Is it Worth Buying a Projector? We Review Epson’s Android TV-Powered EH-TW5820

In the age of affordable smart TVs, projectors have a fight on their hands. Where a projector was once the top of the pile for must-have entertainment options, consumers have the option to pick up fairly large TVs without breaking the bank. With that said, the flexibility, dynamic nature, and unique elements of a solid projector can’t be overlooked, and Epson’s TW5820 is one such device that entertainment fans should take note of.

In a nutshell, the TW5820 is a compact and powerful Full HD 1080p projector that prioritises an easy setup and ease-of-use over too many complicated bells and whistles. It features Epson’s 3LCD technology, which is up to three times brighter than other 1-chip DLP projectors on the market. What this means is that you get an extremely bright and strong colour contrast (even in not so dark rooms) rather than that ‘washed out’ look from some other projectors.

This is thanks to the 2,700 lumens and a 70,000:1 contrast ratio that the TW5820 is able to output. So, overall, the picture quality and ‘strength’ is superb, and you can obviously tinker with the settings for a more saturated or natural-looking image, depending on what you’re going for. The ‘cinema’ mode added a lot of depth to the black colours and enhanced the brights, which became a favourite of ours during our time with the projector.

While the image output is great, what you can do with it on the TW5820 is equally as impressive. Essentially, you can create a projection onto the wall that rivals the size of a 60-80-inch TV with no problem. What’s even better is that the projector has a keystone correction and lens shift slider, which lets you adjust the orientation of the projected image to compensate for the angle of the projector. So, if you have to place the projector on the side of your room, for example, you can shoot the image to the middle of the wall, but adjust it accordingly so it’s still in its rectangular 16:9 aspect ratio, rather than being stretched like some weird trapezoid. Ideally, you do want to place any projector perpendicular and straight to the wall, but it’s a nice feature to have if you’re tight on space.

Furthermore, the TW5820 also features an extendable front-stand, which allows you to use it on a low table or floor but still project upwards for a higher viewing point. It’s a nice touch that, surprisingly, many other projectors don’t have, leaving you to build a tower of books or awkwardly balanced items to raise the shooting angle.

On the back of the projector, you get an HDMI 1.4 and Stereo mini jack audio out, which gives you the option to run any device you have your media on into the projector, and the ability to connect an external speaker system. Speaking of, it does have an internal speaker, which is pretty decent and can deliver a volume level that’ll do the job, but it’s not going to bring the bass for those explosive blockbusters and high-tension moments.

One unusual design element is that the HDMI and stereo jack ports are hidden behind a backplate that’s actually the speaker cover; so, you have to remove it to use any external devices. It’s not a biggie, just strange that Epson didn’t separate that part of the panel from the speaker cover.

Thankfully, the device has Bluetooth and Android TV built into it, so you can connect your phone or laptop device over Bluetooth, or use the native Android system on the projector, which is as good as any media box, with Netflix, YouTube, and all other potential Google Play apps available.

And as for operating it, paired with the projector are two remotes that resemble most media player controls that most will likely be familiar with at this point. They’re great, compact, and responsive, and anyone who has hang-ups about the complications of operating a projector can rest easy knowing that you’ll feel right at home with the controller set-up.

Verdict

To be blunt, if you have a massive smart TV already, you might not see the need for a projector. But, if you love that cinematic look and feel, and are a gamer, sports-fanatic, or movie-lover looking for a big screen but don’t have the space or budget to shell out on the best of the best, the Epson TW5820 is a great option to give you an 80-inch viewing area with no frills and smart functionality from the get-go.

The Epson TW5820 is priced at R23,999.