If you're looking for the best projectors under $1,000, there are quite a few options, although most of the best models in this segment are cheaper than that. Some home theater enthusiasts may be underwhelmed by the options in this article, but many of these projectors are certainly good enough for most consumers. These models deliver a decent viewing experience, and all of our picks have great smart features that eliminate the need to spend more on an external streaming device. On the other hand, projectors in this price range tend to lack setup features like lens shift and a zoom lens, so you usually have to physically move the projector to center it with your screen and adjust the image size to enjoy the best image quality. However, many have screen adaptation tools like automatic keystone correction and autofocus that make setup easier, although relying too heavily on keystone correction can negatively impact image quality.
We've bought and tested more than 105 projectors, and below, you'll find the best models to buy for under $1,000. You can also check out the best projectors if you're able to stretch your budget, or the best projectors under $500 if you're working with a limited budget. If you specifically want a projector for your backyard, take a look at the best outdoor projectors. You can also vote on which ones you want us to purchase and test. If you're unsure about the size of screen you can accommodate at your distance, you can use our projector throw calculator to determine how each model fits your room.
We've independently bought and tested over 100 projectors and published detailed results for each, so you can decide which one to buy. These have all been tested under the same standardized methodology, allowing you to compare them side by side. We still have all these projectors in our lab, so we can continually go back and compare them to ensure our reviews are still accurate. All our test methodologies are also public on our website, so you can validate the results yourself.
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Best Projector Under $1,000
Home TheaterOutdoorsBedroomGamingBrightnessContrastPortabilityColorGaming ResponsivenessProjector Type:Standard ThrowNative Resolution:Pixel Shift 4kSee all our test resultsLight Source:LaserThe JMGO N1S 4K is the best projector you can get for under $1,000. It offers surprisingly good image quality for a projector in this price range, with a sharp 4k image (via pixel shift) and excellent contrast that gives the image solid depth. It also has very good colors, leading to a vibrant image. It's not a super bright model, but it's bright enough to look punchy in a dark room. However, it's not bright enough to withstand glare in a room with ambient lighting without the image looking washed out. This projector has a one-axis gimbal that gives you vertical flexibility to help with alignment. It also supports automatic keystone correction and autofocus, which helps speed up the setup process. It only has one HDMI port, limiting the number of devices you can connect to it, but since it has Google TV built in, you can still connect a soundbar and watch content through the internal apps.
It also offers decent gaming performance, with low enough input lag for gaming to feel responsive, although it's not quite low enough to avoid being at a bit of a disadvantage in more competitive titles. Unfortunately, it's limited to 60Hz, so you can't take advantage of the 120Hz refresh rates offered by consoles. It also doesn't support VRR to reduce screen tearing. If gaming performance is your primary concern, check out the XGIMI Elfin Flip 4K, which is our best portable pick and our best option for gaming under $1,000.
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Best Budget Projector Under $1,000
Home TheaterOutdoorsBedroomGamingBrightnessContrastPortabilityColorGaming ResponsivenessProjector Type:Standard ThrowNative Resolution:1080pSee all our test resultsLight Source:LaserIf the JMGO N1S 4K is too expensive, the XGIMI Elfin Flip Laser is the best budget projector under $1,000. Unlike the JMGO, this is a 1080p projector, so the image isn't as sharp. Its contrast is a step down, too, but it's still good, so although the image doesn't have as much depth as the JMGO, it avoids looking flat. Despite being cheaper, it's actually more colorful than our top pick, so the image looks very vibrant. Brightness is about equal, so it delivers a punchy image in a dark room, but it can't withstand much glare in a room with ambient lighting. Unfortunately, it's a big step down in terms of gaming performance, since its high input lag leads to a sluggish gaming experience, and it's really only suitable for turn-based games or other games where responsiveness doesn't matter. It's also limited to 60Hz and doesn't support VRR to reduce screen tearing.
Fortunately, it has a one-axis gimbal that gives you vertical tilt flexibility, and it has a ton of screen adaptation tools like autofocus and automatic keystone correction, so you can quickly set it up. It only has one HDMI port, but you can use the built-in Google TV to watch shows and movies, leaving you with an input for your soundbar or other device. It's also highly portable since you can easily fit it into a backpack to bring to a friend's house. If you like the design of this projector but wish it were a 4k model, had a zoom lens, or offered better gaming performance, consider the XGIMI Elfin Flip 4K.
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Best Cheap Projector Under $1,000
Home TheaterOutdoorsBedroomGamingBrightnessContrastPortabilityColorGaming ResponsivenessProjector Type:Standard ThrowNative Resolution:1080pSee all our test resultsLight Source:LEDIf you're looking for the best cheap option, the NexiGo PJ40 Pro is a good choice. Its overall image quality isn't as good as the XGIMI Elfin Flip Laser, but it has better contrast, producing deeper blacks that give the image a bit more depth. Unfortunately, it's dimmer than the Flip Laser and its colors are much more muted, so the image doesn't look nearly as punchy or vibrant in a dark room. It also looks very washed out in a room with ambient lighting. Gaming performance is similar overall, with support limited to 1080p @ 60Hz and no VRR to help reduce screen tearing, but this projector has lower input lag. It's still too high for competitive games where every millisecond counts, though more casual, story-based titles don't feel overly sluggish.
Unlike the top two picks on this list, it doesn't have a gimbal, but its adjustable feet give you some vertical tilt flexibility. It's limited to manual focus and manual horizontal keystone, so setting it up can take some time, and moving it from room to room is a bit inconvenient. Fortunately, it has two HDMI ports and Google TV built in, so you can use the internal apps, connect a soundbar, and still have room for another device. It's not an amazing projector by any means, but it stands out from the crowd of other cheap projectors in this price range.
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Best Portable Projector Under $1,000
Home TheaterOutdoorsBedroomGamingBrightnessContrastPortabilityColorGaming ResponsivenessProjector Type:Short ThrowNative Resolution:Pixel Shift 4kSee all our test resultsLight Source:LaserThe XGIMI Elfin Flip 4K is the best portable projector under $1,000. It's sold for around the same price as our top pick, the JMGO N1S 4K, and despite its focus on portability, it holds its own against the JMGO in image quality. Its contrast isn't as good, but it's still decent enough to give the image some depth. It's similarly bright and actually more colorful, producing a vibrant, punchy image in a dark room. However, like all the other picks on our list, it looks washed out with ambient lighting. Unlike every other projector on this list, it has a zoom lens that lets you adjust image size without moving it. It also has autofocus, automatic keystone correction, and other screen adaptation features that make setup easy, which is particularly useful when taking advantage of its small, lightweight design to bring it into your backyard or to a friend's house.
Not only is this the best portable option under $1,000, but it also offers the best gaming performance out of any projector sold in this price range. It supports either 4k @ 60Hz or 1080p @ 120Hz, giving you the option to choose between the sharpest image or the smoothest motion. It also supports VRR to reduce screen tearing, and it has incredibly low input lag that rivals what you get from a gaming monitor or TV, so gaming feels very snappy and you're not at a disadvantage when playing competitive titles. It even has two HDMI ports, so you can plug in a soundbar and a gaming console, and its built-in Google TV means you don't need to pair it with an external streaming device.
Notable Mentions
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Hisense M2 Pro:
The Hisense M2 Pro competes with the JMGO N1S 4K and is sold for just under $1,000 on sale. The Hisense is more colorful, has a zoom lens that makes setup easier, and offers up to 1080p @ 240Hz for gamers, so it's a great alternative if you prioritize those aspects and can wait for a sale. However, the JMGO has much better contrast, and it's cheaper even when the Hisense is on sale.
See our review -
BenQ TH575:
The BenQ TH575 is a similarly priced alternative to the XGIMI Elfin Flip Laser. The BenQ is brighter and has better contrast, but its colors are significantly less vibrant, resulting in a noticeably duller image. The BenQ is also less portable, more difficult to set up, and has a louder fan. Overall, it's less versatile than the XGIMI, making it a better fit for most people.
See our review -
Aurzen EAZZE D1 MAX:
The Aurzen EAZZE D1 MAX is similarly priced to the NexiGo PJ40 Pro and is an alternative for those who prioritize brightness. It also has autofocus and fully automatic keystone correction, making setup easier. However, the NexiGo delivers better contrast and more vibrant colors, plus an extra HDMI port and lower input lag, making it the better option overall.
See our review
Recent Updates
Oct 05, 2026:
We replaced the Epson Home Cinema 2350 with the JMGO N1S 4K as our top pick, since the latter offers better overall performance. We also replaced the Epson EpiqVision Flex CO-FH02 with the XGIMI Elfin Flip Laser in the 'Best Budget' category for the same reason. In the 'Best Portable' category, we replaced the LG CineBeam Q with the XGIMI Elfin Flip 4K, since the Flip 4K offers better portability and significantly better performance. Since the Flip 4K is also the best gaming projector in this article, we removed the 'Best Gaming' category as it was redundant. Finally, we updated the Notable Mentions to offer better alternatives to our new picks.
Jun 05, 2026:
We've refreshed this article with updated picks, current pricing context, and clearer recommendations to help users make better buying decisions.
Feb 04, 2026:
The ViewSonic PX701-4K is now in the Notable Mentions, as it's now sold for the same price as the superior Hisense M2 Pro. We've also updated the text throughout for improved clarity.
Dec 17, 2025:
The newly reviewed Hisense M2 Pro replaces the BenQ HT2060 as the Best Projector Under $1,000 due to being better all-around. The BenQ HT2060 is now in the Notable Mentions.
Oct 29, 2025:
The ViewSonic PX701-4K has been rebranded as the 'Best Gaming Projector Under $1,000,' to emphasize its gaming chops. Plus, the LG CineBeam Q is now the 'Best Portable Projector Under $1,000,' and the XGIMI Halo+ is instead the 'Best Value Portable Projector Under $1,000.'
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best projectors under $1,000 to buy for most people. We factor in the price (a cheaper projector wins over a pricier one if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no projectors that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here is the list of all our reviews of projectors available under $1,000. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no projector is perfect, many are good enough for most uses; however, avoid the worst models to ensure adequate quality.
