Optoma UHD60 4K Projector Review

We purchased the Optoma UHD60 4k Projector so our expert reviewer could thoroughly test and assess it. Keep reading for our full product review.

Just a few years ago, dipping your toe into the 4K projector pool meant spending $10,000 or more. However, in the last two years, relatively inexpensive projectors like the Optoma UHD60 have hit the market, bringing 4K projector prices down to a fifth of what they once were. This significant price drop has made ultra-high-definition projectors much more accessible. But it hasn’t made them any easier to choose from. So, we tested the Optoma UHD60 to see if its performance—including image and audio quality, setup, and usability—matched its price tag.

Design: Bulky, but worth the extra heft

The Optoma UHD60 might be one of the larger and heavier home projectors on the market, clocking in at 19.6 inches long and 13 inches wide with a 16-pound overall weight. However, the Optoma UHD60’s extra heft is worth every pound. That’s because it is incredibly powerful.

Overall, the design is sleek and upscale. That said, it does suffer one design drawback: the top access panel lid is large and flimsy. It’s incongruous with the rest of the robust construction and well laid out design. Since you won’t need to crack it open often, it can be overlooked, but it was surprising to find such a design oversight with an otherwise nicely executed exterior. 

Setup Process: Quick and painless 

Optoma seems to understand that just because the buyer might be keen to embrace 4K projection that doesn’t mean they’re a videophile or details-obsessed fiddler. So it smartly offers some great out-of-the-box presets that are more than adequate for most viewers. HDR, for example, is a strong preset, especially for projecting in lighter rooms. Truly, you could just plug this projector in and start watching without ever touching lighting and contrast settings and be quite content. 

For those wanting to tweak the Optoma UHD60 in a bit more, it happily accommodates you. It offers a full suite of menus. Plus, it projects various test patterns to help ensure you get the image squared on your screen. 

Image Quality: 4K from even far away 

As one might hope with a 4K projector, image quality is where the Optoma UHD60 shines—literally and figuratively. That’s why we ranked it as our runner-up for best 4K gaming projector of 2019.

We tested the Optoma UHD60 in varying room layouts and lighting conditions. Even in lighted rooms, thanks to the HDR mode preset, this projector returns bright and stunning 4K quality. HDR ups the contrast enough that it makes the image relatively crisp even outside blackout room conditions.

Since it puts out up to 3,000 lumens, image quality is always bright and offers truly rich and deep blacks plus excellent white and color brightness. Put this projector in a darkened room and the experience only gets better, as the contrast pops even more. For dark settings, we recommend the Cinema or Reference picture presets. 

This projector puts out true 4K, too. Resolution is up to 3840 x 2160 (8.3 million pixels). You can sit up to 10 feet away from the screen and still enjoy the full 4K image. This stands in contrast to 4K televisions, which lose 4K resolution at much shorter distances. That means you don’t have to sit right on top of the screen to get the same ultra-high-definition viewing experience.

Audio: Surprisingly loud

You’d hope, given the Optoma UHD60’s size, that it’d pack some powerful speakers inside. Thankfully, it does with two 4-watt stereo speakers which get surprisingly loud. This makes them more than good enough for watching a movie or show outside your normal living room setup—imagine a casual get together at a friend’s house, for example.

We found the built-in speakers more than powerful enough for casual video watching. However, if you are setting up your personal viewing space, especially one outside, we recommend stepping up to auxiliary, powered speakers. You’d hate to have the audio drastically outshined by the projector’s outstanding visual experience.

Connecting auxiliary speakers is easy, with the provided outputs. That is, if you send the audio signal through a tuner, rather than simply connecting the speakers directly to the projector.

Features: Well apportioned ports

On top, underneath the flimsy access panel, the Optoma UHD60 has controls for focus, zoom, and vertical lens shifting. However, as we discussed, it does not offer horizontal lens shifting.

On the back, the projector comes with a whole host of input and output ports. These include RJ-45, RS232, HDMI 2.2 as well as MHL, VGA, audio input and output, and USB.

You can control the functions, features, and modes through the provided remote control as well as with the side-mounted buttons. The remote is backlit, which is nice for operating it in lower light conditions. However, it is so bright it sometimes becomes blinding.

Although this projector was ostensibly designed for home theater use, it could easily be used as a workplace projector. Since it’s easily connected through wireless streaming sticks, users connecting and disconnecting from it several times a day will likely enjoy the UHD60’s seamless wireless connectivity.

Software: Built for wireless

Optoma knows its customers want to keep their projector as uncluttered and wireless as possible. Thankfully, as we discussed just above, the HDMI MHL port allows for wireless streaming sticks to be plugged into the back of the UHD60.

What’s more, Optoma offers its very own streaming stick, which is natively compatible with the UHD60. It’s called the HDCast PRO. It supports screen mirroring via Miracast and Airplay on iOS, Android, Mac OS X, and Windows devices. Of course, you can opt for your preferred streaming stick. Though, it’s niceto know that Optoma offers one that is compatible with most operating systems.

Price: Good, but not the best

You can pick up an Optoma UHD60 for $1,599 on Amazon on sale ($1,799 full price), which, by historical standards, is a steal for a 4K projector. That’s why it took our top spot in best overall 4K projector for 2019. 

That said, it’s not the only—or least expensive—4K projector in town. Take the BenQ HT3550, for example, which can be had on Amazon for $1,499. In our rundown of best gaming projectors of 2019, it came in first in the 4K category. Other leading 4K projectors cost around the same price range, including the Vivitek HK2288-WH, which can be had for $1,999 on Amazon. We also rated the HK2288-WH quite highly. However, it is out-performed by the Optoma in both price and performance.

All things considered, for the $1,799 retail price, the Optoma UHD60 is a strong value as an overall cinema projector. 

Optoma UDH60 vs. BenQ HT3550

Since the UHD60 and HT3350 are similarly priced and have received top marks from us in two separate comparisons, it’s only fair to put them side-by-side here as well.

Both the UHD60 and HT3550 offer true 4K ultra-high-definition images at 3840 x 2160. However, the UHD60 wins out in terms of pure lighting power. It puts out 3,000 lumens. Meanwhile, the HT3350 only pumps out 2,000 lumens. And you’ll notice the difference in rooms with some light pollution. 

The BenQ also offers a 1.3x zoom while the Optoma has 1.6x optical zoom. That means you can project from further away on the UHD60 than the HT3350. However, you won’t be able to hear the audio as well from the Optoma’s built-in speakers, as they are 4-watt speakers. The BenQ’s are 5-watt. 

Because of the additional output, the 16-pound UHD60 weighs significantly more than the 9.2-pound HT3350.

Given these disparate specs, you can perhaps understand why we awarded the BenQ top spot on the gaming projectors list. It’s lighter, louder, but not quite as bright. Meanwhile, we put the Optoma the best overall 4K projector. It’s hefty, but it outshines the competition, albeit a bit more quietly.

Similar Products We've Reviewed:

• BenQ HT2150ST
• LG Cinebeam PH550 Projector
• Vivitek HK2288 Home Cinema Projector