Native resolution for the Halo+ is 1080p (1,920 by 1,080 pixels), but it can accept 4K (3,840-by-2160-pixel) HDR input, downconverting the resolution. Color accuracy and shadow detail weren't as good for HDR as for SDR in our tests, but the HDR images were more watchable than for many 1080p models that claim HDR support, so the HDR support still counts a plus overall. Another plus: Should you find yourself too far from a power outlet to plug in, you can turn to the onboard rechargeable battery. Using it will drop the brightness—and usable image size along with it—but the 2.5-hour life will last through the full length of most movies. Who It's For In addition to being of obvious interest as a 4K projector you can carry from room to room, the GP500 should also be on your short list as a family room projector. In addition to its high-quality image and audio, it offers suitable brightness, at a rated 1,500 ANSI lumens, and features that include support for full HD 3D and both HDR10 and HLG HDR. And for those concerned about the rainbow artifacts that single-chip DLP projectors can show, note that we saw very few. If you need a projector and an eminently usable sound system in a single, compact unit, the GP500 is a compelling choice. Lens shift won’t be available on all models – it will allow you to physically move the lens to sort out wonkiness. Keystone correction is a digital adjustment that’ll make your skewed projection rectangular without you having to reposition the projector. A few of the top projectors on our list have automatic keystone correction, a feature that feels a bit like wizardry in action. Connectivity

BenQ’s decision to focus with the W1800 on what we guess could be considered good old-fashioned home cinema values has paid off handsomely. Its pictures might not be the showiest around, but they’re refined, natural, authentic and, to use that word again, cinematic.But some of today's projectors, particularly UST models, are as capable and connected as any smart TV, with many models running Anroid TV or another TV OS and offering streaming apps from big-name services such as Prime Video or Disney+ pre-installed. All you need to do is log in with your account details and you can use the app just as you would on a TV. If you do move away from the sofa to head outdoors, you’ll need a model that is small and light enough to carry with you on your travels. There are some monstrous ones on this list that come in at over 11 kilos, and we’ve also featured little ones that weigh as little as half a kilo. The Epson Pro Cinema 4050 is built around the version of Epson's pixel shifting tech that puts only half as many pixels on screen as in a 4K (3,840-by-2,160-pixel) image. However, it takes advantage of a high-quality lens and sophisticated video processing to deliver equal or better image detail than many projectors that put a full 3,840 by 2,160 matrix on screen—at least within the limits of the human eye to see any difference at normal viewing distance. In addition to its top-tier detail, color accuracy, and contrast for its price range, it offers sophisticated features that include substantial lens shift combined with a powered shift, focus, and zoom, which makes it easy to maintain the same image height when switching between movies with different aspect ratios. Who It's For Specs are largely useless for deciding if a projector is bright enough. Even when accurate, they rarely tell you the brightness for the mode and settings that you'll want to use. The Xgimi Halo+ offers good-enough image quality by most people's standards, plus streaming courtesy of Android TV. What sets it apart among mini projectors is its high brightness, rated at 900 ANSI lumens. Even when set in our tests for best picture quality rather than highest brightness, it lit up a 90-inch screen in low levels of ambient light. It also delivered good-enough audio quality with enough volume to fill a large family room..

We feel the Deep Space Home Planetarium and Projector is age-appropriate, expanding their knowledge and creating a sense of awe and wonder. The stars and constellations are soothing and enjoyable; children will enjoy falling asleep underneath them or just using them to enhance the ambiance in their bedrooms. The reasonable price makes this a great option for a first star projector meets home planetarium. If the Brainstorm Toys Deep Space Home Planetarium and Projector isn’t for you There’s no denying the breathtaking quality of the Hisense L9G, but it’s a projector that takes a commitment to make sense for would-be buyers. It’s definitely less of a commitment than a 100-inch TV, though, as even the affordable models are multiple times the price of the L9G. You've made up your mind: a projector is the perfect AV solution for you. So how do you choose one?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: Still watching cinematic epics like Avatar, Dune, or All Quiet on the Western Front on your humble telly? Well, it’s high time you sorted yourself out with the living room upgrade such films deserve. Yes, we’re talking about a serious projector – one that's a world away from the boring boardroom models you’re currently picturing. The 4050 is a strong contender for anyone who wants a projector for a traditional home theater with controlled lighting. However, its 2,400-lumen rating also makes it bright enough to be an equally good choice for more casual viewing in a family room with ambient light. In either setting, its three-LCD-chip design means it can't show the rainbow artifacts that any single-chip DLP model can show, which makes it attractive to those who tend to see these red/green/blue flashes and find them annoying. 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. The GV30 also offers a built in rechargeable battery, an unusual extra for a room-to-room portable, and a drop-proof rating of up to 27.6 inches—the distance from hand to floor when you're carrying it or tabletop to floor when you're not—which is unusual for any projector. Who It's For

Sources used for our testing include 4K Blu-ray and streaming services, and Xbox One X and PlayStation 5 gaming consoles. We also use test patterns from the Spears & Munsil Ultra HD Benchmark disc and standalone pattern generators to measure performance factors such as peak brightness. The latest updates to this guide to the best 4K projectors The Anker Nebula Capsule Laser 3 doesn't look like much, resembling an oversized soda can that weighs about 2 pounds, but it is actually one of the more impressive mini projectors we've seen. Built around a small laser-phosphor light source and a 1080p DLP chip, it offers Android TV 11 for streaming via Wi-Fi and an 8-watt speaker that can deliver enough volume to fill a medium or large family room. It also supports up to 4K (3,840-by-2,160-pixel) HDR input, downconverting the resolution to its native 1080p and handling HDR well enough to make HDR movies on disc look at least as good as their SDR versions—something that isn't true for much of the competition. Its onboard battery is rated at 2.5 hours in the default battery mode—long enough for a full-length movie—or 8 hours in Bluetooth speaker mode. Who It's For We’ve explained the difference between short-throw and ultra-short-throw projectors above, and the screen size will depend on how close you put the projector to the wall or screen. Before you buy, it’s worth thinking about where you can put the projector in your home. Lasers are better still, with a similar lifespan to LED but much better brightness. However, they generally cost more too.

The Sony VPL-XW7000ES takes everything up a notch, pushing brightness up to 11 and featuring a more comprehensive set of motorised lens controls. Its native 4K resolution and notably high lumen count should catch the eyes of those looking for a flashy projector that will have people talking about the device as much as the content that's being watched on it. The BenQ TK700STi is an excellent and affordable 4K projector for gaming, but we think it's also a very good choice for TV and movies too –although it's quite pricey for a projector of this specification if response times aren't important to you. The BenQ TK860i is designed for rooms with ambient light. Its list of key features starts with 4K resolution on screen (using a DLP chip equipped with TI's fast-switch pixel shifting) plus a bright image that can stand up to ambient light. It also adds BenQ's new HDR-PRO technology, which ratchets up image quality from the already-highly watchable level of the previous generation model by a lot, delivering noticeably enhanced shadow detail, contrast, and sense of three-dimensionality both for SDR and for HDR10 and HLG HDR input. The projector also supports full HD 3D and comes with an Android TV 11 dongle to add smart TV streaming features. And for gaming, it delivers measured input lags only a little longer than the current state-of-the-art, and easily short enough for all but the most serious gamers. Who It's For It is designed to enable young budding astronomers to explore the wonders of space from their bedrooms, exploring NASA and Hubble Telescope images of spacecraft, planets and nebulas and transforming their rooms into the night sky thanks to the star projector function. It’s a different story when you start looking at ultra-short throw models (UST), though. These are designed for smaller spaces and can sit right close up to the wall (on your TV stand or cabinet) and many can display a massive image from around 40cm away from the surface you’re projecting onto. For minimal home decor, you may consider USTs as a replacement for a traditional flatscreen TV – they’re just as versatile. All-in-One Projectors