Do you want to know your options for choosing projectors? There are three common types of projectors today: LCD, DLP and LED.

1 – LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) Projectors

LCD projectors are the most commonly used type of projectors today.

They use a light source that gives off white light. Then this light passes through three dichroic mirrors.

The mirrors reflect red, blue, and green wavelength.

Each beam of light is sent to an LCD panel that receives a signal so that they are arranged to create images.

Each panel creates the same image but with different colors. Then, a prism combines the images into one image with different colors.

This is the image the projector shows onto the screen.

Advantages of LCD Projectors

• LCD projectors project images with sharp and vibrant colors.
• They are cheaper than DLP projectors.
• LCD Projectors can also be used in a large space where a big projection distance is needed. They give a longer throw distance. And they have better zoom capability.

The disadvantage of LCD Projectors

LCD Projectors have a fixed number of pixels. If you need to zoom in to the images, they can look pixelated.

2 – DLP (Digital Light Processing) Projectors

DLP Projectors use millions of tiny mirrors on a chip. This chip is called a digital micromirror device (DMD).

Each mirror can move toward or away from the light source. This creates dark and light pixels. The image comes out in grayscale.

A beam of light passes through a spinning color wheel before it reaches the DMD. Each segment on the color wheel gives one color.

These chips can make up to more than 16 million colors. After the colors reach the DMD, the lens projects the images through itself.

Advantages of DLP Projectors

• DLP projectors create bright and vibrant images that can look less pixelated than images projected by LCD projectors.
• DLP projectors need less maintenance compared to LCD projectors. They are made filter free. And the chip is sealed so dust can’t enter.

The disadvantage of DLP Projectors

Some DLP projectors have slower color wheels. This causes them to flash bright colors on the screen. This is why some DLP projector users say they can see rainbows sometimes.

3 – LED (Light Emitting Diode) Projectors

LED projectors are a big leap from traditional projectors that used bulb or lamp.

LED projectors use rays of red, green, and blue LEDs. Together, they make white light. Tiny mirrors then reflect this light and project it to a screen.

Advantages of LED Projectors

• They use less energy and can last longer.
• No need to replace the bulb.
• They project better colors.
• They are also smaller than traditional projectors so it’s easy to carry.

Disadvantages of LED Projectors

• LEDs can be quite costly.
• Experts say they must meet the right level of voltage to work perfectly.
• They emit more blue light than conventional light sources. Blue light exposure damages the eye.