Struggling Taiwanese projector brand Optoma has begun cutting staff in Australia as part of a major global restructure, with former Sales & Marketing Manager Rod Sommerich describing the reductions as “significant.”

The move comes after years of pressure from aggressive competitors including BenQ, JVC, Epson, Sony, Acer, ViewSonic and even Panasonic, all of whom have been steadily growing their share of the gaming, home entertainment, and 4K projection categories. Optoma’s Australian team is now among those affected by the company-wide cuts.

Former Optoma Sales & Marketing Manager Rod Sommerich

Sommerich confirmed the changes in a LinkedIn post, writing: “Due to a worldwide reorganization, Optoma has decided to significantly reduce staff levels. I, along with many others, have been thanked for our service.”

It remains unclear how many additional employees have been retrenched globally or locally.

The business that has failed to invest in marketing or building a brand presence in Australia has also struggled to issue press releases.

Across review platforms, users have highlighted recurring concerns about projector noise—especially when running at higher brightness levels or in lamp mode. In the home cinema segment, reviewers often note that while Optoma performs well for general use, its models can lag behind competitors when it comes to cinematic black levels, HDR performance, and overall contrast. Some models also require more throw distance than rival units, making them less practical for smaller rooms or apartment setups.

The company has not issued an official statement to ChannelNews regarding the cuts or its future strategy.

Background: About Optoma

Founded in 2000, Optoma is a brand owned by Coretronic Corporation, the world’s largest OEM manufacturer of projectors. Leveraging Coretronic’s manufacturing scale, Optoma entered the market with the aim of transitioning from an OEM supplier to a standalone global projector brand.

Over the past two decades, Optoma has built a presence across consumer, education, enterprise, and professional AV markets, with a particular emphasis on DLP (Digital Light Processing) technology. The company has been known for delivering cost-effective projectors, short-throw models for gaming, and portable projection solutions.

However, despite its manufacturing advantages, Optoma has faced increasing competition in the premium home theatre, 4K, and gaming markets—segments dominated by larger brands with broader ecosystems, more aggressive R&D, and deeper marketing budgets. While Optoma retains a loyal user base, its market traction has weakened in recent years, contributing to the need for restructuring and cost-cutting across multiple regions.

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