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Optoma UHD50X vs UHD30

Home » COMPARISONS » Optoma UHD50X vs UHD30

While some people around the country are getting excited about their 4K TVs, true movie and gaming connoisseurs understand that the way to go is with a 4K projector. Why settle for 60 to 80-inch images when you can easily have a screen that measures well over 150 inches for much less money? When someone mentions Optoma projectors, premium quality, exceptional image processing, and great engineering come to mind. And that’s true with these two projectors, the Optoma UHD50X, and the UHD30.

Optoma UHD50X vs UHD30 main Specs Comparison:

Optoma UHD50XOptoma UHD30
Resolution4K4K
Contrast Ratio500,000:1500,000:1
Brightness (Lumens)3400 ANSI3400 ANSI
Throw Distance6.2' - 28.8'6.2' - 29.4'
Lens1.3x manual zoom1.1x manual zoom
Screen size34”-300”34”-300”
Input lag16ms16-25ms
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Here are a few key technologies that you need to understand when shopping for your 4K projector:

  • DLP – digital light processing projectors that use tiny mirrors to produce their images and have long-lasting bulbs. They perform great when it comes to 3D movies and games.
  • LCD – liquid crystal display projectors are popular because they cost less than DLP projectors. If you are budget-minded and don’t mind sacrificing sharpness in darker images, a LCD projector may be right for you.
  • LED – light-emitting diode projectors have the longest-lasting bulbs but sometimes suffer with brightness issues. They perform great in darker, medium to small sized rooms.

The Important Bells and Whistles

Lumens – a projector’s brightness will determine the projector’s placement in relation to the screen and whether it will require complete darkness or will project sharp, clear, detailed images in rooms with some ambient light. Ideally, a home theater projector should have at minimum 2,000 lumens, but of course more than that is better yet.

Best for Lumens: Tie – each produce 3,400 lumens

Lens Zoom – if you plan on moving your projector to different rooms or outdoors, a zoom lens will make setting the projector up easier. Being able to utilize a zoom feature makes it much simpler to match the image to the screen size. Having to move the projector forward or backward and re-centering it can be a real headache.

Best for Lens Zoom: Optoma UHD50X – 1.3X zoom lens

Contrast – expressed in a ratio, contrast refers to the difference between the darkest blacks and the whitest whites. Contrast ratios at a minimum of 10,000:1 is where to begin. The rule of thumb is the higher the better but it always comes down to personal preference, as what is fine for your situation may not be right for someone else.

Best for Contrast: Tie – each have 500,000:1 contrast ratio

Color Accuracy – looking at the screen should be like looking out a clear glass window. The projector’s settings should be adjustable. Room color and screen type can affect color accuracy. You need to be able to make subtle adjustments so that reds show up red and greens are green.

Best for Color Accuracy: Tie –each have good color accuracy


Optoma UHD50X

Optoma UHD50X

Gamers tend to be a little wary of claims by projector manufacturers that their projector is a ”true” gaming machine, but they can be confident with what Optoma says about the UHD50X.  With an input lag of just 16ms in Gaming Mode and 26ms in 4K, gamers will enjoy smooth, blur-free images. With this projector gamers can forget about that tiny computer screen or that truly expensive big screen TV. And the projector is also lightning fast at 240Hz. >>> Check current price on Amazon

The UHD50X has a 1.3x manual zoom lens with 5-15% vertical lens shift. It also offers ± 40° keystone correction making installation and orientation a breeze. With 3,400 lumens and a 8 segment color wheel, you can expect a crystal clear, color-rich image, even in rooms with some ambient light.

For gamers, playing on a 120 inch or larger screen (the projector is capable of displaying up to a 300 inch image) sure beats that desktop computer screen. And at 240Hz, everything runs smooth and details are sharp. It is 3D capable (3D glasses required) and 3D viewing benefits from the projector’s brightness, providing a really good depth contrast.

The UHD50X can be ceiling mounted or placed on a table. At a distance of 11 feet the image size will be 120 inches. For a more detailed review of the Optoma UHD50x click here.

Pros

  • Low input lag – 16ms, 26ms at 4K
  • 3,400 lumens
  • HDR10 and HLG support
  • 3x zoom lens

Cons

  • Fan is noisy in Dynamic Black mode
  • 240Hz only accessible from a computer
  • Green tint appears in brightest mode setting
  • Does not have HDMI 2.1 inputs


Optoma UHD30

Optoma UHD30

The Optoma UHD30 4K projector is designed for those interested in watching movies and playing video games on the same projector. The UHD30 produces 3,400 lumens of brightness with a contrast ratio or 500,00:1. While every 4K projector is expected to have crisp detailed images, the UHD30 has Optoma’s UltraDetail technology built into it. This means you get a high frame rate and even more enhanced, sharper detailing than the competition’s 4K projectors. >>> Check current price on Amazon

The UHD30 projector accepts 3D content from almost any source and 3D image quality remains above average. Gamers will approve of the low input lag, 16ms, and enjoy an ultra-smooth gaming experience. It is also HDR and HLG compatible. The full review of the Optoma UHD30 can be found here.

Pros

  • Fast 1080p 240Hz refresh rate
  • Low input lag – 16ms, 25ms at 4K UHD
  • 1x manual zoom lens
  • Up to a 300 inch projected image
  • 3,400 lumens means total darkness is not required

Cons

  • HDMI 2.0 connection only
  • Longer throw distance – 100 inch image at 11.5 feet
  • Only allows for vertical keystone correction
  • Fan noise is noticeable when not in ECO mode

 

Final Thoughts

Both projectors do a good job of carrying on Optoma’s fine reputation for home cinema projectors. Because the UHD50X has better zoom, you would think it would be the better projector to own (>>> Check on ProjectorScreen). Other than the UHD30 having only 1.1x zoom, the two projectors are virtually the same. Paying $300 more to get a projector that is only slightly easier to set up seems to be a waste of money. I would rather put the extra $300 towards a really nice screen. I think the UHD30 is the projector to choose from.

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