The Optoma UHZ55 4K laser projector is ideal for both movie nights and gaming sessions on PCs or Next Gen consoles. As well as being HDR-compatible, it offers a low input lag and excellent responsiveness in gaming mode. Extremely bright for daytime projection, this projector features a zoom and keystone correction for simplified installation. Finally, the integrated Android interface provides access to several audio and video streaming apps, such as Netflix and Prime Video.
Priced at less than €2,000, will the Optoma UHZ55 4K Ultra HD laser projector appeal to home theater enthusiasts who are also gamers?
Included accessories
The Optoma UHZ55 projector comes with a 1.8m power cable and a compact remote control with backlit buttons (battery included). The manufacturer also includes a USB Wi-Fi dongle and a quick-start guide.
Presentation
Design and connectors
The Optoma UHZ55 is shaped like a parallelepiped and has a very understated black chassis. Fairly compact (33.7 x 26.5 x 11.93cm) and lightweight (4.8kg), it can be placed on a cabinet or shelf. Its three feet, two at the rear and one at the front, are height-adjustable. It can also be ceiling-mounted, thanks to its three mounting points on the underside of the chassis, making it ideal for a projector mount.
The Optoma UHZ55 projector’s connectors are located on the rear panel. These include three HDMI ports, one of which is ARC/eARC compatible. For example, you can connect a 4K UHD Blu-ray player, a PlayStation 5, an Xbox Series X, a media player or a TV set top box via the Internet.
There are also three USB multimedia ports, one of which is powered (5V-1.5A) and can accommodate a USB stick containing films, as well as the USB WiFi dongle supplied by the manufacturer for wireless Internet access.
There’s also an optical digital audio output and a mini-jack audio output. Finally, an RJ45 port and an RS232C port are provided for home automation integration, as well as a 12-volt trigger for automatic deployment of a motorized projection screen when the projector is switched on, and a 3D synchronization port.
DLP 4K XPR
To project images in 4K ultra-high definition, the Optoma UHZ55 uses DLP XPR (eXpanded Pixel Resolution) technology developed by Texas Instruments. The projector’s DMD chip contains a matrix of micro-mirrors that reflect light to form the pixels of the projected image (1920 x 1080 pixels).
An XPR module comprising a rotating prism is placed between the DMD chip and the projection lens. This prism rapidly and precisely shifts the position of projected pixels, 240 times per second. For each native 4K image to be projected, the XPR prism adjusts the pixels in 4 different positions, creating 4 offset sub-images, each of which is projected successively, 60 times per second.
Thanks to the very high switching speed of the micro-mirrors and the persistence of vision phenomenon, the human brain integrates these shifted sub-images as if they were a single, higher-definition image.
For example, the 1080p (1920×1080) DMD chip in the Optoma UHZ55 projector can project a true ultra-high-definition 4K (3840×2160) image at 60Hz. And if you want to enjoy a very high refresh rate with your PC games, that’s also possible, as this projector is 240Hz 2K compatible!
3000 lumen laser lamp
The Optoma UHZ55 projector uses a laser lamp combined with a color wheel to produce the three primary colors that make up each pixel of the image.
With a high luminosity of 3000 lumens, it can project a very large 4K UHD image, and can be used for daytime projection without the need for the room to be completely dark. It’s particularly handy for sports or multiplayer video games, during the day or in semi-darkness.
Zoom and Lens Shift
To facilitate installation, the Optoma UHZ55 projector features a 1.3x manual zoom, vertical lens shift (+10%) and keystone correction. The former can increase or reduce the image size without moving the projector. The second allows the image to be shifted upwards without moving the projector or distorting the image. Finally, the keystone is used to straighten the vertical and horizontal lines of the image when the projector is offset from the screen.
Armed with all these functions, the Optoma UHZ55 can project an image measuring between 87cm and 7.7m across, at a projection distance of between 1.2m and 8.1m. In this test, we were able to project an image measuring between 1.82m and 2.4m, with the UHZ55’s lens at a distance of 2.54m from the projection screen.
Android TV
When connected to the Internet via a network cable or USB WiFi dongle, the Optoma UHZ55 projector lets you enjoy apps such as Netflix, Prime Video, TED TV, Crunchyroll and more. It relies on a customized version of Android which, unfortunately, is less comprehensive than the Google TV interface.
To take full advantage of all streaming, TV replay and SVOD services with the best picture quality, we recommend pairing this projector with a media player such as the Apple TV 4K or Google ChromeCast Video.
Key specifications
- 3000 lumen laser lamp
- 1.3x optical zoom
- Keystone correction and lens shift
- HDR10/HLG compatible
- 3 x 60Hz 4K HDMI
- Low input lag
Installing the Optoma UHZ55
For this test, we installed the Optoma UHZ55 projector 2.5m from a Lumene Majestic HD 240C motorized projection screen. We paired it with the Magnetar UDP800 4K Blu-ray player and a PlayStation 4 via an Audioquest Cinnamon HDMI cable.
Our impressions
Definition, sharpness, smoothness
4K UHD content benefits from the precision and efficiency of the 0.47″ DMD chip with XPR technology to display with beautiful image sharpness. Contours are sharp and textures appear detailed and accurate.
On Ford v Ferrari in 4K UHD Blu-ray, the many close-ups of the various protagonists allow us to appreciate the realism of the projected image, both on the fabrics and on the skin and hair of the various actors.
On the Willow Spring, Daytona and Le Mans racetracks, the fluidity of the race images is excellent. We are able to follow the racing cars without any judder or flickering.
Brightness, contrast, colors
The Optoma UHZ55 projector’s laser lamp is extremely bright, enabling it to deliver highly satisfactory HDR pictures with intense highlights. Enough to enjoy the sun’s reflection on the bodywork and the artificial lights of the workshops in which Ken Miles works late into the night.
However, the best results are obtained in the dark. In a well-lit room, despite the marketing pitches of the manufacturers of very bright projectors, you’ll have to make do with bland colors and weak contrast (see image comparison below).
However, daytime or semi-dark projection is possible for sporting events, or for a short Mario Kart-style multiplayer gaming session, for example.
In optimal projection conditions, the contrast level allows us to take full advantage of the different lighting ambiances in night scenes and interior shots, with a good dynamic range between dark and bright parts of the image. It’s a shame, however, that the black on the screen isn’t deeper.
In terms of color, the UHZ55 uses DLP Brilliant Color technology to deliver rich, nuanced hues. They benefit from an accuracy and intensity that brings the images to life. On Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse, a veritable firework display of colors unfolds before our eyes.
Settings used in 4K HDR in the dark (white canvas, gain 1)
- Picture mode: HDR
- Brightness: 0
- Contrast: 0
- Sharpness: 5
- Light mode: 100% (constant mode)
- Color temperature: warm
- Brilliant Color: 6
Video games
By activating the Optoma UHZ55 projector’s Advanced Gaming Experience option, you’re guaranteed to enjoy smooth, responsive gameplay. On Gran Turismo 7 for example, there was no lag time between us triggering an action and its effect on the screen, particularly when braking hard and steering away from the other vehicles.
With a PC, you can even enjoy a refresh rate of 240Hz in 2K (HD 1080p) with an input lag of 4 ms, to improve responsiveness and fluidity on games like Overwatch 2, Counter-Strike 2 and Valorant.
Rainbow effect
The Optoma UHZ55 uses a single-laser lamp combined with a color wheel to produce the red, green and blue light streams that make up the projected image. This technical solution generally entails a greater risk of rainbow effects than a triple-laser light source, which we unfortunately found to be the case during this test.
This is particularly noticeable during rapid camera movements on traveling shots or action scenes, as well as when subtitles are displayed.
If you are sensitive to the optical effect typical of DLP projectors, this model is not recommended!
Operating noise
The Optoma UHZ55 is neither the quietest nor the noisiest 4K DLP projector on the market. After measuring a residual noise of around 32.5 dB in our test room, projector operation was measured at around 34 dB in Eco mode, between 33.5 and 36 dB in Dynamic Black mode, and 36 dB with the lamp at 100% in constant mode (measurements taken at 1m, to the side of the projector).
We recommend eco mode if you wish to make the projector’s sound (almost) disappear. However, the whirring sound in bright mode is not disruptive when playing movies and games through a soundbar or home theater system.
Audio section
Equipped with two drivers and 10 watts of amplification, the audio section of this projector demonstrates clarity. It allows you to follow a program or documentary comfortably, with consistently clear voices. On film soundtracks, however, it proves unconvincing: spatialization is absent, and saturation sets in quite quickly as soon as the volume is turned up. In our opinion, adding a soundbar or a wireless home theater system is essential if you want to enjoy a decent sound ambience.
Optoma UHZ55 vs BenQ X3100i
The BenQ X3100i is specifically optimized for video games, with the same latency as the Optoma, in both 4K and 1080p. It does, however, offer more options for gamers, with preset picture modes tailored to different types of games (RPG, FPS, RCG and SPG-Sport).
What’s more, its Lens Shift offers greater amplitude and the image’s vertical keystone correction function is automatic. This BenQ model also covers a slightly wider color space than the Optoma. Combined with higher brightness, this results in slightly richer, more nuanced colors, albeit a little less vibrant than those offered by the Optoma’s laser lamp. Note that BenQ’s 4LED RGBB light source doesn’t use a color wheel and produces virtually no rainbow effect.
Finally, the X1300i adopts the usual BenQ gaming projector aesthetic, with a white chassis and a black front panel enhanced by a striking orange border. It’s a matter of taste, but we find it more appealing than the Optoma projector, whose black color is more conventional.
Despite this, the Optoma UHZ55 holds its own thanks to its overall image quality, responsiveness and gaming smoothness, for €400 less.
Optoma UHZ55 vs Hisense C1
Designed primarily for home theater enthusiasts, the Hisense C1 is equipped with a high-quality lens and a triple-laser lamp to cover a very wide color gamut and deliver excellent image sharpness. Dolby Vision and HDR 10+ compatible, it is less bright than the Optoma, but projects images with superior colorimetric richness, with a very pleasing cinematographic look. Add to this little or no rainbow effect, a smooth and complete Smart TV interface, with the majority of streaming services in 4K HDR, slightly more convincing black levels and an effective JBL audio section: the Hisense outclasses the Optoma in home theater.
The latter takes the lead in terms of gaming, with low input lag and fluidity adapted to the fastest games.
Aesthetically, the Hisense benefits from a more flattering metal finish than the plastic chassis of the Optoma. Its more compact dimensions and automatic image settings also make it easy to move from one room of the house to another, or even take on vacation, with the assurance of always enjoying optimum image quality, without having to make any adjustments.
Who is the Optoma UHZ55 designed for?
If you want to watch movies and series in 4K HDR and play video games on a very large screen, without invading your bedroom or living room with an XXL TV, the Optoma UHZ55 is for you! Ideally, you should use a manual projection screen or motorized screen that is 100″ or larger if you don’t have a white wall.
Conclusion
The Optoma UHZ55 projector is a good investment for enjoying XXL images with console and PC games, as well as Blu-ray and streaming movies and TV series.
Efficient for gaming with smoothness and responsiveness, capable of displaying precise and detailed 4K HDR images with vibrant colors, the Optoma UHZ55 manages to balance the main requirements of home theater and gaming in a single device.
While it offers fine qualities in both these areas, there is still room for improvement. In particular, we would have appreciated a deeper black, more powerful drivers and a genuine Google TV interface, with access to the entire app catalog. We also regret the rainbow effect, which is quite pronounced for those who are the most sensitive to it.
At this price, the UHZ55 nevertheless remains competitive and should delight fans of very large 4K HDR images and video games.
We liked
- The zoom and lens shift
- The precision and sharpness
- The smooth tracking shots and action scenes
- The gaming responsiveness
We would have liked
- More intense blacks
- A native Android TV interface
- A more efficient audio system
- Less rainbow effect
