Looking for the ultimate big-screen thrills? These are the very best projectors
Big-screen TVs are ten a penny these days, but what if you hanker after something greater, something bigger and better? A projector might be just the box-office ticket.
Modern models are cheaper and better than you’d think and can create huge images far bigger than the equivalently priced LCD or OLED TV. But which one should you buy?
Here you’ll find our selection of the best projectors you can buy in the UK, from portable marvels to home theatre beasts, all tried and tested – and if you’re not sure what features you should be looking for, read on to get the lowdown with our handy buyer’s guide.
Get the best portable 1080p projector for even less
The ViewSonic M2e earns our recommendation below as the best portable 1080p projector that you can buy, and right now it’s going for even less at Amazon. Previously £526, you can now get this model for just £479.AmazonWas £526Now £479Buy Now
Best projectors: At a glance
- Best 4K projector: BenQ W2700
- Best budget projector: Yaber V7 Pro
- Best portable 1080p projector: ViewSonic M2E
- Best all-in-one smart projector: ViewSonic X10-4K
How to choose the best projector for you
To the untrained eye, one projector looks very much like another. However, there’s a whole world of technology inside these plain-looking boxes you need to be aware of before making your purchase.
First, resolution. If you’re looking to buy a projector for watching movies, make sure you’re buying a Full HD projector (with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080). Data projectors tend to be cheaper, but typically have resolutions of 800 x 600 or 1,024 x 768, which won’t display Blu-ray movie content at native resolution.
If you want 4K, expect to pay more. True 4K projectors are becoming more widespread but projector tech is lagging behind TVs and even the more affordable options come in at north of £4,000. “4K-enhanced” projectors such as the BenQ W2700 or Optoma UHD38 are the “cheapest” way to get your 4K thrills – for less than £1,500 – and they’re improving all the time. They’re not true 4K machines, relying on pixel shift upscaling to deliver an approximation of 4K resolutions, but you have to look very closely to tell the difference.
What’s the difference between DLP and LCD projectors?
Most modern home-theatre projectors are based on one of two technologies: DLP and LCD. Of these, DLP projectors are the most common, the most compact and tend to deliver the most bang per buck, while LCD projectors tend to be bulky and slightly more expensive.
DLP projectors do have a downside, though. As most display colours sequentially use a spinning, segmented colour wheel (there’s the odd exception to this rule), they suffer from what’s called the “rainbow effect”, where small areas of the image appear to splinter into small rainbows when you shift your gaze from one side of the screen to the other. Some people are less sensitive to this than others, though, so if you haven’t experienced a DLP projector, make sure you get a demo before spending your money.
If you want the very best quality, however, a laser light source projector is what you want. Laser light source projectors – typically combined with a three-LCD image engine – deliver the best contrast and brightness but cost anywhere upwards of £2000 and often significantly more.
Do I need optical zoom and lens shift?
After resolution and technology, the most important consideration is your room and how you’re going to set up and connect the projector. Here, you need to consider throw distance (how far you place the projector from the screen for a given screen size), optical zoom and lens shift capabilities, all of which will have an impact on projector placement.
Optical zoom allows you to enlarge or reduce the screen without moving the projector, while lens shift lets you move it up, down, left and right without losing quality – or moving the projector physically. The cheaper the projector, the more limited these options will be.
If space is really tight, you might want to consider a short throw or ultra-short throw projector, which can create big images on your screen or wall from incredibly short distances – as little as 10cm for a 50in image in some cases. The downside is the projected image tends to suffer more from geometric distortion.
Other things to consider:
- Lamp life: Most cheaper projectors rely on UHP or metal halide lamps, which have a limited lifespan and whose brightness deteriorates over time. For a little more cash, an LED light-source projector will last longer and need replacing less frequently.
- Brightness: This is rated in ANSI lumens but not all that important in home cinema projectors beyond about 2,000 lumens. The brighter the projector, the easier it will be to see the image in daylight without the curtains drawn, but a brighter projected image typically comes at the cost of poor black-level response and a greyish picture.
- Noise: Most projectors have fans inside and not all are particularly quiet. How quiet a projector is is a major consideration, especially if it’s to be positioned near your seating position.
The best HD and 4K projectors to buy
1. BenQ W2700: The best all-round 4K projector
Price: £1,379 | Buy now from Amazon
Projectors typically aren’t very good at reproducing HDR content due to their limited black and brightness levels. However, what this projector does well is recreating colours at close to HDR levels. Indeed, if you feed it a 4K Blu-ray, it will lap it up and project an image that’s as close to a movie screen in your own home as anything this side of five grand.
It may not be the brightest projector around with a peak of only 2,000 ANSI lumens, but it has a short throw lens that allows it to create a large display from relatively close up. It also has all the connectivity you need without any frivolous extras, plus adjusting the image to suit your screen and room setup is a doddle thanks to zoom and vertical lens shift capabilities.
Quite simply, the BenQ W2700 is a stunning projector. If you’re looking to recreate a movie theatre vibe in your living room and don’t have many thousands to spend, this is a very good place to start.
Read our full BenQ W2700 review
Key specs – Resolution: 4K; Brightness: 2,000 lumens; Contrast ratio: 30,000:1; Throw ratio: 1.13:1–1.47:1; Zoom: 1.3x; Technology: Single-chip DLP; Colour: Six-segment colour wheel (RGBRGB); Lamp type and life: UHP, 4,000 hours (normal mode)
BenQ W2700 True 4K Home Cinema Projector with HDR-Pro, 95% DCI-P3 & 100% Rec.709, 2000 Lumens, HDMI
£1,699.82 Buy now 
BenQ HT3550 4K Home Theater Projector with HDR10 and HLG – 95% DCI-P3 and 100% Rec.709 – Dynamic Iris for Enhanced Darker Contrast Scenes – 3 Year Industry Leading Warranty
$1,599.00 Buy now
2. Yaber V7 Pro: The best budget projector
Price: £250 | Buy now from Amazon
If you’re after a cheap and cheerful projector for watching occasional films, sport or TV programmes with the family, the Yaber V7 Pro is an excellent choice. It’s very bright at a claimed 9,000 lumens and outputs a decent 1080p image that you can adjust via the menu. The image correction feature is also handy for households with children: if the projector is moved or knocked slightly, it will automatically adjust the picture.
It certainly doesn’t have the bells, whistles or crispness of other, more expensive projectors on this list, but the Yaber V7 Pro is a good budget option. The free carry bag is a nice bonus too. Bear in mind that it’s not the quietest model around, though, and produces a noticeable fan whirr.
Read our full Yaber V7 Pro review
Key specs – Resolution: 1080p; Brightness: 9,000 lumens; Contrast ratio: 12,000:1; Throw ratio: 1.50:1; Technology: BASIC Smart Engine; Lamp type and life: LED, not stated
![Image of YABER Pro V7 9000L 5G WiFi Bluetooth Projector, Auto 6D Keystone Correction &4P/4D, Infinity Zoom, HD 1080P Projectors Home&Outdoor Projector Support 4K for Android/iOS, etc. [Extra Bag Include]](https://techgit.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/415sHCW5GIL._SL160_.jpg "Image of YABER Pro V7 9000L 5G WiFi Bluetooth Projector, Auto 6D Keystone Correction &4P/4D, Infinity Zoom, HD 1080P Projectors Home&Outdoor Projector Support 4K for Android/iOS, etc. [Extra Bag Include]")
YABER Pro V7 9000L 5G WiFi Bluetooth Projector, Auto 6D Keystone Correction &4P/4D, Infinity Zoom, HD 1080P Projectors Home&Outdoor Projector Support 4K for Android/iOS, etc. [Extra Bag Include]
£249.99 Buy now 
3. LG PF50KS: The best compact projector for travelling
Price: £529 | Buy now from Amazon
The LG PF50KS isn’t in the same league as the full-size projectors in this list when it comes to brightness but it’s cheap, unobtrusive and stuffed with features.
It’s a portable projector and absolutely tiny – about the size of a thick hardback book – and it weighs a mere 1kg, so it’s easy to stow away once you’ve finished with it. Otherwise, though, it punches well above its weight. Brightness is fine at 600 lumens, although you’ll need to dim the lights and close the curtains to enjoy it fully. The resolution is native 1080p and great for movies and the projector is able to project images up to 100in as well. Pick the Expert Dark Cinema preset and you’ll be rewarded with superbly accurate colours as well.
Not only that but LG also has also packed in the features, with Netflix and YouTube apps built-in, screen mirroring via USB-C and Wi-Fi, and integrated speakers (although these are rather tinny). The projector can also output audio via Bluetooth audio, keeping cable clutter to a minimum. It has a surprisingly broad selection of physical inputs as well, including two HDMI ports, one USB-A and an Ethernet port for wired network connection.
Overall, the LG PF50KS is an excellent alternative to a full-size projector and the best thing is it doesn’t cost all that much, either.
Key specs – Resolution: 1080p; Brightness: 600 lumens; Contrast ratio: 100,000:1; Throw ratio: 1.4:1; Zoom: None; Technology: Single-chip DLP; Lamp life: 30,000 hours
LG CineBeam PF50KS Projector (Full HD 1920 x 1080, Battery, 600 lumen, LED, Portable, HDMI, USB-C, USB), White
£509.29 Buy now
4. ViewSonic X10-4K: The best all-in-one smart projector
Price: £1,200 | Buy now from Amazon
Its image quality may not quite match that of the BenQ W2700, but the ViewSonic X10-4K is a cracking projector and has its own benefits. For starters, its RGB LED light source means you’ll only have to replace it every 30,000 hours as opposed to the 4,000 hours that the BenQ’s lamp lasts. That’s more than 16 years of watching at five hours a day.
It looks smart, comes with an integrated carry handle to make it easy to carry around the house and picture quality is sublime. It’s bright and that LED light source means it can create more vivid colours than most projectors at around this price. Combine that with a sharp 4K image, easy setup thanks to its autofocus and auto-keystone adjustment, Alexa and Google Assistant support and a good quality built-in 16W speaker system, and the X10-4K makes a solid case for itself. Overall, it’s a very impressive all-rounder.
Read our full ViewSonic X10-4K review
Key specs – Resolution: 4K; Brightness: 2,400 LED lumens; Contrast ratio: 3,000,000:1; Throw ratio: 0.8:1; Technology: Single-chip DLP; Colour: RGB; Lamp type and life: LED, 30,000 hours lamp life (normal mode)
ViewSonic X10-4K UHD Short Throw Smart Portable LED Projector for Gaming, Family & Home Entertainment with WiFi Bluetooth and Harman Kardon Audio – Metallic Charcoal
£1,200.00 Buy now
ViewSonic X10-4K True 4K UHD Short Throw LED Portable Smart Home Theater Projector Compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant (2019 Model)
$2,240.00 Buy now
5. ViewSonic M2E: The best compact projector for small spaces
Price: £526 | Buy now from Amazon
Priced as a cheaper option to the ViewSonic M2, the M2E offers superb image SDR image quality in an even more compact package. Resolution is limited to 1080p and there’s no wide gamut colour representation as you get with its pricier sibling.
Brightness is a touch weak at 1,000 LED Lumens, which means you have to dim the lights and draw the curtains. However, image quality is still very good, with the projector’s movie mode delivering 90.9% coverage of Rec.709 and decent colour accuracy, albeit with a little red push in the dark greys and black. This is easily enough tweaked, though, with the M2E’s extensive array of colour controls and adjustments.
It will produce a screen size of a maximum of 80in display from a distance of 2.14m and a tripod socket at the bottom and a hinged leg all make positioning the projector easy. With automatic focus and keystone adjustment, there’s no fiddling around once you’ve got it all set up, either.
Finally, there’s a decent array of connectivity, with a single HDMI video input alongside USB-C, a microSD card slot and a USB-A port. It can act as a Bluetooth speaker, plus you hook it up to your home wireless network and either screen mirror from a phone or install apps from the projector’s built-in Aptoid app store. We’d advise teaming the projector with a decent streaming stick, though, as many of the Aptoid apps are rather fiddly to use.
Overall, the ViewSonic M2E is a top-quality compact projector. A little pricey at list, perhaps, but if you can find it for less than £500 you’ll have a bargain on your hands.
Key specs – Resolution: 1080p; Brightness: 1,000 LED lumens; Contrast ratio: 3,000,000:1; Throw ratio: 1.21:1; Zoom: N/A; Technology: DLP LED; Colour: Three colour LED (RGB); Lamp type and life: LED 30,000 hours
ViewSonic M2e Full HD 1080p Smart Portable LED Projector for Home Entertainment with WiFi, Bluetooth, and Integrated Harman Kardon Audio
£479.00 Buy now
6. Optoma UHD38: The best projector for gaming
Price: £1,000| Buy now from Scan
If you’ve bought yourself one of the latest games consoles, you’re going to want a display that can keep up and that’s exactly what the Optoma UHD38 delivers. Not only can it project your games at huge screen sizes, but it can do so at high refresh rates: up to an incredible 240Hz at 1080p and 120Hz at 4K resolution. Games look epic on this thing.
It’s also an accomplished home cinema projector, with support for HDR10 and HLG and a bright image of 4,000 lumens that means it’s watchable during the day, although black level response isn’t the best. Focus is manual and, as it isn’t a short-throw projector, you’ll also need a fair amount of space to maximise your screen size. There’s also nothing in the way of smart connectivity here, as you get with some of the compact projectors on this page.
However, if you’re a gamer and you want to play on the biggest screen possible, there aren’t many better ways to do it than on this potent projector.
Read our full Optoma UHD38 review for more details
Key specs – Resolution: 4K (1,920 x 1,080 native) HDR10/HLG at 120Hz, 1080p at 240Hz; Brightness: 4,000 lumens; Contrast ratio: 1,000,000:1; Throw ratio: 1.5-1.66:1; Zoom: 1.1x; Technology: Single-chip DLP; Lamp life: 4,000-15,000 hours
7. Optoma CinemaX P2: The best one-box home cinema
Price: £2,800 | Buy now from Scan
Home cinema doesn’t get much simpler or much better than the Optoma CinemaX P2 – at least on a sub-£3000 budget. The one unit combines a 4K laser projector with a Dolby Digital 2.0 soundbar, with an ultra-short throw so ultra-short that you can shove it under the screen or against a wall and still get a 120in picture. What’s more, that picture is sharply focused and free from distortion with the absolute minimum of tweaking, although you can use Optoma’s intelligent smartphone app to correct any remaining issues using your device’s camera.
Picture quality is excellent. The CinemaX P2 can reproduce up to 71% of the DCI-P2 colour gamut, and while brightness and contrast levels aren’t outstanding, you can still expect inky blacks, rich colours and credible HDR highlights; it’s a brilliant projector for blockbuster movies. And while it hasn’t got the hotshot gaming skills of the UHD38, the low response times and impressive definition make for a really immersive experience. What’s more, the onboard sound is clear and surprisingly powerful. You won’t get proper home cinema surround sound, but it’s hard to grumble when the enhanced stereo effects are so exciting. Get this and a big white wall or pull-down screen, and you’ve got everything you need for an epic big-screen adventure.
Key specs – Resolution: 4K HDR10 at 60Hz; Brightness: 3,000 lumens; Contrast ratio: 2,000,000:1; Throw ratio: 0.25:1; Zoom: Fixed; Technology: Single-chip DLP; Lamp life: Up to 30,000 hours