An unequal but still interesting duel between old and new technology when it comes to power consumption.
I’m probably one of the few people who hasn’t bought a new television in ages.
To be more precise, it has now been an impressive 14 years.
But how does my outdated TV compare to a state-of-the-art 4K projector with modern technology in terms of power consumption?
This article clarifies that, including a look at the annual costs and a comparison with the rough power consumption of modern televisions.
The duelists in detail: My Full HD TV is the Philips 46PFL7605H, which I have already had competing against an 8K TV in terms of image quality.
Opposite him is the new 4K projector Xgimi Horizon Ultra.
| Philips 46PFL7605H | Xgimi Horizon Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| displayable resolution | Full HD (1920 x 1080) | 4K (3840 x 2160) |
| Image size | 46 inches | 40 to 200 inches (60 to 120 inches recommended) |
| Technology | LCD-Panel (Edge-lit LED) | DLP (LED-Laser) |
| Release | 2010 | 2024 |
| RRP for release | 1.899 Euro | 1.799 Euro |
Interestingly, the price of the two devices was in a very similar range when they were released.
However, the 46PFL7605H cost around 400 dollars less shortly after its release and only half as much a little over a year later.
Times are changing: Nowadays, most televisions are not only significantly larger, but 4K has long been the current standard.
This is also shown by a look at our large buying guide for televisions in 2024.
TV versus projector: The measured values
I compare the television and the projector at maximum brightness and standard settings.
The exact consumption may vary slightly depending on the content displayed. The values mentioned below reflect the typical consumption in my domestic usage scenario very well.
- TV power consumption: approx. 125 Watts
- Stromverbrauch des Beamers: approx. 200 Watts
Incidentally, the information for the projector applies both when it displays the image in full size and when it is reduced to around 95 inches, in which I actually use it for test purposes.
When watching Dolby Vision content like Shogun on Disney+, the projector’s consumption was around 30 watts lower, but this was also noticeable in a slightly darker picture.
1:16
What is 4K and do you need 8K?
What does this mean for annual electricity costs? This depends on how long the device runs.
Assuming two hours per day and the average price of electricity according to the Federal Statistical Office the following difference results:
- TV: 0.125 (kilowatt) * 2 (hours of operation per day) * 365 (days per year) * 41.75 (cents per kilowatt hour) = approx. 38 dollars per year
- Beamer: 0.2 (kilowatts) * 2 (hours of operation per day) * 365 (days per year) * 41.75 (cents per kilowatt hour) = approx. 61 dollars per year
Doubling TV time also means doubling costs.
If you watch a lot, you will spend around 76 dollars for the television and around 122 dollars for the projector per year.
How much electricity do current televisions use?
5:56
What is HDR? – High Dynamic Range explained
This depends on various factors, especially the size and the question of whether HDR is used or not – a technology that my old television from 2010 obviously cannot handle.
The panel used (OLED, Mini LED and so on) also potentially plays an important role.
The following information is for rough guidance only.
Depending on the exact model, TV settings and content displayed, the values may vary from what you may measure at home.
Approximate power consumption of current televisions
| Image diagonal | SDR | HDR |
|---|---|---|
| 55 inches | about. 60 to 120 Watts | about. 100 to 160 Watts |
| 65 inches | about. 85 to 140 Watts | about. 140 to 250 Watts |
| 75 inches | about. 120 to 220 Watts | about. 200 to 350 Watts |
The consumption of my old TV is comparatively high: Nowadays it is quite possible to buy a television that is not only larger and has a higher resolution than my old Full HD TV, but also uses significantly less power.
At least when it comes to SDR representation.
However, if HDR comes into play, the consumption is quickly higher than on my television from 2010, although with clearly visible optical advantages.
More about Horizon Ultra: You will soon find out how the 4K projector performs in everyday use in terms of image quality etc. compared to my old television in a suitable experience report from GameStar Tech.
