A Home Cinema Projector to rival your local Cineworld is now well within reach for many, thanks to host of 4k projectors, but if you want to maximise your viewing time without maintenance then 4k laser projectors offer an ideal solution. The Acer VL7860 and the New Optoma UHZ65 both offer indulgent and rich 4K viewing at sizes traditional TVs just can't handle, but which is better?

Why laser?

By using a laser light source instead of traditional lamp-based technology both projectors offer a 20,000 hour life span, the Acer VL7860 projector can extend this to 30,000 hours with it's eco-mode. That kind of life span is enough to watch the entire marvel movie cinematic universe (with added TV episodes) 125 times continuously! Having an eco mode is also especially important to consider when using the 4k UHD projector for long periods, meaning a lower cost of ownership in the long term.

Brightness and Image Quality

Both the 4K Home Cinema Projectors deliver 3000 Ansi Lumens of brightness, in real terms that is enough to create a sharp image at all hours of the day. If you're finding the lumens ratings a bit tricky to handle check out this lumens guide. As the Optoma UHZ65 is also designed for business and education sectors it also offers a staggering 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio for crystal clear details even at massive signage sizes, ideal for exhibitions or museums.

A common misconception when dealing with projectors comes from their perceived inability to handle high frame rates and heavy action scenes. Both of these 4K UHD Projectors have their own ways to project at the movie standard of 24 frames per second, with PureMotion/AccuMotion technology built in to handle fast moving scenes or gaming.

Laser technology provides accurate, true to life colour reproduction with the Optoma UHZ65 delivering 80% of DCI-P3 coverage- basically meaning it can produce a wide and diverse range of Ultra HD colours.

Installation and creating your own 4K Home Cinema.

Both Projectors offer a vertical lens shift of 15% so you can ceiling mount them without fear of losing that cinema feeling with a skewed image. Despite this handy feature, 4k home cinema is more than just a projector. If you do want to create your own 4K Home Cinema you'll need more pieces than just the projector, read our 4k home cinema set up guide.

Affordability

Here comes the clincher, the Optoma UHZ65 may be delivering a marginally sharper image but priced at £4999.99 can it really compete with the Acer VL7860's price point of £3499.99?

The Optoma UHZ65 may have a sharper image but at over £1000 more that's what you would expect. Offering a lower cost of ownership and a lower initial cost the Acer VL7680 has affordability covered in this high-end category.

So what's the verdict?

If you're looking for a truly mesmerising 4k UHD Projector experience and have the extra cash to spend the Optoma UHZ65 seems to fit the bill. For those looking for a comparable, hassle free, immersive experience without the price tag the Acer VL7860 is ideal.

For an alternative to the Optoma UHZ65 also see the ultra high end Acer V9800