Epson 4010 vs 5050ub Comparison in 2024

Epson 4010 and 5050 are two of the finest projection units for an immersive home theater experience. These nearly identical-looking models have a lot in common but are also slightly different from each other.

Beyond the features and integrated technologies, they have identical housing. At first glance, you may not identify them separately, however, a golden ring on 5050UB allows their easy identification.

Our Epson Home Cinema 5050UB vs. Epson Home Cinema 4010 comparison will state the important differences between the two that make them strong and unique. Get to know each unit separately before heading to the comparison.

Epson 4010 vs 5050ub

The main difference between Epson 4040 vs 5050 is not just some minor cosmetic detail. Despite dozens of similarities, these models have many notable differences.

Epson 5050ub marches forward with high overall brightness and dynamic contrast ratio.

Although both projection units offer solid color accuracy, it is 5050 that gets the crown for 12-bit color depth for both SDR and HDR content.

Besides, they have slightly different connectivity ports to connect multimedia devices. Epson 4010 is lauded for being an affordable, budget-friendly UHD projector.

Epson 4010

This quality under $2000 4K-enhanced projector brings fantastic value for home theater enthusiasts.

If you are looking for a projector that accepts 4K UHD sources, the search ends here. 3LCD technology gives it immunity to rainbow artifacts and color brightness issues.

It is an improved version of HC 4000 with brightness and contrast bumped to 2400 lumens and 200,000:1.

Sharp high-contrast images are further complemented with outstanding color accuracy.

Full 10-bit HDR3 color processing and True 3-Chip design cover the entire DCI-P3 color space for exceptional visual performance.

Image alignment is quite easy with 2.1x zoom, 47% vertical lens shift, and 0096% horizontal lens shift.

Epson 5050

This projector got many upgrades in terms of resolution enhancement, color, brightness, and image processing.

It faithfully reproduces an image as it was intended to be seen. The 4K enhancement technology guarantees superb overall picture quality.

Beyond that, the high native image contrast projects deep, contrast-y, dark shadows and bright, popping highlights.

It displays dark scenes better without turning the black to grey. It displays accurate colors with a wider color gamut covering 100% of the P3/BT.2020 color range.

Ample lens shift and motorized zoom allow the viewer to adjust the image easily without changing the projector’s position.

As this bulky projector is meant for permanent installations, these image adjustment features will help get a proportioned picture.

Epson 4010 vs Epson 5050 Comparison

This in-depth, detailed comparison will help you invest in the right projector and figure out if it is worth the money.

Contrast Ratio

Contrast improves video quality significantly by ensuring deeper blacks and brighter whites.

HC 4010 lags behind with a mere 200,000:1 contrast ratio. It also lacks ultra-black technology, therefore, dark scenes may appear a little washed out.

Epson 5050ub has a whopping 1,000,000 contrast ratio, quite high as compared to 4010.

Besides the high contrast, it features Epson’s exclusive UltraBlack technology which adopts a series of proprietary polarizing filters to increase contrast and darker black levels.

Brightness

4010 has 2400 lumens of brightness, delivering nearly the same rated light output in the brightest modes.

Depending on the power setting and selected mode, the ANSI lumen may vary. For instance, a high-power setting will have significantly higher brightness than ECO mode.

Epson 5050 is a tad brighter than 4010 with 2600 lumens brightness. Contrary to popular belief, a couple of extra hundred lumens matter in projecting a significantly brighter picture.

Unlike 4010, the manual iris control allows easier overall brightness adjustment in any viewing mode.

HDR

The 4010 projector supports High Dynamic Range to show light and dark details clearly.

Epson 5050UB also supports HDR, in addition, it has HLG capabilities that promise brighter highlights, more impact, and improved color.

HDR Adjustments

The Epson 4010 4K UHD projector has four distinct HDR settings to boost the overall brightness of the image.

Epson 5050UB has more advanced HDR adjustments with a 16-step slider. It offers more control for fine-tuning the tone map for the HDR content. Dedicated controls on the remote allow easy adjustment and fine-tuned cinematic experience.

Color Depth

Epson 4010 allows 12-bit color depth for SDR and only 10-bits for HDR. Moreover, the 4010 HDR is restricted to 4K/24 Hz signals with 10-bit.

Epson 5050UB guarantees greater color accuracy with 12-bit color depth for both SDR and HDR content. Unlike 4010, it supports HDR at 4K/60 Hz.

Connectivity

Epson 4040 has 1x HDMI (HDCP 2.2), 1x HDMI (HDCP 1.4), USB Type A, and 1x USB (for wireless and firmware).

Epson 5050UB has 2x HDMI 2.0 (HDCP 2.2), USB Type A, 1x USB, 1x Mini USB, LAN (RJ45), and 1x Computer/D-sub.

Image Comparison Between HC 4010 vs HC 5050UB

After calibrating both models, the two almost offer similar picture quality. However, the difference was quite notable in dark scenes where 5050UB has an edge due to the high contrast ratio and Ultra-Black technology.

Epson is definitely a winner in picture quality by a slight margin. It delivers darker black, increased shadow details, and better contrast, making it easier to see details.

Which One is Better?

Although the ultimate winner is 5050UB, however, is it worth the price? These two models are a lot similar to each other, only with a few differences. You will get nearly identical picture quality with 4010, that too, under $2000.

Setup, installation, brightness for 2D and 3D, projection screen size, weight, and image adjustment functions are almost identical.

For a few simple upgrades, having such a high price of over $3000 does not make sense. If you want graphically-detailed projection with additional optimization for darker scenes, invest in 5050UB and the viewer will not be disappointed.

Conclusion

Like other electronics, both models have some notable advantages and limitations. If you have been struggling to pick one, pen down your requirements and the environment where the projector will be placed to make a rational decision.

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