At the onset of home entertainment, families gathered around a heavy box with a black and white display. Soon after we saw the introduction of color TVs, followed by LCD, Plasma, and OLED. Which led us to where we are now; the fourth generation of televisions and the frontrunner to become the new standard of home theater — Laser TV.
Let’s Start With the Basics First: What the (Redacted) is a Laser TV?
These aren’t the lasers that Dr. Evil attached to sharks, nor are they the ones used to torment cats. The technical explanation here is that a Laser TV uses mirrors, light, and Ultra-short Throw (UST) projection to create the image reflected on the screen, not unlike how a movie theater operates. From a functional perspective, Laser TVs should not differ from traditional TV. You will operate it the same way. The reason Laser TVs edge out a standard LCD comes down to dimensions, flexibility, and what kind of viewing experience you’re looking for.
But listen, we’re here to rewatch Game of Thrones and scream at the TV when the writers fumbled the bag. You don’t need a degree in engineering to do that. All you really need to know is that it’s a projector that sits in front of a white screen and makes your entertainment bigger. And, it’s at the cusp of revolutionizing the home theater industry.
What to Consider When Buying a Laser TV Light
With Laser TVs, light is a two-headed beast. You need to consider the power of the light source, as well as the impact of ambient lighting. Let’s start with the former. Flat-panel TVs are specified to last 20,000 hours. Your Laser TV should match that, at the very minimum. Now, let’s talk ambient lighting. Any light source in the environment besides the projector will create ambient lighting. It competes with the brightness of the screen, and unless you’ve stacked the space with blackout curtains and quarantined your TV to a lockbox of a room, you’ll run into ambient lighting. Thus, you need an ambient light-rejecting (ALR) screen. Thankfully, every one of our Laser TVs comes with an ALR screen.
Smart TV Capability
Why would we make a Laser TV that isn’t smart TV compatible? We wouldn't. Yes, you can access every streaming service, just like you would on a flat-panel TV. Yes, you can engage Alexa or the Google Assistant for voice-activated operation. You just got comfy on the couch. It would be cruel to expect you to get up.
Laser vs. Traditional TV
Once you buy a standard TV, it won’t go through a growth spurt. That’s it. You’re stuck with that size.
A Laser TV, however, can project content in a variety of dimensions. Want an intimate viewing experience when you’re eating shredded cheese out of the bag at midnight? Perfect. Need to host the block to catch a game? You can size up for that. You have the flexibility to alter the scale of your entertainment. And, a Laser TV consumes less power than a standard LCD TV. Laser TVs are easier on your eyes than traditional TVs. With a standard TV, you are looking directly into the light source, causing strain and potential eye discomfort after a binge session. Laser TVs on the other hand are taking the light source and projecting it. It looks bright, it feels bright, but you aren’t staring directly into the light source.
Screen Size
Screens typically measure between 100 to 120 inches diagonally, which exceeds the dimensions of most flat-panel TVs. It’s also much easier to carry a Laser TV up three flights of stairs to your apartment. You can go big, without breaking a sweat.
How is a Laser Projector Different From Other Projectors?
Where conventional projectors require lamps that must be replaced every year or so, lasers retain brightness over their entire lifespan. Conventional projectors also need several minutes to warm up. With a Laser TV, the brightness, clarity, and color is up and ready to go the minute you turn it on. Think of it this way: a Laser TV is hot and ready like a Little Ceasar’s pizza. Conventional projectors are Hot Pockets. We’ll eat either, but fresh and fast is better.
Not all conventional projectors come with screens, meaning you need to worry about the added time and cost to find the right screen. We said it above, but it’s worth repeating — Hisense Laser TVs come with an ALR screen.
Looking to Purchase a Laser TV for Your Home?
It all comes down to what you want most out of your home entertainment. If you like hosting friends and getting fully immersed in your favorite movie or game, Laser TVs give you the picture quality and flexibility to make a night at home feel like a private theater. Add to that features like built-in Dolby Atmos Sound, 4K Resolution, Smooth Motion and Smart TV, and a Laser TV will give you an unbeatable experience. If you’re happy with your current setup — awesome. That makes us happy too. If you’re ready to be part of the next gen of in-home technology, we’re ready to make that happen for you.