A study commissioned by Epson has uncovered increasing demand for home cinema experiences, with advancements in technology and a shift in lifestyle preferences driving consumers towards choosing large-screen projectors over traditional television sets for such experiences. Whether for creating a home theatre, gaming experience or enjoying content with a large-screen display, the survey results show that projectors have become the preferred option in the world of home entertainment. Their growing popularity reflects consumers’ desire for larger, more immersive, and flexible viewing experiences.
The survey was conducted across five markets including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Türkiye, and South Africa – to identify current trends in home cinema experiences. The research revealed that 50.8% of respondents across the five markets favour large-screen projectors over traditional TV sets, with the highest number of respondents preferring projectors seen in the UAE and Morocco. Notably, only 11.6% of those surveyed reported not using or having tried a projector.
Across the region, visual quality emerged as the most crucial element of an ideal movie-watching experience, with 35.4% of respondents citing it as top priority, followed by sound quality at 28.6%. Overall ambience and comfort ranked third and fourth, respectively, indicating that consumers prioritise technological advantages above other factors. Notably, 71% of respondents in Saudi Arabia said overall ambience was the most important factor.
In South Africa, traditional television is still leading, with 57.26% of respondents saying it’s their go-to for movie watching. However, 32.26% have made the switch to large-screen projectors, embracing a more immersive viewing experience. When it comes to how long South Africans can stay glued to the screen, nearly half (48%) say they can watch a movie for 1.5 to 2 hours before starting to feel sleepy, while 33% tap out around the 1 to 1.5-hour mark.
For many the perfect movie night is all about the visuals, with 49% saying picture quality is key. Sound quality was close behind at 38%, while 40% pointed to large-screen projectors as a must have for that true cinema feel at home.
As more households seek to elevate their entertainment experience, Epson is at the forefront of home cinema innovation, meeting the growing demand for superior image clarity. Epson’s home cinema entertainment solutions such as the 4K PRO-UHD projectors – featuring the 3 LCD technology designed to offer the opportunity to experience a vivid, lifelike image, with advanced pixel-shifting technology and exceptionally high lumen levels and contrast ratios – deliver picture and resolution quality comparable to commercial cinemas, meeting the strong demand for inimitable visual quality. The 3 LCD technology ensures viewers can enjoy an exceptionally sharp 4K picture without sacrificing brightnesss, on displays up to 300”. The highest possible sound quality is assured with Epson’s built-in audio solutions and seamless compatibility with external speakers for an enhanced audio experience.
Timothy Wilson, Visual Instruments Business Unit Lead Southern Africa at Epson South Africa, said: “At Epson, we are passionate about helping people create immersive cinema experiences at home. Whether for movie nights, gaming experiences, or sports viewing, our projectors provide versatility and top-tier performance, delivering the ultimate viewing experience, and we lead the way in visual and sound excellence. We have been the world’s No.1 projector manufacturer since 2001* and have set the standard for innovative projectors, delivering groundbreaking technologies that transform how we experience visual entertainment. We are pleased to see the popularity of large-screen projectors across our markets, as revealed by our survey results, which demonstrate how advancements in technology are driving demand. As technology continues to evolve, becoming even more impressive and accessible, we anticipate demand for ever bigger and better home entertainment experiences.”
Epson conducted the survey in collaboration with Pollfish, sampling 100 respondents per market. Epson sees significant potential to increase market share as consumers discover the phenomenal viewing experiences enabled by technological advancements. Draws for consumers include bigger screen sizes, flexibility and space-saving, portability, customisability and a cinematic feel, enabling a true movie theatre atmosphere at home.
