Reviews of LED Projectors

The LED projectors category includes the latest projector technology used in ultra-portable projectors, business projectors, and digital projection. See below for a list of LED projector reviews and information pages.

LED projectors use an LED light source as opposed to a conventional lamp.
LED projectors use an LED light source as opposed to a conventional lamp.

LED projectors are becoming more and more popular. LED technology is being used in a wide range of products, including home theater projectors, business and education projectors, and even the emerging market of Pico projectors, and other mini projector systems. This has its benefits in a variety of fields, with several different uses.

While most pico and pocket projectors utilize LED light sources, when it comes to larger projectors the number one player using LED light engines is Casio.  But that’s not quite correct as they use a hybrid design with both LED and laser.

Lasers would be the other major solid state technology used, and it’s being used in some impressive, more expensive commercial projectors.

Most manufacturers of LED projectors are claiming 20,000 or more hours of life expectancy for their light engines.  That’s about 4-6 times traditional lamps in conventional projectors.

LED Projector Reviews

LED Projector Reviews REVIEWS

Image Review

Acer K138ST Projector Review – A Pocket Sized Gaming Machine

 Acer K138ST Projector Review – A Pocket Sized Gaming Machine

  • Review Date: December 15, 2017
  • MSRP: $599
  • Technology: DLP

AAXA M5 Pocket Projector Review – 720p and LED!

 AAXA M5 Pocket Projector Review – 720p and LED!

  • Review Date: November 29, 2017
  • MSRP: $499
  • Technology: DLP

Two Holiday Guides, Ten Great Home Projectors

 Two Holiday Guides, Ten Great Home Projectors

  • Review Date: November 28, 2017
  • MSRP: N/A
  • Technology: 0

AAXA M6 Projector Review – 1080p Pocket Sized and LED!

 AAXA M6 Projector Review – 1080p Pocket Sized and LED!

  • Review Date: August 16, 2017
  • MSRP: $599
  • Technology: LED

Check out our 2016 Holiday Projector Shopping Guides

 Check out our 2016 Holiday Projector Shopping Guides

  • Review Date: November 21, 2016
  • MSRP: N/A
  • Technology: 0

The Optoma ML750ST LED Projector Review – Part 1

 The Optoma ML750ST LED Projector Review – Part 1

  • Review Date: September 26, 2016
  • MSRP: $549
  • Technology: DLP

LG MiniBeam PF1000U Projector Review

 LG MiniBeam PF1000U Projector Review

  • Review Date: August 16, 2016
  • MSRP: $1,399
  • Technology: DLP

Millennials and Projectors: Optoma ML750 LED Projector Review: Part 2

 Millennials and Projectors: Optoma ML750 LED Projector Review: Part 2

  • Review Date: May 15, 2016
  • MSRP: N/A
  • Technology: 0

AAXA P700 HD Pocket LED Projector Review

 AAXA P700 HD Pocket LED Projector Review

  • Review Date: December 4, 2015
  • MSRP: $449
  • Technology: DLP

Check out our 2015 Holiday Projector Shopping Guides

Check out our 2015 Holiday Projector Shopping Guides

  • Review Date: November 27, 2015
  • MSRP: N/A
  • Technology:

Sony MP-CL1 Pico Laser Projector Review

 Sony MP-CL1 Pico Laser Projector Review

  • Review Date: November 19, 2015
  • MSRP: $349
  • Technology: Laser light technology

Millennials and Projectors: The Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 730HD

Millennials and Projectors: The Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 730HD

  • Review Date: November 8, 2015
  • MSRP: $649
  • Technology: 3LCD

The Optoma ML750 LED Projector – Review Part 1

The Optoma ML750 LED Projector – Review Part 1

  • Review Date: November 6, 2015
  • MSRP: $1099
  • Technology: DLP

LG Minibeam PW800 Projector Review

 LG Minibeam PW800 Projector Review

  • Review Date: July 26, 2015
  • MSRP: $599.99
  • Technology: DLP

LG Minibeam PH300 Projector Review

LG Minibeam PH300 Projector Review

  • Review Date: July 23, 2015
  • MSRP: $449.99
  • Technology: DLP

ViewSonic PLED-W800 LED Projector Review

ViewSonic PLED-W800 LED Projector Review

  • Review Date: December 12, 2014
  • MSRP: $709
  • Technology: DLP

NEC NP-L102W Projector Review

NEC NP-L102W Projector Review

  • Review Date: September 5, 2014
  • MSRP: $1099
  • Technology: DLP

LG PF85U LED Projector – Review

LG PF85U LED Projector – Review

  • Review Date: August 28, 2014
  • MSRP: $1299
  • Technology: DLP

Asus P2B Pocket Projector Review

Asus P2B Pocket Projector Review

  • Review Date: April 3, 2014
  • MSRP: $549
  • Technology: DLP

Vivitek Qumi Q7 LED Projector – Review

Vivitek Qumi Q7 LED Projector – Review

  • Review Date: March 1, 2014
  • MSRP: $999
  • Technology: DLP

Acer K335 LED Portable Projector Review

Acer K335 LED Portable Projector Review

  • Review Date: February 3, 2014
  • MSRP: $699
  • Technology: DLP (1)

Canon REALiS LE-5W Projector Review

Canon REALiS LE-5W Projector Review

  • Review Date: August 3, 2013
  • MSRP: $799
  • Technology: DLP

Optoma ML550 LED Projector Review

Optoma ML550 LED Projector Review

  • Review Date: July 16, 2013
  • MSRP: $599
  • Technology: DLP

HB Opto HBP503D Pocket Projector Review

HB Opto HBP503D Pocket Projector Review

  • Review Date: June 2, 2013
  • MSRP: $600
  • Technology: DLP

Optoma ML500 DLP Projector Review

Optoma ML500 DLP Projector Review

  • Review Date: April 6, 2012
  • MSRP: $1199
  • Technology: DLP

Viewsonic PLED-W500 LED Pocket Projector Review

Viewsonic PLED-W500 LED Pocket Projector Review

  • Review Date: February 1, 2012
  • MSRP: $840
  • Technology: DLP

Acer K330 LED Pocket Projector Review

Acer K330 LED Pocket Projector Review

  • Review Date: January 23, 2012
  • MSRP: $419
  • Technology: DLP

Vivitek QUMI Q2 LED DLP Pocket Projector Review

Vivitek QUMI Q2 LED DLP Pocket Projector Review

  • Review Date: September 8, 2011
  • MSRP: $499
  • Technology: DLP

LG HX300G Pocket Projector Review

LG HX300G Pocket Projector Review

  • Review Date: October 1, 2010
  • MSRP: $799
  • Technology: DLP

LED Projector Review – Aiptek V10 PLUS Pico Projector

LED Projector Review – Aiptek V10 PLUS Pico Projector

  • Review Date: July 19, 2009
  • MSRP: $349
  • Technology: LCoS

BenQ GP1 Joybee LED Projector Review

BenQ GP1 Joybee LED Projector Review

  • Review Date: July 2, 2009
  • MSRP: $499
  • Technology: DLP

About LED Projectors

The life of an LED light source is seriously spectacular. Even with 40 hours of viewing per week, the average LED can run for an impressive 10-25 years, which is longer than the expected life of the product itself! Let us put in perspective how long 25 years really is in the world of technology. In 1985, the VHS was the standard in home recording, a really huge TV was only 32 inches, CDs were new, DVDs were only a dream, and high-definition was still 15 years away. Thus, because technology changes so much, the use of the same LED projector 25 years into the future is not really practical. But theoretically, it’s possible!

First picture from the LED Optoma PK301 pico projector.
Second, the LED Samsung SP-F10M projector in bright mode.

But back to reality. To our knowledge, all current pico projectors use a small LED light source. Pico projectors make possible integration with small devices such as smart phones, etc. They can boast an absurdly long life of up to 20,000 hours.

In the home theater space, LED light sources are emerging, typically in higher-end 3-chip DLP projectors. As of the 2010-2011 season, all home theater projectors using LED light sources are over $10,000. LEDs are somwhat limited in brightness, however, which might explain why we haven’t seen more in the lower price ranges.

In the business sector, LED light sources are beginning to rival conventional lamps. However, despite these developments, we can’t guarantee that LED light sources will replace all conventional lamps, especially if you consider that we are now seeing some business projectors sporting lamps with lives as long as 5,000-6,000 hours.

LED light sources may come into the main home theater market a little behind their acceptance in the business education market. For example, the Samsung SP-F10M at $1,299 is an excellent example of LED light sources going into lower cost projectors.

Another example is Casio’s LED hybrid projectors, which use both LED and laser technology. Both the LED Samsung and the hybrid Casio projectors have the same kind of extremely long life ratings, and both run around $800-$1,500 dollars.

The Future of LED Light Sources

We should keep in mind that the business sector is more than 10x the size of the home theater world. As a result, as it comes to economies of scale, LED light sources are quickly becoming valid propositions in business and education, whereas they are still very expensive in home theater space (due to low numbers and high development costs).

With developments in LED technology, LED popularity and widespread usage is anticipated to rise. It is expected that, in the business/education world, LED light sources will become dominant over conventional lamps over the next few years (2011-2012). Furthermore, LED home theater projectors should soon become available at lower prices.

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