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The best 4K projector matches the march of progress in visual fidelity: 4K is no longer a luxury for the discerning home cinephile. It has truly replaced HD as the standard for image quality and these lights will get you there instantly – wherever you find yourself watching or playing.
The advent of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X in late 2020 was, as console launches tend to be, somewhat of a turning point in resolution, framerates, and visual clarity. Just as Playstation 3 helped BluRay become the standard, 4K devices have now reached even more homes and we really are in the era of 4K. And the best projectors for gaming are no exception.
So if you’re looking to take your home cinema system to the next level, or looking to replace your TV with a glorious and enormous picture from one of the best projectors, then these are a handful of your best bets, covering a range of options from all the established names and to suit a range of budgets. But remember, if you can’t stretch to 4K prices, there are still quality projectors among the best portable projectors, and the best projectors for PS5 and Xbox Series X to browse which might dial it down to HD to reduce the cost, for example.
The best 4K projector 2023
1. Samsung Premiere LSP9T
The best 4K projector on the market
Specifications
Resolution: 4K UHD 3840 x 2160 (via pixel shifting)Brightness: 2800 lumenContrast: 1500:1/2,000,000:1 (Native/Dynamic)Light Source Wattage: Triple Laser DLPClear Image Size (diagonal): 130-inchesThrow ratio: 0.189 (Ultra short)Features: Freeview HD tuner, Three-laser DLP, Tizen Smart TV interface, bluetooth headphone connectivity
Reasons to buy
+Astonishing picture+Very short throw+Exceptional 40W sound
Reasons to avoid
-Occasional rainbow effects-The pricetag
Even the best 4K projectors don’t often get release hype, but Samsung’s first projectors in 10 years created quite a buzz at its release in late 2020. The Premiere LSP9T matches up to every bit of the hype and more to make claim to being the best 4K projector on the market today.
The innovative three laser light source delivers exceptional pictures, with a laser each for red, blue, and green lights. This means incredible brightness and colours, even with ambient light. This is true 4K, without compromise. Even more impressive is the incredible short throw, meaning you can place this close to your projection surface and achieve a gigantic picture. There are some occasional rainbow effects, and – like most projectors – you may need to tweak the picture for darker images, but these do not spoil an incredible watching experience.
It even has all the functionality you’d expect from a smart TV, with Samsung’s Tizen smart TV interface giving all your usual menus, streaming apps, and content. You can even use Samsung’s built-in Bixby system (with Alexa and Google Assistant support if you have listening devices already). As a minor gripe though, the OS can run a little slow at times.
There’s even fantastic sound with 40-watt speakers – much louder than the usual 10-20W for projectors – if you don’t have enough left in the pocket for a top gaming sound system or similar. And if the price is out of range, the single-laser Premiere SP-LSP7T is also an excellent option at just over half the price.
Such is the quality of this projector, stock is quite low at the moment. You’re best bet is to go direct to Samsung USA and Samsung UK.
2. Optoma UHD51
Best 4K projector on a budget
Specifications
Resolution: 4K UHD 3840 x 2160Brightness: 2400 ANSI lumenContrast: 500,000:1Light Source Wattage: 240WClear Image Size (diagonal): up to 300 inchesThrow ratio: 1.21:1 – 1.59:1 (Standard)Features: 3D compatibility
Reasons to buy
+Fantastic entry level 4K projector+Great black levels+Vertical lens shift
Reasons to avoid
-Can struggle with ambient light-Lack of onboard apps
Sometimes with the best 4K projectors, you can end up paying for the label. However, if you stray from the traditional household names in home entertainment then you can find a real bargain, and Optoma is one of the brands that consistently deliver great value projectors which can go toe-to-toe with the big boys. The UHD51 has been out for a couple of years now, which means you can find some great deals on it, although ‘budget’ 4K still means four figures.
It offers fantastic colour, with good black depths, and smooths out fast motion to keep up with the quickest of action scenes. It also upscales non-4K images beautifully and even has 3D capability (which requires the purchase of DLP link active shutter glasses) should you want to re-watch Avatar ahead of the sequels. However, despite its good light rating, this unit may need the curtains drawn to get the most out of it as it struggles slightly with a lot of ambient light.
You would need to keep this hooked up to a video source to run video as it doesn’t have an onboard operating system that would allow you to stream direct, but that’s a small quibble when you’re getting such a great picture for the price, especially given that it also boasts Optoma’s usual short input lag – making it great for gaming, too.
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3. BenQ X3000i
The best 4K projector for gaming
Our expert review:
Specifications
Resolution: 4K UHD (3840×2160)Brightness: 3000 ANSI LumenContrast: 500,000:1Light Source Wattage: N/A (4LED source)Clear Image Size (diagonal): 60″~2000″Throw ratio: 1.15~1.50Features: Cinematic Colour,16.7ms input lag (1080p@60Hz), 8.3ms input lag (1080p@120Hz), Game/Cinema/Bright/3D modes, HDR10, HLG, 2x5W speakers
Reasons to buy
+Astonishing colour reproduction+4K gaming with minimal input lag+Fantastic sound
Reasons to avoid
-Bulky and tall design
BenQ has offered a first with the X3000i’s specs:: 4K gameplay with 16ms input lag at 60Hz (with the ability to go as low as 4ms input lag with some sacrifices to other image settings). They’ve also thought in depth about not just the needs of gamers all round but different types of gamers. The X3000i is one of the best 4K projectors but is aimed at role-playing gamers – players who want to be truly immersed in the amazing worlds that triple-A titles are focussing on so much now. The key to this is BenQ’s CinematicColour system which offers incredible colour reproduction. The depth of colour is astonishing, with incredibly rich reds, blues and greens on the landscapes of next-gen games.
But the unit offers something for everyone – the low input lag means that playing first-person shooters is a smooth experience even when running through a map or moving fast to take out a horde of foes. And bright party games like Fall Guys or Mario Kart look astonishing, even in ambient light which can so often wash the colour out of other projectors. While it’s designed for gamers, watching films or TV shows is also a joy, whether a bright Pixar film or a gritty drama – the detail in the dark colours works well for picking out an enemy lurking in the shadows in a shooter or keeping track of a fight scene in a DC movie.
There’s built-in streaming through an integrated Android dongle, but as usual there are key apps missing. The height of the unit makes it bulky, but really this is quite a minor complaint and there’s a lot of technology to cram in. These points are really to nitpick – BenQ has raised the bar for projectors with this range and the X3000i has produced some of the best 4K projector gaming images I have ever seen.
Read more: BenQ X3000i review
4. Epson Home Cinema 3800 / Epson EH-TW7100
A quality mid-range 4K projector
Specifications
Resolution: 4K UHD 3840 x 2160Brightness: 3,000 lumenContrast: 100,000:1Light Source Wattage: 250WClear Image Size (diagonal): up to 500 inchesThrow ratio: 1.32-2.15:1 (Standard)Features: Bluetooth connectivity, multiple inputs, keystone corrections
Reasons to buy
+Great 4K picture at a mid-range price point+Bluetooth connectivity for audio output
Reasons to avoid
-No 4K motion processing settings-Chunky, cluttered look
Launched in September 2020, this is a great projector that makes Epson very competitive at this end of the best 4K projector market. But it gives a great picture which belies the price. Colours are impressive for wide landscapes or close-ups of faces, and although there are some of the problems with blacks lacking depths which projectors often suffer from you’d have to be quite pernickety to spot it.
While there aren’t any frame interpolation options on 4K-level settings, motion blur is low and action remains smooth. Even when switched to the 1080p modes there’s a fantastic picture, plus many extra settings to reduce any blur even further at this resolution.
The option of Bluetooth audio output means you don’t need to have quite so many wires trailing across the room if you’ve run a soundbar under the projected image. However, there are some practical niggles: the onboard controls are a little cluttered; and the dials for lens shift are a slightly strange way to employ this feature. But once you’ve set it up and you’re staring at the beautiful image these minor issues will be quickly forgotten.
Note: The alternative name for this model, the Epson EH-TW7100 is what the unit is sold as in the UK.
5. Sony VPL-VW590ES
Best 4K projector if money is no object
Our expert review:
Specifications
Resolution: 4096 x 2160 (4K)Brightness: 1,800 ANSI lumenContrast: 350,000:1Light Source Wattage: 280wClear Image Size (diagonal): 60″ to 300″Throw ratio: 1.38:1 to 2.83:1 (Standard)
Reasons to buy
+Astonishing 4K picture+Excellent upscaling+Incredibly bright
Reasons to avoid
-Large size-Lack of connectivity-Very, very expensive
A step up on its much-loved predecessor the VW570, mostly thanks to the incredible X1 chip which has been based on Sony’s Bravia TV technology. The X1 is an incredibly fast processor which is constantly working to give you incredible picture quality – analysing frame by frame to ensure everything looks sharp and smooth. Bright enough to be great quality picture even with significant levels of ambient light, and with astonishing depth of colour and contrast.
It’s large and heavy, but so are most 4K native projectors. A slight quibble is the lack of connectivity beyond HDMI and USB, but if you’re shelling out this much for a projector you’re likely to have an amp ready to go for this already. It’s great for gaming with no notable input lag, and the expansive landscapes of open-world games look astonishing in a 4K image of over 100 inches – but so do the bright colours of a platformer. It gives incredible detail even in the darkest shadow, a feat few projectors manage. Yes, it’s pricy, but it’s a cutting-edge projector which truly brings the cinema home and worth the money if you have it.
Read more: Sony VPL-VW590ES projector review
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6. Acer Predator GD711
The best 4K projector for VRR
Specifications
Resolution: 4K UHD 3840 x 2160Brightness: 4,000 ANSI lumenContrast: 2,000,000:1Light Source Wattage: N/A – LEDClear Image Size (diagonal): 300-inchesThrow ratio: 1.22:1Features: Variable refresh rate, 10W speakers, remote control, 2 x HDMI, 2 x USB, 1 x aux, Wifi/Bluetooth
Reasons to buy
+Variable refresh rate and minimal input lag+Plenty of features aimed at gamers+Auto keystoning
Reasons to avoid
-Lack of zoom features-Difficult to switch inputs-Poor speakers
This is a 4K projector for gaming if ever we’ve seen one. As well as that glorious UHD resolution, there’s an ultra-fast refresh rate of up to 240Hz in 1080p for PC (120Hz at 1080p for consoles) and minimal input lag which we found makes this ideal for gaming. In our testing, games were silky smooth, without noticeable lag and even the quickest FPS stays sharp as you wildly move the camera around.
We did find the 10W speakers to be tinny and weak, but if you’re dropping this kind of money on a projector for PS5, you’re likely to both want and will buy, or already have, a good audio setup. A lack of zoom control feels a bit baffling, meaning you have to set projector size by placement, and unless your room fits the throw ratio you may need a ceiling mount to get it in the right distance. Also, while there’s a wide range of colour pallets to chose from to enhance your viewing, some manual tweaks were needed to stop the picture looking a bit washed out.
These issues are annoying quibbles, but once you get to play games on this all of that is forgotten – particularly in 4K glory. Landscapes look lush, the bright game mode makes colours pop and the dark game mode keeps detail up in the shadows by using the DynamicBlack technology. Video looks amazing too and makes the most of the 4K resolution the GD711 can pump out, with a wide range of modes giving you ideal setups quickly for the perfect colour pallet. Once set up, the GD711 easily one of the best 4K projectors for gaming going.
Read more: Acer Predator GD711 review
7. Sony VPL-XW5000
The best super premium 4K projector
Our expert review:
Specifications
Resolution: 4096 x 2160 (4K)Brightness: 2000 lumenContrast: ∞:1 (dynamic contrast)Light Source Wattage: N/A (laser)Clear Image Size (diagonal): 60″ to 300″Throw ratio: 1:1.38 to 1:2.21 (Standard)
Reasons to buy
+Low gaming lag: can reach 21ms at 4K+Excellent laser imaging+Movable lens
Reasons to avoid
-Very large-Very, very expensive
If you have a near-unlimited budget then the best 4K projector for you may well be from Sony’s premium line. These top-of-the-line home cinema centrepieces are not for the causal or faint-hearted. Both in pricetag – this ‘budget’ 2022 model comes in at $6,000/£6,000 – and size; while Sony claims this to be the most compact native 4K HDR laser projector in the world, it’s still almost half a metre deep and almost the same again wide. And it weighs 28lb/13kg.
The XW5000 is powered by Sony’s top tech from their BRAVIA TVs, using the X1 Ultimate chip for projectors, alongside their Triluminos Pro algorithm and Silicon X-tal Reflective Display which work to give excellent colour reproduction. The laser light source means that there is a far lower heat emission and energy consumption here than in the bulb-powered units, and the 4K picture is truly excellent. While upscaling is fine, the difference when running from a true 4K source is marked – when you give it the best you get the best from it.
However, the price is just going to make this a no-go for many projector hunters: the XW5000 is three times the cost of some truly excellent projectors which give great gaming specs and 4K image. The difference between the XW500 and those others is certainly not three times the picture quality, however, and you’re, to an extent, paying an exponential cost for incremental gains. But if you’re lucky enough for this price to not be a wrench and you have a great home cinema which needs updating, then this 2022 4K laser tech then will fit the bill perfectly.
Read more: Sony VPL-XW5000 review
Remember to peruse the best projector screen and best outdoor projector screen markets to ensure you have the right gear for your projected images.
And also remember that it’s always worth trying to get hold of a new console for your new 4K projector so you’ll need to know how to find buy a PS5 and how to buy Xbox Series X. And if you do prefer your screens TV-shaped then check out our guides to the best TV for PS5 and Xbox Series X, best 120Hz 4K TV, and best OLED TV too.
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