To experience the true grandeur of the cinema in your house, nothing can top a projector. A good one can show a bright, sharp image up to 150 inches in size for an immersive experience that no TV can match — and often at a much lower price. Plus, they’re great for gaming and can even be used as a second screen for your computer.
Projectors have gained popularity of late so there are tons of options to choose from. Classic models that mount on the ceiling are brighter and sharper than ever, and you can choose either bulbs or lasers as a light source depending on your budget. If you’d rather mount one on the floor close to the screen, you can choose from dozens of ultra short throw (UST) models as well.
But compared to TVs, projectors remain a bit more confusing for a majority of buyers. This guide will fill you in on important details to consider like brightness, type (classic, portable and ultra short throw) and other factors to help you choose the best model for your setup.
Table of contentsBest projectors for 2025
What to look for in a projector
Projector FAQs
Best projectors for 2025Some projectors are for serious cinephiles, projecting sharp 4K video with HDR brightness and hyper realistic colors to a large screen. Others are bright enough to replace your TV for sports or gaming, and some low-cost portable models can be set up for camping or outdoor fun. That’s why we’ve divided this guide into several categories to help you find the right one.
Mainstream projectors need to be jacks-of-all-trades: bright, sharp, colorful and fast, while not costing a fortune. BenQ’s X500i projector fits the bill perfectly thanks to the 4K resolution and high 3,200 ANSI lumen brightness, along with BenQ-’s HDR-PRO technology that delivers accurate colors, high contrast and high detail in shadows for shows like Game of Thrones. At the same time, it includes lens shift and has Android TV built in. As with any DLP projector, however, beware if you’re sensitive to rainbow color artifacts.
$1,499 at Adorama
For a bright and sharp projector on a budget, Epson’s Home Cinema 1080 LCD projector is our pick. It’s rated for 3,400 lumens at the brightest settings, enough for use in ambient light. At the same time, the three-chip system delivers 1080p video that’s sharp enough for movies, sports and gaming. Another plus is its light 5.7 pound weight, which makes installation easy and allows you to take it down for the odd outdoor film festival. As is typical in this price range, though, it lacks HDR and contrast is mediocre.
$700 at Adorama
Cinephiles looking for a sharp, bright and color accurate long-throw projector should consider Epson’s LS11000. This LCD laser projector offers features you’d normally find on much more expensive projectors, like 4K resolution (via quad pixel-shift technology), motorized lens zoom and shift capabilities and HDR10+ with a wide color gamut. It’s also great for gamers, thanks to the high-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 inputs, 120Hz refresh rate and
