Hi folks! We've been busy researching home theater projectors to help you decide what projector would fit your budget and needs.
Home theater projectors are designed to level up your movie viewing experience in your own home, creating a more cinematic experience.
Links to all the products in the review are in the description box below, where you'll find current pricing for your region wherever possible.
Okay, let's get into it!
Here are the top five best home theater projectors.
Optoma HD39 HDR.
Optoma's HD39 HDR is a versatile home theater projector with superb image quality. This is a compact and lightweight unit at 7.7 pounds or 3.4 kilos. The body is solid and easy to handle.
You won't have a problem finding the best angle for your image with its 1.3x zoom and +/- 40-degree keystone. It boasts a DLP chip, which gives you excellent color accuracy.
On the back, you'll find two HDMI ports. One is for 4K Ultra-High Definition High Dynamic Range, while the other accommodates up to 1080p HD.
You can tweak the color accuracy and image easily in the settings menu, which is intuitive and easy to navigate.
This Optoma projector also features 3D functionality. It works with DLP-link glasses and looks fantastic.
Aside from streaming movies, you can also game with this projector. The low lag speed and built-in speaker make it perfect for your gaming. It has high brightness levels, which means you can still see the image in bright ambient lighting conditions, although it’s generally recommended that you at least shut your curtains!
Here’s something you should know before buying the Optoma HD39 HDR:
Some users have found the fan to be a bit loud when the projector is in bright mode.
If you're looking for an affordable home theater projector, the Optoma HD39 HDR is an excellent option.
Buy the Optoma HD39HDR - https://geni.us/5aTu41
Epson Home Cinema 2200.
The Epson Home Cinema 2200 is a fantastic home theater projector that'll fit all your needs at a sub $900 price tag. You get a default 1080p resolution with the 2200’s three LCD chips. These also ensure that you get an accurate color and white-balance match.
The image quality on this projector is excellent, with a 2700 lumens brightness.
It weighs 7.9 pounds or 3.5 kilograms, making it lightweight and easy to store or transport.
It features a 1.2x zoom range and digital keystone positioning.
Epson's color management system lets you tweak the hue, saturation, and brightness to improve color accuracy. To save time, you also can save ten custom settings in the memory.
There's an onboard 10-watt speaker, which delivers enough audio output to fill up a living room, although we know that any home cinema enthusiast who cares enough to buy a projector will undoubtedly have a decent audio rig!
If you're watching movies during the daytime, you can use Bright Cinema mode. This will give you excellent image quality that you can view without drawing the curtains, but even with the curtains drawn, shows like Game of Thrones can be challenging to watch through the day, so it’s a really nice feature to have.
Here’s something you should know before buying the Epson Home Cinema 2200:
It kind of relies on the built-in Android TV Stick, which isn’t for everyone.
The Epson Home Cinema 2200 is perfect for family rooms and casual movie streaming.
Buy the Epson Home Cinema 2200 - https://geni.us/XPJA
Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12.
Epson's EpiqVision Mini EF12 is an adorably compact home theater projector with a surprisingly big sound. It has a solid construction with a cube-like shape and a black exterior.
If you're worried about connectivity, you'll be glad to know that the EF12 boasts multiple HDMI inputs along with Wi-Fi and Android TV. You can even use it as a Bluetooth speaker.
This projector can handle HDR video, along with 1080p and 4K resolution. It features a laser light source, so you'll get excellent image quality, and you'll never need to replace the projector bulb.
You won't have any trouble moving it manually as the EF12 has excellent autofocus. The onboard stereo speakers sound fantastic and can fill up a room. It also has excellent low-frequency response, so it would be handy for taking round to someone else’s house if you have to babysit or look after the cat.
This Epson unit comes with a remote so that you can adjust the settings from the comfort of your couch. It also lets you talk to your Google Assistant, which is super handy.
Here’s something you should know before buying the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12:
It has a 120 per millisecond input lag, so if you’re planning on using it for gaming, this projector might not be the best choice.
If you're looking for a projector with a fantastic build that won't take up too much space, the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12 is an excellent buy.
Buy the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12 - https://geni.us/GE46Gl3
BenQ HT5550.
The BenQ HT5550 is a high-quality home theater projector that is the complete package. It boasts Texas Instrument's DMD, which gives you better image quality by upscaling it to 4k Ultra-HD. The brightness is excellent, so you won't have any trouble seeing darker scenes.
It features an output of 1,800 lumens with the 245-watt UHP lamp. The lamp should last you around 10,000 hours, so you'll get plenty of playtime. You can also get a dynamic contrast ratio of up to 100,000:1 using the dynamic iris.
If you want to watch 3D movies, you'll be glad to know that this projector supports all major 3D formats when coupled with DLP-Link glasses.
The construction of the HT5550 is durable and feels solid. The exterior is matte black plastic, which looks sleek. It weighs 14 pounds or 6 kilograms, so you won't have any trouble moving it around.
The onboard glass lens gives you a wide throw ratio of 1.63 to 2.18.
Here’s something you should know before buying the BenQ HT5550:
The air vents tend to leak light, so you may find that annoying if you’re watching in a very dark room.
You'll also be able to shift the lens better with +/- 60 for vertical and +/- 23 for horizontal.
The BenQ HT5550 will give you a lot of bang for your buck. This is a home theater projector that won't disappoint.
Buy the BenQ HT5550 - https://geni.us/A9pA5Y
Sony VW-325ES.
Sony's VW-325ES is a top-notch projector with impressive image quality. It boasts a 1,500-lumen output, so you won't have to worry about brightness even if you're streaming in bright ambient conditions.
The construction of this model is reminiscent of Sony’s classic design. It comes in a black or white color option. The build quality feels substantial at 31 pounds or 14 kilograms in your hands.
Image quality is excellent with the VW-325ES. Even when set at the projector's maximum image size of 200 inches or 508 centimeters, the High Definition Resolution looks excellent.
The lens on this unit is a 14-element lens made of glass with the exemption of the outermost acrylic layer. It has an aspherical design that will provide you with sharper edges.
Focus is easy to adjust with the projector's onboard effects. You also get a 2.06x zoom, so you can adjust the angle to suit your environment.
Here’s something you should know before buying the Sony VW-325ES:
The fan noise can be noticeable during quiet scenes, but it should be alright if placed further away from you.
Overall, the Sony VW-325ES is a fantastic home theater projector. It's perfect for image quality enthusiasts who are sure to love the Dynamic HDR enhancer.
Buy the Sony VW325ES - https://geni.us/hC9BiR
These are pretty high-end. I recently bought the Anker Nebula Solar Portable. I like it because of the battery ( so i can watch without cables). Its not 4K but 1080p is plenty and it's pretty bright.