The Best Projectors (and 2 Great Screens) (2024)

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Parker Hall

Gear

Whether you want a backyard presenter or a theater-quality behemoth, our picks will help you upgrade your at-home movie nights.

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Featured in this article

The Best Projectors (and 2 Great Screens) (3)

Best for Most

Optoma UHD55

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The Best Projectors (and 2 Great Screens) (4)

Also Great

BenQ TK860i

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The Best Projectors (and 2 Great Screens) (5)

Easiest Setup

Hisense PX1-Pro

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The Best Projectors (and 2 Great Screens) (6)

High-End Pick

Epson LS12000

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There's nothing like watching your favorite films in a dark room on a massive screen. For that authentic movie theater experience at home, you’ll need a projector (and a popcorn maker).

You used to have to shell out more than $10,000 to get an excellent projected experience, but you can now get a massive, beautiful picture for less than the cost of a flagship TV. Projectors are also much more portable and easier to set up than ever. And if you have space, there are excellent pocket-sized and short-throw models that make lawn-side movie nights as easy as finding an extension cord and a level chair to set them on. Below are our favorite models and a couple of screens to pair with them.

Working on a total home-theater overhaul and need some help? We've got an entire guide to How to Set Up a Projector. Also, be sure to check out our buying guides to the Best Soundbars and Best 4K Streaming Devices.

Updated September 2023: We added the Optoma UHD55, BenQ TK860i, and BenQ W4000i.

Special offer for Gear readers: Get a 1-year subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com and our print magazine (if you'd like). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.

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Parker Hall is a senior editor of product reviews at WIRED. He focuses on audiovisual and entertainment products. Hall is a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where he studied jazz percussion. After hours, he remains a professional musician in his hometown of Portland, Oregon.

Writer and Reviewer

TopicsprojectorsMoviesTVTVsShoppingbuying guides

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The Best Projectors (and 2 Great Screens) (2024)

FAQs

What is the highest quality projector? ›

The Epson Home Cinema 5050UB is the best all-around home projector we've reviewed. Take an excellent contrast ratio, paired with impressive brightness and accurate color, all with better detail than what's possible with a 1080p native resolution projector, and you've got all the pieces for a fantastic image.

Are projectors better with a screen? ›

A projector screen is designed for optimal visual performance, offering enhanced color accuracy, brightness, and a consistent viewing experience. It's the top choice for those seeking the best projection quality. Meanwhile, projecting onto a wall is a cost-effective and adaptable option.

Are 4K projectors as good as 4K TV? ›

What is the Difference between a 4K TV and a 4K Projector? The main differences lie in price and overall quality, but projector 4K content is not far off from its television counterpart nowadays. If you're looking for a home theater system, a projector is still the most obvious choice. Cinemas use 4K projectors.

What is the best display type for a projector? ›

LCD projectors are known for being bright and possessing good color saturation. They produce a brighter image than other types of projectors with the same wattage, perfect for rooms with some ambient lighting. The images are sharp and focused, making the projector great for movies, particularly in larger environments.

How many lumens should a good projector have? ›

If you plan to watch movies using a projector on a 100”~120” screen without ambient lighting, around 1500~2000 lumens of projection brightness is ideal. If you need to turn on ambient lighting or if there are bright light sources in the room, a projector with 3,000 lumens or more will display clear images.

Which is better 4K or Full HD projector? ›

Is 4K Better than 1080P in Projector. A 4K projector is, without a doubt, way better than a 1080p one. 4K, or 3840x2160 resolution, offers four times the pixel count of Full HD 1080p (1920x1080). Greater pixel count results in a significantly more detailed and clearer image.

Is it worth getting a projector instead of a TV? ›

When compared to televisions, projectors enjoy the inherent advantage of larger screen sizes. Just as larger letters are easier to read, so too is it easier on the eyes to view a larger screen than a small one. Screen size is just one contributing factor influencing eye comfort though.

What to look for when buying a projector? ›

How to Buy a New Projector
  • Contrast Ratio. Contrast ratio is the difference between light and dark on a screen, expressed by a number. ...
  • Resolution. Resolution is the number of dots or pixels used to display an image. ...
  • Installation Projector Advanced Features. Stacked 3D Solutions. ...
  • Product Support and Reliability.

How much does a good projector cost? ›

Entry-level options range from $200 to $500, mid-range models cost $500 to $1500, and high-end projectors are priced from $2000 to $5000 or more. Factors like technology, resolution, brightness, brand, and features influence costs.

Can I replace my TV with a projector? ›

Modern projectors are brighter than ever, and models around $1,000 have great picture quality. Anything you'd watch on a TV, including movies, games and bingeable TV shows, you can watch on a projector instead. Actors on screen can be life-size, or even more, for a theater experience at home.

How long do projectors last? ›

On average, these projectors have a lifespan falling between 4,000 to 6,000 hours of use. However, it's important to note that advancements in technology have led to the development of high-end LCD models that can substantially extend their longevity, reaching up to an impressive 10,000 hours or more.

Is it worth buying a 4K projector? ›

Better value: While 4K projectors are more expensive than their Full HD counterparts, they offer better value when you consider the larger screen size and superior image quality. Flexibility: Projectors are more flexible than TVs, as they can be moved and placed in different locations depending on your needs.

What is the best brand of projector? ›

The best 4K projectors in 2024
  1. Epson Pro Cinema LS12000. The best 4K projector for most home theater fans. ...
  2. LG CineBeam Q. An affordable, ultra-compact 4K projector. ...
  3. JVC DLA-NZ8. ...
  4. Hisense L9G TriChroma Laser 4K TV. ...
  5. Samsung The Premiere. ...
  6. Epson EpiQVision Ultra LS800. ...
  7. BenQ TK700STi.
Apr 29, 2024

What projector has the best picture? ›

If you're looking for the best home theater projector, check out the Epson Home Cinema 3800. The projector has great image quality due to its excellent brightness and great contrast. Movies are vibrant when watched in a dark room, and it's easily bright enough to handle a few lights.

What is the most popular projector screen size? ›

Medium Screens (100 to 120 inches)

Medium-sized screens are versatile home theater screen size and work well in living rooms or conference rooms. This can be the standard projector screen size for many. They provide a good balance between screen size and room space, accommodating a broader range of viewers.

What is the highest resolution projector? ›

What Does Projector Resolution Mean?
ResolutionPixelsCommon Usage
720p1280x720Entry-level, small screens
1080p1920x1080Versatile, good for most scenarios
4K (UHD)3840x2160High-end, superior clarity
Dec 14, 2023

What is 4K vs 8K projector? ›

As a point of reference, 8K UHD has two times the horizontal and vertical resolution of the 4K UHD with four times as many pixels overall, or sixteen times as many pixels as Full HD at 1920 x 1080.

Is 9000 lumens good for a projector? ›

The best lumens for projector for sacred settings tend to fall within the range of 5000-15000 lumens. However, 8000 lumens is good for a projector, as it provides sufficient brightness for bright rooms.

Are there 4K projectors? ›

Take the impressive visual quality of 4K technology to its limit with a two-piece projection system that combines a 4K projector and a screen. You'll see details of your movies, TV shows and video games with amazing, lifelike clarity. Plus, you can sit closer to the screen comfortably for a truly immersive experience.

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