Best Projectors 2021

For a big screen experience in the home, you really need one of best projectors available. With prices starting around the same as a mid-range TV, you needn’t spend a fortune for the silver screen experience.

But projectors are not just good for films. Some are good for gaming, some are made to suit compact spaces and others even boast smarts.

If you’re after a 4K projector, you’ll need to pay top dollar. More and more projectors are compatible with HDR, not all of them can do justice to HDR.

Whether your needs are for a dedicated home cinema space or for more casual use, our list has plenty of options to help you find the best one.



How we test

How we test projectors We test projectors by, well, watching lots of movies on them. But not just movies: we watch sports and TV programmes to get a sense of how they work in terms of motion, sharpness, detail and overall image fidelity.Depending on the projector, we’ll test them in a bespoke home cinema room or in our own rooms and gardens to see if they live up to the manufacturer’s claims about their performance.If it’s an HDR projector, we’ll watch plenty of HDR content to determine if colours are correct and whether the projector can do a decent approximation of HDR. If it’s a gaming projector we’ll test the latency to determine how responsive it is.We’ll also assess the projector in terms of its size and whether it needs a dedicated installation, as well as how much noise it makes during operation and whether that can be a hindrance to watching content. Are they easy to use? And do they require more expert knowledge to operate are considerations we also take into account.With our reviewers knowledge of previous projectors tested, they’ll be considered to what’s come before to determine whether they offer good value, regardless of how much or how little they cost.









Anker Nebula Capsule Max


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Pros


HD resolution
Great build quality
Good battery life
Nice app
Android built-in




Cons


Not very bright
No Google Play Store
No lens protector






£479$499








BenQ W2700


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Pros


Great value for what’s on offer
Easily the best HDR picture we’ve seen at this price point
Crisp, clean 4K playback




Cons


Slightly high input lag for gaming
Black levels only fair to middling for SDR playback
Minor rainbow effect




£1500








BenQ W5700


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Pros


Superb image accuracy
Effective HDR performance
Excellent motion handling
Good set of features
Solid build quality




Cons


Image could be brighter
Black levels are weak
Not native 4K
Possible rainbow artefacts
Rather noisy




£2599








Epson EH-TW7400


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Pros


Excellent picture quality
Accurate images
Extensive features
Low input lag
Great price




Cons


Poor blacks and shadow detail
Not bright enough for true HDR







£2199








Epson EH-TW9400


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Pros


Good HDR and SDR pictures
Great value for what’s on offer
Lots of setup flexibility




Cons


The colour filter takes a lot of brightness out of the picture
Not a true 4K projector
Needs ongoing care with setup to get the best out of it




£2549








JVC DLA-N5


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Pros


Beautifully cinematic picture quality
True 4K playback
Easy to set up




Cons


Runs a little noisily in HDR mode
Not as bright as some projectors
HD upscaling could be better




£6495$6000








JVC DLA-N7


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Pros


Genuine 4K images
Impressive HDR performance
Excellent blacks and shadow detail
Comprehensive set of features
Great build quality




Cons


3D is rather dark
Pricey







£8499$7999








LG HU85LS CineBeam Laser 4K


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Pros


Bright, colourful HDR pictures
Excellent, TV-like user system; includes streaming app support
Very good sound for a projector




Cons


Black levels in dark rooms are only decent
Some rainbow-like noise
Not as cheap as non-laser models




£4860$4999








Optoma HD29H


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Pros


Great value for what it offers
Surprisingly good contrast and brightness
Lowest input lag we’ve seen on a projector




Cons


Bright HDR colours can look washed out
Clipping in the brightest HDR areas
Can’t use the lowest input lag mode when gaming in 4K or HDR




£700








Optoma UHD40


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Pros


Pictures genuinely look 4K
Surprisingly and consistently enjoyable HDR pictures
Remarkably good value




Cons


Black levels are average
Occasional rainbow effect
No real support for wide colour technologies




£1599








Sony VPL-VW270ES


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Pros


Fantastic 4K sharpness
Impressive HDR flexibility
Excellent lens control




Cons


Not bright enough for ‘true’ HDR
Requires regular input for optimised HDR pictures
Black levels weaker than step-up Sony models




£4999








Sony VPL-VW790ES


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Pros


Spectacularly bright, contrast- and colour-rich HDR pictures
Excellent motorised lens control
20,000-hour laser life span




Cons


One or two rivals can do better black levels
No support for VRR, 4K/120Hz and ALLM next-gen gaming features
Laser distractingly turns off for black shots when using the best Dynamic Control setting




£11999








ViewSonic X-10 4K


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Pros


Bright and punchy images
Effective HDR performance
Excellent motion handling
Sound system surprisingly good
Long-lasting LED light source
Portable and easy to install
Extensive smart features Stylish and well made




Cons


Weak black levels and shadow detail
Resolution isn’t native 4K









£1299$1600













Sony VPL-VW790ES

Best in its class



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Pros

Spectacularly bright, contrast- and colour-rich HDR pictures Excellent motorised lens control 20,000-hour laser life span

Cons

One or two rivals can do better black levels No support for VRR, 4K/120Hz and ALLM next-gen gaming features Laser distractingly turns off for black shots when using the best Dynamic Control setting

With a price tag of £11,999, the VW790ES is not for the casual living room market. But for those who can afford it and have the set-up to accommodate it, this Sony projector would make for a fantastic investment.Why? It’s able to get more joy from 4K HDR content than any other projector we’ve tested in its class. It serves as a big leap forward for laser projection, borrowing technology from Sony’s TV range and adapting with great results.While it arguably doesn’t have the finest black levels in the projection field (that honour lies with JVC) the HDR performance is outstanding, boosting highlights without compromising black levels with a brightness that’s outstanding for a projector. It’s not cheap, but the VW790ES boasts the best HDR performance from a projector we’ve seenReviewer: John ArcherFull Review: Sony VPL-VW790ES













JVC DLA-N7

An excellent native 4K HDR projector



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Pros

Genuine 4K images Impressive HDR performance Excellent blacks and shadow detail Comprehensive set of features Great build quality

Cons

3D is rather dark Pricey

The DLA-N7 is JVC’s first foray into (relatively) affordable native 4K projection, and it delivers a comprehensive set of features.Big and heavy, the N7 requires a dedicated installation, and for best results it should be used in tandem with a proper projection screen. Whether you’re watching SDR or HDR content, the projector delivers knockout images with natural colours, bright highlights, deep blacks, and plenty of shadow detail.For 3D you’ll need a synchro emitter and glasses, both of which aren’t included. Unfortunately, the 3D performance is also a bit dim than previous generations of JVC projectors, which is about the only misstep the N7 makes.Reviewer: Steve WithersFull review: JVC DLA-N7













JVC DLA-N5

Tremendous picture quality



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Pros

Beautifully cinematic picture quality True 4K playback Easy to set up

Cons

Runs a little noisily in HDR mode Not as bright as some projectors HD upscaling could be better

The step-down DLA-N5 is another beauty. Like the N7 it offers a native 4K image and a raft of features that includes HDR10, HLG, 3D (accessories required) and a low latency gaming mode.It’s another showcase for JVC’s contrast prowess, and when combined with 4K and the HDR tone mapping, the results are glorious. Images look spectacular: gorgeously detailed, textured and refined. Black levels are outstanding, even with more challenging HDR content. And while its nearest rivals can go brighter, the way the N5 handles contrast gives the image more punch and dynamism.Reviewer: John ArcherFull Review: JVC DLA-N5













BenQ W5700

An impressively accurate image



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Pros

Superb image accuracyEffective HDR performance Excellent motion handling Good set of features Solid build quality

Cons

Image could be brighter Black levels are weak Not native 4K Possible rainbow artefacts Rather noisy

Designed specifically for home cinemas, the W5700 is a DLP projector that delivers excellent colour coverage, great detail and sharpness, as well as a remarkable level of accuracy.Compliance with the D65, REC.709 and DCI-P3 standards means content is viewed as the creator intended, and support for HDR10 and HLG means the W5700 can handle 4K HDR Blu-rays. And though it’s not native 4K and brightness is limited, the HDR and picture quality is impressive, with motion handling and 3D also putting in excellent shifts.Reviewer: Steve WithersFull review: BenQ W5700













Epson EH-TW9400

A bargain for the price



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Pros

Good HDR and SDR pictures Great value for what’s on offer Lots of setup flexibility

Cons

The colour filter takes a lot of brightness out of the picture Not a true 4K projectorNeeds ongoing care with setup to get the best out of it

The Epson EH-TW9400 carries a promising set of features with 4K and HDR playback; a claimed 2600 lumens of brightness, and a wide colour filter for HDR.The inclusion of the colour filter impacts performance in good and not so good ways. HDR sources look flat without it, but it also reduces the brightness of an image when activated. If you can live with that, the TW9400 produces a superb performance with both HDR and SDR content. Even at its premium price, it represents fantastic value for those who want a serious home cinema projector but can’t afford the top range.Reviewer: Steve WithersFull review: Epson EH-TW9400













BenQ W2700

The best 4K HDR projector under £2000



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Pros

Great value for what’s on offer Easily the best HDR picture we’ve seen at this price point Crisp, clean 4K playback

Cons

Slightly high input lag for gaming Black levels only fair to middling for SDR playback Minor rainbow effect

Priced at £1500, the BenQ offers tremendous value. It’s not strictly native 4K, but its performance is crisp and clean, and colours have nuance and depth. HDR playback is outstanding at times, though the BenQ fares better with HDR content mastered at 1000 nits than 4000.Input lag is high, so this is firmly a projector more suited to home cinema than to gaming. Black levels during SDR playback are middling too. However, at this price, this is one of the more impressive projectors we’ve reviewed.Reviewer: John ArcherFull Review: BenQ W2700













ViewSonic X-10 4K

Combines convenience with a great performance



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Pros

Bright and punchy images Effective HDR performance Excellent motion handling Sound system surprisingly good Long-lasting LED light source Portable and easy to install Extensive smart features Stylish and well made

Cons

Weak black levels and shadow detail Resolution isn’t native 4K

The ViewSonic X10-4K is a short-throw projector so it can be placed close to a wall/screen and generate a large image – you can get a 120in from just 2m away. It’s quick and easy to set-up, and its portability allows for convenience in terms of placement.It offers a bright, punchy image whether it’s SDR or HDR. With the latter it’s an effective performer, revealing plenty of detail and rich colours. The biggest surprise here is the integrated Harmon Kardon sound system, which has real size and depth.Factor in Wi-Fi, video streaming services and voice control in Amazon Alexa/Google Assistant, and the X-10 4K is ideal for those who want a big screen experience but have limited space.Reviewer: Steve WithersFull review: ViewSonic X10-4K













Epson EH-TW7400

Impressive specs and great performance



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Pros

Excellent picture quality Accurate images Extensive features Low input lag Great price

Cons

Poor blacks and shadow detail Not bright enough for true HDR

Home cinema enthusiasts only need apply as the TW-7400 really benefits from a dedicated room. Again, it’s not true 4K though HDR is supported, as is 3D (glasses available separately).The TW7400 produces a bright and punc