Projectors capture pure big-screen movie magic in a way that even the very best TVs can't quite match, especially for screen sizes in the 150- to 300-inch range.
If you're building a dedicated home cinema or perhaps are looking to transform your living room into a versatile theatre for daytime and nighttime viewing, then a good projector is crucial.
May 2026: The main list remains the same, but we've added the Xgimi Vibe One, Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2, and Optoma UHZ78LV as a fresh batch of also consider options. The FAQ section has also been added. January 2026: No new models to add to the main list; however, the BenQ W5850 makes it onto our "also consider" list. We've also refreshed the page for 2026 to ensure our guidance is up-to-date. November 2025: Hisense M2 Pro added as the best entry-level model. BenQ W2720i added as the best mid-range projector, Epson EH-LS9000 added as best premium, and Sony Bravia Projector 8 crowned best high-end.
I'm a Staff writer here at What Hi-Fi? who also happens to really like projectors. I've tested over 50 projectors, including everything from serious 4K units that cost upwards of £15,000 to ultra-short throw TV replacements. As a self-proclaimed film enthusiast, I find that projectors are easily one of my favourite things to test, as they allow me to watch some of my favourite movies in the way they were meant to be seen. Finding a good projector that truly makes our AV testing room feel like a proper cinema is a treat, and there are a few key areas I look out for to fulfil that criteria. Detail levels, black depths, contrast and colours are all factors to consider, while ease of setup and connectivity are also key components to be mindful of.
The best projector overall
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 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.
However, it became swiftly apparent that all of these things are indeed worth it, as the XW5000ES is a superb home cinema projector, and it even sits in our reference setup to this very day.
It delivers a crisp, rich and deeply cinematic picture, with excellent motion and contrast that's only rivalled by the more expensive models in Sony's range.
Bear in mind that this is a dedicated home cinema projector, so there are no speakers or streaming platform built in, but that's to be expected at this level.
We recommend pairing it with an entry from our best AV receivers list and best surround sound speakers list to make a truly impressive home cinema setup.
Read the full Sony VPL-XW5000ES review
The best entry-level projector
If you’re looking for a home cinema in a box, the Hisense M2 Pro is a great choice with its cinematic picture and easy to use design.
When we had the M2 Pro in our test room, the 4K projector offers a crisp, punchy and detailed image that is the best we have seen at this price. We say while watching Civil War, for example, “the flames have a wonderful hue of red and an intensity that makes them suitably distinct from the silhouette of the background forest.”
The motion handling is smooth as well, with panning shots looking natural without any judder.
Its sound performance from the two 10W built-in speakers is not quite as impressive, although the M2 Pro does still deliver a surprising amount of sound volume for such a small package. We do recommend investing in a separate sound system to get the most immersive audio.
In terms of specifications, HDR support is onboard with the M2 Pro working with all four of the currently available formats: HLG, HDR10, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision.
Weighing just 3.9kg, it’s easy to move around and features a tiltable body. The lack of a built-in battery stops us from dubbing it a fully portable model, though. If its stunning picture and easy-to-use build sounds tempting, the M2 Pro is an easy recommendation at this level.
Read the full Hisense M2 Pro review
The best mid-range projector
A shade pricier than an entry-level device, this BenQ 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.
Right out of the box, the W2720i’s pictures are phenomenally sharp with a three dimensional feel that is full of texture and detail.
In terms of contrast, the 4K projector excels as well. it strikes an excellent balance between dark and light, as bright scenes and image areas enjoy plenty of punch and some surprisingly intense small light ‘peaks’, while dark scenes usually avoid excessive grey clouding and still contain enough shadow details to share the same depth you get with bright shots.
Its built-in sound system isn’t exactly the most powerful we’ve heard, but the speakers can project dialogue and ambient effects that help good film soundtracks feel busy a decent distance away from the projector’s body.
Connectivity-wise, the W2720i supports wi-fi, Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay and Google Cast. Plus, its integrated Android TV smart system has all the popular streaming services onboard. This all makes for an excellent 4K performer that is hard to beat at this price point.
Read the full BenQ W2720i review
The best premium projector
The Epson EH-LS9000 is simply superb, especially when in a dark room to get the best performance possible.
When watching Thunderbolts in our test room, we are struck by its cinematic and punchy picture. We comment: “There’s an awesome solidity and depth to the picture, which is particularly impressive at the 100-inch scale of our screen, and you almost feel as if you could reach into the image and poke the little figures in the distance.”
It handles panning shots with a suitable mix of naturalism and smoothness, even with the Frame Interpolation feature switched off. While we do note we would like to see better black depth in the darkest scenes, its picture performance is still brilliant and offers an impressively cinematic image.
HDR support is impressive, with the EH-LS9000 able to handle the dynamic HDR10+ format as well as the static HDR10 and HLG formats. The extra scene-by-scene information of HDR10+ should allow the Epson to wring more out of the content that carries it.
It’s got some great specifications for gaming as well, with two HDMI 2.1 sockets which can handle 4K/120Hz signals. There are no built-in speakers here, so make sure to budget for your own sound system.
Read the full Epson EH-LS9000 review
The best high-end projector
Launching at £15,999 / $15,999 / AU$21,999, the Sony Bravia Projector 8 is a far cry from cheap. But the native 4K home cinema projector is as brilliant as it is pricey.
That price tag gets you an incredibly crisp and detailed picture that brings the cinema to your living room. While watching Oppenheimer in our test room, we say: “Sony’s penchant for delivering effective three-dimensional-looking images is clearly on show, with a panning shot of a watchtower in the New Mexico desert looking particularly striking.”
We are also struck by its impressive dark levels by projector standards, as the night sky of Gotham City in The Batman appears deep and black without the murky grey we see on most projectors.
Colours are spectacularly rich and yet wholly natural too, leading to a deeply engaging picture that will impress the most scrupulous home cinema enthusiasts.
It isn't cheap, but the Sony Bravia Projector 8 puts picture performance above all else, hence the absence of built-in speakers or a streaming platform. However, this is home cinema taken seriously, so we hope you'll have a quality sound system and 4K Blu-ray player to pair with this projector.
Read the full Sony Bravia Projector 8 review
The best ultra short throw projector
Ultra short throw (UST) projectors allow you to deliver large pictures even when sat right up close to a screen or wall, which means you can save on space while still getting an immersive movie experience. It's therefore no surprise that we are seeing more and more brands getting in on the action.
At the forefront of this UST revolution is Hisense, which has been developing ultra short-throw models for over six years now. The PL2 that we have before us today is the latest model in Hisense’s line of Ultra Short-Throw Laser Cinema Projectors – the successor to the five-star PL1 which snagged a What Hi-Fi? Award last year.
The Hisense PL2 manages to trump our old favourite by snagging an Award of its own this year, offering impressive dark detail as well as a brighter picture. We say in our review: "Hisense’s focus on delivering a balanced picture that accepts the shortcomings inherent to a UST lets the PL2 offer a consistent, controlled picture that never distracts from what’s playing on screen."
Its built-in twin 15W sound system does lack a real sense of width and depth, with a weak low-end that produces an underpowered overall sound. It does still provide clear vocals that stand out well from background noise. We do recommend budgeting for a separate speaker system if you don’t already have one.
The PL2 offers a decent selection of HDMI ports to connect to other devices, with HDMI 2.1 sockets (one that has eARC), one HDMI 2.0 port, an ethernet port and two USBs (one 3.0, one 2.0).
Finally, its VIDAA operating system offers access to a range of streaming services including Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+.
Read the full Hisense PL2 review
The best portable projector
While most portable projectors can't hold a candle to the picture and sound quality of the more premium projectors on this list, the Anker Nebula Mars 3 Air manages to provide a punchy image ideal for on-the-go cinema lovers.
Although it's a bit too chunky to be considered an ultra-portable model that can be stuffed into a coat pocket, this Anker model sports a comfortable carry strap is attached to its top edge.
We were impressed during testing with the portable model's picture quality considering its competitive price tag. We say in our review, for example, that: "Despite the projector using (like all portable models) a fairly small lens aperture, every pixel and texture of a good HD source is faithfully rendered, adding up to a really dense, smooth, cinematic finish to the picture with little evidence of visible pixel structure. Even when you push the image to beyond 100 inches."
And that's not all, as the projector's audio performance manages to buck the trend of most portable projectors sounding pretty bad. While the bass can seem disconnected from the rest of the sound and the volume never blowing us away, we still find that "detailed movie mixes sound crisp and busy, but are also well-rounded enough not to sound harsh or thin."
In terms of connectivity, there is a single HDMI port, a USB port and integrated Bluetooth, wi-fi and Chromecast support to make it easy to cast content from a phone or laptop. The Google TV operating system also gives you access to a range of streaming platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+ and Disney+.
If your budget can't stretch to a more comprehensive model or you are looking for a projector to take on your travels, this Anker model is hard to beat.
Read the full Anker Nebula Mars 3 Air review
Also consider
- Sony Bravia Projector 7: If you’re looking to step up to a projector that delivers an even more cinematic image with more balanced colours, even better contrast, and extra subtlety, then the Bravia Projector 7 is certainly worth the upgrade – providing your budget allows.
- Epson EH-QB1000: A worthy adversary to the Sony VPL-XW5000ES, Epson's impressive 4K beamer delivers "bright, colourful, HDR pictures" with sharp, clean details despite it not being native 4K.
- BenQ W5850: BenQ's answer to the top model on this list, the Sony VPL-XW5000ES, is a premium 4K projector with style and substance. Beneath this trendy black and gold chassis, you'll find a beamer that delivers warm, rich colours and impressive brightness, especially with HDR content.
- Xgimi Vibe One: Looking for an affordable portable projector with buckets of charm and a surprisingly brilliant picture to match? The Vibe One sits beneath the also great MoGo 4 as a projector that you can pick up and watch anywhere, thanks to its built-in streaming platform, speakers and battery (which we wish lasted a bit longer).
- Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2: Stylish, functional, and feature-packed, this Valerion projector ticks all of the boxes. It also happens to look great and sound good, too, making it a superb lifestyle projector for those who want a coffee table projector that can easily be stowed away.
- Optoma UHZ78LV: Criminally uncatchy name aside, this super bright and punchy Optoma is one of the very few home cinema projectors to support Dolby Vision, making it a unique and, based on our testing, great-looking projector. It's also well-suited to living room viewing, thanks to that claimed ambient light-combatting brightness figure of 5000 lumens.
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 it's budget, resolution, screen size or even the type of lamp, all of these factors can drastically alter the performance of a projector.
Which light source is best?
Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.
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.
Do I need a 4K projector?
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. Here's how 4K vs 1080p (Full HD) resolutions differ.
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.
Different styles for different use cases...
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 for 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.
What about sound and streaming?
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.
FAQs
Is a projector better than a TV?
There are lots of variables which makes answering this question difficult. Broadly speaking, if you want a super-sized screen to watch movies and TV shows, then a projector really is hard to beat, and this is especially true when it comes to watching films and sports outside.
However, there are drawbacks, such as interference from ambient light and traditionally not great gaming specs to be aware of.
How far should a projector be from a screen?
This varies on a case-by-case basis, and it depends on which projector you have. An ultra-short-throw projector can beam a 100-inch-plus image from just a couple of centimetres away from your wall, whereas a dedicated home cinema projector should sit around five to ten metres away.
Some projectors allow you to scale your image using lens shifting settings, but the further you move your projector back, the bigger the image, but this can soften the picture too.
Your projector should include a recommended distance somewhere in your user manual.
Are projectors good for gaming?
Projectors are, typically speaking, not quite as well-equipped for gaming as TVs, but we are seeing improvements. Some high-end models support 4K/120Hz gaming, whereas the more affordable models trade resolution for higher frame rates.
A lot of projectors that we test today come with a dedicated game mode setting, which can improve your gaming experience with reduced latency.
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 London, 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.
During the testing process with this reference material, we look out for a multitude of picture quality components, including brightness, colour, contrast, motion and detail. The best projectors tick all of these boxes.
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.
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