Epson has some exciting new projectors on the market that could be among the best for gaming thanks to several high-end features.
Announced in a press releaseEpson's three new Q-Series laser projectors could be the perfect companions for playing games on your PS5, Xbox Series X, or the best gaming PCs. Leveraging HDMI 2.1 support for 4K HDR gaming at 120Hz, these new projectors come as premium offerings starting at $7,999.
These models use three-chip 3LCD laser array technology for superior performance on a light source rated for up to 20,000 hours. With up to 300 inches of potential screen space, these Epson projectors provide ample coverage to meet most entertainment demands, even holding their own against some of the best projectors Epson has to offer, such as its EpicVision LS800.
All of Epson's new projectors will be showcased at the upcoming CEDIA show, September 5-7. Availability will begin the same month as the QB1000, while the QL3000 and QL7000 will hit stores in October.
Playing on a 300-inch screen
It’s no surprise that gaming isn’t the best on projectors, which typically have incredibly high input latency on a design that typically doesn’t support HDMI 2.1. Look no further than our best gaming projector, the BenQ HT2060 , for proof, which features only HDMI 2.0 ports on a 1080p resolution projection.
But that’s all about to change thanks to these new offerings from Epson. With its QL3000, QL7000, and QB1000 models, Epson not only offers sophisticated gaming features and built-in HDMI 2.1 support, but also premium performance with HDR coverage and 8.29 million pixels.
The QB1000 is the most affordable of the bunch, with up to 3,300 lumens of color and white brightness, and a 15-element Epson flexible lens. It starts at $7,999, which is a hefty investment for those used to cheaper projectors like the $3,000 Formovie Theater or even the $1,400 Dangbei Mars Pro.
And if you thought the QB1000 was expensive, the QL3000 and QL7000 that round out Epson's new Q-series also come with hefty price tags of $14,999 and $29,999 respectively. Those sticker prices, which far outstrip some of the best 8K TVs, come with powerful features like HDR10 support and 4K 120Hz gaming.
To be clear, the QL3000 and QL7000 are listed as “body only,” meaning you’ll need a compatible lens, which itself costs between $450 and $3,500. With that lens, you get white and color brightness potential of up to 6,000 lumens on the QL3000 and up to 10,000 lumens, both of which are unheard of on most conventional UST and long-throw projectors.
Better than MicroLED TVs?
The entire Q-series is powered by Epson's proprietary OZX image processor and leverages a 3-axis motorized lens shift with memory presets, giving them a great deal of versatility in their setup. You could opt for one of the best 85-inch TVs, but if you're looking for cinema-quality performance, Epson's new Q-series projectors are definitely the ones to get, especially considering their image sizes of up to 300 inches.
Despite their high price tag, these very expensive projectors could be the perfect counterbalance to Micro-LED TVs, which are also very expensive. Samsung and LG are rethinking their strategy for MicroLED TVs, as the $100,000+ price tags of these displays can't make up for their potential as OLED killers, and the same could be true of Epson's new offerings.
You can expect to see the QB1000 available in September and the QL3000 and QL7000 coming out in October.