BenQ X3100i
#1 in 4KFull review
A bright LED 4K gaming projector with streaming in the box, for gamers who want low lag and no lamp to replace.
Amazon $1,799$1,799
Brightness decides how big and how watchable a projected picture is, and it’s the number makers stretch most. Cheap projectors on Amazon often claim 10,000 lumens or more, but those figures follow no standard. We rank only on brightness measured to a standard, ANSI or ISO lumens, and a projector that publishes none scores zero for brightness. A few go further and print “5,000 ANSI” on a $250 projector; when nothing but the seller’s listing backs a figure like that, we show it but score it as unrated. Prices here run from $31.98 to $3,997.97.
A cheap portable projector at 300 to 500 lumens fills a 60 to 80 inch screen in a dark room. A living room with some light needs 1,500 lumens or more, and a 4K laser projector at 2,500 to 3,500 lumens holds up with a lamp on. The other common stretch is resolution: “1080p supported” or “4K supported” on a cheap listing means it accepts that signal, not that it shows it, and some are built on a 720p panel or lower. Many small DLP portables reach 1080p only by pixel shifting a 960 x 540 chip. Every product page lists the native panel resolution, and a panel below 1080p loses points.
Each type is ranked separately, so a $150 portable competes with other 1080p projectors, not with a $2,000 laser.
Top Picks
BenQ TH575i
A bright, gaming friendly 1080p projector for living rooms, with Google TV in the box. A good pick if you can live with replacing a lamp.
Amazon $649$649
XGIMI Horizon 20 Max
#3 in 4KFull review
XGIMI’s brightest Horizon, for big screens in bright living rooms where a dimmer projector would wash out.
XGIMI $2,599$2,599
Shop by Type
1080p and under
102 rankedProjectors with a 1080p or lower native panel, from cheap portable models to bright home theater ones: the best picture for the money under about $800.
Top rated: BenQ TH575i $649
4K
24 ranked4K projectors that sit at the back of the room or on a shelf, for movie rooms, living rooms and gaming.
Top rated: BenQ X3100i $1,799
Ultra short throw
10 rankedProjectors that sit on a stand a few inches from the wall and throw a 100 inch picture, the usual TV replacement.
Top rated: JMGO O2S Ultra $2,199
Narrow It Down
Prices were last checked October 29, 2026 and are subject to change; the price and availability shown by the retailer at the time of purchase apply.
Best 1080p Projectors
- BenQ TH575i#1 of 102Full review
A bright, gaming friendly 1080p projector for living rooms, with Google TV in the box. A good pick if you can live with replacing a lamp.
Amazon $649$6493,8001080plamp16.7 ms - Yaber K3#2 of 102Full review
A cheap living room projector with Google TV and automatic setup for buyers who want a big picture without extra boxes. It is bright for its price but heavy to move around.
Amazon $299.99$299.999901080pLED- - O.B.E M3#3 of 102Full review
A cheap native 1080p Google TV projector for a dim bedroom, with streaming built in. Its specs come only from the listing.
Amazon $94.98$94.985001080pLED- - Lyncast X7 Pro Max#4 of 102Full review
A self-adjusting 1080p projector with licensed Google TV, for a living room or bedroom without a streaming stick. The cheaper Lyncast X5 Pro Max claims more brightness.
Amazon $299.99$299.999381080p-- - Epson EpiqVision Flex CO-FH02#5 of 102Full review
A bright, inexpensive portable projector for buyers who want a big picture in a room that is not fully dark. Plan on a streaming stick for Netflix.
Amazon $399.99$399.993,0001080plamp-
Best 4K Projectors
- BenQ X3100i#1 of 24Full review
A bright LED 4K gaming projector with streaming in the box, for gamers who want low lag and no lamp to replace.
Amazon $1,799$1,7993,3004KLED4.2 ms - BenQ TK705i#2 of 24Full review
A smart LED 4K projector for a living room that doubles as a console gaming screen, with three-year coverage and no lamp to replace.
Amazon $1,599$1,5993,0004KLED5 ms - XGIMI Horizon 20 Max#3 of 24Full review
XGIMI’s brightest Horizon, for big screens in bright living rooms where a dimmer projector would wash out.
XGIMI $2,599$2,5995,7004KRGB laser1 ms - XGIMI Horizon 20 Pro#4 of 24Full review
A bright smart 4K laser projector for living rooms with some ambient light, with real lens shift and zoom that most lifestyle projectors lack.
XGIMI $1,999$1,9994,1004KRGB laser1 ms - Nebula X1S#5 of 24Full review
A very bright, easy to set up 4K laser projector with built-in Netflix for living rooms that cannot be fully darkened.
Amazon $2,799$2,7996,0004KRGB laser-
Best Ultra Short Throw Projectors
- JMGO O2S Ultra#1 of 10Full review
A compact, bright triple laser UST for replacing a TV in a living room with some daylight. Its very short throw suits shallow stands where other USTs won’t fit.
Amazon $2,399 JMGO $2,199$2,1993,6004KRGB laser15 ms - Hisense PX4-PRO#2 of 10Full review
A bright, high contrast ultra short throw TV replacement for living rooms, and the pick for console and PC gamers who want 240Hz on a 100 inch or larger screen.
Amazon $3,997.97$3,997.973,5004KRGB laser1 ms - XGIMI Aura 2#3 of 10Full review
A stylish ultra short throw projector for living rooms that want Netflix and Dolby Vision without extra boxes and easy setup.
Amazon $1,549$1,5492,3004Khybrid laser20 ms - Hisense PX3-PRO#4 of 10Full review
A bright ultra short throw TV replacement for living rooms, and the pick for gamers thanks to its 240Hz mode and built-in Google TV.
Amazon $2,497.97$2,497.973,0004KRGB laser30 ms - Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS650#5 of 10Full review
A bright, simple ultra short throw TV replacement for living rooms, best for buyers who stream with a separate Netflix device or do not need Netflix.
Epson $1,799.99$1,799.993,6004Klaser20 ms
How We Rank
Each projector is scored on its rated brightness, its price per lumen, its native panel resolution, whether it has built-in apps with licensed Netflix, how much of its setup it does itself (autofocus, auto keystone, zoom and lens shift), how long its light source lasts, its input lag and its warranty.
| Factor | Measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Brightness | rated ANSI or ISO lumens | 25% |
| Value | price per lumen | 15% |
| Resolution | native panel resolution | 10% |
| Streaming | built-in apps with licensed Netflix | 15% |
| Setup | autofocus, auto keystone, zoom and lens shift | 10% |
| Light life | rated light source life | 10% |
| Gaming | input lag | 10% |
| Warranty | warranty length | 5% |
How we rank explains each factor in full.