The 5 Best Projectors - Summer 2024 Reviews

If you're looking for the best projector overall, get the BenQ X3100i. This projector excels in its versatility, delivering advanced home theater features while catering to gaming enthusiasts and content streamers through its integrated Android TV 11 QS02 dongle. With the help of pixel-shifting technology, it projects a crisp image that shines in various lighting conditions. It's bright enough to look great in moderately lit rooms, and its good contrast and wide color gamut provide a pleasant viewing experience in dark rooms. It's also very accurate out-of-the-box; even color accuracy perfectionists will be mostly satisfied with this unit's performance without needing to calibrate the projector. HDR10+/HDR10/HLG compatibility adds another layer of versatility, making it a truly adaptable product.

Not only does it impress with its display capabilities, but it also excels in streaming content. The included QS02 dongle supports Google Cast and Apple AirPlay, making it fully cast-capable, and offers Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 support. The projector is fantastic for gamers with two HDMI 2.0b ports capable of accepting 4k @ 60Hz, 1440p @ 120Hz and 1080p @ 240Hz signals. The third HDMI port, hidden behind the top cover, is designed for use with the bundled dongle but can also be used with any HDMI device. Ultimately, this is the most versatile pixel-shifting projector we've tested.

If you're in the market for the best home theater projector, consider the Epson Home Cinema 3800. This model is laser-focused on delivering exceptional image quality while keeping features to a minimum. It boasts impressive brightness, making it suitable even for moderately-lit rooms. However, its true strength shines in darker environments due to its excellent contrast ratio. Out of the box, this model offers remarkable accuracy, and for perfectionists, its extensive calibration options allow for further fine-tuning. While its color gamut is decent, it doesn't quite match the projector's stellar performance in brightness and contrast. Still, it's vibrant enough to satisfy most viewers, except perhaps the most discerning color enthusiasts. It's also HDR10/HLG compatible, but unfortunately, its color gamut isn't good enough for a vibrant HDR experience, as colors look a bit washed out. However, SDR content looks great because it has excellent coverage of the Rec. 709 color space.

As for features, it's somewhat minimalist. There's no Wi-Fi or built-in smart OS, although it does have Bluetooth with aptX support. If smart features matter to you, consider investing in an external streaming dongle or purchasing the BenQ X3100i. The projector does include a 2.0A USB port primarily for powering external dongles, addressing connectivity needs. The unit's two HDMI 2.0 ports allow seamless connection to external devices, with both ports capable of handling a 4K @ 60Hz signal, and the 12V trigger out port facilitates automated projector screen deployment. Overall, the Epson is the definitive choice for enthusiasts seeking a home cinema replacement in their basement.

If you're searching for a highly portable projector, consider the XGIMI Halo+. This compact unit weighs 3.7 pounds, making it easy to toss into your backpack. Aside from its size, what sets this projector apart from other models on this list is its integrated battery, which offers up to 2.5 hours of uninterrupted playback. That's sufficient for most movie sessions, whether you're in a friend's basement without available power outlets or outside during a picnic. This projector boasts several image correction features, including full auto keystone adjustment, autofocus, intelligent screen alignment, and obstacle avoidance. As you move it around, it automatically corrects its image geometry, ensuring a hassle-free setup. Additionally, it comes equipped with the Android TV smart interface, supports Chromecast and AirScreen, and offers Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 capabilities.

It's brighter than many direct competitors in the portable category, although it's still dim. Thankfully, its decent contrast makes it suitable for projecting pleasant images in darkened rooms. Its color gamut is impressively wide, and this model even supports HDR—although its low brightness can't fully take advantage of this feature. Connectivity-wise, it provides one HDMI port (which also serves as an eARC port), allowing you to connect it to external devices. Its eARC port lets you easily pair it with a soundbar if you want optimal sound quality. Alternatively, you can use the projector's 3.5 mm audio jack. Lastly, there's a USB port for direct video file playback. In summary, this projector balances portability and performance, making it a decent choice for users needing to take their projector out of the house.

If you're in the market for a projector that delivers excellent value for its price, the Epson Home Cinema 1080 is a worthy contender. Despite its budget-friendly cost, it offers decent performance. It projects a sharp 1080p image and boasts impressive brightness, making it relatively vibrant in dark rooms. However, its contrast is disappointing and if you're specifically looking for a projector to use in a dark room, there are better options available, although not at this price point. Its color representation is decent, and this model is capable of projecting pleasing hues, but it doesn't quite reach the performance levels of the more premium models. What's more impressive is this unit's color accuracy: it's excellent overall, satisfying the needs of most users. However, the projector offers limited calibration options, so those who are particular about color accuracy won't be able to fine-tune its colors.

For a budget model, it surprisingly offers more features than the significantly more expensive Epson Home Cinema 3800. Although it doesn't come with a smart OS, it does have built-in Wi-Fi 5, with Miracast support for screen mirroring; mirroring your phone with this model is easier than with the pricier 3800. It has two 1080p @ 60Hz HDMI ports but lacks ARC/eARC capability. It comes with a modest integrated 2W speaker, but fortunately, it also has an audio out port if you're not ready to invest in a receiver. You can also use its USB-B port to connect it to an external audio interface. Overall, the Cinema 1080 is the best value home projector on the market and is more than sufficient for most people, except perhaps enthusiasts.

Looking to impress your colleagues at the office? Your answer is the Epson EpiqVision Flex CO-W01, the top productivity projector we've tested. It projects an incredibly bright image with a resolution of 1280 x 800, making it ideal for well-lit offices. If you're also interested in watching movies, this projector has got you covered, although its resolution isn't optimal for that usage; stick to the Epson Home Cinema 1080 if you're mostly looking for a projector to watch movies. Still, its bright image offers a good viewing experience in rooms with moderate lighting. Unfortunately, the projector's contrast is terrible, resulting in noticeably raised blacks when watching in a dark room. Its color accuracy is satisfactory right out of the box, and you can easily enhance it using the projector's 2-point white balance calibration.

Weighing in at a mere 5.4 pounds, it's light enough to be moved around easily, although it requires a power outlet due to the absence of an integrated battery. Unfortunately, it doesn't feature auto keystone correction and autofocusing, so manual adjustments are necessary to correct any geometry issues, making it slightly more challenging to set up quickly when moving it around your home than something like the XGIMI Halo+. It also lacks a smart OS and Wi-Fi, necessitating an external streaming dongle. It does include a USB-B port for PC control, and a few file formats can be projected via the unit's USB-A port. However, it's rather basic when it comes to ports, particularly as it only has one HDMI port. Overall, it offers excellent value for the price and is decent for movie viewing, even though its primary purpose is for office use.