Best Home Theater Projector Reviews 2020

Purchasing a home theater projector can be baffling, especially because home theater systems have racked up a reputation for being excessively expensive. But, rest assured that’s not the case for all of them, it just depends what features you want. To help you decide, we’ve compiled a list with 5 of the best home theater projector brands around, all in a different price range.

Overview

PROS

CONS

SPECS

Type

Resolution

Distance

Connectivity

Brightness

Our Top Choice

Epson Wireless Home Cinema

Epson, founded in 1942, is a global leader in the professional imaging, scanner, printer, projector and system device categories. They have a range of home theater projectors too.

HD 1080p quality up to 11-feet. Wireless, HDMI, Miracast and MHL connectivity. Up to 60,000:1 contrast. 3LCD 3-chip technology. 2,500 lumens. Built-in speaker. 1.6x zoom.

Miracast doesn’t work with Apple devices so you won’t be able to stream wirelessly as easily if you only have Apple.

2D LCD projector

HD (1920 x 1080)

11-feet / 132-inch diagonal

Wireless, HDMI, Miracast, MHL

2,500 lumens color/white

Best Value

Optoma 3D DLP Home Theater Projector

Optoma is a world leader in manufacturing audio products and projectors for homes, businesses, schools and more. They’ve got headquarters in the US, Europe and Asia.

3D compatible. Full HD resolution. 3000 ANSI lumens. Auto power off after set time. Convert into smart projector with a dongle. Dynamic Black technology. Integrated speaker.

Some complaints that you may get the rainbow effect on screen.

3D DLP projector

HD (1920 x 1080)

66" - 8 ft, 107" - 12 ft

HDMI, MHL

3000 ANSI lumens

Sony 3D SXRD Home Theater Projector

Sony needs no introduction. They’re a powerhouse in the electronics market, dominating industries across the globe with their high-quality, innovative products.

3D compatible. SXRD technology. 1,800 lumens. Motionflow improves image clarity. Wide lens shift range. Accommodates screens from 40 – 300”. 6000 hours lamp lifespan. Quiet 22dB.

If ran on eco-mode for an extended period of time (1000 hours+) then it could actually reduce the lifespan of the lamp.

3D with LED Lamp

HD (1920 x 1080)

51-82" - 8 ft; 77-122" - 12 ft

Vert.+/- 71%; Horiz. +/- 25%

1,800 lumens color/white

BenQ DLP HD 1080p Projector

BenQ is a brand focused entirely on manufacturing high-quality, highly functional projectors, monitors, e-Sports products, business displays, lights and speakers.

3D compatible. Full HD. CinematicColor technology. Microsecond DMD response. Can produce 100” screen from 8.2’ away. Side projection possible. Lamp lasts 7000 hours.

Replacement lamp is quite expensive compared to other brands.

3D DLP projector

HD (1920 x 1080)

60 – 180-inches

HDMI

2,200 lumens

Tenker 4-Inch LCD Mini Projector

Tenker believes strongly in the power images can have. That’s why they focus so strongly on manufacturing high-quality, innovative projectors, drones and digital photo frames.

Portable and compact. 1920 x 1080 supported resolution. 30,000 hours lamp lifespan. Produces 32 – 170” screen. 16.7K color reproduction. 2000:1 contrast ratio.

Isolated complaint that it wouldn’t recognize any SD cards entered.

2D LCD projector

800 x 480, 1920 x 1080 supported

32 – 170-inches

HDMI, USB, VGA, SD, AV

2000 lumens

(Updated May 11, 2018)

Skip ahead and go directly to the reviews.

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How Do I Choose the Best Home Theater Projector?

There are several reasons to buy a digital projector, most notably the desire to watch things on the big screen for some serious viewing pleasure. And that’s exactly what video projectors are designed to do. Of course, and for an optimal experience, you should have a proper sound system and a video source such as a laptop or a Smart TV, because all of these combined will grant you a superb viewing experience.

There are several options available on the market, each geared towards varying needs and with their own set of features, and we’ll try to help you determine what is the best option for you. It’s important to note that there are many different types of projectors, such as home environment and mini projectors, but here we are reviewing only the home theater projectors intended for rooms with full control of ambient lights.

To help you understand what kind of thing is out there, we’re going to show you a couple of highly-rated projectors that we didn’t have space for on our review, but are still worth a look. Firstly, the DBPOWER T20 LCD Mini Movie Projector is the perfect compact device which will connect to your TV, laptop, iPhone, Android phone or gaming console to give you a big screen experience. Secondly, the Funavo LED Mini Portable Projector is also a fantastic choice if you need a budget friendly option but still with some notable features.

When it comes to choosing the best projector of your home theater, there are several factors that you need to consider related to price, construction, performance and how easy it is to use.

Price

When it comes setting your budget for a home theater projector, the first question you have to ask yourself is what exactly do you need: just a larger picture than you can get with at TV or one with ultra-high video quality? The main features that affect the price are: native resolution, which means the fixed array of pixels of the projector, support resolution – the highest resolution that can be transferred from the source, image size, lens, projection distance and so on. The higher the quality of all these factors - the higher the price.

Features

It is difficult to impress people in this age of digital technologies, so leading brands that make video projectors are trying to stuff their products with more and more features, among which are:

Improved portability
Full HD and 4K resolution
Energy-saving ECO mode
Curve and blurriness correction
Enhanced color rendering

These are just a few of the possible elements that can be combined into what you will eventually come to call your perfect LCD Projector.

Construction and Design

With the ever-increasing amount of functions, manufacturers tend to go for designs that are simpler and more intuitive than ever before. By doing that, they are making the projectors more accessible yet more complex at the same time. It’s hard to believe that a device creating a projection of a 100-inch screen on your living room wall is as small and compact as it is.

No matter the model of any modern device you buy, you are sure to be able to install it in any home theater environment regardless of room size, lighting, wall surface type, etc. Most of them are also compatible with the majority of existing media input sources. All of the above in addition to how easy they are to setup makes them the best choice when creating your home theater.

Performance and Ease of Use

The cost of an average digital projector is the little price to pay for enjoying cinema quality video in the comfort of your home. Despite the fact that you will spend some time setting up the system, a simple manual will be more than enough to guide you through the process with little to no trouble.

If you are a film enthusiast or looking to become one, buying an LCD projector is the next step after filling your movie library. All in all, a projector is not just a simple replacement for your TV. It’s a completely different experience that may change your mind about how to spend a quiet Saturday evening with family.

What is the Best Home Theater Projector?

Selecting the right projector for your home theater system can be a daunting process, especially considering that there are hundreds of models to choose from. Home theater projectors can costs thousands of dollars, while some are available for low prices. Fortunately, our list of 5 of the best home theater projector brands will offer you insight to make your shopping experience pleasurable and effortless.

Our Top Choice

The Epson Wireless Home Cinema features full HD 1080p quality for a projection up to 11-feet. With wireless, Miracast and MHL compatibility you can use almost any device to stream through your home theater projector. If you want a 3D movie experience right from the comfort of your home, then check out the Epson Home Cinema 3D Home Theater Projector.

Epson 2150 Wireless Home Cinema – 1080p Miracast, 3LCD Projector

Epson Home Theater Projector HC2150

Features

Epson is a global leader in the manufacturing of printers, projectors, professional imaging products, scanners and system devices. It was founded in 1942 and they’ve continued to innovate and progress every year since. In 1968 they actually launched the world’s first miniprinter, a huge breakthrough.

The Epson Wireless Home Cinema is a full HD home theater projector that can provide widescreen 1080p resolution up to 11-feet (132-inches). That would make it 4x larger than a 60-inch flat panel, more than enough to provide you, your friends and family with a movie theater experience right in your own home.

That’s not all though. Let’s check out some more awesome features you can expect:

Compatible for wireless streaming or using a HDMI connection
2,500 lumens of color/white brightness
Can be used for movies, video games, presentations and more
Miracast support lets you wirelessly mirror your device using an app
Supports MHL-enabled devices
Up to 60,000:1 dynamic contrast
3LCD, 3-chip technology prevents rainbow effect
1.6x zoom
Built-in 10W speaker
Vertical lens shift gives you more flexibility and easy set-up
ROHS compliant and constructed with recyclable materials

With all these features it’s easy to see why this innovative and functional device has made it to our Top Choice spot.

If this home theater projector isn’t quite what you needed, check out more options from Epson before deiciding.

Best Value

The Optoma 3D DLP Home Theater Projector is compatible with most 3D devices and can also be converted into a smart projector by using a HDMI dongle. If you want the best-of-the-best, then you should definitely check out the Optoma UHD50 4K Ultra HD Home Theater Projector instead!

Optoma HD 1080p 3D DLP Home Theater Projector

Optoma Home Theater Projector HD142X

Features

Optoma has headquarters across the world in the USA, Europe and Asia. They are leading designers and manufacturers of audio products and projectors for homes, businesses, education and professional uses. All of their projectors use DLP technology which utilizes millions of mirrors. This produces excellent image quality and prevents color degradation over time.

From their line-up we’re featuring the Optoma 3D DLP Home Theater Projector thanks to its full HD 1080p resolution and 3D capabilities. As long as you connect a 3D Blu-ray player, 3D broadcasting or the latest 3D compatible gaming devices then you’ve got yourself a 3D experience right in your own living room.

There’s more features to enjoy:

3000 ANSI lumens brightness
Auto power off after a set time
Convert into a smart projector with a HDMI dongle
Use as a smart display by connecting your device using MHL
Game mode adjusts the settings automatically to give you the sharpest image and fastest response times
Playback at 24fps is the same speed most movies are shot at
Dynamic Black technology makes even black and white images sharp and crisp
Capable of reproducing the REC.709 color gamut so colors are as vivid as they are on the big screen
Integrated 10W speaker makes set up faster and easier
Extended lamp life up to 8,000 hours
23,000:1 contrast ratio

This impressive theater projector can produce a 66-inch viewing screen from 8-feet and a 107-inch screen from 12-feet.

If you’re looking for some different features, take a look at more from the Optoma home theater projector range.

The Sony 3D SXRD Home Theater Projector can produce a screen up to 300-inches using the very latest in projector technology. Alternatively, if you want to save a couple hundred bucks, you could get the Sony VPLHW40ES Home Theater\/Gaming Projector which has similar features but some are reduced, like only having 1700 lumens instead of 1800.

Sony 1080p 3D SXRD Home Theater/Gaming Projector – Screen Bundle Available

Sony Home Theater Projector VPLHW45ES

Features

Sony doesn’t need any introduction when it comes to home entertainment - they produce some of the powerful and reliable electronics on the market. For example, the 3D SXRD Home Theater/Gaming Projector instantly caught our attention and we had to include it in our list.

The sophisticated SXRD panel technology, coupled with Reality Creation and Sony's Super Resolution processing expertise, filters subtle details, colors and textures for a seamless viewing experience. Furthermore, the remarkable 1,800 lumens brightness produces clearer images and colors, even in brightly lit interiors.

Listed below is a quick overview of the features of this powerful projector:

SXRD panel technology delivers super-sharp images, and incredible high-definition pictures at home
Super Resolution function reproduces colors and textures that are lost when movies are packaged to disc. It gives you crisper, sharper Full HD pictures, much closer to the 1080p original
Contrast Enhancer automatically adjusts contrast for optimum viewing by analyzing dark and light areas in every scene, without diminishing color
Motionflow ensures that individuals see every detail, even in fast-moving action scenes or sports
Wider lens shift range vertically +/- 71% and horizontally +/- 25%, without reducing image quality
Accommodates a screen size from 40 to 300-inches
Extremely quiet operation at just 22dB
Up to 6000 hours of watch time with the 215W high-pressure lamp
Compatible with industry standard RF 3D so you don’t need an external transmitter, it’s compatible with Sony and 3rd party RF 3D glasses

If you like the look of this high-end Sony projector, you can also purchase a screen too as part of a bundle.

If you would prefer fewer features or a different style, browse through Sony’s range some more before deciding.

The BenQ DLP HD 1080p Projector features full 3D compatibility and microsecond DMD response time so you don’t need to worry about the screen lagging while you’re trying to play. If you want to save a bit of money, you can go for the older model, the BenQ HT2050 3D DLP Home Theater Projector.

BenQ DLP HD 1080p Home Theater Projector – 3D, Low Input Lag, Cinema Grade Lens

BenQ Home Theater Projector HT2050A

Features

BenQ are a company passionate about enriching lives through innovative technology solutions. They understand how important lifestyle, healthcare, education and business are to people which strives them to develop their products further, to make them more functional and effective. Their product range is split into a few categories; projectors, monitors, business display, e-Sports, lighting and speakers.

The BenQ DLP HD 1080p Projector features a bunch of features you only expect to see on the really high-end products. It’s 3D compatible which, when combined with the high-resolution HD quality, will bring a real cinema experience to your home.

Some more features to enjoy:

2,200 ANSI lumens
CinematicColor technology uses Rec.709 HDTV standard
6x speed RGBRGB color wheel
Microsecond DMD response time and low input lag for fast gaming
Project a 100-inch screen from 8.2-feet away
60 – 180-inch screens
Side projection is possible with 2D keystone
Eco-friendly and auto standby mode
Lamp lasts up to 7,000 hours
15,000:1 contrast ratio

BenQ has a huge lineup of home theater projectors; check them out if you’re still undecided on this one.

The Tenker 4-Inch LCD Mini Projector is a great portable projector that’s compact but still produces good quality images and screens up to 170-inches. If you want a more powerful projector, you should check out the Tenker Q5 Mini LED Projector which produces 1080p resolution images.

Tenker 4-Inch Portable LCD Mini Projector for 170” Display – Available in Black and White

Tenker Home Theater Projector T20

Features

Tenker believes in the power of images and what they can do. That’s why they’re using their years of expertise to manufacture innovative imaging products. This includes digital photo frames, projectors and drones.

The Tenker 4-Inch LCD Mini Projector is a compact, portable device that is meant for home-use. It’s optimized to work the best in a dark room so it’s perfect for movie night at home. Tenker received reports that the previous 1500 or 1800 lumens models weren’t bright enough and so they upgraded this model by increasing the lumens by 10%.

Here’s some more features you can expect:

TFT LCD imaging technology
800 x 480 RGB native resolution, 1920 x 1080 supported resolution
2000:1 contrast ratio
30,000 hours lamp lifespan
Can produce screens from 32 – 170-inches
16.7K color reproduction
USB/SD/AV/VGA/HDMI/3.5mm audio output
Optimum viewing is 130” at 6.6.-8.2-feet away

If you like the look of this small, easy to use projector, you can purchase it in white or black!

If you were looking for something different, Tenker has tons of other options to peruse. Check them out today!

Get the Best Home Theater Projector of 2020!

We hope that this list will ease your stress and help you select the right theater projector for your home. Whether you need your projector for hosting movie nights or for making a business presentation, there is a model for everyone.

Our Top Choice

Epson Wireless Home Cinema

Best Value

Optoma 3D DLP Home Theater Projector

Sony 3D SXRD Home Theater Projector

BenQ DLP HD 1080p Projector

Tenker 4-Inch LCD Mini Projector