Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
EDITORS’ NOTE
November 25, 2025: With this update, we added the Hisense L9Q as our Best Premium Ultra Short Throw Projector, the Xgimi MoGo 3 Pro as our Best Mini Projector, and the Epson Pro EX11000 3LCD Full HD 1080p Wireless Laser Projector as our Best 1080p Business/Education Projector. Our remaining picks have been vetted for currency and availability. Since our previous update, we tested and evaluated three new projectors for potential inclusion in this roundup and our other projector roundups.
- Delivers a full 3,840 by 2,160 pixels on screen
- 2,700-lumen laser light source rated to last the life of the projector
- Supports HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG HDR
- Good color accuracy, contrast, and shadow detail, plus dark blacks for a laser model
- Easy to maintain image height for different aspect ratios
- Three-chip LCD design guarantees no rainbow artifacts
The Epson Pro Cinema LS12000 is pricey, but it’s actually a near-bargain for the image quality it delivers. Epson is known for pixel-shifting LCD projectors whose images are virtually indistinguishable from a true 4K UHD picture while using only half as many pixels on screen, thanks to lens quality and video processing. The LS12000 keeps the same emphasis on top-quality lenses and processing while boosting the pixel count to a full 3,840 by 2,160 pixels. The result is more detail than we’ve seen from any pixel-shifting 4K DLP projector.
Because the image is produced by three LCD chips, you won’t see any rainbow artifacts—the flashes of red, green, and blue that single-chip projectors can show. The LS12000 also offers top-tier color accuracy, contrast, and shadow detail, plus sophisticated features that include the ability to adjust the lens easily to give you the same image height when switching between movies with different aspect ratios.
Videophiles: The LS12000 will tantalize serious videophiles who plan to put it in a home theater with dark walls, ceiling, and seating to minimize reflections back to the screen.
People who need a home theater projector: The image quality is good enough that even less-demanding viewers will notice, making it a good home theater projector for anyone.
People who watch movies in dark rooms: It’s also bright enough to serve in a family room, particularly if you’ll be watching movies with all the lights off at least occasionally.
Engine Type
LCD
Rated Brightness
2700 ANSI lumens
Native Resolution
3840 by 2160 using Epson’s 4K Pro-UHD technology
Maximum Resolution
4096 by 2160 @ 120Hz
Inputs and Interfaces
HDMI 2.1 (HDCP 2.3), HDMI (eARC)
Dimensions (HWD)
7.6 by 20.5 by 17.6 inches
Weight
28 lbs
Warranty
3 years
Learn More
Epson Pro Cinema LS12000 4K Pro-UHD Laser Projector Review
- 4K native resolution
- Short input lag (supports up to 120Hz refresh rate)
- Video modes for four categories of gaming
- Android TV 11 HDMI dongle included
- LED light source rated at 3,300 ANSI lumens
- Wi-Fi is the only network connection option
- Shows rainbow artifacts
- Hardware setup requires some tricky assembly
The BenQ X3100i is BenQ’s current flagship in its Immersive Gaming Series, representing a substantial update from the previous model, which was already our top pick for both 4K gaming projectors and gaming overall. It builds upon everything we liked in its predecessor, including a long-lasting LED light source, HDR10 and HLG support, state-of-the-art short input lag, and robust audio that can fill a large family room.
New features making this model even better are support for 1440p (2,560-by-1,440-pixel) resolution at 120Hz, which is a popular choice for gaming; a vertical lens shift to adjust image height without introducing keystone distortion; and a 10% boost in brightness, to 3,300 ANSI lumens, to make it even more of a light cannon. It also increases the number of predefined gaming modes to four, allowing you to tweak both image and audio settings for multiple types of games just by selecting the appropriate mode. The measured lag ranged from 16.9ms at 1080p/60Hz to 4.2ms at 1080p/240Hz.
Serious gamers: The X3100i is designed for serious gamers. You can use it for watching movies and videos, and it comes with an Android TV 11 streaming stick to make that easy. But there’s little point in choosing it if that’s all you’re going to use it for. If the 1440p support, short input lag, and predefined game modes are extras you don’t care about, you probably don’t need the X3100i. If they sound like things you can’t do without, this could be the gaming projector you’ve been waiting for.
Gamers who like granular settings adjustments: For SDR input, the X3100i offers six predefined (and customizable) picture modes, plus a user mode. Four of the six—role playing game (RPG), first-person shooter (FPS), sports player game (SPG), and racing game (RCG)—are each designed to enhance the most important visual aspects of the type of game they’re named for.
Engine Type
DLP
Rated Brightness
3300 ANSI lumens
Native Resolution
3840 by 2160 using 1920 by 1080 DLP chip with XPR fast-switch pixel shifting
Maximum Resolution
3840 by 2160 HDR; Full HD 3D
Inputs and Interfaces
HDMI 2.0b, USB 2.0, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct
Dimensions (HWD)
8.4 by 10.7 by 10.2 inches
Weight
15 lbs
Warranty
3 years
Learn More
BenQ X3100i Review
- 4K resolution
- Hybrid laser/LED light source
- Supports HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision
- Automated image adjustment for fast setup after moving
- Built-in handle for easy carrying
- Black level is high enough to hurt contrast in a dark room
The Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K SE isn’t cheap, but it’s not much more expensive than its 1080p competition. It’s also our Editors’ Choice pick for a low-cost 4K room-to-room portable. Key features include its laser-LED hybrid light source (rated at 1,800 ANSI lumens), its color gamut (rated at 123.3% of BT.709, the standard for HDTVs), and its support for Dolby Vision in addition to HDR10 and HLG HDR.
Other strong points include streaming using fully integrated Google TV, easy automated setup after moving, and robust audio, thanks to two 15-watt speakers that deliver both high volume and good quality. Most important, it delivered good color accuracy, shadow detail, and sense of three-dimensionality in our tests.
Shoppers who prefer function over form: The Cosmos 4K SE’s aesthetics can make it a poor fit if you want a sleek, consumer-electronics look. It resembles a tall car battery with a handle on top and could easily be mistaken for a piece of test equipment that belongs on a workbench.
People who frequently move their projectors: The handle makes it easy to carry from room to room, out to the backyard, or beyond. And if you care more about performance than appearance, the Cosmos 4K SE is a solid choice, scoring better on both image quality and audio than some of its more expensive competitors.
Budget-savvy buyers: If you’re looking for a 4K projector with a high-quality image and a budget-friendly price, put the Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K SE on your shortlist.
Engine Type
DLP
Rated Brightness
1800 ANSI lumens
Native Resolution
3840 by 2160 using 1920 by 1080 DLP chip with XPR fast-switch pixel shifting
Maximum Resolution
3840 by 2160 60Hz
Inputs and Interfaces
HDMI 2.1, HDMI (eARC), USB-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Direct, USB Thumb Drive
Dimensions (HWD)
8.7 by 6.5 by 10.4 inches
Weight
9.9 lbs
Warranty
1 year
Learn More
Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K SE Review
- 4K resolution using TI’s XPR fast-switch pixel shifting
- Triple-laser technology delivers a wide color gamut
- HDR support includes Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG
- Rated at 3,000 ANSI lumens
- Uses Google TV for streaming
- First UST projector with a Designed for Xbox certification
- Limited 3D support excludes 3D Blu-ray discs
- Out-of-box settings need minor tweaking to get good shadow detail
The PX3-PRO starts with all the strengths that made its predecessor (the PX2-PRO) a top pick and then adds to them. Its strongest feature, and one key reason to put it on your shortlist, is its top-tier image quality for both SDR and HDR content, with HDR support for all four current HDR variations: HDR10, HLG, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision.
A close second for gamers is that it’s the first UST projector to earn a Designed for Xbox certification, thanks to features that include state-of-the-art short input lag and support for 1440p resolution, which is increasingly popular for gaming. It also delivers many additional features, including Google TV for streaming, a powered focus, and myriad useful settings options. All this makes it a triple winner: for image quality, feature set, and gaming.
Videophiles with home theaters: Suitable for both casual TV viewing and traditional home theater use in dark rooms, the PX3-PRO is for discerning videophiles who want the best image quality and don’t see (or don’t mind seeing) the occasional rainbow artifact that DLP projectors tend to show.
Gamers: It’s also an obvious choice for gamers who want the benefits of an ultra short throw in a projector designed with gaming in mind.
Engine Type
DLP
Rated Brightness
3000 ANSI lumens
Native Resolution
3840 by 2160 using 1920 by 1080 DLP chip with XPR fast-switch pixel shifting
Maximum Resolution
3840 by 2160 120Hz; 1920 by 1080, 240Hz
Inputs and Interfaces
HDMI 2.1, HDMI 2.0, eARC, Bluetooth, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, USB 2.0, USB 3.0
Dimensions (HWD)
4.8 by 21.7 by 11.7 inches
Weight
19.8 lbs
Warranty
2 years
Learn More
Hisense PX3-PRO TriChroma Laser Projector Review
- 1080p native resolution, with support for 4K input and HDR
- Integrated Android TV 11
- Long-lasting, solid-state LED light source
- Resists water, dust, and drops
- Long battery life
- No optical zoom
- Battery status light can be distracting when watching from behind the projector
It may look like a car battery with a handle on top, but the Nebula Mars 3 is equally at home in a rough-and-tumble den full of kids, or out in the yard with gloomy weather threatening. Designed to survive, it features water, drop, and dust resistance. It doesn’t hurt that it also delivers 1080p native resolution, and that the quality of the built-in audio system is pretty good for this projector’s size. Also, the Mars 3 comes equipped with an internal battery, rated for 2 to 5 hours depending on the picture mode (full-power or Eco).
People who watch movies outside: The more often you plan to watch outside, whether on special occasions like backyard movie nights or regular TV watching by the pool on warm nights, the more appealing the water and drop resistance will be. (Double that if you have big dogs or young children who may be running around where they can jar, splash, or otherwise upset the Mars 3.)
People who like an all-in-one device: This projector can also work as a big Bluetooth speaker and as a power bank to charge other gear.
Engine Type
DLP
Rated Brightness
1000 ANSI lumens
Native Resolution
1920 by 1080
Maximum Resolution
3840 by 2160 60Hz
Inputs and Interfaces
HDMI 2.1, USB-C, USB-A
Dimensions (HWD)
9.8 by 6.3 by 10.2 inches
Weight
9.9 lbs
Warranty
1 year
Learn More
Anker Nebula Mars 3 Review
- Supports HDR10
- Built-in Google TV with licensed Netflix
- On-point color accuracy and shadow detail
- Small and light
- PowerBase stand adds a battery rated at 2.5 hours of running time
- At default settings, shadow detail doesn’t hold well
- SDR image quality is better than HDR
- No 3D support
The Xgimi MoGo 3 Pro earns its place in this roundup courtesy of its optional stand, which you can buy bundled with the projector. The stand offers the obvious benefit of giving you a convenient way to position the MoGo 3 Pro and aim it, which is enough by itself to make it worth the $50 premium compared with buying the projector alone. Beyond that, it features a built-in power pack, which boosts the MoGo 3 Pro to the same level as competitors that have built-in batteries.
Key features for the projector itself include its 1080p resolution, fully integrated Google TV for streaming, a licensed Netflix app, and usable sound quality. More important, the MoGo 3 Pro scored well in our tests on both SDR and HDR image quality. It is also bright enough, with the settings we used, to produce a highly watchable 40-inch image on a sunny day in a family room, as well as a 90-inch image in a dark room.
People who move their projectors around: The MoGo 3 Pro will appeal to anyone who wants an easy way to set up their projector as needed.
People who find rainbow artifacts annoying: The MoGo 3 Pro will be of special interest to anyone concerned with rainbow artifacts—the red/green/blue flashes that single-chip DLP projectors tend to show. Although it’s designed around a DLP chip and an LED light source, like most mini projectors are, we saw very few flashes when testing it. Based on our testing, if rainbow flashes are a concern for you, the MoGo may be the mini projector you want.
Engine Type
DLP
Rated Brightness
450 ISO Lumens (Equivalent to ANSI)
Native Resolution
1920 by 1080 using 960-by-540 DLP chip with XPR fast-switch pixel shifting
Maximum Resolution
1920 by 1080
Inputs and Interfaces
micro HDMI, USB-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Dimensions (HWD)
8 by 3.7 by 3.7 inches
Weight
2.4 lbs
Warranty
1 year
Learn More
Xgimi MoGo 3 Pro Review
- Bright; rated at 4,600 ISO lumens
- Laser-phosphor light source
- Native 1080p resolution; accepts up to 4K input
- Three-chip LCD design guarantees no annoying rainbow artifacts
- No HDR support
- Middling contrast
- Not suitable for 24/7/365 operation
Epson markets the Epson Pro EX11000 as a portable projector and includes a carrying case with it. However, it’s at least as much a solid, 1080p business or education workhorse for permanent installation or setup on a cart. The laser-phosphor light source—rated at 4,600 lumens and meant to last the life of the projector—means you won’t have to spend time or money replacing expensive lamps, while the three-LCD chip design guarantees it won’t show any of the red/green/blue flashes known as rainbow artifacts.
Our testing shows the EX11000 delivers high enough brightness to stand up to ambient light using an image size suitable for a medium-to-large conference room or classroom. It also delivers top-tier image quality for presentations. Movies and videos are best described as watchable, which is no match for even an entry-level home theater projector, but better than many business models can manage. It also offers some notable extras, including a built-in option for two-way and four-way splits, which allows you to display images from up to four sources simultaneously. And of course, if you really want to, you can take advantage of the carrying case and actually use it on the go.
People who prioritize brightness over portability: If you’re willing to lug the 9.5-pound EX11000 around, its 4,600 lumen rating makes it an obvious choice if you need a seriously bright portable.
Presenters and teachers: This projector is an excellent fit for permanent installation in a conference room or classroom. Its crisp details make text easy to read, while its vibrant color for graphics can help make presentations more compelling. And although it doesn’t offer the same high level of image quality for video and movies, if you need to display them, it handles these content types better than most business projectors.
Engine Type
LCD
Rated Brightness
4600 ISO Lumens (Equivalent to ANSI)
Native Resolution
1920 by 1080
Maximum Resolution
3840 by 2160 60Hz
Inputs and Interfaces
HDMI, Analog VGA, USB-A, USB-B (Direct USB Display)
Dimensions (HWD)
4.1 by 12.8 by 11.8 inches
Weight
9.5 lbs
Warranty
1 year
Learn More
Epson Pro EX11000 3LCD Full HD 1080p Wireless Laser Projector Review
- Roughly the size of a stack of Post-it Notes (and not much heavier)
- Built-in battery, rated at 90 minutes of use
- Autofocus and auto vertical keystone correction
- Wireless connections to video sources
- No settings to adjust image quality
- Pricey for a pocket projector
- Connection to HDMI devices requires optional dongle
The Aurzen ZIP Tri-Fold is pricey, but it’s small enough to fit in a pocket, bright enough to be genuinely useful, and packed with more features than any other pocket projector we’ve seen. It’s roughly the size of a stack of Post-it Notes (and not much heavier), plus it comes with a built-in battery rated at 90 minutes of use.
When unfolded, but pointing straight ahead to project on a vertical surface, it’s shaped like a Z when viewed from its left side. The bottom piece serves as a base, the middle piece becomes a stand, and you can pivot the top piece up or down to point at whatever you’re using for a screen. Nobody expects top-tier image quality or high brightness from a projector that’s this small, but in that context, the Aurzen ZIP does well enough on both scores.
People who need the smallest projector possible: If being small enough to fit in a pocket is a key requirement, the Aurzen ZIP Tri-Fold is the obvious pick. It easily outshines its competition and earns our top recommendation for a premium-priced pocket projector.
Big spenders: Although the Aurzen ZIP is the most impressive pocket projector we’ve seen, it’s also the most expensive.
Engine Type
DLP
Rated Brightness
100 ANSI lumens
Native Resolution
1280 by 720 using 640-by-360 DLP chip with XPR fast-switch pixel shifting
Inputs and Interfaces
Wi-Fi Direct
Dimensions (HWD)
1 by 3.3 by 3.1 inches
Weight
9.9 oz
Warranty
2 years
Learn More
Aurzen ZIP Tri-Fold Portable Pocket Projector Review
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The Best Projectors for 2025
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Buying Guide: The Best Projectors for 2025
If you’ve read through our reasons above for why we selected each recommended projector model, you’ve probably noticed that they vary depending on several factors: what you plan to use the projector for, your budget, and even purely subjective considerations like whether you find rainbow artifacts annoying. You need to take all these issues into account, but a good place to start is with the types of images you plan to view.
There are two basic types of projected images to consider: data (which includes text and graphics) and photorealistic (such as photos, video, and film). Games typically incorporate aspects of both. Any projector can show any kind of image, of course, but a projector may handle one kind of image well without doing a good job with the other kind. You’ll want a projector that’s optimized at least for the kind of images you plan to view most often, and ideally for every kind you expect to view.
Data projectors, also known as business or education projectors, depending on their target market, are designed to display business graphics, line drawings, presentations, spreadsheets, and PDF files. They’re optimized for conference rooms and classrooms, producing a bright-enough image that stands up to ambient light on a large screen. Many can handle photorealistic images well enough to project short video clips in a presentation or even an acceptable image for, say, watching a movie in a classroom. But they are rarely good choices for full-length movies if you want anything approaching the quality you expect in a movie theater or when watching TV. They tend to favor brightness, which is important for standing up to ambient light, over contrast and color accuracy, which matter more for photorealistic images. They also tend to offer few or no options for adjusting color.
Home theater, home entertainment, and gaming projectors are so similar to each other that one model is often marketed in two or all three categories. These home-use projectors prioritize color accuracy and contrast, often featuring controls to fine-tune color, reduce noise, sharpen images, and otherwise digitally enhance video and film.
(Credit: M. David Stone)
Models listed as home theater projectors are typically optimized for traditional home theater viewing in a dark room. They tend to offer more accurate color, better contrast, and lower brightness than home entertainment projectors. Many don’t include speakers. The assumption is that you’ll set up a better external audio system in your home theater than any projector can fit into its case.
Home entertainment models are usually optimized for viewing in a family room or other space with ambient light. Many are also compact enough to easily move outdoors and create the perfect backyard movie night. Compared with home theater models, they tend to sacrifice some color accuracy and contrast in favor of higher brightness. They also typically include built-in speakers.
Until recently, it was generally assumed that for almost all projectors, even those with built-in speakers, an external sound system was necessary to achieve decent audio quality. However, that’s not always true today, largely thanks to two subcategories of home entertainment models. One is what we’ve dubbed “room-to-room portables.” These are defined in part by offering robust audio, so you can move the projector to another room for ad hoc setup without having to lug a sound system with you. Most are cubical in shape, about twice as high as traditional projectors. They use the extra height for good-quality speakers. In most cases, these speakers will pump out high enough volume to fill a large family room with more-than-acceptable sound quality.
The second category with good audio is sometimes billed as “laser TVs.” These are built around a laser light source, a smart TV streaming feature (usually integrated, but sometimes supplied as a dongle, particularly on older models), and an ultra short throw (UST), which means they can project a 100-inch or larger image with the projector just inches from the screen. Mount a screen on a wall, and the projector can sit on a table or media console just below it. These laser-based UST models are wider than most other projectors. Virtually all offer audio that’s at least comparable to what you would expect from a large-screen TV. Many take advantage of the width to add what amounts to a soundbar on the side facing away from the screen.
Gaming projectors, meanwhile, are essentially home entertainment models with significantly reduced input lag, enabling faster reaction times in gaming. Most are small enough to carry easily, and they usually include better-than-typical onboard audio for a projector. A few include separate gaming modes for first-person shooters, role-playing games, and sports games, with each mode auto-adjusting the audio and video settings to optimize them for each type of game.
Do You Need a Portable Projector?
Consider how portable the projector needs to be. You can find projectors with sizes and weights ranging from small and light enough to fit in a shirt pocket to large enough to be suitable only for a permanent (usually mounted) installation.
If you want a data projector to carry to business meetings for presentations, or a home entertainment or gaming projector to take to a friend’s house or set up in your backyard for a movie night, be sure to pick an appropriate size and weight—which is to say, a portable projector. If you’ll be away from power outlets, check that the projector has a built-in battery or battery option, and that the rated battery life is long enough for your needs.
What Resolution Is Enough in a Projector?
Projectors can scale images up or down, but this is usually best avoided, as it can introduce artifacts into the image. For any projector resolution up to and including WUXGA (1,920 by 1,200 pixels), you will generally get the best image quality by matching the projector’s native resolution (the number of physical pixels in the projector’s display) to the source you plan to attach it to most often, whether that’s a computer, video equipment, or a game console.
For projectors with 4K ultra-high definition (3,840 by 2,160 pixels), the rule is slightly different. Current projectors built around 3,840-by-2,160-pixel imaging chips are still too expensive for most applications. The affordable alternative takes advantage of a technique called pixel shifting. It uses a native 1,920-by-1,080-pixel chip, generates more than one set of pixels for each frame in the video stream, and shifts the position for each set. The result is more pixels per frame on screen than are on the chip. Two sets double the number of pixels; four sets quadruple the number to a full 3,840 by 2,160. When done well, just doubling the number of pixels can deliver images that are indistinguishable from quadrupling them, at least at normal viewing distances from the screen.
(Credit: Xgimi)
Full HD (1080p) projectors that can accept 4K UHD input handle the 3,840-by-2160-pixel resolution reasonably well, because the higher resolution has exactly four times as many pixels as 1080p. The only loss in quality from scaling the image down will be the equivalent of a slightly soft focus. If the projector also supports HDR, it can give you the advantage of HDR for improving image quality, even with 1080p resolution. However, note that there are different versions of HDR, and the projector has to support the same version as the image source. Your favorite streaming services may offer HDR10, HDR10+, HLG HDR, or Dolby Vision, while either of the first two is standard for 4K movies on disc.
If you plan to display data images, consider the level of detail in the images. For a typical PowerPoint presentation, SVGA (800 by 600 pixels) may be sufficient, and an SVGA projector will be significantly less expensive than one with a higher native resolution. For very detailed images, however, you’ll want to go up to 4K UHD.
For video, 4K UHD is generally the best choice, assuming you have a 4K UHD Blu-ray player, a 4K-capable streaming device, or another 4K UHD media source. But odds are you’ll be watching a lot of 1080p material for the foreseeable future—particularly if you own a library of 1080p discs—and may occasionally be watching at even lower resolutions. So, check how well the projector handles scaling 1080p input up to 4K.
Which Widescreen Format Is Most Important in Your Projector?
Most projectors today offer native resolutions that qualify as widescreen formats. You’ll generally want to match the aspect ratio (ratio of image width to image height) of the projector’s resolution to the images you’ll be watching most often. However, you can also view material in narrower or wider formats. As long as the input resolution is one that the projector can accept—a detail you can check in the projector specs—it will either scale the image to the projector’s native aspect ratio, which means stretching or shrinking it as needed, or keep the image’s aspect ratio to avoid distortion and add letterbox bars (black bars above and below for wider formats or to each side for narrower formats). Almost all projectors today include aspect-ratio settings to let you choose which approach to use. (Fun fact: Adding black bars to the sides of an image is often called “reverse letterboxing” or “pillarboxing.”)
Note that the ability to display images with different aspect ratios than the projector’s native resolution provides some flexibility in matching the projector to the images you plan to watch. For example, you can use a native WUXGA projector, with its 16:10 aspect ratio, to watch movies or TV with a 16:9 aspect ratio. Keep in mind that if you set up a 16:10 projector to fill your 16:9 screen with the picture, you’ll need a sufficiently wide black border at the edges to keep the letterbox bars from showing as brighter areas surrounding the screen.
How Bright Should the Projector Be?
There is no single best level for projector brightness, and brighter isn’t always better. For a home theater projector you plan to use in a dark room, for example, 1,000 lumens or even less can easily give you a large, bright image, while 2,000 lumens may be so bright that it’s hard on the eyes. On the other hand, for a portable data projector used in brightly lit locations or a home entertainment projector in your family room, a range of 2,000 to 3,000 lumens is generally suitable in most cases. For larger images and rooms with higher levels of ambient light, you’ll want something even brighter.
For any situation, the ideal projector brightness depends on the ambient light level, the size of the image, and the material in the screen you’re using. If you’re setting up a projector for permanent installation, whether at home or in your office, your best bet is to buy from a knowledgeable seller who can help you pick a projector and screen material that will give you the right image brightness for the lighting conditions in the room at the screen size you want.
(Credit: M. David Stone)
If you’re trying to choose between two models, keep in mind that a small percentage difference in lumens—such as 2,000 versus 2,200—isn’t significant. The perception of brightness is nonlinear, which means a 10% difference is hardly noticeable, and you need far more than twice as many lumens for a projector’s image to appear twice as bright. Also, keep in mind that a projector’s true brightness is often slightly less than its rated brightness, and image quality is generally best in modes that are typically as low as 40% of the projector’s highest brightness.
Does Contrast Ratio Matter for Projectors?
Contrast ratio—the ratio between the brightness of the brightest white a projector can produce and the brightness of the darkest black—always matters, but the rating for the projector usually won’t. All other things being equal, a higher contrast ratio produces more vibrant, eye-catching color, more shadow detail in dark areas on the screen (most important for video and film), and a more dramatic sense of three-dimensionality in two-dimensional photorealistic images.
However, contrast ratings are based on measurements in a dark room, so they don’t tell you much about viewing in ambient light, where the darkest black you can achieve depends on the amount of light in the room. A projector that delivers a high contrast ratio in a dark room, due to unusually dark blacks, will deliver much lower contrast in ambient light. But a brighter projector that has a higher black level in the dark and does poorly in a home theater may well deliver equal or better contrast compared with the first model in a living room or office. With ambient light, the high black level won’t be noticeable, while the higher brightness will let the projector both stand up better to the ambient light than the first model and deliver a higher contrast ratio—the ratio between the brightest and darkest areas on the screen.
Comparing contrast-ratio specs is somewhere between challenging and pointless. Different manufacturers use different approaches to measuring contrast, and some even measure it differently for different models. Complicating comparisons even further is that other factors can increase your subjective sense of how good the contrast is, but not affect objective measurements. These include video processing and auto-irises, for example, which change image brightness based on the content of the image. The best way to determine how good the contrast is for any given projector—short of seeing it yourself—is to look for reviews that discuss contrast under various lighting conditions.
How Do You Plan to Connect Your Projector?
To connect a projector to a video source, you obviously need to match the projector’s inputs with the source’s outputs. But given a choice, a digital connection is preferable to an analog connection.
Almost all current projectors include at least one HDMI port, which is the preferred choice for video sources and many computers, unless you plan to connect over a wired or wireless network. Many projectors still offer a VGA (analog) connector for computers and component video, but few new computers have VGA output ports, and few new video sources offer component video.
Keep in mind that the HDMI version matters. Later versions support higher resolutions and more features than earlier versions. Make sure the HDMI version on the projector allows you to take full advantage of the desired image sources, either by verifying it has the same HDMI version number as the image sources or by confirming the manufacturer’s support for those specific features. You should also check the High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) level. Virtually all 4K UHD HDR movies, for example, require HDCP 2.2 on both the player and the projector.
(Credit: M. David Stone)
Note that some projectors’ HDMI ports support Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL), which lets you project from older Android devices. This is becoming less common, however, since most newer Android devices can connect directly to an HDMI port via a USB-C-to-HDMI cable. A more useful extra feature today is that many current projectors support ARC or eARC on one of their HDMI ports, allowing for connection to an external audio system.
Many models also have Wi-Fi connectivity built in or can provide it through an included or separately purchased wireless dongle that plugs into a USB or HDMI port. Many support projecting directly from USB memory or memory cards.
A growing number of projectors include internet streaming features, either built in or through an included streaming HDMI dongle. You can also buy third-party dongles to add streaming to virtually any projector with an HDMI port. Some models, most often portables, offer USB-C ports, which can (but don’t always) support DisplayPort and HDMI protocols. Here also, check before buying to make sure you know what video support, if any, the USB-C connector offers.
Which Imaging Technology Is Best in a Projector?
Today’s projectors are based on one of four imaging technologies: digital light processing (DLP), liquid-crystal display (LCD), liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS), and laser raster. (Don’t confuse laser raster projectors, which actually draw the images using lasers, with the much more common models that simply use lasers as a light source for another imaging technology, like DLP or LCD chips.)
Most DLP projectors and some LCOS-based pico (aka pocket-size) projectors—including both data and video models—use only one display chip, and project their primary colors sequentially rather than all at once. This can lead to rainbow artifacts, in which bright areas on the screen break up into little red/green/blue flashes for some people when they shift their gaze or when something moves on the screen. Those who are sensitive to this effect may find it annoying, especially during prolonged viewing sessions.
Three-chip LCD projectors are free from rainbow artifacts because the three chips allow projection of all three primary colors at once. However, they tend to be bigger and heavier than comparable DLP models. Standard-size LCOS projectors, which are also rainbow-free, offer the best-quality images. However, they tend to be larger and heavier than either DLP or LCD projectors, as well as significantly more expensive.
There aren’t many laser raster projectors, so it’s hard to make general statements about them. But the one clear advantage of using a laser is that the image doesn’t require focusing. Note also that some inexpensive models use a single LCD that has as many cells as are in all three chips in a three-LCD projector with the same resolution. Adding a red, green, or blue filter on each cell lets these models project all three colors at once, making them rainbow-free as well.
What Kind of Light Source Is Best in a Projector?
Most newer projectors use solid-state light sources—LEDs, lasers, or both—so lamps, which were once the mainstay light source, are becoming less common. However, they haven’t disappeared completely yet, and for the moment, at least, there are advantages to each of the three choices.
LEDs and lasers maintain a higher percentage of their initial brightness for a longer period. All light sources lose brightness over time, but lamps generally lose a large percentage in the first 500 hours of use, and decline slowly after that. LEDs and lasers tend to lose brightness more evenly over their entire lifetimes.
The initial price for a lamp-based projector will be lower, but the total cost can be higher if you keep it long enough to need a replacement lamp. If you plan to replace your projector with every new jump in resolution or other image technology, buying a series of lamp-based projectors can be a more cost-effective option. But if you plan to keep your projector as long as it works, the better buy will be a model with an LED, laser, or hybrid light source, virtually all of which have lifetimes rated at 20,000 hours or more.
What Is a Short-Throw Projector? Do You Need One?
If you want to cast a large image at a short distance from the screen, either because the room itself is a little small or to minimize the chances of people getting in front of the projector and casting shadows, you’ll need a short-throw or ultra-short throw projector. There are no universally accepted definitions for what counts as “short” or “ultra-short,” but most short-throw projectors can cast an image about 78 inches wide from 3 to 6 feet away, while ultra-short-throw projectors generally need less than a foot, and often a lot less. By comparison, most projectors with standard throws need to be roughly 9 to 13 feet away from the screen for the same image size, and long-throw projectors have to be even farther away.
(Credit: M. David Stone)
The downsides of short-throw (and especially ultra-short-throw) projectors are that they are more expensive than traditional models with standard-throw lenses, and they are more likely to have noticeable variations in brightness or focus across the image. Ultra-short-throw models also require a particularly flat and stable screen. Even slight variations in the surface can distort the image and affect focus.
Does Your Projector Need Built-In Audio or 3D Support?
Not all projectors have onboard audio, and for those that do, the audio is sometimes all but useless—particularly with highly portable models. If you need sound for your presentations or videos, make sure that the projector has built-in audio that’s clear and loud enough to meet your needs. If not, consider using a separate sound system—often a good idea for home theater or home entertainment in any case—or powered external speakers. If you already have Bluetooth speakers, check whether the projector supports Bluetooth.
Then there’s 3D. Showing images in 3D for educational, business, and home applications seems well past the boomlet it enjoyed a few years ago. But if you’re a fan of 3D movies or have an application that requires 3D, it’s still easy to find projectors that support it.
Several 3D technologies are available, so ensure that any 3D projector you consider is compatible with the 3D source you intend to use it with. A “3D-ready” designation usually means it will work only with 3D generated by a computer. If you have a collection of 3D Blu-ray discs, the designation to look for is usually “full HD 3D.” And before you go shopping for 3D glasses, be sure to check which kind the projector supports. There are several types, including some proprietary versions.
Ready to Buy the Right Projector for You?
The product pick summary up top, along with our detailed spec breakout of the models, outlines our choices for some of the best projectors on the market for the most common situations and use cases. For full projector reviews and our latest coverage of the category, also check out our top projectors for home use, our picks for 4K projectors, and our favorite portable projectors.
