Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
On paper, replacing a TV with a projector sounds like an instant upgrade: bigger screen, theater vibes, bragging rights. In reality, though, the switch can be more complicated. Projector owners on Reddit shared what genuinely caught them off guard after ditching their TVs, and their answers mirror much of what we see while testing modern projectors. Below are some of the biggest surprises.
What did you find most surprising about using a projector? 70 votes Screen size's impact 47 % Light control 16 % Audio experience 3 % Fan noise 16 % Setup 3 % Picture quality 16 % Other (let us know in the comments below!) 0 %
1. The jump in screen size can be unsettling
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
Anyone who has ever attended a backyard movie night knows projectors can go big. What people don’t expect is how different that size feels in daily use. Moving from a 65- or 75-inch TV to a 100- or 120-inch projection often means sitting closer to a much larger image. The setup changes how immersive everything feels, from Christmas movies to cult classics. Meanwhile, even large TVs suddenly start to feel undersized. Once you cross the 100-inch mark, it feels exponentially bigger, even if the numbers don’t look that dramatic.
2. You turn vampire when it comes to sunlight
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
Most TVs offer brightness specs that brute-force their way through sunlight. Unfortunately, most projectors can’t pull off quite the same feat (although there are powerful exceptions, of course). Many Redditors and I alike have been surprised by how much room lighting negatively affects image quality, even with brighter projectors. Daytime viewing often means closing blinds or accepting washed-out colors. Ultra-short-throw models with ambient-light-rejecting screens help, but they add cost.
3. Built-in speakers usually don’t cut it
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