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The Optoma UHZ50 is the company’s most recent attempt at developing an affordable all-in-one DLP 4K laser projector for the entry level market. It comes with everything you need to get started with a home cinema set-up, including integrated speakers, the ability to stream applications, and support for HDR content.
Those who are looking for a hassle-free solution to their projection needs will find that this projector offers a useful array of capabilities, making it an appealing proposition overall. In the end, however, the picture performance will be the deciding factor in determining whether or not this particular Optoma is recommended.
Optoma UHZ50 SPECIFICATIONS
| Resolution | 3840 x 2160 (UHD) |
| Brightness | 3000 Lumens |
| Ports | 3 x HDMI 2.0 (1 x eARC), 3 x USB A, 1 x 3.5mm Audio, 1 x Optical Audio |
| Display Technology | DLP |
Optoma UHZ50 review: Design and features
In addition to that, there is a 3.5mm minijack for analogue stereo output, an optical digital audio out, and Ethernet. There is a Wi-Fi dongle included in the package, which you will need to insert into either of the two USB slots that are provided. In addition, there is a small remote control with a backlight that is included in the package.
There are controls located on the body of the device if you want to use your hands. It’s not uncommon for projector menus to be dry and uninteresting things, but that’s not the case here. The interface of the primary home page is a breath of fresh air, with vibrant colours, simple source selection, and icons for various settings, applications, and the like. You can buy this projector from its official website.
Optoma UHZ50 review: Ports & Connectivity
The connection ports are arranged in a cluster at the back of the device; however, we shall discuss each of these in greater detail in the subsequent sections as necessary. The UHZ50 incorporates three tilt-adjustment feet.
One in the front and two at the rear, in the event that you want to place it on a piece of furniture and desire some straightforward and expedient placement calibration. One 12V trigger port, and one 3D sync port for an external RF emitter.
Optoma UHZ50 review: Performance
The bright picture mode is more likely to be green. This is often the case with a projector’s brightest mode, since green seems brighter to us than red and blue. It’s not the worst green tint I’ve ever seen, but it gives everything a dull look.
Cinema, which is slightly blue and has better grayscale tracking, and Reference, which is slightly green and has better colour point accuracy, are better choices out of the box. And while both are watchable, I’d suggest a calibration to fix the grayscale and fix the blue, which is too bright.
Optoma UHZ50 review: Sound quality
Even though the Optoma comes with speakers so you can just plug and play, we don’t think you’ll use them much. They don’t play very loudly, and the sound is thin and rough. A lot of the dynamics are also squished. Of course, many projectors at this level and above don’t have speakers at all, so it’s not fair to criticise the Optoma too much for not having good sound.
Optoma UHZ50 review: Price
It makes sense to compare the UHZ50 to the Epson Home Cinema 5050UB. Fair enough, it’s a little more expensive, but $300 more shouldn’t bother anyone too much at these prices. It’s the best 4K projector we’ve found so far. I hooked up both projectors to a Monoprice 1×4 distribution amplifier and put a 1.0-gain screen between them to see them side by side.
Final Words
The Optoma UHZ50 is a great 4K HDR laser projector, according to us. It’s bright enough to use during the day, but it looks best when watching movies in a completely dark room. It also has low input lag, which makes it easy to play games.
The built-in sound system is, at best, functional, but that’s not unusual for this type of projector. Some picture modes also make a lot of noise when they work, but this shouldn’t be a problem if you use an external sound system.
Optoma UHZ50 Ratings
Pros
- Vibrant, dynamic picture quality
- Low latency for console gaming
Cons
- No HDMI 2.1
FAQS
What is the input lag on Optoma UHZ50?
With Enhanced Gaming turned on, the UHZ50 measured an input lag of 16.9 ms for both 1080p at 60 Hz and 4K at 60 Hz (without enhanced gaming enabled it was 33.6 ms.).
Why is Optoma projector flickering?
When there are power surges in the electrical supply, projectors will always flicker and blink. Use power strips that protect against power surges to fix this. Use a wall-mount surge protector if you plug your projector into the wall.
How long is Optoma projector warranty?
Optoma promises that if the projector doesn’t meet the warranty during the first five years from the date of purchase or 12,000 hours of use, whichever comes first (“Warranty Period”), Optoma or an Optoma-authorized service company will fix it in a reasonable amount of time.