If you're in the market for a home theater projector, plenty of great choices are available. While affordable models often sacrifice image quality, there's a notable improvement as you move up in price, with mid-range and premium projectors offering excellent performance, particularly in HDR, 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 60 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, the best home projectors, or the best overall projectors. If you're only interested in the sharpest image possible, look at our best 4k projectors list instead. You can also vote on which projectors you want us to purchase and test.
Quick Look
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
Movies8.9Contrast8.6Brightness9.2Pre-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.
HDR performance is a real highlight. The XGIMI covers a very wide color gamut and supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG, and IMAX Enhanced, so 4k Blu-rays and streaming movies look rich and vivid when you dim the lights. 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. It also behaves like a proper TV replacement. 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 XGIMI HORIZON 20 Max is the best all-around home theater projector we've tested.
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Best Ultra-Short-Throw Home Theater Projector
Movies8.1Contrast8.3Brightness7.8Pre-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. On top of that, it has one of the widest color gamuts we've measured, so HDR movies look rich and intensely saturated when you dim the room. 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
Movies8.4Contrast7.9Brightness8.6Pre-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 our favorite 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. Contrast is very good, so dark scenes keep real depth instead of washing out, and the extremely wide color gamut gives HDR movies 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.
Compared with our top picks, it lands in a very comfortable middle ground. The XGIMI HORIZON 20 Max still has the edge for sheer brightness, placement flexibility, and overall refinement in a classic long-throw setup, while the Hisense PX3-PRO is the better choice if you specifically want a UST that hugs the wall. But if you're happy to place the projector a bit farther out on a coffee table or stand, the C2 Ultra actually offers better overall home theater performance than the PX3-PRO and is significantly cheaper than both the PX3-PRO and the XGIMI. 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, the Hisense C2 Ultra is the best value ST home theater projector if you don't need your projector right against the wall.
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Best Value Home Theater Projector
Movies8.1Contrast7.8Brightness7.8Pre-Calibration Color Accuracy8.4Post-Calibration Color Accuracy9.4Color Gamut9.3Imaging TechnologyDLPLight SourceLED + LaserSee all our test resultsNative ResolutionPixel Shift 4kIf you want a high-end home theater projector without stretching your budget to our top pick, the XGIMI HORIZON S Max is the best value 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. Contrast is very good, so dark scenes retain convincing depth, and black bars don't immediately turn gray as soon as you dim the lights. HDR performance is a big part of what makes it feel "premium" at a lower price. The XGIMI supports Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG, and IMAX Enhanced, and its wide color gamut helps HDR movies and TV shows look rich and vivid once the room is darkened.
Out of the box, it's already easily accurate enough for most people; with calibration, it gets even closer to a reference look. It doesn't quite match the sheer brightness and color volume of the XGIMI HORIZON 20 Max, but it gets close enough that many home theater users won’t miss the difference, especially given the much lower cost. 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 want most of the XGIMI HORIZON 20 Max experience for less money, the S Max is the best value home theater projector.
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Best Budget Home Theater Projector
Movies7.6Contrast8.6Brightness6.4Pre-Calibration Color Accuracy8.5Post-Calibration Color Accuracy9.0Color Gamut7.1Imaging TechnologyDLPLight SourceLEDSee all our test resultsNative Resolution1080pIf you want a classic dark room movie projector and don't care about 4k yet, the BenQ HT2060 is the best 1080p home theater option. It's a single-chip DLP that delivers a sharp Full HD image with surprisingly deep contrast for the price, so once the lights are down, black levels and shadow detail look convincingly cinematic. Out of the box, its color accuracy is excellent, so you don't need to fuss with calibration to get a natural, film-like picture, and its brightness is mediocre but adequate for a dim or fully dark room.
Where it fits in the lineup is as a value-minded step between cheap models and premium 4k lasers. Compared with the XGIMI HORIZON S Max, you give up 4k pixel-shifting, HDR impact, a laser light source, and an integrated smart platform, but you also save a noticeable amount of money while still getting genuinely high-quality SDR movie performance. If you mostly watch 1080p Blu-rays or are streaming in SDR and don't feel ready to pay for a full 4k setup, the HT2060 remains a very sensible choice. Extras are basic: there's no built-in smart OS, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth, and no ARC/eARC support. Instead, you get two HDMI inputs, 3.5 mm audio in/out, and an optical output, plus a powered USB-A port you can use with a streaming dongle. Vertical auto-keystone helps with quick setup if you move it around. Overall, if you want serious big-screen movie performance in a dark room and can live with 1080p, the BenQ HT2060 is the best-value traditional home theater projector.
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Best Budget Bright Room Home Theater Projector
Movies7.0Contrast5.3Brightness8.4Pre-Calibration Color Accuracy8.3Post-Calibration Color Accuracy8.3Color Gamut6.6Imaging TechnologyLCDLight SourceLampSee all our test resultsNative Resolution1080pIf your "home theater" is really a bright living room and you don't want to spend a fortune, the Epson Home Cinema 1080 is the best budget bright room projector. Its strength is light output: it's very bright for the price, so sports, TV, and movies still look punchy with lamps on or daylight leaking in, where many cheaper projectors wash out completely. It's a 1080p model with a sharp image and a good color gamut in most SDR content, so HD Blu-rays and streaming content look clean and detailed. The trade-off is contrast and black level: in a fully dark room, blacks look more gray than on our higher-end picks, so it's better suited to mixed lighting than a perfectly light-controlled dedicated theater.
There's no HDR support here, which simplifies setup and suits its strengths: you're really buying it as a bright SDR workhorse rather than a reference HDR cinema machine. Out of the box, it looks natural, so most people won't feel the need to calibrate, and it can throw a large image from typical living-room distances, making it easy to drop on a coffee table or shelf. Features are basic but practical. There's no full smart OS or Bluetooth, but it does include Wi-Fi with Miracast support, so you can mirror from compatible devices, and you can always add a streaming stick to one of the two HDMI inputs. A small built-in speaker is fine for quick setups, but for a real home theater, you'll want to route audio to a soundbar or AVR. If you mainly watch movies, TV, and sports with some lights on and want something bright and affordable that still looks respectable, the Epson Home Cinema 1080 is the best budget bright room home theater projector.
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Best Cheap Home Theater Projector
Movies6.3Contrast8.8Brightness5.1Pre-Calibration Color Accuracy3.9Post-Calibration Color Accuracy8.0Color Gamut5.4Imaging TechnologyLCDLight SourceLEDSee all our test resultsNative Resolution1080pIf you're looking for the cheapest projector that still feels like a real home theater upgrade, the NexiGo PJ40 (Gen 3) is our best cheap pick. This 1080p projector is far more affordable than our other recommendations yet still delivers excellent native 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: it's only moderately bright and its color gamut is limited, so colors look a bit muted, and it struggles in rooms with much ambient light. 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 can stretch your budget, the Epson Home Cinema 1080 is a better choice for brighter rooms, and the BenQ HT2060 offers a more refined 1080p image in a dark theater. But if you're on a tight budget and can keep the room dark, the NexiGo PJ40 (Gen 3) is the best cheap home theater projector you can buy.
Notable Mentions
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Epson Home Cinema 5050UB:
The Epson Home Cinema 5050UB is still 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 -
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 doesn't match the Hisense’s contrast or massive color gamut for HDR, and it lacks some of Hisense's extra connectivity features, but for a dim living room or home theater, it gets you 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 -
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 a bit better for home theater purists, but barely.
See our review -
Epson Home Cinema 3800:
The Epson Home Cinema 3800 is a solid mid-range alternative to the XGIMI HORIZON S Max if you want a bright 4k-capable projector at a lower price. It's great for mixed-use rooms and can still look very good in SDR, but it can't match the XGIMI's laser light source, HDR color volume, or integrated smart platform.
See our review
Recent Updates
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.
Dec 18, 2024:
Due to its incredible versatility and superior pre-calibration accuracy, the Hisense PX3-PRO replaces the NexiGo Aurora Pro as the 'Best Short-Throw Home Theater Projector.' The NexiGo Aurora Pro has been moved to the Notable Mentions, replacing the similar but dimmer Formovie THEATER.
Dec 05, 2024:
The NexiGo PJ40 (Gen 3) is the new 'Best Cheap Home Theater Projector' pick due to its incredible value. We've also changed the name of the 'Best Value Home Theater Projector' to 'Best Budget Home Theater Projector,' but the BenQ TH671ST remains the product of choice. Finally, we've added the ViewSonic PX701-4K to the Notable Mentions.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best projectors 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 all our 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.