A home theater projector lets you have the privilege of having a movie theater right at the comfort of your house. However, picking one is not as easy as it seems because there are plenty of factors to be considered.
Therefore, our experts compiled a list of the best home theater projectors so you can steer clear of faulty and substandard models.
Reviews of the Best Home Theater Projectors
1. Samsung The Premiere LSP9T
Paving an ideal cinematic viewing, this Samsung The Premiere LSP9T is one of the best 4K projectors with a three-laser LDB projection system. The picture is also very bright at 2800 lumens.
Its projection size ranges from 100 to 130 inches, perfect for movie nights. This short-throw home cinema projector is more expensive, but you will never go wrong in purchasing this stand-out 4k projector that has an HDR10+ and 40 watts audio.
The light source is laser, giving sharp detail that is just beyond consumer expectation. And because it supports streaming apps, you can watch hundreds of video options on Netflix or others. It also has Android TV support. Although it’s still lacking in some specs as a gaming projector, in our full review, it’s still your best bet for a native 4K projector.
What We Like
- Smart TV experience
- 4K laser projector
- Supports HDR content
- Built-in audio
- Android TV
- Voice assistant
- HDMI, USB supported
- Great projection size and image quality
- Stream with apps like Netflix and Youtube
What We Don't Like
- Limited zoom range
- Sluggish OS
- One of the more expensive options
2. Epson Home Cinema 880
While other brands are competing with the high brightness of the best projectors for home use, this Epson Home Cinema 880 took the award of being the “best-in-color” brightness, displaying 100% of the RGB color signal within the frame. The Epson Home Cinema delivers exceptional color accuracy while maintaining the color brightness.
For an inexpensive 1080p projector, the Epson HC880 has a speaker built-in. Many consumers can easily set this up with HD entertainment and enjoy their favorite TV shows with great image quality. One can effortlessly link it with devices like cable/satellites, and this Epson home cinema projector is equipped with 3,300 lumens giving one a high video quality for their living room or family room cinema.
What We Like
- Brighter image than most home projectors
- Great picture quality
- Easy setup
- Epson includes HDMI 2.0 and USB
- Full HD resolution
- 2D keystone correction
- Remote control and built-in lens cover
- Speakers included
What We Don't Like
- No lens shift
- Limited zoom range
- Not a 4k projector
3. DBPower L21
Known for its remarkable brightness, the DBPower L21 will beat other projectors when it comes to price and image quality. This portable unit features the latest 4.3 LCD display technology, producing bright pixels out of the box.
This is a good projector that displays a screen size from 40 to 200 inches with a projection distance of 1.5m and is compatible with devices. You’ll definitely upgrade your watching experience with this. A Wi-Fi display dongle or HDMI adapter is recommended to use but it is not included in the package.
Built-in speakers give the user fantastic sound without connecting to a speaker system externally. This makes it great for portable use. Bring it with you on travels and play movies from your laptop.
What We Like
- Power cooling system
- Good brightness and image quality
- Lightweight and portable
- Built-in speaker
- 40 to 200 inch screen size
- Affordable, good for the money
What We Don't Like
- Does not support more than 1080p
- No 4K signal
- Picture clarity is not maintained
4. Optoma HD146X
This DLP projector can project high-definition 1080p images with a 6-segment color wheel (RYGCWB) that boasts a color space suitable for a dedicated home theater system.
Optoma HD146X is also designed for gaming, but you can watch movies in full HD, of course. This DLP projector provides a high-visual image improving the deep blacks and dark scenes, but it still has more than enough brightness. It uses a Dynamic Black Technology that runs a sharp and more in-depth image projection detail by leveling the lamp output to make a high contrast ratio of 500,000:1.
This Optoma model delivers a lightning-fast input response time of 16ms, perfect for console or PC gaming. It also has an HDMI input, but also accepts USB type cable.
This capable projector also has the latest technology from Texas Instruments, the DLP DMD single-chip design that ensures a perfect image alignment.
What We Like
- In-depth projection
- HDR picture
- Simple on/off
- Deep black levels, good for dark scenes
- Easy to install
- HDMI and USB supported
- Single-chip DLP projector
- Portable and lightweight
What We Don't Like
- Limited zoom range
- Native 4k not supported
- No HDR support
5. BenQ HT2150ST
A dream come true for movie enthusiasts who want to have a theater-like home entertainment, the BenQ HT2150ST projector will definitely amaze user’s eyes with a full HD 1080p visual that displays clarity and a full-colored brightness.
The BenQ HT2150ST has a built-in 10 watts power speaker with fuller sound quality. A unique gaming mode noted with a Low Input Lag for a smoother gaming experience. A CinematicColor technology that provides Rec. 709 HDTV color coverage with 6x speed RGBRGB shade and a high ANSI contrast ratio.
Also, this BenQ projector supports most devices via HDMI connectivity or USB cable. It’s definitely a nice gadget with speakers if you don’t want a TV.
What We Like
- More flexibility in connections
- High responsiveness
- Good compatibility
- Gaming projector
- Full HD
- HDMI, USB port
- Speakers are built-in
What We Don't Like
- Rainbow effect
- Light on software
- Wireless streaming unsupported
6. OPTOMA UHD35
A true 4K Ultra HD will beat the rest of the 1080p projectors. One can relish the ambiance of movie theaters, as this projector delivers a high-end experience with its 8.3 million on-screen pixels and 3600 lumens of brightness.
Based on our experts’ full review, the Optoma UHD35 projector is ultimately a good deal for gamers because of lag-free gaming with an enhanced gaming mode that delivers 4.2ms response time at 1080p video.
It has 15,000 hours of lamp life so you can enjoy 10+ years of movies or games on the big screen every day. Overall, the Optoma UHD35 is one of the best projectors out there.
What We Like
- Brightest picture
- One of the best 4k projectors
- Excellent color
- Long lamp life
- HDMI 2.0
- USB connection for streaming stick
What We Don't Like
- Doesn't have a lens shift
- Minimal zoom
7. BenQ TK850
You can stop paying for a movie ticket every week when you can just enjoy having your own true 4K projector. BenQ TK850 features a 4K HDR cinematic color, low input lag which is good for an optimized 4K projector. While its focus is sports, it’s also one of the best gaming projectors around.
This BenQ model has a rated brightness of 3000 lumens and has a 30,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio with a 1080p resolution. You should brace yourself for the best 4K HDR cinematic experience, as this model can project absolutely stunning motion pictures. And with two HDMI ports to match, connection settings are great.
In our full review, we found that the BenQ TK850 also boasts of a full color gamut and cinematic color technology, which is very impressive to the eyes as it smooths out skin tones as well. You can expect nothing less from 4k projectors like this.
(For midrange projectors, we listed the best projectors under 200 here)
What We Like
- Full HD resolution
- 3000 lumens deliver bright video
- Lag-free
- HDR
- HDMI 2.0 input included
- Bright picture quality
- Dynamic contrast gives more detail
What We Don't Like
- Streaming apps unsupported
- No HDR10+
- Has some fan noise
Home Theater Projectors Buyer’s Guide
Design and Build
Traditional projectors tend to come in white or black, with the outer features either matte or glossy. The best projectors are usually made from aluminum alloys or hard plastics.
There are also other models that feature a reflection lens design, laser and lamp-based, short throw and long throw, and the fisheye lens projector. Ultra short throw projectors fire a high-quality image from a short distance, giving you a large image in smaller rooms. It’s deal for any movie night.
Portability
A portable projector is a convenient on-the-go gadget for most people that travel a lot. If you want a portable projector, there are a few things to consider.
The advantage of portability is that you can just grab the portable projector and go. Because it’s a mini projector, it’s easy to set up and you can just play a full HD movie or videos anywhere you might want to be. Battery life is also important in this case, and you want models that last four hours or more.
The audio output may also be a factor. If you don’t bring a Bluetooth speaker with you, something like the Optoma CinemaX P2 can provide better sound than others.
Projection Tech
There are different types of video projectors, such as DLP, LCD, LCOS, LED, and laser. But, the most common ones are DLP (digital light processing) and LCD (liquid crystal display). What’s the difference?
The DLP projectors are more portable and mostly used for a cinematic-visual. LCD projectors are mainly designed for images, videos, and computer files. They’re known for being a budget projector compared to the other home entertainment projectors.
Resolution and Brightness
Resolution signifies how clear the image is when projected. It is an important feature of the best projectors. While most projectors have a fixed resolution like Full HD, some of the top picks in the market have pixel shifting tech that enhance video resolution. Some models also have cinema mode and sports mode.
Meanwhile, the brightness of the home projectors is measured in lumens. The best projectors can range from 1000 to 3000 lumens and above, and the more lumens you have set for your video projector, the brighter the image will be. You’ll see this especially in the bright whites of the image.
The recommended brightness for the best projector is from 1500 to 2000 lumens in a dark room to avoid ambient light, but many models in the market have more than 3000 lumens. The ambient light affects the image the device projects, which is why it is recommended to choose a pitch-black room for a home cinema. A bright room, such as your living room during daytime, would create less contrast on the wall. What you can do is replace your curtains with blackout ones to dim the light. Some of the best projectors still do a good job in moderately lit rooms, though.
Whether you have a cinema room or a mixed use room, use the video projector on a wall that’s white. Brightness won’t do much if you use a dark background.
Throw Ratio
You have to know the width of the image in relation to the throw distance when buying home projectors. It’s a basic method that helps you to find the throw distance or the image width of the projector screen on the wall. For example, if you need to watch on a larger screen, such as in big events, long throw projectors like the Sony VPL-VW550ES can provide up to 300 inches of projection size. Mounting these projectors on the ceiling is fine.
Or, if you need something similar to TVs, some projectors can project motion pictures on the wall from 40 to 200 inches. Generally, can use the ratio to help you decide what’s suited for you.
If you have a small room allotted for your home cinema, then an ultra short-throw projector like the LG CineBeam is a good choice for it will display an amazing image in a short distance. Short throw projectors allow you to enjoy a big image while movie watching in limited space. However, you’d be hard-pressed to find something with an affordable price, as short throw projectors are usually more expensive models.
On the other hand, the long throw projector is suitable for large rooms, and these will provide a big screen as well. You can get up to 300 inches of screen size, maybe more.
Connection Method
Wired and wireless connections are available in many projectors. An HDMI cable is commonly used for LCD type projectors as a connector to send digital images, videos, and sounds from devices such as laptops, blu ray discs, or a gaming console. All the projectors have HDMI ports allowing the user to have the easiest option to connect the device in an instant.
Aside from the HDMI, there are other ways that one can choose for connectivity. You can plug a Wi-Fi dongle, composite cables, USB type cable, and VGA [1]. Other projectors even double as a Bluetooth speaker, and can use HDMI, Bluetooth, and USB connections.
Price
The price tag of a home projector depends on its features, brand and advanced specs. There’s a wide variety of budget models and expensive units in the market today, and you can spend either a bit or a lot of money depending on the performance and settings you prefer.
Some low-cost projectors are pretty capable may be ideal for those in a tighter budget. If you want to get the best projector at a low price, the best budget projector we can recommend is the Optoma HD146X.
Still, more expensive ones can be considered price-worthy for the performance they deliver out of the box. Each model has an operating system and cinematic viewing similar to the widescreen TV.
For products at reasonable pricing, we listed high-performing projectors below 100 here)
FAQ
Which projector is best for home theater?
The best projector for the home theater is the Samsung Premiere. It has true 4K resolution with 2800 lumens, giving the user a realistic picture when watching, a built-in voice command assistant, and powerful sound with 40 watts 4.2 channel system that uses UHD processors.
How much is a good home theater projector?
A good home theater projector will approximately cost $500 to $1000. Compared to a brand new widescreen TV, you can save a lot.
Our Top Pick For a Home Theater Projector: Samsung The Premiere LSP9T
The Samsung The Premiere LSP9T short-throw projector with triple laser technology and crystal 4K resolution is our professionals’ pick for the best home cinema projector. In our full review, this is an excellent choice that spoils users with an optimized color expression, 2800 lumens of image brightness, and 40 watts 4.2ch audio built-in, delivering premium sound as it uses the Premiers Acoustic Beam Technology.
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