If you're looking for the best projectors overall, there are numerous options available, ranging from budget-friendly, portable models to high-end home theater setups. Are you specifically seeking the best projector for home? Do you want a versatile device that handles both the latest movies and gaming sessions with ease? Or are you looking for something that's easy to carry around? Whatever your needs, we've got you covered, from more affordable models that trade image quality for portability to bulkier, pricier units that deliver top-notch image quality. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your specific needs and budget. If you're unsure how far you can place a given projector for your screen size, our projector throw distance tool can help you plan your setup.
We've bought and tested over 85 projectors, and below, we list the best models for a few critical uses. We only cover consumer models, not high-end products meant for enthusiasts, and our price tiers are built with consumer models in mind. If you're specifically looking for the best home projector to use in a smaller room, or if you just want your projector to stand closer to your screen or wall, look up our best short-throw projectors. Look up our best 4k projectors if you're only interested in high-resolution options. If you'd rather see cheaper options on the market, look up the best budget and cheap projectors. Want to take your projector outside? Consider our picks for the best outdoor projectors. And don't forget that you can vote on which projectors you'd like us to purchase and put to the test!
We've independently bought and tested over 80 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 projects 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
MoviesGamingBrightnessNative ContrastPre-Calibration Color AccuracyColor GamutInput LagSizeImaging TechnologyLight SourceLaserSee all our test resultsNative ResolutionPixel Shift 4kIf you want the best projector overall, get the XGIMI TITAN. It's a long-throw 4k pixel-shift DLP projector with a dual-laser light engine that delivers exceptional brightness, so it works better than most projectors in rooms that aren't fully blacked out. That extra brightness also helps on larger screens, where the image still looks vivid and substantial instead of fading out. Even with all that light output, contrast is excellent, so movies and shows keep their impact once you dim the room down. Its powered lens gives you motorized zoom and generous lens shift, which makes installation easy even if the unit itself is massive.
The compromise is convenience. There's no built-in smart platform, so most people will want to add an external streamer for apps. If you do so, avoid using the match-frame-rate feature if you're sensitive to judder; otherwise, motion may not look fluid in movies and TV shows. It's also not a gaming-first projector: input lag is on the high side at 4k/1080p @ 60Hz and 1080p @ 120Hz, so it's a better fit for slower, cinematic games than for fast competitive play. PC users can get a better feel at 1080p @ 240Hz, but responsiveness is still not its main selling point. Connectivity is otherwise strong, with two HDMI ports including eARC, plus USB, optical audio, Ethernet, and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi support. Overall, the TITAN is the best all-around pick if you want top-tier image quality in a real home setup and are willing to add your own streamer and keep gaming secondary.
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Best Upper Mid-Range Projector
MoviesGamingBrightnessNative ContrastPre-Calibration Color AccuracyColor GamutInput LagSizeImaging TechnologyLight SourceLaserSee all our test resultsNative ResolutionPixel Shift 4kIf you want a premium projector that costs less than the XGIMI TITAN, the JMGO N3 Ultimate is the pick to beat. You give up some of the TITAN's raw brightness, but you still get a bright, polished picture that holds up well in living rooms with the lamps on and looks even better once the lights go down. Its pixel-shifted 4k image looks crisp, it's colorful, and its contrast is strong enough to give movies and games good depth in a dim room. Setup is also very convenient thanks to its two-axis gimbal stand, autofocus, automatic keystone correction, and intelligent screen alignment, so it’s easy to place without spending much time dialing in the image.
The JMGO is especially strong for gaming. In Game Mode, controls feel extremely responsive at 4k @ 60Hz, and it can also run at 1080p @ 120Hz or 1080p @ 240Hz if you want smoother motion and a quicker feel for faster games. Plus, unlike the TITAN, the JMGO comes with a fully featured smart platform with integrated apps and casting support. The main drawback is movie motion: it doesn't handle judder very well, so camera pans in movies and shows don't look fluid, although many people are not sensitive to judder. Still, for most people who want a bright, high-end projector that's easy to set up and excellent for gaming, the JMGO is the best-balanced pick in its price range.
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Best Mid-Range Projector
MoviesGamingBrightnessNative ContrastPre-Calibration Color AccuracyColor GamutInput LagSizeImaging TechnologyLight SourceLaserSee all our test resultsNative ResolutionPixel Shift 4kIf you want a projector that keeps a lot of what makes the JMGO N3 Ultimate so appealing but at a lower price, the XGIMI HORIZON 20 is the best mid-range pick. The main thing you're giving up is brightness and the JMGO's extremely low input lag when gaming. Even so, the HORIZON 20 still looks excellent, with sharp 4k pixel-shifted detail, great contrast, and enough brightness for a dim living room or even a lamp or two. Its image also comes well dialed in out of the box, so you don't need to do much to get a pleasing picture.
It also keeps the lifestyle-friendly features from the JMGO. You get a full smart platform, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, plus autofocus, auto-keystone, and screen-fit tools that make setup quick, whether you place it on a shelf or a table. And while its input lag isn't quite as low, it's still a solid gaming projector, with support for 4k @ 60Hz and 120Hz/240Hz @ 1080p modes for more responsive play. It also handles judder much better than the JMGO, so it's a solid alternative for those of you who are bothered by choppy motion in movies. If you want a well-rounded projector that still feels premium without stepping up to the upper mid-range tier, the XGIMI is the right pick.
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Best Lower Mid-Range Projector
MoviesGamingBrightnessNative ContrastPre-Calibration Color AccuracyColor GamutInput LagSizeImaging TechnologyLight SourceLaserSee all our test resultsNative ResolutionPixel Shift 4kIf the XGIMI HORIZON 20 is too expensive for you, check out the Hisense M2 Pro. While it's not nearly as bright as the XGIMI, it's bright enough for evening viewing with a lamp on in the background, and its native contrast is strong, so darker scenes keep their depth instead of looking totally flat. It's also pretty colorful due to its wide color gamut, and it's accurate right out of the box. Another thing that sets it apart is its gaming chops. Input lag is good across the board for comfortable console play, and it feels especially snappy at 1080p @ 240Hz, making it a fun big-screen option for fast PC games.
It has a built-in VIDAA smart platform with Netflix support, casting, and a solid auto-setup suite (autofocus, auto keystone, screen fit, and obstacle avoidance), so it feels like a complete living-room projector without needing a dongle. Connectivity is modern too, with HDMI (including eARC for a soundbar) plus USB, and its built-in speaker system is usable in a pinch. It handles judder well when watching most movies and shows at 60Hz, such as through a streamer without a match-frame-rate feature, or through the native apps. Finally, it's a pretty small unit, with a flexible stand, making it easy to set up if you have to move it. Overall, the projector gets you a sharp, colorful, big-screen image with modern smart features and genuinely good gaming responsiveness.
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Best Budget Projector
MoviesGamingBrightnessNative ContrastPre-Calibration Color AccuracyColor GamutInput LagSizeImaging TechnologyLight SourceLEDSee all our test resultsNative ResolutionPixel Shift 4kIf you want a more affordable alternative to the Hisense M2 Pro, the Epson Lifestudio Flex Plus is the budget pick. It's a noticeable step down in picture quality, since the Hisense is brighter, has far better contrast, handles judder much better and generally looks more cinematic, especially once the lights go down. Still, the Epson usually costs a lot less, and it remains a fairly balanced, easy-to-use projector instead of feeling like a stripped-down compromise. Its pixel-shifted 4k image looks sharp enough for movies and TV, and while it's not built for bright living rooms, it has enough light output for evening viewing in a typical home setup. It also works fine for 60Hz gaming, as its input lag is responsive enough for some slower casual titles.
A big part of its appeal is how approachable it feels. The projector has a swiveling chassis, tilt adjustment, and a robust auto-setup suite with autofocus, auto-keystone, obstacle avoidance, and screen fit, so moving it around the house is quick and painless. Google TV is built in, and the lone HDMI port supports eARC if you want to hook up a soundbar later, while the onboard Bose speakers are good enough for casual use on their own. If you want a cheaper projector that still feels modern, convenient, and versatile, the Lifestudio Flex Plus is the budget option to get.
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Best Cheap Projector
MoviesGamingBrightnessNative ContrastPre-Calibration Color AccuracyColor GamutInput LagSizeImaging TechnologyLight SourceLEDSee all our test resultsNative Resolution1080pIf the picks above are still too expensive, the NexiGo PJ40 Pro is the cheap option that makes the most sense. Compared with the Epson Lifestudio Flex Plus, you give up quite a bit of overall polish: the Epson is much brighter, more accurate out of the box, and has a wider color gamut. The Epson also projects a sharper pixel-shifted image, while the NexiGo is limited to 1080p. Still, the NexiGo's big advantage is its great native contrast for the price, which helps it look surprisingly good in a dark room and gives movies more depth than you might expect from something this cheap. It's still a low-cost projector, so you'll want to keep the lights off and use a more modest screen size.
It comes with a ton of useful features. The PJ40 Pro has a full Google TV implementation with official app support, including Netflix, so you don't need to add a Chromecast or Fire TV Stick for everyday streaming. It also has Bluetooth 5.1 and Wi-Fi with casting, plus two HDMI inputs, one with ARC for a soundbar, and a 20W speaker system that's fine for casual viewing. It's small and light, and while it lacks autofocus, it does have auto-keystone to help with quick setup. There's a Game Mode, but treat it as a nice-to-have rather than a performance game-changer, as the unit's input lag is too high for most games. Overall, on a modest screen after dark, the NexiGo PJ40 Pro delivers genuinely good value at a low price.
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Best Short-Throw Projector
MoviesGamingBrightnessNative ContrastPre-Calibration Color AccuracyColor GamutInput LagSizeImaging TechnologyLight SourceLaserSee all our test resultsNative ResolutionPixel Shift 4kIf you want the best short-throw projector overall, get the Valerion VisionMaster Max. Unlike the XGIMI TITAN, which competes more on sheer brightness for mixed lighting, the Valerion stands out by pairing premium image quality with a more flexible short-throw setup. It's a 4k pixel-shift DLP with amazing native contrast, giving dark scenes real depth and separation, and it's one of the rare projectors where the dynamic contrast mode is genuinely worth using, since it deepens blacks without introducing any truly noticeable artifacts. It also handles judder very well, so motion is fluid and even when watching content. Add its extremely wide color gamut, and movies and games look rich and punchy once you dim the lights.
Its short-throw design is a big part of the appeal, since it's easier to fit into smaller rooms than a traditional long-throw model. You also get autofocus and auto-keystone for quick positioning, a motorized zoom lens, and generous vertical lens shift to make placement easy. Gaming is another major strength, with low input lag in Game Mode, high-refresh support for smoother PC play, and three HDMI inputs, including two full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports. Built-in smart features and HDMI eARC round out the package, so it's easy to use day to day and simple to pair with a soundbar or AVR. Overall, the VisionMaster Max is the projector to get if you want flagship-level contrast, excellent gaming performance, and the easier placement that comes with a premium short-throw design.
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Best Ultra-Short-Throw Projector
MoviesGamingBrightnessNative ContrastPre-Calibration Color AccuracyColor GamutInput LagSizeImaging TechnologyLight SourceLED + LaserSee all our test resultsNative ResolutionPixel Shift 4kIf you want a true TV replacement that sits just inches from the wall, the XGIMI AURA 2 is the ultra-short-throw (UST) projector to get. Compared with premium standard-throw options like the XGIMI TITAN and JMGO N3 Ultimate, you give up some overall image performance and gaming responsiveness, but you gain the core UST advantage: a huge image from right below the screen, with no long cable runs and no one walking in front of the picture. Its image is bright enough for casual living-room use, and it looks better once the lights are dimmed. Its color performance is strong for most movies and shows, so they look vibrant.
It’s also easy to set up. Its screen adaptation tools can focus, square the image, avoid obstacles, and fit the picture to your screen automatically, which helps a lot when you’re placing a UST projector on a media stand. For gaming, it’s limited to 60Hz, so it isn’t made for high-refresh-rate play, but its 4k @ 60Hz input lag is low enough for responsive casual console gaming. The main drawback is judder: it doesn’t handle it very well, so movies and shows can look choppy if you're sensitive to judder. Overall, if you want a modern UST projector that’s easy to live with, works well for streaming, and can still handle casual 4k gaming, the XGIMI AURA 2 is the best option in this category.
Notable Mentions
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XGIMI HORIZON 20 Max:
The XGIMI HORIZON 20 Max is a solid alternative to the JMGO N3 Ultimate. They perform almost identically in most aspects, with the JMGO being a bit brighter, while the XGIMI has the contrast edge. The big difference lies in judder and gaming: the XGIMI handles judder much better but only at 1080p, while the JMGO's input lag is class-leading, so it's better for gamers.
See our review -
XGIMI Horizon S Max:
The XGIMI Horizon S Max is a tremendous mid-range option, especially when it's on sale. When it's not, the XGIMI HORIZON 20 ends up being the better deal due to its slightly better image quality and superior gaming chops.
See our review -
Wanbo X5 Pro:
The Wanbo X5 Pro is a solid alternative to the NexiGo PJ40 Pro, as they both perform nearly the same. Still, the NexiGo has slightly better contrast and is far easier to calibrate. The Wanbo still warrants consideration for very quiet environments, as it's far quieter under load.
See our review -
Hisense C2 Ultra:
The Hisense C2 Ultra is a solid short-throw unit and is a far cheaper alternative to the Valerion VisionMaster Max. The Hisense is just as bright and as capable for gamers. Still, the Valerion is best-in-class for contrast, a bit more accurate, and quieter under load, so it's the better option for truly blacked out home theater rooms.
See our review -
Hisense PX3-PRO:
The Hisense PX3-PRO is a strong alternative to the XGIMI AURA 2 if you value advanced gaming features and better judder handling. Still, the XGIMI performs almost identically in most ways, is more accurate out of the box, is easier to set up, and has lower input lag at 4k, all for a much lower price.
See our review
Recent Updates
Jun 09, 2026:
The JMGO N3 Ultimate replaces the XGIMI HORIZON 20 Max as the 'Best Upper Mid-Range Projector' due to its strong gaming chops and image quality. We've also replaced the Hisense PX3-PRO with the XGIMI AURA 2 as the 'Best Ultra-Short-Throw Projector,' as the XGIMI AURA 2 performs almost identically for a much lower price.
May 01, 2026:
The NexiGo PJ40 Pro replaces the NexiGo PJ40 (Gen 3) as our 'Best Cheap Projector' thanks to its full Google TV support. We also updated the XGIMI AURA 2 Notable Mention to better explain how it compares to the Hisense PX3-PRO.
Apr 03, 2026:
The XGIMI HORIZON 20 replaces the XGIMI Horizon S Max as the 'Best Mid-Range Projector' due to its slightly better image quality and improved gaming features at a similar price. This pushes the S Max to the Notable Mentions.
Mar 11, 2026:
We named the XGIMI TITAN our new top pick thanks to its exceptional brightness and very strong contrast. We also revised the other picks to better explain the trade-offs as you move down in price, and the Valerion VisionMaster Max is now our short-throw pick, replacing the Hisense C2 Ultra because of its amazing contrast.
Feb 03, 2026:
We rearranged our picks to fit our new pricing structure; the first few are now being recommended based on their market positioning. The XGIMI HORIZON S Max is now the 'Best Mid-Range Projector.' We've also freshened up the text.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above represent what we consider the best overall projectors currently available for most consumers. We consider factors like price (we favor more affordable options unless the difference in quality justifies a higher cost), feedback from our visitors, and product availability (we avoid models that are scarce or nearly out of stock).
However, if you prefer to make your own selection, here's the list of the top projectors we've tested. Remember not to get too bogged down in the minutiae. While no projector is flawless, many perform well for most purposes. Just be cautious of the lowest-quality models to ensure a satisfactory viewing experience.