The 5 Best Motorized Projector Screens – [Reviews & Rankings]

When building a home theatre, you might be faced with a decision between a manual projector screen and a motorized projector screen. However, motorized projector screens aren’t just fun to use; they can actually enhance the viewing experience.

The best motorized projector screens allow you to have theatre quality projection while saving space. 

A motorized projector screen lowers and detracts electronically into a mounted housing system. It’s usually controlled by a remote, however it can also be operated using a wall mounted control panel (Source). 

Motorized projector screens vary in size, but typically fall within the range of 100 to 150 inches diagonally. They also vary in screen gain, meaning the image brightness and quality (Source). Other features of a motorized projector screen include its viewing angle, aspect ratio, and contrast borders.

If you’re putting together your own home theatre system, motorized projector screens usually come preassembled and are relatively easy to mount to the wall. Not only are they easier to use than their flimsy manual counterparts, but they’re also impressive when entertaining. If your projector is in a multipurpose room, a motorized screen is perfect for keeping the space versatile. 

Prior to purchasing a motorized projector screen, you’ll need to consider its size relative to your wall. You’ll also need to consider its aspect ratio, which is typically either 16:9 or 4:3. Finally, you’ll need to think about its screen gain and viewing angle. 

Give yourself a theatre-quality viewing experience with these top-rated motorized projector screens. 

What Is The Best Motorized Projector Screen?

The Elite Screens Spectrum 100” Motorized Projector Screen is compatible with most UHD/HD projectors and delivers crystal clear projections. It has a viewing angle of 180° and a screen gain of 1.1 for optimal projection quality from anywhere in the room. It’s easy to install and easy to clean.

What Size Projector Screen Should I Get?

The size of the projector screen you purchase depends on how far away you’ll be viewing the screen. For example, if your couch is only 9 feet away, your screen should not exceed 84 inches. You should also ensure the area of the wall can accommodate your projector screen.

Comparing The Best Motorized Projector Screens

1. Elite Screens Spectrum 100” Motorized Projector Screen – For Large and High Quality Images

The Elite Screens Spectrum is an electric-powered motorized projector screen with a large 100” screen and a 16:9 aspect ratio. With a screen gain of 1.1 and a viewing angle of 180°, this screen is able to be enjoyed from almost anywhere in a room making it perfect for most home theatres.

The black backing of the screen minimizes light penetration for optimal brightness. It’s compatible with most UHD and HD projectors, and delivers 4K Ultra HD picture quality.

The Spectrum doesn’t only reflect projections beautifully; it’s also mildew-resistant and easy to clean. It comes fully assembled along with a casing that’s easy to install, so you can enjoy your projector almost immediately.

The Elite Screens Spectrum is controlled by an infrared remote, as well as a detachable 3-way wall switch. These two controls let you raise and lower the screen simply and smoothly. When operational, the motor is nearly silent and is designed to last a long time.

For added peace of mind, Elite Screens offers a 3-year warranty and lifetime tech support.

2. Homegear 110’’ HD 16:9 Motorized Projector Screen – High Gain Screen

Homegear 110’’ HD 16:9 Projector Screen is a 110-inch screen projector with a gain matte of 1.3, an aspect ratio of 16:9, a 160⁰ viewing angle and  measures 20.3 pounds in weight. The gain screen is mildew resistant, flame retardant and can easily be washed with water and soap.

The projector screen features a 3-layered black border, which creates an ideal contrast by eliminating light penetration. The result is a top quality production, which provides crystal clear images for your home or office.

The motor system of the projector screen is fitted with noise-cancellation features that make for a more intense viewing experience.

Apart from that, it is energy efficient and requires low power consumption. It also comes with a control panel that can be wall-mounted, thus eliminating the need for a remote.

Additionally, the projector screen comes with a durable steel casing with plastic white ends for ceiling and wall assembly.

The projector screen is highly compatible with a number of projectors, and involves a simple plug and play system as it come pre-installed.

3. 4K/8K Motorized Elite Screens Spectrum – Best Viewing Angles

4K/8K Motorized Elite Screens Spectrum boasts of a high quality fire retardant material, a little bit slow to roll down but is a fantastic option for any buyer. Users enjoy easy installation and 2 year warranty guarantee.

The projector screen features a 100-inch MaxWhite multi-layered weave material with a textured surface, a 1.1 gain, and a 180⁰ viewing angle. The screen comes with a detachable 3-way wall-mount swatch and an infrared remote to use during your operation.

With the 4k/8k feature together with the 100’’ screen, the user of the Elite Projector Screen is guaranteed ultra-high definition images. If you are planning to buy a high-quality projector screen, this is the ideal one to purchase.

The screen projector ships fully assembled, in a ready to roll-plug and play form. It is accompanied by a durable casing, which easily mounts onto the wall to ensure an easy installation process.

It is also resistant to mildew and can be washed with water and soap.

4. Best Choice Motorized Screen Projection – Lightweight & Multi-Purpose

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Best Choice Motorized Screen Projection is a 100-inch, lightweight projector screen measuring around 9 pounds in weight. It has a screen gain of 1.3, a 160-viewing angle and a 4:3 display ratio and comes with a 2 year warranty.

The 1.3 gain and the 100’ screen plus 4-sided black masking border create a large clear image that is dynamic. Due to this reason, this projector can be used in many areas, including home cinemas, educational environments, as well as in business settings.

The screen is made with anti-static and anti-acid fabric that protects it against dust and mildew. The result is a long lasting fabric that can be used for a long period. The fabrics are also easy to clean by use of mild soap and water, thus you can easily maintain your projector screen.

The projector screen comes with a wall-mountable controller to operate your system. In addition, it comes with a remote that is used to operate the screen from a distance.

The motor works silently to provide a silent environment suitable for your movies at home and for professional experiences as well.

5. Safstar Motorized Projector Screen – The Most Affordable Projector Screen

Safstar Motorized Projector Screen is a 100-inch screen projector with a gain matte of 1.3, an aspect ratio of 16:9, a 160⁰ viewing angle and measures 17.4 pounds in weight. The screen is designed with a white matte fabric that can easily be washed by soap and water.

The 1.3 gain screen material has a typical black backing border that eliminates light penetration by creating a high contrast for optimum picture quality. The black backing borders are 4-sided to increase contrast and picture focus. The result is a vivid high-quality image.

The projector screen is fitted with a silent motor system that possesses noise cancellation functions as you use your screen while also extending the operational longevity of the screen.

It also has pre-wired power cords connected to an integrated switch which allows you to regulate the rise/drop settings.

The remote controls that come along with the projector has an extensive radio frequency. This makes it easy for you to control your screen from a considerable distance.

Benefits of Motorized Projector Screens

• Ease of use: It is no doubt the main advantage of motorized projector screens. All you need to do is push the button. This will cause the screen to roll or unroll.
• Modern design: Motorized projector screens are sleek and contemporary. That said, such a screen will add a luxury appearance to your drawing-room or hall.
• They come preassembled: In contrast to other screens, motorized projector screens are assembled before purchase. This will save you the hassle of fitting each part, which takes a lot of time. Simply mount your screen, plug, and play. That all!
• These screens don’t take up much space: Motorized projector screens also save the place. You can even mount it above a window. Roll it up when not in use and your window will appear.
• They allow you to various activities at a certain place: You may place your projector screen in front of your TV. Simply roll it up when you want to watch television and roll it down when you needed.
• Easy and fun to control: Controlling motorized projector screens is very simple through an RF or IR remote. There is no learning curve.

Difference Between Manual and Motorized Projector Screens

Before making up your mind, you should get familiar with the basic differences between  projector screens. This will help you make the right choice.

These are the main differences between manual and motorized projector screens:

• Potential problems: Unlike manual projector screens, motorized models have no retention system. Instead, there’s a motor that makes the screen roll up or down. It needs regular maintenance to remain in good working condition.
  Manual screens have fewer mechanical parts, so mechanical problems are rare. However, you may occasionally experience a problem with the retention mechanism since it is prone to jam or break after multiple uses.
• Convenience: Motorized projectors offer great convenience and they come in handy when your screen is positioned too high in a hall. Apart from providing convenience, manual screens are also easy to maintain.
• Simplicity: Manual screens have a simpler design and fewer parts. If you prefer motorized projector screens, you may have a hard time deciding which one to purchase because they come in so many varieties.
• Usage and maintenance: While motorized models are quite simple to use, they are slightly difficult to maintain. That’s because of a built-in motor that requires routine maintenance in order not to jam and flop. Manual projectors are easy to use and maintain alike.
• Durability: Motorized projectors are prone to damage. However, that isn’t to say that they are not as durable as their manual counterparts. It depends on the model and the materials used.
• Cost: Manual projector screens tend to be less expensive than motorized ones. The price varies greatly, as there are many different types of projector screens on the market. The main factors that determine the price are the gain, the size of the screen, and the quality of materials.

Factors to Consider When Buying a Motorized Projector Screen

There are various factors that you need to consider before you can purchase your ideal projector screen.

Firstly, you have to decide the purpose of your purchase. Will the projector screen be used for educational or recreational purposes? Is the projector screen being purchased for indoor or outdoor settings?

Outlined below are some very important factors you need to consider before any purchase.

Different types of projector screens are available in the market Choosing a suitable projector screen can be a daunting task for a beginner. If you are using a top-rated short-throw projector buying a motorized projector screen could be the best fit.

Size (Diagonal and View Area)

Most people are thrilled with large screen images. In fact, when incorporated with a 3D effect, you will experience a real-time effect due to the virtual reality function compared to smaller screens. This is because bigger screen sizes have a larger view area.

Most motorized projector screens range from 100 – 120 inches and that is a good range for an exciting viewing experience. However, bigger screen sizes are pricey depending on the quality of the material the screen is made of.

Choose a size that works for you without putting a strain on your finances.

Gain

Screen gain is the tendency of a screen to decrease or increase in the brightness of images usually caused by the materials used as the projection screen. It is defined as the ratio between a variation in brightness on a certain screen and the neutral/standard screen.

High Gain

A screen feature that shows images more brightly than the standard screen. Its gain will, therefore, be labeled with a number greater than 1.0 for example 1.3 or 2. 0. A screen with a gain of 2 is twice as bright as the standard/reference screen.

However, brighter is not always better. Although high gain projector screens reflect brighter images, the image quality will drop significantly, as you move away from center-screen view. That means they have limited viewing angles.

Low Gain

shows the images less brightly than the standard screen. Its gain will, therefore, be labeled with a number less than 1.0, for example, 0.8. A screen with a gain of 0.6 is 60% as bright as the standard screen.

Low gain projector screens will reflect images with less brightness but can be suitable for rooms with little ambient light. Lower reflectivity allows a wide-angle view.

The motorized projector screens generally have a slightly high gain ranging from 1.1 to 1.3. As we mentioned earlier, that is a relatively good range for projection. Therefore, you will have to choose the ideal gain that suits your needs.

Screen Color

Another factor to consider is the color of your projector screen. There are only two options, grey and white. However, the majority of projector screens are white.

However, a grey screen absorbs the light better than a white screen. This means that depending on the power of the bulb, the colors will seem more realistic on a grey screen than a white screen. If you are considering a white screen, we strongly encourage you to choose a grey screen instead.

Viewing Angle

Is the measurement that describes the maximum angle for viewing images from the center of the screen. This means that you will be able to view your images clearly at various angles in your room with a projector screen that has a large angle of view.

Unfortunately, high gain projector screens have a lower viewing angle. Almost all motorized screen projectors have a relatively high gain but it does not mean that they have terrible viewing angles.

In fact, most motorized projector screens have a viewing angle of 160⁰(very few at 180⁰) which is ideal for both home and office use.

 

Ready To Buy The Best Motorized Projector Screen?

The best-motorized projector screens are expected to integrate seamlessly with your projector. This will provide you an extremely thrilling office and home viewing experience.

The most important factors to consider when buying a motorized projector screen is the size, quality of the build materials, and the screen gain. In turn, this will determine the viewing angle.

As always, make sure to take proper care of your screen. When making your final decision, pay attention to features like viewing angles, quality of the projection, and more.

Besides the projector screen, if you are planning to hook a satellite TV to your projector screen as a free consider buying the FTA receivers.

New models of motorized projectors provide a thrilling experience and are easy to use. If you are using a projector screen or projecting through a laptop or other devices, make sure first to check HDMI to VGA port.