Acer H5380BD 720p DLP Backyard Movie Projector Review
Product Name: Acer H5380BD 720p DLP Projector
Website: www.us.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/group/projectors
Price: $456.37
Owners: Acer Inc.
Verdict: High-Quality Inexpensive Backyard Movie Projector
When it comes to projectors for a backyard movie theater you don’t need to break the bank to get a good quality picture. The key is to find something that is bright enough and has enough lumens to be able to project at dusk during the long summer days, and is portable enough to carry back and forth from the house to the yard often.
Acer’s H5380BD 720p DLP Projector checks all of the boxes for a backyard projector at under $500.
Viewing
The native 720p resolution is capable of projecting the latest technologies like blu-ray DVD and 3D meaning you’re able to use all of your existing media sources. The projector will downscale 1080p sources to 720p while still maintaining a very good image quality for all hi-def content.
The 3000 lumens provide intensely bright images while the projector is in Standard mode which is key if it isn’t completely dark outside when the movie or game starts!
Of course, because of the manageable price point the projector does lack some of the fancy bells and whistles you’d expect to find in a more expensive projector and the zoom feature has a limited range so the placement of the projector in front of the screen is important. The good thing about an outdoor environment is there is generally ample room to place the projector for optimal picture quality.
Portability & Design
Portability is key in a backyard projector and at just 5.5 pounds the Acer H5380BD can be moved from place to place very easily. Its slim form design is ideal for 
tabletop placement.
The cutting-edge Dust Shield Solution is a cost-effective system to protect projectors from damage caused by airborne dust and sand. The projectors lens shield and sealed engine and vertical board make it suitable as an outdoor theater projector. One negative is that this projector tends to get hot compared to its higher priced counterparts with better fans and cooling systems.
The projector’s inputs support everything needed to connect today’s hi-def media players. From HDMI to PC connections you’ll be able to connect any source. What it doesn’t have is multiple instances of inputs. For instance, there is only 1 HDMI input which is completely fine in a backyard projector and helps keep the price down.
Key Features
- Projection System: DLP®
- Display Panel: 0.62″ DarkChipTM 3 DMD
- Resolution: Native 720P (1280 x 720), Maximum UXGA (1600 x 1200), WUXGA (1900 x 1280)
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9 (native), 4:3
- Contrast Ratio: 17000:1
- Brightness: 3000 ANSI Lumens (Standard), 2400 ANSI Lumens (ECO)
- Lamp Life: 5000 hours (Standard), 6000 hours (ECO), 10,000 Hours (ExtremeECO)
- Projection Lens: F = 2.5 ~ 2.67, f = 21.86mm ~ 24.00mm, 1:1.1 Manual Zoom and Manual Focus
- Keystone Correction: +/-40 degrees (Vertical), manual & auto
- Input Interface: Analog RGB/Component Video (D-sub) x 2, Composite Video (RCA) x 1, S-Video
- (mini DIN) x 1, HDMI/MHL (Video, Audio, HDCP) x 1, PC Audio (Stereo mini jack) x 2
- Control Interface: USB (mini-B) x 1
- Weight: 5.5 lbs. (system unit only)
Acer H5380BD 720p DLP Backyard Projector Price
Best Price $456.37
The Acer H5380BD Projector brings movie quality projection with rich details, bright and natural colors and exceptional contrast. Color performance is enhanced on any surface, even colored walls through Acer’s eColor Boost II+ technology and wall-color compensation, while ColorSafe II prevents color decay resulting from extended use of the projector. Handy installation utilities….
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BOTTOM LINE
The Acer H5380BD allows you to view any hi-def content in true cinematic quality at 720p native resolution which keeps the price low compared to 1080p projectors. If you aren’t concerned with the extra bells and whistles that come at a higher price tag this is a solidly constructed projector suitable for a backyard movie theater at a reasonable price.
Do you have a favorite backyard movie theater projector? Let us know…leave a comment below.
