Comparison Overmax Multipic 5.2 vs Overmax Multipic 6.1

Main purpose of the projector.

This parameter is somewhat subjective and largely depends on how the device is positioned by the manufacturer; nevertheless, for the most comfortable use, it is best to follow the stated purpose. The options may include: universal, for presentations, for home theater, professional, portable, gaming. Here is a more detailed description of each option:

— Universal. The simplest type of projector, roughly speaking—any model that does not belong to one of the specializations described below. Most have fixed optics, a projection distance of 1 – 12 m, an image diagonal of approximately 1 – 7 m (see below), and a relatively low price.

— For presentations. Projectors primarily intended for business use, particularly for giving presentations. They generally have a short projection distance with a fairly large image diagonal, allowing them to be used in small rooms; they can work with both widescreen and standard image formats (see below), and support resolutions typical of computer graphics cards—for example, 1280х800. At the same time, the native resolution itself (see below) may be quite low. In addition, an almost mandatory feature of this type of projector—with rare exceptions—is a 15-pin D-Sub...input (see “Connectors”).

— For home theater. Projectors intended primarily for watching films. The main criterion for assigning a particular model to this category is how the projector is positioned by the manufacturer itself (in other words, whether this purpose is specified in the official documentation). However, there are also some common features: cinema-oriented models generally support widescreen image formats, have a high native resolution (see below), allowing them to work with HD video, and are equipped with the appropriate interfaces (see “Connectors”).

— Professional. High-end projectors with advanced specifications, numerous features and, accordingly, a considerable price. They are characterized by high image contrast ratios, support high-resolution video (including cinematic image formats), feature optical zoom for scaling the image without loss of quality, allow the connection of multichannel audio systems, and much more. The specific set of options in professional projectors may vary depending on the model, but in any case, these are fully loaded devices with top-tier specifications.

— Portable projector. An ultra-compact type of projector: most models are small enough to be carried in a pocket. These devices are primarily intended for giving impromptu presentations. Their form factor and power supply can vary. Some models are standalone devices with their own built-in storage and batteries (and sometimes even a full-fledged mobile OS such as Android on board). Others are designed like external cases or add-ons and, when in use, are attached directly to a mobile phone, using it as the signal and power source. However, in all cases, portable projectors have rather modest specifications due to their small size—for example, they have neither high brightness nor high image contrast. Battery life (in models with their own batteries) generally ranges from 40 minutes to an hour and a half. Energy-efficient LED lamps are also characteristic of this type (see below).

— Gaming. Specialized projectors intended for use with video games. Externally, they often feature a distinctive “aggressive” design, which may follow the style of a particular line of gaming PCs or laptops. As the name suggests, their practical specifications are primarily geared toward delivering a high-quality gaming image. To this end, projectors for this purpose typically offer, among other things, high native resolution (at least 1920х720, and more often 1920х1080 or higher), color reproduction of 1 billion colors, support for refresh rates (see below) of up to 120 Hz inclusive, and at least one HDMI input for receiving a digital signal from a computer graphics card. In addition, such models often support 3D. The maximum image diagonal may reach 7.5 m or more; this category also includes ultra-wide-angle devices capable of providing an image diagonal of about 3 m from a distance of about half a meter.

— Smart TV (proprietary system). The operating system of the projector is represented by the proprietary software shell of the manufacturer. Usually such operating systems have an attractive and convenient menu, similar to a traditional Smart TV. A proprietary operating system is developed by the manufacturer for the hardware resources of a particular projector model or a whole line. But, as practice shows, compared to the classic Smart TV, the functionality of proprietary system often has significant limitations, and the system itself, in fact, is a stripped-down version of a full-fledged Smart TV.

— Smart TV (Android AOSP). This type of operating system is a modification of the popular Android OS, mainly notable for being open source. It is a versatile operating system that gives the user much more freedom to create changes and customizations within the system. At the same time, the installation and work stability of certain applications on this platform are not guaranteed, and the overall system management was not specially “tailored” for large screens, which may cause some inconvenience. First of all, such solutions will will generate interest among users who understand the features of the Android OS, like to customize and control everything, and have time for this.

— Android TV. This type of projector has full-fledged Android TV software, spec...ially adapted to work on large screens. In accordance with the name, it is a type of Android OS, specially designed for projectors/TVs, etc. In addition to the common features of all “Androids” (such as the ability to install additional applications, including even games), it has a number of special features: optimized interface, integration with smartphones (including the ability to use them as a remote control), voice search, etc. Thanks to this, TVs with this feature are significantly superior in functionality to models with a Smart TV. Of course, a dedicated processor, graphics subsystem and memory are provided for the operation of a multifunctional OS, and the presence of such hardware resources is reflected in the total cost of the projector. Given the same optical design, models with Android TV will cost more than classic projectors with a simple multi-line menu.

The brightness of the image produced by the projector at maximum backlight brightness. Usually, the average brightness of the screen, derived from a special formula, is indicated. The higher it is, the less the image depends on ambient light: a bright projector can provide a clearly visible image even in daylight, but a dim one will require dimming. On the other hand, increasing brightness reduces contrast and accuracy of colour reproduction.

Accordingly, when choosing this parameter, you need to consider the conditions in which you plan to use the projector. So, for office or school/university use, a brightness of at least 3000 lm is desirable — this allows you to get normal visibility without obscuring the room. In turn, among the top models a very low brightness can be found, because. such projectors are usually installed in rooms specially designed for them with good darkness level. And in ultra-compact devices it is impossible to achieve high brightness for technical reasons.

Detailed recommendations on the optimal brightness for certain conditions can be found in special sources. Here we note that anyway, it is worth choosing according to this indicator with some margin. As mentioned above, as brightness increases, contrast and colour quality decrease, and you may need to use the projector at a reduced brightness to achieve the desired picture quality.

This parameter largely determines the ability of the projector to work in a well-lit room. For a dark room, 1000 lumens is enough to make the projection picture bright, rich, clear and understandable. But when working in a lit room, the projector will need at least 3500-4000 lumens. Do not confuse ANSI lumens with Peak lumens. These are two different brightness standards. To convert one type of brightness to another, you need to multiply Peak lumens by 10-12. The result will be an approximate value of ANSI Lumens.

However, experts do not recommend chasing high ANSI lumen brightness values. There are many professional projectors with brightness up to 3500 lm. The lower the brightness, the lower the power consumption, and at the same time, the life of the illuminator increases. Of course, if the projector will be installed in a work office or classroom where good lighting is required, it is recommended to purchase a model with ANSI Lumens brightness of 4000 lumens and more.

The static contrast of the image provided by the projector.

Static contrast refers to the maximum difference between the brightest white light and the darkest black that a projector can provide within a single frame. Unlike dynamic contrast (see below), this parameter describes not conditional, but quite real capabilities of the device, achievable without the use of any additional tricks like auto-brightness. And since the quality of colour reproduction and detailing depend on contrast, the higher this indicator, the lower the likelihood that details will be indistinguishable in bright or dark areas.

The actual maximum frame resolution that the projector is capable of processing and displaying.

Many models allow project images at a higher resolution than the actual resolution of the projector matrix (see above). For example, a 1920x1080 video can be displayed on a device with a frame size of 1024x768. However, the quality of such an image will be noticeably lower than on a projector, which initially has a resolution of 1920x1080.

The maximum resolution is closely related to both the overall picture quality and the size of the projection screen. The higher the resolution, the sharper the image details become. Of course, the screen size itself should be taken into account. The fact is that on a 40-50″ projection surface there will not be much difference between the Quad HD and 4K formats. A high-resolution picture will be able to show itself on a truly large screen.

The closest distance to the screen that the projector can be used on. Typically, this is the minimum distance at which the image from the projector remains in focus.

This parameter is especially important if the device is to be placed at a small distance from the screen (for example, in a cramped room). Some modern projectors are able to work normally at a distance of 10 – 20 cm. Also note that the throw distances are determined primarily by the lens, and if the initial range of these distances does not suit you, perhaps the situation can be solved by replacing the optics.

The farthest distance from the screen that the projector can be used on. This is the maximum distance at which the image remains in focus and maintains acceptable brightness — at least enough for viewing in a darkened room on a high-quality screen.

It is necessary to choose according to this parameter taking into account the expected operating conditions and the distances to be dealt with. At the same time, it's ok to have a certain margin for the maximum distance — since, as already mentioned, it is usually indicated for an perfect screen and a darkened room, and such conditions are not always available. Also note that although the throw distances depend on the lens, not every projector with an interchangeable lens allows the installation of more "long-range" optics than the standard one — the device may simply not have enough brightness for an increased distance.

Size of the image projected by the projector. Usually, it is indicated as a range — from the smallest, at the minimum throw distance, to the largest, at the maximum. About throw distances, see above; here it is worth saying that the choice of diagonal size depends both on the distance between the screen and the audience, and on the format of the projector. For example, to watch a video, the best option is the situation when the distance from the viewer to the image corresponds to 3-4 diagonals, and a relatively large picture can be useful for working with presentations. More detailed recommendations for different situations can be found in special sources; here we only recall that the image must fit on the screen used with the projector.