"It is generally believed that the light source of a projector can be divided into three main categories: traditional bulb light sources (including metal halide lamps, ultra-high-pressure mercury lamps, xenon lamps, etc.), LED light sources, and laser light sources. The sequence of the appearance of these projector light sources is in the order of traditional bulb light sources, LED light sources, and laser light sources.
1.Traditional Bulb Light Source
Metal halide lamps are inexpensive but have a short lifespan, generally not exceeding 2000 hours. After 1000 hours of use, the brightness of the bulb tends to decline by about half. Metal halide lamps are gradually phasing out of the projector lamp category.
UHE lamps, belonging to a type of ultra-high-pressure mercury lamp, have a moderate price and a lifespan of around 4000 hours. They are commonly used in low-end projectors, and the brightness does not decline significantly after extended use, maintaining relatively smooth performance.
UHP lamps, also ultra-high-pressure mercury lamps, are slightly more expensive than UHE lamps. However, they offer high brightness and a long lifespan, making them suitable for higher-end projection products. Currently, UHP lamps are frequently used in both home and commercial projectors, gaining popularity.
Traditional bulb light sources have been around for many years but have not been completely phased out. This is mainly because traditional bulb light sources provide significantly higher brightness than LED light sources, reaching over 3000 lumens, and are not as expensive as laser light sources. From this perspective, bulb light sources still have significant advantages.
2.LED Light Source
In recent years, the development of LED light sources has become more mature, and the prices have lowered. In the context of projectors, LED lamps have primarily paved the way for smaller projector designs. The portability and simple operation system of LED projectors fill the gap left by traditional projectors. Currently, the majority of micro projectors and home smart projectors use LED light sources.
The most significant advantage of LED projectors over traditional bulb light sources lies in their durability. The lifespan of LED light sources exceeds 20,000 hours, approximately ten times that of traditional projectors. Projectors using LED light sources can typically go for several years without needing a lamp replacement. Additionally, LED light sources produce more pure and saturated colors compared to bulb light sources.
The main drawback of LED light sources is their brightness, which lags behind traditional light sources. The brightness of projectors with LED light sources is generally within 1500 ANSI lumens. This is the main reason why LED light sources cannot completely replace bulb light sources. However, overall, LED light sources still have significant development potential.
3.Laser Light Source
A laser light source utilizes the photoelectric effect to generate light from excited-state particles under stimulated radiation. Laser light sources differ entirely from bulb and LED light sources. Firstly, laser light has very pure colors, with monochromaticity more than ten times higher than ordinary light sources. This gives laser light source projectors superior color performance compared to bulb light sources, with strong stability, long-term use, and consistent high brightness, color saturation, and contrast.
Laser light sources also excel in brightness performance. By increasing the number of laser emitters, laser projectors can easily achieve a light output of 10,000 to 50,000 lumens or even higher. The lifespan of laser light sources remains high, eliminating the need for source replacements during the projector's operational lifespan.
While laser light sources excel in color performance, brightness, and lifespan, their cost is relatively high. Laser projectors are mainly found in the high-end market, and this is a key reason why laser projectors have not yet captured a significant market share.
Summary:
1.If you want high brightness and good color, choose a bulb-based projector.
2.If you want natural colors, a long lifespan, and portability, choose an LED projector.
3.If you seek quality, can afford a higher price, choose a laser projector.