Choosing the Right Projector Resolution for Your Needs

Choosing the right resolution for your projector is essential to getting the most of your purchase. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the definition of resolution and how you can determine the best fit for your needs.

What Is Projector Resolution?

Resolution (sometimes referred to as “native resolution”) is defined as the number of pixels (i.e. individual points of color) that are used to create an image on a projecting image. It’s expressed as the number of pixels on the horizontal axis by the number of pixels on the vertical axis. The higher the resolution of a projector, the more pixels it depicts in images.

Another term commonly associated with projector resolutions is the aspect ratio. This is defined as the ratio between the image width and height. The three most common aspect ratios in the projector space are 4:3, 16:10, and 16:9.

Here some of the most common projector resolutions:

• SVGA – Short for “super video graphics array,” this resolution is 800 x 600 pixels, with a 4:3 aspect ratio. SVGA is one of the earliest resolution standards.
• XGA – This stands for “extended graphics array,” and is an improvement on the SVGA standard. It has the same 4:3 aspect ratio; however, it provides a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels.
• WXGA – Building on the previously outlined standards, WXGA stands for “wide extended graphics array” and carries a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels, resulting in a 16:10 aspect ratio. This ratio is associated with widescreen images as there are nearly twice as many horizontal pixels as there are vertical pixels. WXGA is the most common resolution with entry-level projectors.

• FHD – Short for “Full HD,” and also known as 1080p resolution, this translates to 1920 x 1080 pixels and with an aspect ratio of 16:9.
• WUXGA – This stands for “widescreen ultra extended graphics array.” It translates to 1920 x 1200 resolution and an aspect ratio of 16:10.
• 4K UHD – The highest quality resolution readily available on the market today, 4K UHD comes in at 3840 x 2160 pixels. In professional circles, 4k UHD is commonly referred to as 4k x 2k.

It’s worth noting that there are a few 8k projectors available – or in development – but it’s debatable whether there’s any value in this extremely high resolution. Also, there isn’t much 8k content out there.

Maximum Resolution

Something else to consider is a projector’s “maximum resolution.” In the previous section, we focused on “native resolution,” which is the total physical pixel count in a given resolution. Maximum resolution, on the other hand, is taken to refer to the highest signal resolution that a projector is built to process and display.

When the resolution of the content doesn’t match the native resolution of a projector, “scaling” occurs. This is when the projector adjusts the picture to match the native resolution.

For example, if a standard definition video is streamed through a 4K HD projector, the device will have to enlarge the signal to fully display the image. On the other hand, if HD content is streamed through an XGA projector, then the device will compress the image into fewer pixels.

Scaling is a process of approximation, meaning that the projector is estimating how the image would look if the content were shown in its native resolution. Since the projector isn’t able to add additional detail to the original signal, it works to approximate how the image should look, while minimizing any loss of quality.

Today, however, scaling engines have gotten to a point where scaled media content looks as good as if it were shown in its native format. Unfortunately, these improvements don’t apply to signals from computers.

If you’re looking to display PowerPoint presentations or web pages using a projector, it’s best to set your computer’s output resolution to match the projector’s native resolution.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Projector Resolution

When you’re evaluating projectors for your home or business, there are a few questions to keep in mind. First, consider how much detail or delicacy you need in the images you’re presenting.

After determining the level of detail you expect from the projector, you need to consider how often you’ll use the projector and the aspect ratio of the content you plan to view.

Common Scenarios

Home Projector Usage

The most common aspect ratio for content in home theater projectors settings (e.g. cable/satellite feeds, streaming content, etc.) is 16:9. That in mind, 1080p and 4k UHD are the two resolutions home users should consider. A few examples of projectors for home use include the X10-4K, PX727-4K, and PX747-4K.

Thinking about a smart projector? Maybe this will help.

Business and Education Projector Usage

Business and education settings aren’t as simple because projectors are used in a variety of scenarios. This versatility means that you can choose from a variety of resolutions that best fit your circumstances.

For example, visual multimedia content often uses a 16:9 aspect ratio, while PowerPoint presentations and slide decks often are in a 4:3 to 16:9 format depending on the company practices.

If you’re using a projector in a business or educational setting, you’ll want to consider using SVGA, XGA, WXGA, WUXGA, 1080p, and 4K.

Learn more about getting the right projector for your business here: How to Choose the Right Business Projector

Making Sense of It All

Of all the components that go into choosing a projector for your home or business, one of your top considerations should be projector resolution. This is the number of pixels (individual points of color) that are used to create an image. It’s expressed as the number of pixels on the horizontal axis, by the number of pixels on the vertical axis.

While there are a variety of standards associated with projector resolutions, the ones you’ll want to keep an eye out for include WXGA, FHD, WUXGA, and 4K UHD. In order to choose the right standard for your needs, you need to consider the type of media you will be showing with the projector (videos, PowerPoint presentations, etc.), and also the general size of the images and picture quality.

Now that you know how to choose the right resolution for your projector, now you can easily find the right projector for your home or business. Or check out the video below for a handly little anywhere projector.