Truth be told, outside of the 4K monitor mounted to my desk, I have not really embraced UHD. While this is partly due to not typically seeing a large difference between 1080p and 4K streams, the main reason is a lack of other exciting features to push me over the edge and invest in new gear. With my recently-established love for Alexa, ViewSonic’s upcoming X Series may have what it takes to inch me along in spending the money required on a UHD projector.
Hardware
The new X Series from ViewSonic will be comprised of two projectors at launch, referred to as the X10-4K and X1000-4K. The X10-4K features a short throw lens capable of producing 2,400 lumens of brightness. The X1000-4K on the other hand is about 10% dimmer, but offers an ultra-short throw lens with the ability to show a 8-foot image even when placed mere inches from a screen or wall. Both projectors support HDR for more vivid colors and detailed contrast.
Both of ViewSonic’s new models will feature long-lasting LED tech that provides customers with 30,000 hours of life. To put that into perspective, that is more than 40 years of watching a 2-hour movie each day. And face it, in 40 years these projectors will likely be seen as antiqued tech gear.
On the connectivity side of things, these projectors pack some of the latest and greatest ports. Input and output options will include USB-A and C, HDMI 2.0, Ethernet, and more. As you would expect, both projectors have ports for using external speakers, but ViewSonic has built-in Harmon Kardon speakers so you will not necessarily need to pick up a sound bar.
Software
As of right now, there are not too many details about the software being run on these projectors. We do know that it runs a version of Android since ViewSonic highlights access to apps from the Aptoide store, an open-source market that currently holds just under 900,000 apps.
Both projectors are compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, meaning that you should be able to use your preferred voice assistant to toggle them on/off, control the volume, and more. As we move towards smart homes controlled by voice assistants, these types of integrations are paramount for costly tech that I choose to add in my home.
“The new ViewSonic X Series of smart 4K projectors delivers impressive display and intelligent performance,” said Sean Liu, product marketing manager for ViewSonic Americas. “In addition to amazing image reproduction, we’ve packed the X10-4K and X1000-4K projectors with the latest smart technologies from Amazon and Google and included Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. By adding in Harman Kardon speakers, ViewSonic is giving users an incredible and truly immersive visual and audio experience.”
Pricing & Availability
While a specific release date for the X Series projectors has not been set by ViewSonic, the company has narrowed it down to sometime in Spring of 2019. The X10-4K will be priced at $2,399 while the X1000-4K will set you back $2,799.
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