Are you considering buying an Optoma projector? In that case, it’s important to question, “Are Optoma projectors good?”
Optoma is a popular projector brand and a pioneer in several categories. It was the first company to introduce pico and DVD projectors.
Currently, Optoma is a leader in DLP-based business projectors and offers a wide variety of models to choose from.
In this article, we’ll dive deep into various aspects of the Optoma brand and let you know if your next projector should be from Optoma or not.
Are you ready?
Let’s get started!
Are Optoma Projectors Good? Quick Answer
Optoma is a reputed projector brand and famous for its wide range of business projectors. However, there are numerous complaints about its projection technology failure, low lamp life, confusing projector models, poor after-sales service, and sketchy warranty claims.
Now that you have the quick answer let’s move to 7 things to consider before purchasing an Optoma projector.
But:
Before that…
A Brief History of Optoma Projectors
Optoma is a well-known projector brand recognized globally for its cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions.
Founded in 2002, the company quickly gained a reputation for delivering high-quality projectors. Optoma’s journey began with an immense focus on digital home theater projectors for an immersive entertainment experience.
Also Read: 3 Best Projectors with DVD Player Built-in
Over the years, Optoma’s product portfolio expanded into business and education projectors. Optoma has a wide range of DLP (Digital Light Processing) projectors for enhanced image quality and longevity.
Optoma’s projectors are widely adopted for various use cases like home theaters, classrooms, boardrooms, and large-scale events.
Now:
Let’s move to…
7 Things to Consider About Optoma Projectors
1. Popularity
Optoma is easily considered one of the world’s top 5 projector brands.
Optoma projectors mostly find their use in business and educational environments. Thus, they are useful for conference rooms, classrooms, presentations, outdoor events, etc.
Its biggest competitors are Epson and BenQ, which also have a global presence and offer plenty of projector models in the market.
Most of Optoma’s popular projectors fall within the $500-$800 mark, which offers a great combination between price and functionality.
Since the past couple of years, Optoma’s laser projectors have also created a massive pull in the market. It’s because Optoma is coupling its laser projectors with gaming-friendly hardware.
2. Range of Projector Models
Currently, Optoma has numerous projector models on sale. It involves lamp-based, laser, and LED projectors catering towards business, home, and gaming usage.
Optoma is slowly phasing out its lamp-based projectors thanks to the introduction of modern and long-lasting projection technology.
Over the years, Optoma has launched over 270 projectors, each slightly different from one another.
Currently, Optoma has around 60-70 projector models on sale. Some of them are meant for commercial usage, including cinema halls.
These projectors can produce up to 12,000 ANSI lumens brightness and cost upwards of $15,000.
3. Best Use Case
Similar to other brands like Epson and BenQ, Optoma has projectors that cater to a wider audience.
Thus, you’ll always find an Optoma projector that’s ideal for home theater, gaming, presentations, outdoor use, etc.
Its lamp-based DLP projectors are still sought after in the market, and the lower price makes it an irresistible deal for most consumers.
Thus, no matter your usage, you’ll always find an Optoma projector that suits your requirements.
Optoma also manufactures commercial-grade projectors, which produce over 10,000 ANSI lumens brightness and cost upwards of $10,000.
These projectors are useful for commercial events, movie theaters, large exhibitions, digital signage markets, and more. Some of these projectors also include interchangeable lenses to match complex installations’ requirements.
4. Performance
While Optoma offers feature-packed and cost-effective projectors, its performance leaves something to be desired, especially lamp-based DLP projectors.
Depending on the model, most Optoma projectors are infamous for poor DMD chips and rainbow effects, affecting the viewing experience.
Most Optoma users chalk it up to cheap projector parts to keep the cost low. Thus, many Optoma projectors suffer from DMD chip failure within 1st year of purchase, and the repair costs are also exceptionally high if not covered under warranty.
Apart from the complete failure of the DMD chip, many projectors also suffer from dead pixels/mirrors, which can spoil your projector viewing experience.
One of the Reddit comments mentions the user installing 20 Optoma UHD projectors. Out of the 20, 10 had DMD chip failure, 4 had main board failure, and the repair costs exceeded the projector’s price.
Apart from this, lamp-based Optoma projectors also suffer from low lamp life. While projector lamps are expected to last around 2,500-3,000 hours with moderate usage, the lamps in Optoma projector only last around 1,200-1,500 hours, which is extremely low.
There are also many instances of people using their Optoma projectors for years and haven’t noticed any issues. However, the complaints from most Optoma consumers are more noticeable than other projector brands.
5. Innovative Features
Over the years, Optoma has been at the forefront of projector innovation.
It has introduced newer technologies and held its ground in a competitive projector market.
For the past few years, the multinational company has done massive innovation in laser projection technology and manufacturing projectors for competitive gaming use.
Some of its laser projectors offer a whopping 240Hz refresh rate and a response time as low as 4.2ms.
These two features make it an ideal choice to club with a Playstation 5 or Xbox Series X and enjoy AAA game titles on a big screen. Apart from that, Optoma offers some of the brightest laser projectors.
The Optoma GT2100HDR laser projector can produce up to 4200 lumens brightness, making it the brightest laser projector for consumers.
6. Customer Support
Similar to its sketchy reliability, Optoma’s customer support isn’t something to boast about.
Many customers, across various social media channels and forums, have talked about average customer support and after-sales service.
- https://www.reddit.com/r/projectors/comments/1175qi5/optoma_uhd_any_good/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/projectors/comments/su6o0s/optoma_projectors_are_disposable/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/projectors/comments/128m25o/warning_do_not_buy_optoma/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/projectors/comments/wjic7u/is_optoma_usa_customer_support_bad_i_have_been/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/projectors/comments/10hk1a7/another_disappointed_optoma_customer_uhz50_review/
Most consumers know that an electronic product can cause problems or stop working at any time. But couple that with poor customer support, and you have a recipe for disaster.
Apart from this, many users have reported that the Optoma customer service department asked for money for part failure within the warranty period, with no fault from the customer’s side.
Thus, as an Optoma customer, it can be frustrating to deal with a failing projector and then tackle it with poor customer service.
7. Value for Money
Compared to its competitors like Epson and BenQ, Optoma projectors are generally cheaper and value for money.
Since last year, Optoma has graciously dropped the pricing of its lamp-based projectors. Thus, you can find a 1080p projector with over 3000 lumens brightness for under $500.
Compared to projectors from Chinese brands, getting a projector like the Optoma H190X seems like a value-for-money deal. However, as mentioned above, Optoma is also infamous for using cheaper parts; hence, it’s recommended to thread with caution.
Popular Optoma Projectors?
Under $500
Under $1000
Under $1500
Should You Buy an Optoma Projector?
If I were a beginner or first-time projector buyer, I’d prefer Epson over Optoma.
While Optoma projectors look lucrative on paper, the poor performance and after-sales service is a put-off.
The failure of its DMD chips makes the projector completely unusable, with repair costs exceeding the projector’s price.
I’d recommend looking at products from Optoma’s competing brands.
Conclusion
I hope this article helped you have an objective vision when you question, “Are Optoma Projectors Good?”
The main aim of this article isn’t to bash Optoma but to help you, as a consumer, make an informed decision.
Buying a projector isn’t a cheap investment. Hence, it’s necessary to do your due diligence before putting your money into one.
Have any questions? Please don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments section below.
Thank You!
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