Traditionally for gaming projectors, GamePix 900 offers very low input lag and high refresh rate. It’s ideal for fast-paced competitive gaming, single-player RPGs, esports, or MMOs. In fact, it’s an alternative to a traditional gaming monitor.
Gaming projectors
Its max projection size (focus range) reaches 305 cm / 120 inches diagonally, which is more than enough for the traditional living room. As known, ophthalmologists recommend the calculation of optimal distance as the image diagonal with a multiplier of 1.3. Accordingly, for 120″ it’s almost 4m / 13 ft. This may not be a problem for a villa on the ocean, but it may create difficulties when placed in the living room of a standard city apartment.
Of course, the competition in this segment is very tough. In particular, the gaming ViewSonic PX701-4K (2021) priced at ~$ 800 offers an input lag of 4.2 ms at 240 Hz and up to 17 ms for 4K/1080p@60Hz.
Moreover, it uses 10-bit color processing, has a 10W mono speaker, a H&V digital keystone, a 1.1x manual zoom lens with manual focus and provides brightness up to 3,200 ANSI Lumens. But it uses a 203W UHP bulb with 6,000 hours lamp life vs 30,000 hours of LED light engine in GamePix 900. To be fair, despite the different light generators, the cooling fan noise of both models is almost identical (31 dB vs 30 dB). Just a few years ago, this specs reached quite high values in powerful lamp models and was one of its problems.
Of course, the ~$ 1,000 Optoma UHD35x (2022) gaming projector is no less formidable competitor.
The 3,600 ANSI Lumens, 4.2 ms input lag at 240 Hz, a 10-watt mono speaker, and 1.1x manual zoom lens with manual focus are strong bonuses in its favor. But it also uses a 240W metal halide bulb with a lamp life of 4,000 hours.
Philips GamePix 900 Specs
The Philips GamePix 900 uses 0.47-inch DMD DLP chipset with XPR (Xpanded Pixel Resolution) technology support from Texas Instrumentst. In fact, it became an evolutionary breakthrough of DLP projectors.
Its operation principle is simple and elegant. The projector divides 8 million pixels of 4K content into four parts (4 phase pixel shift). Then, the 2 million micromirrors of the relatively cheap 1080p chipset sequentially display four 1080p images, shifting them half a pixel relative to each other. Strictly speaking, the projector displays only one 1080p image at any given time. But due to the high frequency, the vision and brain perceive them as one picture with a higher resolution. The pixel shift is carried out by tilting the lense using four XPR module magnets.
This technology has significantly reduced the prices of 4K DLP projectors. Several years ago, some experts criticized the ‘fake’ 4K images. Indeed, when comparing models with native 4K resolution vs XPR – based projectors side-by-side, the difference can be seen in some scenes. But a more than double price difference is sufficient compensation. In general, pixel shifting significantly increases the perceived resolution of an image.
Traditionally for the LED light engine, GamePix 900 reproduces 95% of the Rec. 709 color gamut.
Model has a fixed focal length with manual focus, a 1.5:1 throw ratio and provides 100″@3,3m/11ft.
Dimensions of 8.62 x 4.69 x 8.62 inch / 12 cm x 22 cm x 22 cm and weight of 2 kg / 4.4 lbs make the projector portable.
Key Features
Unfortunately, the brightness of 1,000 ISO lumens is unlikely to compensate even for diffused daylight, which makes the colors of the image dull and faded. However, curtains or evening time effectively solve this problem.
Of course, gaming modes are a bonus for gamers. The Action Gaming optimizes dark scenes, Sports Gaming delivers more vivid colors, Adventure Gaming enhances contrast and HDR. But Game Mode traditionally blocks keystone corrections.
Typical for this price segment, the projector does not have a smart operating system like Google TV or Android TV. Accordingly, it requires an external streaming device for watching movies, TV shows, and other content. However, this is not a very serious problem. The streaming from Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Max or, for example, Disney+ can be done using the streaming stick, PlayStation or PC’s browser. But wireless Bluetooth connectivity or screen mirroring (Google Cast, AirPlay, etc) are not available.
Popular automatic features, including auto-keystone or auto-focus, are also missing.
In fact, the developers have created the very cheap version of a no-nonsense gaming projector with ultra-low input lag and a crisp 4K image. Of course, just a single HDMI port without smart TV functionality can create a problem, for example, for gamers with non-4K consoles.
However, it can be easily solved with an HDMI splitter, which adds extra inputs. In any case, one input is enough when using one console or PC.
Color modes
Despite its simplicity, the GamePix 900 offers a good color management system (CMS) with RGBCMY calibration. It’s available in any mode, but saving settings is only possible in User mode. In addition, the projector offers a choice of color temperature, including ‘Cool’, ‘Normal’ and ‘Warm’.
For both 1080p and 4K content the GamePix 900 offers Brightest, Standard, Movie, Action Gaming, Adventure Gaming, Sports Gaming, and User color modes. Standard and Movie are the most accurate ‘out-of-the-box’.
Adventure Gaming mode is optimal for general gaming. Its brightness reaches 610 lumens in 1080p and 632 lumens in 4K. Action Gaming mode offers similar brightness but provides maximum detail in shadows, which is important in dark scenes. As the name suggests, Sports Gaming is designed for simulators.
During TV and movie viewing, Standard mode appearing brighter vs Movie due to its cooler whites. But Movie’s measured brightness exceeds 650 lumens in 4K. The both Standard and Movie modes точно воспроизводят skin tones. The default ‘Normal’ color temperature in Movie mode can add a slight magenta hue in some scenes. But changing it to ‘Warm’ or ‘Cool’ solves this problem.
The Brightest mode traditionally has an extreme green tint. This problem is slightly reduced by using a CMS. But a few extra lumens are hardly worth sacrificing color accuracy. However, the mode can be useful for gaming in a brightly lit living room somewhere in sunny California.
During a fairly varied testing, the projector never demonstrated the rainbow effect typical of DLP technology. As known, it appears as colored stripes along the object contours.
Conclusion
Pros
– superb price for 4K gaming model ($ 1,000 MSRP or pre-order at $ 600 with shipping mid-April 2025, or € 700 on website);
– compact and lightweight (12 cm x 22 cm x 22 cm and 2 kg / 4.4 lbs);
– high refresh rate;
– HDR10 support;
– extremely low input lag from 6 ms and 3 optimized gaming color modes.
Cons
– no smart TV platform;
– limited I/O options;
– no wireless connectivity or apps;
– only vertical digital keystone;
– no auto focus and auto-keystone;
– unconvincing bass with 5W mono speaker;
– no wireless screen mirroring;
– only 8-bit color processing.
Overall, the Philips GamePix 900 is a no-nonsense powerful gaming projector, which can also replace a mid-budget TV. Of course, the relatively low brightness of the LED engine requires dimming during the day, for example, with curtains. But in the evening, the problem disappears.
Of course, its specs cannot compete, for example, with the premium BenQ X3100i. But almost three times the difference in price ($ 600 – $ 1,000 vs $ 2,300) is a more than powerful argument in its favor. In fact, the GamePix 900 has become the first lamp-free gaming projector in the $ 500 to $ 1,000 price segment. The good price, ultra-low input lag and a crisp 4K image provide model with a superb price-quality ratio, promising the projector cloudless marketing prospects and, perhaps, a place among the bestsellers.
The video introduces the new Philips GamePix 900 LED 4K gaming projector.