Best home projectors

The best projectors should provide you with an excellent big-screen viewing experience for everything from major sporting events to cosy movie nights.

While you can spend thousands on a cinema projector, in our tests we've focused on models costing less than £1,000. Two were good enough to receive our Best Buy recommendation.

We've also named the best portable mini projector after testing models from top brands including Nebula, Samsung and Kodak. 

While many have a similar setup process involving signing into your Google account, we found significant differences in both picture and sound quality.

The best home projectors

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The home projectors we tested

All the home projectors we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.

Only logged-in Which? members can view the best home projectors from our tests.

Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.

Epson CO-FH02 Smart Full HD Home Cinema Projector

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Inputs HDMI, Aux

Throw ratio 1.19 to 1.61:1 (26 to 391-inch screen size)

Need to know 1080p, 7.5 x 32 x 20.5cm (H x W x L), 2.6kg, auto keystone, Android TV streaming stick included

Epson EF-12 Projector

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Inputs HDMI x 2, USB-A, 3.5mm audio out, mini USB

Throw ratio 1:1 (30 to 150-inch screen size)

Need to know 1080p, HD, 13 x 17.5 x 17cm (H x W x L), 2.2kg, auto keystone

Kodak Luma 350 Portable Smart Projector

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Inputs Audio, USB, HDMI

Throw ratio 1.18:1 (up to 150-inch screen size)

Need to know 2.5 x 11 x 11cm (H x W x L) 0.4kg, 2-hour battery life

Nebula Capsule 3 Laser Projector

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Inputs HDMI, Aux, USB-C

Throw ratio 1.2:1 (40 to 120-inch screen size)

Need to know 1080p, 16 x 8 x 8cm (H x W x L), 1kg, auto keystone, 2.5-hour battery life

If a projector isn't for you, see our round-up of the best cheap TVs under £300, £500 and £1,000

Nebula Anker Mars 3 Air Portable Projector

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Inputs HDMI, Aux, DC, USB-C

Throw ratio 1.2:1 (30 to 200-inch screen size)

Need to know 1080p, 14 x11.5 x17 cm (H x W x L), 1.7kg, auto keystone, 2.5-hour battery life

Philips Neopix Ultra 2 projector

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Inputs Micro SD, HDMI x 2, USB, DC

Throw ratio 1.4:1 (up to 65-inch screen size)

Need to know 6.5 x 21 x 7cm (H x W x L), 1.2kg

Samsung the Freestyle projector (2nd generation)

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Inputs Micro HDMI, USB-C

Throw ratio 1.2:1 (30 to 130-inch screen size)

Need to know 1080p, 16 x 11.5 x 11.5cm (H x W x L), 0.8kg, auto keystone, 3-hour battery life

XuanPad Projector 2024

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Inputs HDMI x 2, AV, USB x 2

Throw ratio 1.2:1 (Up to 200-inch screen size)

Need to know 7.5 x 21.5 x 16cm (H x W x L), 1.1kg

Enjoy the full home cinema experience with the best popcorn makers

How we test projectors 

We shortlist the most popular projectors from UK retailers and use a panel of testers and a series of objective measures.

We buy all the products we test, so you know our reviews can be trusted. We regularly revisit the home projectors on sale to see if there are any more popular models that need testing and when we find them we do.

Why you can trust us: at Which? we're free from manufacturer and retailer influence. Find out more about our impartiality and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent.

Picture quality

We assemble a panel of testers, including the editor of Which? Tech magazine, to rate each projector for picture quality. We use different scenes to rate how well each projector handles colour, contrast and motion.

Sound quality 

We use a second panel, including Which? audio experts, to assess the sound quality. Even though you may decide to hook up external speakers, we think good sound is important, particularly for portable projectors. 

Brightness

We use a light meter to measure the brightness of each of the projectors in a darkened room and ambient (normal room) lighting.

Ease of use

We set up each of the projectors and rate how easy this is, as well as looking at the quality of the remote control and on-screen menus.

Versatility

We give each projector a final rating that takes into account the number of inputs and availability of apps. 

What you need to know about home projectors 

Portability

Some devices are marketed as portable projectors, which tends to mean that they’re easy to take around with you, don’t take much effort to set up, and have a chargeable battery.

Usually, battery life is roughly a couple of hours, which will give you enough time to squeeze in a film before a recharge – unless you were planning on screening the latest Scorsese epic. 

Ease of use

There are several ways of viewing content on most projectors. You can connect external devices via an HDMI or USB cable, use screen mirroring from your phone, or use streaming services via Wi-Fi.

Many projectors encourage you to sign up with your Google account and download apps directly onto the device. Bear in mind that not all apps are available on all projectors. We found some that are missing key apps such as Netflix.

Projectors usually come with their own remote control, while some have the option of downloading an app and controlling them via your phone. A common accessibility setting is voice control, which means you don’t need a remote at all. 

Screen setup

Many projectors are designed to make your life as easy as possible, with features such as auto keystone, auto focus, auto screen fit and obstacle avoidance.

Auto keystone scales the image when the projector is at an angle so that it looks rectangular, while auto focus ensures the image quality is sharp without you having to adjust it manually. Auto screen fit detects the size of your projection screen and sizes the image accordingly. 

Sound quality 

Many mini projectors don’t have impressive sound, but we did find some home projectors with good-quality speakers. You may choose to connect external speakers or a soundbar to make sure the audio is as clear as possible.

Bear in mind that some projectors emit a quite loud background whirring noise, which you may find distracts from your viewing. 

Throw ratio

Throw ratio is an indicator of what size image you can get, depending on how far away from the screen your projector is positioned.

We’ve tested standard or 'normal throw' projectors that have a throw ratio of more than 1:1 but less than 2:1. Short-throw projectors are designed to be placed very close to the screen, while long-throw projectors are for bigger spaces such as auditoriums.

A 2:1 ratio would mean that a projector 5 metres from the screen would give a 2.5-metre-wide picture. However, you can't keep moving a projector back to get a bigger image, as projectors also have a maximum screen size, which we've listed in the reviews.

Brightness/picture quality

While brightness isn’t the only factor affecting projector picture quality, it can play a part. This is especially true in ambient lighting conditions.

While you could still have a decent viewing experience for some of the projectors we tested in a room of normal brightness, some are simply too dim for this to be an option and you need to darken the space. 

Screen options

The cheapest option for a projector screen is to use a wall, although the quality of the experience depends on its smoothness and colour. Special reflective white paint can help, but it’s also worth considering a dedicated projector screen.

Manual projector screens come in various types, including tripod or wall mounted. There are also motorised projector screens that can be stored away when not in use. 

Projector bulb replacement

You'll know when your projector bulb, or 'lamp', is running out, as the picture will get noticeably dimmer. Lamps can last between 700 and 3,000 hours, with an average life of around 1,500 hours. That might sound like a lot – but with the average person in the UK watching four hours of TV per day, that would only give you around a year of average viewing.

A new bulb can cost more than £200, which could be a significant yearly expense. You can increase the life of lamps by allowing them to cool down properly after use and changing the dust filters regularly. Many projectors have ‘economy modes’ that can also preserve lamp life, and there is often a display showing a rough estimate of how many hours the bulb has remaining. 

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TVs vs projectors 

You may be thinking about replacing your TV with a projector, or perhaps you’d prefer to have one to bring out on special occasions. Either way, it’s worth knowing more about the pros and cons of projectors over TVs before making your decision. 

Projector pros

• Screen size With the right projector set up, you can watch a movie as the filmmaker intended, or even super-size your PC screen for showing off those holiday photos.
• Cost Projectors are usually cheaper than comparable HD TVs. A 108-inch TV, for example, would cost tens of thousands (if you can find one), but getting the same screen size and equivalent HD picture quality could cost well under £1,000 with a projector.
• Viewing experience Many people feel that due to the larger screen size and lower overall brightness than a TV, projectors can provide a more comfortable and cinematic viewing experience. Alongside high definition, you can also buy 3D projectors and 4K projectors for a sharper picture.

Projector cons 

• Light Unless you have the curtains closed or blinds firmly down, a projector’s performance will be affected by any ambient light in a room. Even in a darkened room, any light creeping under the bottom of a curtain can affect the contrast and quality of the image. Opting for blackout blinds or curtains can help stop any extra light getting in.
• Lamps Projectors have the extra cost of periodically needing their lamps replaced, probably once a year.
• Sound Some projectors have built-in speakers, but realistically with a screen that big you will want to invest in a good home cinema audio system to do it justice.