If you want to play Triple-A games at an images size that allows for a truly immersive experience, which you can only get via a projector, the Optoma GT1080Darbee is a prime candidate. This short throw projector is designed with games in mind, focusing on features like Darbee vision image processing technology to deliver highly-detailed image quality during gameplay.
Again, its short lag-time ensures that you have a fast response in games that depend on reaction time, in addition to delivering a crisp viewing experience for your movies and sports.
It’s among the few projectors in the market with 1080p native resolution at 3000 lumens, meaning it can take advantage of the newest crop of game consoles to display even 3D content from the source. All this makes it our Editors’ choice gaming projector.
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Design and Setup
The GT1080Darbee has a single-tone chassis (chassis) that measures 4 by 12.37 by 8.8 inches including feet. It weighs 5.5 pounds, so it is easily portable, and comes with an easy-carrying case. Behind the lens, there is a focus ring, as well as a slider for manual horizontal keystone correction with support for digital zoon, but lacks an optical zoom.
Setting up this projector is typical for any short throw projector, position the project at the right distance from the screen to give you the image size you want, connect a cable between the projector and image source (maybe, a gaming console or gaming PC) and focus. The projector includes a pair of 10W speakers and a backlit IR remote control.
Image inputs are limited to two HDMI ports, for connecting to any PC with an HDMI, DVI-I or DVI-D port, and one of the HDMI ports supports Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) for connecting to compatible phones and tablets. Others include 3D Sync Vesa port, audio-out, USB mini-B and a 12V triggers.
With support for all HDMI 1.4a 3D formats, the projector extends the basic functionality of letting you connect to a game console for 3D games, the 3D support works just as well for connecting to a Blu-ray or cable box for movies, sports or other 3D material. The GT1080Darbee doesn’t come with any 3D glasses, however. But it will work well Vesa RF glasses, and the 10-watt speakers deliver good sound quality, along with enough volume to fill a typical family room. If you still need better quality sound, you can plug an external sound system via the stereo miniplug output.
Image Quality
Being a short throw projector, you’re able to get wide angles at very distances from the screen. As such, you get up to 120-inches of view when the projector is placed about 4 inches in front of the screen. This is quite impressive for living rooms and movie room whereby you have constant movement that would otherwise disrupt the viewing experience from time to time.
Game images hold some aspects of data images and some of video, so to handle games well, a projector has to do a good job with both video and data screens. The Optoma GT1080 uses Darbee vision image processing technology to deliver refined images with support for 144Hz rapid-refresh rate for smooth-flicker-free images. With Darbee, you benefit from detailed skin tones, textures and reflective surface backed by automatic removal of artefacts during gaming.
When used for gaming, the GT1080 suitably delivers neutral grays at all shades from black to white, with colors matched and saturated well in most modes. Gaming mode, particularly enhances gaming detail, resulting in low input lag even on fast-paced games like GTA V and Fortnite. Video quality is comparable to what you’ll see with most low-cost home entertainment projectors like BenQ TH671ST and ViewSonic PS501W, with the usual unacceptable levels of posterization.
Image quality for 3D is well-refined over 2D for all of those aspects of image quality shared by games, data images and video. The projector does well on issues specific to 3D content. You’re not going to see any crosstalk or hints of 3D-related motion artifacts.
Input Lag
About the other important feature for gaming is lag time. At just over 27 milliseconds (ms) which works out to a below 2-frame lag at 60 frames per second. Most people will consider this to be excellent. In fact, it’s as short a lag time as we’ve seen more costly projectors will longer input lag, including data projectors.
The Optoma GT1080Darbee is a short throw projector with good brightness and high resolution, delivering good data and very good video-image quality and the most advanced gaming mode preset. As a short throw projector, the 3000 lumens and full HD (1,920 x 1,080) resolution makes for butter-smooth games, and the 8000-hour lamp life makes it hard to beat.
If shopping for a projector that does it all – games, movies and sports – the GT1080Darbee is an excellent choice. It’s our newest Editors’ Choice for low-cost gaming projectors.
Is there a better alternative?
The Optoma GT1080Darbee (2018) offers everything you might need in a general-use projector, but its newer model gets even better. The Optoma GT1080HDR (2019) is a newer version of the base model, and features 4K HDR input, a 120Hz refresh rate, fast 8.4ms response time and brighter 3800 lumens for both day and night gaming. If you need razer-sharp gaming detail, this might be go-get projector for you, and it doesn’t really cost much.
Should you buy it?
Yes. The Optoma GT1080Darbee lets you play games at great detail and has better image quality for both data and video.
Optoma GT1080HDR Short Throw Gaming Projector | 4K HDR Input | 120Hz Refresh Rate | Fast 8.4ms Response Time | Bright 3800 lumens for Day and Night Gaming
3 used from $722.20
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Optoma GT1080Darbee
US 1+
