If you're in the market for a home theater projector, plenty of great choices are available. While affordable models often sacrifice image quality, you'll find notable improvements as you move up in price, with mid-range and premium projectors offering excellent contrast and brightness. This article focuses on these higher-end options, but we also include budget-friendlier picks that still deliver solid performance. Whether you're seeking the best projector for movies in a dedicated dark room or a more versatile, compact unit for a mixed-use living space, we have something for everyone. If you're unsure what screen size you can get in your room, you can also use our projector throw calculator to see how each model fits your setup.
While some of our picks are great for enthusiasts, we don't cover ultra-high-end models targeted at the most demanding experts, focusing instead on top consumer options that balance quality and value. We've tested more than 70 projectors; below, you'll find the best projectors for home theater. You can also check out our recommendations for the best TVs for watching movies, or if you're specifically looking for a TV replacement, the best short-throw projectors. If you're only interested in the sharpest image possible, look at our best 4k projectors list instead, which includes the best 4k home theater projectors as well. Or consider the best home projectors if you're looking for units that work better in brighter contexts. You can also vote on which projectors you want us to purchase and test.
We've independently bought and tested over 60 projectors, and we've published all the 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 methodology is also public on our website, so you can validate the results yourself.
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Best Home Theater Projector
Movies8.9Native Contrast8.5Brightness9.3Pre-Calibration Color Accuracy7.8Post-Calibration Color Accuracy9.3Color Gamut9.7Imaging TechnologyDLPLight SourceLaserSee all our test resultsNative ResolutionPixel Shift 4kIf you want the best home theater projector we've tested, go with the XGIMI HORIZON 20 Max. It's a 4k pixel-shifting DLP with an RGB laser light source, so movies look clean and detailed on a big screen without the softness you often see from 1080p models. It's also extremely bright, which gives you real flexibility: in a light-controlled room, you can push a very large image without it looking dull, and in a living room with some ambient light, it still holds onto a punchy, saturated picture. Contrast is excellent for a single-chip DLP, so dark scenes keep convincing depth instead of washing out to gray, and black bars look darker than you'd expect at this size and brightness.
The XGIMI covers a very wide color gamut and supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG, and IMAX Enhanced. Out of the box, it's already accurate enough for most home theater users, and if you're picky, it calibrates very close to reference. You get a full smart platform with the major streaming apps, so you don't need an external box, plus Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and strong eARC support if you want to hand audio off to a soundbar or AVR. A motorized zoom, generous lens shift, autofocus, auto keystone, and a swivel stand make placement easy, whether you're ceiling-mounting it in a dedicated room or setting it on a media shelf. Taken together, the HORIZON 20 Max is the best all-around home theater projector we've tested. If you'd like something similar but cheaper, consider the XGIMI HORIZON 20 Pro instead, as it has the same feature set but projects a dimmer image.
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Best Mid-Range Home Theater Projector
Movies8.4Native Contrast8.3Brightness8.1Pre-Calibration Color Accuracy8.4Post-Calibration Color Accuracy9.4Color Gamut9.3Imaging TechnologyDLPLight SourceLED + LaserSee all our test resultsNative ResolutionPixel Shift 4kIf you want a solid home theater projector without stretching your budget to the XGIMI HORIZON 20 Max, the XGIMI HORIZON S Max is the best mid-range option. It's a 4k projector that uses pixel-shifting, so 4k movies and streaming apps look much sharper than on 1080p models while still keeping the price in check. It's very bright for its class, which gives you flexibility: in a light-controlled room, you can comfortably run a large screen size, and in a living room with a bit of ambient light, it still looks punchy and saturated rather than washed out. Still, it's not nearly as bright as the HORIZON 20 Max, so that one is a better pick if you like your content to be as vibrant as possible.
Contrast is great on the S Max, so dark scenes retain convincing depth, and black bars don't immediately turn gray as soon as you dim the lights. It also supports Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG, and IMAX Enhanced, and it has a wide color gamut. Out of the box, it's already accurate enough for most people; with calibration, it gets even closer to a reference look. For everyday use, you get a full smart platform with the major streaming apps, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, plus autofocus, auto keystone, and screen-fit tools, so setup is straightforward. An eARC-capable HDMI port makes it easy to hand audio off to a soundbar or AVR. If you mostly use your projector in a completely pitch black room or just want to save some money, the S Max is a solid pick.
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Best Budget Home Theater Projector
Movies7.9Native Contrast7.9Brightness6.8Pre-Calibration Color Accuracy8.7Post-Calibration Color Accuracy9.3Color Gamut9.8Imaging TechnologyDLPLight SourceLaserSee all our test resultsNative ResolutionPixel Shift 4kIf you're looking for something cheaper than the XGIMI HORIZON S Max, but still want a projector that performs well in a dark room, look at the Hisense M2 Pro. It utilizes a triple-laser light source with pixel-shifted 4k, resulting in a sharper, more detailed image than typical 1080p budget models, along with a very wide color gamut that enhances the richness and saturation of movies and shows. It isn't a projector for bright rooms, but in a dim or fully dark space, it delivers a punchy picture with good depth, and it is already quite accurate in Filmmaker Mode, with calibration available if you want to fine-tune it. The XGIMI does have slightly better contrast, but the Hisense performs well on that front, especially at its lower price point.
Where it fits in the lineup is as a value-minded step toward a more premium home theater experience. Compared with cheaper lamp-based models, you are paying for the cleaner laser look, higher perceived detail, and stronger HDR color. It is also easier to live with than most budget picks, as it features a built-in smart platform with official Netflix support and casting, eliminating the need for a separate streaming box. Connectivity is straightforward with HDMI and eARC for an easy soundbar hookup, and the built-in speakers are usable for casual nights. Overall, if you're looking for a budget-oriented projector that resembles a real home theater setup once the lights are down, the M2 Pro is the best choice.
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Best Cheap Home Theater Projector
Movies6.5Native Contrast8.9Brightness5.8Pre-Calibration Color Accuracy3.9Post-Calibration Color Accuracy8.0Color Gamut5.4Imaging TechnologyLCDLight SourceLEDSee all our test resultsNative Resolution1080pIf you just want the most contrast for your money, the NexiGo PJ40 (Gen 3) is a cheap pick that gets the job done. This 1080p projector is far more affordable than the Hisense M2 Pro, yet it delivers even better contrast. In a fully dark space, movies have decent depth, and blacks don't immediately wash out to gray. The trade-off is brightness and color: its brightness is sub-par, and its color gamut is limited, so colors look muted, and it struggles in rooms with much ambient light. The Hisense is far brighter, so it's the better pick if you use your projector in rooms with a few lights on. Out-of-the-box color accuracy is also poor, so if you care about a natural-looking image, you should plan on a quick calibration.
Despite the low price, it's well-equipped. You get Bluetooth 5.1, Wi-Fi, and casting via Miracast or Apple AirPlay, plus two HDMI inputs (one with ARC for a soundbar) and a reasonably powerful 20W built-in speaker system that's fine for casual use. There's even HDR10 support, although its limited brightness and color mean HDR won't look as impactful as on more expensive models. If you're on a tight budget and can keep the room dark, the PJ40 (Gen 3) is the best cheap home theater projector you can buy.
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Best Ultra-Short-Throw Home Theater Projector
Movies8.2Native Contrast8.3Brightness8.1Pre-Calibration Color Accuracy6.4Post-Calibration Color Accuracy9.3Color Gamut9.8Imaging TechnologyDLPLight SourceLaserSee all our test resultsNative ResolutionPixel Shift 4kIf you want a true TV replacement that sits flush against the wall, the Hisense PX3-PRO is the best ultra-short-throw home theater projector we've tested. Its 4k pixel-shifting keeps movies and shows looking sharp at typical sofa distances, and because it sits just a few inches from the wall, you can drop it on a low media console and still fill an 80- to 150-inch screen. The TriChroma laser light engine is bright for a UST and has great contrast, so dark scenes keep solid shadow detail instead of turning into a gray haze, especially once you pair it with a good UST ALR screen. Additionally, it boasts one of the widest color gamuts we've measured, allowing HDR movies to appear rich and intensely saturated when the room is dimmed. Out of the box, its accuracy is unfortunately mediocre, but with calibration, it dials in to near reference.
For day-to-day use, it really behaves like a premium smart TV. Google TV is built in, with Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support, plus Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, Chromecast, and AirPlay 2, so you can stream from your favorite apps without adding a dongle. Two HDMI 2.1 ports handle your 4k sources, while a third HDMI with eARC makes it easy to hand audio off to a soundbar or AVR if you outgrow the capable 50W built-in speakers. If you want a bright, colorful, cinematic picture from a unit that sits right up against the wall, it's the best UST home theater projector we've tested.
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Best Short-Throw Home Theater Projector
Movies8.6Native Contrast8.2Brightness8.7Pre-Calibration Color Accuracy7.9Post-Calibration Color Accuracy9.1Color Gamut9.8Imaging TechnologyDLPLight SourceLaserSee all our test resultsNative ResolutionPixel Shift 4kIf you want a great home theater projector but don't need it right up against the wall, the Hisense C2 Ultra is the best short-throw option. Its 4k pixel-shifting produces a crisp, detailed image on a big screen, and the laser light engine easily gets bright enough for a living room with some ambient light while still looking quite good once you dim the room. The contrast is very good, so dark scenes retain their depth instead of washing out, and the extremely wide color gamut provides HDR movies with rich, saturated colors that really stand out. Out of the box, it's already accurate, and it calibrates cleanly if you want to push it closer to reference.
Hisense's VIDAA smart platform is built in, with Netflix and other major apps, plus Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support, so you don't need an external streamer. The integrated 2.1-channel JBL speakers sound surprisingly full for casual viewing, and the eARC port makes it easy to hand audio off to a soundbar or AVR for a more serious surround setup. Overall, it is the best value ST home theater projector if you don't need your projector right against the wall; if you do, consider the ultra-short-throw Hisense PX3-PRO above, although the C2 Ultra does have better image quality overall for a cheaper price.
Notable Mentions
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Valerion VisionMaster Max:
The Valerion VisionMaster Max is a premium alternative to the XGIMI HORIZON 20 Max. They trade blows, but the Valerion does have a better dynamic contrast option. Still, the XGIMI is noticeably brighter, with comparable native contrast, and is also much cheaper, making it the better pick for most people.
See our review -
Epson Home Cinema 5050UB:
The Epson Home Cinema 5050UB is a fantastic lamp-based option for dark room purists and a natural alternative to the XGIMI HORIZON 20 Max. It offers excellent contrast and very flexible lens controls, but it's bulky, lacks a built-in smart OS, uses an aging lamp light source, and has weaker HDR support, so the XGIMI is easier to recommend as a modern option.
See our review -
JMGO N1S Ultimate:
The JMGO N1S Ultimate is a bright, gimbal-mounted alternative to the XGIMI HORIZON S Max if you care more about sheer light output than accuracy. It's brighter, but it isn't very accurate out of the box and only supports HDR10, whereas the XGIMI is more accurate and adds Dolby Vision on top. Overall, the XGIMI is slightly better suited for home theater purists, but only just.
See our review -
XGIMI AURA 2:
The XGIMI AURA 2 is a great ultra-short-throw alternative to the Hisense PX3-PRO if you mainly care about movies and want to save money. It's a bit brighter than the Hisense, and is much more accurate out-of-the-box. It doesn't match Hisense's contrast or massive color gamut, but for a dim living room or home theater, it delivers very similar overall image quality at a lower price.
See our review -
Anker Nebula X1:
The Anker Nebula X1 is an interesting alternative to the Hisense C2 Ultra if you want a projector that can double as a semi-portable movie machine. It's compact, has a handy carry handle, and comes in outdoor-friendly bundles. The Hisense is still the better fixed home-theater pick thanks to its fuller connectivity, stronger eARC support, and living-room-friendly stand and ergonomics.
See our review
Recent Updates
Feb 04, 2026:
Removed the Epson Home Cinema 1080, as a bright room projector doesn't quite fit the theme of the article. Otherwise, the text was tightened, and the Valerion VisionMaster MAX was added to the Notable Mentions as an alternative to the XGIMI HORIZON 20 Max.
Dec 17, 2025:
The newly reviewed Hisense M2 Pro replaces the BenQ HT2060 as the Best Home Theater Projector due to being better all-around, for a similar price.
Nov 21, 2025:
The XGIMI HORIZON 20 Max is now the 'Best Home Theater Projector' due to its amazing image quality and modern features. Most of the other picks have been changed, offering more modern options than the Epson Home Cinema 3800 and 5050UB that we previously highlighted. The Notable Mentions have also been revamped.
Apr 18, 2025:
The BenQ HT2060 replaces the BenQ TH671ST as our 'Best Budget Home Theater' pick, as the TH671ST's price has increased recently, and the HT2060 is the better pick at that new price point.
Feb 20, 2025:
Replaced the Hisense PX3-PRO with the XGIMI AURA 2 as our 'Best Home Theater Projector' pick, as the XGIMI is basically just as good for movies but at a lower cost. The Hisense is now in our Notable Mentions.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think is currently the best movie projector for most people to buy. 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 models that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you'd like to do the work of choosing yourself, here's the list of the best home cinema projectors. 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.