The 6 Best Home Projectors - Fall 2024

If you're in the market for the best home projector, consider the BenQ X3100i. This projector stands out for its adaptability, offering advanced home theater capabilities and HDR10+ support. It's easily bright enough for moderately lit rooms, and its good contrast and wide color range ensure a pleasant viewing experience in dark rooms. Thanks to pixel-shifting technology, it delivers an image that stays sharp even when projected onto large surfaces. Ultimately, the projector excels in most contexts, regardless of lighting conditions. It's also highly accurate right out of the box, so even those who are particular about color accuracy will be largely pleased with this unit's performance without needing to calibrate it.

But it's not just about display capabilities—it's also a standout for streaming content. The included QS02 dongle supports Google Cast and Apple AirPlay, and it offers Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 support, as well as having native Netflix support. It's a great choice for gamers, with two HDMI 2.0b ports that can handle 4k @ 60Hz, 1440p @ 120Hz, and 1080p @ 240Hz signals. One of the unit's HDMI ports also doubles as an eARC port, which is great if you want to connect a soundbar. The third HDMI port, concealed behind the top cover, is intended for use with the included dongle but can also accommodate any HDMI device. It's the most adaptable projector we've tested and is the best option for anyone except perhaps ardent home theater fans.

If you're seeking the ultimate home projector for watching movies, the Epson Home Cinema 3800 is a slightly better pick than the BenQ X3100i due to its edge in brightness and contrast. It's certainly bright enough to look great in moderately lit rooms. However, it excels in darker settings due to its great contrast ratio, so install it in a dark basement for maximum impact. Straight out of the box, this model delivers remarkable color accuracy, so there's no need to calibrate it to get an accurate picture. Its one weakness is its decent but unexceptional color gamut; it's wide enough for SDR content, but HDR content doesn't look as punchy as possible. If that bothers you, consider an upgrade to the even more expensive Epson Home Cinema 5050UB, although it's not worth it for most users.

The Epson falters somewhat in its features; it's rather minimalistic. It lacks Wi-Fi or a built-in smart OS but offers Bluetooth. If smart features are important, consider investing in an external streaming dongle or buying the BenQ. The unit's two HDMI 2.0 ports allow for seamless connection to external devices, with both ports capable of handling a 4K @ 60Hz signal, and the 12V trigger out port enables automated projector screen deployment. Unfortunately, this projector doesn't support eARC, so you'll have to invest in a receiver or use the unit's audio out port for the best sound. Overall, the Epson is the go-to choice for enthusiasts looking to recreate a cinema experience in their basement.

If you prefer placing your projector close to the wall or screen, the BenQ X500i is a very good option. This short-throw projector can deliver large images from minimal distances, projecting a 60-inch display from just three feet away and scaling up to 120 inches from six to 7.2 feet. It offers impressive contrast, particularly in darker scenes, while maintaining solid performance even with brighter content. Its wide color gamut ensures a vibrant viewing experience, but it's not quite bright enough for colors to pop in well-lit rooms, so a dim environment will provide the best image quality. Additionally, its image accuracy is top-notch, requiring no adjustments, even for video enthusiasts.

BenQ X500i is feature-rich, as it comes with the same Android TV 11 QS02 streaming dongle as the more expensive BenQ X3100i. The dongle supports Google Chromecast, Apple AirPlay, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, HDR10+, and native Netflix. The projector itself comes with three HDMI ports, one hidden under the top cover, all 4K @ 60Hz and 1080p @ 240Hz for gaming. The second HDMI port on the back also serves as an eARC port for advanced audio playback via a connected soundbar. Moreover, it features a USB-C port with DP Alt Mode, allowing content streaming from compatible devices. Overall, the BenQ X500i is the best short-throw projector we've tested, and its versatility also makes it one of the best projectors for bedroom use. It's also a great option for anyone wanting the BenQ X3100i's feature set but at a lower price point.

If you're looking for a home projector that offers great value for its price, the BenQ TH671ST is a strong option. Despite its affordable price, it performs well overall. It delivers a crisp 1080p image with decent contrast, giving it satisfactory performance in darker environments, albeit not as good as the more expensive BenQ X500i. This projector also doesn't support HDR, unlike the other options above. Still, it projects a sharp 1080p image and boasts satisfactory contrast, making it a good choice for darker rooms. Keep in mind that its brightness is only mediocre, so try to stick to dimmer rooms for the best overall viewing experience, as it otherwise looks a bit washed out in brighter contexts. Thankfully, it has a wide color gamut, and its colors are very accurate right out of the box. In the right lighting conditions, the projector offers a vibrant image without sacrificing accuracy.

Regarding features, it lacks a smart OS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, but it does include a USB Type-A port for power delivery, which is convenient for powering a streaming dongle. While it doesn't have a USB data port, one of its two HDMI ports supports MHL, allowing you to connect your phone or tablet for easy content streaming. Both HDMI ports support 1080p at 60Hz, though they don't offer ARC/eARC capability. Instead, the projector has 3.5mm audio in and out ports. Overall, this is the best value home projector on the market, and it's more than capable as a model for most users.