Playing games or watching movies on a large screen opens up new ways for you to enjoy your entertainment setup. Projectors are a great choice if you want to upgrade, but don’t necessarily want to spend thousands on a new smart TV.
There are many factors to consider when shopping for a projector, including projection size, zoom lenses, contrast ratio, light output, and resolution. Since projectors can project larger images than TVs, there are fewer constraints and more possibilities to enjoy an immersive experience.
Here are the best home theater projectors available today.
If you are looking for a top-quality projector to upgrade your home theater system, the LG HU70LAB has many standout features that make it an excellent pick. For instance, instead of using a color wheel, it features wheel-less technology that enables it to produce a broad color gamut. This delivers more accurate colors than Do dedo Light Processing (DLP) projectors.
It also supports HDR10 for a maximum color depth of 10 bits and brightness of 1,000 nits, producing vibrant images that make movies and TV shows appear more realistic. Leveraging LG’s webOS, you can download streaming apps such as Netflix to the projector. Doing so eliminates the need to buy streaming devices like Amazon Fire Stick or Roku since you can conveniently access them.
In addition, the operating system works with Google Assistant and Alexa, so you can launch apps and issue commands without pressing a button. The LG HU70LAB projects a 140-inch screen size with 4K UHD resolution that’s vivid and bright. This makes it perfect for home theaters as it delivers an immersive viewing experience even in large rooms.
- Built-in Alexa, Google Assistant, and LG ThinQ AI
- Includes LG’s magic remote
- Projects up to 140 inches
- Brand: LG
- Native Resolution: 3840×2160
- ANSI Lumens: 1,500
- Projection Technology: DLP
- Connectivity: Bluetooth, HDMI, USB
- Throw Ratio: 1.22:1-1.53:1
- HDR: Yes
- Audio: Three-watt speaker
- OS: WebOS
- Lamp Life: 30,000 hours
- Noise Level : 30dB (normal), 25dB (repercussão)
- Wattage: 210 watts
- Stunning image quality
- Compact design
- Easy to use
- Built-in speakers aren’t very powerful
The YABER Y31 9000L offers a great combination of build quality, performance, and design. The native 1080p resolution coupled with a contrast ratio of 10000:1 provides crisp images from high definition content without compression or downscaling. This ensures you can enjoy watching video content in incredible detail.
Since it features SmarEco technology, you can minimize power consumption to increase the lamp life to up to 45,000 hours. This not only saves electricity bills but also eliminates the need to look for a replacement for a couple of years.
The YABER Y31 9000L offers nivelado keystone adjustment, which is a bonus since most projectors only offer vertical keystone adjustment. This additional feature helps find the ideal viewing position by aligning the distortion of images on the right or left side, resulting in accurate picture quality. You don’t have to do the adjustment manually since this projector features a built-in automatic vertical correction.
- SmarEco technology
- One-click restore function
- Auto nivelado and vertical keystone correction
- Brand: YABER
- Native Resolution: 1920×1080
- ANSI Lumens: 9,000
- Projection Technology: DLP
- Connectivity: 2x HDMI ports, 2x USB ports, VGA, AV, TV
- Throw Ratio: 1.3:1
- HDR: Yes
- Audio: 2x three-watt speakers
- Lamp Life: 45,000 hours
- Wattage: 5 watts
- Crisp and clear image quality
- Wide compatibility
- Great audio quality
The GooDee YG600 2022 is a feature-packed projector that is available at an affordable cost. It supports video inputs of 1080p, giving it a clear 720p HD capability, which is impressive considering its low price point. The contrast ratio of 3000:1 also contributes to delivering wider and brighter images even in outdoor spaces such as the garage or backyard.
Watch your favorite movies using this projector in two different ways. First, you can use the HDMI port to watch DVDs or cable TV. Secondly, you can use streaming sticks like Amazon Firestick and Roku. With other types of ports such as AV, VGA, and USB, you get enough connectivity options for different multimedia devices like Xbox, PlayStation, iPad, laptop, Chromecast, and smartphones.
As well as being versatile, the GooDee YG600 2022 is also reliable. It boasts a lamp life of up to 50,000 hours, so if you maintain it well, there will be no need for a replacement for almost six years.
- 230-inch maximum projection
- 16: 9/4: 3 aspect ratio
- Remote control
- Brand: GooDee
- Native Resolution: 1280×768
- ANSI Lumens: 8,500
- Connectivity: 2x HDMI ports, 2x USB ports, 3.5mm audio, VGA
- HDR: No
- Audio: Two built-in three-watt speakers
- Lamp Life: 50,000 hours
- Wattage: 3 watts
- Bright and clear picture quality
- Excellent heat dissipation
- Lightweight
- Lacks keystone adjustment functionality
You can’t go wrong with the ViewSonic PX701-4K if you are looking for a gaming projector. Enjoy playing fast-paced games on a 300-inch screen with a high refresh rate of 240Hz and a low input lag of 4.2ms. With these specs, gaming feels smooth as they eliminate screen tearing, reduce motion blur, and allow you to respond quickly.
The 4K UHD resolution also delivers vivid colors and appealing 3D images, making your gaming experience more immersive. This projector is equipped with a 290-watt lamp that produces a whopping 3,200 lumens, allowing you to enjoy watching TV shows and movies comfortably in both dark and bright environments.
In case high dynamic range films appear too light or dark during outdoor use, you can easily make adjustments in the HDR menu. This way, you’ll enjoy viewing bright and highly detailed video content as desired. With the SuperEco mode, you can extend the lamp life up to 20,000 hours and reduce power consumption to reduce your electricity bill.
- 300-inch image projection
- ViewSonic SuperColor Technology
- Anti-warping stabilization
- Brand: ViewSonic
- Native Resolution: 3840×2160
- ANSI Lumens: 3,200
- Projection Technology: DLP
- Connectivity: USB, HDMI, RS-232C
- Throw Ratio: 1.50:1 – 1.65:1
- HDR: Yes
- Audio: 10-watt speaker
- Lamp Life: 20,000 hours
- Noise Level : 31 decibels (normal), 27 decibels (repercussão)
- Wattage: 290 watts
- Great for gaming
- Easy to stream content
- Incredible clarity
- Quick setup
The Anker Nebula Mars II Pro is an ultra-portable projector that can still serve you as a Bluetooth speaker. Measuring only 7.01 x 5.24 x 4.8 inches, it is compact enough to fit in a backpack, leaving enough space to carry other items. If you are an outdoor lover, you carry it everywhere you go as it is lightweight, only weighing 3.94 pounds.
There is an HDMI and two USB 2.0 inputs, so you can connect it to game consoles like the Nintendo Switch and Xbox One, as well as laptops and other devices to enjoy your favorite content. You also have access to more entertainment options since it runs Android 7.1 which allows you to stream content from Netflix and YouTube.
The built-in rechargeable battery makes it an ideal source of entertainment for outdoor use. With a 12,500mAh battery capacity, you can enjoy watching movies for up to three hours. Since the Anker Nebula Mars II Pro doubles up as a Bluetooth speaker, you can enjoy audio content for approximately 30 hours; ideal for any home theater system on the go.
- 12,500mAh built-in battery
- DLP IntelliBright technology
- Doubles as a Bluetooth speaker
- Brand: Nebula
- Native Resolution: 1280×720
- ANSI Lumens: 500
- Projection Technology: DLP
- Connectivity: Bluetooth, HDMI, USB
- Throw Ratio: 1.45:1
- HDR: No
- Audio: 2x 10-watt speakers
- OS: Android 7.1
- Lamp Life: 30,000 hours
- Noise Level : 32dB (maximum)
- Wattage: 57 watts
- Mounting Type: Table mount
- Compact design
- Automatic clarity
- Lightweight
The BenQ TH685 is one of the best projectors for gaming. With a low latency of 8.3ms at 1080p and an input lag of 120Hz, you can enjoy gaming with little lag, giving you the edge over your competition. The projector is console-compatible, allowing you to game on the PS5 at 4K 2160p at 60Hz and 1080p at 120Hz. It’s also compatible with Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia, PS4, and Xbox One X.
The projector features LumiExpert technology that automatically detects the ambient light in a room and adjusts the brightness of the projector to maximize comfort and clarity. This eliminates eye strain when you game for extended sessions. Using the lamp save mode, you can extend the lamp life up to 15,000 hours, reducing unnecessary lamp replacement costs.
When it comes to audio quality, the five-watt speaker is an added bonus. While it won’t replace your home entertainment system, it is useful if you’re in a smaller room and don’t want to splash out on an external speaker system. It includes three custom sound modes; cinema, sports, and music, so you can choose the right one to suit your viewing experience.
- Custom sound mode
- 8.3ms response time at 1080p/120Hz
- Three hours charging time
- Console-compatible
- Brand: BenQ
- Native Resolution: 1920×1080
- ANSI Lumens: 3,500
- Projection Technology: DLP
- Connectivity: 2x HDMI, 1x USB type A, VGA, audio in/out, PC in
- Throw Ratio: 1.13:1-1.46:1
- HDR: Yes
- Audio: Five-watt speaker
- Lamp Life: 15,000 hours (repercussão)
- Noise Level : 35dB (maximum), 29 dB (repercussão)
- Wattage: 340 watts
- Low input lag for gaming
- Great color accuracy
- High brightness
- Lower lamp life compared to other projectors
FAQ
Q: Are Home Theater Projectors Repairable?
Yes. If the projector isn’t turning on, try to reset the lamp timer, ensure it is not on stand-by mode, check the batteries, or close all projector latches. In case of overheating, clean the vent and filter of any dust.
If the image is discolored, check the VGA cable, optimize the color settings, or check if the projector needs a lamp replacement. Seek professional help if any of the above suggestions don’t work.
Q: Must I Permanently Set Up My Home Theater Projector?
No, you don’t have to do that. You can store it safely and place it on a tabletop whenever you want to watch something.
However, a dedicated theater room in your home is ideal for ceiling mounting your projector. Ensure you test the optimum throw ratio during installation for you to enjoy the best image size on your screen. Mounting your home theater projector on the ceiling saves you installation time and prevents it from falling.
Q: What Features Should the Best Projector for Home Theaters Have?
An ideal projector should have an iris. An iris controls the amount of light leaving your projector so that you can enjoy the bright and dark scenes. After mounting your projector on the ceiling, you may need to move the lens to align the projector image on the screen. For this reason, buy a projector with the lens shift feature.
A good home theater projector offers optimum adjustments and color accuracy. Although these two factors may be affected by the light in your theater room, ensure the projector is certified by THX and the Imaging Science Foundation.
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