The pressure of keeping up with the latest tech trends gets to all of us sometimes, and honestly, the best thing you can do for yourself is understand how to make your money go further. If entertainment is your thing, then you know that displays with 4K resolution are among the best on the market, followed closely by 1080p. 

The Formovie THEATER, our industry leading 4K UHD projector with Dolby Vision and ATMOS, is priced at $3499 which is significantly lower than the majority of projectors of its calibre. However, it’s still not as affordable as our Xming Page One 1080p projector with native Netflix, that’s priced at $499. The real question is, however, is 4K really $3000 better than 1080p? 

There are a handful of occasions when 1080p and 4K projectors deliver comparable entertainment levels. We’ll be taking a closer look at these instances to help you decide whether 4K is worth saving up a little extra for, or if all your needs will be met by a 1080p projector. 

Understanding User Needs

For many users, the Xming Page One provides more than enough resolution for everyday tasks such as browsing, streaming, and office work. The Formovie THEATER is ideal for professional applications, such as graphic design and video editing, where more detail and resolution are beneficial. 

One of the most significant factors in deciding between 4K and 1080p is cost. The Xming Page One at $499 is significantly more affordable than the Formovie THEATER at $3499. For budget-conscious consumers, the Xming Page One provides substantial savings without compromising on quality for most use cases.

Viewing Distance and Screen Size

The benefit of 4K UHD resolution is most noticeable when sitting closer to a screen larger than 55 inches. For smaller screens or typical living room viewing distances, the difference between 1080p and 4K can be negligible. On screens smaller than 55 inches, the visual difference between the Formovie THEATER and the Xming Page One is less discernible. 

Formovie THEATER can be used in a living room during the day, making it versatile for various lighting conditions. In contrast, Xming Page One is better suited for darker spaces, where its display characteristics shine best.

For many users, especially those with limited space, the Xming Page One can provide an excellent viewing experience at a fraction of the cost.

The Availability of Native 4K Content

Although 4K content is growing, a majority of video content on streaming services and broadcast television is predominantly 1080p. The Xming Page One handles this content perfectly, while the Formovie THEATER’s 4K capabilities may be underutilized unless you specifically seek out 4K content on streaming services like Disney+ and Apple TV+. Both the Formovie THEATER and the Xming Page One can upscale 1080p content to 4K, but the quality of converted content can vary, as explained on Medium.com. 

Netflix reportedly has the largest collection of 4K content, so in addition to native 1080p resolution (also known as Full HD) on the Xming Page One, you’ll also get direct access to Netflix content on the projector. On the other hand, while the Formovie THEATER would grant you an excellent display of 4K content, you’d need to utilise an external streaming box to make it happen. 

Read this article to learn more about why having native Netflix on your projector is a big deal. 

Power Consumption

1080p displays generally consume less power than 4K displays. This can lead to lower energy bills and a smaller environmental footprint. The Xming Page One, being a 1080p projector, is likely to be more energy-efficient compared to the more powerful Formovie THEATER.

Additionally, streaming 4K content requires significantly more bandwidth than 1080p, as explained on the Anker website. If your internet connection is not fast or stable enough to handle 4K streaming, you might experience buffering or reduced quality. 1080p content, on the other hand, can be streamed smoothly on more modest internet connections. 4K video files are also  much larger than 1080p files. If you download or store movies, games, or other content, opting for 1080p can save a substantial amount of storage space on your devices.

Making the Right Choice for Your Needs 

While the Formovie THEATER’s 4K resolution offers advantages in terms of detail and future-proofing, the Xming Page One remains a strong contender due to its cost-effectiveness, lower hardware demands, and ample content availability. For many users, especially those with smaller screens or entertainment rooms, and limited budgets, the Xming Page One can still provide an excellent visual experience. 

The choice between the Formovie THEATER 4K projector and the Xming Page One 1080p projector should be based on your specific needs and budget, but it’s clear that 1080p is far from obsolete and continues to be a wise investment.