DLP vs. LCD Projector Pros and Cons of Both!

Projectors differ based on the technology used. They are useful in colleges and homes for different purposes. Some people love to play games on the big screen, so they want to go for the right choice. Some projectors are specific for gaming purposes, while others are for entertainment purposes like mini iPhone projectors, but at the end of the day projectors normally have one of two types of technology in them, either DLP or LCD and we are going to go through which is better for any type of circumstance!

projector and lcd element on background

The difference in the projectors can be because of the technology used. Different projectors use different technologies to project the object on the screen. In this article, there’ll be a discussion on DLP vs. LCD Projector.

LCD Projectors

LCD projectors use liquid display technology. There is an involvement of a multistep process in creating the image. Firstly a light source in an LCD projector produces a white light that passes on to dichroic mirrors. The dichroic mirrors are three mirrors that reflect only certain wavelengths of light. The mirrors in the LCD projector reflect red, blue, and green wavelengths. When light reflects the light, it adds color.

The beam light is fed to an LCD panel after this. The LCD panel receives an electrical signal that instructs the panel about arranging the pixels in the display. After arranging pixels, it projects the corresponding image. The LCD panels create the same image but with different hues because of the colored light. After this, the image then combines in a prism to result in a single image. The image passes through the lens to create projection on the screen.

Pros of LCD Projector

LCD projectors have many advantages over DLPs projectors. Some of those are as follows:

  • LCD projectors offer good color saturation and efficient lighting. 
  • It has high brightness capabilities and provides a brighter image than DLP projectors.
  • The projector provides precisely focused and sharper images than DLP projectors at equal resolutions. 
  • The quality of the picture is better.
  • LCD projectors provide more accurate colors than DLPs projectors because of no color wheel.

Cons of LCD Projector

LCD projectors also have some disadvantages, which are as follows:

  • LCD projectors are bulky because of more internal components
  • The parts are expensive to replace, and they can fail fast. 
  • Its color uniformity is lower than DLP.
  • The projector causes the image to look heavy with pixels.
  • The contrast can’t provide completely black images with older models.
  • With less contrast and color balance shifts, it can cause image degradation.

DLP Projector

dlp projector infographic of how it works

DLP projectors use digital light processing technology to project the image. Through a DLP Color Wheel, reflection mirrors, and a lens, DLP projectors create images. The DMD chip is named a digital micro-mirror device is there. It consists of more than two million tinier mirrors. These mirrors have the capability of moving towards or away from the light source. With this capability, they direct the light towards an image. The DLP color wheel is there to deliver color and projection of these colors on screen. LED or lamp is there as a light source.

What is DLP Color Wheel?

Most DLP projectors use a DLP Color Wheel. You might be thinking of questions about how DLP Color Wheels Work? At high speed in front of the light source, this color wheel spins and provides several primary colors or RGB patterns. In the end, it combines all the colors to provide the final color. DLP Color Wheel technology offers cinema-like quality. DLP projectors shine these RGB lights real quick that the human eye thinks of it as a distinct image. While in reality, these are pulsating shades of RGB light. The fast alternating pattern creates a complete image in the brain. You can’t see the image if the time slows down. Most 4k projectors under 2000 have LED technology instead of DLP color wheels but you can oftentimes find more budget-friendly 4k projectors with DLP color wheels.

Pros of DLP Projectors

DLP projectors have many advantages over LCDs projectors. Some of those are as follows:

  • Having a filter-free and sealed chip design makes them easy to maintain.
  • With good contrast, they provide brilliant, colorful, and clear images.
  • The limited space between the pixels provides a much sharper final image.
  • Due to the use of mirrors, the light output is high, and light loss is less. 
  • Compared to others, DLP technology provides deeper black color, making them home cinema applications. 
  • With no shadows, they provide a smoother image.
  • Using LEF or Pico technology makes them more portable. You can connect them with smartphones and mobile devices.
  • Fewer parts make them less expensive to repair.

Cons of DLP Projectors

There are also some disadvantages of DLP projectors that are as follows:

  • Due to mirrored chips, they got a limited number of pixels.
  • It’s not as bright as LCD technology. 
  • There can be a rainbow effect with brief flashes of color. This effect can be on one side of the screen when looking away from the projected image.
  • Stray light-reflecting can be there because of the grey band outside of the image. By installing black borders around the older projector screen, you can avoid it.

Key Differences between DLP and LCD Projector

Let’s read some key differences between DLP and LCD Projector.

  • Projection

LCD projector transmits the light to project an object on the screen. In comparison, the DLP projector reflects the light to create a projection of an object on the screen.

  • Colors

LCD projectors provide a wide range of colors which are good for video playback. In comparison, DLP produces only sufficient colors which are adjustable.

  • Pixels

LCD projectors have better visibility of pixels because of pixels’ positioning, creating large gaps between them. DLP doesn’t have large gaps, and visibility is a bit lower than the LCD projector.

  • Color Fringing Effect

LCD projectors frequently show mis-convergence, which is the color fringing effect. This effect appears in horizontal and vertical lines occurring due to the different panel images. For the DLP projector, this effect is not present.

  • Image

LCD projectors provide sharper images and better picture quality. In comparison, DLP projectors provide good picture quality but less than LCD projectors.