8 Best Projectors of 2023 [Tested and Reviewed]

From Chinese projector manufacturer XGIMI comes the Horizon Pro, a 4K-capable device that promises projections up to 200 inches.

The brightness level is pretty impressive at 1,142 ANSI lumens. During the day, you can enjoy a movie just by drawing the curtains or dimming the room lights a bit. The brightness uniformity was about 91% at the edges compared to the center, making it hard to notice any variations when projecting a white image.

One of the standout features is its incredibly wide color gamut, producing vivid colors that make you forget you're projecting onto a wall. The resolution is also high, allowing you to see fine details like individual strands of hair when movie characters are shown in close-ups.

Ease of setup is another big plus for this model. It comes with auto-focus and automatic keystone correction in both horizontal and vertical directions, making it as convenient as a mobile projector. You can easily move it from room to room without any hassle. However, it uses digital zoom, so adjusting the projection size may slightly degrade the image quality. It also doesn't support lens shift.

Like the Anker model, it comes with built-in Android TV, covering all the major streaming services. The addition of voice search is super convenient, and you can also watch Netflix through the built-in operating system.

From Epson, a precision machinery manufacturer based in Japan, comes the home projector EpiqVision Mini EF12. Despite its compact size, it boasts a maximum projection size of 150 inches.

The brightness is a bit on the lower side, clocking in at 621 ANSI lumens, meaning you'll want to dim the lights and make the room as dark as possible for the best viewing experience. Brightness uniformity was pretty solid, with the edges measuring about 88% as bright as the center.

While the color projection tends to be a bit blue-heavy, the colors are accurate overall. The picture quality is impressively clear, with minimal noise and high resolution. Even in darker scenes, you can make out facial expressions and the texture of clothing, giving the entire image a sense of depth.

The projector supports auto-focus and automatic keystone correction in both horizontal and vertical directions. This means you can project a rectangular image even if the projector is at a slight angle. It does support digital zoom but lacks lens shift capabilities.

It comes with Android TV built-in, so you can stream from most major services. However, it's important to note that it's not compatible with the official Netflix app.

From Anker, a Chinese hardware developer and manufacturer, comes the Nebula Cosmos Max. This projector supports 4K resolution and boasts a maximum projection size of 150 inches.

The measured brightness is 927 ANSI lumens, which is good enough for daytime viewing if you close the curtains and minimize natural light. Brightness uniformity is excellent, with the edges of the screen being about 90% as bright as the center, so you won't be distracted by any variations.

In a dark room, the picture quality is vibrant and clear. While some finer details in the background might appear a bit blurry, the overall image has crisp outlines and feels dynamic.

The projector features auto-focus and automatic keystone correction in both horizontal and vertical directions, making it versatile for use in various settings like living rooms or bedrooms. It also has digital zoom capabilities, allowing for some fine-tuning when projecting, although this does degrade the image quality slightly. Note that it doesn't support lens shift.

It comes with built-in Android TV, covering most major streaming services. While it does support voice commands, the built-in OS doesn't support the official Netflix app, which can be a bit inconvenient.

From Taiwan-based electronics manufacturer BenQ comes the HT2060, boasting 98% coverage of the high-color-gamut DCI-P3 standard for more vibrant color reproduction.

In video modes with a wide color gamut, the brightness is a bit on the lower side at 677 ANSI lumens, so this projector is best suited for darker rooms. The brightness around the edges is about 83% compared to the center, which might be noticeable when projecting a completely white image. However, during actual video playback, it's not an issue.

The color range is quite extensive, and the projector does an excellent job of accurately reproducing colors. While it may be a bit dim, the color tones and shading are well-executed, capturing even the finer details. If you're planning to watch in a dark room, this model offers a natural color experience.

Installation is flexible, with support for keystone correction in both horizontal and vertical directions. This allows for angled projection and fine-tuning of the projection position. It also features vertical lens shift, making it easier to adjust the projection surface when hanging the projector from the ceiling. However, it doesn't support auto-focus.

While it comes with Android TV, one major streaming service it doesn't support is Netflix. On the plus side, it does offer voice search, which takes much of the hassle out of searching for content.

The "Projector" from AuKing is primarily sold online and is aimed at home use. It supports 1080p resolution and advertises a brightness of 12,000 lumens.

In reality, the measured brightness is quite low at 131 ANSI lumens, to the point where even ambient lighting can overpower the projector's output. One notable issue during testing was the significant unevenness in brightness. The brightness around the edges was about 69% compared to the center, causing the screen's edges to appear dark during playback.

The color tone overall has a bluish hue that makes skin tones look pale. Fine details are lost, and backgrounds that are visible on other models look completely black. The color rendering appears flat, almost like an oil painting.

The projector lacks features like auto-focus and lens shift, making the setup process somewhat time consuming. Since it doesn't come with an operating system, you'll also need a streaming device to watch any video streaming services.

The Native 1080P Projector from Roconia is a compact home projector available on e-commerce platforms. It claims a brightness of 16,000 lumens and supports 1080p resolution.

The brightness measured during our tests was quite low at 176 ANSI lumens. This made it hard to see the image clearly, in both a well-lit room as well as in a dark room. The brightness inconsistency was also significant, appearing 62% dimmer at the edges compared to the center, meaning the periphery is noticeably darker while watching.

The narrow color gamut results in gradients that lack smoothness and give the picture a flat appearance. Additionally, there's a graininess throughout the picture that makes the outlines of people and objects appear fuzzy.

Since it doesn't come with an operating system, a streaming device is essential for watching YouTube or Netflix. It lacks features like auto-focus and lens shift, limiting your setup options and making the setup process troublesome each time.

The Leisure 495W projector from VANKYO, an IT equipment manufacturer based in Shenzhen, China, supports 1080p resolution. It claims to offer more accurate colors, clarity, and brightness than its predecessors.

However, the brightness was quite low at just 183 ANSI lumens. In a well-lit room, the projection turned completely white, making it impossible to watch anything. The brightness was also uneven, with the edges being only 73% as bright as the center. This becomes even more noticeable during brighter scenes.

This projector even struggled with brightness in a dark room. There were many areas where the image lacked depth and contrast, giving an overall flat and dull impression.

The projector only supports vertical keystone correction, so you'll need to place it either directly in front of you or behind you. It doesn't have zoom capabilities, lens shift, or auto-focus, which makes setup a hassle if you prefer to put it away after each use. Since it doesn't come with an operating system, you’ll need a streaming device to watch any online content.