If you need to take your leisure room to the subsequent stage, a residence theater projector is likely to be what you want — even when you have already got a great TV. Home theater projectors can be found with good image high quality, excessive brightness in ambient gentle, wonderful coloration and a top-notch distinction ratio for $1,000 or much less. With a projector, you may get an enormous display for a fraction of the worth of a huge TV, which can be the very best half. And once you need to take film night time outdoors, there are moveable and outside projector choices to think about. Whether you are trying to purchase a 4K projector, need one thing that’ll make HD sources look nice or want one thing you should utilize on the go, you are going to discover the very best residence theater projectors on this record.
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The Epson Home Cinema 5050UB is the very best all-around residence projector we have reviewed. Take a wonderful distinction ratio, paired with spectacular brightness and correct coloration, all with higher element than what’s attainable with a 1080p native decision projector, and you have got all of the items for a incredible picture. This residence leisure projector will not be low-cost, but it surely presents a major step up in picture high quality over different projectors on this record (apart from the Sony, which is sort of double the worth). It comes with HDMI 2.zero which lets you do 4k60p. Extensive lens shift and a motorized zoom are the icing on the cake.
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We would not put this within the “low-cost projector” bucket, however the BenQ HT2050A is certainly the very best video projector you may get for the cash. This trendy projector produces a vibrant image with nice distinction and lifelike coloration accuracy. It’s additionally one of many solely comparable fashions with vertical lens shift, which makes setup just a little simpler. It helps most media gamers, gaming consoles, PCs, Macs, and cellular units with enter choices reminiscent of HDMI, USB, and extra. Plus, the projector presents a low enter lag of 16ms for immersive gaming.
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The Epson Home Cinema LS11000 is just like the Epson 5050 however as a substitute of a lamp it makes use of a laser and phosphor combo to create gentle. This means even higher coloration, no lamp replacements, sooner activate/off and a extra usable dynamic distinction ratio. A extra superior completely different pixel shifter means higher decision than the 5050 as nicely. It’s dearer to start out, however over the lifetime of the projector they need to be about the identical. So higher image high quality for roughly the identical whole price of possession makes this nicely value contemplating over the 5050.
Check out our full evaluate of the Epson Home Cinema LS11000.
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The Optoma UHD35 is a contemporary projector that packs rather a lot into its tiny case and low value. This finances projector can throw a ton of sunshine, its coloration wheel produces correct colours and has nice element. The distinction ratio is not nice, but it surely’s fairly common amongst 4K decision projectors on this value vary. And that value actually is the UHD35’s largest promoting level. This 4K UHD projector presents nice image high quality for only some hundred {dollars} over the very best 1080p projectors. It does not supply lens shift or a lot in the way in which of a zoom, but when it suits in your room it is an effective way to get a 4K projector on a finances.
Read our Optoma UHD35 evaluate.
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It’s smaller than a six-pack of Coke and geared up with Wi-Fi streaming, a surprisingly loud Bluetooth speaker and even a deal with. It presents auto vertical and handbook horizontal keystone correction. This moveable mini projector powerhouse additionally has one factor many compact projectors lack: a built-in battery. This finances projector is an all-in-one leisure machine that is darn cute, too.
Read our Anker Nebula Mars II Pro evaluate.
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The Optoma UHZ50 makes use of a blue laser and a yellow phosphor to create some extremely vibrant, ultracolorful photos. It’s vibrant and has the second-best distinction ratio we have measured from a DLP projector. Also, as a result of it is DLP, it has wonderful element. The zoom vary and lens shift are pretty restricted, so it will not slot in as many rooms because the Epson 5050 or LS11000, however in any other case it is superb.
Read our Optoma UHZ50 Projector evaluate.
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The Sony VPL-VW325ES is a thoroughbred amongst ponies, a Porsche amongst Volkswagens, an absolute stunner with a price ticket to match. The distinction ratio, simply an important facet of general image high quality, is best than the Epson 5050 and considerably higher than any projector that does not price considerably extra. And that is saying one thing, because the Sony itself prices considerably greater than every other projector on this record. It checks the field for gaming with the enter lag discount characteristic. And with brightness that may go as much as 1,500 Lumens, it really works nicely in a vibrant room as nicely. If value is not any object, the image high quality is unimaginable.
Read our Sony VPL-VW325ES evaluate.
Geoffrey Morrison/The Techy Trends
Geoffrey Morrison/The Techy Trends
The BenQ GS50 is a lunchbox-size 1080p projector with a 2.5-hour battery, surprisingly highly effective audio system and the power to cost through a moveable energy financial institution. You may even use it as a Bluetooth speaker. It performs nicely for a transportable projector, however prices about the identical as BenQ’s personal HT2050A, which performs much better. But for normal film nights removed from an outlet, it really works nice.
Read our evaluate of the BenQ GS50.
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The EF-12 is a small, extremely moveable projector that appears rather a lot just like the Anker Nebula Pro and the BenQ GS50, but it surely suits a barely completely different area of interest. It’s straightforward to tote and doubles as a Bluetooth speaker, however not like these two it might’t run off of a battery — it requires AC energy. The EF-12’s gentle is created by Epson’s “MicroLaser Array Projection Technology.” Yep, laser beams, which ship a brighter image than LED-based fashions just like the Nebula and GS50.
Read our Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12 evaluate.
Other merchandise we have examined Epson Home Cinema 880: The 880 is one among Epson’s less-expensive residence projectors, but it surely nonetheless places out a exceptional quantity of sunshine. That, and the worth, make it tempting. The distinction ratio is horrible, nonetheless, so the general picture high quality is weak. Check out our full evaluate of the Epson Home Cinema 880.LG HU810PW: The HU810PW is a higher-end, laser-powered projector with 4K decision that is capable of create some pretty, colourful photos. It’s additionally quiet and sports activities a beautiful, boxy case. The distinction ratio is kind of poor, so it does not look almost pretty much as good general as different projectors in its general value vary. Check out our full evaluate of the LG HU810PW. Anker Nebula Solar Portable: The Solar Portable is a transportable projector with a built-in battery that lasts Three hours. It sports activities 1080p decision, but it surely’s not very vibrant and the distinction is not nice. While the Anker Mars II Pro has its personal points, general it is the higher choice for a similar cash. Check out our full evaluate of the Anker Nebula Solar Portable.How we take a look at residence theater projectorsEvery projector we evaluate goes by way of elaborate goal and subjective testing. The Techy Trends editors choose the services and products we write about primarily based on editorial advantage. When you purchase by way of our hyperlinks, we could get a fee.For extra data, take a look at how The Techy Trends exams projectors. Home theater projector efficiency comparability Projector Performance Comparison
Brand
Model
Price
Resolution
Lumens**
Contrast Ratio**
Anker
Mars II Pro
$550
720p
337
354:1
Anker
Nebula Solar
$500
1080p
196
407:1
BenQ
HT2050A
$900
1080p
1620
1220:1
BenQ
TH625
$1,000
1080p
1641
853:1
Epson
EF-12
$900
1080p
650
394:1
Epson
HC 880
$600
1080p
2085
221:1
Epson
HC 2250
$750
1080p
1729
1026:1
Epson
HC 5050
$3,000
1080p x2*
1732
5203:1
LG
HU810PW
$2,800
4K
1498
490:1
Optoma
UHD35
$1,300
4K
1567
649:1
Optoma
UHZ50
$2,800
4K
1486
1007:1
Sony
VPL-VE325ES
$5,500
4K
1732
5203:1
*See evaluate for extra particulars**as measured. See how The Techy Trends exams projectors for particulars. Frequently requested questions on residence theater projectors
What form of projector must you get?
LCD and Digital Light Processing projectors are the commonest applied sciences. Higher-end projectors usually use LCOS, or liquid crystal on silicon, designs. These are marketed as SXRD and DILA. LCOS is superior to LCD and DLP in nearly each approach, however is considerably dearer. LCD (used nearly completely by Epson) and DLP each have their strengths and weaknesses. DLP is usually sharper, LCD usually brighter. However, each applied sciences supply vibrant, sharp photos. It’s extra right down to the particular mannequin of projector than particular applied sciences.
Do you want a display for a greater projector expertise?
You can use any flat floor to venture your picture. However, do not count on it to be the very best floor for a projector. Any and all tiny bumps in a wall, for instance, can be seen as further “noise” within the picture. This will be distracting. If you need the very best picture high quality out of your projector, even an affordable display is a much better choice. This is as a result of projector screens are likely to brighten the picture noticeably and create a clean floor that simply reveals your TV, film or sport.
Portable or residence projector?
Portable fashions are costly for his or her efficiency, however can work the place there is no outlet. If you do not plan on ever utilizing the projector away from your own home, a conventional projector can be far brighter and can be utilized outdoors. Just keep in mind to convey it in once you’re completed.
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