Optoma GT720 Projector - Warranty

Posted on July 6, 2011 by Art Feierman

The Optoma GT720 is a low cost gaming projector with 720p HD resolution. With a street price under $1000, we didn't expect the best or longest warranty in the business, and as it turns out, the Optoma GT720 comes with a one year parts and labor (limited of course) warranty. That's pretty typical for under $1000 projectors although there are a couple of longer ones. A few offer two years. Once you get over $1000, though, one year warranties are a lot less common and 2 year, and a some 3 year warranties show up in $1000 - $2500 projectors. Of note, they do provide a 3 month warranty on the lamp, which is most common. Lamp life claimed is 3000 hours at full power, and 5000 at low power, so 500 hours while pretty standard, isn't exactly a whole lot of piece of mind, regarding an early lamp failure. We're definitely not fans of one year warranties. Projector repairs can be rather expensive, so we like to see at least two years.

Though I'm not a fan of 3rd party warranties (although a bit happier with optional manufacturer extended warranties), if you are buying a projector with a one year warranty, I have to recommend getting a low cost second year warranty.

A major failure, say, after 13 or 16 months, is going to ruin your day, and may even turn a projector into a doorstop, due to the cost of repair. With two years, at least, projectors (failing after 2 years) should have newer replacements that are improved and with a lower price as well. Your lamp also by then, probably has enough hours on it , that a new projector might make a lot of sense.