Best projector 2023

The best projector can help turn your living room into a cinema screen, making one well worth investing in if you're looking to create a home theatre setup.

We've rounded up our top picks from all our projector guides, so if you are on the lookout for anything from the best budget projector all the way to the best gaming projectors and the best mini projector, then you're in luck.

Alongside normal features like resolution and response times, which can be important, you also need to consider display size, the throw distance, which is how much room the projector needs between it and the wall, and brightness too.

Based on these specs, as well as reviews, additional features, and price, we've rounded up some of the best projectors around, all of which stand out from the crowd in a number of different categories.

We've also answered some of the most commonly asked questions about projectors to help you make an informed purchase decision. Before that though, here are our top picks...

Best projectors

1. Sony VPL-VW325ES
2. APEMAN LC650
3. Optoma GT1080HDR
4. Anker Nebula Capsule Max
5. BenQ TK850
6. Samsung Premiere LSP9T

Credit: Sony

1. Sony VPL-VW325ES

Best 4K projector

For one of the best options in the 4K sphere, the Sony VPL-VW325ES looks like a brilliant choice.

Where this particular projector shines is not only on the fact that it's 4K HDR and has a resolution of 4096x2160 but has an incredible contrast ratio.

The brightness of 1500 ANSI lumens also ensures that picture quality is sharp enough for both indoor and outdoor viewing, and moreover, a maximum throw distance of 40 feet keeps the VPL-VW325ES a handy choice for bigger rooms.

In addition, its maximum image size of 200 inches beats off any television and will be ideal for projecting 4K films onto even some of the biggest walls.

Credit: APEMAN

2. APEMAN LC650

Best budget projector

If you're after the best budget projector, then the APEMAN LC650 looks like quite the capable package.

For the money, you're getting a Full HD resolution with a maximum display size of 300 inches, which should be perfect for some pretty large walls.

The LC650's contrast ratio of 6000:1 should also allow for sharp colours and we think makes this a capable budget projector.

Moreover, whilst it may not strictly be billed as a 'smart' projector, this option does allow for screen mirroring which means you can project media from your phone, giving it another string to its bow.

The built-in dual speakers look to offer decent audio for the price, but if you do want to connect your own, there's a 3.5mm jack around the back.

Credit: Optoma

3. Optoma GT1080HDR

Best projector for gaming

For those interested in higher refresh rates, you'll want to check out this Optoma GT1080HDR.

It boasts key features such as a 120Hz refresh rate, a familiar trait of some of the best gaming monitors, and a response time of 8.4ms, which for a projector is very fast indeed.

A 50,000:1 contrast ratio should also keep images looking sharp and tidy, and a brightness of 3800 ANSI lumens means you can game in basically any setting.

The GT1080HDR also supports HDR10 which should allow for darker blacks and brighter whites and also means this could be a handy option for not only gaming but watching movies as well.

You'll also find a lamp life of 15,000 hours, which for consistent usage of four hours a day should leave you with a projector that'll last ten years, or more.

Credit: Anker

4. Anker Nebula Capsule Max

Best mini projector

The Anker Nebula Capsule Max is a great option for those looking to take a projector on the go.

It comes feature-packed with Android 8.1 which allows for the usage of all sorts of smart apps such as Netflix and Prime Video that allows for the viewing of your favourite content, even when you're away from home.

And with this projector weighing just 737g, this is a properly portable option with four hours of battery life also ensuring it'll last for a couple of Hollywood blockbusters.

A 200 ANSI lumen brightness max display size of 100 inches should also keep the Capsule Max as a good option for even some of the brightest settings with popping colours.

You'll also note that this Anker projector also features a 1280x720 resolution which should be handy for on-the-go viewing.

Credit: BenQ

5. BenQ TK850

Best projector for sports

For the sporting fanatics out there, we think the BenQ TK850 should be a great choice of projector.

It features a dedicated sports mode that helps to brighten up the grass and smooth out skin tones, and you'll also find a Motion Enhancer setting that generates interpolated frames to eliminate any laggy images or blurry shadows to allow for picture-perfect programming.

The brightness of 3000 ANSI lumens is also sure to keep the games bright and sharp, as well as any movies or TV shows you might binge.

This is also a 4K UHD projector with a 3840x2160 resolution meaning the 300-inch projectors should also look incredible.

The TK850 can also work as an Android TV and therefore offers a built-in Chromecast, making it quite the handy device if you're wanting to cast something from your phone to the big screen.

Credit: Samsung

6. Samsung Premiere LSP9T

Best projector for home theatres

The Samsung Premiere LSP9T is a prime candidate for being the best projector for home theatre systems.

We think its brightness of 2800 ANSI lumens and a contrast ratio of 1000:1 will be perfect for those big-screen extravaganzas, with this projector offering a cinema-like performance thanks to precise and vivid colours.

In addition, its maximum display size of 130 inches should be wall-filling enough for most, and we think the white design fits in nicely with some of the more minimal setups out there.

This projector also features Filmmaker Mode, a setting usually reserved for more high-end televisions that allows users to view a motion picture as the director intended, removing any effects or filters from the film.

One for cinema fans that's for sure!

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

We've answered some of the most frequently asked queries to help you make a decision.

Are projectors better than TVs?

For watching movies they're definitely more 'epic' in scale, but when it comes down to things like latency, refresh rates, and brightness they can come up a little short compared to for example some of the best 4K TVs around.

But projectors shouldn't really be compared to TVs in the first place, as they're two very different things.

We'd say go for a TV for more everyday purposes and grab a projector for epic movie nights.

For gaming, there are some good projectors that offer low latency and response time, which you'll need if you're playing fast-paced titles or racing games, but generally speaking, we'd say go for a gaming monitor or a top-tier TV with a high refresh rate if you want something super responsive.

How much should you spend on a projector?

They vary wildly in price, so you can spend anything between hundreds to thousands of dollars on them.

We'd say a good mid-ground full HD projector can be found between $300 - $400, with 4K projectors typically tipping the scales at $700 plus.

You can spend less and grab a mini projector, some of which should deliver the goods nicely.

Short throw vs long throw, what does it mean?

Basically, short-throw means the projector is designed to project the image onto a nearer wall. These are best for smaller rooms.

Long-throw is designed to project further away, so this makes it better for outdoors or huge spaces.