Dell 1610HD WXGA Projector Projector Review

September 01, 2015 · Dell

Although it was launched five years ago, the 1610HD remains a staple in Dell’s line-up of projectors. There is a lot to love about the 1610HD. It delivers substantial brightness, 3,500 lumens; it’s light and portable; image quality and color performance is accurate and without minimal distortion. And it’s priced just right: The projector starts at $749 from Dell. [caption id="attachment_1228" align="aligncenter" width="333"]

Dell 1610HD Projector[/caption] One thing to consider: the Dell 1610HD is a WXGA resolution (1280x800) projector. That’s an improvement from many data projectors in the XGA resolution, but it leaves something to be desired when projecting Full HD (1920x1080) content like video and images. In other words, as a data projector the Dell 1610HD is an incredible data projection tool – for classrooms, churches, and businesses. But it’s not the best replacement for the home theater: The lower resolution just doesn’t hold up when running movies, video games or 3-D content. So if you need a presentation tool – with occasional video – this projector will help you accomplish that. But if you use video frequently, you’d be better served upgrading to a Full HD projector. A Quick Look at the 1610HD’s Specs and Features [caption id="attachment_1229" align="aligncenter" width="1500"]

Dell 1610HD Projector - Rear[/caption] The 1610HD is a clear step up from the 1510HD, Dell’s previous XGA projector that’s now out-of-production. The 1610HD has a higher resolution for starters WXGA vs XGA. But the 1610HD also features:

Great Image Quality, Color Performance: Backed up by the 3,500-lumen output and a 2,100:1 contrast ratio, the DLP-based 1610 creates crisp and vibrant images. Plus, the projector is equipped with BrilliantColor technology to enhance the colors. In some cases, the output can be somewhat muted, but for presentations, black-on-white text has great clarity with mild rainbow artifacts present. Performance, in other words, is above average when it comes to data images.
Long Lamp Life: Compared to similarly priced DLP projectors, the Dell 1610HD gets long life from its lamp. In standard operating mode, the lamp is rated at 3,000 hours of life, and in economy mode, the projector can run for up to 4,000 hours. If buying used, the Dell 1610HD replacement lamp and module, also known as 330-6581, is affordable – at just north of $205 for the lamp and module.
Useful Portability: In terms of size and weight, the 1610 is super portable. It measures 3.5x11.7x8 inches and weighs about 5 pounds. This projector can go wherever you want to take it, and it comes with a standard carrying case. Unfortunately, the zoom ratio is below average, at 1.2:1, and there is no lens shift. So you operators are a little limited in terms of fitting the image to the screen.
A Variety of Connections: For a projector released in 2010, the 1610 has all the connections you can expect from similarly priced projectors – even those released today. The 1610 has an HDMI port, 2 VGA input ports, S-Video, 3 RCA connections, and a USB-B port, which makes it possible to hook up a wireless remote. The one useful connection its missing is the USB-A, which enables operators to plug-and-play content from a USB drive.
Competent Audio Output: The 1610HD is equipped with an 8-watt speaker that provides enough volume to fill small- to medium-sized spaces. Yet, in the noisiest locations, operators may opt for external audio, as at higher volumes, some have noted there’s noticeable distortion.
Average Video, 3D Performance: The biggest pitfall of the Dell 1610HD is its video and 3D performance. Video can slightly lag, and although it’s capable of displaying Full HD content, it has to be scaled. 3D performance, on the other hand, is a bit below average for a $749 projector. If you rely on video or 3D content, you might opt for a Full HD projector.

Bottom Line: the Dell 1610HD Is a Useful Presentation Projector For the price, the 1610HD provides what presenters are looking for: contrast and brightness, a range of connections, and lightweight portability. The Dell 1610HD holds its own these days, compared to projectors released in the last 6 months. Unfortunately, the video performance seems a little dated. But if you use video only occasionally, you won’t likely notice. If you’re looking for a budget projector for the classroom or a conference space, you can get a lot of useful hours out of the 1610HD.