March 2023

Video Projectors: MetaRanking

This page highlights the aggregate summary of Projector rankings posted by key online experts, as of March 2023.

Summary

Between 4 Mar 2023 and 7 Mar 2023, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 94 Projector endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.

68 Video Projectors were endorsed in total, only 15 made it into this month's ranking (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included).

As of 7 Mar 2023, Hisense PX1-PRO TriChroma takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed projector with 4 expert endorsements. 2 experts out of 4 recommended it as the '#1 projector' this month. It is followed by Epson Pro Cinema LS12000 and Samsung The Freestyle , with 3 and 4 expert endorsements respectively.

Brand breakdown
Show all brands

Price breakdown
As can be seen in the chart below, lowest high-ranking video projectors start at $127.88 (Fangor F-506) and go up to $27849 (Sony VPL-XW7000ES). Median projector costs $799 (BenQ GS50).
$127.88
$27849

At a glance - March 2023 Ranking

Scroll horizontally to browse this ranking table
Rank Change Price Projector
Digital Trends
What Hi-Fi
The Verge
TechRadar
T3
PCMag
The Strategist
WIRED
CNET
Forbes
1
- $2399
Hisense PX1-PRO TriChroma
1
-
-
6
-
-
-
4
-
1
2
- Check price
Epson Pro Cinema LS12000
-
8
-
5
-
1
-
-
-
-
3
- $698
Samsung The Freestyle
5
11
-
7
-
-
-
-
-
6
4
- $770
Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12
-
-
-
13
-
7
-
-
8
7
5
- $3998
Optoma CinemaX P2
-
-
-
2
1
-
-
-
-
-
6
+1 $3498
Samsung LSP9T Premiere
-
10
-
3
-
-
-
-
-
2
7
-1 $1581
Optoma UHD35
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
5
4
3
8
- $5998
Sony VPL-XW5000ES
6
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
9
- Check price
LG CineBeam HU715Q
3
6
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
5
10
- Check price
Epson EH-TW9400
-
5
-
9
6
-
-
-
-
-
11
- $749
BenQ HT2050A
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
12
- $1499
BenQ TK700STi
-
-
-
4
3
-
-
-
-
-
13
- $599
Optoma HD146X
-
-
2
-
-
-
6
-
-
-
19
- $3890
Epson Home Cinema LS11000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
7
-
20
+1 $560
Anker Nebula Solar
-
-
-
12
-
12
-
-
-
-

Sorted by price:

Position in ranking Price Projector
#20 $559.99 Anker Nebula Solar [buy] [more info]
#13 $599 Optoma HD146X [buy] [more info]
#3 $697.99 Samsung The Freestyle [buy] [more info]
#11 $749 BenQ HT2050A [buy] [more info]
#4 $769.99 Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12 [buy] [more info]
#12 $1499 BenQ TK700STi [buy] [more info]
#7 $1581.32 Optoma UHD35 [buy] [more info]
#1 $2399 Hisense PX1-PRO TriChroma [buy] [more info]
#6 $3497.99 Samsung LSP9T Premiere [buy] [more info]
#19 $3890.23 Epson Home Cinema LS11000 [buy] [more info]
#5 $3998 Optoma CinemaX P2 [buy] [more info]
#8 $5998 Sony VPL-XW5000ES [buy] [more info]

We ranked Hisense PX1-PRO TriChroma #1 in March 2023 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Video Projectors” rankings.
  • Out of those, 2 experts ranked Hisense PX1-PRO TriChroma as #1.
Critic endorsements:
Digital Trends

Best overall home theater projector

Pros
Excellent short-throw design
Great color coverage
eARC support
Dolby atmos support
Android TV platform

Cons
Not as useful if you don't use Google apps

Go to ranking

TechRadar

A brilliantly balanced ultra short throw package

Pros
Compact, all-in-one package
Stunning picture
Flexible setup options

Cons
Picture struggles in bright rooms
So-so built-in speakers

Go to ranking

WIRED

Easiest Setup

Go to ranking

Forbes

Best Home Theater Projector Overall

Pros
Rich, accurate colors
Integrated Android TV
Support for Dolby Atmos audio

Cons
No 3D support
No internal Netflix app

Go to ranking

We ranked Epson Pro Cinema LS12000 #2 in March 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Video Projectors” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Epson Pro Cinema LS12000 as #1.
Critic endorsements:
What Hi-Fi

Despite occasional colour wobbles, this is another quality laser projector from Epson

Pros
Fantastically bright HDR pictures
Lovely filmic feel
4K/120 HDR gaming support

Cons
Dark HDR colours can look unrefined
Really unhelpful menu system
Some strange preset decisions

Go to ranking

TechRadar

A champ for the dedicated home cinema

Pros
Excellent image quality
Highly flexible placement
Ready for games and film

Cons
High price
Display only
Few ports

Go to ranking

PCMag

Best 4K Projector for Top-Quality Home Theater / Editors' Choice

Pros
Delivers a full 3,840 by 2,160 pixels on screen
2,700-lumen laser light source rated to last the life of the projector
Supports HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG HDR
Good color accuracy, contrast, and shadow detail, plus dark blacks for a laser model
Easy to maintain image height for different aspect ratios
Three-chip LCD design guarantees no rainbow artifacts

Cons
Expensive
No 3D support

Go to ranking

Methodology: combine opinions of key experts

Identify Experts

We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend Video Projectors.

Capture Rankings

For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of Video Projectors, it must be updated in the last 9 months.

Aggregate Rankings

We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking

Experts chosen for March 2023 ranking

We ranked Samsung The Freestyle #3 in March 2023 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Video Projectors” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Digital Trends

Best portable home theater projector

Pros
Lightweight and portable
Automatic screen adjustments
Runs on Tizen OS for access to apps
Bixby and Alexa voice assistant capable

Cons
550 lumens of brightness is a bit low
It's only 1080p

Go to ranking

What Hi-Fi

And now for something completely different

Pros
Cute but practical design
Bright, sharp, colourful pictures
Impressive auto keystone/focus

Cons
Below-par black levels
Auto keystone system isn’t perfect
A bit expensive

Go to ranking

TechRadar

Take the cinema experience wherever you go

Pros
Great portability
Handy suite of built-in apps
Impressive auto adjustment
Decent brightness

Cons
Sluggish navigation
Occasional autofocus issues
Some random restarts
Auto keystone can be fussy

Go to ranking

Forbes

Best Portable Projector

Pros
Amazon Alexa and Samsung Bixby voice assitants
Lightweight and portable
360-degree omnidirectional sound

Cons
1080p resolution
Low brightness level

Go to ranking

We ranked Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12 #4 in March 2023 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Video Projectors” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

A portable projector that offers a great marriage of form and function

Pros
Gorgeous design
Great picture for the size

Cons
Only Full HD
Too much lag for gaming

Go to ranking

PCMag

Best 1080p Room-to-Room Portable Projector for Home Entertainment / Editors' Choice

Pros
Long-lived laser-phosphor light source
Native 1080p resolution; supports 4K UHD (3,840-by-2,160) input and HDR
Three-chip LCD engine (3LCD) for equal color and white brightness and no rainbow artifacts
Integrated Android TV
Wi-Fi and two HDMI ports
Impressive audio options

Cons
No 3D support
Only moderate brightness

Go to ranking

CNET

Best compact laser projector

Go to ranking

Forbes

Best Mini Projector

Pros
Compact design
Good audio for small form
Integrated Android TV

Cons
Low brightness

Go to ranking

We ranked Optoma CinemaX P2 #5 in March 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Video Projectors” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Optoma CinemaX P2 as #1.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

A budget 4K ultra short throw projector

Pros
Up to 120-inch projection
Solid built-in audio system
Living room-friendly looks

Cons
Limited brightness
Doesn't support full DC-P3 color gamut
Mecdiocre built-in smart TV interface

Go to ranking

T3

The best projector for bringing big 4K images to any wall

Pros
Living-room friendly design
Excellent 4K pictures

Cons
No HLG over HDMI
Not as bright as its predecessor

Go to ranking

We ranked Samsung LSP9T Premiere #6 in March 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Video Projectors” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
What Hi-Fi

Surprisingly like a TV, only bigger

Pros
Bright, colourful pictures
Comprehensive smart system
Good sound quality

Cons
Fiddly to set up
‘Rainbow’ effect

Go to ranking

TechRadar

A premium ultra short throw projection experience

Pros
Bright, colorful pictures
Good in light and dark rooms
Full TV-style smart system

Cons
Some rainbow effect
Some iffy presets for dark scenes
Software can be sluggish

Go to ranking

Forbes

Best 4K Home Theater Projector

Pros
Bright images produced via triple laser
Projects up to 130 inches
Built-in smart TV capabilities via Tizen OS for directly streaming video

Cons
Operating system can be sluggish
Expensive

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We ranked Optoma UHD35 #7 in March 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Video Projectors” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
WIRED

Best for Gamers

Go to ranking

CNET

Best 4K projector for the money

Go to ranking

Forbes

Best Gaming Projector

Pros
Decent brightness for at home use
Great response time and refresh rate for gamers
Flexible projection size

Cons
Mono speaker
Lacks Bluetooth and Wi-Fi

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We ranked Sony VPL-XW5000ES #8 in March 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Video Projectors” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Sony VPL-XW5000ES as #1.
Critic endorsements:
Digital Trends

Best premium home projector

Pros
Advanced 4K technology
Excellent DCI-P3 coverage
Sony'z X1 chip offers many advantages

Cons
Lumen levels are a little low for bright rooms

Go to ranking

What Hi-Fi

Sony’s new laser projector is a cut-price stunner

Pros
Stunningly detailed native 4K pictures
Impressive black levels and contrast
Excellent picture processing

Cons
Poor manual lens controls
Dark HDR scenes can lose detail
No 4K/120Hz gaming support

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We ranked LG CineBeam HU715Q #9 in March 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Video Projectors” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Digital Trends

Best ultra-short throw 4K projector

Pros
Dolby Atmos sound
HDR10 support
LG's ThinQ smart device platform
Bluetooth, AirPlay, Wi-Fi connectivity

Cons
Not very portable
Built-in speakers are a bit lacking

Go to ranking

What Hi-Fi

Could this projector replace your TV?

Pros
Detailed and balanced image
Pleasing design
Comprehensive feature set

Cons
Doesn't sound as good as it should

Go to ranking

Forbes

Best Ultra Short Throw 4K Projector

Pros
Great resolution, lamp life and brightness
Terrific streaming options
Ultra-short throw 0.22:1

Cons
Designed to be stationary

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We ranked Epson EH-TW9400 #10 in March 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Video Projectors” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
What Hi-Fi

A powerful 4K projector with a bold picture to match.

Pros
Motorised and adaptable lens
Handles HDR well
Vibrant colours
Excellent sense of dept

Cons
Noisy at full power

Go to ranking

TechRadar

A superb long-throw home cinema projector for the price

Pros
Excellent color reproduction
Motorized lens controls

Cons
Blacks could be deeper
Motion not its strong point

Go to ranking

T3

A serious home cinema projector that won’t break the bank

Pros
Cinematic picture quality
Decent HDR performance

Cons
No integrated sound
On the large side

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We ranked BenQ HT2050A #11 in March 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Video Projectors” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Digital Trends

Best budget home theater projector

Pros
Big image for an affordable price
Vertical lens and keystone adjustment
Bright 2,200 ANSI lumens
Easy to set up out of the box

Cons
10-watt speaker sound is weak
Noisy fan
No HDMI 2.0

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CNET

Best projector for the money / Editors' Choice

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We ranked BenQ TK700STi #12 in March 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Video Projectors” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

High framerate HDR gaming on your wall

Pros
16ms input lag is brilliant for a projector
4K at 60Hz for premium gaming

Cons
No Netflix, though that's common for projectors
Fiddly onboard buttons

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T3

The best projector for 4K gaming

Pros
Sharp 4K images
Strong gaming performance

Cons
High noise levels
Not the best for HDR

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We ranked Optoma HD146X #13 in March 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Video Projectors” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
The Verge

The best budget projector

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The Strategist

Best home projector for video games

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We ranked Epson Home Cinema LS11000 #14 in March 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Video Projectors” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
WIRED

High-End Pick

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CNET

Best 4K laser projector

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We ranked Anker Nebula Solar #15 in March 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Video Projectors” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

A stunning portable projector – in the right situations

Pros
Stunning design
Doubles as a Bluetooth speaker

Cons
A bit dim
Sound could be punchier

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PCMag

Best Portable Mini Projector (Battery Powered) / Editors' Choice

Pros
1080p (1,920-by-1,080) native resolution; accepts 4K (3,840-by-2,160) input
Supports HDR and copy protection standards used by 4K UHD discs
Android TV 9 and Wi-Fi built in
Battery life rated at 3 hours in Battery mode or 1.5 hours in Standard
Capable autofocus

Cons
Color accuracy is off by just enough to notice
Does not deliver improved image quality with HDR material

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