Editing Digital light processing (section)

== Manufacturers and marketplace ==
{{Update|inaccurate=yes|date=March 2014}}{{more citations needed|section|date=May 2016}}

[[Image:2007TaipeiAudioVideoFair LaVEA DLPTV.jpg|thumb|56-inch DLP rear-projection TV]]

Since being introduced commercially in 1996, DLP technology gained market share in the front projection market and now holds greater than 50% of the worldwide share in front projection in addition to 85% market share in digital cinema worldwide.{{citation needed |date=July 2024}} Additionally, in the pico category (small, mobile display) DLP technology used to hold approximately 70% market share.{{citation needed |date=April 2025}}  Over 30 manufacturers used the DLP chipset to power their projection display systems.

=== Pros ===
* Smooth (at 1080p resolution), jitter-free images.
* Perfect geometry and excellent grayscale linearity achievable.
* Usually excellent [[Contrast ratio#Methods of measurement|ANSI contrast]].
* The use of a replaceable light source means a potentially longer life than CRTs and plasma displays (this may also be a con as listed below).
* The light source is more-easily replaceable than the [[backlight]]s used with LCDs, and on DLPs is often user-replaceable.
* The light from the projected image is not inherently [[Polarization (waves)|polarized]].
* New LED and laser DLP display systems more or less eliminate the need for lamp replacement.
* DLP offers affordable 3D projection display from a single unit and can be used with both active and passive 3D solutions.
* Lighter weight than contemporary LCD and plasma televisions.{{CN|date=April 2025}}
* Unlike their LCD and plasma counterparts, DLP screens do not rely on fluids as their projection medium and are therefore not limited in size by their inherent mirror mechanisms, making them ideal for increasingly larger high-definition theater and venue screens.
* DLP projectors can process up to seven separate colors, giving them a wider color gamut.

=== Cons ===
[[File:Mitsubishi XD300U side.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The rear panel of a Mitsubishi XD300U shows the output and input jacks which are available.]]
* Some viewers are bothered by the "rainbow effect" present in colour-wheel models - particularly in older models (explained above). This can be observed easily by using a camera's digital viewfinder on projected content.
* Rear projection DLP TVs are not as thin as LCD or plasma flat-panel displays (although approximately comparable in weight), although some models as of 2008 are becoming wall-mountable (while still being {{cvt|10|to|14|in|disp=sqbr}} thick)<ref>[http://www.futurelooks.com/420-CES-2007-Home-Entertainment-Products-Highlights.html?page=4 Futurelooks.com]{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
* Replacement of the lamp in lamp-based units.  The life span of an arc lamp averages 2000–5000 hours and the replacement cost for these range from $99 – 350, depending on the brand and model.   Newer generations' units use LEDs or lasers which effectively eliminate this issue, although replacement LED chips could potentially be required over the extended lifespan of the television set.
* Some viewers find the high-pitched whine of the color wheel to be an annoyance.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ars.samsung.com/customer/usa/jsp/faqs/faqs_view_us.jsp?SITE_ID=1&PG_ID=3&PROD_SUB_ID=41&PROD_ID=153&AT_ID=14953 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101005085353/http://ars.samsung.com/customer/usa/jsp/faqs/faqs_view_us.jsp?SITE_ID=1&PG_ID=3&PROD_SUB_ID=41&PROD_ID=153&AT_ID=14953 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2010-10-05 |title=DLP TV : Why Is There A Noise Coming From My DLP TV? }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.amazon.com/High-pitched-noise/forum/Fx1DPAOJU9C6ZJ8/Tx2DWLTBU9KU7M1/1?_encoding=UTF8&asin=B000N5239I |title=Samsung LNT2653H 26-Inch LCD HDTV forum: High pitched noise|website=Amazon}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ecoustics.com/electronics/forum/home-video/68621.html |title=Ecoustics: Noise with the Samsung DLP HLP series}}</ref> However, the drive system can be engineered to be silent and some projectors don't produce any audible color wheel noise.
* Dithering noise may be noticeable, especially in dark image areas. Newer (post ≈2004) chip generations have less noise than older ones.
* Error-diffusion artifacts caused by averaging a shade over different pixels, since one pixel cannot render the shade exactly
* [[input lag|Response time in video games]] may be affected by upscaling lag. While all HDTVs have some lag when upscaling lower-resolution input to their native resolution, DLPs are commonly reported to have longer delays. Newer consoles that have [[High-definition video|HD]] output signals do not have this problem as long as they are connected with HD-capable cables.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=558125 |title=HDTVs and Video Game Lag: The Problem and the Solution. |publisher=AVS Forum |date=2005-07-11 |access-date=2007-08-13}}</ref>
* Reduced viewing angle as compared to direct-view technologies such as CRT, plasma, and LCD
* May use more electricity, and generate more heat, than competing technologies.
* Modern (RGB LED/Laser) DLP based systems no longer physically possess the advertised (native) number of pixels and only a quarter (25%) is present (eg a 960x540 DMD is used in a 1920x1080 FullHD projector). Such systems rely on a temporal shifting by a vibrating glass plate to sequence 4 sub-pictures using a SLM - spatial light modulator<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/dlp230np.pdf |title=DLP230NP and DLP230NPSE .23 1080P Digital Micromirror Devices |website=datasheet by Texas Instruments}}</ref>). Same applies for most 4K projectors - only a FHD DMD chip is installed along with a SLM. The SLM/glass element used to shift the image by half the pixel does significantly reduce image contrast, increases black levels, appears as migrating noise and is incapable of reproducing pixel-perfect UI graphics correctly. The faster switching of colors using RGB LEDs made this cheat possible.

=== DLP, LCD, and LCoS rear projection ===
The most similar competing system to DLP is known as LCoS ([[liquid crystal on silicon]]), which creates images using a stationary mirror mounted on the surface of a chip and uses a liquid crystal matrix (similar to a [[liquid crystal display]]) to control how much light is reflected.<ref name="CNET_StylesofHDTV">{{cite web |url=http://www.cnet.com/4520-7874_1-5108443-3.html |title=4 styles of HDTV |publisher=CNET.com |date=2007-03-13 |access-date=2007-08-13}}</ref> DLP-based television systems are also arguably considered to be smaller in depth than traditional projection television.