Can you Play Netflix/Prime Video Through Projector?

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Netflix and Prime Video has become an indispensable part of our life, isn’t it?

Similar to Instagram, it’s hard to imagine watching your favorite movies and TV shows on any platform other than Netflix and Prime Video.

With a massive library of video content, most of us find ourselves spending countless hours watching Netflix/Prime Video at once.

While we use our smartphone, laptop, and TV to watch Netflix; however, the best way to watch movies and TV shows is on a projector…

…which begs us to question:

Can you Play Netflix/Prime Video through Projector?

Yes! You can easily watch Netflix and Prime Video on a projector. Several projectors like LG PF50KA come with Smart TV-like features and pre-installed with Netflix and Prime Video apps. On the other hand, you can connect streaming media devices like Amazon Fire TV Stick, Chromecast, and Roku TV Stick to a projector, to watch Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, and HBO Max.

Don’t worry; I’m not going to leave you hanging with a single paragraph. I will explain how to can get started with playing Netflix and Prime Video on your projector.

Moreover, there are a few things to keep in mind before you get started with the process. And I’ll gloss over them further in the article.

Different Ways to Play Netflix/Prime Video through Projector?

1. Using a Smart Projector

Similar to smart TV, there are numerous smart projectors available in the market. A smart projector comes with its built-in operating system allowing you to access various apps, games, and other functionalities right from the projector.

Netflix played through a projector

For example, LG uses its WebOS operating system to power its smart projectors, Viewsonic uses Aptoide TV, and most other projector brands like Anker, Vava, and Epson use Android TV operating system to offer smart TV functionality right into your projector.

👉 You might ask, what’s the advantage of a smart projector? The simple answer is:

A projector is similar to a TV. Without any smart features, you’ll need an external device like a cable box, computer, gaming console, and more to make use of a projector. In contrast, a smart projector eliminates the need to connect any external device to use the projector fully.

Epson Epiqvision Mini EF12 is the best laser projector under $1000

A projector like Epson Epiqvision EF12 comes with Smart TV-like features and a high-quality audio system. Hence, you can watch your favorite content without any external devices and make it a standalone projector.

Consequently, a smart projector also comes pre-installed with apps like Netflix and Prime Video. Using these services, you can watch your favorite content right onto a big screen. Even if Netflix and Prime Video aren’t installed into the projector, you can connect the projector to your home Wi-Fi and install these apps on your own.

2. Using a Streaming Media Player

A streaming media player like Amazon Fire TV Stick, Chromecast, Roku TV Stick, and Apple TV is a cheap and efficient way to play Netflix/Prime Video through a projector. All you need to do is:

  • Connect the streaming media player to your projector through the HDMI port
  • Connect it to your home Wi-Fi
  • Go through the first-time setup and configure
  • And at last, watch Netflix and Prime Video on your projector
use-Amazon-Fire-TV-Stick-to-use-Netflix-and-Prime-Video-through-a-projector

👉 You can read our detailed guide on connecting and configuring a streaming media player with your projector.

The most significant advantage of a streaming media player is that it can connect with any projector, whether small or big, and cheap or costly. You can also connect it to an older projector if the projector has an HDMI port.

In addition, a streaming media player also comes with Bluetooth technology and screen mirroring options. Hence, you can also connect speakers to your projectors wirelessly and connect your smartphone, tablet, and laptop to your projector through the streaming media player.

3. Screen mirroring

Screen mirroring, as the name suggests, is mirroring the contents from your smartphone or tablet onto the projector. However, the problem with screen mirroring is that it might not work in all instances to play Netflix and Prime Video through a projector.

screen mirroring allows to stream netflix onto projector
Image Credit: MFrissen

Due to various content protection policies, it’s hard to stream Netflix and Prime Video content on your projector. As a result, screen mirroring might not work in 100% of the instances. Although, it is crucial to give screen mirroring a try; if you can’t watch Netflix app video on your projector, then this option isn’t for you.

In such conditions, you can’t take full advantage of Airplay and/or Google Cast to effortlessly mirror your smartphone content onto a projector. Having said that, you can comfortably mirror YouTube video content through the screen mirroring option.

What are the best projectors to watch Netflix and Prime Video?

If you don’t have a projector yet, you can consider several fantastic projector options. I’ll suggest both types of projectors, i.e., smart and regular projectors (without Smart TV capability).

With a regular projector, you can access Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney Plus, and more through a streaming media player. In comparison, a smart projector comes pre-installed with Netflix and other video streaming apps.

Smart Projectors:

  1. Viewsonic M2e – The Viewsonic M2e is a compact projector that weighs slightly over 2 pounds and offers native 1080p resolution, 1000 lumens brightness, and dual Harman Kardon built-in speakers. It has Aptoide UI, and you can use it to watch your favorite video streaming services.
  2. LG PF50KA – The biggest USP of LG PF50KA is that it comes with a built-in battery, which makes it a 100% wireless projector. The battery can last up to 2.5 hours, which allows you to watch an entire movie in one go. Other features include 1080p native resolution, 600 ANSI lumens, and numerous wired and wireless connectivity options.
  3. Epson Epiqvision EF12 – I’ve already mentioned the Epson Epiqvision EF12 before. Its biggest advantage is the 2.1 speaker system from Yamaha that offers a loud and crystal clear sound output. In addition, it gets Epson patented 3LCD technology, which saves you from the rainbow effect seen in DLP projectors.

Regular Projectors

  1. Epson Home Cinema 880 – The Epson Home Cinema 880 is the brand’s entry-level home theater projector. Compared to a smart projector, the Epson Home Cinema 880 offers a whopping 3,300 lumens brightness. Hence, you can comfortably use this projector during the daytime too.
  2. Artlii Energon 2 or Yaber Pro V7 – The Artlii Energon 2 and Yaber Pro V7 are two of my favorite budget projectors that cost around $200. Both these projectors offer similar feature sets, including screen mirroring and Bluetooth capabilities. You also get features like auto keystone correction and several connectivity options.

Conclusion

I hope this article helped educate you about how to play Netflix/Prime Video through a projector.

As you’ve seen above, the process is very straightforward, and you can get started within a few minutes if you have a smart projector or a streaming media player.

Unfortunately, the screen mirroring option doesn’t work in most instances, and most projectors also don’t support it.

If you still have queries about this issue, you can leave your questions in the comment section below. I’ll answer them quickly and won’t leave you hanging, promise!

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