At the end of last year Optoma launched the UHZ50, a 4K HDR projector with laser technology. Now the well-known manufacturer has presented the Optoma UHD55, a projector with characteristics very similar to those of the UHZ50 but incorporating a traditional lamp instead of a laser light source. This means that, in the long run, buyers of this new model will have to replace the lamp at some point, but the trade-off is that the projector is cheaper.
The Optoma UHD55 has been conceived as a projector for home entertainment. Namely, offers very interesting features for both cinema and video games. To achieve this, it has a high brightness, a very good contrast ratio, compatibility with the HDR format and a high refresh rate in various resolutions, among other things. But the best part is that we take a closer look at everything the new Optoma UHD55 has to offer.
Optoma UHD55: some manufacturers continue to bet on lamps
The Optoma UHD55 is equipped with a DLP image chip (also known as DMD – Digital Micromirror Device) of 0.47 inches and 1080p resolution manufactured by Texas Instruments. The chip contains 2.1 million pixels, however the projector is capable of working with 4K images, which need 8.3 million pixels. To achieve this, pixels on the 1080p chip scroll vertically and horizontally at 240 Hz (240 times per second), which allows to project a 4K UHD image of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels.
Optoma’s new projector is powered by a 240W lamp that offers a light output of 3.600 ANSI lumens, which means that we can use it in relatively bright environments. According to manufacturer data, the lamp offers an average life of 4,000 hours in bright use and 10,000 hours in Eco mode. On the other hand, the Optoma UHD55 has a 1,200,000:1 contrast ratio and is capable of displaying a range of colors that covers the 97% of the DCI-P3 color space.
We do not forget your compatibility with HDR10 and HLG formats, as well as a refresh rate that will allow us to play on the big screen with maximum fluidity. More specifically the Optoma UHD55 is compatible with 4K/60Hz Y 180p/240Hz with additional MEMC processing.
In terms of screen size, one of the strengths of the projectors, the Optoma UHD55 offers a wide range of screen sizes thanks to its complete adjustments based on placement. We can create a screen between 34 and 300 incheswith a projection distance range from 1.20 to 8 meters.
To adjust the screen the projector offers a lens shift range of 10% vertically, +/-40 degree keystone correction horizontally and verticallymanual focus and 1.3x manual zoom. In other words, it is a “traditional” projector, which needs a certain distance to be able to get the most out of it and create a large screen.
In addition to the above, the Optoma UHD55 offers a game mode that reduces the response times at 17 ms in 4K (60 Hz) and 4.4 ms in 1080p up to 240 Hz. It is also support 3D viewingalthough to take advantage of it we will have to acquire a pair of LCD Active Shutter DLP-Link glasses and a 3D synchronization emitter.
Although it is not an ultra short throw projector, the Optoma UHD55 has been designed to offer everything that we could look for in an entertainment device. It is equipped with a single 10 watt speakerhave a integrated media playercount with one app store that offers the basic apps, is compatible with Creative Cast for the transmission of content from a mobile or tablet, it is equipped with a file managerhas support for IFTTT and even is compatible with voice assistants known, such as Alexa and Google Assistant.
And when it comes to connectivity, the Optoma UHD55 is equipped with two HDMI 2.0 inputs, one VGA input, one 3.5mm audio input and output, one S/PDIF digital output, three USB Type-A ports, and one Ethernet port. Wirelessly, it has WiFi and Bluetooth.
In short, a projector designed to be the entertainment center of our home. The Optoma UHD55 It can already be found in specialized stores in Spain with an official price of €1,599.
