Best Projectors
Updated How we research
Epson Home Cinema 1080 3-Chip 3LCD 1080p Projector, 3400 Lumens, Streaming/Gaming/Home Theater, Built-in Speaker
Epson's Home Cinema 1080 3-chip 3LCD 1080p projector with 3400 lumens and a built-in speaker for movies and gaming.
BenQ TH585 1080p Home Entertainment Projector, 3500 Lumens, Low Input Lag for Gaming, 10W Speaker
BenQ's TH585 1080p DLP projector with 3500 lumens, low input lag for gaming and a 10W speaker for casual viewing.
A projector turns a blank wall or screen into a cinema-sized picture that no flat-panel TV can match. Whether you are working with a bright living room or a light-controlled dedicated room, the right projector depends on your throw distance, ambient light, and how large you want the image to be. Lumens, contrast, and native resolution all shape what you actually see on screen. This guide breaks down projectors for real home theater setups, from apartment-friendly short-throw units to room-filling long-throw models. We look at brightness for daytime viewing, contrast for deep movie blacks, and the connectivity you need for consoles and streaming. Use it to match a projector to your space and your budget.
The short version
We compared 8 picks. Our scores range from 5.2 to 8.6 out of 10.
- Best overall:Epson Home Cinema 1080 3-Chip 3LCD 1080p Projector, 3400 Lumens, Streaming/Gaming/Home Theater, Built-in Speaker. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.6/10.
- Also great value:BenQ TH585 1080p Home Entertainment Projector, 3500 Lumens, Low Input Lag for Gaming, 10W Speaker. Value score of 9/10, overall 8.6/10.
- Solid build:Epson Home Cinema 3100 1080p 3LCD Home Theater Projector. Build and materials score of 8/10, overall 7.6/10.
- Feature-rich:BenQ TH575 Full HD DLP Home Theater Gaming Projector Bundle with Laptop Stand and Accessory Tray. Features score of 8/10, overall 7.8/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
- 1.Epson Home Cinema 1080 3-Chip 3LCD 1080p Projector, 3400 Lumens, Streaming/Gaming/Home Theater, Built-in Speaker8.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 2.BenQ TH585 1080p Home Entertainment Projector, 3500 Lumens, Low Input Lag for Gaming, 10W Speaker8.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 3.BenQ TH575 Full HD DLP Home Theater Gaming Projector Bundle with Laptop Stand and Accessory Tray7.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 4.Epson Home Cinema 3100 1080p 3LCD Home Theater Projector7.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 5.BenQ HT2050 DLP Home Theater Projector (Full HD / 2000lm)7.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 6.Epson Home Cinema 1040 1080p, 2X HDMI, 3LCD, 3000 Lumens Color and White Brightness Home Theater Projector7.2/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 7.200 inch Smart Home Theater Projector 8000LM, Wireless WiFi and Bluetooth, FHD 1080P with HiFi Speaker and Airplay5.5/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 8.Movie Projector, 1080P HD 6500 Lumen Home Theater Video LED Projector, Compatible with TV Stick, PS5, HDMI, USB5.2/10See on AmazonCheck price
#1Epson's Home Cinema 1080 3-chip 3LCD 1080p projector with 3400 lumens and a built-in speaker for movies and gaming.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + 3LCD design shows equal color and white brightness with no rainbow effect
- + 3400 lumens is bright enough for rooms with some ambient light
- + Built-in speaker gets you started before adding a sound system
- - 1080p only, so it will not show native ultra HD detail from streaming
- - Built-in speaker is thin compared with a soundbar or AV receiver
#2BenQ's TH585 1080p DLP projector with 3500 lumens, low input lag for gaming and a 10W speaker for casual viewing.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + Low input lag makes console gaming feel responsive on a big screen
- + 3500 lumens handles family rooms that are not fully dark
- + 10W speaker is louder than the tiny speakers in many projectors
- - Single-chip DLP can show rainbow effect for sensitive viewers
- - Limited lens shift means careful placement to square the image
#3BenQ's TH575 Full HD DLP gaming projector sold as a bundle with a laptop stand and accessory tray for flexible setups.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Bundle adds a laptop stand and tray, handy for movable setups
- + Full HD DLP picture is sharp for games, sports and movies
- + BenQ tuning gives good color out of the box with little calibration
- - Stand-based setup is less tidy than a permanent ceiling mount
- - Full HD only, so ultra HD sources are downscaled
#4Epson's Home Cinema 3100 1080p 3LCD projector, a dedicated home theater model aimed at movie watching in darker rooms.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + 3LCD engine delivers bright, accurate color without rainbow artifacts
- + Home theater tuning favors contrast and cinema-style picture modes
- + Epson reliability makes it a proven mid-range movie projector
- - Older model, so it lacks streaming apps and modern gaming modes
- - 1080p resolution trails current ultra HD projectors at a similar price
#5BenQ's HT2050 Full HD DLP home theater projector at 2000lm, a classic choice for dark, dedicated movie rooms.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Cinema-focused color gives a rich, film-like picture in the dark
- + Vertical lens shift makes ceiling or shelf placement easier
- + Well-known model with plenty of setup guides and mounts available
- - 2000lm is dim for bright living rooms without blackout blinds
- - Older lamp-based model lacks modern streaming features
#6Epson's Home Cinema 1040 1080p 3LCD projector with 2 HDMI ports and 3000 lumens color and white brightness.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + 3000 lumens color brightness holds up in living rooms with lamps on
- + Two HDMI inputs let you connect a streamer and a console together
- + Long-running Epson model with a straightforward setup
- - Older design with a lamp that will need replacing eventually
- - No ultra HD input or HDR support for newer streaming content
#7A budget 200 inch smart projector claiming 8000LM, with WiFi, Bluetooth, AirPlay, FHD 1080P and a HiFi speaker.
Fit for the job 5/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 5/10 · Value 6/10
- + WiFi and AirPlay let you mirror phones without extra cables
- + Bluetooth can pair a speaker or headphones for better sound
- + All-in-one smart features suit casual backyard or bedroom use
- - 8000LM and 200 inch claims are marketing, real results are far smaller
- - Check for firmware and app update support before buying
#8A generic 1080P LED movie projector claiming 6500 lumen, compatible with TV sticks, PS5, HDMI and USB for casual use.
Fit for the job 5/10 · Features and specs 5/10 · Build and materials 5/10 · Value 6/10
- + HDMI and USB inputs work with streaming sticks and game consoles
- + LED light source avoids replacing lamps down the line
- + Very low cost way to try big-screen movie nights
- - Lumen claim is not ANSI rated, so real brightness is far lower
- - Picture quality and fan noise lag well behind Epson and BenQ
Before you buy: trade-offs we flagged
No pick is perfect. These are the main compromises we noted for the top products in this guide, so you can check they will not matter for you.
- 1080p only, so it will not show native ultra HD detail from streaming (Epson Home Cinema 1080 3-Chip 3LCD 1080p...)
- Single-chip DLP can show rainbow effect for sensitive viewers (BenQ TH585 1080p Home Entertainment...)
- Stand-based setup is less tidy than a permanent ceiling mount (BenQ TH575 Full HD DLP Home Theater Gaming...)
- Older model, so it lacks streaming apps and modern gaming modes (Epson Home Cinema 3100 1080p 3LCD Home...)
- 2000lm is dim for bright living rooms without blackout blinds (BenQ HT2050 DLP Home Theater Projector (Full...)
- Older design with a lamp that will need replacing eventually (Epson Home Cinema 1040 1080p, 2X HDMI, 3LCD,...)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among projectors?
Epson Home Cinema 1080 3-Chip 3LCD 1080p Projector, 3400 Lumens, Streaming/Gaming/Home Theater, Built-in Speaker is our top overall pick. Epson's Home Cinema 1080 3-chip 3LCD 1080p projector with 3400 lumens and a built-in speaker for movies and gaming. It earns our score of 8.6/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
BenQ TH585 1080p Home Entertainment Projector, 3500 Lumens, Low Input Lag for Gaming, 10W Speaker is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. BenQ's TH585 1080p DLP projector with 3500 lumens, low input lag for gaming and a 10W speaker for casual viewing.
›How much should I expect to spend?
Picks in this guide span See on Amazon price bands (roughly: $ = under $30, $$ = $30 to $100, $$$ = over $100). We never display exact prices because they change constantly, so the buttons above always show Amazon's current price.
›How were these products chosen?
We shortlist products that fit the job this guide solves and compare their published specifications, such as size, capacity, materials and what is included. Each pick gets an editorial score out of 10 for fit, features, build and value, and we write the pros and cons from those details. Our score is not an Amazon customer rating. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never affects the ranking.
Home Theater Setup Hub independently selects every product; we may earn a commission from links above.
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