Essentially gaming projectors, that is dedicated to gamers, aim to offer a certain type of values ​​in some important areas when it comes to playing with a console or a PC.We are talking about both the refresh-rate (which at certain resolutions can reach up to 240 Hz), and the input-lag, the annoying "delay" typical of every video transmission which, if higher than a certain value expressed in milliseconds (ms) , it can severely affect the gaming experience.There are many projectors with optimal values ​​for gaming, but here we want to introduce you to four in particular, especially taking into account the price factor.In fact, we have chosen projectors from 400 to 1700 euros, a range that does not therefore allow us to consider top-of-the-range models (perhaps with HDMI 2.1 or 4K native inputs) but which still offers a rather wide and quality choice.The Benq TH685 is not to be confusing.A price around 800 euros generally implies a low level of brightness, more gray than black, an approximate chromatic scale, a not very generous matrix and high latency times.However, this is not the case with the BenQ TH685, among a very interesting colorimetric precision, a bright light source that should stand out even in not totally darkened environments and above all (from a gaming perspective) an input lag of only 8.3 ms.There remains the question of blacks, but to level up and go deeper you need to go up in category and in price.This is a native 1920 × 1080 projector that also accepts UHD signals, always remembering that compatibility does not mean resolution.The presence of HDR should be emphasized, so here a UHD signal should still offer a higher chromatic fidelity (as long as you pass the signal from a UHD / HDR player or media player).The TH685 uses Texas Instruments DLP technology, here with a six-segment color wheel (2x), where, depending on the subject, you may or may not notice the so-called “rainbow effect”.The projection ratio from 1.13 to 1.46 and the 1.3x zoom allow you to reach 100 inches of projected image with a positioning between two and a half meters and three meters (height-adjustable support points).The Rec.709 coverage is declared at 95% and a very important element for gaming is the use of video at 120 Hz, which returns a fluid picture favoring consoles and graphics cards.The rest of the numbers confirm the goodness of this model: 3,500 Ansi Lumen, contrast 10,000: 1 (full on / off), longevity up to 4,000 hours at full capacity which become 15,000 in "echo", 5 Watt mono internal speaker, audio in / out with mini jack and two HDMI 2.0 inputs (HDCP 2.2).Online it is now also found for less than 400 euros and even if it is not a distinctly gaming projector, its portable nature and its really micro size can give a lot of satisfaction when maybe you are on vacation with a Switch or a Steam Deck (also in a hotel room for example).The LG CineBeam PH30N is a DLP model with HD resolution of 1280 × 720 pixels, maximum brightness of 250 lumens and a 30,000 hour RGB LED source, which is about 10 years with 8 hours of daily use.In addition to being very light (540 grams) and very compact (12.9 x 12.9 x 3.9 cm), this projector is able to recreate an image up to 100 '' (starting from a minimum of 25 ' ') from a distance of 3.3 meters.With the built-in battery you won't exceed two hours of projection, but of course there is the wired option to plug the PH30N into a power outlet.The noise is equal to 25/28/30 dB in the Economic / Normal / High Brightness modes and, if on the one hand there is no real smart platform, on the other hand you can take advantage of the Screen Share function via MiraCast to transmit to the projector video content via wireless from a device such as a smartphone or tablet, while by inserting a USB memory into the appropriate port, the projector's internal media player can play the files (video, audio, images) contained therein.Since the integrated speaker has a power of just 1W, you can connect a wireless speaker or a pair of headphones / earphones via Bluetooth to the PH30N.In short, an interesting product for those looking for a small, light, portable projector with a still decent resolution, although spending about 130 euros more and always staying at LG you could opt for the PF50KS, which despite being larger ( 17x17x4 cm) and weighing more (almost double), it has a Full HD resolution and a brightness of 600 lumens.But if you are looking above all for lightness and compactness, the CineBeam PH30N is certainly preferable.Still in the 800 euro range, we chose the Asus F1 (not a very recent model) because it mounts a short throw lens that could greatly facilitate the installation process.It is a Full HD DLP projector with LED lighting that looks both at gaming (there is a special video mode), and at more professional use.Such a dual nature seems strange, but the Asus F1 does indeed offer interesting features for both areas.For starters, the lens allows you to project a 25 '' image from a distance of 43cm up to a 210 '' image (5.3 meters diagonal) from a distance of 3.7 meters.The long-lasting, mercury-free R / G / B LED light source is expected to deliver approximately 30,000 hours-20 years of runtime, while the maximum brightness of 1200 lumens, the contrast of 3500: 1 and 100% NTSC coverage they are pretty cool specs.At the gaming level, there are Harman Kardon's 2.1 integrated audio system with a total power of 14W (2x3W plus an 8W subwoofer), support for the [email protected] refresh rate and playback of content wirelessly using as sources Android or Windows 10 devices. The connections offer two HDMI and one VGA inputs, a USB port that doubles as a charging device for external devices even during projection and a headphone output.Asus F1 also offers instant height adjustment thanks to a foldable two-tier stand that can be quickly adjusted to suit the task at hand.Here you can find the complete review.Miracles cannot be expected from a 4K DLP projector worth around 1700 euros and in fact in our review of the Optoma UHD 40 of 2018, in addition to the undeniable merits, we also reported some not insignificant defects, such as the limited contrast and the lack of installation flexibility.The UHD 42 successor at the end of 2020 offers many interesting elements for those who, without spending a fortune, still want to enjoy large format images with the added bonus of 4K-HDR.The Optoma UHD42, in addition to two 10W speakers, a 3.5mm analog output and an optical output, integrates two HDMI inputs.The first of these is an HDMI 2.0 to handle signals up to 4K / 60Hz (or Full HD up to 240Hz) and the 15.7 ms input lag makes this projector very interesting also for gamers, who among other things can rely on a dedicated mode.The second port is instead a more "rudimentary" HDMI 1.4.The Optoma UHD42 has a throw ratio between 1.21 and 1.59.It's the same as its predecessor, but it doesn't offer the same flexibility as its closest rival, the Epson EH-TW7000 with its 3LCD chip.Unfortunately, the horizontal lens shift is not provided and the vertical one allows a variation of only 10%, but in the menus there are both a keystone correction function and an option to digitally shift the image to allow a finer adjustment of the position of the camera. 'image.At this price we certainly do not expect a lens motorization system and in fact the focus and zoom (1.3x) are performed manually.The peak brightness of 3400 lumens makes the projector quite suitable for a wide variety of ambient light conditions.The native resolution of this DLP projector is equal to 1920 × 1080 pixels (the 0.47 ″ DMD is the same as the UHD 40 and the BenQ W1700), with the wobble allowing, however, to reach the UHD resolution.We then find an RGBRGB color wheel aimed at limiting the 'rainbow' effect typical of DLP VPRs, but above all at lowering the distance between white luminance and the RGB and secondary color range.At the HDR level we find support for HDR10 and HLG (no Dolby Vision or HDR10 + as it was logical to expect) and, unlike other projectors in this price range, a smart section or any type of wireless connectivity is missing.In short, a model that looks to the point and that, for some of its characteristics, goes well with the needs of gamers.Finally, the compatibility with 3D materials (through active glasses sold separately), the 240W lamp that ensures up to 10,000 hours of projection in Eco mode, a maximum noise level of 28 dB and a projected image size from 0.87 to 7.68 meters, obtainable respectively starting from 1.2 to 8.1 meters.© 2022, MBEditore - TPFF srl.All rights reserved.I agree to the processing of the data in the contact formAF Digitale is the independent voice that guides you through the sea of ​​technology, with news, surveys, tests and expert reviews.