Small portable 4K projectors are finally here, with support for gaming at up to 240Hz, to shake up the TV world
Texas Instruments wants you to say hello to its little friend: the DLPC8445. The name might not be all that exciting, but what it promises is: ultra-small 4K projectors with super-fast refresh rates. The most portable one we’ve seen so far is the LG CineBeam Q, but that’s really in a class of its own right now, and that could change.
The DLPC8445 is a new digital light processing (DLP) controller and according to Texas Instruments, it’s the smallest of its kind, about 90% smaller than previous generations. According to the manufacturer, it’s designed “to replicate the display experience of high-end televisions and gaming monitors in a compact projector.” That means 100-inches of 4K projection with the promise of low latency, little stutter, and refresh rates up to 240Hz for gaming.
Additionally, Texas Instruments claims it will deliver “sub-millisecond latency, equal to or greater than the world’s most advanced gaming monitors.”
That’s the good news. The bad news is that you’ll have to wait a while longer before it makes it into the best portable projectors: the chip has only just been launched , so now it’s up to manufacturers to actually use it. But use it they will, and that means some very impressive projectors are on the way – we’re expecting some teeny-tiny new additions to the world of best 4K projectors at CES 2025 in January. A 4K version of the Samsung Freestyle? Let’s hope.
What’s so great about Texas Instruments’ new DLP chip?
There’s plenty to do here for home entertainment fans and gamers: New Atlas reports, the specs include variable refresh rates, dynamic image correction, and a range of potential applications that aren’t just limited to projectors. While 4K projectors are the most obvious applications for the new chip – and it’s designed with portable, battery-powered projectors in mind – Texas Instruments also says it’s designed for a range of different applications, resolutions, and hardware, including augmented reality glasses.
One reason this is so important is TI’s immense popularity: it invented DLP in the 1980s, and its chipsets are in a ton of projectors today, including professional cinema projectors and home theater options. So a brand new, more powerful, and significantly smaller DLP is big news.
According to TI’s Jeff Marsh, “whereas consumers used to need a large TV or monitor for a bright, clear picture, they can now use a lifestyle or gaming projector and transform a wall into the screen size of their choice with 4K UHD quality” – and this new chip means it’ll be easy for engineers to “develop epic displays for entertainment that can go anywhere.”
Rather than shelling out for one of the best TVs for your next bedroom or office screen, a super-portable projector might be a more flexible option – especially if you mainly watch via the best streaming services. We wouldn’t bet on projectors replacing 4K TVs any time soon (they’ll still struggle in bright rooms), but a small, gaming-friendly 4K projector could tempt many people away from a big box.