Best projectors 2024: Full HD, 4K, and short-throw

Best projectors Buying Guide: Welcome to What Hi-Fi?'s round-up of the best projectors – 4K, Full HD, and ultra short throw – that you can buy in 2023.

If you want to put the "cinema" in a home cinema, then you're going to want a quality projector. It's the best way to replicate the feeling of going to the theatre without leaving your house. While they might be a tad tricky to set up, we can assure you it's completely worth it.

The authentic cinema experience is best replicated with a 4K projector, of which you'll find seven of our favourite offerings on this list. Each is positioned with a different function or price point in mind, with everything from a brilliant entry-level model to a super-premium native 4K laser projector and even an Award-winning ultra-short throw that might be able to replace your TV.

Our reviews team has thoroughly tested each entry on this page, and you can find full write-ups on each below too. We'd be remiss not to remind you to also invest in a good screen, as well as a decent audio setup in the form of an AVR and a surround sound speaker package to achieve the full home theatre experience, of which you can find similar What Hi-Fi? approved lists just like this one. 

The quick list

Laser home cinema projector: Sony VPL-XW5000ES

Sony changes the game with the cheapest truly native 4K laser projector ever made. (Image credit: Sony)

The best projector overall

Sony’s new laser projector is a cut-price stunner.

Specifications

Display Technology: Laser SXRD
Resolution: 3840 x 2160
Screen Size: Up to 200 inches
Ports: 2 x HDMI 2.0, USB A
Dimensions: 20 x 46 x 47cm

Reasons to buy

+
Stunningly detailed native 4K pictures
+
Impressive black levels and contrast
+
Excellent picture processing

Reasons to avoid

-
Poor manual lens controls
-
Dark HDR scenes can lose detail
-
No 4K/120Hz gaming support

The VPL-XW5000ES is a watershed moment for not just Sony’s projection business but the home cinema world in general. Why? Because it’s the cheapest truly native 4K laser projector the home cinema world has ever seen.

Prior to the XW5000ES, Sony’s entry-level SXRD 4K projectors – such as last year’s VW290ES (VW325ES in the US) – have relied on lamp rather than laser technology. Moving to laser, though, means no longer having to put up with the inconvenience and ongoing costs associated with having to replace lamps every few thousand hours of use, or the relatively rapid degradation in brightness that lamps suffer. 

While you inevitably have to accept a compromise or two in return for Sony delivering a full 4K laser projector at this price, those compromises are ultimately crushed by the joyous impact the XW5000ES’s combination of laser lighting and exceptional X1 Ultimate processing has on both your immediate and long-term movie night thrills.

Read the full Sony VPL-XW5000ES review

The best entry-level 4K projector

Home cinema projector: BenQ W1800

BenQ has proved that you don't have to break the bank for a cinematic experience at home. (Image credit: Future)
Proper home cinema doesn’t have to cost the earth.

Specifications

Type: DLP with lamp
Resolution: 4K via double flashing
HDR: Yes
Contrast ratio: 10,000:1
Inputs: HDMI 2.0 (x2), USB 2.0 (x1)
3D: Yes
Lamp: 2000 lumens
Lamp life: 15,000 hours

Reasons to buy

+
Impressively cinematic pictures
+
Small, living room-friendly design
+
Great value for what’s on offer

Reasons to avoid

-
Very basic built-in audio
-
Slight rainbow effect
-
Black levels could be better

BenQ divides its consumer projector range into quite specific categories these days. There's premium ‘CinePro’, mid-range ‘CinePrime’ and entry level ‘CineHome’ home cinema models, as well as more general purpose (usually brighter and more affordable) home entertainment models, laser TV models, and dedicated gaming projectors.

The W1800 sits squarely in BenQ’s CineHome section, where its focus on serving up a cinematic experience on a budget serves it extremely well.

The BenQ W1800’s pictures immediately struck us as genuinely cinematic as soon as we clapped eyes on them – and while deeper scrutiny uncovers a limitation or two, our first impressions hold well throughout our time with the W1800.

BenQ’s decision to focus with the W1800 on what we guess could be considered good old-fashioned home cinema values has paid off handsomely. Its pictures might not be the showiest around, but they’re refined, natural, authentic and, to use that word again, cinematic.

Read the full BenQ W1800 review

The best mid-range projector

Best projectors 2023: Full HD, 4K, portable, short throw

Epson ticks all the boxes and balances 4K quality with affordability.  (Image credit: Future)
A brilliantly well-judged and affordable 4K projector.

Specifications

Type: 3LCD
Resolution: 4K pixel shift
HDR: Yes
Contrast ratio: 100,000:1
Inputs: HDMI 2.0 (x2), USB 2.0 (x2)
3D: Yes
Lamp: 3000 lumens
Lamp life: 5,000/3,000 hours (eco/normal)

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent contrast handling
+
Balanced, nuanced colour palette
+
Good connectivity options

Reasons to avoid

-
No 4K motion processing

A shade pricier than an entry-level device, this Epson is the king of affordable 4K projectors. It’s easy to set up and install, and produces a picture that’s reminiscent of what you'll get at the cinema.

You'll get a great image right out of the box without needing to be any kind of expert at tinkering with the settings. All the preset modes are very well judged and it gives an excellent level of black depth and dark detail for a projector at this price. Colours are balanced and motion is naturally smooth.

That said, it's as much the convenience of this machine that makes it so good. Bluetooth allows for direct connection with a wireless speaker or soundbar, and the high luminance means that it's usable in moderately lit rooms. In other words, an AVR, speaker package and home cinema room are not entirely necessary. How's that for a superb family projector?

Read the full Epson EH-TW7100 review

The best premium projector

Best projectors 2023: Full HD, 4K, portable, short throw

A bold projector for those who like their movies to pack a punch. (Image credit: Future)
A powerful 4K projector with a bold picture to match.

Specifications

Type: 3LCD
Resolution: 4K pixel shift
HDR: Yes
Contrast ratio: 1,200,000:1
Inputs: HDMI 2.0 (x2), USB 2.0 (x2)
3D: Yes
Lamp: 2600 lumens
Lamp life: 5,000/3,000 hours (eco/normal)

Reasons to buy

+
Motorised and adaptable lens
+
Vibrant colours and good HDR
+
Excellent sense of depth

Reasons to avoid

-
Noisy at full power

This big, brassy projector is as good as you'll get before forking out for the beauty of native 4K projection. The detail may not be as stunning as its brethren in those upper echelons but for colour accuracy, subtlety of contrast and HDR handling, it's a real corker.

The result is a picture more involving than you'll find anywhere else at this price point, with a sense of depth so absorbing that you'll pick up detail from your favourite films that you'll have always missed on smaller screens.

It's also a dream in terms of practicality. Its 50-300-inch image size can be thrown from a good range of distances and the motorised lens means you can set it all up from the comfort of your sofa using its superb, backlit remote. Just sit back and enjoy some cinematic greats.

Read the full Epson EH-TW9400 review

The best high-end projector

Home cinema projector: Sony VLP-XW7000ES

A bright, bold and sharp projector that impresses at every turn. (Image credit: Future)
A dazzlingly bright and brilliant projector.

Specifications

Bulb technology: Laser diode
Projection technology: SXRD (LCoS)
Fan noise: 26dB
HDMI: 2 x HDMI 2.0
Brightness: 3200 lumens

Reasons to buy

+
Stunning contrast and detail
+
Sharp picture
+
Comprehensive remote

Reasons to avoid

-
Some rivals have better motion

Sony is taking no prisoners with its native 4K laser projectors, with the VPL-XW7000ES being the higher-end of the two models. 

The Sony VPL-XW7000ES takes everything up a notch, pushing brightness up to 11 and featuring a more comprehensive set of motorised lens controls. Its native 4K resolution and notably high lumen count should catch the eyes of those looking for a flashy projector that will have people talking about the device as much as the content that's being watched on it. 

The Sony VPL-XW7000ES consistently received involuntary verbal reactions of “wow” and “can you believe how good this looks?” throughout our testing. The brightness surpasses the gimmicky branding that many would expect, and the details are razor sharp.

Read the full Sony VPL-XW7000ES review

The best ultra short throw projector

Ultra short-throw projector: Hisense PL1TUK

Ultra short throw doesn't compromise on the big picture. (Image credit: Hisense)
Is Hisense’s latest ultra short-throw projector a true TV replacement?

Specifications

Resolution: 4K (3840 x 2160)
HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG
Light source: X Fusion Laser
Operating system: VIDAA
Picture size: 90-130 inches
Contrast: 2,000,000 : 1 dynamic contrast ratio
Brightness: 2100 ANSI lumens
HDMI: 2 x HDMI 2.1

Reasons to buy

+
Sharp and vibrant picture
+
Solid smart feature integration
+
Cheaper than nearly all rivals

Reasons to avoid

-
Only two HDMI connections

Ultra short-throw projectors are becoming much more frequent within the projector market at large, and for good reason. Designed as a TV alternative that can reach up to 100 inches without costing nearly as much as a super-large TV would, as well as having the added benefit of being practically plug-and-play (obviously with some fiddling required), a UST projector strikes a nice balance between practicality and theatricality. 

At the forefront of this UST revolution is Hisense, which has been developing ultra short-throw models for over six years now. The PL1 that we have before us today is the latest model in Hisense’s line of Ultra Short-Throw Laser Cinema Projectors, not to be confused with its separate line of Laser TVs, which act in a similar fashion but specifically come with a dedicated screen.

In order to be a successful UST, it has to tick every box we look out for in both the best projectors and the best TVs, which is no easy task. Thankfully, the PL1 not only steps up to the task, but it clears many other options within its field.

With its clean, punchy and solid image, the Hisense PL1 is a gem at this price. Undercutting many of its UST rivals and even its own Hisense siblings, it's a TV alternative that actually lives up to its promise. You’d be hard-pressed to find a 100-inch TV for this price, let alone one that features such a punchy and crisp image. While we wish it had a couple more HDMI ports, it’s a compromise we’re willing to make, as its picture performance more than makes up for it.

Read the full Hisense PL1 review

How to choose the best projector for you

There are a multitude of factors to consider when choosing the right projector to suit your needs. Whether its budget, resolution, screen size or even the type of lamp, all of these factors can drastically alter the performance of a projector. 

It's important to recognise the differences between projector lamp technologies, as different options give you different performance. Laser-based projectors are quick to reach optimal performance after booting up, they produce more accurate colours and have longer lifespans due to not requiring a bulb to power the picture. However, they tend to be more expensive than DLP (Digital Light Processing) LED and LCD projectors, which in turn have their own benefits and caveats. 

Ultimately, the goal with a projector is to encapsulate the cinematic feeling of a theatre at home, so this is where screen size and resolution are important. Ideally, this is where a 4K projector would be best for crisp and clear visuals. As you'll notice, almost all of our top picks are either native 4K projectors, or achieve a 4K-like image through clever trickery for a higher picture quality. 

While resolution is a pivotal aspect of the picture quality, its almost equally important counterpart is colour. Projectors can often struggle when it comes to colour, especially when it comes to darker shades. Contrast is key here to ensure that black depth is the best it can be, although no projector will be able to live up to an OLED TV in this regard. 

Within the mix are also some ultra short throw projectors. These can project a big, clear image onto a wall from a very short distance away, making them ideal for space saving set ups or for those wanting to avoid wall- or ceiling-mounting their projector.

Then there are portable projectors, which are ideal of taking on the go or using outside to create a grab-and-go cinema experience. They might not match up with the performance of dedicated home cinema projectors – the fact that none have made our list should tell you that – but you're paying for the experience and versatility here. You can't beat an open-air cinema experience under the starry night sky after all.

We do often recommend that you budget for a speaker when shopping for a projector, as although many options here include on-board speakers, they are invariably pretty poor. Similarly, while some projectors do now feature built-in streaming platforms, they're often a bit patchy in terms of performance and app selection, so it's often worth keeping some cash aside for a dedicated streamer.

How we test projectors

Testing projectors involves taking the time to explore their capabilities fully through lots of options-tweaking and content-watching. This includes checking every item in the settings menu, and individually tweaking picture features to ensure the projector is giving us the best visual performance it can. 

We conduct these tests in our state of the art testing room in Bath, which is outfitted with a 100-inch screen and a plethora of external sources to hook the projectors up to, including 4K Blu-ray players, video streamers and games consoles. This is also where each of these projectors meets its rivals, as every product is tested side-by-side with the competition to ensure it meets expectations and so that its place in the market is considered as a whole – no product exists in a vacuum after all.

We test using a wide range of content from 4K Blu-rays, to streaming services, video games and standard definition DVDs to make sure all kinds of content are put through these projectors. This helps us find the strengths and weaknesses of each projector.

At the end of this process, a verdict is reached by a team of reviewers who work closely together in order to ensure that each projector is tested fairly, and to avoid the possibility of any personal preferences creeping in. This is also to make sure our reviews are consistent and thorough, and so that no feature or flaw is missed within our testing process.

MORE:

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Lewis Empson
Staff Writer

Lewis Empson is a Staff Writer on What Hi-Fi?. He was previously Gaming and Digital editor for Cardiff University's 'Quench Magazine', Lewis graduated in 2021 and has since worked on a selection of lifestyle magazines and regional newspapers. Outside of work, he enjoys gaming, gigs and regular cinema trips.

With contributions from
  • nnorton00
    This article has been updated to "Best projectors 2020: Full HD, 4K, portable, short throw". The problem is the #1 projector, the UHD40, has been discontinued since May 2019, over a year! Any other suggestions to replace that top spot?
    Reply
  • abacus
    The Optoma UHD51 is probably the best bet or jump up a bit further to the Benq W2700.

    Bill
    Reply
  • nnorton00
    The UHD51 was also discontinued in May 2019!
    Reply
  • abacus
    nnorton00 said:
    The UHD51 was also discontinued in May 2019!

    The UHD 51 is still on the Optoma website and can be bought from many dealers (As well as the Optoma online shop) so not discontinued.

    Richer Sounds currently do it for £1299

    Bill
    Reply
  • abacus said:
    The UHD 51 is still on the Optoma website and can be bought from many dealers (As well as the Optoma online shop) so not discontinued.

    Richer Sounds currently do it for £1299

    Bill
    Richer Sounds one got £50 off too:

    https://www.richersounds.com/tv-projectors/projectors/4-k-projectors/optoma-uhd51.html
    Reply
  • Dan Sung
    The UHD40 is also still available with certain vendors too, here at Bax, for example - https://www.bax-shop.co.uk/projection/optoma-uhd40-4k-ultra-hd-projector
    We're also getting in the UHD42 shortly. Hopefully Optoma has done a good job there.
    Reply
  • Dan Sung
    nnorton00 said:
    This article has been updated to "Best projectors 2020: Full HD, 4K, portable, short throw". The problem is the #1 projector, the UHD40, has been discontinued since May 2019, over a year! Any other suggestions to replace that top spot?

    New No.1.
    Reply
  • Johnnyringo
    So this is an article from 2019, with the date changed to 2022? Where are the short throws? Many of these models are outdated, the same as others in the list, or or just very poor. I love me some what hi-fi, but this is egregious.
    Reply
  • nitol102
    Article is good and helpful
    Reply