OVERALL
ALTERNATIVES
SPECS
VS AVERAGE
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Scored using Projectors Methodology v3.0
Projectors Methodology v3.0
Mathematical & Unbiased Scoring
Products in this category are scored under Frontum Projectors Methodology v3.0: the technical score from the specifications is the base, and independent expert and video reviews (up to ±0.5 points), owner opinions (up to ±0.3) and best-of lists (up to +0.3) move it up or down.
Explore Projectors Methodology v3.0

Sharp XP-M421W review: 86 specs compared

Avg. price:~£1,060Native panel resolution:1280x800ANSI lumens:4200Throw ratio:1.19-1.54:1Lamp life:20000 hours

Sharp XP-M421W Review: Compare 86 technical specifications to see how this product ranks in the Projectors category and whether it is worth buying.

Sharp XP-M421W
7.1/10

Overall score

Score
7.1/ 10
✕
What it is
Our main score for this model, 1–10. It combines specs, best-of lists, expert reviews and owners.
How we count it
Parts: Technical score 35%, List score 30%, Reviews score 25%, Sentiment score 10%
Marks: Each part gets a mark out of 10. For reviews, lists and owners, a typical model in this category gets about 8 and the best one gets 10.
No data yet: A part with no data shows "?". It counts as the mark of a weaker model in this category (4 in 5 models with data score higher). This way, models with reviews, lists and owners usually come out ahead.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 56% of models
Score components

35%

6.2

Technical score

30%

?

List scoreNot enough data yet, so we use 7.5, the mark of a weaker model in this category

25%

?

Reviews scoreNot enough data yet, so we use 7.8, the mark of a weaker model in this category

10%

?

Sentiment scoreNot enough data yet, so we use 6.8, the mark of a weaker model in this category

â–¼Worse than 56% of projectors
6.4

Value for money

Value for money
6.4/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the projector's overall rating with its cost.
When it matters
When you are looking for a projector with a good balance between quality and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 69% of models
Score components

70%

7.1

Overall score

30%

4.9

Price

â–¼Worse than 69%
6.2

Technical score

Technical score
6.2/ 10
✕
What it is
How good the specs are compared with the other models in this category, 1–10.
How we count it
Areas: We rate the specs in each area against the other models in this category.
Weighting: The areas that matter most to buyers count more. The shares are shown under Score components.
Share: The technical score is 35% of the overall score.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 62% of models
Score components

42%

7.3

Image Quality

22%

4.6

Projection & Lens

12%

5.5

HDMI & Gaming

10%

6.0

Audio & Features

8%

5.5

Connectivity

6%

7.3

Design & Power

â–¼Worse than 62%
?

Reviews score

Reviews score
✕
What it is
Average grade from independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers, 1–10.
How we count it
Grades: Each review's own score is converted to 1–10; without one, we grade the review ourselves. Big test sites count more, short reviews half as much as full tests. A video review counts half.
Score: The average grade is 80% of the review mark; the number of reviews is the other 20% (1 review = 5, the typical number in this category = 8, the most-reviewed model = 10).
Enough data: With few reviews, the average grade is pulled toward the typical grade of this category. No reviews yet: 7.8 for now.
Share: Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Grades by review (0)
We have not found an independent test of this model yet. Until we do, its review part counts as 7.8.
User ratings collected online are not part of this score.
No expert tests yet
?

List score

List score
7.5/ 10
✕
What it is
How often independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers put this model in their best-of lists for this category.
How we count it
Points: The model in the most lists of this category gets 10; the others get 8 to 10 in proportion. In no list yet: 7.5. Lists count 30% of the overall score.
Enough data: Every list counts, even a single one. With fewer than 5 best-of lists in the category, this part is left out.
Lists with this model (0)
Not in any best-of list yet, so this part counts as 7.5. Models in a list get 8 to 10.
Not in any best-of list yet
  • sharp-xp-m421w-w
sharp-xp-m421w-w
Where to buy
    N/A~ £1,060
Best rankings
Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).All: ranking among all products in the database.
Loading category ranking...

Technical Specifications of projector Sharp XP-M421W

Technical score
Technical score
6.2/ 10
✕
What it is
How good the specs are compared with the other models in this category, 1–10.
How we count it
Areas: We rate the specs in each area against the other models in this category.
Weighting: The areas that matter most to buyers count more. The shares are shown under Score components.
Share: The technical score is 35% of the overall score.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 62% of models
Score components:

42%

7.3

Image Quality

22%

4.6

Projection & Lens

12%

5.5

HDMI & Gaming

10%

6.0

Audio & Features

8%

5.5

Connectivity

6%

7.3

Design & Power

6.2
Reviews score
7.8
List score
?
Value for money
Value for money
6.4/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the projector's overall rating with its cost.
When it matters
When you are looking for a projector with a good balance between quality and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 69% of models
Score components:

70%

7.1

Overall score

30%

4.9

Price

6.4
ANSI lumens
4,200
Market range: <280 – >4k
This projector reaches 4,200 ANSI lumens, brighter than 90.6% of projectors and equal to 0.3% of projectors.
Contrast ratio
50,000:1
This projector has a contrast ratio of 50000:1, higher than 69.3% of projectors and equal to 2.3% of projectors.
Native panel resolution
1280x800
This projector uses a native resolution of 1280x800, lower than 73.7% of projectors and equal to 8.2% of projectors.
Output resolution
1280x800
This projector supports output resolution up to 1280x800, lower than 74.8% of projectors and equal to 8.4% of projectors.
Projection technology
DLP
Show more
Throw ratio
1.19-1.54:1
Min throw distance
1.3 m
Market range: <0.5 m – >1.651 m
This projector needs a minimum throw distance of 1.3 m, longer than 72.2% of projectors and equal to 3.5% of projectors.
Max projection size
120 inch
Market range: <120 inch – >301 inch
This projector supports projection sizes up to 120 inch, smaller than 80.2% of projectors and equal to 10.7% of projectors.
Zoom ratio
1.3
Market range: <1.1 – >2.06
This projector offers a zoom ratio of 1.3, wider than 42.5% of projectors and equal to 14.4% of projectors.
Motorized zoom
no
This projector does not have motorised zoom. 14.8% of projectors offer this.
Show more
Input lag
?
Auto low latency mode (ALLM)
no
This projector does not switch to low-latency mode automatically. 16.1% of projectors offer this.
Variable refresh rate (VRR)
no
This projector does not support variable refresh rate. 1.8% of projectors offer this.
HDMI version
?
Max HDMI bandwidth
10.2 Gbps
Market range: <10.2 Gbps – >48 Gbps
This projector supports HDMI bandwidth up to 10.2 Gbps, lower than 51.2% of projectors and equal to 46.5% of projectors.
Show more
N. of HDMI ports
2
Market range: <1 – >2
This projector has 2 HDMI port/s, more than 45.9% of projectors and equal to 47.3% of projectors.
Wi-Fi connectivity
no
This projector does not connect to Wi-Fi networks. 53.4% of projectors offer this.
Wi-Fi version
N/A
Bluetooth connectivity
no
This projector does not support Bluetooth. 50.7% of projectors offer this.
Bluetooth version
N/A
Show more
Smart TV features
no
This projector does not have built-in smart TV features. 43.9% of projectors offer this.
Operating system
none
Android OS
no
This projector does not run Android OS. 19.1% of projectors run Android OS.
Dedicated smartphone app
no
This projector does not come with a dedicated smartphone app. 36.8% of projectors come with a dedicated smartphone app.
Remote control
yes
This projector includes a remote control. 1.5% of projectors offer this.
Show more
Light source type
laser
This projector uses laser light source technology, more advanced than 75.4% of projectors and equal to 24.6% of projectors.
Laser Phosphor.
Laser light source
yes
This projector has a laser light source. 73.3% of projectors offer this.
Lamp life
20,000 hours
Market range: <3.5k hours – >30k hours
This projector offers lamp life of 20,000 hours, shorter than 35.2% of projectors and equal to 25.8% of projectors.
Laser light source life.
Lamp life (eco mode)
20,000 hours
Market range: <5k hours – >30k hours
This projector offers eco-mode lamp life of 20,000 hours, shorter than 39.4% of projectors and equal to 17.9% of projectors.
Operating power consumption
195 W
Market range: <57 W – >390 W
This projector uses 195 W of power, less than 54.4% of projectors and equal to 0.2% of projectors.
Normal mode power draw.
Show more

Sharp XP-M421W vs the average projector

246810TotalImage QualityProjection & LensHDMI & GamingConnectivityAudio & FeaturesDesign & Power
  • 90.9% brighter image
    This projector has higher ANSI lumens than the average projector (4,200 vs 2,200). The average projector has 2,200 ANSI lumens.
    4,200 vs 2,200
  • Higher contrast ratio
    This projector has a higher contrast ratio than the average projector (50000:1 vs 10000:1). The average projector has 10000:1 of contrast ratio.
    50,000:1 vs 10,000:1
  • Laser light source
    This projector has a laser light source, while the average projector does not. 26.7% of projectors have one.
  • 0.18 inch larger DMD chip
    This projector has a higher DMD chip size than the average projector (0.7 inch vs 0.47 inch). The average projector has 0.47 inch of DMD chip size.
    0.65 inch vs 0.47 inch
  • 41.2% higher refresh rate
    This projector has a higher refresh rate than the average projector (120 Hz vs 85 Hz). The average projector has 85 Hz of refresh rate.
    120 Hz vs 85 Hz
  • 1 more audio input ports
    This projector has more audio input ports than the average projector (1 vs 0). The average projector has 0 audio input ports.
    1 vs 0
  • 1 more RJ45 ports
    This projector has more RJ45 ports than the average projector (1 vs 0). The average projector has 0 RJ45 ports.
    1 vs 0
  • 3 more recent release
    This projector was released more recently than the average projector (2024 vs 2021). The average projector was released in 2021.
    July 2024
    2024 vs 2021
  • 90.9% brighter image
    This projector has higher ANSI lumens than the average projector (4,200 vs 2,200). The average projector has 2,200 ANSI lumens.
    4,200 vs 2,200
  • Higher contrast ratio
    This projector has a higher contrast ratio than the average projector (50000:1 vs 10000:1). The average projector has 10000:1 of contrast ratio.
    50,000:1 vs 10,000:1
  • 0.18 inch larger DMD chip
    This projector has a higher DMD chip size than the average projector (0.7 inch vs 0.47 inch). The average projector has 0.47 inch of DMD chip size.
    0.65 inch vs 0.47 inch
  • 41.2% higher refresh rate
    This projector has a higher refresh rate than the average projector (120 Hz vs 85 Hz). The average projector has 85 Hz of refresh rate.
    120 Hz vs 85 Hz
  • 3 more recent release
    This projector was released more recently than the average projector (2024 vs 2021). The average projector was released in 2021.
    July 2024
    2024 vs 2021
  • 1 more RJ45 ports
    This projector has more RJ45 ports than the average projector (1 vs 0). The average projector has 0 RJ45 ports.
    1 vs 0
  • 1 more audio input ports
    This projector has more audio input ports than the average projector (1 vs 0). The average projector has 0 audio input ports.
    1 vs 0
  • Laser light source
    This projector has a laser light source, while the average projector does not. 26.7% of projectors have one.
  • 2 dB quieter eco mode
    This projector has a lower audible noise in eco mode than the average projector (26 dB vs 28 dB). The average projector has 28 dB of audible noise in eco mode.
    26 dB vs 28 dB
  • No HDR10 support
    This projector does not support HDR10, while the average projector does. 57.6% of projectors support HDR10.
  • Limited HDMI format
    This projector supports a less capable max HDMI input format than the average projector (1920x1200/60Hz vs 4K/120Hz). The average projector supports a max HDMI input format of 4K/120Hz.
    1920x1200/60Hz vs 4K/120Hz
  • 2 bit lower color depth
    This projector has a lower color depth than the average projector (8 bit vs 10 bit). The average projector has 10 bit of color depth.
    8 bit vs 10 bit
  • 130 inch smaller image size
    This projector has a lower projection size than the average projector (120 inch vs 250 inch). The average projector has 250 inch of projection size.
    120 inch vs 250 inch
  • Low native resolution
    This projector has a lower native panel resolution than the average projector (1280x800 vs 1920x1080). The average projector has a native panel resolution of 1920x1080.
    1280x800 vs 1920x1080
  • Lower output resolution
    This projector supports a lower output resolution than the average projector (1280x800 vs 1920x1080). The average projector outputs at 1920x1080 resolution.
    1280x800 vs 1920x1080
  • 43.3% lower HDMI bandwidth
    This projector has a lower HDMI bandwidth than the average projector (10.2 Gbps vs 18 Gbps). The average projector has 18 Gbps of HDMI bandwidth.
    10.2 Gbps vs 18 Gbps
  • No Wi-Fi connectivity
    This projector does not connect to Wi-Fi networks, while the average projector does. 53.4% of projectors offer this.
  • 8.3% worse value for money
    Sharp XP-M421W has a lower value-for-money score than the average projector (6.41 vs 6.9).
    6.41 vs 6.95
  • 60.6% more expensive
    Sharp XP-M421W is more expensive than the average projector (£1,060 vs £660).
    £1,060 vs £660
  • No HDR10 support
    This projector does not support HDR10, while the average projector does. 57.6% of projectors support HDR10.
  • 2 bit lower color depth
    This projector has a lower color depth than the average projector (8 bit vs 10 bit). The average projector has 10 bit of color depth.
    8 bit vs 10 bit
  • Low native resolution
    This projector has a lower native panel resolution than the average projector (1280x800 vs 1920x1080). The average projector has a native panel resolution of 1920x1080.
    1280x800 vs 1920x1080
  • Lower output resolution
    This projector supports a lower output resolution than the average projector (1280x800 vs 1920x1080). The average projector outputs at 1920x1080 resolution.
    1280x800 vs 1920x1080
  • 130 inch smaller image size
    This projector has a lower projection size than the average projector (120 inch vs 250 inch). The average projector has 250 inch of projection size.
    120 inch vs 250 inch
  • 0.29 m longer throw distance
    This projector has a higher throw distance than the average projector (1.3 m vs 1 m). The average projector has 1.0055 m of throw distance.
    1.3 m vs 1.0055 m
  • Limited HDMI format
    This projector supports a less capable max HDMI input format than the average projector (1920x1200/60Hz vs 4K/120Hz). The average projector supports a max HDMI input format of 4K/120Hz.
    1920x1200/60Hz vs 4K/120Hz
  • 43.3% lower HDMI bandwidth
    This projector has a lower HDMI bandwidth than the average projector (10.2 Gbps vs 18 Gbps). The average projector has 18 Gbps of HDMI bandwidth.
    10.2 Gbps vs 18 Gbps
  • No Wi-Fi connectivity
    This projector does not connect to Wi-Fi networks, while the average projector does. 53.4% of projectors offer this.
  • No Bluetooth connectivity
    This projector does not support Bluetooth, while the average projector does. 50.6% of projectors offer this.
  • 20% weaker audio output
    This projector has a lower audio output power than the average projector (8 W vs 10 W). The average projector has 10 W of audio output power.
    8 W vs 10 W
  • 5 dB louder operation
    This projector has a higher audible noise than the average projector (36 dB vs 31 dB). The average projector has 31 dB of audible noise.
    36 dB vs 31 dB
  • 66 mm thicker body
    This projector is thicker than the average projector (216 mm vs 150 mm). The average projector has a thickness of 150 mm.
    216 mm vs 150 mm

Third-party reviews

What customers like about Sharp XP-M421W

  • Long-lasting laser light source (up to 20,000 hours in ECO mode) eliminates the need for lamp replacements.
  • Maintenance-free, filter-free DLP design reduces total cost of ownership.
  • High brightness of 4,200 lumens makes it suitable for well-lit rooms like classrooms and meeting spaces.
  • Compact and lightweight design (approx. 3 kg) enhances portability and installation flexibility.
  • Quick setup features including direct power on and quick power off.
  • Relatively quiet operation in ECO mode at 26 dB.

What customers don't like about Sharp XP-M421W

  • Native resolution is limited to WXGA (1280 x 800), which is lower than modern Full HD or 4K standards.
  • Lacks advanced adjustment features such as vertical or horizontal lens shift.
  • Lacks built-in smart TV features, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth for direct streaming.
  • Focus and zoom are manual only, with no motorized options for remote adjustment.
  • Built-in 8W speaker is mono, which may be insufficient for larger rooms without external audio.
  • Concerns raised by some experts regarding whether the cited 4,200 lumen brightness follows industry-standard measurements.

Verdict

The Sharp XP-M421W-W is a compact laser DLP projector designed for classrooms and small meeting spaces, offering a brightness of 4,200 lumens and a native WXGA (1280 x 800) resolution with a 16:10 aspect ratio. Its main characteristics include a 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, a 1.3x manual zoom lens, and a long-lasting laser phosphor light source capable of up to 20,000 hours in ECO mode. Key pros include a maintenance-free, filter-less design, quick power-on/off functionality, and a lightweight 3.0 kg build for portability. Notable cons include its lower-than-HD native resolution, lack of motorized zoom or focus, and the absence of vertical or horizontal lens shift for installation flexibility.

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