Laser Projectors vs. LED Projectors

Deciding on a projector can be a difficult decision. For leisure or business, making the right projector choice could not only enhance your experience but also save you money overall. Let's look at the factors that make the difference between laser, LED, and lamp projectors and how each one of them could be suited for home cinema or commercial use.

• Why are laser and LED replacing legacy lamps in projectors? 
• Which is brighter -- LED or Laser?
• Which technology has better color performance?
• Does DLP or LCD matter for laser and LED projector? 
• Which technology is better for:
  • Home Cinema Projectors
  • Commercial Projectors
  • Hgh Brightness Projectors over 5000 Lumens 

While over 80 million projectors have been sold in the last 15 years using mercury lamps, many of the more advanced countries in the world are in the process of phasing them out due to the risk of mercury contamination if a lamp breaks – and the potential risks of disposal. As a result, many of the larger projector manufacturers are transitioning to laser technology for 5000-lumens projectors, and LED technology for mainstream commercial projectors less than 5000-Lumens.

While the short-term availability and cost of replacement lamps have not been affected in 2023, over time the lower demand for lamps could cause the price to go higher – and make it more difficult to find replacement lamps, especially for smaller brands or those that have gone out of business. LED and laser technology lasts the lifetime of a projector, so you do not have to worry about replacement lamps.

The first commercially produced laser projector was the BenQ LX60 laser projector designed for classrooms. It was a 3000-lumen XGA unit with a 20,000-hour laser life. Today, the typical laser projector brightness ranges between 5000 lumens and 10,000 lumens. There are even brighter laser projectors made for commercial cinema projectors as well.

For LED projectors, the first models were portable projectors that were around 200 Lumens. However, over time the range of projectors using LED has grown significantly. In 2023, there are a wide variety of portable projectors designed for outdoor theaters and other applications that are 500 lumens or higher. The biggest innovation so far has been LED-powered 4000-lumens commercial-grade projectors. These units are only a little higher priced than similar lamp projectors and have new capabilities that we will discuss below.

LED has the best color performance of any mainstream projector technology. At CES, the first LED-powered home cinema projector delivers 100% DCI-P3 and 100% Rec.709 accurate colors with 3200 lumens of brightness. The unique element of LED is that it delivers exceedingly high color saturation compared to lamps or traditional laser projectors – which makes the colors look brighter to the eye. For commercial projectors, LED-powered projectors can deliver 96% of Rec. 709 color – far beyond many lamp and laser models that had to sacrifice color accuracy for high brightness.

Close behind LED are laser projectors that use red, blue, and green color lasers. This technique has been used by commercial cinemas to deliver higher brightness and color accuracy and is being used in some high-end models of projector televisions. These lasers can produce the widest range of color, up to 95% BT.2020 to generate brilliant reds and picture-perfect skin tones for home cinema projectors. This promising technology offers a true cinema experience for projectors used in dark rooms but is expensive to produce at higher brightness levels.

This technology uses a blue laser and color filters to generate up to 1 billion colors. While it is the most common laser technology used today, the color accuracy can vary significantly from one brand to another. This is especially important in simulation environments where showing the right color of a cloud can make a difference in a flight simulator.  The most advanced models have specified Rec. 709 specifications, pre-calibrated white points, and specified Delta E (the difference between a specified color and the actual measured color) to ensure an accurate color image. These are industry-accepted color measurements for all types of displays, including monitors, digital signage, and televisions. 

As of 2023, most LED and RGB laser-powered projectors are using single-chip DLP technology instead of older legacy LCD panels. There are several reasons for this, but the easiest way to understand this phenomenon is that the new LED and laser technologies produce color from the light source itself. This makes it more efficient than having three different imagers that filter, align, and recombine the different colors as is the case in an LCD projector.

Because the light structure of LED and laser projectors is fundamentally different from traditional lamps, these projectors can be more vulnerable to dust contamination. This is why many brands now offer sealed laser engines instead of paper filters for their high-brightness projectors. The advantage of a sealed projector is that it avoids what we call “molten goo.” Molten goo is what happens when dust gets vaporized by lasers. As it cools, it turns into “goo” and can land on a critical component in the projector, potentially damaging it over time. To avoid the molten goo issue, BenQ projectors have a sealed engine design that extends the life of your projector.

1.) LED –For a typical home cinema projector, LED delivers a giant leap in color performance at an affordable price point. Take the BenQ HT4550 for example; it has 100% Rec. 709 as well as 100% DCI-P3 cinematic color. This allows you to be able to notice details even in darker scenes. This projector won the Best of CES 2023 by AVS Forum. 

2.) RGB Laser – By using three different colored lasers, this technology can deliver even the challenging BT2020 color standard. These are used in screenless televisions such as the BenQ V5000 television which has 100% BT2020 color as well as spectacular HDR. Today there are very few traditional home cinema projectors that use this technology.

3.) Laser -- This type of projector is great if you want a brighter image such as the 5000-lumens LK936ST, which is used for both home entertainment and golf simulation. Unlike traditional lamp projectors, laser-based projectors have no start-up times, and most rank high on color coverage. 

4.) Lamp-- When discussing the advantages of a lamp-based projector one of the first things to be mentioned is lower initial cost. For example, the lamp-powered TK700STi delivers a solid home cinema experience for around $1500. But keep in mind lamp projectors are going to be harder to maintain, seeing that mercury lamps are going to be banned in several countries.

1.) LED – For commercial projectors LEDs are phenomenal. They are first rated for 24/7 usage. This makes them great for events and art exhibits. They also have the highest color accuracy and a brightness that tops 4000 lumens. About 65% of commercial projectors are 4000-Lumens class and with LED there is no need to stop and do major maintenance like with traditional lamp-based projectors.

2.) Laser – For those looking for a higher brightness, laser–based projectors will be the right fit. The LK936ST is a projector with a sealed engine and is rated at 5100 ANSI lumens. The LK936ST has Rec. 709 color accuracy and is ideal for areas where you need brighter projector. The high color accuracy allows difficult colors like skin tones to stay true and you don’t get the color fading or yellowing that can happen with long-term wear in non-DLP lamp-based projectors.

3.) Lamp – If you’re looking for an affordable short-term solution you might want to consider the MX536. At 4000 Lumens this projector gives high brightness on a lamp-based projector. Depending on the mode you can get up to 20,000 hours of lamp life and with DLP technology you still get visible details and easy-to-read text. This is great if you’re in a bind and just need an affordable choice while you look for a long-term solution.

1.) Laser – Over the last couple of years, the demand for 4K projector with over 5000 Lumens has tripled. Mostly due to post-COVID trends of staying home more often. Brightness is one of the top priorities when considering a projector because if a projector is not bright enough, you can risk image quality. For example, the BenQ LU9800 gives you both high brightness and color accuracy. This way you can use your projector even in lit rooms and you’ll be getting more vivid colors for a cinematic experience. With color accuracy and 10000-lumens the LU9800 gives you the best of both worlds. 

For home cinema or commercial use projectors can serve many purposes and choosing the right one is essential for long-term use. Different technologies provide different experiences, color levels, and brightness. With many options available BenQ has both Laser and LED projectors to suit any need.