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Most home theater projectors have a whole suite of connectivity options, but it’s still a good idea to make sure that every device you need will connect with the projector you like. We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.
Optoma GT1090HDR Short Throw Laser Home Theater Projector Check Price Best for Small Spaces Bottom Line Great for creating a movie theater right in your home. Pros This projector is designed to work well when placed only about 4 feet from the wall. High quality and can be hung from the ceiling if desired. Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12 Smart Streaming Laser Projector Check Price Trusted Brand Bottom Line Compact and feature-rich, this home theater projector provides a movie theater-like viewing experience. Projectors for home theater don't need particularly high brightness. (More about brightness later.) The most important features to look for in specs and reviews include high contrast, good color accuracy, dark black levels, and good shadow detail.
Buying guide for best home theater projectors
Short-throw projectors are designed to be placed a few inches from the surface they’re projecting on. They’re perfect for conference rooms, small bedrooms, or any area where you want a projector but don’t have the space to properly position a full-size one. Most projectors suitable for this role weigh between 4 and 10 pounds, although a 10-pound projector is better described as "luggable" rather than "portable." Some include handles to make them easier to carry. The higher-volume, higher-quality audio means less need to lug an external sound system with you, as well. Most projector manufacturers divide their projector lines into categories. Common names for projectors meant for home use include home cinema, home theater, pro cinema, home entertainment, gaming, and streaming.
And that's saying something, since the Sony itself costs significantly more than any other projector on this list. It checks the box for gaming with the input lag reduction feature. And with brightness that can go up to 1,500 Lumens, it works well in a bright room as well. If price is no object, the picture quality is incredible.
JVC Home Theater Projectors
With a projector that’s designed for home cinema use, the emphasis is on delivering the most incredible image quality with high contrast ratios, deep blacks and vibrant color saturation. Fully portable projectors fall into two broad categories. The larger, and brighter, projectors in the group weigh between roughly 2 and 4 pounds, making them small enough to carry easily, but big enough that you won't always want to. The smaller models, known as "pocket" or "pico projectors," weigh as little as a few ounces, can literally fit in a pocket, and are as easy to carry with you as a cell phone. They even make excellent cell phone accessories, letting you show photos or watch movies from your phone at a much larger image size than even a tablet screen. In all of these situations, you will usually be viewing in rooms where ambient light is a factor.
Pros Features beautiful, bright colors and a crisp, clear picture thanks to the 4K and 3-chip projector design. It can connect to multiple devices, including laptops, cameras, TVs, and more. An incredibly high-quality device that produces an amazing picture.
The Best Home Projectors for 2022
When buying a home theater projector, you want to shop for one that has a 4K resolution and offers HDR compatibility. While less discerning people may be satisfied with a 1080p beamer, by buying a 4K home theater projector you get a far superior image that will thrill your visual senses. This JVC 8K laser projector has a fantastic 3000 lumens of brightness so you're not just limited to using this projector in a home theater. We look for high peak brightness and contrast ratios that ensure good visibility even with some light in the room. We also consider a range of home theater projector formats such as short throw models that don’t always require permanent installation and can help you make the most of your space.

In fact some are really geared for that, while other bright projectors may be even more at home in a dedicated theater. On the other hand, lamp-based projectors are more likely to deliver the dark blacks and top-tier contrast that matter for home theater. That said, some laser projectors are now catching up on that score, so don't just assume a lamp will be better.
It's best for home use, as it isn't as portable as some of its peers. For a home projector, the Optoma CinemaX P2 offers great color accuracy and contrast, as well as unusually capable audio. Just be mindful of the image if you're sensitive to rainbow artifacts. If you’re thinking about getting a Panasonic home theater projector we suggest shopping for Epson projectors instead. Both brands use an LCD chipset but Epson models are significantly more economical while providing better image quality.
In the world of home theaters, 4K TVs get a lot of hype, but if you’re looking for a true cinematic experience, you should consider getting a home theater projector. Filter projectors based on your desired features and specs. It's more down to the specific model of projector than specific technologies. Every projector we review goes through elaborate objective and subjective testing. CNET editors pick the products and services we write about based on editorial merit. It doesn't have a battery, nor does it have any streaming apps.
When it comes to getting the most bang for your buck for a home cinema projector, the Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 3800 is second to none. Which is why we picked it as the best low priced 4K projector for home theaters. Without a doubt, a 4K home theater projector is the best way to achieve a fully enveloping cinematic escape that teleports you from your seat and into the onscreen action. When designing a home theater or building a home theater, our Home Theater Buyer's Guide will help you choose the best 4K home theater projector and screen for your space. If you want to enjoy films and games in a higher quality than your local cinema, this premium home theater projector is a must-own. The best short-throw home theater projector delivers a dynamic and stunning picture, and setup is a breeze.
For room-to-room portability and backyard movies, consider first whether you're going to be using a large enough image to be able to see any difference between 1080p and 4K or even between 720p and 1080p. Any of these resolutions can be a good choice for these applications, depending on image size. Before 4K resolution reached the projector world , the resolution spec that mattered most was the native resolution of the imaging chips, meaning the actual number of pixels on the chips themselves. Lower-resolution chips can show higher-resolution material, but down-converting the image gives it a soft-focus look and can introduce artifacts. The 1080p Anker Nebula Solar Portable offers lots of desirable features, including support for 4K and HDR, built-in Android TV, and good brightness for its size and weight. Color accuracy isn't perfect, but it's good enough for most people to accept without a second thought.
If you’re mounting your projector to the ceiling or putting it at the back of the room, you may need an extra-long HDMI cable to connect your cable box or streaming device. We look for models that allow for adjustments such as keystone, lens shift and focus, so you can mount your projector on the ceiling and still get a perfect rectangular picture. We start our search for home theater projectors with the brightest, most reliable models from the most reputable manufacturers.