Acer H5380BD vs Optoma HD141X – Which is better?

acer h5380bd vs optoma hd141x

I wrote is Acer H5380BD vs Optoma hd141x article, to inform buyers of the differences, and of the similarities, between two very popular, and highly sought-after projectors, so that everyone looking to purchase one of these can make the best possible decision. We’re going to look at 3D Capabilities, resolution, speakers, lumens, gaming, and a whole lot more; biting into the jargon, and spitting out confusion-free explanations, to find out how they really perform.

BenQ HT2050BenQ HT1075
Brightness2,200 Lumens 2,200 Lumens
Resolution
1920x1080 1920x1080
Contrast Ratio15,000:110,000:1
Lamp Life3,500 hours - 6,500 hours (eco-mode)6,500 hours (eco-mode)
3DYesYes
HDMI PortYesYes
Aspect Ratio16:9 (HD)16:9 (HD)
Image Size(cm)103 - 596103 - 596
Lens ShiftVerticalVertical
Speakers10.0 W Mono 10.0 W Mono
Audible Noise29.0 dB31.0 dB
Size(cm) (HxWxD)12 x 38 x 2810 x 31 x 24
Weight3.3 kg2.8 kg
Full ReviewRead Here

Read Here

Amazon PriceClick HereClick Here

Portability and Design: Acer H5380BD vs Optoma HD141X

The Acer is similar in weight to the Optoma, at 5.5 pounds, both of these units would be described as relatively portable. The size difference, is also negligible, so buyers won’t have any trouble transporting either of these projectors around with them. I prefer the design of the Acer H5380BD, as it has more vents, and this usually means durability. You can read the full review here. Projector fans need enough room to disperse heat outwards, to prevent over-heating, and there are more on the Acer than on the Optoma, so it should last longer. Beyond this, both have classic, no-frills, simple designs that don’t jump out at you, as being examples of amazing engineering but don’t have any major problems either.

Optoma HD141X 1080p 3D DLP Home Theater Projector

Performance: Acer H5380BD vs Optoma HD141X

The Optoma HD141X is a Full 3D projector, which means that when you connect it to a 3D device, it will transmit images, in wonderful 3D. The ‘full’ part means you’ll get a full 1080p 3D picture in both eyes. Meanwhile, the Acer is 3D-ready, which many buyers think is exactly the same thing, but it’s very different. 3D ready is a term banded around, but as of yet, has no standard definition. It can mean that a projector accepts some forms of 3D, like those from Blu-Ray Players, but not other forms, like those from streaming sites. It can also mean you must buy a 3D transmitter because your projector doesn’t have one. So, when you see this term, further investigation is warranted. I’ve done it for you here, and I’ve found that the Acer H5380BD, has 1.4a 3D support, which means it will play 3D movies from Blu-Ray Players, but not transmit 3D from streaming sites. The good news is, it has a 3D transmitter inside, but will never be as good as full 3D, because the resolution is 720p, instead of 1080p. This is how you should remember the difference between Full 3D and 3D Ready; 3D Ready almost always means you’re not quite getting full 3D quality, or, you’re not getting all types of 3D.

As I mentioned above. the Optoma is 1080p, so it’s full HD; but with a 23,000:1 contrast ratio, and BrilliantColor Technology inside, you’re getting even better than that. Contrast ratios deal with how clear blacks and whites will appear, while color technology, is how all the other colors are presented on screen. So you could have a 720p projector, with outstanding color technology and contrast ratio, and it’ll be better than 1080p. As it stands, with the Optoma HD141X you get a 1080p projector. which is better than your average 1080p. The Acer H5380BD is 720p, and it has wonderful color technology; skin tones, in particular, are very smooth and exact, with all colors seeming vibrant and vivid. The contrast ratio is 17,000:1, and it supports over 1 billion colors, so buyers will be very pleased. Problem is, it’s a single chip projector, so while the color technology enables it to hit well above its 720p status, there are artifacts or color spots that appear sometimes when you enlarge the screen.

Optoma HD141X 1080p 3D DLP Home Theater Projector

Gameplay is excellent on both systems, and both process 24 frames per second, giving an arcade-quality kind of feel, but of course, on the H5380BD, you’ll be playing games in 720p, while on the HD141X, you’ll be playing in 1080p. There’s not actually a lot of difference in pixel performance on games, but there’s a big difference when you want to play them in 3D. Being full 3D, on the HD141X, you get 24 frames per second in 3D, but on the H5380BD, to get 24fps, you must buy 144Hz glasses. This is not necessarily a big ask, as you have to buy glasses separately with most 3D projectors, but with the HD141X, you get a choice between 120Hz and 144Hz glasses, while still receiving 24fps. Of course, if you’re a die-hard fan of 144Hz glasses, then this isn’t a problem at all. Read the full Optoma HD141x review.

Connectivity is good on both projectors, and each one can be hooked up to your PC, Tablet, Phone, or Laptop, for streaming in glorious HD quality. Worthy of note however is the design of the H5380BD, which includes connectors placed on either side of the unit, rather than at the rear. Little bit strange, but it doesn’t affect overall performance. As far as lumens go, the Acer beats out the Optoma quite easily, as while both have 3000 lumens of white brightness and color brightness, the Acer H5380BD, clearly has the better lumen performance, so you’ll be able to keep the blinds open longer. The Optoma though prevails in sound, with its integrated speakers 10W speakers outperforming the 2w speakers inside the H5380BD.

Conclusion

The Acer is incredibly good at 720p, with great color technology, a very competitive contrast ratio, 3000 lumens, 24fps, and the ability to receive 3D transmissions. It’s not as good, however, as the full 3D, full HD, Optoma HD141X, and there’s the potentially annoying scenario of having to buy specific strength 3D glasses to play games on the Acer at 24fps. The Acer is better designed though, and it’s $50 cheaper, so both represent excellent purchase opportunities. Read some of the points again, and decide which are most important to you, before buying. Thank you for reading.

Andrew Wyatt

Andrew Wyatt

Andrew Wyatt has been a tech geek for as long as he can remember. Whether it's laptops, cameras, or projects, he's obsessed with it all. When he's not researching the latest tech products, he likes to go on long hikes with his dogs.

Share the story

Recent Posts