The NexiGo PJ40 Gen 3 is an entry-level home projector with a 1080p native resolution, and it sits above the cheaper NexiGo PJ20 but slightly below the more fully featured NexiGo PJ30 Ultra. It has Android TV built in, Bluetooth 5.1, Wi-Fi, and full casting support. The projector also supports HDR10, has a low-latency gaming mode, and an adjustable fan speed. It has two HDMI ports, one of which has ARC support, alongside two USB ports, an AV-in port, and a headphone jack, so you can play media from a USB flash drive or plug in various devices via HDMI or 3.5mm AV input. This model projects a 50-inch image from a distance of 4.7 feet up to a massive 300-inch image from a distance of 30.2 feet, and it comes with an integrated 20W speaker system.
Our Verdict
The NexiGo PJ40 is an acceptable choice for watching movies in a dark room. While it produces deep blacks, it's not bright enough to impress in moderately lit rooms, with noticeable vignetting in the corners. It also has a narrow color gamut with limited coverage of the Rec. 709 and Rec. 2020 color spaces. Furthermore, its colors are extremely inaccurate out of the box. Finally, it comes with a barebones implementation of Android TV without any streaming apps included; you need to cast your content to the projector or use a streaming dongle for the best experience.
Amazing contrast for deep blacks in most scenes.
Full casting support with Miracast and AirPlay.
Alright brightness uniformity with some noticeable vignetting.
Inadequate coverage of the Rec. 709 and Rec. 2020 color spaces.
Barebones Android TV implementation.
Very inaccurate out of the box.
The NexiGo PJ40 is disappointing for gaming. It's versatile due to downscaling 4k and 1440p inputs to 1080p, but its input lag is just not quick enough; it's fastest when taking a 4k input, but even there, it's only fast enough for slow single-player titles. Forget sending it a 1080p signal, as its latency is very high then. There's also no 120Hz path, so there's no way to make the unit more responsive. As for image quality, it does have amazing contrast, so it looks pretty good in dim rooms. Avoid turning on any lights, though, as it's not bright enough to deal with them. It's also very inaccurate out of the box, so it's not the projector for accuracy purists.
Amazing contrast for deep blacks in most scenes.
Alright brightness uniformity with some noticeable vignetting.
Inadequate coverage of the Rec. 709 and Rec. 2020 color spaces.
Very inaccurate out of the box.
No high refresh rate support.
Input lag is high at all resolutions.
The NexiGo PJ40's brightness is inadequate, and its brightness uniformity is only alright. It really performs best in dark rooms, as it quickly washes out when lights are on.
Alright brightness uniformity with some noticeable vignetting.
The NexiGo PJ40's contrast is amazing. It performs extremely well in bright scenes, with solid separation between dark and bright elements. It also performs decently well in very dark scenes, so it doesn't really have any weaknesses when it comes to contrast.
Amazing contrast for deep blacks in most scenes.
Changelog
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Updated Jun 01, 2026:
We've added text to some test boxes as a result of our latest test bench.
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Updated May 15, 2026:
We mention the newly reviewed Anker Nebula P1i in the Input Lag section of this review.
- Updated May 13, 2026: We've converted the review to Test Bench 0.12, which adds new Judder, Screen Adaptation, Battery, Maximum Volume, Size, Mobility Features, and Physical Setup Features test boxes. We also updated Inputs & Connectivity to verify Bluetooth support with wireless speakers or headphones. See the 0.12 changelog.
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Updated Apr 17, 2026:
We corrected a mistake in the Brightness image. The data and analysis aren't impacted, but the brightness of the new image itself is more consistent with other projectors that have similar brightness, allowing for better side-by-side comparisons.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The NexiGo PJ40 Gen 3 has two variants: the NexiGo PJ40 Pro and the NexiGo PJ40 Ultra. The Pro is similar to the Gen 3, but is brighter. Stepping up to the Ultra nets you official Netflix, YouTube, and Prime Video support.
| Model | Brightness (ANSI) | Native Resolution | Throw Ratio | Licensed Streaming Apps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NexiGo PJ40 Gen 3 | 600 | 1080p | 1.47:1 | No |
| NexiGo PJ40 Pro | 800 | 1080p | 1.47:1 | No |
| NexiGo PJ40 Ultra | 800 | 1080p | 1.47:1 | Yes (official Netflix/YouTube/Prime Video) |
Our unit was manufactured in China.
Popular Projector Comparisons
The NexiGo PJ40 Gen 3 is a mediocre projector, but it's bright for its price, and its contrast is amazing. There aren't many alternatives if you're shopping for something this cheap. For gaming, though, it's limited: it tops out at 60Hz and has fairly high input lag at 1080p @ 60Hz, so responsiveness isn't great for competitive play. The Epson EpiqVision Flex CO-W01 is generally a bit better than the NexiGo, but the Epson feels ancient in comparison due to its lack of any smart or wireless features. Otherwise, the XGIMI MoGo 2 is more easily carried around due to its small size and better smart OS implementation, but the NexiGo is the brighter of the two products and has vastly better contrast. Ultimately, the NexiGo PJ40 isn't a bad purchase if you're looking for a projector this cheap and don't prioritize gaming.
Check out our recommendations for the best cheap projectors and the best projectors overall. If you'd prefer to shop solely for another product in the same price range, look up the best projectors under $500 instead.
The NexiGo PJ40 Pro and the NexiGo PJ40 (Gen 3) are 1080p projectors that perform similarly across the board. However, the PJ40 Pro gets the edge because it runs Google TV for a modern streaming experience, while the Android TV experience on the PJ40 (Gen 3) is barebones. The PJ40 Pro also has better image accuracy and input lag.
The Epson EpiqVision Flex CO-W01 is better than the NexiGo PJ40 (Gen 3), but they're quite different. The Epson is far brighter than the NexiGo, but its contrast is significantly worse. Thankfully, the Epson is also more colorful and is much more accurate out of the box. Unfortunately, the Epson's feature set is limited, as it doesn't come with any wireless or smart features, and it projects images in a 1280 x 800 resolution, which isn't optimal for content consumption. Ultimately, while the Epson is the better product, it also feels ancient compared to the more modern NexiGo.
The NexiGo PJ40 (Gen 3) is better than the WiMiUS P63. The NexiGo is brighter, with much better contrast than the WiMiUS. While neither projector is colorful or accurate, the NexiGo is still the most colorful and accurate of the two. The one advantage of the WiMiUS is that it comes with a fully functioning Android TV implementation, while NexiGo's barebones implementation requires a streaming dongle to access any streaming apps. Otherwise, the NexiGo is clearly superior.
The Wanbo X5 Pro and NexiGo PJ40 (Gen 3) are nearly identical, but there are some minute differences. For sheer image quality the NexiGo has a small edge due to its slightly better brightness, contrast, and color gamut. While both units are very inaccurate out-of-the-box, the NexiGo can be vastly improved through calibration, while the Wanbo can't. Still, the Wanbo is noticeably quieter under load, making it a better pick for quiet bedrooms. It also comes with a full smart OS with apps, while the NexiGo is barebones and really requires an external dongle for full smart functionality.
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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