This means you’ll have access to every major media streaming platform right out of the box, which is fantastic for multimedia aficionados. Additionally, you can control this projector for gaming using both the Google Assistant and Alexa completely hands free. This isn’t a gaming feature, but it’s nice to have.

If you’ve resigned yourself to the fact that a projector won’t work in your gaming setup because there’s not enough space, Hisense’s PX2-Pro will prove you wrong.

Best mini: Dangbei Atom

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Why it made the cut: The Dengbei Atom’s compact size and competitive price make it a force to beat in the portable projector world.

Specs

• Price: $900
• Throw ratio: 1.2:1
• Brightness: 1200 lumens
• Resolutions supported: 1080p
• Response time: 26.5ms
• Refresh rate: 60Hz
• Other features: 5W dual speakers
• Screen size range: 60 to 180 inches
• Source lifespan: 30,000 hours

Pros

• Fantastic color reproduction for its size
• Built-in speakers
• Bright for a compact projector

Cons

• 1080P video can look grainy on a giant screen
• One HDMI port

Leave it to Dangbei to make a mini projector that can stand comfortably with models that cost double the price and take up a lot more room. Every feature you’d want for gaming: support for HDR10, built-in speakers that sound very good given their size, a 1200 lumen bulb, and the ability to project a 180-inch screen are all present. Extra features, like a processor that can handle running Google TV with aplomb, Netflix support, the ability to trigger the, Google Assistant, and an auto-keystone correction feature that keeps your screen looking tidy, are also available. It’s hard to find any fault with the Dangbei Atom given its ultra thin and compact profile given every feature the company managed to cram into this projector.

Gaming on the Dangbei Atom using a Nintendo Switch went very well. Colors looked good, games sounded pretty rich, and there wasn’t a discernible amount of latency when playing games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which admittedly runs at 30 frames per second. In its own right, the Atom, which clocks in at just 1.87 inches thick and under three pounds, is a technical triumph of engineering. That said, a 1080P image projected on a 100-inch screen does look worse than one at 4K. This wasn’t an issue when playing games on the Nintendo Switch, which tops out at 1080P, but was noticeable when watching videos, and would be a bigger deal when playing on more powerful consoles or a PC. Our only other complaint is that its single HDMI port means you’ll be swapping out consoles whenever you need to play a new title.

But the Atom’s overall portability—it was easy to carry the projector and power cable in one hand from room to room—means you can take it with you to play games on vacation, or set up and break down your big-screen gaming setup within a couple of minutes. For spaces like dorm rooms, the Atom is the ideal projector for gaming. At the time of publication, Amazon is offering a $150 off coupon, which brings the price of the Dangbei Atom down to $750.

Best portable: Nebula Mars 3

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Why it made the cut: The Nebula Mars 3 might cost more than some mini projectors, but its ultra-compact size and top-shelf specs make it a winner.

Specs

• Price: $980
• Throw ratio: 1.2
• Brightness: 1000 lumens
• Resolutions supported: 1080p
• Response time: 26.7ms
• Refresh rate: 60Hz
• Other features: HDR10 support
• Screen size range: 30 to 200 inches
• Source lifespan: 25,000 hours

Pros

• Battery powered
• Built in speakers
• HDR support

Cons

• Your run time on battery will vary largely based on your settings

If true portability is your must-have feature in a projector for gaming, look no further than Nebula’s Mars 3. It’s the only model we’re recommending that can run on battery power for up to five hours, though we suspect that’ll be a lot lower if you run the machine at its maximum brightness setting. And it gets bright, which is why it’s one of our favorite projectors for daylight viewing. Still, for nighttime outdoor gaming sessions, it’s hard to beat the ability to play mobile games on a big screen. It’s also an excellent choice if you’d like to use your projector for mixed use cases, as its built-in operating system will allow you to stream videos from popular services—including Netflix—any place you have an active internet connection (or USB-C to HDMI cable).

On the tech spec side you’ll have to give up a little bit for the sake of portability, namely brightness. At 1,000 lumens this projector has the second-dimmest bulb out of all our recommendations. The Mars 3 will still work perfectly fine in fully dark rooms, but will struggle when there’s light leakage. Nebula said it fine-tuned the Mars 3’s video system using AI for consistent performance. This projector does only supports HDR 10 rather than Dolby Vision, so you’ll give up some color reproduction. That said, Nebula didn’t skimp out in other areas, namely the projector’s audio system.

The Mars 3 has a 40 watt, three driver Dolby Audio system, which should pack a serious punch. You’ll need the volume and oomph when playing games outdoors, where ambient noise can drown out the sounds you want to hear. The Mars 3 runs on Android TV, with Netflix, which makes it an excellent portable movie machine. If portability is paramount to your enjoyment of playing games, Nebula’s Mars 3 is an excellent choice.

Best budget: XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro

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Why it made the cut: The XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro is a high-quality projector that gives gamers everything they want for less than $500.

Specs

• Price: $450
• Throw ratio: 1.2:1
• Brightness: 400 lumens
• Resolutions supported: 1080p
• Response time: 33.6ms
• Refresh rate: 60Hz 
• Other features: HDR10 support
• Screen size range: 40 to 200 inches
• Source lifespan: 25,000 hours

Pros

• Ultra-portable
• Good image quality for its size
• Great price

Cons

• Dim bulb

If you’d like to game on a projector that costs under $500, your best choice by far is XGIMI’s MoGo 2 Pro. Let’s get its one big con out of the way: At 400 lumens, this is the dimmest projector for gaming we’re comfortable recommending. It’s designed to be used exclusively in pitch black rooms at night. This limitation may be a dealbreaker for some, but if you’re fine with it you’ll be rewarded in other ways.

XGIMI managed to fit a two-speaker audio system, chip fast enough to run Android 11 (sans Netflix), object avoidance, and auto keystone correction into a very small package. It lacks HDR, which will matter most if you play games on a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, but Nintendo Switch owners won’t be missing out. A feature called uninterrupted keystone correction will keep your screen—up to 200 inches in size—looking even while you use it. While it’s not as performant as our other projector recommendations, its price is hard to beat, and XGIMI has proven it knows how to eek out as much performance as possible from its hardware. If you’re a casual gamer who wants to play on the biggest possible screen, this is your answer.

What to consider before buying a projector for gaming

There are many factors to consider when deciding which projector for gaming is right for you. Below are the factors we considered most important when writing this guide.

Throw ratio

First, you should think about the room or rooms that you plan to use your gaming projector in and, especially, where you want to put the projector. You might even way to measure its dimensions to confirm. Depending on that, you’ll want to get a projector that has a throw ratio (a measure of its picture size relative to its distance from the wall) that fits that space.

For example, standard-throw or long-throw projectors often require 10 to 15 feet of space in order to output a good-quality image, which might not work for everyone’s living situation. Short-throw projectors can make do with just 5 to 8 feet—and ultra short-throws even less than that—so they might be a better fit for certain people.

Go too big with your screen and you may have to move your head around a lot in order to see the whole screen. That will have you searching “how to cure gaming motion sickness” in a hurry.

Input lag

One of the biggest tech specs gamers consider when shopping for a monitor or TV is input lag—or the rate at which the screen displays new information as you’ve typed a key, moved a joystick, or clicked on your mouse. This lag is measured in milliseconds, which is imperceptible to the average eye, but makes a big difference in gaming, where every moment lost gives your opponent an advantage.

The truth is projectors have a far higher level of input lag than any TV or monitor because the video signal has to get broadcast from your projector onto the wall. Even an object traveling at the speed of light takes time to reach its destination. If you plan on playing competitive games on the projector, you’ll want to shell out for a model that has the fastest response time possible.

Portability

While they vary in size, projectors are far easier to transport than TVs, and most can be adjusted to fit walls that are between 3 and 30 feet. Our pick for the best portable projector can also run on battery power, which means you can game on the big screen from wherever you’d like.

Audio performance

Most of the projectors we’re recommending have built-in speakers, which means you won’t absolutely have to connect them to an external pair. These integrated audio systems can actually sound surprisingly good, though you’ll want to plug your projector into an AV receiver if you’d like to watch movies or play video games in surround sound.

Smart features

A lot of modern projectors for gaming run an operating system—primarily Google TV or another custom version of Android—that allows you to access streaming apps from them directly. These features aren’t necessarily important for gaming, but are helpful when using your projector for other forms of recreation. More expensive models tend to have smart features like Alex and Google Home support, too.

Why should I buy a projector for gaming?

Of course, there are downsides to projectors. For one thing, they’re expensive, with even the budget options coming in at well north of the price of a cheap TV.  For another, they require a certain setup to be used correctly.

Projectors require a darkened room in order to work well, which probably isn’t an issue for most people, but it can be inconvenient at times. The bottom line is that while a projector for gaming probably isn’t an everyday use item for most people, it can be very helpful for social gatherings, especially LAN parties.

FAQs

Final thoughts on the best projectors for gaming

• Best overall: XGIMI Horizon Ultra
• Best 4K: BenQ X300G
• Best portable: Nebula Mars 3
• Best short-throw: Hisense PX2-PRO
• Best mini: Dangbei Atom
• Best budget: XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro

Ultimately, a nice projector is a great gaming device, though it’s more of a luxury item than a solid TV. If you’re a gamer on the go, however, and you have the budget, our picks will allow you to turn any space into the place for a competitive round or 10. Just add console, friends, and let the heated competition keep you warm while you play on the patio.

Why trust us

Popular Science started writing about technology more than 150 years ago. There was no such thing as “gadget writing” when we published our first issue in 1872, but if there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for everyday readers means we would have been all over it. Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now.

Our writers and editors have combined decades of experience covering and reviewing consumer electronics. We each have our own obsessive specialties—from high-end audio to video games to cameras and beyond—but when we’re reviewing devices outside of our immediate wheelhouses, we do our best to seek out trustworthy voices and opinions to help guide people to the very best recommendations. We know we don’t know everything, but we’re excited to live through the analysis paralysis that internet shopping can spur so readers don’t have to.

The post The best projectors for gaming in 2024 appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

A portable projector lets you take movie theater-esque views from your bedroom to the backyard without much hassle. If televisions aren’t your style, a projector and a blank wall make for a perfect replacement. However, projectors can sometimes cost as much as a brand-new television. This budget-friendly projector from Anker just got budget-friendlier at Amazon, where it’s now more than $100 off.

XGIMI MoGo 2 Portable Projector $249 (Was $399)

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A 400 ANSI lumen DLP lamp shows off all the details in your movie, show, or game, and it’s perfectly bright for dimmer environments. You can also download and stream YouTube, Netflix, and more without having to connect to other devices. Combine that with its audio clarity and you get a device that makes you movie marathon royalty.

More projector deals:

• Anker Nebula Capsule Max Wi-Fi Mini Projector $299.99 (Was $439.99)
• XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro 1080P Portable Projector $448.99 (Was $599)
• XGIMI HORIZON Ultra 4K Projector $1,599 (Was $1,699)
• XGIMI Halo+ 1080P Portable Projector $739.99 (Was $849)
• PHILIPS Android TV Projector with Apps and 5G WiFi Bluetooth $99.99 (Was $199.98)
• Optoma UHZ66 Compact Long Throw True 4K UHD Laser Home Cinema and Gaming Projector, 4000 Lumens $1,799 (Was $3,999)
• Optoma GT2100HDR Compact Short Throw Laser Home Theater and Gaming Projector $1,249 (Was $1,792)

The post Save 30% on these projectors before they pull the plug on this deal appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Best overall		XGIMI Horizon Ultra		SEE IT	Top-of-the-line audio and video quality in an eye-catching package.
Best design		JMGO N1 Ultra		SEE IT	The N1 Ultra’s tilting design ensures it’ll align perfectly with any wall, ceiling, or screen.
Best budget		XGIMI Horizon Pro		SEE IT	Get all the must-have 4K projector features for less money.

A 4K projector is the ultimate tool for cinephiles or gamers who want to get the most out of their ultra-high definition films and games without getting into multi-thousand-dollar screens and burdensome furniture. Only the most expensive TVs can even come close to the literal scale of a projector’s maximum screen size, and then you deal with the challenges of anchoring a 110-inch flatscreen. Moreover, 4K projection technology has evolved enough to fall significantly in price over the past couple of years. Spending a lot for the absolute premium models is still possible, but most of our recommendations will set you back under $2,000. A 65-, 75-, or even 85-inch 4K TV could still be the most cost-effective choice, but there’s no denying that 4K projectors have become much more accessible. The best 4K projectors will allow you to achieve the dream of bringing a movie theater into your house with no compromises.

• Best overall: XGIMI Horizon Ultra
• Best splurge: AWOL Vision LTV-2500
• Best design: JMGO N1 Ultra
• Best for bright rooms: Dangbei Mars Pro
• Best budget: XGIMI Horizon Pro

How we chose the best 4K projectors

There are more 4K projectors than ever, and our recommendations come from extensive research and hands-on testing. We watched movies and played games on these devices to see how they held up during fast-paced action and casual viewing alike. Our tests were conducted by projecting images onto a wall from approximately nine feet away. Games were played on a Nintendo Switch, while videos were watched using both the projector’s internal operating system (if applicable) and Roku Streaming Stick 4K.

The best 4K projectors: Reviews & Recommendations

Whether you’re upgrading from a TV or Full HD projector, our 4K projectors for movies will be a significant upgrade and a massive step toward creating the ideal home theater system.

Best overall: XGIMI Horizon Ultra

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Specs

• Lumens: 2,300
• Ports: 2 x HDMI, 2 x USB-A, 1 x Ethernet, 1 x Optical, 1 x AUX
• Speakers: Yes
• Price $1,599

Pros

• Stunning video quality
• Harman Kardon audio system
• Snappy user interface

Cons

• No native Netflix

XGIMI’s Horizon Ultra is hands-down the best 4K projector we’ve tested yet, from its thoughtful design (even its remote is premium, encased in metal, not plastic) to its video fidelity. The projector is rectangular, a “Misty Gold” cube with “eco leather” on the top and sides and fabric covering most of its front. When the projector is off, the covering you see above is up, protecting the projector’s lens from getting scratched or accumulating dust. When the projector is turned on, the front covering glides downward, revealing the lens. It’s a neat trick that never got old during months of testing. XGIMI gets top marks by making a 4K projector with both a functional and whimsical design.

Where audio and video quality are concerned, XGIMI also gets top marks. The Horizon Ultra continually produced a bright, colorful image even in a room with some light leakage. If the curtains aren’t drawn, well, the Horizon Pro can’t compete with direct sunlight—but few projectors can. However, if you set this 4K projector up in a dark environment—even a room where the sun peeks through the blinds during the day—you’ll be constantly impressed by what this projector’s LED + laser lamps and their 2,300 ISO lumens deliver. It’s the first long-throw 4K projector with Dolby Vision (plus HDR10 and HLG), and that heightened contrast and dynamic color adjustment are apparent as you watch throughout the day and night. Plus, optical zoom plus automatic keystone correction and focus allow for an image size of 40 to 200 inches and flexible positioning, up to 40 degrees off-center.

Playing video games like Phantasy Star Second Story R, wherein characters dart across the screen while visual effects pop up constantly, was no problem for the Horizon Pro’s 18ms latency and 60Hz refresh rate, which handled the task with aplomb. Watching soccer games or Netflix shows like Chef’s Table (more on that shortly) was similarly satisfying. This 4K projector’s color reproduction was fantastic and shows or games with support for HDR (high dynamic range) look even better. Similarly, the projector’s built-in 2x12W stereo sound system, courtesy of Harman Kardon, was equally impressive. It didn’t stack up compared to a wireless surround sound setup, but it did its job, capable of decoding Dolby and DTS and delivering clear dialogue and deep bass. We never felt the need to connect external speakers to the projector, which was quite the feat.

The XGIMI Horizon Ultra runs on Google TV. While the Android 11 operating system connected through Wi-Fi 6 moved fluidly—we could get in and out of apps and settings easily—the lack of native Netflix on the platform was bothersome. This wasn’t an issue since our testing included hooking up a media streamer (and there are workarounds if you’re willing to side-load apps), but could prove annoying for some. With that blemish aside, we can wholeheartedly recommend XGIMI’s Horizon Ultra to anyone interested in getting a 4K movie projector right now. (And if you have a really big wall and are willing to wait, XGIMI’s upcoming Horizon Max, announced at CES 2024, offers an IMAX 1.90:1 aspect ratio, more lumens, an updated Intelligent Screen Adaption system, and more immersive sound … for a higher price).

Best splurge: AWOL Vision LTV-2500

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Specs

• Lumens: 2,600
• Ports: 2 x HDMI, 1 x Ethernet, 1 x AV-in, 1 x Optical
• Speakers: Yes
• Price: $2,998

Pros

• Very high luminosity
• Ultra short throw
• 3D film support

Cons

• Price

AWOL Vision’s LTV-2500 is an incredible indulgence for the most persnickety media viewer—especially those without a lot of space. This is a short-throw triple-laser projector, which means it can create a 100-plus-inch screen while being only a foot or so away from your wall. The projector itself is significantly larger than any of our other recommendations, but the fact that you don’t need to keep it several feet away from your wall means it can fit neatly on top of any entertainment center. If you’re swapping out a TV for a 4K laser projector, the LTV-2500 will provide the smoothest transition, which is especially helpful if you’ve already set up an AV receiver with a surround sound system. If you don’t have speakers set up, you’ll appreciate that the LTV’s audio system can play back Dolby Atmos surround sound audio natively.

The LTV-2500 supports all the most popular video technologies, from HDR 10+ to Dolby Vision, with 2,600 lumens plus support for over 1 billion colors and 147 percent of DCI-P3, and it also actively supports 3D video. If you have a pair of active shutter 3D glasses, a Blu-ray player that supports 3D movies, and a cache of 3D films, you can enjoy them in their full fidelity. This is surprising considering how badly 3D movies sold, but it’s a welcome feature if you’d like to play your entire movie library in the highest possible quality with every feature intact.

This projector doesn’t run an operating system, but AWOL Vision includes an Amazon Fire Stick 4K Max, which you can use to stream content from any popular streaming service. It’s a pain to burn one of its two HDMI ports on a media streamer, especially given the LTV-2500’s high price, but this won’t be an issue if you connect a game console or other multifunctional device with access to Netflix, YouTube, and other services. If you’d like to set up a home theater system with a 4K projector but don’t have a lot of room, AWOL Vision’s LTV-2500 is the best choice.

Best design: JMGO N1 Ultra

SEE IT

Specs

• Lumens: 2,200
• Ports: 2 x HDMI, 1 x USB-A, 1 x headphone jack
• Speakers: Yes
• Price: $2,299

Pros

• “Freestyle” flexible design
• Great video quality
• Solid image correction

Cons

• No Netflix

We’re wary of any gadget that seems to be predicated on a gimmick, but JMGO’s N1 Ultra isn’t a one-trick pony. Its standout feature is that the triple-laser projector is suspended on top of its stand, allowing you to tilt it upward and downward up to 135 degrees easily. And its gimbal allows for a 360-degree horizontal pan. This comes in handy if you’re trying to position it just so or want to project your video onto a ceiling for a limited time. In our experience, the N1 Ultra’s flexibility was a huge asset. Moving it was simple, but the 4K projector never tilted on its own; JMGO managed to tweak its torque to avoid accidents.

We tested the N1 Ultra and its 2,200 CVIA lumens/HDR10 support/1600:1 contrast ratio during extended play sessions of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and it allowed us to take in the verdant green hills, snowy peaks, and harsh deserts of Hyrule in their full fidelity. The projector was bright enough to compete with light leaking through curtains in our testing space, with no big picture quality loss, thanks in part to Auto Adaptive Brightness, Auto Keystone Correction, Smart Object Avoidance, Auto Screen Fitting, and more smart features. Video from streaming services also looked sharp, though the lack of Netflix on Google TV proved troublesome once again. 4K videos from professional YouTubers were a treat for the eyes, however. Where sound is concerned, the 10Wx2 speaker system was solid, though it couldn’t quite match the fidelity of the speakers built into XGIMI’s Horizon Ultra.

Still, if you’d like a 4K projector that’s easy to tweak and whose eye-catching design isn’t just for show, JMGO’s N1 Ultra is more than worth a look.

Best for bright rooms: Dangbei Mars Pro 4K

SEE IT

Specs

• Lumens: 3,200
• Ports: 2 x HDMI, 2 x USB-A, 1 X Ethernet, 1 X optical audio, 1 x headphone jack
• Speakers: Yes
• Price: $1,599

Pros

• Ultra bright
• Packed with ports
• Excellent audio quality

Cons

• No operating system

Dangbei’s Mars Pro 4K is well worth the investment for those in bright rooms and who desire booming sound. The ALPD projector’s literal bright spot is its 3,200 ANSI lumen bulb, which allowed the Mars Pro 4K to create a clear picture in a room with moderate light pollution. It’s still not suitable in a room with many windows at noon, but you don’t have to wait until night to turn it on. If you plan to set your home theater up in a living room rather than a basement and you get this projector, you’ll be fine. The Mars Pro has no built-in software, but Dengbe bundles it with an Android streaming dongle; you can also connect your media streamer of choice.

The Mars Pro supports HDR10/HLG high dynamic range formats, and our experience watching HD and ultra-high-definition content was fantastic. Colors popped, and a great amount of detail was present even in HD footage and games. We projected a screen roughly 100 inches wide (you can go up to 200), but the projector’s autofocus kept the entire frame looking sharp. Similarly, the Mars Pro 4K’s 10Wx2 audio system delivered a nice punch—though a little treble-heavy—when watching videos or playing games with the volume cranked up. That said, you won’t need to connect this projector to a speaker system if you don’t want to.

If you’re queasy about setting up a 4K projector because the room it’ll be in gets natural light for part of the day, the ultra-bright Dangbei Mars Pro 4K is the one to get.

Best budget: XGIMI Horizon Pro

SEE IT

Specs

• Lumens: 1,500
• Ports: 2 x HDMI, 2 x USB-A, 1 x Ethernet, 1 x AUX, 1 x Optical
• Speakers: Yes
• Price: $1,199

Pros

• Good color reproduction
• Solid speakers
• Price

Cons

• Not quite as performant

XGIMI’s Horizon Pro is a step down in performance from our best overall pick, but it’s still a solid choice if you need a 4K projector on a slightly lower budget. It has an eight-watt dual speaker audio system courtesy of Harman Kardon, is packed with every necessary port, and runs on Google TV. While it matches its more expensive technical sibling in luminosity, its speaker system is weaker, and it uses previous-generation video hardware so that color reproduction won’t be quite as good. You’ll still get a great-looking clear picture, but projectors have progressed since the Horizon Pro’s launch. Still, it has all of the essential features you’d need from a 4K projector, from support for HDR, AI brightness adjustment, and a competent auto-focus system. If you’re looking for a home theater upgrade that won’t break the bank, you’ll find it here.

FAQs

What to consider when shopping for the best 4K projector for you

There are many factors to consider when deciding which 4K projector is right for you. Here are the factors we considered most important when writing this guide:

Luminosity

The brightness of a projector’s bulb is measured in lumens; the higher its luminosity, the brighter its picture—though there are different scales (ANSI vs. ISO), so keep an eye on the spec specifics. Luminosity is important because it allows your projector to overcome light pollution from the sun, lamps, or fluorescent sources. Light pollution washes out a projector’s ability to project a picture, making it look washed out or harder to see. A brighter picture is also easier to see regardless of how much external light is in the room, so you need to gauge your environment, especially if you need a projector for daylight viewing. If you have a dark(er) space, a projector’s luminosity is outranked in importance by its resolution, but all models here are 4K, offering 3840 pixels across and 2160 up and down.

Throw distance

A projector’s throw distance determines the picture size based on how far it is from a wall. “Short-throw” style projectors can be very close to a wall while still making a large picture, making them ideal for smaller spaces. Meanwhile, a typical long-throw projector works best when installed between eight and 10 feet away from your wall. Be mindful that wall space is key regardless of what type of 4K projector you get. You won’t get as much out of your projector if you don’t have enough room. This tool can help you evaluate your throw distance-to-screen size ratio.

Maximum screen size

Every 4K projector we recommend can project a picture over 100 inches long, with most capable of reaching 200. Maximum size will ultimately be determined by its throw distance and how much wall space you can provide. Because these projectors have such a high resolution, you shouldn’t deal with any significant loss in picture quality, even on an ultra-large screen.

Port selection

A 4K projector’s ports (sometimes known as inputs) will determine the types of components (e.g., game console, Blu-Ray player, streaming device) you can connect to it. Our 4K projector recommendations have at least one HDMI port—most have two—which means you can plug just about any audio or video gadget into it. Many of our recommendations also have a headphone jack or other audio out port, which allows you to connect them to external speakers for better sound.

Speakers

All 4K projectors in this guide have built-in speakers, which is helpful if you prioritize portability. Many of the speaker systems on these higher-end projectors are surprisingly robust, so you won’t need to plug in an external set to get good sound. If you want the full home theater experience, you’ll still need an AV receiver and surround sound speaker set.

Smart features

One of the standard features of premium 4K projectors is the ability to stream movies and TV shows from the most popular services directly from the device itself. Hardware makers have partnered with Google to allow their projectors to run on Google TV, a software platform that competes with FireOS and Roku.

Final thoughts on the best 4K projectors

• Best overall: XGIMI Horizon Ultra
• Best splurge: AWOL Vision LTV-2500
• Best design: JMGO N1 Ultra
• Best for bright rooms: Dangbei Mars Pro
• Best budget: XGIMI Horizon Pro

A 4K projector is still a luxury, but one that’s become significantly more attainable recently. We’re comfortable recommending them to anyone serious about setting up a home theater room in their home, even if one doesn’t set up a surround sound system right away. Setting up a 4K projector now means not having to think about a home theater upgrade for years since improvements to bulb brightness and color fidelity aren’t improving by leaps and bounds annually. If you’re looking for an entire home theater in a single box, a 4K projector is the best option.

Why trust us

Popular Science started writing about technology more than 150 years ago. There was no such thing as “gadget writing” when we published our first issue in 1872, but if there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for everyday readers means we would have been all over it. Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now.

Our writers and editors have combined decades of experience covering and reviewing consumer electronics. We each have our own obsessive specialties—from high-end audio to video games to cameras and beyond—but when we’re reviewing devices outside of our immediate wheelhouses, we do our best to seek out trustworthy voices and opinions to help guide people to the very best recommendations. We know we don’t know everything, but we’re excited to live through the analysis paralysis that internet shopping can spur so readers don’t have to.

The post The best 4K projectors in 2024, tested and reviewed appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Best overall		Sonos Ray		SEE IT	This ultra-compact soundbar surprised us with its audio quality and tight integration with Sonos’ other speakers.
Best smart		Roku Streambar Pro		SEE IT	A built-in 4K media streamer and surprisingly good sound help Roku’s Streambar Pro stand out.
Best budget		JBL Bar 2.0		SEE IT	This $120 soundbar has all the essential features to sound a lot better than your TV’s built-in speakers.

The only drawback to the trend of TVs getting slimmer is the lack of space for a decent speaker system, which is where a budget soundbar comes in. This inexpensive home theater upgrade will make a big difference in how much you enjoy watching movies and TV shows or playing video games. While many of these soundbars are slim in their own right, they’re thick enough to accommodate larger drivers and amplifiers than the ones built into your TV. The best budget soundbars punch above their weight and deliver audio quality without breaking the bank.

• Best overall: Sonos Ray
• Best splurge: JBL Bar 300
• Best smart: Roku Streambar Pro
• Best bass: Yamaha Audio SR-C20A
• Best budget: JBL Bar 2.0

How we chose the best budget soundbars

Our recommendations for the best budget soundbars are based on extensive research and hands-on testing. We spend a lot of time in front of top-of-the-line flatscreens, so we watched movies and TV shows, played video games, and listened to music to identify soundbars worthy of those vivid images. We also assessed whether they had advanced audio features like virtual surround sound, built-in Wi-Fi, and multiple means of connectivity—both cordless and cabled. Cost was also a factor we considered when making our recommendations.

The best budget soundbars: Reviews & Recommendations

Prepared to ditch your TV’s crummy integrated speakers without investing in a space- and budget-hungry traditional home theater setup? The best budget soundbars are a cost-effective solution that’ll make an immediate difference.

Best overall: Sonos Ray

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Specs

• Size: 3.74 x 22 x 2.79 inches
• Surround sound: Yes with additional components
• Price: $279

Pros

• Audio quality
• Narrow size
• Optional surround sound capability

Cons

• Price
• No HDMI port

Sonos speakers are known for their quality and longevity but are typically more expensive than the competition. While the Sonos Ray is the second most expensive option we’re recommending, it’s also the best-sounding affordable soundbar. Dialogue sounded clear when watching movies and TV shows, and loud sounds (think explosions) didn’t overload the drivers, which can lead to distortion. This balance of intelligibility and impact is especially impressive given that the Sonos Ray is the narrowest budget soundbar in our guide. Regarding connectivity, the Ray is the only soundbar in our guide that doesn’t feature an HDMI port. Its performance over optical audio is laudable, as is its support for wireless audio streaming via AirPlay 2 or the Sonos Connect app. However, we’d have preferred HDMI as it typically delivers the most consistent experience. Optical audio can be a little shaky depending on your TV, and while we didn’t run into any trouble, that may not be the case for you.

One of Sonos’ design decisions with this soundbar was to set up the drivers in an optimized forward-facing configuration, which means sound won’t bounce off the sides of an entertainment center if you keep it in an enclosed area. These customized acoustics, aided by proprietary Trueplay processing that EQs the soundbar for your space, make the Ray sound consistent regardless of where it’s placed. While the Sonos Ray’s firmly centered soundstage is impressive in its own right, you can wirelessly pair it with Sonos Era 100 speakers and a Sonos Sub Mini subwoofer to create a compact 5.1 surround sound system. The Sonos Ray doesn’t support Dolby Atmos/7.1, but adding satellites and a sub will provide a more immersive experience than the soundbar will on its own. And even if you stick to stereo, you won’t find any glaring audio flaws when listening to the Sonos Ray solo.

Much like its big brother, the Beam (Gen. 2), is our top soundbar pick under $500, the Sonos Ray is the best soundbar under $300.

Best splurge: JBL Bar 300

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Specs

• Size: 4.1 x 32.3 x 2.2 inches
• Surround sound: Yes, virtual Dolby Atmos
• Price: $399.95

Pros

• Built-in surround sound capabilities
• AirPlay, Alexa, and Chromecast support
• An HDMI input

Cons

• Price

JBL’s Bar 300 is the most premium budget soundbar we feel comfortable recommending, and while its price is higher than our other recommendations, the technology inside justifies the cost. Thanks to forward and angled drivers, the Bar 300 supports Dolby Atmos virtual spatial audio without any additional hardware. This design choice is why this budget soundbar for TVs is so wide, so make sure your stand/credenza is large enough to accommodate it. The Bar 300 is also one of the only budget soundbars in this guide featuring a built-in subwoofer to deliver better bass performance right out of the box. While most soundbars require a separate subwoofer to flesh out the low end, the Bar 300 is pretty compact.

This is the ultimate budget soundbar when it comes to connectivity. JBL equipped the Bar 300 with an HDMI eARC port with 4K Dolby Vision passthrough for connecting to your television, an HDMI input (very helpful if you have a PlayStation 5 and/or a Blu-ray player and/or multiple streaming devices, etc.), an optical audio port, and support for Wi-Fi streaming via AirPlay 2. This soundbar also has a built-in Chromecast and support for Amazon’s Alexa, so you can add it to your smart home and control it totally hands-free. Audio features like JBL’s PureVoice ensure dialogue doesn’t get drowned out in a loud scene, while its 260-watt amplifier provides more than enough power to offer a movie theater-like presentation of that scene at home. If surround sound and flexible connectivity are must-have features, JBL’s Bar 300 is well worth its premium price.

Best smart: Roku Streambar Pro

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Specs

• Size: 2.8 x 32.2 x 3.9 inches
• Surround sound: Yes
• Price: $179.99

Pros

• Built-in Roku player
• Can be connected to additional speakers for surround sound
• Especially cost-effective for older TVs

Cons

• Best if you like Roku’s platform

We chose Roku’s Streambar Pro as one of the best soundbars at any price, but it’s an especially good get for those looking for great audio under $200. We’re inherently skeptical of multi-use gadgets, but Roku’s Streambar Pro is an exception. The soundbar has a 4K Roku media streamer built inside, which can turn an old TV into a smart one. This is especially nice if you’ve cut cable and need a simple way to stream TV shows and movies from online services. The Streambar Pro can be used with any device plugged into your TV—even competing media streamers—but the value of its built-in streaming hardware is part of what makes this soundbar such a great value.

The Streambar Pro’s other strong suit is its surprisingly good audio quality. We say surprisingly because we didn’t expect quite as much vocal clarity or stereo separation from a soundbar at this price point. If you typically struggle to hear what people are saying in movies or find the sound of explosions lacking in action-packed sequences, this soundbar will satisfy you. Roku didn’t pack any surround sound features into the soundbar itself but redirected those engineering resources into developing its Wireless Bass Pro subwoofer and Roku Wireless Speakers. Adding these speakers to your setup will allow you to enjoy your media in true surround sound without connecting any cables.

Most budget soundbars can only perform one task well, but the Streambar Pro works on two fronts without sacrificing the quality of either.

Best bass: Yamaha Audio SR-C20A

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Specs

• Size: 5.98 x 25.98 x 5.98 inches
• Surround sound: No
• Price: $179.95

Pros

• Built-in subwoofer
• Plenty of connectivity
• Built-in Bluetooth

Cons

• No surround sound capabilities

If you’re all about that bass when listening to music and watching movies, Yamaha’s SR-C20A is your ideal soundbar. It costs roughly half the price of JBL’s Bar 300 but is also one of the soundbars with subwoofers, which makes this a competent compact stereo soundbar. It cannot be integrated into a surround sound system, which may or may not be a loss depending on your home theater intentions. If the loss of that feature doesn’t bother you, the SR-C20A won’t disappoint.

Yamaha equipped its budget soundbar with a bevy of physical ports—one HDMI, two optical audio, and an aux jack—plus support for Bluetooth for wireless audio streaming from external devices. The soundbar’s built-in subwoofer is its marquee feature, but it also supports clear voice, a setting that highlights certain frequencies to improve the listenability of dialogue, and virtual surround sound, which can’t match the real thing but is better than nothing. Yamaha also considers this soundbar suitable for PC gamers who want better-sounding audio but don’t want to dedicate desk space to a pair of traditional powered computer speakers.

If you’re dissatisfied with the oomph of your TV’s built-in speakers, Yamaha’s SR-C20A is the solution you’ve been looking for.

Best budget: JBL Bar 2.0

SEE IT

Specs

• Size: 3.5 x 24.2 x 2.2 inches
• Surround sound: No
• Price: $199.95

Pros

• Wired and wireless connectivity
• Short design
• Price

Cons

• No surround sound capabilities

It’s hard to know what to expect from a soundbar typically offered for $120, but JBL managed to pack its Bar 2.0 with all the essential features. The only thing this cheap soundbar lacks is true surround sound support—but that’s to be expected from a gadget at this price. In every other way, JBL created a competitive soundbar for an unbelievable price. The Bar 2.0 has every common audio and video connector, plus support for Bluetooth. While the latter feature is common in more premium budget soundbars, it’s great to see it in our least expensive recommendation.

One of the Bar 2.0’s underrated features is its short stature. This is the shortest high-quality budget soundbar we could find, which is a big deal. Some soundbars are tall enough to block your TV’s IR receiver or even poke above its screen, partially cutting off the bottom part of your image. This isn’t a problem with the Bar 2.0, which can slip neatly underneath your set with no issues. While its list of extra features is barebones, JBL’s Bar 2.0 will be a significant audio upgrade over your TV’s built-in speakers and won’t require a big up-front investment.

What to consider when choosing the best budget soundbar for you

There are many factors to weigh when deciding which budget soundbar best fits your needs. Here are the ones we considered most important when compiling this guide:

Connectivity

Almost all the soundbars we recommend can be connected to a TV using an HDMI cable, the most reliable means of connectivity. Be sure to connect the budget soundbar to your TV’s HDMI ARC/eARC (Audio Return Channel) port for the best results. Some may be connected to your TV using an optical audio cable, too. Some soundbars also offer Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, which allows you to stream audio to them wirelessly from a smartphone, tablet, or computer.

Surround sound

Some of the budget soundbars in our guide can be augmented with additional speakers to create a more traditional surround sound system. Doing so will raise the overall price of your home theater, but you can put it together in pieces to spread the cost over a longer period of time. Setting up a surround sound system will create a more immersive environment when enjoying your favorite videos and games.

Size

Bigger typically means better in the audio world, but we understand not everybody has a big space for their home theater. Our recommendations run the gamut on size, so you can find one that fits any setup. Be mindful that wider soundbars will provide more noticeable stereo separation and may accommodate additional drivers.

FAQs

Final thoughts on the best budget soundbars

• Best overall: Sonos Ray
• Best splurge: JBL Bar 300
• Best smart: Roku Streambar Pro
• Best bass: Yamaha Audio SR-C20A
• Best budget: JBL Bar 2.0

Budget soundbars have come a long way in just the past couple of years, with many audio companies opting to give them features that were previously available on midrange to high-end models. The option to augment a budget soundbar with additional speakers or stream media to it directly over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi extends its usability significantly. Advancements in audio technology mean it’s possible to fit better-sounding hardware into a soundbar without significantly raising its price.

Why trust us

Popular Science started writing about technology more than 150 years ago. There was no such thing as “gadget writing” when we published our first issue in 1872, but if there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for everyday readers means we would have been all over it. Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now.

Our writers and editors have combined decades of experience covering and reviewing consumer electronics. We each have our own obsessive specialties—from high-end audio to video games to cameras and beyond—but when we’re reviewing devices outside of our immediate wheelhouses, we do our best to seek out trustworthy voices and opinions to help guide people to the very best recommendations. We know we don’t know everything, but we’re excited to live through the analysis paralysis that internet shopping can spur so readers don’t have to.

The post The best budget soundbars for 2024 appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Best overall		Epson Pro EX7280		SEE IT	A relatively inexpensive projector with excellent quality in daytime viewing scenarios.
Best for gaming		BenQ TK700 4K HDR Gaming Projector		SEE IT	An excellent quality projector for gaming in daylight scenarios.
Best budget		DBPOWER Native 1080P 5G 4K WiFi Projector		SEE IT	An inexpensive projector that will do a decent job for daytime viewing.

Projectors can give your home a real theater feel with a huge screen and cinema-quality visuals. Unfortunately, daylight viewing can be a challenge. For most projectors, you need a very dim or completely dark setting to optimize the image quality. In other words, if you were showing it indoors, you had to show it in a movie theater-like setting, or if you wanted to show it outdoors, you needed to wait until nighttime. But today’s projector technologies and features continue to evolve, allowing some of them to be effective in scenarios that let you project a movie when it’s not completely dark. The best projectors for daylight viewing have the power they need to upgrade your midday Price is Right viewings as well as your movie nights.

• Best overall: Epson Pro EX7280 3-Chip 3LCD WXGA Projector 
• Best outdoor: Nebula Mars 3 Outdoor Portable Projector
• Best for gaming: BenQ TK700 4K HDR Gaming Projector
• Best splurge: BenQ HT5550 True 4K UHD Home Theater Projector
• Best budget: DBPOWER Native 1080P 5G 4K WiFi Projector

How we chose the best projectors for daylight viewing

When considering the best projectors for daylight viewing, I relied on my own experience as a technology journalist and testing expert who has worked with and consulted many professionals in the TV and AV worlds to find out which ones they prefer. I also read various trade journals and websites and looked through forums, comments, and user reviews to see typical real-world experiences. We obviously focused on the price of the product as well as image quality, but we also considered other important specs and features, such as brightness, color, and contrast, and also what kind of technology was used to generate the image. Size and weight played a role, particularly in units meant to be portable.

The best projectors for daylight viewing: Reviews & Recommendations

Picking an outdoor movie projector and/or one for daylight viewing requires some specific considerations. The following list is our choices for the best. 

Best overall: Epson Pro EX7280 3-Chip 3LCD WXGA Projector 

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Specs

• Resolution: 1280 x 800 
• Inputs and connectivity: HDMI, USB 
• Product dimensions: ‎11.9 x 9.3 x 3.6 inches
• Product weight: 5.7 pounds

Pros

• Rated for 4,000 lumens 
• Uses advanced 3-chip 3LCD technology for excellent color
• Has 16,000: 1 contrast ratio
• Price: $599

Cons

• Resolution might not be as detailed as others in its class.
• Can’t connect wirelessly

For a projector to compete with the sun’s power, it generally needs to have a rating of either 3,000 lumens or 1,000 ANSI lumens. By and large, you’ll need to spend more than $1,000 for such a projector. But this Epson is a great value because it has 4,000 lumens yet is priced well below $1,000. It also comes with Epson’s advanced 3-chip 3LCD technology for excellent color. It’s not perfect, though. It has lower resolution, just 1280 x 800, than other top-rated models in its class. It also doesn’t offer wireless or Bluetooth connectivity. So, you’re limited to wired connections, but that’s likely what you’ll prefer anyway for judder-free playback. 

Best outdoor: Nebula Mars 3 Outdoor Portable Projector

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Specs

• Resolution: 1920 x 1080
• Inputs and connectivity: HDMI, USB-C, USB, Aux Out, Wi-Fi
• Product dimensions: 6.29 x 10.23 x 9.84 inches
• Product weight: 6.6 pounds
• Price: $979

Pros

• Provides excellent image quality in outdoor settings 
• Has a water- and dust-resistant exterior
• Includes a built-in rechargeable battery 
• Comes with a powerful speaker

Cons

• Nothing significant 

Rated at 1,000 ANSI lumens, it provides enough brightness for daytime viewing. It also has a built-in, rechargeable battery that allows five hours of projection and a built-in 40-watt, multidirectional speaker that includes Dolby Digital Plus for excellent quality audio. Additional features reinforce how this projector is designed to work in many outdoor settings: It has an IPX3 water- and dust-resistant exterior. Plus, it comes with a built-in stand, a lens cover, a camping light, a power indicator, integrated controls, and a convenient carry handle (while not a mini projector, it’s highly portable). It even has keystone correction and autofocusing capabilities.

Best for gaming: BenQ TK700 4K HDR Gaming Projector

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Specs

• Resolution: Resolution: 3840 x 2160
• Inputs and connectivity: HDMI, USB 
• Product dimensions: 12.3 x 9.7 x 4.3 inches 
• Product weight: 6.8 pounds
• Price: $1,298

Pros

• Has detailed 4K resolution 
• Excellent response time, with very little lag
• Compatible with most gaming systems

Cons

• A bit pricey
• Lacks Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity

Although it’s a tad pricey, this model gives you a lot for the money, and if you’re looking for a projector for gaming, it’s ideal. That’s because you want to ensure it’s very responsive when playing. In other words, it doesn’t have any lag when playing games: it has just 16ms at 4K resolution settings. This projector is also rated at 3,200 lumens, which means it can project a bright enough image during daytime settings. What’s also nice is that this projector is designed to be compatible with various gaming consoles, including Sony PS4 and PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X, and more. However, it lacks the ability to connect via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

Best splurge: BenQ HT5550 True 4K UHD Home Theater Projector

SEE IT

Specs

• Resolution: 3840 x 2160
• Inputs and connectivity: HDMI, USB, Ethernet, audio out
• Product dimensions: 23.3 x 19.5 x 11.7 inches
• Product weight: 14.3 pounds
• Price: $2,424

Pros

• Projects superb 4K resolution video
• Excellent color fidelity 
• Includes support for HDR, for better detail in darks and highlights
• Has a 100,000:1 contrast ratio

Cons

• Very expensive
• Lacks Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity

This model is very pricey, but if you’re looking for a projector that provides a great home-theater experience with exceptional 4K-quality video in daytime settings, this model is ideal. For starters, it has an 1,800 ANSI lumens rating, which means it has a very bright image that won’t wash out, even when the sun is shining. It also comes with BenQ’s cinematic color technology for rich, vivid colors. It also has HDR support and an incredibly wide contrast ratio of 100,000:1. However, it’s not perfect and does fall short in a few areas. For instance, it doesn’t include Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity. But if you want true 4K playback, that won’t really come into play anyway.

Best budget: DBPOWER Native 1080P 5G 4K WiFi Projector

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Specs

• Resolution: 1920 x 1080 
• Inputs and connectivity: HDMI, USB, audio out, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Screen Mirroring
• Product dimensions: 10.2 x 9 x 4.3 inches
• Product weight: 7.17 pounds

Pros

• Very inexpensive 
• It has a 10,000:1 contrast ratio
• Wireless connectivity
• Includes keystone correction

Cons

• Image isn’t as bright as more expensive projects

Unless your projector is rated at 1,000 ANSI lumens or 3,000 lumens, you’ll have a difficult time using your projector in daytime settings since the image won’t be bright enough. However, with this inexpensive Full HD-resolution projector, rated at just 500 ANSI lumens, you can still get a relatively bright image since it comes with a 10,000:1 contrast ratio, allowing you to achieve a somewhat brighter image. It can’t compete with top-rated 4K models like the XGIMI Horizon Ultra (which is 2,300 ISO lumens but $1,400 more—making it another excellent splurge option). But it will fit the bill for those shopping under $500. It also allows you to connect wirelessly with your smartphone, which can be handy. Plus, you get a 4-point keystone correction control and the ability to digitally zoom.

Features to consider when shopping for a projector for daylight viewing 

The same features you’ll look for in regular projectors are those you’ll find in projectors you’ll use for daylight viewing. However, some features will be more important during daylight viewing than others. But before we examine the important features you’ll find on various projectors, here’s a short list of abbreviations and names of projector types that are currently available in the market:

• LCD: Liquid Crystal Display projector
• DLP: Digital Light Processing projector
• LED: Light-Emitting Diode projector
• Laser: Laser projector

Now that you know what kinds of projectors are available, here are some of the features you’ll want to know about before you buy one: 

Brightness

When you’re looking for a projector to use for daytime viewing, brightness is particularly important because it needs to compete with sunlight. In other words, your projected image is always in danger of being washed out by the powerful illumination of the sun. So, to determine the brightness of a projector, look at how many lumens it’s rated at, specifically using the standard for ANSI lumens. The higher the number, the brighter the projected picture will be. But you’ll generally need a projector that has at least 3,000 lumens or 1,000 ANSI lumens.  

Resolution

As a rule of thumb, the larger the image you’re looking for your projector to create, the higher the resolution you will need. So, if your projector is 10 feet away from the screen and the resolution is in 4K (3860 x 2160), the footage will potentially look more detailed than a projected image in 1080 (1920 x 1080) projected from the same distance from the screen. However, if you move the project closer to the screen, the size of the image decreases, but the detail increases. Conversely, moving the projector further away from the screen increases the image size. 

Contrast ratio 

The contrast is the ratio of dark to light in an image or video footage, affecting how sharp, vivid, and detailed a movie appears. The technical specification is generally presented in the following format: “3000:1.” This means that the image’s whitest area is 3000 times brighter than its darkest dark. 

Throw distance 

This term refers to the distance between the projector and the image on the screen. If you have two projectors, one that has a short throw lens and one that doesn’t, a projector that uses a short throw lens (which is a projector that’s positioned anywhere from 3 to 8 feet away from the screen) can produce a larger image than one that doesn’t use such a lens. There are also projectors that come with ultra-short throw lenses (a projector positioned anywhere from 0 to 4 feet away from the screen).

Other features to consider: 

Depending on how much you’re willing to spend, you can sometimes find a projector with wide array of features that you might never use. However, although the following aren’t essential, they’re still important for most. Here are some additional features to consider: 

• Audio: Hollywood film directors often say that audio is one of the most overlooked elements of the movies they make. So, before you buy a new projector, consider what audio features are built-in and if there are ways to connect an external speaker.
• Portability: If you plan on traveling with your projector, consider its size and weight. Some models are very compact and lightweight that they can easily fit into a backpack. Also, see if it has a rechargeable battery in case you don’t have access to a power outlet. 
• Connectivity: Examine the Wi-Fi settings and wired (HDMI or other) connections on the model you want to buy. If you’re going wireless, make sure you have a good signal if you intend to stream media to your device. Wired connections allow you to hook up to a host of devices, including your laptop or a Blu-ray player.

FAQs

Final thoughts when picking from the best projectors for daylight viewing

• Best overall: Epson Pro EX7280 3-Chip 3LCD WXGA Projector 
• Best outdoor: Nebula Mars 3 Outdoor Portable Projector
• Best for gaming: BenQ TK700 4K HDR Gaming Projector
• Best splurge: BenQ HT5550 True 4K UHD Home Theater Projector
• Best budget: DBPOWER Native 1080P 5G 4K WiFi Projector

If you’re considering using a projector in outside settings, see if the model you intend to buy has features that make it rugged and waterproof. Some models even have water- and dust-resistant exteriors, which can help extend the life of your projector if you’re using it outdoors. Also, see if your model comes with a rechargeable battery: Even indoors, you may not always have access to a power outlet for your projector. So, a built-in rechargeable battery can be very handy in such scenarios.  

Why trust us

Popular Science started writing about technology more than 150 years ago. There was no such thing as “gadget writing” when we published our first issue in 1872, but if there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for everyday readers means we would have been all over it. Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now.

Our writers and editors have combined decades of experience covering and reviewing consumer electronics. We each have our own obsessive specialties—from high-end audio to video games to cameras and beyond—but when we’re reviewing devices outside of our immediate wheelhouses, we do our best to seek out trustworthy voices and opinions to help guide people to the very best recommendations. We know we don’t know everything, but we’re excited to live through the analysis paralysis that internet shopping can spur so readers don’t have to.

The post The best projectors for daylight viewing in 2024 appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Best overall		Nebula Capsule Max		SEE IT	For the price, this projector offers great quality in a compact body that’s also very portable.
Best color performance		Epson EpiqVision Flex		SEE IT	You’ll find it hard to beat this price for a projector with such excellent, reliable color performance.
Best budget		VANKYO Leisure 3		SEE IT	If you’re looking for a very inexpensive projector, we’ve got the best option under $100 right here.

Looking around, you can see how we’re using more (and more affordable) projectors in our daily lives than ever before—thanks partly to the increasingly excellent projectors under $500. For example, we see them in many conference rooms for business meetings when we need to connect to our laptops to give a PowerPoint presentation. They’re also in the classrooms, at all levels of education, to show a YouTube project or a slideshow that students created using their smartphone cameras. Of course, we might still use projectors when we have friends and family over to watch the Super Bowl or the Oscars on TV via our streaming service. 

What does this mean for consumers? Well, for starters, the projector market is more competitive, which offers more choices of models and better features than ever before. You’ll also see more than a dozen major brands, along with many lesser-known, up-and-coming brands, offering a variety of models in the space. When all those brands compete for the same pool of consumers looking to buy a projector, brands are forced to be on their mark. That’s why you’ll find projectors that are easier to use, last longer, and offer better features and technologies than ever before—which is important if you’re not only thinking about resolution (from HD to 4K) but also about flexible connectivity, both wired (HDMI, USB-C, etc.) and wireless (Wi-Fi, cellular, etc.). And you’ll find all of these factors and more in our selection of the best projectors under $500.

• Best overall: Nebula Capsule Max
• Best splurge: BenQ GV30 Portable Projector 
• Best color performance: Epson EpiqVision Flex
• Best for daytime viewing: AuKing Projector with WiFi and Bluetooth
• Best budget: VANKYO Leisure 3

How we chose the best projectors under $500

When considering the best projectors under $500, I relied on my experience as a technology journalist and testing expert who has worked with and consulted many professionals in the TV and AV worlds to find out which ones they prefer. I also read the work of fellow Popular Science writers, as well as that from a variety of trade journals and websites, and I looked through forums, comments, and user reviews to see what typical real-world experiences were like. We obviously focused on the price of the product as well as image quality, but we also considered other important specs and features, such as brightness, color, and contrast, and also what kind of technology was used to generate the image. Size and weight played a role, particularly in units meant to be portable.

The best projectors under $500: Reviews & Recommendations

During the film era of the last century, projectors were a niche product sold to those who could take the time to set it up properly and read through poorly written manuals to understand how to fix it before the hot lamp burned up the movie reel. Even when things went digital about 25 years ago, projectors were either difficult to set up and understand or didn’t offer quality. 

Today, much of that has changed, partly because we’re using projectors more than we ever have before, which is, in turn, driving up demand for portable projectors. In fact, according to various market research groups, the global portable projector market, which was valued at $15.6 billion in 2021, is expected to be worth $21.7 billion by 2028. It’s also why you’ll find more models with excellent quality than ever before, including our top five picks for the best projectors under $500.  

Best overall: Nebula Capsule Max

SEE IT

Specs

• Resolution: 1280 x 720p
• Inputs and connectivity: HDMI, USB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Screen Mirroring
• Product dimensions: 1.6 pounds
• Product weight: ‎3.15 x 3.15 x 5.91 inches

Pros

• Lightweight and compact 
• Very portable
• Includes lots of connectivity options
• Rechargable battery

Cons

• 720p resolution might not be detailed enough for some

At first glance, this projector looks very similar to a wireless speaker. However, its first job is to project an image–and it does quite a good job at that, particularly for a budget-priced model. It might not have the highest resolution (just 720p). However, it makes up for that by producing a clear, crisp, and bright picture, which is great for watching movies, playing games, or making presentations.  

There are a few other reasons why the Anker Nebula Capsule Max is an excellent choice for a budget-priced projector. For starters, it’s lightweight and very compact, which makes it so portable that you can throw it in your backpack. It comes with a rechargeable battery, for four hours of battery life (in battery mode). That’s great if you don’t have access to a power outlet. Additionally, it comes with great connectivity, both wired and wireless. 

Best splurge: BenQ GV30

SEE IT

Specs

• Resolution: 1280 x 720p
• Inputs and connectivity: HDMI, USB-C, Wi-Fi
• Product dimensions: 3.53 pounds 
• Product weight: 4.7 x 7.7 x 7.3 inches
• Pros

• Produces bright, clear, and sharp images
• Includes 2.1 channel Bluetooth speaker, with extra bass 
• Has reliable vibrant color performance
• Portable design

Cons

• 720p resolution might not be detailed enough for some 

There’s a lot to like about this inexpensive model from BenQ, which has a long history of making digital projectors (such as our top pick for golfing simulators). It has a very nice portable design, including a handle. The projection has the ability to autofocus. It also has a built-in battery, which is rated for 2.5 hours. And there’s even a vertical keystone adjustment feature to provide a rectangular projection when your projector isn’t perfectly perpendicular to the screen. 

Best color performance: Epson EpiqVision Flex

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Specs

• Resolution: 1200 x 800p
• Inputs and connectivity: HDMI, USB
• Product dimensions: 11.6 x 8.3 x 3.4 inches
• Product weight: 5.3 pounds

Pros

• Can project images up to 300 inches
• Uses advanced 3-chip 3LCD technology for excellent color 
• Includes a built-in speaker

Cons

• Although it’s technically better resolution than 720p, it’s just 800p, which isn’t as high as 1080p resolution
• No wireless connectivity

Epson has a long history of producing excellent quality digital projectors at many different price points. This one is great for those on a budget. For starters, the color is excellent on this, due to Epson’s advanced 3-chip 3LCD technology for excellent color brightness without any distracting “rainbowing” effects. It’s also able to cast an image up to 300 inches, which is a big image. But it isn’t perfect: For instance, although you can connect via wired connections, such as HDMI and USB, it lacks wireless connectivity.  

Best for daytime viewing: AuKing Projector with WiFi and Bluetooth

SEE IT

Specs

• Resolution: 1920 x 1080
• Inputs and connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5, HDMI, AV, USB
• Product dimensions: 7.6 x 6.2 x 2.7 inches
• Product weight: 3.8 pounds

Pros

• Inexpensive
• Provides you with daytime viewing
• Offers a nice selection of inputs 
• Has 1080 full HD resolution

Cons

• Image quality could be better

Although it’s generally ideal to have a dark environment to use a projector, it’s not always possible. For situations when you have to compete with a daylight environment, you’ll want to have a projector that can cast a bright image. What’s nice about this AuKing projector is that it can project a relatively bright image in daylight, although pricier models designed for daylight will do it better. It also has a good selection of wired and wireless connections. 

Best budget: VANKYO Leisure 3

SEE IT

Specs

• Resolution: 800 x 480
• Inputs and connectivity: HDMI, VGA, TF, AV, and USB
• Product dimensions: 7.9 x 5.9 x 3.1 inches
• Product weight: 2.1 pounds

Pros

• Very inexpensive
• Includes built-in speaker
• Very good selection of connectivity options

Cons

• Lower resolution than most in its class 
• Image is not that bright

This projector is great for those looking for a projector that costs under $200. In fact, we’ve found that this model costs just $68.99. Of course, it may not have a wide array of features that you’ll find on pricier models. But it does come with a nice selection of ways to connect, both wirelessly and wired. It also comes with a built-in speaker and is capable of streaming video via a streaming service. But the downside is that it has lower resolution than most in its class.  

What to consider when shopping for the best projectors under $500 

When you’re looking to buy a projector, even an inexpensive one, it can be confusing to figure out where to begin. That’s why it’s helpful to know what types of projectors are currently in the marketplace. So, before we examine the important features you’ll find on various projectors, here’s a short list of abbreviations and names of projector types that are currently available:

• LCD: Liquid crystal display projector
• DLP: Digital light processing projector
• LED: Light-emitting diode projector
• Laser: Laser projector

Now that you know what kinds of projectors are available, I’ve compiled a short list of important features and capabilities that you’ll want to know about before you buy one. However, you should be aware that because you’re buying a projector that costs less than $500, it’s very likely that it won’t have all the bells and whistles that you’ll find on an expensive top-of-the-line projector:   

Brightness

The brightness of a projector is measured in lumens (or ANSI lumens). The higher the number, the brighter the projected picture will be. A projector rated at 3,000 lumens will be three times as bright as one rated at 1,000 lumens. Most budget models have relatively low lumens–anywhere from 60 to 300 lumens.

Resolution

As a rule of thumb, the larger the image you’re looking for your projector to create, the higher the resolution you’re going to need. So, if your projector is 10 feet away from the screen and the resolution is in 4K (3860 x 2160), the footage will potentially look more detailed than a projected image in 1080 (1920 x 1080) projected from the same distance from the screen. However, if you move the project closer to the screen, the size of the image decreases, but the detail increases. Conversely, moving the projector further away from the screen increases the image size. 

Contrast ratio 

The contrast is the ratio of dark to light in an image or in video footage, which can affect how sharp, vivid, and detailed a movie appears. The technical specification is generally presented in the following format: “3000:1.” What this means is that the whitest area of the image is 3000 times brighter than its darkest dark. 

Throw distance 

This term refers to the distance between the projector and the image on the screen. If you have two projectors, one that has a short throw lens and one that doesn’t, a projector that uses a short throw lens (which is a projector that’s positioned anywhere from 3 to 8 feet away from the screen) can produce a larger image than one that doesn’t use such a lens. There are also projectors that come with ultra-short throw lenses (a projector positioned anywhere from 0 to 4 feet away from the screen).

Audio

More than one Hollywood film director has noted that audio is one of the most overlooked elements of the movies they make. That’s why it’s important to consider your projector’s audio. S, if your speakers seem inadequate, consider adding external speakers. (See the Final Word, below, for more on audio.)

Portability

As the name implies, consider the size and weight of the projector you want to buy. Some models are very compact and lightweight that they can easily fit into a backpack. Check the specs and determine if the model you intend to buy is portable enough for you. Also, see if it has a rechargeable battery in case you don’t have access to a power outlet. 

Connectivity

Examine the Wi-Fi settings and wired (HDMI or other) connection on the model you want to buy. If you’re going wireless, ensure you have a good signal if you intend to stream media. Wired connections allow you to hook up to a host of devices, including your laptop or a Blu-ray player. 

FAQs

Final thoughts on the best projectors under $500

• Best overall: Nebula Capsule Max
• Best splurge: BenQ GV30 Portable Projector 
• Best color performance: Epson EpiqVision Flex
• Best for daytime viewing: AuKing Projector with WiFi and Bluetooth
• Best budget: VANKYO Leisure 3

Since most of the models you’re looking at are budget models, it means that as far as projectors go, you’ll probably sacrifice some features. One you can address, however, is audio. A great way to improve the experience of watching movies, documentaries, home movies, and business presentations is to upgrade your projector’s sound system by connecting it to better-quality speakers (just be sure that the model you want to buy has the ability to accept external audio). Here are a few points to consider if you want to do this:

• Try connecting it to a soundbar, which can accept signal via an HDMI or 3.5mm audio out jack. It might also connect via Bluetooth.
• Get a powered outdoor speaker: If you’re having a larger type of event in your backyard where you need to crank up the volume, you can connect some sort of powered speaker to the projector (using various types of wired connections, like 3.5mm audio out cables). 
• Connect to a wireless speaker: Most wireless speakers connect via Bluetooth. Some models also have 3.5mm audio jacks (or aux in).

Whether or not you opt for an accessory to improve your projector experience, the good news is that a lower-priced model no longer means a greatly reduced visual experience if you pick one of our best budget selections.

Why trust us

Popular Science started writing about technology more than 150 years ago. There was no such thing as “gadget writing” when we published our first issue in 1872, but if there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for everyday readers means we would have been all over it. Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now.

Our writers and editors have combined decades of experience covering and reviewing consumer electronics. We each have our own obsessive specialties—from high-end audio to video games to cameras and beyond—but when we’re reviewing devices outside of our immediate wheelhouses, we do our best to seek out trustworthy voices and opinions to help guide people to the very best recommendations. We know we don’t know everything, but we’re excited to live through the analysis paralysis that internet shopping can spur so readers don’t have to.

The post The best projectors under $500 in 2024 appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

We’ve posted a lot of “Get this TV before the Super Bowl” deals lately. Like, a lot. This time, we really, really mean it: This 65-inch Samsung TV is 38% off, has a great processor, and will get to your home just in time for the Super Bowl.

SAMSUNG 65-Inch Class QLED 4K Q70C Series Quantum HDR Smart TV $799.99 (Was $1,297.99)

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Everything, from plays to cut-in shots of a particular mega-famous pop star sitting in a box, looks crisp and clear thanks to a Quantum Processor that transforms all your content into 4K gold. Motion Xcelerator Turbo+ (an excellent name for a product feature or a Mountain Dew flavor, by the way), keeps graphics running smooth and fast thanks to its 120Hz visual speed. With Amazon Prime, it comes to your door by Feb. 10. That’s plenty of time to get it set up and move your old one to a different area of your home so no one misses a single part of the game.

Here are more TV and projector deals we’re watching:

• SAMSUNG 55-Inch Class QLED 4K The Frame LS03B Series $997.99 (Was $1,497.99)
• Hisense 55-Inch Class U8 Series Mini-LED ULED 4K UHD Google Smart TV $697.98 (Was $1,099.99)
• Hisense 75-Inch Class U6HF Series ULED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV $629.99 (Was $1,149.99)
• ViewSonic X1000-4K True 4K UHD Ultra-Short Throw Projector $1,120.07 (Was $1,899.99)
• Amazon Fire TV 50″ 4-Series $299.99 (Was $449.99)
• Amazon Fire TV 55″ Omni Series 4K UHD smart TV $389.98 (Was $549.99)
• Amazon Fire TV 75″ Omni QLED Series 4K UHD smart TV $969.99 (Was $1,099.99)
• VIZIO 43-inch MQ6 Series 4K QLED HDR Smart TV $298 (Was $349.99)
• VIZIO 50-inch MQX-Series 4K 120Hz QLED HDR10+ Smart TV with Dolby Vision $498 (Was $629.99)
• Sony 55 Inch 4K Ultra HD TV X77L Series $498 (Was $589.99)

The post Last chance: Update your TV before the Super Bowl and save 38% on this Samsung QLED appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

The Chiefs and the 49ers are working hard to get ready for Super Bowl LVIII. You should be doing the same for your Super Bowl party, and the first step is upgrading your TV. Sony has slashed the price of its 75-Inch KD75X77L 4K set by $200, with free delivery on Feb. 8 if you order today. That gives you just enough time to clear off some space, familiarize yourself with its remote and settings, and up your snack game before guests arrive. This deal brings the 75-inch behemoth down to its lowest price ever.

Sony KD75X77L $798 (Was $998)

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The KD75X77L’s biggest asset is its huge 75-inch size, which guarantees everyone in the room will get a premium watching experience. The set also features Sony’s X1 processor, which is used to upscale HD content to look closer to true 4K, optimize color reproduction and contrast in real-time, and prevent blurring during fast-paced actions like sports. There are plenty of HDMI ports if you’d like to hook up a cable box, game console, and home theater equipment, and the KD75X77L runs Google TV, so you can get content directly from services including Paramount+, which will be streaming the Super Bowl this year.

Check out these other great Super Bowl TV deals:

• Hisense 75U6HF, $629.99 (Was $1,149.99)
• Hisense 100U76N, $1999.99 (Was $4,999.99)
• TCL 65Q650F, $499.99 (Was $699.99)
• Sony KD85X80K, $1,298 (Was $1,498)
• LG UQ7590, $996.99 (Was $1,199.99)
• Samsung QN85QN85C, $2,197.99 (was $3,797.99)
• Sony KD55X85K, $698 (Was $800.95)
• Sony KD75X77L, $798 (Was $998)

The post Last chance: Get a 75-inch Sony 4K TV for its lowest price ever before the Super Bowl appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Since the introduction of 8K resolution TVs in 2019, two questions have dominated the discourse: What is 8K, and is it worth it? Television innovation throughout the 20th century focused more on color, display type, screen size, and weight/portability, but in the 2000s, things have moved faster and faster in the realm of resolution. The last big jump in television resolutions—Ultra HD, aka 4K—was only available to consumers a scant seven years earlier. Now, there’s this newer, visibly superior format, but the technical differences—and the availability of media that takes advantage of those differences—still leave questions as to whether 8K is right for your home media center. So, whether it’s the Super Bowl or Champions League, movie night or next-gen. gaming that’s got an 8K TV upgrade on your mind, we’re here to give you the big picture on the big pixel count.

What is 8K resolution?

Resolution is the number of pixels that comprise the image on a screen. Screens are built to only be able to handle a maximum resolution. Lower resolutions are typically “upscaled” to fill the screen, which means that a chipset embedded in the TV’s hardware recognizes that the digital video signal input is below the maximum resolution, and an algorithm “fills in” extra pixels in order to simulate the higher resolution. AI and deep learning are playing an increasing part in this. For example, Samsung unveiled its 2024 TV lineup at CES in January and heavily promoted its NQ8 AI Gen3 processor’s increased neutral networks and its ability to follow the onscreen action and counter motion smear, enhance clarity, and sharpen content. Upscaling works really well from 1080p (aka “Full HD”) to 4K (aka “Ultra HD”) and 4K to 8K because all those resolutions are built on the same ratio. A 1080p TV has a resolution of 1920 pixels (horizontal) by 1080 pixels (vertical). 4K is twice that, 3840 pixels by 2160 pixels. 8K, the highest available resolution on the market, is 7680 pixels by 4320 pixels.

Why is it called “8K?”

“8K” is essentially a marketing term, based on the resolution being twice that of the previous generation’s “4K.” The designation 4K referred to the horizontal pixel count, 3860, which was rounded up to 4000. 4K and “Ultra HD” (or “UHD”) were competing marketing terms for its generation of TVs (just as “1080p” and “Full HD” competed the generation before), and 4K won out amongst consumers as the best way to describe these screens or devices that could record in this resolution. “8K” continues the naming convention.

What is 8K DCI?

OK, I spoke too quickly above. While the “standard” 8K resolution is 7680 pixels by 4320 pixels, a second 8K resolution is longer horizontally at 8192 pixels. This wider format is called 8K DCI, with DCI standing for “Digital Cinema Initiatives.” With the advent of digital projection and production technologies replacing film, the movie studios came together to create a standard resolution for digitally shot or displayed movies. These DCI ratios existed for full HD (2048 x 1080) and 4K (4096 x 2160) and now for 8K. The goal of DCI was for digital film to still have a “cinematic” size different from the home-viewing ratio. Typically, films that are originally in 8K DCI will have black bars at the top and bottom when displayed on an 8K UHD screen.

How is 8K better than 4K, technically?

In order to understand why 8K is a leap over 4K, it’s important to understand how pixels on a screen work. Each pixel can only represent a single color value and, taken together, these millions of single points of color make up the image on a screen. Rather than “bigger is better,” smaller is better when it comes to pixels. The smaller and more numerous the pixels are, the more detail can be shown because the distance between single colors gets smaller and smaller until it’s almost imperceptible to the human eye where one pixel ends and another begins. 

If you blow pixels up but keep the same resolution, an image looks considerably worse and very blocky, like the graphics on the 8-bit NES games of the mid-’80s. So, if an 8K image is displayed on an 8K screen, the details will be twice as deep as the same image recorded in 4K displayed on a 4K screen. Of course, a badly recorded, poorly lit, or oddly colored image may look bad no matter the screen, but when it comes to our media, the higher resolution of the recording or stream and the higher resolution of the display, the smoother, more detailed, and more vibrant the image will be.

While Sony and LG still have 75/77-inch and above 8K TVs in their lineup, and Hisense exhibited a new luxury 8K Sonic Laser TV at CES 2024, Samsung remains the brand truly dedicated to the format and offering multiple sizes to push prices down. We’ve spent significant time with Samsung’s 2023 flagship TVs, particularly the Mini-LED NEO QLED 8K QN900C, and those meticulously managed 33 million pixels—aided by 2000-plus nits, HDR10+/HDR10, up to 144Hz refresh rate and quick response time for 4K gaming, and excellent reflection handling—ensure a screen with rich yet realistic colors, excellent contrast with deep uniform blacks, and details that pop whether the content is streaming or physical media. The local dimming/light control engine makes this a set that can compete with OLEDs. Textures and depth of field benefit from the density of pixels and motion management, with 4K upscaling clean and compelling, and advances in neural processing are sure to improve definition further in 2024’s models.

Do any services stream video in 8K? How about video games?

Unfortunately, the resolution of media is where 8K is hitting a roadblock. An 8K video image would require an incredible amount of bandwidth (internet data speed) to stream. The infrastructure of internet technology around the world simply cannot handle the kind of traffic that 8K streaming would require, and the amount of energy needed to output that kind of data is also a concern for server farms and media streaming companies.

Therefore, while 4K is widely available on services such as Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, or Hulu, 8K streaming is not yet a reality. Technically, a high-end gaming PC or gaming console (aka the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X) can handle 8K video, but programming a game at that level of resolution with a consistent framerate is very, very difficult. The tools and know-how to create games at 8K aren’t where they need to be for 8K gaming to be a thing just yet.

As of right now, 8K simply hasn’t been adopted on a wide scale by streaming, video games, or even home video. Instead, 4K is still the highest available resolution in almost every category. The exception is YouTube, which has the capability to stream limited amounts of 8K footage (almost all travelogue or nature documentary content at the moment). Remember that to receive this footage, you must dedicate between 20 megabits per second (Mbps) and 50 Mbps of consistent bandwidth just for the video. Many households simply do not have access to services that can provide these speeds consistently, and those that do must have a reliable WiFi router that won’t bottleneck the bandwidth. If you do, and you have an 8K TV or monitor, you can see what 8K truly looks like. For almost all other situations, you’ll be watching upscaled 4K video in 8K, which looks better than native 4K video, but not by the leap that true 8K does.

What else should I buy along with an 8K TV for a full home theater experience?

If you’re investing in 8K to get the very best from your movies, TV shows, and video games, you’ll want to focus not just on the screen, but also on your sound system. The latest generation of thin, almost bezel-free TVs has certainly improved the placement and displacement of its built-in speakers, but flatscreens just can’t pack in the drivers the way they do the pixels. Immersive surround sound speakers—whether it’s a complete wireless surround system or even just a great Dolby Atmos soundbar can create an audio experience that may make your media even more enjoyable than a resolution jump would. For video games, particularly 3D games, a good pair of 3D audio headphones will allow you to more clearly place the location of sounds around your avatar, resulting in better in-game decisions. While the huge, high-resolution screen is the centerpiece, the sound is what really completes the home theater experience. 

So, do I need 8K now? Are 8K TVs worth it?

Short answer: probably not. Long answer: possibly yes. The truth is that even though 8K is the top-of-the-line when it comes to screens, not a lot of 8K content exists, and if you don’t have a very fast internet connection, when that content does show up, you might not be able to consistently stream it. Plus, just as 4K TVs went very quickly from multi-thousand-dollar sets to some of the best available on the market for around $700, 8K will come down in price. So, unless you’re one of those people who only settle for the very best, you don’t need 8K now. For those who can afford it and don’t mind the lack of native 8K content, 8K vs. 4K screens are noticeably better, even when upscaling 4K media. 

Additionally, 8K screens include all the other high-end features—HDMI 2.1, high dynamic range (HDR) color, wide color gamut (WCG), and high refresh rates—that a discerning TV buyer is going to want. So, do you want the best screen you can buy? Then buy 8K now. Everyone else can buy it later, but make no mistake: you will buy it later. Eventually, 8K will become the standard 4K is now within streaming, gaming, and digital films/television shows (disc or download). It’s a matter of when not if. TV broadcasts will lag behind as even 4K content is not fully available on broadcast or cable TV. However, everything else will most likely be there within just a few years, so you can futureproof yourself now or upgrade later; it’s your choice.

FAQs

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Super Bowl LVIII is almost here, and if you’ve found yourself hosting this year, you’ll want to have the right gear for the job. Whether you can watch indoors or outdoors, order in or cook at home, host a few or many—we’ve got you covered. And if you’re wondering how to watch the game, come Feb. 11, you have a few options: live and free by using an HDTV antenna—provided you’re close enough to a broadcast tower to receive a signal—or stream it live on Paramount+. As for how to get the setup and supplies you need to entertain, keep reading and click on through!

Matter Compostable 9” Paper Plates $25.99

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There’s no greater come-down after a great Super Bowl party than having a sink full of dirty dishes—especially if you live without a dishwasher. Matter’s Compostable Paper Plates are the better alternative. These eco-friendly plates will break down naturally, so you don’t have to feel bad about throwing them in the trash. They’re microwave-safe and contain no PFAS additives. The plates’ 9-inch size is more than enough to accommodate a main dish and two sides, and they’re sturdy enough to hold up to seconds and thirds. Matter also offers compostable bowls and trash bags to make cleanup even easier.

Athletic Brewing Company Light Craft Non-Alcoholic Beer $25.99 for 12 cans

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Light beer and sports go together like peanut butter and jelly. But, like with the potentially allergen-laden popular sandwich, not everyone at your party may be able to enjoy an alcoholic beverage. If you need an option beyond crushable lagers and session IPAs, etc., check out Atheltic Brewing Co’s Athletic Lite, an ode to Miller Lite that contains all of the hops and malt with none of the next-day regrets. The company makes some of our favorite non-alcoholic beverages, including this NA golden ale and Daypack, the company’s brand of sparkling hop water. If you’re looking for another NA option, any tasty seltzer is an all-around crowd-pleaser for booze-havers and abstainers alike.

Popsmith Stainless Steel Stovetop Popper $199 for standalone popper; $242 for starter bundle

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Parties are fine with store-bought chips, but you can turn heads by passing around movie theater-level popcorn. This stovetop popper takes the aluminum contraptions of yore and turns them into an elegant and hard-working piece of cookware. I’ve made plenty of stovetop popcorn before, and the Popsmith is the easiest way to make it. It’s dishwasher-safe, and you can even get a starter bundle that includes 10 ready-to-make popcorn kits. You can also make your own popcorn recipes with some kernels and imagination. I love adding M&Ms or chocolate chips to freshly popped, plain popcorn for a sweet and savory treat.

Butcher Box Big Game Box $129

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If you’re unsure what to cook, let Butcher Box handle the logistics with the Big Game Box. This meal kit contains three pounds of organic, free-range chicken wings, a 14-ounce package of pulled pork, a 12-ounce pack of apple gouda sausage, a 10-ounce pack of bacon, two pounds of 85/15 ground beef, and a pound-and-a-half package of free-range breaded chicken strips. All of the meat was raised organically, with no antibiotics or unnecessary additives. This box contains more than enough food to feed 10 people, and the shipping is free. All you need to do is order the box (shipping is free) and cook the items to your satisfaction. (Looking for meat alternatives? We have some suggestions.)

East Oak 50,000 BTU Patio Heater with Sand Box $164.26

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If you’d like even more radiant heat for your guests, we recommend this 50,000 BTU Patio Heater from East Oak. The stainless steel heater can warm a circular area up to 20 feet in diameter and is kept from tipping over by a weight-adjustable water tank. If the heater is tilted more than 45 degrees for any reason, the flame will automatically be extinguished. Similarly, the patio heater will automatically shut off the gas if the flame is extinguished. The heater’s flame is encased in a mesh cage to prevent it from moving too far outward. On-device controls allow you to adjust the intensity of your heat and turn the heater on and off.

Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 $224.97

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The Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 is the best smokeless fire pit we’ve tested, and if you’re fortunate enough to host a Super Bowl party outside, it’s a must-have. The mid-sized fire pit has a unique perforated design that circulates air to prevent smoke from billowing upward. Some smoke will remain, but significantly less than you’d find in a traditional fire pit. Once wood has burned, ash will fall into a removable pan beneath the fire pit to avoid burning further. Burning ash is one of the leading cause of smoke from a fire pit. Once the fire pit has cooled down after use, you can remove the pan and discard the ash in a trash bag. The Bonfire 2.0 is large enough for four to six people to comfortably sit around it. If you have a larger crowd, the Solo Stove’s Yukon 2.0 is a better bet.

Big Blanket Co. Premier Plush Blanket $279

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If your Super Bowl party is a small affair with family—or if you and your friends are super, super close—the Big Blanket Co. Premier Plush blanket can keep the entire couch comfortable. It’s beloved by humans and animals and measures 100 square inches, meaning there’s enough comfy blanket for everyone. We can’t say the same thing about those mini eggrolls you’re going to serve.

Marshall Woburn III $549.99

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Check out Marshall’s Woburn III if you’d like to kick out the jams before the game (or keep the party going after the Gatorade has been dumped on the winning team’s heads). The large indoor Bluetooth speaker has a three-way driver system for better bass and midrange performance compared to previous versions and a Night Mode that’ll keep the volume level of different sounds consistent to avoid inconsistent spikes that annoy neighbors. The speaker features the look of Marshall’s Iconic guitar amps, known the world over thanks to their use by bands like AC/DC. We’re recommending this as a Bluetooth speaker, but it has an HDMI port, so you can hook it up to a TV or projector to improve its sound. As a bonus, its shell is made out of 70% recycled plastic and vegan materials, so while it looks and feels premium, it’s also eco-friendly.

JBL Bar 700 $699.95

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If you’re watching the Super Bowl in anticipation of the halftime show, you’ll need a sound system that’ll help you fully appreciate it. JBL’s Bar 700 impressed us during our time testing it because of its modular design: two wireless, battery-powered speakers are attached to the sides main bar and can be placed behind you for the true 5.1 surround sound experience. Its wireless subwoofer produces a lot of bass, so expect particularly voluminous sound after big plays. During the game, those rear speakers will broadcast environmental noise to give you a more immersive, stadium-like viewing experience.

GE Profile Smart Indoor Smoker $699.99

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GE’s Profile Smart Indoor Smoker floored us during our time testing it because it allowed us to make true barbeque indoors. The smoker runs on wood pellets and uses a mechanism that converts smoke into hot air, which is then pushed into the cooking chamber, imparting true smokey flavor and producing fall-off-the-bone results. The Indoor Smoker’s interface is easy to navigate, with presets available for common cooks like chicken wings, brisket, and pork wings. You can control the time, temperature, and smoke level of your cook, giving you total control. GE says this appliance can cook up to 30 wings or a full brisket split in two. If you’re hosting a Super Bowl party indoors, this is the ultimate way to make the main course.

Ooni Volt 12 $899

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Chicken wings and pigs in a blanket will always be our favorite Super Bowl snacks, but what if you could serve your guests freshly cooked personal pizzas? You can make that a reality with Ooni’s Volt 12, an electric indoor pizza oven that can cook traditional margherita pizzas in roughly 90 seconds. This amazing kitchen upgrade gets up to 850 degrees in about 20 minutes; then it’s ready to cook for hours at a time. Controlling the Volt 12 is simple: three knobs on the front allow you to choose your cook time, temperature, and whether you want the top or bottom heating element to get more heat. That last setting is most important if you’re using the Volt 12 to cook dishes other than pizza or if you’re finding parts of your pies are a little under or overdone.

Hisense U8K 4K UHD TV $1,297.98

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What’s a Super Bowl party without a giant screen to watch the game on? We chose Hisense’s U8K as the best TV for watching sports because of its incredible color reproduction courtesy of Dolby Vision HDR (High Dynamic Range), speedy 144Hz refresh rate, and 1500-nit brightness. These tech specs are impressive as they’ll allow you to enjoy the big game in full fidelity, even in a fairly bright room. Hisense offers the U8K in sizes from 55 to 100 inches; we’re recommending the 75-inch model because it’s currently on sale for $1,297.98, a $300 discount.

XGIMI Horizon Ultra $1,699

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Speaking of giant “screens” … If you have enough wall space, you can opt for a projector instead of a TV, in which case we recommend XGIMI’s Horizon Ultra. It can create a 200-inch, 4K screen with realistic colors thanks to Dolby Vision HDR and sensors that automatically adjust the image based on the projector’s orientation, the wall’s coloration, and more. Its 2200 Lumen bulb is suitable for use in dim rooms with some natural or artificial light. If you have windows in the area you plan to host people and draw the shades, you should be in good shape. Those who live on the East Coast of the United States, where the game begins at 6:30 p.m., won’t have to worry about light leakage nearly as much (though installing those blackout shades you’ve been considering couldn’t hurt). XGIMI equipped the Horizon Ultra with a pair of 12-watt Harman/Kardon speakers, but you can hook it up to a surround sound system or soundbar thanks to its HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) port.

To recap:

• Matter Compostable 9” Paper Plates $25.99
• Athletic Brewing Company Light Craft Non-Alcoholic Beer $25.99 for 12 cans
• Popsmith Stainless Steel Stovetop Popper $199 for standalone popper; $242 for starter bundle
• Butcher Box Big Game Box $129
• East Oak 50,000 BTU Patio Heater with Sand Box $164.26
• Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 $224.97
• Big Blanket Co. Premier Plush Blanket $279
• Marshall Woburn III $549.99
• JBL Bar 700 $699.95
• GE Profile Smart Indoor Smoker $699.99
• Ooni Volt 12 $899
• Hisense U8K 4K UHD TV $1,297.98
• XGIMI Horizon Ultra $1,699

The post Our top 13 Super Bowl party essentials—from $26 compostable plates to a $1,699 projector appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Best overall		Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2.4 eARC SSE Max		SEE IT	This updated flagship upgrades its audio components and its 3D immersion audio processing.
Easiest setup		JBL Bar 9.1		SEE IT	For an even more cord-cutting wireless system, this large soundbar has rear surround speakers that detach and run on battery power.
Best sound quality		Bluesound PULSE system		SEE IT	This audiophile’s dream has the highest-resolution digital audio and HD Bluetooth streaming, as well as the capability to expand into a multiroom system.

If you just replaced your TV with a flagship flatscreen so you can see every detail, the one thing you don’t want to see is a bunch of cables—and that’s where a wireless surround sound system comes in. When it comes to cinematic magic, you don’t want to be taken out of the moment by a speaker array in disarray. Whether you’re considering upgrading from a single soundbar to enhance dialogue or starting from scratch to build an enveloping home theater setup, our picks for the best wireless surround sound systems don’t compromise on audio quality and create less clutter.

• Best overall: Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2.4 eARC SSE Max
• Easiest setup: JBL Bar 9.1
• Best sound quality: Bluesound PULSE system
• Best for Samsung TVs: Samsung HW-990C
• Best wireless combination: Enclave CineHome PRO
• Best design: Sonos Arc with Sonos Sub and Era 100 surrounds  
• Best with 4K video compatibility: Sony HT-A7000 with SW3 subwoofer and RS3S rear speakers
• Best budget multiroom-compatible setup: Denon Home Wireless 5.1 Home Theater System

How we chose the best wireless surround sound systems

I have previewed and reviewed products—both in the pro audio and home audio realms—on and off throughout most of the 21st century for outlets including Mix, Maximum Tech, DJ Tech Tools, Bob Vila, and some defunct publications printed on paper called magazines. Between the PopSci staff, we’ve tested variations of these wireless surround sound systems firsthand. Beyond our own favorable experiences, these wireless surround sound systems have all proved popular with expert reviewers. Each of these systems offers something a little different from the others, but they all include rear satellite speakers because we wanted to limit this list to systems that actually surround you with speakers. Some soundbars and soundbar/subwoofer combinations do an impressive job creating virtual surround sound environments (you can read about the best Dolby Atmos soundbars and excellent budget choices that support object-based sound formats if you want some maximized minimalism). Still, this list is for those who want the full experience.

The best wireless surround sound systems: Reviews & Recommendations

From a massively powerful two-subwoofer system to a soundbar that detaches rechargeable battery-powered rear speakers, these wireless surround sound systems address different desires for how deep into the immersive sound you want to go. If filling a single room with sound just isn’t enough, some options also let you expand into a multiroom system. The common thread is no speaker wire but no loss of physical speakers that bring true surround sound to your home.

Best overall: Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2.4 eARC SSE Max

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Why it made the cut: This 2022 update to an already proven and powerful system piles on hardware improvements and new software processing to make your wireless home theater a literal and figurative blast. 

Specs

• Audio channels: 9.2.4 with 18 total speaker drivers
• Total power/SPL loudness: 1300W/113dB 
• Frequency response: 20Hz-22kHz
• Connectivity: HDMI 2.1 input x3, HDMI 2.1 eARC output x1, optical digital audio input x3, coaxial audio input x1, RCA audio input x1, USB, Bluetooth 5.0 aptX HD 
• Format compatibility: Dolby Vision with 4K HDR, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X

Pros

• Loud and clear sound with full-spectrum detail and realism
• New and exclusive audio processing improves the performance of immersive Dolby Atmos and DTS:X playback
• Plentiful HDMI 2.1 connections with eARC for supporting the latest TVs and game consoles

Cons 

• No room-calibration function for setting up
• Extra speakers mean plugging in extra power cords

Even before a March 2022 update, the popular Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2 wireless surround sound system (which is still available) would have made this roundup list for its immersive, realistic sound, clarity of audio, and massive bass rumble from its twin 10-inch powered subwoofers. Customers and critics alike have showered it with adoration since 2017. 

But the new Shockwafe Ultra 9.2.4 eARC SSE Max system goes further in nearly every conceivable way with hardware and software upgrades. It now has HDMI 2.1 connections with eARC to the TV to enable the highest quality lossless audio, 4K HDR and Dolby Vision video, and features like variable refresh rate (VRR) for next-gen gaming consoles. It also has Bluetooth 5.0 with Qualcomm aptX HD—rare for a soundbar system—and that lets you stream Bluetooth audio at up to 24-bit digital quality.

The SSE Max designation refers to Nakamichi’s new technology—currently exclusive to this system—for creating realistic 360-degree immersive audio in a home theater. It’s the combination of Shockwafe’s three Spatial Surround Elevation audio processing engines for enhancing the sense of spaciousness to the soundstage, balancing the surround-sound mix across all the speakers, and creating audio height effects for object-oriented formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. 

Upgraded hardware includes redesigned extended-range twin-cone drivers in the soundbar, new high-output amplifiers and upgraded drivers in the subwoofers, and 2nd-generation two-way Quad Modular Surround Speakers with new silk dome tweeters and extended-range twin-cone drivers. A new matte-black finish and 2nd-gen backlit remote round out the updates, which Nakamichi based on customer surveys, beta tests, and customer review feedback. The $1,899 MSRP Shockwafe Ultra 9.2 eARC SSE Max requires a lot of space, power outlets, and experimentation to find the right setup for the four surround speakers, but it rewards your effort with a powerful and life-like cocoon of sound. (And an even more intense, more expensive ultra-flagship we hope to try out, the quad-sub Dragon, was announced at CES 2023.)

Easiest setup: JBL Bar 9.1

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Why it made the cut: JBL cuts even more cords out of your life with its Bar 9.1 system, which uses the soundbar to charge detachable battery-powered rear surround speakers that don’t even have to plug into wall outlets. 

Specs

• Audio channels: 5.1.4 with 10-inch wireless powered subwoofer
• Total power/SPL loudness: 820W/103dB 
• Frequency response: 34Hz-20kHz
• Connectivity: HDMI 2.1 input, HDMI 2.1 eARC output, optical digital audio output, USB, WiFi, Bluetooth 4.2
• Format compatibility: Dolby Vision with 4K passthrough, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Chromecast, AirPlay 2

Pros

• Detachable battery-powered rear speakers recharge from the base soundbar.
• Dolby Atmos and DTS:X height effects from four up-firing speakers.
• Crisp, balanced sound appropriate for all uses.

Cons 

• Speaker batteries not replaceable

If you’re looking for a wireless surround sound system with a simple setup, it doesn’t get much simpler or more truly wireless than the JBL Bar 9.1. While the wireless component of most systems means you don’t have to attach speaker wire, you usually still need to find a power outlet to plug in all your satellite surround speakers. Not so with the Bar 9.1. Its rear surround speakers detach from the main soundbar unit and work on battery power for up to 10 hours. When you’re finished, dock them in the soundbar so they can recharge in about three hours. (Or you can charge them independently via MicroUSB.) While the rear speakers recharge, you can still use the full system for virtual surround. When you detach them again, they detect their distance to the soundbar to calibrate the sound. But you can also use the auto-calibration tool to optimize the sound mix for your room upon your initial setup or any other time you move the rear speakers. 

For the immersive 3D audio formats that send overhead sounds like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, the Bar 9.1 has two up-firing speakers on the soundbar and one each on the satellite units, which also have front-firing speakers. Combining those surrounds with the subwoofer, the 5.1.4 Atmos performance is very satisfying for a relatively compact system like this, but the Bar 9.1 also has a neutral and balanced sound that works well for the whole gamut of audio, from listening to spoken word material to watching the most explosive of big-budget movies. A mid-2023 refresh of the JBL soundbar line—one of which, the JBL 700, we’ve had a chance to audition—promises to take this expandable all-in-one concept to new, well, heights (and lengths and depths) and introduces the JBL 1300X as the new flagship. That doesn’t mean the JBL Bar 9.1 is obsolete, however.

Best sound quality: Bluesound PULSE system

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Why it made the cut: Audiophile-grade sound combines with powerful internal processing in a system that can expand to multiroom audio. 

Specs

• Audio channels: 7.1 with 11 total speaker drivers
• Total power/SPL loudness: W/ dB 120W soundbar, 25W Flex
• Frequency response: 22Hz-20kHz
• Connectivity: HDMI 2.1 eARC, optical digital audio input, 3.5mm analog audio input1, USB Type-A, Bluetooth aptX HD, WiFi, Ethernet
• Format compatibility: 24-bit/192 kHz audio, Dolby Atmos, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal, Pandora, Amazon Music, MQA high-res audio

Pros

• Supports 24-bit/192 kHz high-res audio, including MQA decoding and Roon Ready
• Can expand to a multiroom audio system
• Excellent preset audio modes for different scenarios

Cons 

• Not sold with bundled pricing

If you’re willing to piece your purchases together, the Bluesound PULSE “by audiophiles for audiophiles” wireless surround sound system is technologically very versatile and the first multiroom system to support the MQA format that “folds” and “unfolds” digital data to stream high-res audio without a ton of bandwidth. With the SOUNDBAR+ as its centerpiece (shown above), combined with a dual-band WiFi 802.11ac-equipped PULSE SUB+ and two equally wireless PULSE FLEX 2i or PULSE M satellite speakers, the system can expand two-channel stereo content into a spacious soundstage thanks to Bluesound’s audiophile-grade drivers, high-performance digital-to-analog converter, and clean, powerful Class D amplification. The eight-speaker forward-facing configuration of a 1-inch tweeter, 2-inch mid-range driver, 4-inch woofer, and 4-inch passive radiator—one set left and one right—is optimized for music streaming thanks to a powerful quad-core ARM processor that handles high-quality audio with blazing speed. The resulting, authoritative sound handles vocals with visceral detail, while the overall tonality is balanced, never artificial. Lows and mids sound warm yet not fuzzy, and the treble is precise without sounding harsh. 

If you have a wealth of advanced-resolution downloads/personally ripped digital music, Bluesound can be used as a Roon endpoint if you’ve set up a compatible music server on your local network. Otherwise, you can stream lossless music directly from iOS devices via AirPlay 2 on WiFi and/or higher-bitrate, though still lossy transmissions via any device that supports Bluetooth (compatible Android devices can even connect via aptX HD). If you subscribe to Spotify and/or TIDAL, both services have a natively supported “Connect” service, so the highest quality stream will go directly via WiFi to the SOUNDBAR+, bypassing your phone. The BluOS app consolidates source control, as well as offers some EQ. Connected to the TV via a single HDMI (e)ARC connection, the dimensionally tall, but aesthetically unobtrusive Bluesound PULSE SOUNDBAR+ decodes Dolby Atmos material directly but with nuance, although with more subtlety in its height rather than in its width due to the lack of up-firing drivers. It presents music compellingly without any processing, although there are some interesting audio modes and upmixing options with which to experiment.

According to our managing editor, who has experienced a complete Bluesound PULSE set-up, adding in a pair of FLEX 2i speakers allows sonic textures to be even more open and expressive—most impactful when watching demo-worthy Atmos films like Mad Max: Fury Road and Baby Driver or while playing a selection of spatial audio from Apple Music on the Apple TV 4K. Music, especially, feels authentic, a well-rounded presentation from a flat facade—the SOUNDBAR+ with surrounds assures every track’s scope is fully conveyed without losing anything granular as it unfurls. And if you have high ceilings or a wider, open viewing space, adding in physical surround speakers makes a world of difference when compared to soundbars that use reflections to convey dimensionality.

On the other end of the spectrum, the SUB+ offers versatile, visceral LFE reinforcement, its 8-inch long-throw driver and 150-watt amplifier taking the 70Hz cap of the SOUNDBAR+ down to 22Hz. Capable of laying flat under a sofa or sitting up against a wall, the sealed enclosure is easily integrated physically into any room layout (wall outlet allowing) and digitally via home network and the BluOS app. As for what the SUB+ adds sonically … it’s tunefulness. It’s a subwoofer that’s far more about nimble pluck than unchecked pump; though it can reach dynamically deep, the SUB+ impressed far more with its dexterity. If you value realism as much as rumble, the SUB+ is another amazing addition to the Bluesound ecosystem.

Not watching anything or wanting to restrict your soundtrack to a single room? You can relocate an ultra-compact mono PULSE FLEX 2i or even more expressive omni-hybrid stereo PULSE M speaker around your home (or just get extras for other zones). As long as they are all on the same WiFi network, you pass whatever music you’re streaming from speaker to speaker if you move to specific areas or have it play simultaneously throughout the house—wherever the action is.

Best for Samsung TVs: Samsung HW-990C

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Why it made the cut: Crystal clear dialog (especially if you have a current Samsung TV) cuts through the ample bass to make movies and TV shows easy to hear without resorting to subtitles or cranked volume. 

Specs

• Audio channels: 11.1.4
• Total power/SPL loudness: N/A
• Frequency response: N/A
• Connectivity: HDMI ARC, optical digital audio input, Bluetooth 5.0 
• Format compatibility: Dolby Atmos and DTS:X

Pros

• Super-crisp voice reproduction makes actors easier to understand
• Samsung TV users can get a wireless Dolby Atmos signal that eschews a cable
• Excellent overall sound quality augmented by wireless side speakers with up- and side-firing drivers
• Very easy setup

Cons 

• Non-Samsung TV users miss out on some features

We rated the Samsung WH-Q900C stand-alone soundbar one of the best we’ve heard to date. The WH-990C ups the ante by adding a pair of wireless satellite speakers that contain both up- and side-firing drivers. They connect easily and wirelessly, just like the subwoofer, but they dramatically improve the system’s overall ability to create immersive 3D sound.

If you have a current (2022 and after) Samsung TV, then you get several notable extra features from this setup that other TVs can’t provide. Samsung TVs can beam a wireless Dolby Atmos signal to the soundbar, which eschews the need for a hardline connection. The Samsung Q Symphony feature integrates the TV’s built-in speakers into the mix in order to create an even more immersive sound with more pronounced center channel performance. Plus, only Samsung TVs get access to the robust automatic room calibration feature, which listens back to the system’s performance and tweaks it to match the space.

Even if you’re not using a Samsung TV, however, this is still one of the best-sounding soundbar systems around. The bass thumps and rumbles with vigor, but it doesn’t drown out the rest of the mix. Emphatic sounds have impact, but they don’t get too harsh in such a way that you need to constantly manipulate the volume. It’s a great system that sets up without much fuss and provides everything most listeners will need.

Best wireless connection: Enclave CineHome PRO

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Why it made the cut: Brilliant sound and an elegant design that puts each audio channel into its own speaker without occupying too much space make the CineHome PRO a joy to use. 

Specs

• Audio channels: 5.1 with 14 total speaker drivers
• Total power/SPL loudness: N/A
• Frequency response: N/A
• Connectivity: HDMI ARC, optical digital audio input, 3.5mm analog audio input, Bluetooth 5.0 
• Format compatibility: THX and WiSA certified, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS 5.1 Digital Surround

Pros

• Lovely, detailed sound, supported up to 24-bit/96kHz high-res digital audio
• WiSA wireless transmission won’t interfere with WiFi or Bluetooth bandwidth
• Eye-catching design with a separate unit for each audio channel

Cons 

• No Dolby Atmos or WiFi streaming
• No firmware update to HDMI eARC yet

The WiSA (Wireless Speaker and Audio Association) technology may not be a huge buzzword in home audio, but it’s worth your attention. It allows the transmission of up to eight channels of uncompressed 24-bit/96 kHz high-res audio (twice the resolution of CD audio) on wireless frequencies that won’t interfere with Bluetooth or your WiFi bandwidth. And the WiSA audio is so low-latency (5.2 milliseconds) that it will appear perfectly synced with your TV’s picture. The Enclave Cinehome PRO 5.1 wireless surround sound system is the first THX-certified WiSA system with its level of surround-sound support, which includes Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital, DTS Digital surround, Dolby Pro Logic II, and may add Dolby Atmos support at a later date through a firmware update.

While only a 5.1 system, the CineHome PRO puts out beautiful audio with attention to detail. Each audio channel gets its own speaker unit that can sit horizontally or vertically to save surface area. With 3-way center and front left/right units, and 2-way rear left/right units, the system balances the entire frequency range extraordinarily well. It also gets very loud, but the audio stays clean regardless of the volume level. A helpful control app puts different sound modes at your fingertips, including the excellent Whole Room Stereo mode, which makes the CineHome PRO an impeccable system for music listening on top of its immersive surround sound performance for home theater.

Best design: Sonos Arc with Sonos Sub and Era 100 or Era 300 surround speakers

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Why it made the cut: Combining the Sonos Arc soundbar with the Sonos Sub (Gen. 3) and two Sonos surround speakers makes for a stunning ensemble both visually and audibly. 

Specs

• Audio channels: 5.1.2 with 17 total speaker drivers
• Total power/SPL loudness: N/A 
• Frequency response: apprx. 32Hz-19kHz
• Connectivity: HDMI eARC, WiFi, Ethernet 
• Format compatibility: Multiroom audio, Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, Apple AirPlay 2, Siri, Amazon Alex, Google Assistant

Pros

• Very spacious surround sound imaging and good Atmos performance
• Smart speaker features and WiFi streaming
• Sleek styling with touch controls on the soundbar and surround speakers

Cons 

• Limited connectivity and no Bluetooth
• Room calibration only works through the iOS app

This intelligent wireless surround sound combination can be purchased as a single bundle for just over $2,000. But if that feels like too much upfront and you want to assemble components piecemeal, it’s worth it to procure the Sonos Arc soundbar, Sub subwoofer, and a pair of Era 100 surround speakers gradually to create a formidable home theater system that you can also easily connect with your TV and any number of Sonos products to make a multiroom audio setup. The Arc gives you Dolby Atmos playback through two top-firing speakers, as well as an HDMI eARC connection (which enables high-resolution audio), Apple AirPlay 2 streaming, and smart speaker features like built-in voice control with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri. The Sonos app lets you connect most other streaming services, and the iOS version can run auto-calibration to tune the speakers’ response to your particular space.

The Arc’s minimal aesthetic has limitations, such as a single HDMI connection and an app-only remote control. However, it emits precise mid-range and high frequencies, and the smooth, rattle-free bass from the Sub’s two force-canceling drivers adds weight to the low end while relieving pressure on the other speakers, allowing for more finesse throughout the frequency range. Touch controls for volume, play/pause, and track skipping (by swiping left or right) on both the Arc and the Era 100 surround speakers can come in handy when you’re locked to the couch, and those extra LS/RS channels take the impressive performance of the Arc into the next level of genuine surround sound.

If you’re looking for the absolute best design for Dolby Atmos content, however, upgrade the rear speakers to a pair of the Era 300, which are purpose-built with six multidirectional drivers to unfurl the full immersive potential of spatial audio. Whether it’s an album on Apple Music or Mad Max: Fury Road, the full $2,500 7.1.4 setup lets you experience instant gratification and ongoing exhilaration. (A single Era 300 also works as a standout standalone speaker if you’re just looking to turn any old room into a multidimensional performance.)

Best with 4K video compatibility: Sony HT-A7000 with SW3 subwoofer and RS3S rear speakers

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Why it made the cut: Besides being very well built and good at basically everything, the Sony HT-A7000 has two HDMI 2.1 inputs and an HDMI 2.1 eARC output for ready compatibility with the best 4K TVs and even 8K sets.

Specs

• Audio channels: 7.1.2 with 16 total speaker drivers
• Total power: 900W
• Frequency response: 28Hz-22kHz
• Connectivity: HDMI 2.1 input x2, HDMI 2.1 eARC output x1, optical digital audio input, 3.5mm analog audio input, USB, Bluetooth 5.0
• Compatibility: Dolby Vision HDR, 8K video at 60Hz, 4K at 120Hz, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Sony 360 Reality Audio, Chromecast, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Amazon Alexa

Pros

• Well-balanced, clear, and detailed sound complements both movies and music
• Good Atmos performance and effective Immersive AE up-mixing mode
• Big bass power with the SW3 subwoofer

Cons 

• No custom EQ options.

Many people may assume that any wireless surround sound system they purchase will work great out of the box with any TV, game console, or other devices they have. But, unfortunately, to get everything possible out of your other electronics, you may need to make sure that your home theater sound system has the highest level of HDMI connection, which the Sony HT-A7000 has. Its two HDMI 2.1 passthrough inputs and HDMI 2.1 eARC output support 8K video at 60Hz, 4K at 120Hz, and Dolby Vision HDR, which makes it perfectly suited for the highest-resolution video and audio.

If your content hub is a next-generation game console like the Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5, you might want a Sony Bravia XR TV and to plug the console directly into that, with the soundbar attached to the eARC port, to take full advantage of game-centric protocols like VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) and ALLM (Auto Low-Latency Mode). However, no matter how you’ve got everything patched in, what comes out of this soundbar will astound you. The HT-A7000 with SW3 subwoofer and RS3S rear surround speakers is just a highly impressive system with a simple, wireless setup and a moderate-sized footprint. It’s built very solidly and has an auto room calibration tool. The soundbar’s side- and top-firing drivers along with the rear speakers create a large sweet spot for native immersive content in the Atmos or DTS:X formats, and the Immersive AE up-mixing effect does a credible job of making any audio source more 3D. 

It’s also a powerful system for almost any sized living room. Even though the SW3 subwoofer doesn’t dip quite as low into the frequency range as some others, it is very powerful, so keep your picture frames securely attached to the walls and alert the neighbors if you have to. Fortunately, the remote control has dedicated volume controls for both the subwoofer and rear surround speakers.

More invested in the Samsung ecosystem but equally obsessed with high-definition video as you are with immersive audio? You can get a similar setup, with the surrounds and subwoofer, that plays nicely with a new Q-Series TV when you invest in the similarly $1K+ 11.1.4-channel Samsung HW-Q990B.

Best budget multiroom-compatible setup: Denon Home Wireless 5.1 Home Theater System

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Why it made the cut: Denon Home’s wireless, multiroom audio system offers a less-expensive option for starting small but eventually building a whole-home speaker empire. 

Specs

• Audio channels: 5.1 with 11 total speaker drivers
• Total power/SPL loudness: N/A
• Frequency response: N/A
• Connectivity: HDMI 2.1 input x1, HDMI 2.1 eARC output x1, optical digital audio input x1, minijack audio input x1, USB, Bluetooth, dual-band WiFi 
• Format compatibility: 24-bit/192kHz audio, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Dolby Vision w/HDR 10, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, AirPlay 2,

Pros

• Modular system expandable to as many speakers in as many rooms as you want
• Rear speakers include controls, Bluetooth pairing, and audio inputs
• Good aesthetic appearance with matching cloth speaker coverings
• Clear, balanced sound

Cons

• Some HEOS app setup snafus and instability with the rear speakers
• No up-firing drivers for spatial audio formats
• No Chromecasting for sending Atmos music from mobile devices

When you may not have the funds to purchase the wireless surround sound system you most want responsibly, you could compromise and buy a lower-end system … or you could play the long game, exercise a little patience, and buy components one at a time until you’ve built something great. The Denon Home family of wireless speakers lets you do the latter at lower prices than the other multiroom capable systems. While the Denon Home Wireless 5.1 Home Theater System is available in one fell swoop, you can also pick up the Sound Bar 550, the Subwoofer, and 150 Wireless Speakers individually, or start with a bundle of the soundbar/subwoofer or soundbar/wireless speakers.

“Budget” is in the eye of the beholder. Still, ultimately, the Denon Home components should total around $1,500 and save you several hundred over comparable purchases from the Sonos or Bluesound multiroom systems. Denon Home also has 250 wireless speakers and 350 wireless speakers, which are larger speakers with more driver units inside, better suited for being the sole audio source in their own room, like an office or bedroom.

The Denon Home system uses the HEOS app to link all the speakers together, update firmware, and control what audio or music is playing from which room, if you have speakers in multiple rooms. HEOS also consolidates all the compatible music services and sources available into one place, such as Spotify, Tidal, Deezer, SoundCloud, Amazon Music, music stored on your phone, and more. In our firsthand testing of the Denon Home Wireless 5.1 Home Theater System, setup caused some frustration with failed firmware updates and the app not pairing at first with the wireless speakers and subwoofer to the soundbar. Unlike many other wireless systems where the soundbar recognizes and pairs with the sub and surround speakers automatically, you have to connect each Denon Home speaker individually to your home network via HEOS and then pair the speakers to the soundbar. After several attempts to do so with HEOS showing that pairing failed, the subwoofer and wireless speakers eventually just started working with the soundbar. After that, the system worked together, but the 150 Wireless Speakers did experience a connection problem where the audio crackled or flickered on and off. However, cycling the power solved that.

The compact Sound Bar 550 measures only 26 inches wide and looks living-room-ready with its attractive fabric-lined enclosure and illuminated touch controls on the top panel for volume, play/pause, and muting the built-in Alexa voice control function. Its small remote has separate level controls for overall volume and bass, audio mode and source, and a Bluetooth pairing button. When tested as a standalone speaker, the soundbar’s forward-facing six drivers and two passive radiators do a decent job of downmixing surround-sound sources into a spatially separated mix. You do get a real sense of separation between, say, the characters and their environment in a movie.

Denon Home doesn’t disclose any wattage or SPL numbers for its units, but the Sound Bar 550 isn’t extraordinarily loud for its size. It can suffice as the TV’s soundsystem in an average-sized living room, but if you like high volume, the Sound Bar 550 distorts some when you crank it up to the max, so it’s better for more modest listening. Its sound, however, is clean and well separated in the frequency ranges. Dialog in movies and TV shows pierced through the mix in most cases, and music shimmered with a stereo soundstage belying the soundbar’s size. In the right sweet spots, it does have more impressive bass power than expected but does benefit greatly from adding the Denon Home Subwoofer.

It is Atmos and DTS:X compatible; however, without up-firing speakers, the object-based immersive audio effects don’t fully translate to your 3D environment the way they were originally intended. Adding the 8-inch, downward-firing subwoofer and two 150 Wireless Speakers to the mix made big improvements both aurally and functionally. Each 150 unit has its own volume and play/pause touch controls that work for the entire system they’re paired to, so it’s quite convenient to reach over the couch to a rear speaker and flick the volume if needed. The 150s also let you initiate Bluetooth pairing and have USB storage inputs and minijack audio inputs, which will also send their audio to the entire system.

While the system as a whole still didn’t reach the decibel levels of many others in this guide, it made watching “event” movies like the Atmos-ready Thor: Love and Thunder an immersive good time, even though the spatial Atmos effects aren’t fully supported with height-based drivers. Switching to the Movie (DTS Virtual:X) preset gives Atmos material a slightly more expansive sound. During PlayStation 5 games like Horizon Forbidden West, the Denon Home system tracked the character movements well, keeping the surround mix believably positioned and clearly representing the mix of sounds from playable and non-playable characters, the natural environment, and the crucial rumblings and fumblings of enemies in the distance.

For music, the full system can become a single stereo powerhouse with all the speakers working together as a stereo system. Pairing various Bluetooth devices was easy and smooth, with no dropouts in our testing. For audio fidelity, however, streaming over AirPlay 2 sounds markedly better (Denon does not list a Bluetooth codec for the system, which could be baseline SBC). When comparing the same audio sources played over Bluetooth and then AirPlay 2, the AirPlay signal sounded much more full and vibrant overall, with deeper, rounder bass.

Overall, the Sound Bar 550 is a wonderful upgrade from internal TV speakers, even if the soundbar can’t pretend to offer anything other than virtual surround sound. The 150 speakers still don’t have any up-firing drivers for Atmos material. However, adding two wireless surrounds and the subwoofer resulted in full-spectrum audio that satisfied the need for a booming surround sound experience. And the ability to keep more rooms full of sound without fully emptying your pockets is attractive, indeed.

Things to consider before buying the best wireless surround sound systems

Maybe you enjoy unspooling many feet of speaker wire across your media room and crawling behind a cabinet to route everything through an A/V receiver. But if you’d prefer to enjoy full-room, real surround sound with speakers behind or beside you minus any messy entanglements, we’ve got you. The best wireless sound systems deliver audio as vivid as that new OLED TV, and they do it without any noticeable latency between sound and image. Many of these systems also include mobile device sharing via Apple AirPlay 2 and/or Google Chromecast and support voice control from smart assistants. They let you stream music wirelessly over Bluetooth and/or WiFi. While wireless surround sound systems still cost a few bucks more than wired equivalents, this guide shows you the best options across a variety of price points and feature sets.

Remember, however, that calling a surround sound system “wireless” means that you don’t have to attach any speaker wire to the speakers. They also let you stream audio and/or video wirelessly from devices over Bluetooth, WiFi, or both. But that doesn’t mean zero cables. To use them with a TV, you need to connect the main soundbar or base unit via HDMI to the TV, and then the rest of the speakers receive an audio signal wirelessly. Each speaker also has to plug into a power outlet, unless they’re battery-powered (as in the case of the JBL Bar 9.1’s rear surround speakers). And you might need to crawl around a little to find the perfect place for your subwoofer.

Budget 

Wireless surround sound systems tend to be more expensive than equivalent wired systems because you still pay a bit of a premium for the extra convenience and tidiness of a wireless system. The systems here range from about $1,100 (JBL Bar 9.1) to about $2,400 (both the Bluesound PULSE and the Sony HT-A7000 system with all their listed components). Prices may fluctuate somewhat from month to month because of chip shortages/supply chain issues, and there are brands like Vizio that make even more approachable budget options, but don’t expect wireless surround sound systems to plummet in price too much anytime soon. 

Sound quality 

Whether a surround sound system is wireless or wired does not really determine its sound quality. Other factors matter, such as the quality of the source audio and the construction and materials of the speakers. Most people will not notice much difference between a modern-day wireless system and a wired alternative. However, connoisseurs of audio quality seeking out a wireless surround sound system may want to ensure that it supports 24-bit digital audio so that it’s compatible with high-resolution formats. The Bluesound PULSE system here supports 24-bit/192 kHz digital audio, a resolution limit so high that you’d have to search specific niches for audio material that maxes it out. The 24-bit/96 kHz Enclave CineHome PRO system meets a high-res audio standard good enough for even the most discerning ears, and the CineHome PRO’s WiSA audio transmission standard also ensures that it won’t interfere with your WiFi network’s bandwidth.

Do you want a multiroom system?

A wireless surround sound system for your TV room may be all you’re into for now. Still, if you’re thinking about expanding to a multiroom speaker system where you can share/pass source audio between different rooms in your abode, there are two options here. Both the Bluesound PULSE system and the Sonos Arc with Sub and Era 300 speakers support building multiroom systems with a variety of different add-on units. 

FAQs

Final thoughts on the best wireless surround sound systems

• Best overall: Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2.4 eARC SSE Max
• Easiest setup: JBL Bar 9.1
• Best sound quality: Bluesound PULSE system
• Best for Samsung TVs: Samsung HW-990C
• Best wireless combination: Enclave CineHome PRO
• Best design: Sonos Arc with Sonos Sub and Era 100 surrounds  
• Best with 4K video compatibility: Sony HT-A7000 with SW3 subwoofer and RS3S rear speakers
• Best budget multiroom-compatible setup: Denon Home Wireless 5.1 Home Theater System

Due to its powerful and clear sound, its wealth of state-of-the-art technology—like HDMI 2.1, eArc, and Dolby Atmos—and the sheer size of its 9.2.4 speaker configuration for less than $2,000, the Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2.4 eARC SSE Max gets the nod as the best overall wireless surround sound system. It may not be cheap, but it is still a great value compared to some of the competition. However, its dual subwoofers and four surround speakers are a bit of overkill for some people’s needs or available space. 

By contrast, options like the JBL Bar 9.1 or Enclave CineHome PRO accomplish full-room surround sound with smaller footprints. If perhaps you’d like to start even smaller and build from there, the Sonos, Bluesound, Sony, and Denon systems on this list all let you start with an outstanding soundbar and add to it with subwoofers and surround speakers. You really can’t go wrong with any system on this list once you conclude how much power, how many speakers, and which technological extras you want with your wireless surround sound system.

Why trust us

Popular Science started writing about technology more than 150 years ago. There was no such thing as “gadget writing” when we published our first issue in 1872, but if there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for everyday readers means we would have been all over it. Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now.

Our writers and editors have combined decades of experience covering and reviewing consumer electronics. We each have our own obsessive specialties—from high-end audio to video games to cameras and beyond—but when we’re reviewing devices outside of our immediate wheelhouses, we do our best to seek out trustworthy voices and opinions to help guide people to the very best recommendations. We know we don’t know everything, but we’re excited to live through the analysis paralysis that internet shopping can spur so readers don’t have to.

The post The best wireless surround sound systems, tested and reviewed appeared first on Popular Science.

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Best overall		Sennheiser AMBEO Plus		SEE IT	It offers a striking soundstage for a single unit.
Best 5.1		JBL Bar 700		SEE IT	Detachable rear channels make this bar stand out without forcing you to pack more speakers in your room.
Best budget		Roku Streambar Pro		SEE IT	Roku’s Streambar Pro is one of the best values in the entire world of home theater audio.

It’s more affordable than ever before to take your home media viewing experience to new heights thanks to streaming services, smart TVs, and soundbars. With this increased content availability enriched by new surround sound audio formats, a whole new world of entertainment possibilities comes to light. One of the easiest, most space-efficient ways to drastically improve the quality of your home theater’s audio is by upgrading to a soundbar to give you sound as vivid as the 4K video you’re probably enjoying.

The top soundbars are compact, quick to install, and an unbeatable way to present your movies, music, and video games with elevated volume, clarity, and immersion. Unlike a traditional speaker system with an AV receiver, a soundbar usually requires only a single connection to your television to switch between sources. These systems are often Bluetooth-compatible from the get-go, so you can also sync your tablet, phone, and other streaming devices. If you’re looking for a quick and cost-effective way to upgrade your home theater system, we’ll help you find the best soundbars to do the job.

• Best overall: Sennheiser AMBEO Plus
• Best compact: Bose TV Speaker
• Best 2.1: Samsung BW-H550/ZA Soundbar
• Best 5.1: JBL Bar 700
• Best for music: Sonos Arc
• Best budget: Roku Streambar Pro

How we chose the best soundbars

We’re nerds about everything here at PopSci, but audio is especially special to us. The PopSci writers and editors even include a few certified audiophiles, so we know a solid speaker when we see it. We used a mixture of online research and hands-on experience to survey dozens of models on the market. We were looking for the right mix of fidelity, features, and price.

Most of the items on this list are relatively affordable, and that’s by design. There are some ultra-high-end multi-speaker Dolby Atmos and wireless surround options, but a components system is specific to very demanding users. If you’re looking to get into the soundbar world, these are great models to get you started and upgrade your TV’s puny audio performance.

The best soundbars: Reviews & Recommendations

Every living room, bedroom, and home theater is different, making finding the right soundbar frustrating. Our recommendations—both standalone units and soundbar + subwoofer combos—span various sizes and prices, so you can find the one that suits your space and budget. We also focused on finding soundbars designed to work with additional speakers, allowing you to upgrade your home theater system over time as your budget and space change.

Best overall: Sennheiser AMBEO Plus

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Why it made the cut: If you prize dynamic tonality, this is the premier soundbar … with a premium price tag.

Specs

• Dimensions: 41.38 x 4.76 x 3.03 inches
• Surround sound: Simulated 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos
• Subwoofer: Built-in, with an additional wireless subwoofer sold separately

Pros

• Carries on a tradition of No. 1 all-in-one Dolby Atmos soundbars
• Proprietary Dolby Atmos virtualization is convincing and captivating
• Small than its predecessor without too many sacrifices
• Can be augmented with a subwoofer

Cons

• No option for physical surround speakers
• Pricey
• Subwoofer is an additional $599
• HDMI ports are 2.0a, so they don’t support all next-gen gaming console protocols passthrough

Descended from the Sennheiser AMBEO Max, a 40-pound behemoth of a soundbar, the AMBEO Plus is a $1,499 indulgence that’s not quite as extravagant as its predecessor yet remains nearly as affecting. Featuring seven full-range speakers and dual 4-inch subwoofers in its rounded-off chassis, the 14-pound Plus can virtualize a 7.1.4-channel Dolby Atmos system with striking clarity and precise imaging thanks to proprietary processing (an AMBEO batch physically lights up on the soundbar whenever engaged).

Coming from a venerable brand renowned for audiophile headphones imbued with rich midrange and spacious staging, the AMBEO Plus is every bit a Sennheiser. It’s sonically expressive without even a tinge of artificiality and technically adept enough to conjure every directional cue, even height effects—helped by an automated calibration system. A well-appointed Smart Control app (iOS and Android) lets you tweak soundfield effects, voice enhancement, voice assistants, night mode, EQ, and more, plus view information on your connections/audio streams. Whether watching movies or listening to music, the 400W AMBEO Plus is adept at scale and strength, preserving detail without sacrificing impact—bass reaches nearly 40Hz. The original 13-driver AMBEO—aka the rebranded Max—is still superior in terms of gripping slam and dazzling reflections (and $1,000 more expensive), as the AMBEO Plus folds channels in more like a 5.1.2. Still, the rumble gap narrows noticeably if you pair the AMBEO Plus with the wireless 8-inch 350W Sennheiser AMBEO Subwoofer.

In terms of connectivity, there any multiple HDMI ports with 4K Dolby Vision passthrough, though not 120Hz for gaming. Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Sony 360 Reality Audio are all decoded, and Bluetooth 5.0, Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, and Chromecast give you access to content from basically any and every source. Yes, the AMBEO Plus is the most expensive soundbar in our selection, but it’s undeniably the best all-in-one soundbar to transform a room with limited room. If you’re investing in an OLED TV, you deserve audio that’s equally vibrant.

Best compact: Bose TV Speaker

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Why it made the cut: The TV speaker will provide great sound without taking up much space.

Specs

• Dimensions: 4.02 x 23.38 x 2.21 inches
• Surround sound: No
• Subwoofer: None

Pros

• Compact size
• Selectable sound modes
• Voice enhancement

Cons

• No smart features

At 23.4-inches wide the Bose TV Speaker is almost half the size of other soundbars we’re recommending in this guide, but it stands tall when it comes to dialogue enhancement. The teeny, tiny shell houses a three-driver audio system featuring a pair of full-range drivers angled outward and a single tweeter pointed forward. This configuration is designed to offer the best audio quality from a 2.0 soundbar while presenting the widest-possible soundstage. The TV Speaker won’t be able to stand toe-to-toe with longer soundbars when it comes to stereo separation—this is physics, not Bose’s lack of engineering chops—but it’s good to see the company use the space it had as efficently as possible.

You can fill out the TV Speaker’s sound by connecting a Bose wired subwoofer to the system—though the price of adding low-end is $500. Thankfully, this augmentation won’t be necessary, as the TV Speaker’s sound should be sufficiently better than the audio system built into your set. Despite the TV Soundbar’s small size, Bose allows you to connect this soundbar to your TV using an HDMI or optical audio cable. It also features an AUX input, so you can plug an audio device into it directly, and Bluetooth support if you’d like to stream music to the soundbar from your phone, tablet, or computer.

Bose managed to fit most of the features found in its higher-end soundbars into the TV Speaker, but it had to cut support for Amazon’s Alexa. This isn’t a huge deal, but something to consider if you’re looking for a soundbar that doubles as a smart-home controller in your room. If that’s not a concern, and you want a compact audio system for your room, this is the soundbar to get.

Best 2.1: Samsung BW-H550/ZA Soundbar

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Why it made the cut: This straight-ahead system doesn’t get bogged down with tons of features you won’t use and, instead, focuses on performance.

Specs

• Dimensions: 33.9 x 3 x 2.3 inches
• Surround Sound: Dolby Audio and DTS: Virtual X
• Subwoofer: Wireless included

Pros

• Great sound
• Included subwoofer
• AI-driven sound adjustments

Cons

• Lacks Dolby Atmos

This Samsung soundbar sports three-channel audio and includes a dedicated center speaker and a satellite subwoofer for powerful, enhanced bass and 3D surround sound effects. It offers superior multi-connectivity via Bluetooth, allowing two smart devices to remain paired at once, and the HDMI ARC interface allows for single-cable audio connections to and from a TV with a compatible port.

Regarding surround, this bar supports DTS: Virtual X to simulate a system with many more speakers installed around the room. Samsung’s Smart Sound technology analyzes the content you’re watching and automatically adjusts its performance to match it best. That also helps keep subtle sounds like ambient horror sounds or important dialog from getting lost. But, if needed, you can manually trigger a Voice Enhancement mode. Want more rumble? A bass boost is available at the push of a button. Need less bass? There’s also a Night Mode.

The relatively basic black design is refreshing compared to more complex devices. It melts into the room, and you hear it but don’t necessarily see it. This is undoubtedly the best Samsung soundbar on a budget (though if you want a truly immersive experience, the $1,699 HW-Q990B is the best Samsung package, full stop).

Best 5.1: JBL Bar 700

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Why it made the cut: This soundbar’s detachable, battery-powered speakers offer a truly authentic 5.1 surround experience.

Specs

• Dimensions: 4.7 x 46.2 x 2.2 inches
• Surround sound: 5.1 Dolby Atmos
• Subwoofer: Wireless included

Pros

• Detachable speakers make it very flexible
• Powerful wireless subwoofer
• True surround sound

Cons

• Long when fully attached

There are a lot of soundbars that list support for surround sound as one of their features, but that’s not really the case. Designers can create a more 3D sound experience by supporting the right audio formats and positioning drivers in different positions to mimic a traditional 5.1 surround sound system, but it’s not the same as having a true multi-speaker system. JBL’s Bar 700 is different.

The 46.2-inch soundbar has a pair of battery-powered detachable speakers, which can be placed behind you to create a true 5.1, Dolby Atmos-compatible system, with the bar handling the front right, front left, and center channels. All of these speakers are synced up to a wireless 10-inch subwoofer, which adds enough bass to round out the sound without being unnecessarily boomy. I was skeptical about whether this system would work, but its 620W of convenient cinematic sound passed every test with flying colors.

It’s worth noting that the Bar 700 is pretty long when the rear speakers are attached, so you’ll need to ensure your media center/credenza has enough space. It’s a soundbar best paired with a TV that’s 55 inches in size minimum, and it’s easily connected via HDMI eARC (plus there’s an HDMI input with 4K and Dolby Vision passthrough). Beyond that, this soundbar is an excellent addition to your living room or home theater. The center channel has enough separation from the right and left that I could always hear dialogue clearly, even in movie or TV scenes with a lot of action. The center driver was good enough that I could also differentiate between different voices even if characters spoke in the same register.

My biggest concern about the Bar 700’s modular speaker system was that attaching and detaching the rear speakers would be a pain, but that was never the case. The magnetic attachment mechanism JBL developed makes these processes easy while also ensuring these additional speakers never accidentally pop out. The only other problem I foresaw with the Bar 700 was desynced audio. JBL mitigates this by running you through a setup procedure using its app (iOS and Android), which takes about five minutes to complete. The soundbar and rear speakers fire off audio to get a sense of the size and shape of your room. Once the setup was complete, I never had an issue with desyncing audio.

Bluetooth 5.0 and WiFi-equipped, the Bar 700 Wi-Fi comes with AirPlay, Alexa Multi-Room Music, and Chromecast built-in, so you can cast music/content from your phone if you don’t want to fire up your streaming device. And you can customize modes, voice assistant, and EQ with the JBL app. If you’ve longed for a surround sound system with discrete rear speakers but don’t have enough space (or outlets) to set up separates, JBL’s Bar 700 is a great solution. Just pop off the soundbar’s endcaps, fire up the rears on the couch corners, then reassemble at the night’s end or when it’s time to recharge the batteries (rated for 10 hours).

Like this concept, but want to kick it up several notches? The JBL 1300X is a 11.1.4-channel soundbar with detachable surround speakers and wireless subwoofer, though all those extra channels take the price from $899 to $1,699.

Best for music: Sonos Arc

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Why it made the cut: The Sonos Arc is a futureproofed soundbar perfect for music lovers and cinephiles alike.

Specs

• Dimensions: 3.4 x 45 x 4.5 inches
• Surround sound: Yes, Simulated Standalone or True Dolby Atmos with additional components
• Subwoofer: Wireless sold separately

Pros

• Great sound for music
• Support for Dolby Atmos
• Can be augmented by additional speakers

Cons

• Cost

If you want to buy a piece of home theater equipment and not consider upgrading it for a decade, the Sonos Arc is worth its admittedly high price. The Santa Barbara-based company—pioneers in the whole-home audio sector—designs everything in-house, maintaining every stage of design and tuning. And Sonos develops each purpose-built component with compatibility and longevity in mind. The uber-long soundbar has forward, side, and upward-firing drivers (11 total), which we found deliver surprisingly good Dolby Atmos surround sound whether listening to music or watching TV shows or movies.

Your experience will depend on the size and shape of your room, since the effect requires sound to bounce off your walls and ceilings. To offer the best possible experience, we recommend tuning the Arc using the TruePlay setting in Sonos’ app (iOS and Android). Within a few minutes, the soundbar will run a series of tones to get a sense of how your room is set up and optimize its performance accordingly. We’re still partial to multi-speaker surround sound systems, but the $899 Arc is all you really need for cinematic surround sound.

On top of its ability to handle cinema soundtracks and other streaming content, the Sonos Arc delivers crystal-clear sound when listening to music, whether via HDMI, AirPlay 2, or streaming services over WiFi through the Sonos app. Bass is present but restrained, instruments and vocals in the midrange sound smooth, and we never heard sibilance or harsh treble. Again, your experience will vary based on the music you listen to and how well it was mastered. If you’re having trouble with how your music sounds through the Sonos Arc, we’re almost positive it’s not a hardware issue. In our tests, stereo and Dolby Atmos tracks had a very wide soundstage, which made it easy to pick out each instrument in a song individually.

We’re comfortable recommending the Sonos Arc to any music lover on its own. Still, to get the full Dolby Atmos experience, we recommend augmenting it with a pair of WiFi-connected Sonos Era 300 multidirectional speakers and a wireless Sonos Sub. These components will expand the Sonos Arc into a 7.1.4 system, taking over as rear surround/upfiring speakers (along with handling the low end) and leaving the soundbar as the front right, front left, and center channels of a traditional surround sound system. With that setup, you’ll get better sound overall—plus the flexibility to use the six positional drivers of the immersive made-for-Dolby-Atmos Era 300 speakers standalone in other rooms if you want—though it’ll cost you quite a bit to make those upgrades ($449 per Era 300 and $799 for the Sub Gen. 3). Sonos supports its speakers for roughly a decade, so it’s undoubtedly worth building out their ecosystem piece by piece.

If music is as important to you as TV shows and movies, especially if you want to integrate a multi-room audio system, the Sonos Arc is the only home theater purchase you should make in 2023.

Best budget: Roku Streambar Pro

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Why it made the cut: Roku’s Streambar Pro has features you can’t find in soundbars several times its price.

Specs

• Dimensions: 32.2 x 3.9 x 2.8 inches
• Surround sound: None
• Subwoofer: Wireless sold separately

Pros

• Built-in 4K media streamer
• Can be augmented with additional speakers
• Sharp look

Cons

• No surround sound
• No built-in soundbar

We’re typically wary of two-in-one gadgets, but Roku’s Streambar Pro is a very notable exception to our rule. The soundbar actually has an entire 4K Roku media streamer built into it, which you can use to turn an old TV smart. This is especially nice if you’ve recently cut the cord and want an easy way to stream TV shows and movies from online services. You don’t need to use the Streambar Pro’s built-in Roku, but the value of this feature is part of what makes this soundbar such a great deal.

The Streambar Pro’s other strong suit is its surprisingly good sound. We say surprisingly because we didn’t expect quite as much vocal clarity or stereo separation from a soundbar at its price point. If you’ve struggled to hear what people are saying in movies or find the sound of explosions lacking in action-packed sequences, this is your answer. Roku was smart not to pack any surround sound features into the soundbar itself, instead redirecting those engineering resources into developing its Wireless Bass Pro subwoofer and Roku Wireless Speakers. Adding those components will allow you to enjoy your media in true surround sound without connecting them with cables.

It’s telling that Roku bundles the Streambar Pro plus the aforementioned additional speakers in a multi-piece bundle that costs just over $500 (hence its prominence in our best soundbars under $500 roundup, also home to additional options from JBL, Samsung, and Sonos, appropriately). Bose charges roughly the same price for just a subwoofer. There are very few true values in home theater audio, so we couldn’t be happier for Roku’s Streambar Pro to stand out for its audio quality and cost.

Things to consider when buying the best soundbars

How big or small should your soundbar be?

One of the most convenient features of most soundbar systems is the understated form that helps them blend in with your existing entertainment center. It’s generally recommended that you choose a soundbar that doesn’t exceed the length of your television for aesthetic reasons. The length and size of the soundbar don’t always translate to volume and power, so you won’t be making too many compromises by going with a smaller soundbar.

The most important consideration when choosing a soundbar for its size is that it retains flexibility and versatility despite its understated appearance. Many miniature soundbars pack Bluetooth connectivity, subwoofers, and other special features into their cases without a hitch. You don’t have to worry about sacrificing essential features to ensure that your smaller rooms don’t get cluttered. After all, you’re buying a soundbar for its major improvements over your television’s speaker system.

What kind of surround sound are you looking for?

Some basic soundbars offer typical stereo sound, but many have adopted surround sound technology that can add an entirely new dimension to the content you watch. The most relevant thing to notice in modern soundbars is Dolby Atmos. This object-based surround sound standard works with the most popular streaming services and provides an overall excellent experience with some consistency, assuming the sound designer has done something compelling with the 100+ sonic placements available to them.

Balance tuning versus power

An oft-overlooked factor while shopping for a soundbar is its ability to adequately translate cinematic audio and dialogue in the best way for your room. For example, a soundbar with a high wattage rating and high maximum sound pressure level might appear loud on paper. Still, if this sound is muddy or if the device’s design renders dialogue muffled and unintelligible, it completely defeats the purpose of adding a soundbar to your system in the first place. In this way, volume and power capabilities don’t always translate to better sound for your space. Suppose you’re looking to max out your entertainment system’s volume with a soundbar. In that case, it’s important to consider a model combining high wattage and maximum volume with manufacturer-designed tuning.

The system used to tune a soundbar—or any sound system, for that matter—involves using equalization to boost certain frequencies and cut others, which can enhance the audio in home environments. Unless you’re investing in a high degree of sound treatment for your theater room, chances are that there are some undesirable resonances in your space that can exacerbate poorly tuned audio. This effect becomes even more pronounced at higher volumes, so it’s important to pick out a tuned or tunable system if you’re going to listen loud or if you’re in a smaller room. With a properly tuned soundbar, dialogue becomes clear, action sequences retain impact without being ear-piercing, and most importantly, it drastically cuts the need for constant turning up and down of your television volume. If any of these issues apply to your situation, a tuned soundbar is the only way to go.

Is your home a smart one?

Smart home systems run via Alexa and Google Home transform how we live and work around the house and beyond. Activities that were once interrupted by the need to pick up the phone, sit down at the computer, or fumble with a device have been made quicker and easier thanks to voice control integration across a whole gamut of home appliances. And since your entertainment center is a focal point of your time spent at home, it only makes sense to consider a soundbar system that offers voice control compatibility, whether you’re planning on expanding your current smart home system or starting from scratch.

One of the biggest perks of choosing a soundbar with smart home compatibility is its elevated ability to play high-volume music and media while still being able to hear your voice over the noise and execute your commands without turning the volume down or pressing pause. Think of a voice control-enabled soundbar as a more souped-up version of a traditional smart home speaker: you can turn the music up and down, resume and pause programming, check the status of your smart cooker, air quality, temperature, and so much more from the comfort of your seat. A system with this capability also eliminates the need for a separate smart speaker for your TV area or living room altogether, which is a plus if you’re trying to save space or retain a minimalist sense of decor.

Do you want to connect to Bluetooth?

Bluetooth is one of the most prevalent and useful interfaces for wirelessly streaming audio from your devices to your speaker systems, and most soundbars on the market do offer some form of Bluetooth connectivity. Options like this allow the soundbar to work for you and help you get more out of your system whenever you’re listening to music or podcasts around the house. Most televisions don’t come standard with a Bluetooth audio receiver, so not only does this technology open up your entertainment center as a location for streaming audio, but it’s also an incredible improvement over a traditional portable Bluetooth speaker.

Do you need to connect multiple devices?

HDMI is the most commonly used wired interface for soundbars to receive audio from and send it to your TV. Some soundbar systems also use this connection to receive volume information directly from your TV remote. Suppose you’ll deal with sound from numerous sources like Blu-ray players, video game consoles, and streaming services. In that case, it’s important to consider whether your soundbar has enough connectivity to support your needs and how efficiently it can interface with various devices (and that you have appropriately rated HDMI cables). Generally speaking, more connectivity is always better due to the flexibility that it affords, as devices that play well with others make your life easier and require less tinkering. Increased connectivity options come at a price of both cost and size, so it’s important to weigh your needs for flexibility against these factors.

FAQs

Final thoughts on shopping for the best soundbars

• Best overall: Sennheiser AMBEO Plus
• Best compact: Bose TV Speaker
• Best 2.1: Samsung BW-H550/ZA Soundbar
• Best 5.1: JBL Bar 700
• Best for music: Sonos Arc
• Best budget: Roku Streambar Pro

A soundbar is an easy choice for drastically improving the quality of your home theater, thanks to the easy setup and maintenance that these systems provide. The wide range of choices in this product category ensures that there’s an option out there for every budget and need, from compact single-bar systems to fully-fledged surround sound setups. In looking for a soundbar system, consider the size of your space and the connectivity your home theater needs to ensure that your add-on provides the best cinematic experience for you.

Why trust us

Popular Science started writing about technology more than 150 years ago. There was no such thing as “gadget writing” when we published our first issue in 1872, but if there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for everyday readers means we would have been all over it. Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now.

Our writers and editors have combined decades of experience covering and reviewing consumer electronics. We each have our own obsessive specialties—from high-end audio to video games to cameras and beyond—but when we’re reviewing devices outside of our immediate wheelhouses, we do our best to seek out trustworthy voices and opinions to help guide people to the very best recommendations. We know we don’t know everything, but we’re excited to live through the analysis paralysis that internet shopping can spur so readers don’t have to.

The post The best soundbars for any room and budget appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Best overall		Hisense U8K		SEE IT	Hisense’s U8K offers the best mix of picture quality, screen technology, and price.
Best design		Samsung Frame		SEE IT	The Frame is the most aesthetically pleasing TV available, which makes it a great TV for watching sports in shared spaces.
Best budget		TCL 65Q750G		SEE IT	An unapologetically big screen at under $700.

The best TVs for watching sports require more than a gigantic screen. Recent improvements to television color accuracy, resolution, and response time, coupled with the ascent of sports streaming services like Fubo.tv, make now the perfect time to upgrade. Surprisingly, TV prices have plummeted while their average screen size has increased, so you’ll likely be spending a lot less than you did previously to get an even larger set. The best TVs for watching sports will help you feel closer to the stadium than ever while you’re watching the game from a seat that’s more comfortable and far less costly.

• Best overall: Hisense 65U8K
• Best splurge: Sony BRAVIA XR A95L
• Best design: Samsung Frame
• Best 75-inch: TCL 75QM850G
• Best budget: TCL 65Q750G

How we chose the best TVs for watching sports

Our recommendations for the best TVs for watching sports are based on a mix of research and hands-on testing using a set of specific criteria. We carefully considered which screen sizes and display technologies would most impact the sports-watching experience, whether for football, soccer, tennis, hockey, etc. We hewed toward recommending larger TVs (up to and including some 75-inch TVs) because they’ll allow you the opportunity to see smaller details, especially during close-up shots. However, our recommendations are available in several screen sizes, so you can get one that’ll fit properly in your room. We also carefully considered a wide range of budgets during our deliberations, and our recommendations factored cost in very heavily. You’ll be able to find an excellent TV to watch sports regardless of how much you have to spend—especially if you’re in the market for a 55-inch TV.

The best TVs for watching sports: Reviews & Recommendations

Once you’ve decided which specs to prioritize, it’s time to choose the best screen that suits your needs. Below are the models for sports on TV that we found to have the best balance of features and cost.

Best overall: Hisense 65U8K

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Specs

• Sizes: 55-100 inches
• Screen technology: Mini-LED
• Operating system: Android
• Refresh rate: 144Hz
• Price: $897.98

Pros

• Excellent picture quality
• Full array dimming
• 1,500-Nit peak brightness

Cons

• Speakers are so-so.

It’s hard to find fault with Hisense’s U8K, widely considered among the best televisions released in 2023. Our testing found that its reputation was well-founded, as it performed exceptionally when watching sports, TV shows, movies, or playing next-gen. console games. Its biggest strength is the fact that its image quality is excellent right out of the box. Grass during an International Euro 2024 Qualifying match looked shockingly verdant, and players never looked blurry as they rushed up and down the pitch. Subtle details in player’s faces during close-up shots were similarly impressive. The U8K never struggled to keep up with the action while watching fast-paced sports, so you’ll have no issues if you prefer slower ones, such as golf.

The biggest reason for the U8K’s performance is the amount of screen technology packed inside this TV. It has a peak brightness of 1,500 nits, allowing us to watch comfortably in a brightly lit room and making the screen look even better when we draw the blackout shades or watch at night. Mini-LED full-array dimming allowed the TV to control the brightness of very small sections of its display, allowing smaller LEDs to distribute light more evenly and significantly improving its contrast compared to previous generations. This technology allowed the U8K to compare favorably to OLED TVs on contrast while besting them in brightness. Our only technical complaint is that the U8K speaker system is only okay. That’s the tradeoff for having a thin-screen TV, but it’s worth noting. You can alleviate this issue by hooking the U8K up to a soundbar.

Most of the TVs we recommend run on Google TV, and the U8K’s processor was powerful enough that we never noticed any lag when booting the television up, opening or switching between apps or navigating through its settings. It’s especially impressive that this level of performance is available in a 65-inch TV that costs under $1,000. If you want a TV that exceeds expectations when watching sports but is also well-equipped for playing games and watching movies, we highly recommend Hisense’s U8K.

Best splurge: Sony BRAVIA XR A95L

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Specs

• Sizes: 55-75 inches
• Screen technology: OLED
• Operating system: Google TV
• Refresh rate: 120Hz
• Price: $3,298

Pros

• QD-OLED screen technology
• Custom-designed processor
• Finds and highlights a focal point

Cons

• Price

This is the latest model in Sony’s line of uber-luxe OLED televisions. The large OLED TV runs on a custom processor that uses AI to help optimize its picture quality in real-time. This chip can also analyze what you’re watching, detect a specific focal point (a wide receiver running toward the end zone), and then enhance the part of the screen that player is in.

When it comes to color accuracy and contrast, a QD-OLED is the pinnacle of screen technology, delivering per-pixel lighting and control other sets can’t match. Sony says the Bravia XR A95L can show color up to 200% better than a typical OLED TV, so expect the grass, sky, and jersey colors to pop as you watch them. There’s no doubt the XR A95L is worth its high price, but there’s no getting around the sticker shock of having to pay roughly three and a half times more for this set than most of the other televisions we’re recommending. Still, if you want a TV that’ll do all the work of making sports look as good as possible for you, none will stand up to this Sony.

Best design: Samsung Frame

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Specs

• Sizes: 32-85 inches
• Screen technology: QLED
• Operating system: Tizen
• Refresh rate: 60Hz
• Price: $1,597.99

Pros

• Sophisticated look when not in use
• Matte screen reduces glar
• Widest array of screen sizes

Cons

• Price
• Matte screen can dull colors

Samsung’s Frame TV is among the most recognizable television sets in the Instagram-able world thanks to its painting-like design and the ability to show art on your wall when you’re not watching television. You can even swap the frames around the TV screen to suit different room aesthetics. For sports fans who want to watch big games in a shared space like the kitchen or a more tastefully decorated den, it’s the obvious choice. The QLED TV is available in seven screen sizes and is one of the only sets that has multiple options under 50 inches. If you live in a smaller home, the Frame is arguably the best choice among all the great Samsung TVs, regardless of what you watch.

Sports fans, in particular, will appreciate that this TV supports HDR (High Dynamic Range) for better color reproduction, and its anti-reflective coating will make it easier to watch sports in a room that gets a lot of sun. Having to adjust blinds frequently because of glare can be very annoying, depending on your environment. Matte screens typically dull the look of colors, though, so a trade-off is involved. When it comes to aesthetics and design, Samsung’s Frame is unmatched, and sports fans lobbying to get a bigger set are more likely to find success by suggesting it.

Best 75-inch: TCL 75QM850G

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Specs

• Sizes: 65-98 inches
• Screen technology: QLED
• Operating system: Google TV
• Refresh rate: 120Hz
• Price: $1,298

Pros

• Massive size
• 2,000 nits of peak brightness
• Available in a 98-inch model

Cons

• May be too large for your room

If you have the space for a big screen, a 75-inch TV from TCL’s QM8 series is the one to get. The ultra-sized QLED TV supports Dolby Vision HDR, so its screen can display colors more realistically. The TV’s 2,300 local dimming zones allow the set to control the brightness of different sections of the screen with extreme precision, which makes it easy to pick out little details on the pitch. The QM8 has a peak brightness of 2,000 nits, so you’ll have an enjoyable experience when watching sports in a bright room.

TCL has gone all-in on larger-screen TVs, offering the QM8 in a 98-inch configuration for those with a lot of space. Despite the massive screen size, it’s kept the price of TVs in this series surprisingly low. Getting a 75-inch 4K TV packed with the latest display technologies (not to mention support for AMD FreeSync for gamers) for under $1,300 is pretty remarkable. If you’ve been waffling on how large of a TV to get for watching sports, the QM8 will make it easier to justify jumping to a TV size that would’ve been unfathomable until recently.

Best budget: TCL 65Q750G

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Specs

• Sizes: 65-85 inches
• Screen technology: QLED
• Operating system: Google TV
• Refresh rate: 120Hz
• Price: $698

Pros

• Full array local dimming
• Larger screen size available
• Price

Cons

• Lower peak brightness

TCL’s 65Q750G has most of the features we liked in the company’s higher-end QM8 series sets but at a significantly lower price. For well under $1,000, you’re getting a QLED TV that can display the same UltraWide Color Gamut as a more premium TV. Its peak brightness is only 1,000 nits, which is our only … nitpick … but that won’t be a huge issue if you’re watching sports in a basement rumpus room or draw the window blinds a bit when watching big games.

The 65Q750G has over 200 local dimming zones, which regulate brightness and contrast, ensuring an even picture across the entire screen. While we’re recommending the 65-inch version of this TV, TCL offers an 85-inch model, which is available for $1,498. That’s expensive relative to the 65-inch TVs we’re recommending, but a bargain for its size. For reference, an 85-inch version of our top pick costs $1,800. If you’re watching your budget but want a great TV for watching sports without busting your budget, the 65Q750G is your best choice.

What to consider when shopping for the best TVs for watching sports

There are many factors to weigh when deciding which TV for watching sports is best for you (and optimizing it after purchase). We’ve outlined the most important ones to consider below.

Size

Size is always the first factor to consider when getting a TV for any purpose. You’ll need to consider the size of your room and how far you’ll be sitting away from your set when determining how large of a set to get. Sony has a handy chart showing the optimal viewing distance between you and your TV. By default, we’re recommending 65-inch TVs, which are great for watching sports, but the sets above are available in larger and smaller sizes.

Refresh rate

A TV’s refresh rate determines the number of times the screen can be updated with new information/images every second. This is a useful metric when playing video games, where fast-paced action is happening all the time, but it also matters when watching sports. Players are darting all over the place, and even a few milliseconds of lag is just barely perceptible, breaking the immersion of watching a live game. The refresh rates of the TVs we’re recommending vary between 60Hz and 144Hz, where the larger number does mean better.

Resolution

All TVs we recommend in this guide have a 4K resolution, which is the current standard. Video recorded and streamed in 4K will look exceptionally good on these sets, though HD footage will also look great. Most sports aren’t available in 4K yet, but that’s slowly beginning to change, so it’s best to get a higher-resolution set now.

Operating system

Most TVs we recommend here run on the Google TV operating system, save for Samsung’s Frame, which runs the company’s proprietary TizenOS. A TV’s operating system is important as it’s the software you’ll use to navigate through the TV’s menus and access streaming apps to watch live sports. Google TV and Tizen both update frequently, so getting a TV with either operating system is a safe bet. If you don’t like these systems for any reason, you can connect a media streamer to your TV to access streaming apps through that device.

FAQs

Final thoughts on the best TVs for watching sports

• Best overall: Hisense 65U8K
• Best splurge: Sony BRAVIA XR A95L
• Best design: Samsung Frame
• Best 75-inch: TCL 75QM850G
• Best budget: TCL 65Q750G

There’s never been a better time to upgrade your TV for watching sports. Large screens have never been better or more affordable, a rare confluence in the tech world. Additionally, TV makers have designed their latest models with durable technology to last. Picture quality will improve some year over year, but continual software updates to the set’s operating system will make it possible to continue streaming sports even easier. The advent of 4K TVs and HDR means the technical bottleneck between you and feeling like you’re at the game is a stadium’s video equipment. It’s entirely possible the sports-watching experience on the TV you get today will improve dramatically over its lifetime as more sports become available to watch in true 4K. Until then, you can enjoy season after season of HD sports from the comfort of your couch.

Why trust us

Popular Science started writing about technology more than 150 years ago. There was no such thing as “gadget writing” when we published our first issue in 1872, but if there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for everyday readers means we would have been all over it. Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now.

Our writers and editors have combined decades of experience covering and reviewing consumer electronics. We each have our own obsessive specialties—from high-end audio to video games to cameras and beyond—but when we’re reviewing devices outside of our immediate wheelhouses, we do our best to seek out trustworthy voices and opinions to help guide people to the very best recommendations. We know we don’t know everything, but we’re excited to live through the analysis paralysis that internet shopping can spur so readers don’t have to.

The post The best TVs for watching sports in 2024 appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Best overall		Sonos Era 300		SEE IT	Support for Dolby Atmos, a more sustainable design, and superlative sound help the Era 300 take top spot.
Best portable		Sonos Move 2		SEE IT	The Move 2 brings audio and design innovations from the Era series into a speaker you can take anywhere.
Best budget		Sonos Era 100		SEE IT	The Sonos Era 100 raises the bar significantly compared to its earlier entry-level speakers.

Sonos speakers are known worldwide for their sound quality and for pioneering and popularizing whole-home audio systems. The Santa Barbara, Calif.-based company’s original speakers were among the first to support Wi-Fi connectivity, the ability to play music through multiple wireless speakers simultaneously, and control via a mobile app. Sonos has continued its streak of innovation by introducing single-speaker Dolby Atmos support, sustainable speaker design, and the ability to communicate with multiple smart home assistants without compromising on the features that made it successful in the first place. Along the way, it’s also jumped head-first into the home theater world by introducing a line of soundbars that don’t sacrifice clarity for psychoacoustics. The best Sonos speakers will allow you to seamlessly set up a connected multiroom speaker system or home theater that requires little to no maintenance while delivering excellent sound.

• Best overall: Sonos Era 300
• Best splurge: Sonos Arc
• Best soundbar: Sonos Beam (Gen. 2)
• Best portable: Sonos Move 2
• Best budget: Sonos Era 100

How we chose the best Sonos speakers

Our Sonos speaker recommendations are based on hands-on (and, in this case, ears-on) testing of every model we recommend. Our methodology included listening to music from different genres—in mono, stereo, and Dolby Atmos mixes—in different rooms at several volume levels. In the case of our portable speaker recommendation, we listened to music indoors and outdoors. When possible, we listened to music using different connectivity options. Sonos speakers are known for being pricy, so we also considered one’s budget when deciding which speakers to recommend.

The best Sonos speakers: Reviews & Recommendations

Ready to set up a wireless surround sound system or multiroom music system? Have your Wi-Fi router fired up and read on to find the best Sonos speaker to order and add to the network. In many cases, the play is to start with a single speaker and continue adding to your system over time. The good news is that Sonos speakers all sound pretty great on their own, so you won’t end up with a sub-par base system no matter your first pick. Consider, however, how you want to use the speaker—listening to music vs. watching movies and TV shows, for example—when choosing.

Best overall: Sonos Era 300

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Specs

• Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm AUX jack (with an adapter)
• Dolby Atmos compatible: Yes
• Price: $449

Pros

• Single-unit Dolby Atmos support, plus rear channel performance w/ upfiring/side drivers
• Sustainable design
• Modular connectivity options

Cons

• Price

The Sonos Era 300 wowed us when we first tested it in 2023, and it continues to impress all these months later. The speaker is one of the first to be able to decode and natively play back Dolby Atmos mixes from streaming services like Apple Music, Amazon Music, and TIDAL wirelessly from a single source (albeit through the use of the Sonos app). This feature comes courtesy of a six-driver array that is positioned forward and upward to offer greater depth. The upward-firing drivers won’t pull as much weight when listening to stereo or mono music (though they won’t hurt, either). For even better stereo and Dolby Atmos performance, you should consider adding a second Era 300 and pairing the two together.

As we said in our first impressions, “… the Era 300’s directional treble adds expansiveness alongside expressiveness.” The multiple drivers’ purpose-driven placement allows for the Era 300 to take full advantage of spatial audio‘s 360-degree encoding, keeping all the object-based elements in motion without any perceivable channel-hopping disconnection. In general, Sonos speakers have a midrange saturation, a rich house tuning, but it isn’t distracting; the center image remains focused, never shouty, while other frequencies are allowed to frolic. While the Era 300 won’t dethrone our top picks for best powered speakers when it comes to the ultimate expression of textural articulation and pure punchiness, it’s a speaker that’s much easier to mesh into any environments than component systems that need exact placement and multiple plugs. Go with the Era 300 if you want to spend more time with your playlists than playing with your speaker’s angle.

The Era 300 also benefits from Sonos’ latest design principles, which put sustainability and modularity front and center. The speaker has a USB-C port around the back, which can connect an adapter that terminates into a standard 3.5mm audio jack. This allows you to connect the Era 300 to a turntable with a built-in preamp and other wired audio sources (or go completely wirelessly with the Works with Sonos Victrola Stream Carbon or Victrola Stream Onyx). This new design is also among Sonos’ most sustainable—the speaker was designed to be taken apart by a technician, who can replace specific components rather than scraping the speaker outright. If you plan on paying $449 for a single speaker, investing in one designed to last is smart.

The Sonos Era 300 is the company’s latest high-end speaker, and we never found it lacking. This would be our immediate pick if we could only recommend one of its speakers.

Best splurge: Sonos Arc

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Specs

• Connectivity: Wi-Fi, HDMI
• Dolby Atmos compatible: Yes
• Price: $834.99

Pros

• Rich sound
• Dolby Atmos support
• Wide size

Cons

• Price

At 45 inches wide and $834.99, Sonos’ Arc is the audio embodiment of the adage “Go big or go home.” Nearly four years after its release, it’s still competitive with the best Dolby Atmos soundbars, including JBL’s Bar 700 and Yamaha’s True X Bar 50A. As with the Era 300, the Sonos Arc features both upward and front-firing drivers, and the soundbar’s extremely wide size makes it a great choice when listening to stereo music or watching older TV shows and films. There’s a surprising amount of Left/Right channel separation, nowhere near the soundfield/imaging of discrete stereo speakers but somewhat akin to what we’ve experienced when listening to music on Bowers & Wilkins’ football-shaped Zeppelin speaker (albeit without the surprisingly prodigious bass that smart speaker produces). You’ll need enough space in your home theater to fit it, but you’ll rewarded for giving the Arc as much room as you can spare.

A big part of the Arc’s appeal is that it can convincingly replace a traditional 3.0 home theater system. Dialogue comes through clearly in the center channel, never getting overpowered by sound effects coming through the right or left channels. It’s a neat trick that the soundbar does this work for you rather than requiring you to enable a dialogue enhancement feature separately. Another benefit to the Arc is its ability to be connected with the company’s other speakers to form a more traditional multi-speaker home theater system. For the best Dolby Atmos experience, pair the Arc with two Era 300 speakers and its Sonos Sub.

While we prefer the Era 300 x2 and full-sized Sub setup, we’ve tested the Arc independently and paired just with a Sonos Sub Mini. It performed well in all cases, but the addition of a wireless subwoofer did round out its sound quite a bit. Sonos’ commitment to continuing to support older hardware by making it compatible with newer components is refreshing and helps to justify the Arc’s undeniably high cost. If you want a true home theater all-in-one, and have the space and budget, don’t hesitate to pick up the Sonos Arc.

Best soundbar: Sonos Beam (Gen. 2)

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Specs

• Connectivity: Wi-Fi, HDMI, Optical (via included adapter)
• Dolby Atmos compatible: Yes
• Price: $499

Pros

• Great sound, given its compact size
• Modular design
• Dolby Atmos support

Cons

• Price

The second-generation Sonos Beam takes most of what we liked about the Sonos Arc and shrinks it down into a more manageable size. Dolby Atmos support is the Beam’s standout feature, given its relatively compact size, but its drivers are positioned forward and angled toward the sides, so the overhead/virtual surround sound effect wasn’t as pronounced during our tests. The outward-facing drivers made listening to stereo audio more convincing, though the Arc beat it out. Comparing the second-generation Beam to the Sonos Arc isn’t very fair, given the $400 price delta between the two, but Sonos’s smaller soundbar does stand out on its own.

Audio quality for both music and when watching videos was universally excellent in our tests. The front-firing center channel speakers matched the Arc in dialogue clarity, which was no small feat. Also, loud sounds like explosions never distorted the side speakers, which isn’t always true with smaller drivers found on more compact soundbars. You’ll get a relatively immersive stereo experience, while the ability to natively play Dolby Atmos mixes of albums and movie soundtracks is a nice bonus.

The main reason the second-generation Sonos beam stands out in a crowded field full of great options—Polk’s Signa S4, TCL’s Q6510, and Sony’s HT-S2000 among them—is the ability to connect it to Sonos’ other speakers. We paired the second-generation Sonos Beam with a Sub Mini and immediately noticed its sound filled out. Connecting it to a pair of Era 300s would’ve completed the effect and brought true Dolby Atmos playback to the soundbar. This flexibility, combined with the second-generation Beam’s impressive audio quality, makes it the soundout choice in the Sonos soundbar lineup.

Best portable: Sonos Move 2

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Specs

• Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth,
• Dolby Atmos compatible: No
• Price:

Pros

• Exceptional audio quality
• Portable-friendly design
• Sustainable design

Cons

• Price

The Move 2 is Sonos’ latest portable speaker, improving upon the previous generation in every conceivable way. Its battery lasts up to 24 hours (up from 11), its acoustic architecture was completely reconsidered (incorporating innovations from the Era 100’s development), and its design was tweaked to make it even easier to grab and go—literally. Our testing revealed a portable party speaker that stood out in an incredibly crowded field, largely thanks to Sonos’ strong out-of-the-box audio quality. It’s hard to argue with a portable speaker that sounds just as good over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (though range gives the former the edge) without any EQ futzing necessary.

Part of that audio quality comes down to the Move 2’s support for TruePlay, a feature that automatically calibrates the speaker based on its environment. We found this allowed the Move 2 to sound great inside and outdoors, with perceptible differences in its sound when the feature was enabled. TruePlay works in real-time, so you’ll hear the speaker change when you take it from room to room, though your ears will adjust to its current sound quickly. Don’t get us wrong, the differences aren’t night and day, but they’re noticeable nonetheless.

The Move 2 benefits from Sonos’ latest design language, both inside and out. The multi-driver system inside the Move 2 is similar to the one found in our next featured speaker (see the budget pick below). This allows it to play music in true stereo on its own—though not Atmos, even if two Move 2s are connected—with enough oomph to fill out an entire mid-sized room on its own. Audio quality is consistent at any volume level, assuming the music you’re listening to was mixed and mastered well.

A big part of the Move 2’s appeal in our tests was its portable-friendly design. Sonos scooped out a chunk from the speaker’s back to act like a handle, and this recessed section allowed us to securely carry the Move 2 around single-handedly (and a solidly weighted base means it doesn’t tip over easily). This was a much more elegant design than portable speakers with traditional handles like JBL’s exceptional-sounding Authentics 300, which also impressed us last year. The Move 2 also features Sonos’ sustainability-forward design language, which means it can be disassembled and repaired more easily than the company’s earlier portable speakers.

All of these features give the Move 2 a distinct advantage over its competition and prove Sonos’ ability to bring audiophile quality outdoors.

Best budget: Sonos Era 100

SEE IT

Specs

• Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AUX (with an adapter)
• Dolby Atmos compatible: No
• Price: $249

Pros

• Great overall sound
• Sustainable design
• Price

Cons

• No Atmos support
• Not truly portable despite compact size (no battery)

The Era 100 is Sonos’ newest entry-level speaker, and we found it’s a big leap forward in audio quality over the speaker it replaced. The multi-driver array in the Era 100 allows it to play music in true stereo, and while separation is somewhat limited, it’s a better representation of an artist’s vision than truncating music into mono. The stereo separation becomes more pronounced when listening to music from a distance of four or more feet away.

Because this is the little sibling to Sonos’ Era 300 speaker, the two share many common features: The Era 100 has a sustainable design and a USB-C port that can terminate into a 3.5mm audio jack with an adapter. Support for TruePlay 2 helps the speaker sound great in any environment, so you don’t have to worry about finding a sweet spot. This feature, combined with Sonos’ in-house tuning and the Era 100’s audio processor and amp, add up to one fine-sounding speaker.

The Era 100 sounded rich and detailed when listening to music streamed from Apple Music over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Bass was present but controlled, highs sounded crisp without being too sharp, and the midrange was especially rich and luscious. The result is a speaker particularly good at playing back live and acoustic tracks and can present nuance in vocals especially well. Don’t worry; you’ll still find a lot to love about the Era 100 if you prefer techno, rap, or pop music layered with effects.

Given the price of Sonos’ speakers, we’re impressed the company spent so much time tweaking the sound of its entry-level speaker. For many, the Era 100 will be the best-sounding speaker in their home, and there won’t be a need to add a second for additional stereo separation. In a home theater environment, a pair of Era 100 speakers can be used in conjunction with a second-generation Sonos Beam (or Arc, if you so choose) and Sub for a 5.1 surround sound setup. The only major feature the Era 100 lacks is support for Dolby Atmos playback. If that doesn’t matter to you, pick up the Sonos Era 100 with no reservations.

What to consider when shopping for the best Sonos speakers

There are many factors to weigh when deciding which is the best Sonos speaker for you. These are the ones we considered most important when compiling this story:

Connectivity

Sonos speakers support a wide range of wired and wireless connectivity options depending on when they were released and the type of speaker they are. All of Sonos’ speakers support wireless streaming over Wi-Fi, while some also work with Bluetooth. The latest Sonos speakers feature a USB-C port on the back, which allows you to connect them to a turntable via an adapter. Sonos’ soundbars are typically outfitted with an HDMI port but also come with an adapter that allows them to be connected to a TV’s optical audio port. Also, if you already have a pair of passive stereo speakers you love, there are AV receivers (like the Sony STR-AN1000) you can buy that are certified Works with Sonos to add connected capabilities into your existing system.

Dolby Atmos compatibility

Some of Sonos’ speakers have the native ability to play music and movie soundtracks with a Dolby Atmos mix thanks to an array of upward and front-facing drivers, which are positioned such that sound is broadcast not only at but above and to the side of you, with soundwaves bouncing off the ceiling/walls to virtualize surround sound. Dolby Atmos audio is still in its infancy, but it’s gaining ground in the mainstream more than previous multichannel formats such as quadraphonic LPs, SACDs, and DVD-Audio discs (even multichannel audio Blu-rays) because tracks can be streamed rather than requiring specific niche discs.

Sustainability

All of the speakers Sonos released in 2023—the Sonos Era 100, Era 300, and Move 2—were designed with sustainability in mind from the bottom up. These speakers have modular designs that allow Sonos to repair a faltering component rather than having to replace the entire unit. This will extend the life of the speaker for you.

FAQs

Final thoughts on the best Sonos speakers

• Best overall: Sonos Era 300
• Best splurge: Sonos Arc
• Best soundbar: Sonos Beam (Gen. 2)
• Best portable: Sonos Move 2
• Best budget: Sonos Era 100

Sonos’ connected speakers continue to be among the best you can get, with the company continuing to push the bar with each successive generation. Its continued support for older speakers and a strong sustainability push with its latest models suggest the company understands that its audio gear is an investment. It doesn’t release speakers simply for the sake of having a new gadget on the market, and does a great job at ensuring its hardware lasts a good, long time. This commitment, combined with continued addition of new technologies and features, make its speakers a fantastic choice for those just starting their elevated audio journey or those looking to see how good a wireless speaker can really sound.

Why trust us

Popular Science started writing about technology more than 150 years ago. There was no such thing as “gadget writing” when we published our first issue in 1872, but if there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for everyday readers means we would have been all over it. Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now.

Our writers and editors have combined decades of experience covering and reviewing consumer electronics. We each have our own obsessive specialties—from high-end audio to video games to cameras and beyond—but when we’re reviewing devices outside of our immediate wheelhouses, we do our best to seek out trustworthy voices and opinions to help guide people to the very best recommendations. We know we don’t know everything, but we’re excited to live through the analysis paralysis that internet shopping can spur so readers don’t have to.

The post The best Sonos speakers in 2024 appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

The Super Bowl is only a couple of weeks away, and now is the time to upgrade your TV to enjoy the game in its full glory. Hisense has slashed the price on its 75-inch 75U6HF TV from $1,149.99 all the way down to $630 in advance of Super Bowl Sunday, but the deal is only going to be around for a limited time. This deal brings the TV down ot its lowest price ever.

Hisense 75U6HF, $629.99 (Was $1,149.99)

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The 75U6HF has a lot going for it besides its massive size. It runs FireOS, so you can access apps without plugging in a media streamer, and control it using Alexa, Amazon’s smart home assistant. The TV has a Quantum Dot panel for accurate color reproduction, 220 local dimming zones to automatically manage the brightness of smaller sections of the TV for better contrast, and a respectable peak brightness of 660 nits. These features will make watching sports, movies, TV shows, or playing video games a great experience. Still, it’s hard to beat the fact that you’re getting a 75-inch TV for just over $600.

Other TV deals to watch out for

• Hisense 55U8K, $697.98 (Was $1,099.99)
• Hisense 100U76N, $2999.99 (Was $4,999.99)
• TCL 65Q650F, $499.99 (Was $699.99)
• Sony KD85X80K, $1,298 (Was $1,498)
• LG UQ7590, $996.99 (Was $1,199.99)
• Samsung QN85QN85C, $2,197.99 (was $3,797.99)
• Sony KD55X85K, $698 (Was $800.95)
• Sony KD75X77L, $798 (Was $998)

The post Get a 75-Inch TV for just $630 in time for the Super Bowl with this deal from Amazon appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Best overall		BenQ TK700STi 4K Gaming Projector		SEE IT	A brightness level of 3000 lumens, 4K resolution, and gaming-tuned contrast and frame rate make this the best short-thrown projector for those long drives.
Best value		Optoma EH200ST Full 3D 1080p 300 Lumen DLP Short Throw Projector		SEE IT	Optoma’s EH200ST projector is an incredibly well-specced projector at a world-beating price—something you can swing a stick at.
Best budget		BenQ TH671ST Full HD 1080p Projector		SEE IT	While it won’t deliver its best performance in a bright room, it will more than impress in a dark room, especially for the price.

Golf simulators let you play virtually on the world’s top courses from the comfort of your own home. Golf is a fantastic hobby. However, being able to play is largely dependent on the weather. Technology to the rescue. These days, you don’t need a shining sun to get in a solid back nine, thanks to immersive, convenient golf simulators. However, to get the most out of your simulated experience, you will need a great projector. The best golf simulator projectors let you tee up without leaving your house.

• Best overall: BenQ TK700STi 4K Gaming Projector
• Best value: Optoma EH200ST Full 3D 1080p 300 Lumen DLP Short Throw Projector
• Best ceiling-mounted: Panasonic PT-VZ580U 5000-Lumen WUXGA 3LCD Projector
• Best standard throw: ViewSonic PX748-4K UHD Projector
• Best budget: BenQ TH671ST Full HD 1080p Projector

How we chose the best golf simulator projectors

To arrive at this selection of the best golf simulator projectors, we looked at various projectors across the spectrum and from all price points. We compared features and specifications and cross-referenced them with commentary and analysis from a number of well-respected critics, as well as general consensus and reviews from online users and retailers.

The best golf simulator projectors: Reviews & Recommendations

Seasoned pros will already know that the best golf simulator projectors are actually just general-use projectors. However, there are a few things to remember when shopping for one for your sim space. Aside from budget (which is always a consideration no matter the hobby), brightness and distance are the key factors to consider. In short, you want a bright projector with a short throw—one that sits relatively close to the screen. There are other things to keep in mind as well, such as aspect ratio, which relates to the size of your screen (the standard is 16:9). No matter your requirements, though, you’re sure to find a winner here.

Best overall: BenQ TK700STi 4K Gaming Projector

SEE IT

Specs

• Brightness: 3000 lumens
• Display resolution: 4K
• Connectivity: USB, HDMI, 3.5mm jack

Pros

• 4K resolution
• Great picture
• Affordable price

Cons

• Could be brighter

Our choice for the overall best golf simulator projector is the TK700STi 4K Gaming Projector from BenQ. Although aimed primarily at gamers, it’s also incredibly popular with golfers looking to practice their swing in a home environment. It’s not hard to see why, given the brightness level of 3000 lumens (get it?). Although it could be brighter (4000 lumens is a good benchmark), it will still perform admirably given a darkish space. This short-throw projector also boasts 4K resolution at 60 Hz (1080p at 240 Hz), giving you a crisp and clear representation of the on-screen virtual fairway. And, as it’s aimed at gamers, it has sharp 10,000:1 contrast plus 4.16ms low latency, resulting in overall picture quality that you can definitely write home about.

And the best part is that it all comes in an eminently affordable package. If you’ve considered splashed out for a top-quality golf simulator, you may be worried you’ll feel the economic pinch, but know that the TK700STi will deliver without forcing you to reach deeper into your pockets than is comfortable.

Best value: Optoma EH200ST Full 3D 1080p 300 Lumen DLP Short Throw Projector

SEE IT

Specs

• Brightness: 3000 lumens
• Display resolution: 1080p
• Connectivity: HDMI, MHL

Pros

• Excellent brightness
• Supports multiple aspect ratios
• Incredible price

Cons

• Could be brighter

Optoma’s EH200ST projector consistently appears on lists of the best golf simulator projectors, and for a good reason: it’s an incredibly well-specced projector at a world-beating price. This is why it’s our pick for best value.

As an entry-level projector, you can’t go wrong with the EH200ST. Sporting 3000 lumens of brightness, a contrast ratio of 20,000:1, and DLP technology to ensure sharp, colorful images, this projector will help elevate your game. It also has a 0.49:1 throw ratio, which means you can achieve a 100-inch image with the projector placed 3.5 feet from the simulator screen. There’s even an onboard speaker.

Best ceiling-mounted: Panasonic PT-VZ580U 5000-Lumen WUXGA 3LCD Projector

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Specs

• Brightness: 5000 lumens
• Display resolution: WUXGA
• Connectivity: Wireless

Pros

• LCD display
• WUXGA 1900 x 1280 resolution
• Easy installation

Cons

• On the older side

This 2017 ceiling-mount projector from Panasonic may be getting long in the tooth, but it still comes recommended due to its fantastic brightness. Designed primarily as a conference room projector, it has 5000 lumens of brightness, so it looks sharp and luminous even in a bright room. If your golf sim space is on the bright side, this is one to consider.

The PT-VZ580U is a ceiling mount projector, which makes it ideal for those who want to save some space in their golf sim room by getting the projector up off the floor. Installation is a breeze, so don’t worry if you’re not very handy. It also runs on the quiet side, allowing you to focus on what’s important: your golf game.

Best standard throw: ViewSonic PX748-4K UHD Projector

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Specs

• Brightness: 4000 lumens
• Display resolution: 4K
• Connectivity: USB, Ethernet, HDMI

Pros

• Excellent brightness
• 4K resolution
• 1.3x optical zoom

Cons

• Won’t work in small rooms

The best golf simulator projectors that we’ve looked at so far have all been short-throw projectors, making them appropriate for smaller rooms. However, if your golf sim room is on the larger side, you’ll need a projector to mount further back. The ViewSonic PX748-4K projector is meant to be used in standard throw situations and excels in that.

It’s plenty bright, for one. With its lumens rating of 4000, you won’t lose any of the picture, even with the lights on. It’s also 4K with SuperColor technology under the hood, giving it a vibrant and crystal-clear image. It even has a short lag rate of as low as 4.2 ms, meaning it can double as a gaming projector should you ever get tired of hitting the virtual links. If your room (and budget) will allow, remember this one for your best golf simulator projector.

Best budget: BenQ TH671ST Full HD 1080p Projector

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Specs

• Brightness: 3000 lumens
• Display resolution: 1080p
• Connectivity: HDMI, VGA

Pros

• 16:9 native aspect ratio
• Plenty bright
• Affordable

Cons

• Darks not great in bright conditions

BenQ’s TH671ST makes a great entry-level, cheap projector if you’re working within a limited budget. While it won’t deliver its best performance in a bright room, given the 3000-lumen rating (essentially the minimum brightness spec for golf simulators), it will more than impress in a dark room.

Along with the brightness, this projector offers a clear picture at 1080p resolution plus a native aspect ratio of 16:9. It also features BenQ’s LumiExpert technology to automatically adjust brightness should you need it. While lag may not be of the most concern with a golf sim, it still boasts an ultra-smooth 16.67ms input lag, something your kids may appreciate if you let them play games on it. Overall, it is an excellent budget-minded projector.

What to consider when buying the best golf simulator projectors

Aside from budget, the major contributing factor to the best golf simulator you go with is your golf sim room. Everything else depends on this.

First, if your room is on the small side (and it probably is), you’ll want a short-throw projector. The throw is the distance between the lens and the screen; short-throw projectors can comfortably be placed between three and eight feet from the screen, while longer throws will be farther away and usually installed on the ceiling.

You’ll next want to think about aspect ratio, which your screen’s shape will determine. Finally, there’s brightness. If your room is sufficiently blacked out, 3000 lumens will be fine. Of course, brighter is always better. Additional factors like color accuracy can also contribute to your enjoyment.

Although you might now think about it, but fan noise can throw off your digital game. Projectors use bulbs for illumination. These bulbs get hot during use and have to be cooled with internal fans. The larger the bulb, the more fans you’ll need to keep it cool—your projector will be louder for it. Laser-powered projectors are a relatively noise-free option if you’d like things to be while lining up your shot.

FAQs

Final thoughts on the best golf simulator projectors

• Best overall: BenQ TK700STi 4K Gaming Projector
• Best value: Optoma EH200ST Full 3D 1080p 300 Lumen DLP Short Throw Projector
• Best budget: BenQ TH671ST Full HD 1080p Projector
• Best ceiling-mounted: Panasonic PT-VZ580U 5000-Lumen WUXGA 3LCD Projector
• Best standard throw: ViewSonic PX748-4K UHD Projector

When shopping for the best golf simulator, we recommend going for brightness over resolution. As long as your projector puts out at 1080p, you’re good to go. While gaming projectors are nice and all, they’re made for fast-moving images and lots of detail. Golf sims display the fairway, and as long as you can make out things in the distance, such as sand traps, you’ll be fine. That being said, a good color balance is key. If you’re going to splurge on one area, you should focus on projector brightness. With good blackout curtains, a brightness of 3000 lumens will be fine, but if you can pump that up to 4000 or even 5000, you’ll be good to go in even bright light. Remember, your golf simulator projector is your key to golf fun, regardless of the conditions outdoors. Enjoy.

Why trust us

Popular Science started writing about technology more than 150 years ago. There was no such thing as “gadget writing” when we published our first issue in 1872, but if there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for everyday readers means we would have been all over it. Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now.

Our writers and editors have combined decades of experience covering and reviewing consumer electronics. We each have our own obsessive specialties—from high-end audio to video games to cameras and beyond—but when we’re reviewing devices outside of our immediate wheelhouses, we do our best to seek out trustworthy voices and opinions to help guide people to the very best recommendations. We know we don’t know everything, but we’re excited to live through the analysis paralysis that internet shopping can spur so readers don’t have to.

The post The best golf simulator projectors to perfect your swing appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Best overall		Storm Shell Outdoor TV Hard Cover		SEE IT	This durable polymer shell will protect your TV from all the elements.
Best value		Garnetics Outdoor TV Cover		SEE IT	A fabric and PVC cover that gets the job done without destroying your credit card.
Best budget		iBirdie Outdoor Waterproof and Weatherproof TV Cover		SEE IT	Excellent protection for the budget-minded.

There’s nothing like the great outdoors. While this usually applies to natural surroundings like mountains and forests, nothing says that your backyard can’t be great as well. More and more people are opting to entertain outside, and patios and other outdoor living spaces complete with weather-resistant televisions are becoming a big part of that. Outdoor TVs are a special breed of screen and offer all kinds of protection against the elements compared to indoor ones. However, they will still require some kind of cover when not in use. A lot happens outside, after all, from storms to sports to wayward wildlife, so you’ll feel better with the best outdoor TV covers protecting your investment properly.

• Best overall: Storm Shell Outdoor TV Hard Cover
• Best value: Garnetics Outdoor TV Cover
• Best splurge: The TV Shield Anti-Glare Outdoor TV Enclosure with Two Fans
• Best budget: iBirdie Outdoor Waterproof and Weatherproof TV Cover

How we chose the best outdoor TV covers

By their very nature, the best outdoor TV covers have to protect your television. With that in mind, we naturally gravitated towards the strongest and most durable covers on the market. Additionally, we looked at a number of products across various price points, choosing ones that offered at least durability, with many providing much, much more. Finally, we cross-referenced these selections with user reviews from consumer shopping platforms and reports from our industry peers.

The best outdoor TV covers: Reviews & Recommendations

Covers come in all forms and formats, from simple fabric bags to full-on cases with built-in climate control. What you get will depend on your budget as well as your environment. Some will look very utilitarian, while others can be matched to your patio furniture and heaters. Start your search for the best outdoor TV cover here.

Best overall: Storm Shell Outdoor TV Hard Cover

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Specs

• Material: Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)
• TV size: From 32” to 75”
• Type: Shell

 Pros

• Durable shell type
• Waterproof, impact-resistant, and UV-resistant
• Fifteen degrees of viewing

 Cons

• Some users report installation difficulties
• On the pricey side

Storm Shell. The name says it all. With a moniker like that, you know exactly what it is and what it does: it protects your outdoor TV from even the nastiest of natural conditions. This, along with its other excellent features, makes it our pick for the best overall outdoor TV cover.

Made from ABS, a durable polymer, Storm Shell envelops your television in a heavy-duty enclosure. Storm Shell mounts to your wall and then holds the screen inside, with a bracket and arm that extends and angles for up to 15 degrees of viewing. When not in use, clamp on the lockable outer shell to protect against the elements. The enclosure is waterproof, impact-resistant, and UV-resistant, meaning it will hold up to whatever Mother Nature sends your way.

Storm Shell accommodates various VESA mounting patterns and comes in a variety of sizes, including the ever-popular 55-inch. It’s not cheap—there are plenty of budget options out there should your bank account not be so willing—but if your environment is less than forgivable, Storm Shell is the best option available.

Best value: Garnetics Outdoor TV Cover

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Specs

• Material: Fabric and PVC
• TV size: From 40” to 75”
• Type: Zipper enclosure

 Pros

• Durable PVC material
• Quick installation
• Remote control pocket
• Variety of designs

Cons

• May not fit every wall mount
• No inner lining

When all you need is a zip-up fabric cover to protect your outdoor TV, Garnetics’ Outdoor TV Cover will do the trick. Available in various designs from the American flag to army camouflage, there’s sure to be something to match your decor. Sizes are abundant, too, ensuring that your TV will get the coverage it needs.

Garnetics’ Outdoor TV Cover isn’t just a pretty face, though. Made from Oxford 600D fabric and PVC coating, it keeps your outdoor TV safe even in inclement weather, protecting against moisture, erosion, sunlight, and dust. It’s even splashproof. Although there’s no inner lining, the interior PVC coating will keep moisture at bay. The remote pocket on the rear is very handy to have; your remote stays close to the TV even when not in use (and without having to open an outdoor storage box).

Garnetics’ cover comes on and off in less than a minute with just a few zippers to attend to. While some have reported that it didn’t fit their mounting, most have no issues, and the price is very attractive, making it our pick for the best value outdoor TV cover.

Best splurge: The TV Shield Anti-Glare Outdoor TV Enclosure with Two Fans

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Specs

• Material: Metal
• TV size: From 60” to 65”
• Type: Shell

Pros

• Protects against tampering
• Comprehensive environmental protection
• Two fans
• Anti-glare front panel

Cons

• Extremely pricey

All of the best outdoor TV covers we’ve looked at require you to remove them before use. Not so with The TV Shield Anti-Glare Outdoor TV Enclosure with Two Fans. This splurge-worthy cover houses your TV behind a shield of transparent, anti-glare Lexan polycarbonate. (There’s a standard transparent option also available.) This allows you to watch TV in all weather conditions, ideal for those who spend a lot of time outside or for businesses that require outdoor monitors.

This do-it-all cover protects against pretty much anything you might encounter outdoors: dust, moisture, heat, impact, and—with its key lock system—tampering and theft. As it stays closed 24/7, it has vents for circulation and (in this package) two additional fans to keep electronics cool.

The TV Shield is fairly pricey, befitting the best splurge outdoor TV cover. If you need peace of mind for professional applications or even recreational ones, though, it may be worth it to you.

Best budget: iBirdie Outdoor Waterproof and Weatherproof TV Cover

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Specs

• Material: Polyester
• TV size: From 28” to 85”
• Type: Velcro enclosure

 Pros

• Polyester weatherproof material
• UV protection and heat reflection
• Remote control pocket

Cons

• Possible baggy appearance

When budget is a concern but you still want something to keep your outdoor TV safe, try iBirdie’s Outdoor Waterproof and Weatherproof TV Cover. While it may not have all the fancy bells and whistles of some other covers on the list, it is extremely highly rated and will get the job done.

Made from 600 denier polyester weatherproof material, iBirdie’s cover slides over your television and fastens with velcro. It’s got UV protection and heat reflection, making it perfect for warmer areas. Dust also doesn’t stand a chance. The cover comes on and off quickly and seals up tightly, although some have reported a baggy appearance. It also has a pocket around the back to hold remote controls.

The iBirdie Outdoor Waterproof and Weatherproof TV Cover gets the job done and won’t bother your wallet too much. This makes it our choice for best budget outdoor TV cover.

What to consider when buying the best outdoor TV covers

Buying a cover for your outdoor TV isn’t terribly complicated. That being said, there are a few things to remember when starting your shopping adventure.

Type

Outdoor TV covers come in two main types: hard shell and fabric bags. Hard shells provide the most protection, with a durable case that the TV stays mounted inside of. Fabric covers are generally made from polyester or some other kind of heavy-duty material, often with a PVC coating. Both protect from the elements. The shell type is obviously stronger but also much more expensive.

Size

You can get outdoor TV covers in various sizes based on screen width as measured diagonally. You’ll also need to consider length, width, and—crucially—depth. Don’t forget to consider the mounting brackets as well when sizing.

FAQs

Final thoughts on shopping for the best outdoor TV covers

• Best overall: Storm Shell Outdoor TV Hard Cover
• Best value: Garnetics Outdoor TV Cover
• Best splurge: The TV Shield Anti-Glare Outdoor TV Enclosure with Two Fans
• Best budget: iBirdie Outdoor Waterproof and Weatherproof TV Cover

Installing an outdoor TV in a backyard or on a patio can create fun new recreational experiences for you and your family, from watching a game under the Friday night deck lights while you barbecue to enjoying the latest blockbuster from the pool. A good cover for your outdoor TV will not only protect it from the elements (and possibly even tampering and theft), it will extend the TV’s life and help keep your family entertained throughout the years.

Why trust us

Popular Science started writing about technology more than 150 years ago. There was no such thing as “gadget writing” when we published our first issue in 1872, but if there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for everyday readers means we would have been all over it. Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now.

Our writers and editors have combined decades of experience covering and reviewing consumer electronics. We each have our own obsessive specialties—from high-end audio to video games to cameras and beyond—but when we’re reviewing devices outside of our immediate wheelhouses, we do our best to seek out trustworthy voices and opinions to help guide people to the very best recommendations. We know we don’t know everything, but we’re excited to live through the analysis paralysis that internet shopping can spur so readers don’t have to.

The post The 4 best outdoor TV covers in 2024 appeared first on Popular Science.

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It’s 2024, and the time is right to save hundreds of dollars on a new home theater system. If minimalism is your resolution for the new year, JBL’s Bar 9.1 is an excellent choice. Soundbars are always more compact than a traditional multi-speaker and AV receiver setup, but lower-tier models tend to offer a less immersive audio experience because sound only comes from one direction. The Bar 9.1’smodular design offers a best-of-both-worlds solution thanks to a wireless subwoofer and detachable rear channels, giving you multiple speakers that can tuck under your TV when not in play. Typically $1,199.95, you can get the JBL Bar 9.1 for just $594.95 if you shop at Amazon right now. That’s 50% off—a legitimate sale.

JBL Bar 9.1 $594.95 (Was $1,199.95)

SEE IT

The soundbar has forward and upward-firing drivers, which allows you to listen to Dolby Atmos mixes of music and movie soundtracks in their full fidelity. A wireless subwoofer is also included to ensure you get the proper amount of bass. This component and driver arrangement has become more common in higher-end soundbars, but JBL took a big step forward by allowing you to detach speakers on both ends of the Bar 9.1 and use them as wireless surround speakers.

This gives you the experience of using a traditional multi-speaker surround sound system without stringing speaker wire across your room or requiring each piece to be continuously attached to an outlet. The side speakers will need to be charged after a few hours of use, but this is a small price to pay. JBL’s Bar 9.1 hasn’t been discounted in months, and this deal brings it close to its lowest price ever, so act now—especially if you’re hosting a Super Bowl party this year.

Surround yourself with more great audio deals

• JBL Go 3, $29.88 (Was $49.95)
• JBL Xtreme 2, $179 (Was $199.99
• Jabra Elite 10, $199.99 (Was $249.99)
• OnePlus Buds Pro 2, $129.99 (Was $179.99)
• Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Wireless Speaker, $694.86 (Was $799)
• Tribit XSound Mega Portable Bluetooth Speaker, $63.12 (Was $76)
• Soundcore Motion X500 Portable Bluetooth Speaker, $129.99 (Was $169.99)
• Klipsch R-50PM Powered Speakers, $398.99 (Was $599)
• Victrola Hi-Res Silver Vinyl Record Player, $499.99 (Was $599.99)

The post Get $605 off JBL’s Bar 9.1 Dolby Atmos soundbar at Amazon appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Best overall		Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2.4 eARC/SSE Max		SEE IT	Ample power and a thrilling object-oriented soundstage.
Best wired		Polk Audio Reserve Dolby Atmos Speaker Bundle		SEE IT	A full-package solution for pristine audio quality in an Atmos-ready wired speaker bundle.
Best for TV		Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Max 5.1.4 channel		SEE IT	Still the best virtual surround-sound processing in a standalone soundbar.

With the way that TVs seem to get better and better every year for the same or a lower price, and with streaming services throwing theatrical releases and amazing, addictive series your way all the time, having a surround sound system is a nearly irresistible prospect. With today’s Dolby Atmos soundtracks that have a height dimension, sound effects move in 3D—from above and below, left and right, and in front or back—and having speakers that can reproduce those immersive elements makes home movie nights feel truly theatrical. However, while you could spend a fortune installing theater-style in-wall speakers into a dedicated theater room, you don’t have to in order to enjoy high-end height-based immersive sound. You can get good quality results even from a standalone soundbar or take progressive steps up to larger soundbar-based wireless systems or wired hi-fi speaker systems. Each variety is represented in our picks for the best surround sound systems, a group that meets different for movies, video games, and music in a range of sizes and prices.

• Best overall: Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2.4 eARC/SSE Max
• Best wireless: Samsung Q990C 
• Best wired: Polk Audio Reserve Dolby Atmos Speaker Bundle
• Best for TV: Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Max 5.1.4 channel
• Best for gamers:  Sony HT-A7000
• Best for music: Sonos Ultimate Immersive Set with Arc
• Best in-wall: KEF Ci R Series