Operating system
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Smart TV (proprietary system). The operating system of the projector is represented by the proprietary software shell of the manufacturer. Usually such operating systems have an attractive and convenient menu, similar to a traditional Smart TV. A proprietary operating system is developed by the manufacturer for the hardware resources of a particular projector model or a whole line. But, as practice shows, compared to the classic Smart TV, the functionality of proprietary system often has significant limitations, and the system itself, in fact, is a stripped-down version of a full-fledged Smart TV.
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Smart TV (Android AOSP). This type of operating system is a modification of the popular Android OS, mainly notable for being open source. It is a versatile operating system that gives the user much more freedom to create changes and customizations within the system. At the same time, the installation and work stability of certain applications on this platform are not guaranteed, and the overall system management was not specially “tailored” for large screens, which may cause some inconvenience. First of all, such solutions will will generate interest among users who understand the features of the Android OS, like to customize and control everything, and have time for this.
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Android TV. This type of projector has full-fledged Android TV softw
...are, specially adapted to work on large screens. In accordance with the name, it is a type of Android OS, specially designed for projectors/TVs, etc. In addition to the common features of all “Androids” (such as the ability to install additional applications, including even games), it has a number of special features: optimized interface, integration with smartphones (including the ability to use them as a remote control), voice search, etc. Thanks to this, TVs with this feature are significantly superior in functionality to models with a Smart TV. Of course, a dedicated processor, graphics subsystem and memory are provided for the operation of a multifunctional OS, and the presence of such hardware resources is reflected in the total cost of the projector. Given the same optical design, models with Android TV will cost more than classic projectors with a simple multi-line menu.Max. video resolution
The actual maximum frame resolution that the projector is capable of processing and displaying.
Many models allow project images at a higher resolution than the actual resolution of the projector matrix (see above). For example, a 1920x1080 video can be displayed on a device with a frame size of 1024x768. However, the quality of such an image will be noticeably lower than on a projector, which initially has a resolution of 1920x1080.
The maximum resolution is closely related to both the overall picture quality and the size of the projection screen. The higher the resolution, the sharper the image details become. Of course, the screen size itself should be taken into account. The fact is that on a 40-50″ projection surface there will not be much difference between the Quad HD and 4K formats. A high-resolution picture will be able to show itself on a truly large screen.
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi standard supported by the projector.
Wi-Fi is known mainly as a way to connect wirelessly to the Internet and local networks. In addition, since relatively recently, this technology has also been used for direct connection between wireless devices. Accordingly, the methods of using Wi-Fi in projectors can also be different. Thus, some models are able to connect to local networks to work with content via DLNA (see above); in others, such a connection is used for control from a computer or other network device; in others, a “remote control” such as a smartphone or tablet can connect directly via Wi-Fi.
As for Wi-Fi versions, the most popular options in modern technology -
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax),
Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) - are quite compatible with each other, and the difference between them in this case is not critical. Therefore, you can not pay special attention to these details when choosing.
There are also
Wi-Fi ready projectors, which do not have Wi-Fi out of the box, but when connected to the appropriate adapter (purchased separately) are capable of wireless connection.
Built-in memory
The amount of built-in memory installed in the projector.
The presence of a built-in storage allows user to store various content — especially video and photos — in the projector and view it directly without connecting external devices. In addition, in Android devices (see above), the same storage is used to install additional software.
When evaluating the amount of available memory, it is worth remembering that part of it will inevitably be occupied by software firmware. Some projector models have an alternative to built-in storage in the form of a memory card slot (see below).
