Sharp unveils surprisingly affordable high-brightness 4K projectors aimed at businesses β but will this be enough to fend off Optoma’s new incredible powerhouse
Sharp has announced a new pair of 4K projectors, the XP-P601Q and XP-P721Q, which offer extremely high-level projection in 4K UHD, ideal for both home use for pleasure, but also in working environments such as in museums or classrooms.
The more expensive XP-P721Q model can hit a whopping 7,200 lumens, and the XP-P601Q hits a respectable 6,000 lumens – but one of the best features is what’s not there: Sharp says the lack of a lamp or filter can last for years of worry-free use.
Sharp built both the P721Q and P601Q with a 1.6x motorized zoom lens, coupled with motorized vertical and horizontal lens shift, allowing you to set up the projector in more rooms. This means that even if there are obstacles in the way, the projector will provide a square image that is aligned with the wall or surface.
Long-lasting projectors
The company also uses HDBaseT inputs instead of HDMI, allowing users to use cables that cover all three functions of sound, video and control, further reducing the amount of hassle required to install the P721Q or P601Q. There are also tilt and roll-free options to support wall, floor or portrait mounting.
βBringing a high-end 4K UHD resolution projector to market as our first Sharp projector since our (NEC) joint venture further demonstrates our leadership role in the higher resolution projector market,β said Sharp CEO Ryan Pitterle.
βThe new Sharp P Series projectors, with their maintenance-free design, will become the new industry standard for 4K UHD projectors thanks to the more than 35 years of projector heritage and expertise gained through our joint venture with NEC.β
According to B&H, the XP-P601Q costs $5,199, and the XP-P721Q costs $6,499. Both come with a five-year warranty.
Don’t count Optoma
Sharp doesn’t operate in a vacuum for the best business projectors, and there’s serious competition from Optoma, which has its own 4K monitor, the ZK708T. (Yes, all high-end projector names are like that.)
According to Optoma, the ZK708T can run for up to 30,000 hours and is even certified for 24/7 use, making it attractive for venues and other spaces that want continuous projection for long periods of time. Sharp says its P-series projectors will last at least 20,000 hours.
Optoma also includes HDBaseT 3.0, a dust-resistant casing, built-in 15W speakers, 360Β° projection, Telnet, support for 3D content, and comes in at 7,000 lumens, so slightly below the top-end P721Q, but only just. The ZK708T costs $4,999.