When your primary concern is image quality, it’s best to go with an Epson home cinema projector. Epson designs all of its projectors to produce stunning, realistic colors and detailed images. It can make it difficult to tell the company’s projectors apart.
Looking at the Epson 3800 vs the 5050UB, it’s almost impossible to tell which model has the features you need. You’ll get the best image quality with the 5050UB, but the Epson 3800 has a higher lumens rating and an input lag that will impress gamers (>>> Check current price on Amazon).
Before you make a final decision on which model to bring home, take a closer look at each projector’s unique specifications.
Epson 3800 vs 5050UB Specifications:
| Epson 3800 | Epson 5050UB | |
|---|---|---|
 |  |
|
| Resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
| Contrast Ratio | 100,000:1 | 1,000,000:1 |
| Brightness (Lumens) | 3,000 ANSI | 2,600 ANSI |
| Throw Distance | 6.2' - 28.8' | 10.3' - 29.4' |
| Screen size | 40" - 300" | 50" - 300" |
| Zoom | 1.62x manual zoom | 2.1x Powered zoom |
| Internal Speakers | 10.0 Watts × 2 | No |
| Price | Find on Amazon ProjectorScreen.com Bhphotovideo.com | Find on Amazon ProjectorScreen.com Bhphotovideo.com |
You’ll notice that the two home projectors look similar. Both come with a white casing and compact size designed to fit almost anywhere. However, there are differences when it comes to functionality that will make one component a better fit in your entertainment setup.
Image Quality
One aspect everyone looks for is image quality. There’s no point in owning a home projector if you can’t see the images it produces. You won’t have this issue with either Epson projector, both boast 3LCD and 4K technology. With HDR10 support, images are clear with accurate colors.
The Epson 3800 has a higher lumens rating at 3,000. You do get a brighter picture in ambient lighting, but not by much. With the 5050UB you have 2,600 lumens, along with a higher contrast ratio. Compared to the 100,000:1 contrast rating on the Epson 3800, the 5050UB with a 1,000,000:1 produces noticeably crisper whites and deeper blacks.
Best Image Quality: Epson 5050UB
Installation and Ease of Use
Both projectors have a flexible installation with keystone correction, along with power zoom and focus. The Epson 3800 is lighter at 15 .2lbs, compared to the 5050UB at 24.7lbs. You can easily take the 3800 projector anywhere you want to have a movie night.
You can set lens positions with both projectors. The 3800 will also store up to 10 setting preferences so you don’t have to adjust the projector every time you use it. Even though you won’t have problems setting either projector up, the Epson 3800 makes it a little easier.
Best Installation and Ease of Use: Epson 3800
Gaming Quality
Casual gamers won’t complain about the input lag on the Epson 5050UB. At 27ms, you won’t notice any input lag on most of your games. However, the 3800 home projector has an input lag of 16.7ms. It’s fast enough to keep up with your action games. You won’t miss a battle due to a slow refresh rate with the 3800 from Epson.
Best Gaming Quality: Epson 3800
Epson 3800
HD resolution combined with 4K pixel-shifting technology and a 3LCD chip ensure you get amazing picture quality. A 3,000 lumens lamp ensures you have a bright picture in ambient lighting. The contrast ratio is low, but you’ll still have definition and crisp colors.
The Epson 3800 is a home theater projector for gamers. When you combine the 16.7ms lag time with the 60fps refresh rate, even multiple-player games are smooth frame-by-frame. You won’t have any problems with blurry or bulky images when you’re using the 3800 for gaming.
Sometimes it’s nice to take the projector outdoors. Weighing a little over 15lbs, it’s not hard to move the projector. It’s also a breeze to align the images. You can save up to 10 settings so the projector’s ready to go when it’s powered on. It also comes with digital keystone correction, and power focus, and zoom.
Pros
- Bright images
- Flexible installation
- Low input lag
- Fast refresh rate
- 4K support
Cons
- The low contrast ratio can cause darker colors to bleed on-screen and mute whites
- The small projector comes with a loud cooling fan
Epson 5050UB
Gamers might complain about the 27ms input lag but it’s still acceptable. The 2,600 lumens lamp also isn’t great in brighter light, but the Epson 5050UB has astonishing image quality. Along with 4K pixel-shifting and 3LCD technology, it has a contrast rating of 1,000,000:1. Whites are bright and crisp, while blacks are rich and deep.
Ultra-black technology and HDR10 color processing ensure colors are accurate. You’ll feel like you’re watching a movie at the cinema with the Epson 5050UB.
The projector may have a compact size, but it’s also solid. Weighing over 20lbs, you won’t be moving it around. It does have a flexible installation, and it’s a breeze to align on-screen images. Along with vertical digital keystone correction, you also have powered zoom and focus. With horizontal and vertical lens shift, you don’t have to worry about off-centered images.
Pros
- Dynamic contrast
- Ultra-black technology
- 4K support
- Acceptable input lag
- HDR-curve
Cons
- The lower lumens rating can affect picture quality in bright light
- It’s heavier weight makes the projector difficult to move
Conclusion
When you’re trying to decide between the Epson 3800 vs the 5050UB, it depends on what you want from a home projector. If image quality is what you want, the Epson 5050UB delivers. Gamers and daytime projector users will want to look at the Epson 3800. You get a bright, clear picture in ambient lighting, along with an input lag low enough for multi-player games. The 3800 is higher-priced, but it beats the 5050UB when it comes to overall value (>>> Check current price on ProjectorScreen).