The predecessor to the X341, the Optoma X316 was hugely popular. Also given the fact that Optoma is known to produce cost-effective projectors with a surprisingly large number of features, I was excited to see what the newly launched Optoma X341 had to offer. The X341 was first available sometime around April this year, so it’s only about 3 months old as of writing this review, although its already on track towards becoming a bestseller. Here’s my take on it:
First off, let’s start with the pros and cons:
Pros
- Super bright at 3300 lumens (anything above 3000-lumens is considerably bright)
- Rec. 709 color accuracy – standard for high-definition display
- Rear projection support
- Optional Wireless (Require additional purchase of the Optoma WHD200 Wireless HDMI 1.4a Transmitter)
Cons
- Weak Speakers @ 2W
Overall Impression
Size and Design
I started this review by saying that Optoma is known to provide a large number of features, I never said they were good at making beautiful-looking projectors. That’s the domain of companies like Epson and BenQ. The design of the Optoma X341 is quite uninspired, there are many that look just like it. Having said that, the build quality of this projector is fairly sturdy and does not have a plasticky feel to it at all. Weighing just below 5 pounds, it is also relatively portable. When turned on the projector creates audible noise of about 29dB which cannot be considered noisy.
Performance
Well, here comes the most important bit. When talking about the performance of a projector, a lot depends on the lamp that powers it. The Optoma X341 is powered by a 3300 lumens DLP lamp by Texas Instruments (the same company that produces microchips for NASA). The lamp life is clocked between 5000-10000 hours depending on whether you use the projector in full-bright mode or eco-mode. Given the compatibility with the Rec. 709 standards, the X341 checks all the boxes when it comes to its display lamp. You can expect bright, vivid colors with a high-contrast ratio and a large color palette.
Talking about the connectivity options, the X341 supports the following: HDMI (1.4a 3D support), VGA (YPbPr/RGB), Composite, Audio in 3.5mm, VGA out, Audio out 3.5mm, RS232, USB-A Power (5V-1A). What this means in simple terms is that you can connect most devices like laptops, DVD players, amplifiers, Blu-ray players, etc. It also supports Full 3D, although you need to buy separate glasses for it. It also allows for wireless display but you need to spend an additional $200(approx.) to buy the Optoma WHD200 wireless transmitter.
Overall, it performs well for most purposes, though due to its high brightness, it augurs well for projection in areas with ambient light.
Final Thoughts
Do we think it’s a worthy successor to the bestseller, Optoma X316? The answer is a resounding yes. They’ve improved literally everything from the contrast ratio to the brightness and it is also 3D and wireless compatible. So the Optoma X341 is a great projector for 2016, who knows what the future holds?
