Amazon is currently offering a big $500 savings on the outstanding Epson Home Cinema 5050UB 4K PRO-UHD 3-Chip LCD Projector. It’s normally $3000 but today it’s on sale for only $2499.98, a savings of 17%. The Epson 5050UB is, in my opinion, the best home theater projector you’ll find for under $3K.
Epson Home Cinema 5050UB 4K PRO-UHD 3-Chip LCD Projector for Only $2499.98 on Amazon
The 5050UB was released way back in 2019, so it’s not exactly a new release. This is a 3-chip LCD projector that uses 2-way pixel shifting to achieve a simulated 4K resolution. The technology is incredibly good; at standard seating distance it’s nearly indistinguishable to a native 4K image.
The 5050UB’s real claim to fame is its outstanding picture quality for its price bracket. Even now 4 years after its launch, the 5050UB still boasts unrivaled black level and contrast ratio compared to any of its 4K competition. It’s so good that in a properly light-controlled room, it’s indistinguishable from a premium TV. With a new bulb the 5050UB also pumps out 2800 lumens, which is plenty of light for most small to medium home theater setups. Another advantage of the 5050 is in its flexible placement options. Setting up this projector is easy thanks to its generous motorized lens shift on both its horizontal and vertical axis.
The 5050UB uses a traditional bulb that should be replaced every 3,000-5,000 hours according to Epson. Bulbs dim over time so real-world lamp replacement depends on your own judgement (3,000 hours is a more accurate number). Replacements cost around $110.
The 5050UB isn’t the best gaming projector out there; there are newer projectors with faster response times and support 4K @ 120Hz over HDMI 2.1. However, that doesn’t mean the 5050UB isn’t a slouch, either. If you don’t mind playing games at 4K @ 60Hz – which should still be the case for most games, including ones on the Xbox Series X and PS5 consoles – you’re still in for a magnificent gaming experience that can’t be replicated on a normal sized TV.
Despite its age, the 5050UB price doesn’t go down in price often. In our experience, a new, retail Epson 5050UB has never dropped below $2500. The only way to get it at a significantly lower price would be to grab one from the used or refurbished market. There are better projectors out there, but you’d have to pay at least $5000 (double the price) to experience any appreciable improvement.
For more options, check out our top 7 of the best home theater projectors of 2024. If you’re looking for a cheaper projector, check out our best budget projectors of 2024.
