Large TV on the Wall or Projector Installation?

Which one to choose?

As with anything in life; there are pros and cons with either option.

Whether you are watching and installing a TV screen or a projector screen; we have come up with the most commonly asked client questions and objections in relation to this topic.

TV Magic has simplified the technicalities for you; in order (to hopefully) simplify your decision.

PROJECTOR VS TV SCREEN

We should also mentioned that there is a 3rd option.

Out of our 160,000+ clients, we have had clients who couldn't decide... so they decided to have both! Yes, in the same room they put a TV on the wall and then had a motorised projector screen that would go up and down in front of the wall mounted TV; so they could take advantage of both experiences.

Your first considerations

With wall mounting - Factors to consider are room size vs. screen size read more... This is a commonly asked question. Other major decisions you'll need to make include: Is it going to be big enough? Do you want real home cinema atmosphere or not?
With Projector installation - Your major considerations are room, lighting, sound and a few other things.

Wall mounting Pros

Always Less expensive, unless your sitting a projector on a table & projecting onto a blank wall
TV's have less maintenance (No projector lamp replacements).
Less power consumption (We're talking maybe a few hundred dollars of electricity - if you were to actually use your projector for hours every day like a TV)
Quicker start up time (time for the screen to turn on)
Typically less remote controls
You can watch without shutting the curtains or having a dark room
No need for additional speakers or surround sound
For the money you fork out you'll get a brighter image and higher resolution. This means (on average) a better picture. That's not to say that a $10,000 projector and screen can't outform a cheap $500 TV.
'More' Transport friendly (if you are renting / planning on moving in the near future)

Wall mounting cons

Limited by picture size, currently latest size is 116" (As of 2025 / 2026 this is a $40,000 TV! ) Yes prices will come down but if size is what you want you could get a WWAAYYY bigger picture for less with a projector.
Less 'home cinema atmosphere'

Projector installation pros

Delivers the REAL home theatre experience (unlike a TV) .. that 'home cinema atmosphere'
Less limitations of picture size. In most scenarios (not that we were necessarily recommending it or anything) but you can design your screen to go from the floor right to the ceiling! start at 100'' right up to 200'' or as large as you want
Large picture size is ideal for functions, office & commercial installations
Projectors are more transport friendly than TVs but depending on the projector screen type (they are not typically transport friendly). "Pull down" screens or are not recommend but these are the most transport friendly out of all of them with motorised screens coming 2nd and fixed frame screens - you'll need a truck! (unless you dis-assemble the entire screen, which requires several hours in both assembly and dis-assembly). (Not recommend), but you may also use your projector on a plain white wall. You cannot expect the same performance that you would get if you have a proper projector screen.
Blank wall, wall-fitted or motorised screens available
Projectors can last as long as TVs! Lamp Life Expectancies can be up to 5000 to 10,000 hours (thats 10 years if used 2.7 hours every day)

Projector installation cons

Speaker system /surround sound is necessary (for audio) You do not get sound from a projector!
Darkened room /curtains necessary 90% of the time (unless you are installing in a shed, basement, garage or very dark room).
Considerations for a projector screen necessary - mobile, fixed pull-down, fixed motorised. Yes you can use "projector white paint"; however this just doesn't perform the same way a projecto screen does.
Slightly longer picture-start up time (10-30 seconds). If you're trying to quickly turn on the projector to catch a news broadcast or sports moment; you're going to miss it!
Installation typically more expensive than a typical TV Wall Mounting job.

TV MAGIC PROJECTOR VS TV

PROJECTOR VS TV DARK

Can't decide?

Did we mention?

You can have both!

This is another very, viable & popular option. Use the television for TV & everyday use and use the big screen & projector for saturday nights, functions & family movie nights etc.

Tv or Projector combined installations may feature:

'Over-lapping' - screen or tv folds, rolls, pops in/out of the wall
or Wall mounting and projector screen adjacent to one another - seating arranged to comfortably suit both.