Just weeks after it launched its latest 4K gaming projector, Philips has now debuted an alternative Full HD variation that delivers much greater brightness, enabling gamers to battle away on the big screen in any lighting conditions.
It’s called the Philips GamePix 800, and it’s presumably positioned a step down model compared to the GamePix 900 that launched in January, although in reality, it’s much more of a trade off.
Both models have an LED light source, but whereas the 4K GamePix 900 can only hit around 1,000 ANSI lumens of brightness, the 1080p version cranks it right up to 2,500 lumens, which should be plenty bright enough to not have to worry about drawing the curtains shut.
In both cases, the GamePix projectors are powered by a relatively large 0.65-inch DLP chipset that promises to deliver “stunning image quality” with the usual “deep contrast, bright colours and sharp details”. As per Philips, the GamePix 800 can throw up an image of anywhere between 70-inches and 150-inches diagonally, with a throw ratio of 1.49:1. There are three dedicated preset modes too, tuned for action, adventure and sports gaming. Just like the GamePix 900.
Other shared specifications include a native contrast ratio of 1,500:1 and support for 98% of the Rec.709 colour gamut, and this is boosted by the inclusion of a built-in Colour Management System, though it’s not immediately clear what benefit that provides. Both model support HDR10 content, and there are manual focus and keystone correction tools to help with setting things up, though these are not automatic so some fiddling may be required.
Perhaps the best thing about the Philips GamePix 800 is its low 8-millisecond input lag, which is enabled when you attach a console via one of two HDMI ports on the back. The GamePix 800 projector is said to have a 120Hz refresh rate - not nearly as fast as the GamePix 900 at 240Hz at 1080p, but still plenty fast enough to minimise most on-screen blur.
Of course, though they’re ostensibly gaming projectors, the Google TV operating system means you can also access Netflix and other streaming services for immersive movies and TV shows. There’s a single 5-watt speaker built into the device to supply the sound.
It’s not clear yet how much we can expect to pay for the Philips GamePix 800, but the additional lumens could mean that it’s priced roughly the same, at about £1,000, when it goes on sale next month.
