Want a bigger image than even the best TV? Want something wall-sized, either inside or outside, for the ultimate movie night? A projector is one of the cheapest ways to get an enormous image. Modern projectors are bright and compact and many have 4K resolution. Most have streaming built in so you can watch Disney, Netflix or anything else on them. Imagine games from a PlayStation or Xbox with life-sized characters. That's what the best projectors can create. Whether you want an amazing home theater or to host your own backyard movie night, most projectors are easy to set up and only require a power cable and some Wi-Fi. Here are the best projectors we've tested for every situation.
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What is the best overall projector?
If you're looking for impressive picture quality, good brightness in ambient light, vivid colors and a quality contrast ratio, then the Epson Home Cinema 5050UB is the best overall home theater projector.
If you want something less expensive, the best projector for the money is the BenQ HT2060. In turn, the best short-throw projector is the BenQ X500i and if you're looking for something more portable, check out the Anker Nebula Mars 3 Air.
Best projectors of 2025
Pros
- Superb overall picture quality
- Excellent contrast ratio
- Motorized lens
- Ample lens shift and motorized zoom
Cons
- Huge
- Expensive
- Still uses replaceable lamps
Why I like it:
The Epson Home Cinema 5050UB is the best all-around home projector we've reviewed and if you want to transform your living room into a home theater, this is the best place to start. It has 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. These all make for one of the best projector's I've reviewed in years. It also has extensive lens shift and zoom options so it will fit in a variety of setups including mounted to the ceiling, on a shelf behind a couch, and so on. Even better, the adjustments are motorized, so you can have a 2.35:1 screen and with the press of a button zoom out to fill it or zoom in to just fill the central 16x9 portion for TV shows. It still uses lamps, however. If that's a dealbreaker for you check out the Epson LS11000 mentioned below. It's very similar to the 5050 but uses lasers instead of a lamp, which has additional benefits beyond not having to replace lamps.
Who is it for:
Anyone who wants to transform their living room into a home cinema and wants better image quality than what a less-expensive projector can provide.
Who shouldn't buy it:
If you just want something for an occasional movie night the 5050 is big, bulky, and wildly overkill. One of the less expensive projectors on this list will do most of what the 5050 does for way less money.
Pros
- Excellent, lifelike color
- Decent contrast ratio
- The Goldilocks of price and performance
Cons
- Brightness is rather average
- A little pricey for 1080p
Why I like it:
This projector's predecessor, the HT2050A, was one of my favorite projectors for many years. The HT2060 improves on it in most ways, and if your budget is around $1,000 and you have a light-controlled room, this is the projector to get. It creates a fantastic image with excellent contrast and color accuracy. It easily outperforms projectors that cost a lot more. It even has some lens shift to make installation easier in a wider range of rooms. While "only" 1080p resolution, that should be plenty for all but the most resolution-obsessed viewers. Its LEDs will last the life of the projector, so there are no lamps to replace. It's bright enough for most uses but if you need more extreme levels of brightness, check out the Epson HC2350 mentioned below. It doesn't look as good but is far brighter.
The HT2060 is our go-to recommendation for most people looking for a projector. It looks great and does just about everything well, especially considering the price.
Who is it for:
Anyone who wants a great projector at a great price.
Who shouldn't buy it:
If you want the extra resolution possible with 4K, or want a huge image, there are brighter and higher-resolution projectors on this list that I like almost as much as the HT2060.
The 1.2x zoom lens.
Pros
- Excellent contrast
- Accurate colors
- Bright
Cons
- Expensive
- Short throw not for everyone
Why I like it:
This is one of my favorite projectors. The image it creates is gorgeous. If you have a smaller room, or when placement behind (or above) a couch isn't possible, this projector's short-throw is an excellent option. It needs just 5 to 6 feet away from a wall or screen to create a 100-inch image, compared with about 10 feet for a non-short throw projector. I like it so much I wish it was more flexible because its image quality is some of the best I've seen in years. It creates a bright, sharp, 4K image with tons of contrast and excellent color. Its image is better than many projectors that cost far more. I wanted to buy one after I reviewed it but alas my theater setup isn't conducive to a short-throw projector.
Who is it for:
People with smaller rooms, or the ability to mount a projector above where a coffee table would be.
Who shouldn't buy it:
If coffee table placement, or a ceiling mount above where a coffee table would be, isn't where you want a projector, the X500i isn't for you. Short throw projectors don't work in every room, but if they do work in your room this projector makes a beautiful image.
Pros
- Great size
- Google TV streaming
- Decent color and contrast for a portable
Cons
- A little pricey
- Shorter battery life
- Outperformed by larger, but still portable, models
Why I like it:
If you're looking for a highly-portable projector that can be battery powered but still create a decent image, the Anker Nebula Mars 3 Air does just about everything right. It's my pick for best portable projector, and it creates a relatively bright image, sounds decent, has Google TV built in and is easy to move around and set up. It's a little on the expensive side, but if you're looking for something for the occasional movie night at home or on the go, it does a great job.
Who is it for:
Anyone who wants something extremely portable (it even has a handle!) for movie nights outside or anywhere a normal projector would fear to tread.
Who shouldn't buy it:
If you don't need something as easily portable, the BenQ HT2060 (elsewhere on this list) is brighter and looks better overall. It's far larger and more expensive, of course, but still easy to move from room to room.
The speakers, positioned on the sides, allow for clearer sound when you're sitting alongside the projector, which is a common situation for larger images/screens.
Pros
- High brightness in a small(-ish) projector
- Surprisingly good speakers
- Basically instant setup
Cons
- Colors aren't accurate
- The gimbal design is still weird
- Outperformed by non-gimbaled alternatives
Why I like it:
If you're looking for a projector that can be ready to watch within seconds of plugging it in, a new sub-category of projectors has a pedestal base that rotates and a hinge so the projector can pivot up and down. This makes the projector easier to set up compared to non-gimbaled designs. I don't really get it, though, since saving a few minutes of setup time comes at comes at quite a price premium compared with a non-gimbaled projector all of which can rotate (just turn it) and pivot (built-in feet or propping something under the front). If saving a few minutes of setup is worth that cost to you, the JMGO N1S Pro produces a bright, reasonably accurate image. It also sounds good and has built-in Google TV for streaming. It's also quite bright so it can compete somewhat with room lights, although like any projector, you'll need some curtains for daytime viewing. The short-throw BenQ X500i (mentioned above) will fit better in smaller rooms and create a bigger image from a shorter distance from a wall or screen.
Who is it for:
Someone who moves and sets up a projector often enough that saving a few minutes each time is worth spending hundreds compared to a non-gimbaled projector.
Who shouldn't buy it:
If you only move your projector once and a while, or are willing to spend 2-3 minutes setting one up when you do, the JMGO's price premium over other projectors is a waste.
Pros
- 4K for the cost of 1080p
- Compact design
- Very bright
Cons
- Contrast is pretty mediocre
- Loud at max brightness
- Technically 4K but other projectors are sharper
Why I like it:
The Epson HC2350 is an extremely bright 4K projector at a great price. I'm talking really, really bright. It's one of the brightest projectors I've ever measured. It also has lens shift, built-in streaming and a compact size. It's brighter than the BenQ HT2060 mentioned above, although that projector looks better overall. Unfortunately, its contrast ratio isn't great and is well below average. As a result, its image is more washed out and "flat" compared with some other projectors, notably the aforementioned BenQ. While it is 4K, the HC2350 uses LCDs to create its image so it's susceptible to motion blur. Because of that, it doesn't always look as sharp as you might expect. If you really want 4K and need something with extreme brightness, this is the best option anywhere near $1,000.
Who is it for:
If you want to create a massive image, like 150-inches diagonal massive, the HC2350 can do it.
Who shouldn't buy it:
If you want image quality over light output, the HT2060 is a better option.
Pros
- Fun sized
- Full version of Google TV
- Useful optional accessories
Cons
- Not very bright
- Not very accurate
Why I like it:
The soda can-size Anker Nebula Capsule Air is just about as portable as you can get. It has 720p resolution, built-in Google TV for streaming and a battery that should last for a long movie or several episodes of your favorite TV show. There's even an optional tripod with a battery to extend playtime to 4 hours. However, it's not particularly bright, no projector this size is, but for something pocket-sized for a viewing party just about anywhere (anywhere dark, anyway), it's great. If you don't need that extreme level of portability, the Anker Mars 3 Air elsewhere on this list looks better overall while being a bit larger.
Who is it for:
Someone who wants an extremely small projector that still looks good.
Who shouldn't buy it:
Anyone who wants an image larger than a small TV or needs to compete with any amount of ambient light.
The BenQ X300G's 1.2x zoom lens.
Pros
- Doesn't look like a traditional projector
- Great contrast ratio
- Orange "ears" add character
Cons
- Underwhelming brightness
- Expensive
Why I like it:
If you're looking for something unobtrusive that doesn't stick out like a traditional projector, the BenQ X300G is a black-and-white cube with orange highlights that'll blend better into many rooms. At the very least, it looks much cooler than most projectors. Then again, I might be biased. I love orange highlights. The X300G's performance is very good, creating a colorful image with great contrast. However, it's not particularly bright, especially for its price, but as long as you're not trying to create some massive wall-size image it'll do fine. It doesn't look quite as good as BenQ's own similarly priced X500i, but it should be easier to fit in places that the X300i can't.
Who is it for:
Someone who wants a projector but finds the size and shape of a typical projector boring or think it clashes with their room.
Who shouldn't buy it:
If the form isn't the main thing you like about the X300G, the X500i (short throw) or HT2060 (cheaper, better looking though lower resolution), are likely better options.
Pros
- Lasers never need to be replaced
- Bright and colorful
- Very natural looking
Cons
- Not as detailed as some 4K DLP projectors
- Performance doesn't quite justify the price
Why I like it:
The Epson Home Cinema LS11000 is similar to the Epson 5050 but instead of a lamp, it uses a laser and phosphor combo to create light. This means even better color, no lamp replacements, faster turn on/off and a more usable dynamic contrast ratio. A more advanced pixel shift means better resolution than the 5050 as well. The LS11000 is more expensive to start but over the life of the laser projector, they should be about the same. So better picture quality for roughly the same total cost of ownership makes this well worth considering over the 5050. Between the two I'd pick the LS11000, assuming the higher initial price wasn't a major obstacle.
Who is it for:
Anyone looking for a fantastic home projector and doesn't mind paying a little more up front not to have to replace lamps over the life of the projector.
Who shouldn't buy it:
It's big and bulky. This isn't a projector for the occasional movie night. This is for transforming a room into a home theater.
There's no zoom or lens shift. There is autofocus and automatic keystone, though you shouldn't use the latter.
Pros
- Large but fairly portable
- All-in-one streaming machine
- Doubles as a BT speaker
Cons
- No zoom or lens shift
- Light leak halo a bit excessive for the price
- Mediocre contrast ratio
Why I like it:
The Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K SE is a bit large to be easily portable but it outperforms the smaller, easily portable models. It's a narrow niche, ideal for people who want something capable of a decent image for the occasional movie nights while retaining some semblance of portability thanks to a big handle.
In addition to a bright image, it sounds surprisingly good for a projector and can double as a Bluetooth speaker. There's no zoom or lens shift so it's not as ideal for permanent placement as the cheaper (and better looking) BenQ HT2060 or short-throw BenQ X500i (both of which I like better), but for a portable, all-in-one streaming machine, it works really well.
Who is it for:
Someone who wants something fairly portable but with enough performance to look good creating a big image.
Who shouldn't buy it:
If you're looking for something to sit in once place and always be ready to go, there are other options on this list that will work better while only being a little less portable.
Compare best projectors
As measured by CNET. Prices at time of review. See the individual reviews for more details.
| Brand | Model | Price | Resolution | Lumens** | Contrast ratio** |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anker | Capsule 3 | $500 | 1080p | 123 | 471:1 |
| Anker | Capsule Air | $400 | 720p | 84 | 381:1 |
| Anker | Mars 3 Air | $1,300 | 4K | 252 | 405:1 |
| Anker | Cosmos SE 4K | $600 | 1080p | 1,219 | 232:1 |
| BenQ | HT2060 | $1,000 | 1080p | 985 | 1,380:1 |
| BenQ | X300G | $1,900 | 4K | 700 | 1,762:1 |
| BenQ | X500i | $1,700 | 4K | 1,549 | 1,990:1 |
| BenQ | W2720i | $2,200 | 4K | 1,003 | 604:1 |
| Epson | HC 2350 | $1,300 | 4K | 2,075 | 348:1 |
| Epson | HC 5050 | $2,500 | 1080p x2* | 1,732 | 5,203:1 |
| Epson | LS11000 | $4,000 | 4K | 1,378 | 1,808:1 |
| JMGO | N1S Pro | $2,000 | 4K | 1,198 | 526:1 |
| Optoma | GT2100HDR | $1,700 | 1080p | 1,168 | N/A |
| Optoma | UHZ50 | $2,800 | 4K | 1,486 | 1,007:1 |
| Xgimi | Halo Plus | $750 | 1080p | 284 | 368:1 |
What We Updated: April 2025
We added the BenQ W2720i to the other projectors we've tested section.
Factors to consider when buying a projector
Picture quality: Projectors lag behind TVs in overall picture quality. However, they largely make up for it with absolutely massive images. Want a TV that's 100 inches or more? If you're not ultrarich then only a projector can do that. Even so, there's a wide range of picture quality even among projectors of a similar price. A projector with a great contrast ratio but only average light output is going to look better than the opposite. However, a brighter projector will be easier to see with some lights on and can create an even bigger image.
Where are you using it?: For light controlled rooms and home theaters, a projector with a high contrast ratio is better than one that prioritizes light output. For mixed-use rooms where it'll be hard or impossible to totally control the ambient light, or if you want an outdoor movie night with an image the size of the side of your house, one that prioritizes light output will be better, because the contrast ratio won't be as noticeable.
What about "X" spec?: Ignore the specs. Companies claim million-to-one contrast ratios, insane brightness ratings and more. But the specs are largely divorced from reality. A claimed 2,000-lumen projector is probably brighter than a 500-lumen projector, but 1,500 and 1,700-lumen projectors are probably the same.
How much should you spend?: $1,000 is the sweet spot with projectors, where you can get great picture quality and brightness. Less than that usually requires a compromise of some kind. Some highly portable and battery-powered models are far less. They're not as bright but they're great for their intended use. Spending more gets you incremental improvements. Above $3,000 there's a big jump in picture quality again, and from there the sky's the limit. Great picture quality but they're well beyond what we usually test.
What features should you look for?: If you're connecting the projector to an audio system (and you should, either receiver/speakers or soundbar), then you don't really need many features in the projector itself. Just get one that has great picture quality and high brightness. Lens shift and zoom are handy if you want more flexibility in placement. If you're looking for some kind of "all-in-one" device with speakers, make sure it has a full version of Android TV inside for streaming, otherwise you'll want to connect a streaming stick like Roku. This is because many highly portable and budget models use the Aptoide store, which won't have as many streaming app options, and those it does have often have compromised functionality (no HD, difficult to navigate, and so on).
How we test home theater projectors
CNET puts projectors through a rigorous and unbiased testing process that's the culmination of more than two decades of projector reviews. We use specialized test equipment, including a Portrait Displays C6 HDR5000 colorimeter, a Minolta LS-100 luminance meter and an AEMC CA813 illuminance meter. The data is collected and collated by Portrait Displays CalMan Ultimate software, which helps us evaluate every PJ we review. Every lamp-based projector is "burned in" for 50 hours before measuring, and all projectors are initially set up using their most accurate color temp and color modes. Test patterns, sent from a VideoForge Pro 8K, are then used to adjust the various picture settings so the projector looks its best before measurement and evaluation. Contrast ratios are measured in each lamp and iris mode (when available). Once the projectors are fully set up and objectively measured, we watch a variety of content, including TV, movies, and games, both with the projector by itself and compared side by side with two direct competitors.
Broadly speaking, we're looking for the three picture quality aspects: contrast ratio, overall light output and color reproduction. Contrast ratio is the most important part of any projector's performance. It's the difference between the darkest part of the image and the brightest. While certain TV technologies, like OLED, can create a black that's the actual absence of light, no projector technology can physically do this. As a result, contrast ratios with projectors are far lower. It's the difference between a washed-out and "flat" image and one that's more lifelike and "pops." The better projectors will have a measured contrast ratio in the thousands. Most are between 500 and 1,000:1.
Light output is the second most important factor, because it's not only how bright the image appears on your wall but also how big an image you can produce. Most modern projectors are significantly brighter than projectors from even 10 years ago. We measure brightness in candelas per square meter (cd/m2) and then convert them to estimated lumens for ease of comparison. It's important to note that we use the most accurate color temperature mode for our brightness comparisons, but we'll note when a less accurate mode is significantly brighter. Most of the projectors we test are between 1,000 and 2,000 lumens, with battery-powered models far less, and some specialized projectors even higher.
Color accuracy is the last major factor. No projector can truly take advantage of HDR or wide color gamut, but some can do more than others. Generally, we're satisfied with accurate colors, but adding HDR effects is a bonus. Most home theater projectors we test are fairly accurate. Budget models, which typically prioritize brightness over everything, and PJs from newcomers to the projector space often have wildly inaccurate colors that result in a very unnatural image.
Other factors, like video processing and HDR processing, are evaluated in the viewing tests. These are rarely a major factor in projector performance, but some models still use older chips that have issues.
The best projector will have a high contrast ratio, high brightness and great color. Those are difficult to do at the same time, but as long as the balance works and the projector looks better than its competitors at a similar price, it's a winner.
For more info, check out how CNET tests projectors.
*See review for more details
**As measured. See how CNET tests projectors for details.
Other projectors we've tested
BenQ W2720i
BenQ W2720i: The W2720i has a great design that would blend well into a modern room. Its image quality is decent, but not as good as others we've tested. It's not quite a short throw, but if you can fit a short throw BenQ's X500i performs far better. Read our full review of the BenQ W2720i" target="_self.
Epson EpiqVision Mini EF21: The small EF21, and its gimbaled sibling the EF22, are roughly the size of a toaster and look decent. For the level of performance they're pricey, but can often be found cheaper. Check out our full review of the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF21.
Xgimi Horizon Ultra: The Horizon Ultra (image above) has a stylish design and is capable of an extremely bright image. However, its contrast ratio is quite poor. Check out our review of the Xgimi Horizon Ultra.
Xgimi Horizon S Max: Similar to the Horizon Ultra, the S Max improves on the Ultra's contrast ratio but drops the optical zoom for a gimbaled design. Not an upgrade that the price suggests, but more a side-step.
Optoma GT2100HDR: The GT2100HDR is a bright short-throw projector with 1080p resolution. It lacks any zoom and is outclassed by the, admittedly more expensive, BenQ X500i" target="_self. Check out our review of the Optoma GT2100HDR" target="_self.
BenQ GS50: The GS50 is a lunch box-size 1080p projector with a built-in battery. You can even use it as a Bluetooth speaker. However, it's dimmer than the Xgimi Halo Plus for similar money, so we recommend that one instead.
Samsung Freestyle: The small, cylindrical Freestyle is an interesting idea, but it comes up short. It's about the size of a Bluetooth speaker and in fact can double as one, and the Freestyle can pivot on its stand to project an image at any height on walls and even the ceiling. Its built-in streaming is far better implemented than with most portable projectors. However, it lacks a battery and its performance is average, at best. Worse, its price is a good 50% higher than it should be based on how it looks and performs. Read our Samsung Freestyle review.
Xiaomi Mi Smart Projector 2: Another relatively expensive projector we didn't love, the Xiaomi at least has a gorgeous, Apple-like design going for it. We appreciated the compact size, 1080p resolution and built-in Android TV streaming, but the cons outweigh the pros. It's relatively dim, especially for the price, and it lacks both a built-in battery and compatibility with a USB power source, so it's not truly portable. Read our Xiaomi Mi Smart Projector 2 review.
Epson Home Cinema 880: The 880 is one of Epson's less expensive home projectors, but it still puts out a remarkable amount of light. That, and the price, make it tempting. The contrast ratio is terrible, however, so the overall image quality is weak. Read our Epson Home Cinema 880 review.
LG HU810PW: The HU810PW is a higher-end, laser-powered projector with 4K resolution that's able to create some lovely, colorful images. It's also quiet and sports an attractive, boxy case. The contrast ratio is quite poor, so it doesn't look nearly as good overall as other projectors in its price range. Read our LG HU810PW review.
Anker Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K: Since it has a handle and it's a compact size, the Cosmos Laser 4K is technically portable, but it's hardly mini at more than 10 pounds. There's also no battery, so you'll need to plug it in. It's nice and bright, but the other downsides -- lack of zoom, average overall image quality and a steep price for what you get -- keep it off this list. Read our Anker Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K Projector review.
