Cheatsheet

• The Optoma GT1080HDR is one of the cheapest short-throw projectors in India.
• You can create a 100-inch projection from just 1.1 metres away, allowing you to optimise space in your living room.
• Input lag drops to 8.4 ms on ‘Enhanced Gaming Mode.’ This and the 120Hz refresh rate make it great for gaming.
• Native resolution is at 1080p and it can play 4K content.
• Brightness peaks at 4000 ANSI Lumens. Image quality is great even during the day.
• The GT1080HDR comes with built-in 10W speakers that deliver decent sound.

Consumer buying patterns and drivers have seen a drastic change since 2020. The projector is one such gadget category that has evolved almost overnight. Not too long ago, this was still primarily a B2B segment — projectors were usually designed for board rooms. Not anymore though. The strict lockdowns might have eased but the living room has replaced your neighbourhood cinema and is now the preferred big screen venue. The Optoma GT1080HDR is one projector that wants a space in your living room and not just at the office.

Short throw on a budget

The key value proposition of the Optoma GT1080HDRis its ability to create a large projection – it can create a 100-inch projection from a 1.1-metre distance, from a short distance. While most ultra-short throw projectors are around the Rs 5 lakh mark, the GT1080HDR comes at a fraction of that cost. 

Smooth set up

Setting up the Optoma GT1080HDR is a breeze. I plugged in an Apple TV via one of the two HDMI slots. I stretched the projection size to about 120 inches from a 4ft distance. The projector comes with a remote that sports back-lit keys. That’s a nice touch especially when I was watching Severance on Apple TV+ with the lights off.

I hardly used the remote after the initial set-up, leaning almost entirely on the Apple TV remote. There are multiple connectivity options, including a handy USB power slot that allows you to power dongles like a Google Chromecast. This is soon becoming a regular feature in many projectors as major brands begin to understand B2C requirements better.

Ultra-smooth visuals

This bright 1080p projector boasts a brightness of 4000 ANSI lumens. You won’t need to draw your curtains during the day, even if you’re watching a Batman movie that’s dominated by dark visuals. The Optoma 1080HDR projector can accept native 4K signals and is compatible with HDR. The HDR (High Dynamic Range) improves contrast ratio with deeper blacks. If you’re a pixel peeper who likes to nit-pick, you will find a difference between this projector and higher priced ultra-short throw projectors. Gamers might switch to ‘Enhanced-gaming mode’ where the input lag drops to 8.4s and combines with the 120Hz refresh rate for an ultra-smooth gaming experience.

Bottomline

The home projector market is getting cluttered with a number of options, and the Optoma GT1080HDR is the newest entrant. The key wins for this projector are the ‘short-throw’ projection and the enhanced gaming mode. Lamp life is impressive (15,000 hours) and the in-built 10W speakers are decent too. You might find the need for more thump during big screen action though; hooking it up to a Bluetooth soundbar will solve this. Image quality is great, while the compact form factor adds to the appeal, making it a compelling option for first-time projector buyers.

The Optoma GT1080HDR projector costs Rs 1,50,000.