There’s a lot that goes into buying a projector - here’s what you need to know

There are a few factors to consider when purchasing a new 4K laser projector, including your use case, price, and brightness. In this guide, we’ll cover the technology, our 4K laser projector models and their differences, and applications. 

4K laser projector technology 

4K laser projectors can be divided into two categories: native 4K and Ultra High Definition (UHD). 4K and UHD refer to the resolution, or the number of pixels, in an image. Generally speaking, more pixels allow for more details to be shown in an image. A native, or true 4K projector will display images in 4K resolution, which is 4096 pixels wide by 2160 pixels high. UHD images, however, are 3840 pixels wide by 2160 pixels high. A 4K UHD projector would then use pixel-shifting technology to rapidly shift pixels in the projected image by a fraction of a pixel to simulate 4K UHD resolution. Projectors with 4K or 4K UHD resolution can produce sharp, clear, and highly detailed images when projecting 4K content. 

Key considerations when buying a 4K laser projector 

With the different technology and feature options available, how do you choose the projector that’s right for your next project? Your venue, installation requirements, and goals will influence your selection. Let’s look at a few factors to consider. 

Brightness 

How much brightness you’ll require is a significant part of deciding what projector to purchase. Start by determining where you will be using your projector, specifically, the environment in which your projector will be placed. Are you installing the projectors in an indoor museum exhibition where the lights will be low? Are you projecting onto a large or small surface? How much ambient light is in your space? All these questions can help you determine which projector, and brightness, is the best fit for your project. 

Your venue 

Now we need to consider the other aspects of your venue. What surface will you project onto, and how far is the projector from it? What size is the venue? Your answers will help you determine your specifications for brightness, resolution, lens type, and throw distance (the distance between the projector’s lens and the distance where the image is displayed). These specs, in turn, will help establish how many projectors you’ll need and where to place them within your venue. 

Maintenance and total cost of ownership 

If you need to run diagnostics, replace a filter, or otherwise interact with the projector after installation, you will want a projector that allows you to do this easily. Do you need to unmount the projector to change the filters? Can you access controls and ports once mounted? These are a few things to think about before selecting the AV technology for your venue. 

Furthermore, consider the total cost of ownership to ensure that you’re getting a comprehensive view of your purchase. It’s easy to overlook energy efficiency, the maintenance schedule, and the cost to replace consumables such as filters. All these costs may not seem like much in the short term, but they add up over time, and it's something you want to be mindful of when purchasing a projector. 

These only scratch the surface of considerations when deciding what projector to purchase. A more extensive guide and in-depth list of considerations can be found in our Christie Projection Selection Guide. 

4K laser projectors  

When it comes to 4K laser projectors, Christie has a variety of projectors to choose from, with features to match your needs.  

Sapphire 4K40-RGBH 

Sapphire 4K40-RGBH is our newest 4K laser projector. It is the world’s first high-brightness hybrid RGB pure laser and laser phosphor projector, delivering DCI-P3 color and native 4K clarity. It’s also capable of 2D and 3D front and rear projection, making it perfect for 3D applications and immersive experiences.  

Griffyn Series 

Griffyn Series covers 98% of the Rec. 2020 color space—the color space closest to what our eyes can see—and has stunning brightness, ranging from 36,500 to 50,000 lumens. Griffyn Series projectors are ideally suited to larger spaces such as auditoriums, concerts, and themed attractions.  

Jazz Series 

Jazz Series is a perfect choice if you’re looking for premium performance without the premium price tag. The 4K UHD+ laser projectors in this series are outstandingly bright, ranging from 16,600 to 21,350 lumens. The Jazz Series features RealBlack technology, for a 4,000,000:1 contrast ratio. All of this is contained in a small, lightweight chassis that offers users unbelievable performance and versatility.  

M 4K RGB Series 

If you need a rugged and versatile 4K laser projector, the M 4K RGB Series is for you. These projectors are small and mighty, with a compact frame and light weight, yet they can produce immense brightness at 25,000 lumens. Furthermore, they use RGB pure laser technology, giving them an incredibly wide color gamut, achieving 98% of the Rec. 2020 color space. This makes the M 4K RGB Series perfect for larger installations such as theme parks, projection mapping, auditoriums, and sports venues. 

CineLife+ Series 

Designed for cinemas, CineLife+ Series projectors are some of the brightest and most energy efficient cinema projectors on the market. This series includes 4K options ranging from 15,000 to 57,000 lumens, and they can reproduce 2D and 3D content at 4K resolution up to 120 frames per second. This series brings the most advanced illumination technology to mainstream cinema applications. 

Inspire Series 

Our 4K860-iS Inspire Series projector is designed for small and midsize environments such as boardrooms, museums, and classrooms. With 8,500 lumens and 4K UHD resolution, it offers 20,000 hours of reliable, maintenance-free operation. 

HS Series 

Our HS Series 1DLP laser projectors include 4K models ranging in brightness from 7,600 lumens to 22,500 lumens. Thanks to our BoldColor+ technology, they are known for their color accuracy. With their compact and lightweight form factor and omnidirectional capabilities, HS Series projectors are perfect for challenging, space-limited installations. 

Christie 4K laser projectors at a glance 

4K laser projector applications

Let’s look at some examples of how our 4K laser projectors have been used. 

Immersive 5D flying dome theatre 

Christie also has solutions for domes and flying theatres. Jianye Display supplied Christie’s 4K10-HS laser projectors for “Flyover Hebei”, a theatre that simulates an aerial journey through China’s iconic sites including The Great Wall, Shanhaiguan Pass, and the Chengde Mountain Resort. 

Eight Christie 4K laser projectors were used to project realistic visuals in 6K-by-6K resolution onto a 400-square-meter (4,306-square-foot) spherical surface, and the visuals were then seamlessly blended to bring a high-definition, flawlessly realistic, and immersive experience to viewers.  

On Projeções 

On Projeções, a visual technology provider in Brazil, selected Christie’s Griffyn^® 4K50-RGB pure laser projectors to display the visuals at Time Warp Brazil and Illusionize in Saturn; two of Sao Paulo’s biggest electronic and techno music events. 

The festival is known for prominent visuals that accompany the music. For Time Warp Brazil, Christie 4K laser projectors were used to project visuals onto a building opposite the event, casting images that were 33 x 27m (108 x 90 ft) and 12 x 31m (39 x 102 ft), resulting in a resolution of 12,068,480 pixels. Illusionize in Saturn used the same projectors to project a 30 x 20m (98 x 66 ft) visual of Saturn behind the DJ. 

The brightness in these Gryffin projectors illuminated the night sky above the events and “provided great projection power and delivered sharp, precise, and vibrant images,” says Luciana Barcellos, the director of On Projeções. 

First Ōma Cinema powered by Christie 

Ōma Cinema in Mougins, France features 160 seats, five individual pods, as well as orchestra seating. Designed by architect Pierre Chican, the patented concept’s ‘vertical’ seating structure is designed to concentrate seating pods in the optimal viewing area, while also allowing the projector to be installed perfectly mid-center to the screen, eliminating image distortion. 

A CP4435-RGB pure laser projector was chosen for the Ōma Cinema, bringing vibrant colors and detailed true-to-life images to the screen. Ōma Cinema’s innovative architecture, alongside Christie’s advanced cinema projection, brings a cinema experience like no other.