Over time, the best projectors have undergone significant advancements, departing from their interchangeable nature in the past. Once, they were just sorted by weight and could be used for things like business presentations or home theaters. But modern projectors can be put into different groups based on a number of important factors, such as their imaging technology (LCD, DLP, LCOS, and laser raster), their light source (lamp, LED, laser, or hybrid), and, most importantly, what they are used for.
As the use of projectors has grown, they have become more specialized to meet specific needs. For example, a projector made for showing business presentations in rooms with a lot of light needs higher brightness levels than one made for watching movies in a dark room. But the first one might not need as much contrast or color accuracy as the second one. Below we have mentioned the best projectors.
Best Projectors comparison table
| Model | Optoma UHD50X | BenQ HT3550 | Hisense PX1-Pro | Optoma UHD38x | LG CineBeam HU710PW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 4K UHD | 4K UHD | 4K UHD | 4K UHD | 4K UHD |
| Brightness (ANSI) | 3,400 | 2,000 | 3,000 | 4,000 | 1,500 |
| Contrast Ratio | 500,000:1 | 10,000:1 | 2,000,000:1 | 1,000,000:1 | 150,000:1 |
| Throw Ratio | 1.21 – 1.59 | 1.13 – 1.47 | 1.21 – 1.59 | 1.21 – 1.59 | 1.2 |
| Lens Shift | Vertical ±15% | Vertical ±5% | Vertical ±50% | Vertical ±15% | Vertical ±15% |
| HDMI Ports | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lamp Life (Eco) | 4,000 hours | 4,000 hours | 20,000 hours | 15,000 hours | 20,000 hours |
| 3D Support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 9.2 lbs | 9.2 lbs | 18.1 lbs | 9.2 lbs | 14.3 lbs |
Optoma UHD50X
| Specification | Description |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) |
| Brightness | 3,400 lumens |
| Contrast Ratio | 500,000:1 |
| Throw Ratio | 1.21 – 1.59:1 |
| Lamp Life | Up to 15,000 hours |
| Connectivity | HDMI, USB, VGA, RS232 |
| Weight | 11.75 lbs (5.33 kg) |
Once, they were just sorted by weight and could be used for things like business presentations or home theaters. But modern projectors can be put into different groups based on a number of important factors, such as their imaging technology (LCD, DLP, LCOS, and laser raster), their light source (lamp, LED, laser, or hybrid), and, most importantly, what they are used for. Overall, it is one of the best projectors that you can buy.
Pros
- Crisp and clear 4K UHD resolution for stunning visuals
- High brightness level for vibrant images even in well-lit rooms
- Impressive contrast ratio for deep blacks and vivid colors
Cons
- Relatively limited throw ratio may require careful placement for optimal projection size
- Slightly heavier compared to some other models in its class
BenQ HT3550
| Specification | Description |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) |
| Brightness | 2,000 lumens |
| Contrast Ratio | 30,000:1 |
| Throw Ratio | 1.13 – 1.47:1 |
| Lamp Life | Up to 4,000 hours |
| Connectivity | HDMI, USB, VGA, RS232 |
| Weight | 9.2 lbs (4.17 kg) |
As the use of projectors has grown, they have become more specialized to meet specific needs. For example, a projector made for showing business presentations in rooms with a lot of light needs higher brightness levels than one made for watching movies in a dark room. But the first one might not need as much contrast or color accuracy as the second one. Thus, it is one of the best projectors that you can buy.
Pros
- Flexible throw ratio for flexible placement options
- Multiple connectivity options for easy device integration
Cons
- Lower brightness level compared to some other models in its category
- Relatively shorter lamp life may require more frequent bulb replacements
Hisense PX1-Pro
| Specification | Description |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) |
| Brightness | 3,000 lumens |
| Contrast Ratio | 2,000,000:1 |
| Throw Ratio | 1.2 – 1.56:1 |
| Lamp Life | Up to 20,000 hours |
| Connectivity | HDMI, USB, VGA, RS232 |
| Weight | 13.9 lbs (6.31 kg) |
Most traditional projectors need to be quite far away from the screen you want to show the image on, but this laser projector doesn’t. This all-in-one device (8/10, WIRED Recommends) fits right on a regular TV stand and projects an image up onto a screen that can be as big as 130 inches. For now, it is one of the best projectors that you can buy.
It has a built-in Dolby Atmos soundbar, so you don’t have to spend extra money on better sound unless you really want to. Best of all, setting it up couldn’t be easier because it comes with an Android TV interface and a laser projection system that let you watch your favorite shows and movies right away.
Pros
- Long lamp life for extended usage and reduced maintenance
- Versatile connectivity options for seamless device integration
- Wide throw ratio range for flexible placement options
Cons
- Slightly heavier compared to some other models in its class
- Lower brightness level compared to certain competing projectors
Optoma UHD38x
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) |
| Brightness | 4,000 lumens |
| Contrast Ratio | 1,000,000:1 |
| Throw Ratio | 1.21 – 1.59:1 |
| Lamp Life | Up to 15,000 hours |
| Connectivity | HDMI, USB, VGA, Ethernet |
| Keystone Correction | Vertical and Horizontal |
Our top pick is good for most casual gamers, but if you want even less delay, the UHD38x from the same company is your best bet. Projectors have always had slower input response times (how long it takes for your movement on a gamepad to show up onscreen) than regular TVs, but the UHD38x fixes this with a superfast 240-Hz refresh rate at full HD resolution. This brings the input latency down to just 4.2 milliseconds, compared to 16 milliseconds on the UHD50X. For all but the most competitive gamers, this is more than good enough.
You can watch all your favorite movies and TV shows in 4K when you’re not using it to play Tears of the Kingdom on a screen that’s up to 300 inches wide. It’s also bright enough for rooms with medium lighting, with 4,000 lumens. I don’t like one thing about it. If you want to move the lens inside, you can’t move it, so make sure you have a good plan for how to mount it before you pull the trigger. Overall, it is one of the best projectors that you can buy.
Pros
- High-resolution 4K UHD display for crisp and detailed visuals.
- Versatile connectivity options for various devices.
Cons
- The throw ratio may limit the flexibility of projector placement in certain setups.
LG CineBeam HU710PW
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) |
| Brightness | 2,000 lumens |
| Contrast Ratio | 150,000:1 |
| Throw Ratio | 1.1 – 1.47:1 |
| Lamp Life | Up to 30,000 hours |
| Connectivity | HDMI, USB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
| Keystone Correction | Vertical and Horizontal |
This gorgeous LG 4K laser projector (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is also beautiful to look at when media is playing, and it’s about the easiest thing to use when it comes to finding things to play. It comes with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and LG’s TV operating system. It also comes with the awesome LG Smart Remote, which is like a Wiimote. This means that you can use Netflix and Apple Airplay casting. Still, it is one of the best projectors that you can buy.
It’s a little hard to mount (you’ll need two people), but once it’s on, you can easily line up the lens with your screen by moving it up and down. It even has HDMI eARC, which makes it easy to connect to soundbars and other new receivers. The remote can be used to control them.
Pros
- High-resolution 4K UHD display for exceptional picture quality.
- Compact and portable design for easy transportation.
Cons
- The brightness level may be insufficient for well-lit environments.
- Keystone correction may be necessary for precise image alignment.
FAQs
A projector is a piece of equipment that shows pictures or videos on a screen or other flat surface. It uses a light source and different optical parts to show the content from a connected source, like a computer, DVD player, or gaming console, in a larger format.
Our top choice for a 4K gaming projector is the BenQ X3000i, which is the best of BenQ’s Immersive Gaming Series. It has a 3,000-ANSI-lumen LED light source and a pair of 5-watt stereo speakers that can fill a large family room with high-quality sound. It is made to work in places where there is a lot of other light.
By projecting onto surfaces that reflect light, smart projectors reduce the effects of too much blue light on the eyes by a large amount. Blue light comes straight from LED TVs, but projector screens soak up most of the harmful rays and reflect the projected image like the moon reflects sunlight.
