Should you buy a TV or a projector? The honest answer is that they're good at different things. A TV is the all-rounder for bright living rooms. A compact projector gives you a much bigger picture for the money, folds away when you don't need it and goes wherever you go. Here's how they compare.
Screen size
This is where projectors win. A projector's picture grows as you move it further from the wall, so one small device can fill a bedroom wall, a ceiling or a garden screen. A TV is fixed at the size you buy, and very large TVs are expensive and hard to fit in small rooms.
Picture quality and brightness
A good TV is brighter and sharper, and it looks great even in a sunny room. A portable projector like the Cavon HY300 PRO+ (200 ANSI lumens, native 720P, supports 1080P playback) looks best in a dim or dark room — evenings, bedrooms, or with the curtains closed. If most of your viewing is in bright daylight, a TV is the better choice.
Space and design
A TV takes up a permanent spot on the wall or a stand. A mini projector weighing around 0.35 kg sits on a shelf or bedside table and leaves the wall free when it's off. That makes projectors popular for bedrooms, student rooms, rentals and small flats.
Portability
You can move a mini projector from the living room to the bedroom, take it to a friend's house or use it outdoors for a garden movie night. With a 180° rotating stand you can even project onto the ceiling. A TV stays where it is.
Smart features
Most TVs are now smart TVs, and so are many projectors. The HY300 PRO+ runs Android 14 with built-in apps and has Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, so you can stream, mirror your phone and connect headphones or a soundbar — just like a smart TV.
Sound
TVs usually have bigger speakers. A mini projector's built-in speaker (5W on the HY300 PRO+) is fine for casual viewing. For films and games, connect a Bluetooth speaker or soundbar.
Cost
For the same budget, a projector gives you a far larger picture than a TV. A compact smart projector costs much less than a large-screen TV, which makes it an easy second screen for the bedroom or for family movie nights.
Our verdict
- Choose a TV if you mainly watch in a bright room during the day and want the sharpest picture.
- Choose a projector if you want a big screen in a small space, love evening films, want to watch from bed or outdoors, or want something you can move and pack away.
Many households have both: a TV for daytime viewing and a projector for movie nights.
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