Best 4K projectors in 2026

The Horizon 20 is XGIMI's high-brightness 4K laser model, aimed at people who want a proper living-room projector rather than a pocket device. It uses a triple RGB laser with a 0.47-inch DLP chip and claims 3,200 ISO lumens, which gives a lot of headroom for rooms with some ambient light and for HDR content.

The feature list is long. It decodes HDR10+, Dolby Vision and IMAX Enhanced, runs Google TV with Netflix built in, and has a wide zoom-style throw ratio of 1.2 to 1.5:1 with an image size up to 300 inches. For gamers, XGIMI quotes input lag of 1 ms at 1080p 240 Hz, 2.2 ms at 1080p 120 Hz and 3 ms at 4K 60 Hz, which is excellent if you use Game Mode with auto keystone off.

Two 12 W Harman Kardon speakers with DTS Virtual:X and Dolby Audio are well above average for a projector, so a separate soundbar is optional rather than essential. Connections include two HDMI ports (one with eARC), a USB 3.0 port, a USB 2.0 port, optical and a 3.5 mm output.

At 4.8 kg it is not something you will move daily, and it needs mains power. The picture is strongest in a dim room, but the brightness makes it more versatile than most rivals. It is a strong all-rounder for a dedicated lounge setup.

The PK31 is Optoma's cheaper route to a 4K picture. It uses a Full HD-class DLP chip that shifts pixels rapidly to build a 3840 by 2160 image, so fine detail is visibly crisper than on a 1080p model, though not the equal of a native 4K chip. Optoma states 900 ISO lumens from an RGB LED light source and 90% DCI-P3 colour coverage, with HDR support.

That brightness is adequate for a darkened room and is clearly lower than the PH31 sibling's 1,500 lumens, so the trade is sharpness for brightness. If you watch mostly in the evening with curtains drawn, the extra resolution is worth having; with ambient light, the cheaper model may look better.

There is no smart platform, so plan to attach a streaming stick or console. Connections listed by retailers include HDMI, USB-A and an audio-out jack, and the throw ratio listed is the same 1.5 to 1.65:1 as the PH31, which means a roomy setup distance. Optoma's pages that we could read do not state weight, speaker details or input lag.

The light source is built to last up to 30,000 hours, so there is no lamp to replace. For buyers who value sharpness over brightness and already own a streaming device, it is a reasonable step up.

The X3100i is BenQ's flagship gaming projector, using a native 4K DLP chip with a four-colour LED light source. The LED engine is rated for up to 30,000 hours, so there is no lamp to replace, and BenQ claims 3,300 ANSI lumens and full DCI-P3 colour coverage. Together these give a bright and vivid picture that copes better with ambient light than most LED projectors.

Gaming is the focus. BenQ quotes 4.2 ms input lag at 1080p 240 Hz and 8.3 ms at 1080p 120 Hz, while 4K at 60 Hz sits at 16.7 ms. Those are class-leading figures on paper, but HDMI 2.0b limits the picture to 4K 60 Hz, so owners of newer consoles or PCs will not get 4K 120 Hz.

The lens offers a 1.15 to 1.5:1 throw ratio, a 1.3x optical zoom and 40 to 60 percent vertical lens shift, so it is easy to position on a table or a ceiling mount. Android TV is built in and the two 5 W speakers cover casual use; BenQ says the projector cannot send sound out over Bluetooth, so connect a soundbar through eARC or the audio output.

At 6.8 kg it is a fixed installation rather than something to carry around. It suits a dedicated gaming or film room where the budget is flexible and consistent brightness matters.

The EH-TW7100 is a 2019 home cinema projector that remains popular because of its colour performance and flexible lens. Instead of a native 4K chip, it uses three 1080p LCD panels with pixel-shifting to produce 4K-style images, which Epson calls 4K PRO-UHD. In practice this renders fine detail well but is not the same as a true 4K panel.

Epson quotes 3,000 lumens for both colour and white output. That matters because many single-chip projectors lose colour brightness in comparison to their headline figure, and it means colours stay vivid in a moderately lit room. It handles HDR10 and HLG, and the 1.62x manual zoom with lens shift makes it easy to position, projecting from 40 to 500 inches.

The 250 W lamp is rated for 3,500 hours, or 5,000 in economy mode, so replacements are a running cost. The two 10 W stereo speakers are better than most, though a dedicated sound system is still advisable.

There is no built-in smart system, so you will need a streaming stick or box in one of the two HDMI ports. At 6.9 kg it is best installed permanently on a shelf or ceiling mount.

It is an older design, so check current retailer prices against newer laser and LED alternatives before buying.

The TK700STi was designed for gamers who want a big screen without a lot of room. Its short throw ratio of 0.9 to 1.08:1 lets it fill a 100-inch screen from around 2 metres, and the 1.2x zoom and vertical offset give some setup flexibility. Its 3,000 ANSI lumens is high enough to cope with a room that is not fully dark, which many lower-brightness 4K projectors cannot manage.

BenQ quotes input lag of 4.2 ms at 1080p 240 Hz, 8.3 ms at 1080p 120 Hz and 16.7 ms at 4K 60 Hz, which is the strongest part of the package for console and PC players. It decodes HDR10 and HLG, and has an HDMI port with eARC for sending sound to a soundbar. There is no HDMI 2.1, so 4K at 120 Hz is not available.

It uses a lamp rather than a laser or LED, so brightness fades over time and a replacement will eventually be needed. The single 5 W speaker is basic, and smart features come from an included Android TV dongle rather than a built-in system.

At 3.1 kg it is easy to place on a shelf or ceiling mount. It remains a strong choice for gaming in a living room with some ambient light, but newer models offer better sound, laser light sources and HDMI 2.1.

The M2 Pro is Hisense's smallest 4K laser projector, a squat box of about 3.9 kg that is easy to move between rooms but is designed to sit on a table or shelf rather than be carried about on battery. It uses a red, green and blue laser light source, which is the main reason to choose it over cheaper LED rivals: colours are rich and the claimed 1,300 ANSI lumens is enough for a darkened living room.

The feature list is generous. It decodes Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG and HDR10+, offers an HDMI 2.1 input with auto low-latency mode and an eARC port for a soundbar, and adds Ethernet and a USB 3.0 port. The maker quotes 12 ms input lag in Game Mode, but independent measurements point to that applying at 1080p, with a figure nearer 30 ms at 4K 60 Hz, so competitive gamers should look at the detail.

The built-in 2 x 10 W speakers are decent for casual viewing. The software is VIDAA, which covers the big streaming services but has a thinner app catalogue than Google TV, so some people will add a stick.

The throw ratio is flexible, with a roughly 2.2 to 2.9 m distance for a 100-inch picture according to retailer and calculator figures. It is a sensible step-up for people who want laser colour in a small body and can control room light.