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Since the days of clunky, dim projectors in the past, things have improved a lot. Projectors today are much more modern, sleeker, less intrusive, and easier than ever to install. You can also get a larger picture than you would see on a TV, without having to spend a lot. The best projectors for home theater lovers who want to experience true cinematic experiences at home are highly recommended.
Over the last year, we’ve seen models bright enough to use in a normal room, short-throw models that take up very little space and have built-in sound bars, and better picture quality than ever with 4K and Dolby Vision features. For as low as $1,000, you can get 4K HDR models capable of projecting images up to 150 inches. That’s around the same price and over double the size of a decent 65-inch TV, giving you something close to true movie theater immersion with a home theater projector.
There are many types of projectors available, from portable to long-throw, to ultra-short-throw, to portable. You need to be familiar with terms such as lens shift, DLP vs LCD, laser vs. illumination, and many others. This guide will help explain all of that to ensure that you purchase the best projector that suits your needs and fits within your budget.
The technology
Here’s the basic information: Projectors typically use DLP and LCD technology. They’re fundamentally different systems, with their own advantages and drawbacks.
Falling prices in laser illumination technology have fueled the rise of ultra-short-throw projectors as well as brighter, longer-lasting models. Lasers are a far better solution than lamps, because they’re brighter and last far longer — up to 30,000 hours instead of 6,000. That’s essentially a lifetime of use (about 10 years).
DLPs or digital light processor units are the preferred choice for projector makers. These units are manufactured almost exclusively by Texas Instruments (TI). The digital micromirror device, also known as a DMD (digital micromirror device), is the heart of this tech. It contains millions upon millions of aluminum mirrors. These mirrors can be tilted either towards the light source (on), or away (off) at up-to 5,000 times per second.
Budget projectors like BenQ’s HT3550i use TI’s 0.47-inch DMD, while higher end models, like the Samsung Premium LSP9T use the 0.66-inch chip. Both mirrors tilt by +12 or -12 degrees for white or black. However, TI recently introduced a new version. DMD with 4K capability, 0.47 inchesYou can tilt the device to increase brightness and contrast by +/-17°.
Optoma (LG), BenQ, Panasonic, Optoma (LG), BenQ, and Panasonic are all DLP projector producers. These projectors are portable, have high contrast and are less expensive than other models, particularly 4K and ultra-short throw models. The main drawback is the rainbow effect. This refers to bright red/blue/green artifacts which can affect certain viewers more than others.
An LCD tech uses a prism, which splits a light source in red, green and/or blue beams. Those then pass through LCD displays containing the image and converge via another prism before passing through the projector’s lens.
Epson, Sony, Sanyo, among others, is the most common user of LCD technology. LCD projectors are sharper, more efficient, and more accurate in color, but they can also have image degradation and lower contrast. In general, they’re also more expensive.
What ToWhat should you look for?In a projector
Ultra-short-throw
Ultra-short-throw projectsors have been a hot category since our last update. They offer several advantages. You can mount them close to the wall like a TV, with no need to run wires through the walls and ceiling, but still get an immersive image as large as 120 inches — something that’s impossible with a TV unless you’re very rich. They use brighter lasers that never need to be replaced — and because laser light is collimated, focusing is eliminated.
They’re also physically less awkward to install than a ceiling-mounted projector, though that doesn’t mean installation is super easy. For the best screen alignment and fit, place them at an exact height from your screen or wall. This can be quite a pain, as I’ve Discovered.
Also, a flat wall or projector screen is essential. Ultra-short-throw projectors are able to beam at an acute angle so shadows will be visible. For that reason, you can’t use a roll-down screen because they have slight ripples.
A screen that rejects ambient light (ALR), is the best option for getting great results. These screens have tiny ridges that reflect light back from the bottom to your eyes but absorb all light (i.e. ambient light) from the top. For one of those, you’ll need to budget at least $450 Way up. ALR screens can be added to some projectors (e.g., HiSense models).
Elite Starling
Contrast and brightness
You can find home theater projectors with brightness levels between 2,000 and 4,000 lumens. But you need to be careful about these numbers. Although some models can reach as high as 3,000 lumens, it will reduce the quality of the bulb and decrease its lifespan. Manufacturers tend to exaggerate the maximum brightness.
For reference, 4K flat panel TVs can reach 1,000 nits brightness. However, the brightest consumer projectors display only 100 to 150 nits. That’s not as big a deal as it might seem, because projector images are much larger and meant to be used in dark rooms, where your eyes will automatically adjust to the light and “brighten” the image.
Projectors also have a significantly different contrast. Unlike OLED TVs, projectors don’t allow for zero black levels because of ambient light, reflections and other reasons. You also can’t have local dimming zones found on LED TVs for true blacks. Some projectors do have a dynamic iris to improve the contrast scene-by-scene, but those can often produce a “pumping” effect, with the image dimming or brightening in mid-scene.
Mounting and fan noise
Regular long throw projectors have the advantage of being able to mount them on the ceiling. If you plan to do that, don’t forget to budget for a mounting bracket and any necessary long cables, including extra power for Google’s finicky Chromecast. It’s much easier to mount a DLP projector than an LCD model.
Some projectors emit more noise than others. The higher the amount you spend on projectors, the quieter they will be. The new 4K DLP projectors are very noisy when they’re in 4K mode. Another cool thing is that you can take your projector outside to enjoy magical night screenings beneath the stars if it’s portable or easy to set up.
HDR and resolution
They could take up entire articles, similar to projectors. In fact, they have — for a deeper dive, take a look at Projector Central’s excellent takes on HDR resolution.
The resolution aspect is where the projectors are most costly. Most movie theaters use native 4K resolution. 2K projectorsFor There are many reasons. To achieve 4K resolution, DLP projectors are relatively affordable and can use pixel shifting. The system can emit each pixel four times and move it to the right position for a 4K image in less than one-fifth of a second. As such, it puts as many pixels on the screen in the same amount of time as a 4K native projector — and visually, it performs nearly as well.
On the other hand, Epson’s LCD “4K enhanced” projectors also have 1080p native resolution, but the image is just shifted twice, not four times. These projectors do not support native 4K resolution, but they produce twice the number of pixels as a 1080p projector. If you really want a 4K native projector, you’ll have to pay: two of the cheapest ones are Sony’s VPL-VW295ES ($5,000) and JVC’s DLA-NX5 ($5,000).
HDR is very different on projectors than TVs. As mentioned, projectors can’t produce anywhere close to the amount of light required (1,000 nits) to qualify as true HDR. Tone-mapping is a technique that allows projectors to convert the whole HDR spectrum into a lower range of brightness.
Almost all projectors support HDR10. Only one supports DolbyVision (the Xiaomi Laser Cinema 2 only). Officially available in China), and just a couple of models work with Samsung’s HDR10+ — and those are Samsung’s own Premiere 4K models. Most models support a 10-bit wider color gamut, which allows for better color reproduction.
Samsung
Optics
Mounting a projector between 5 and 25 feet in length, it is important to check the zoom range and the lens shift option. It will be easier to mount your projector in the exact location you desire with the right screen size.
Lens shift is used when the projector is placed higher or lower than the recommended height (or at any horizontal distance from the center) than the manufacturer recommends. This creates a trapezoidal-shaped image. However, by using lens shift you can optically square it up. You might need to use “keystone correction”, which digitally shrinks or expands a portion of the image. This can cause visible distortions or pixel artifacts. Some projector models may not support digital correction in gaming modes.
Gaming
If you’re interested in a projector for gaming, you’ll want to look up the refresh rate and input lag figures. Viewsonic and Optoma have new projectors that offer 240 Hz 1080p refresh rates, as well as input lag settings of 4 or 5 milliseconds. Some projectors that are more intended for home entertainment, however, have extremely low input lag and refresh rate settings at 60 Hz.
Portable projectors
Portable projectors have finally become so popular that it merits discussion. They’re relatively cheap, compact and portable and can run on batteries – making them ideal for entertainment outside or while camping. They’re not nearly as bright as other projectors, of course, but are more designed for a fun night of entertainment under the stars.
Engadget picks
As with previous updates, I’m dividing projectors into ultra-short-throw and long-throw categories. Because of their superior performance and convenience, ultra short-throw models have quickly established themselves in the market. Every manufacturer sells at least one model. Within the ultra-short-throw category, We’ll compare two price categories: under $7,000 and $3,500, with three projectors each. In the long-throw category, we’re again looking at projectors under $1,000, $2,000 and $6,000, with three products in each range. Finally, we’ll take a look at the best portable projectors.
Projectors with ultra-short throw under $3,500
LG CineBeam H715Q
LG’s nice-looking HU715QThe new king of ultra short-throw (UST), projectors is the X-Projector – thanks to its picture quality, technology and affordable $3,000 price. With a 20,000-30,000 hour laser light source, it delivers 2,500 ANSI lumens, along with accurate colors across 86 percent of the DCI-P3 gamut – enough for most HDR content. You will also find frame-byframe tone mapping and HDR10 and HLG support.
While the specs of rival models are similar, the HU715Q is superior in sound quality and technology. Although the 20-watt 2-way stereos are excellent on their own, you can add Bluetooth speakers from LG or other brands to create surround sound. The standout feature, though, is LG’s webOS smart TV capabilities that give you Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime and other apps, all with full 4K HDR support and surround sound, including eARC output for Dolby Atmos and lossless audio. It supports HDMI 2.1 as well as full 4K (4.096 x 2.160) which is better than UHD.
Amazon: LG CineBeam H715Q – $3000
Optoma CinemaX P2
Steve Dent / Engadget
Optoma’s CinemaX P2 made our list last year, but it’s still a great choice because the price has dropped considerably. It has a 3,000 lumen brightness, an impressive contrast ratio, and accurately colors with 80 percent DCI–P3 coverage. It’s not quite as sharp as the pricier projectors, as it uses TI’s 0.47-inch rather than 0.66-inch DLP tech, though you’ll still get a near-4K image.
The CinemaX P2 comes in white and not the dark grey of the P1. Its 40-watt NuForce dolby digital 2.0 soundbar is a great choice for ultra-short-throw projectors. On the downside, it does offer apps but they’re not as good as you’ll find on, say, Google’s Chromecast.
Optoma CinemaX p2 on Amzon: $3,300
BenQ V7050i
BenQ’s first UST laser projectorThe price tag is $3,500 and it has some amazing capabilities. It has a light output of 2,500 ANSI lumens, and a full 98 per cent DCI-P3 coverage. This projector offers the best HDR experience you can get. A Filmmaker Mode allows you to see colors exactly as the directors intended. It’s powered by Android TV so you get all the streaming services and apps you want, along with apps, games and more. Unfortunately, it lacks decent speakers. It only has two 5-watt speakers that produce clear sound with limited bass.
Epson EpiqVision LS300W
If you’re okay with 1080p projection, Epson’s EpiqVision Ultra LS300WThis is a great option due to its design, sound quality, built-in Android TV, and extremely 3,600 ANSI lumens brightness. This allows for excellent connectivity, a wide color range with no rainbow effect and excellent sound quality without the need to purchase a soundbar. Best of all, it’s priced at just $2,000, making it one of the cheaper short-throw projectors out there.
Amazon: EpiqVision Ultra L300W – $2,000
Ultra-short-throw projectors below $7,000
Samsung Premium LSP9T
Samsung has two models of ultra-short throw projectors in its lineup. This is a popular entertainment category. Lifestyle TV series. The $5,500 LSP9TThis is the premium model, and it definitely has some premium specs. With separate red, green and blue lasers, it covers 106 percent of the full Rec.2020 color range (147 percent of DCI-P3) — something we’ve rarely, if ever seen on any TV or even pro monitor.
It has a bright 2,800 lumens, and a high 1,500:1 ANSI ratio. As it uses TI’s higher-resolution 0.66-inch DLP chip (with pixel shifting), you get as close as you can to true 4K without investing in a native 4K projector. The LSP9T was the first projector to be rated for 4K. HDR10+ — Samsung’s AnswerDolby Vision. On top of all that, the LSP9T delivers 40 watts of audio using Samsung’s Acoustic Beam technology, while offering Samsung’s well-regarded Tizen-powered Smart TV platform.
Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS500
Epson
If you need the brightest possible image, Epson’s LCD-powered EpiqVision Ultra LS500 ($3,899) delivers. It’s rated at up to 4,000 lumens, making it one of the brightest ultra-short-throw projectors in any price range. The projector is also compatible with HDR modes in HDR10, HDR10LgG and comes with both 100-inch ALR screens and 120-inch ALR screens. This makes the price effective lower. It only has twice the resolution of 1080p as opposed to four times that of comparable DLP technology. It also has a weak, 10-watt speaker system.
Amazon: EpiqVision LS500, $3,900
HiSense L9G
This is HiSense’s new $4,300 flagship UST that uses a tricolor laser to achieve high brightness (3,000 ANSI lumens) and an incredible 107 percent BT.2020 HDR coverage, topping even Samsung’s formidable LSP9T. It boasts a powerful 40W Dolby Audio sound system and an Android TV with Google Assistant, Alexa and Google Assistant built in. The best part is that it comes with a 100-inch ALR Daylight display. For an additional $500, you can add a 120-inch ALR cinemascreen.
Amazon: HiSense l9G for $4,300
Projectors You can find us atBelow $1,000
Viewsonic PX701-4K
There are very few 4K projectors available under $1,000, and Viewsonic’s $900 PX701-4KIt is the latest. It offers outstanding performance for the price. You get 4K HDR with 3,200 lumens of brightness via TI’s .47-inch DLP chip. Gaming enthusiasts will be pleased to know that you can receive 1080p signals at up to 220Hz with a 5 millisecond input delay. The drawbacks are a limited 1.1x optical zoom, so you’ll need to make sure it fits in your space.
Amazon: Viewsonic X701-4K for $900
BenQ HT2050A
BenQ
The BenQ costs around $700 HT2050AStill one of the best 1080p budget projectors. It delivers with excellent contrast (ANSI 1,574 to 1) and color accuracy. It is also reasonably bright with 2,200 lumens when in “vivid”. For maximum installation flexibility, the device comes with a vertical lens shift option and zoom of 1.3x. There are some drawbacks, such as excessive fan noise, rainbow effect, and red-tinted 3-D.
Optoma HD146X
If you’re looking to spend a little less, the Optoma HD146XIt is your best choice. DLP technology delivers 1080p at up 3600 lumens. It has excellent brightness, contrast, black levels, and color accuracy. Gaming is also possible with a decent (16.4 millisecond) input delay. There are three drawbacks to this system: a single HDMI port and poor built-in audio.
Optoma HD146X on Amazon for $650
Projectors under $2,000
BenQ HT3550i
BenQ’s $1,600 4K HT3550i is an update to last year’s HT3550, but with a huge addition: Android TV. With that, you get multi-platform wireless projection from Android and iOS devices via Chromecast or Airplay — a huge plus compared to rival projectors. The projector offers high-quality 4K color reproduction in HDR as well as SDR. It’s comparable to projectors twice the price. The dynamic iris produces excellent contrast, but only 2,000 lumens of brightness. The device has a 1.3x zoom, vertical lens shift option, and a very good built-in speaker. Although the fan noise is still there, it is less than before.
If brightness is more important than picture quality, take a look at BenQ’s $1,500 TK850i instead. This TV also includes Android TV. It delivers a lot more brightness (3,000 lumens) but lower quality picture.
Optoma UHD38
Optoma
For extra brightness and speed for gaming, the answer is Optoma’s all-new, $1,600 4K-capable UHD38. It cranks the lumens up to 4,000 and like the Viewsonic PX701-4K, offers 240Hz gaming at 1080p with one of the lowest latency figures we’ve seen yet in a projector at 4.2 milliseconds. You can still play 4K 60Hz gaming with 16.7 milliseconds lag. This is quite fast for 4K. It’s optimized more for gaming than entertainment unlike BenQ’s HT3550i, but it can still handle HDR10 and HLG. It can support zoom, but only 1.1x.
Optoma HD38 on Amazon – $1,400
Epson Home Cinema 4K Pro 4010
Epson’s $2,000 Home Cinema 4010 4K PROThis projector is the best value for money, with features such as 2,400 lumen brightness, dynamic Iris, motorized zoom (2.1x), focus, lens shift, and motorized zoom (2x). The Epson projector is also excellent in picture quality, with 100 percent coverage of the DCI P3 color space in cinema mode using both HDR10 or HLG. The projector also boasts near-4K resolution using 1,920×1,080 LCD image chips that allow for pixel shifting. The HDMI 1.4 ports don’t support 60Hz 4K.
If you need that, want to pay a bit less and don’t care about the motorized focus, Epson’s $1,700 Home Cinema 3080 4K PROThis is the best way to go. Similar features to HDR10, HLG, and it supports 4K 60p through the HDMI 2.0b ports. There’s no motorization and the zoom drops to 1.6x, but it supports generous tilt, shift and zoom ranges.
Buy Home Cinema 4010 4K Pro at Amazon – $2,000
Projectors under $6,000
Epson Home Cinema LS11000 laser
Fans of Epson’s LCD projectors will be interested in This modelThe laser light source was a major update to the LC-1000 LCD. This raises the brightness level to 2,500 ANSI lumens. Three 1080p LCDs have a pixel shifter that quadruples the resolution to 4K. This LCD is very accurate with HDR10, HLG, and offers great gaming capabilities thanks to its 120 Hz refresh speed, 20-millisecond input lag, and HDMI 2.0 support. A 3-way motorized lens and scene adaptive correction are included for just $4,000.
Crunchfield Home Cinema LS11000 for $4,000
Optoma UHZ65LV
Optoma’s $6,000 UHZ65LVA long-lasting laser light source is used to produce a 5,000 lumen image. This is brighter than any lamp-powered projector. The TI 0.66 inch DLP chip enables it to deliver true 4K resolution of up to 60p. It is ideal for HDR10 and HLG content because of its extra brightness. It has desirable features, such as a 1.6x zoom or vertical lens shift, that make it a long-throw projector.
Buy Optoma UHZ65LV at B&H – $6,000
LG CineBeam HD810PW 4K
LG
Speaking of long-throw laser projectors, LG’s $3,000 CineBeam HU810PWAnother excellent choice at a lower price. There are some compromises, as the laser light pushes out a lower 2,700 lumens (that’s still a lot), and it has a smaller 0.47-inch DLP chip that delivers slightly lower perceived resolution. It does have dual blue and green LEDs that allow it to deliver HDR colors with excellent coverage of 97 percent DCI–P3. The device also features a 1.6x zoom and lens shift, as well as an HDMI 2.1 port which allows 4K at 60p at up to 12-bit color depth. It comes with LG’s webOS, so it supports Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu and other streaming services without the need for a dongle.
CineBeam HU810PW4K on Amazon – $3,000.
Sony VPL-VW295ES
If you’re looking for a true, native 4K projector, Sony’s $4,500 VPL-VW295ESThis is the most affordable option. It’s by far the sharpest 4K projector in this roundup, thanks to Sony’s proprietary 4K SXRD native DCI 4K (4,096 x 2,160) panels. The projector also produces extremely accurate colors with 100% DCI-P3 coverage, HDR10/HLG support, and 100 percent DCI–P3 coverage. Other niceties include a 2.06 zoom with powered zoom, lensshift and focus. The main drawback is a relatively dim 1,500 lumen brightness, but it’s a top pick if picture quality is paramount above all.
Amazon: Sony VPL-VW295ES – $4500
Portable projectors at a great price
Xgimi MoGo Pro
Xgimi, a brand that is relatively new, has gained traction with its portable projectors. The most popular of these is the MoGo ProThe battery can provide up to two hours of playtime and the projector is small enough that it can be carried in a backpack. This mini projector delivers 1080p images that are sharp and clear. It also has automatic focus and vertical keystone adjustments. It even comes with Android TV, giving you all the streaming options you can need – all for $650.
Buy Xgimi MoGo Pro at Amazon – $650
BenQ GS2
BenQ
This model is $470 is designed specifically for outdoor entertainment, so it’s battery-powered and splash and shock resistant – making it a good choice for backyard movies or sports events, camping and more. It’s also one of the brightest portable projectors out there. Although it only supports 720p resolution, Aptoide TV is a streaming app.
Anker Nebula Solar HD
This 1080p projectorIt has quite a rich feature set for the price of $600, which includes a battery. The portable projector is 400 lumens bright enough for outdoor use. It also has a decently powerful speaker system (2x3W) with Dolby Digital Plus. There’s an integrated stand and Android TV.
