A 1DLP laser projector uses one DLP chip (or DMD) and places a rapidly spinning color wheel between the chip and a light source to produce an image. This can also be achieved electronically with LEDs or RGB pure laser as the light source. 3DLP projectors use one DMD for each primary color of light — red, green, and blue — which are optically converged to produce a single, full-color image.
Newer 1DLP projectors are edging closer to 3DLP performance as their brightness capabilities increase, 4K UHD resolution becomes more common, and contrast levels and color reproduction improve.
When you see massive projections on the side of a building, or large-scale immersive experiences and live events, this is most likely 3DLP projection in action. With 3DLP, you also typically have higher frame rate options than 1DLP for superior dynamic image quality. When it comes to brightness, hue, and saturation, 3DLP projectors are the best in the industry.