With the growth in technology, people are looking for different technological devices. In the list, the 4K projectors are now becoming more popular that allows you to get a cinema-like experience. The projectors are huge in variety and features. 4K projectors offer a number of advantages over a standard high-definition projector when it comes to home-cinema experience. They almost contain four times the pixels of HD that produce clearer, brighter, and sharper imagery.
In the past, buying a 4K projector was a luxury considering it was not the most convenient and cheapest option. However, in recent years they have moved from entirely unaffordable to just under $1000 for a realistic home-theater experience and under $3000 for the brightest 4K projector.
Are you now planning to buy the projector you need? In this article, we have compiled a list of the top 10 best 4K projectors that will range from the cheapest to the most expensive available in the 2023 market. We have spent countless hours researching and comparing different models based on their performance, reviews, price, and specifications. Let’s dive deep into the details to choose the best one for your home.
Best 4k Projector Under $1000
1. Optoma HD28HDR
- Resolution – 1080p, supports 4K UHD
- Display Technology – DLP
- Contrast Ratio – 50,000:1
- Image Brightness (Lumens) – 3,600
- Throw Distance – 120″ @ 13 feet
- Other features – inbuilt speakers, 15,000-hour lamp life
If you are looking for the best budget 4K projector with the least possible cost, then Optoma HD28HDR could be the choice to consider. It has a native resolution of 1920 x 1080 display high-resolution images and videos and a 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, which will help you to have high-resolution images and videos. It also has 3600 lumens brightness to overcome the ambient light in several settings and some features like enhancing the best gaming experience.
As it is compatible with the 3D content, it will help even for some 3D format movies and pictures at a 120Hz rapid-refresh rate to provide you with ultra-smooth images. Optoma HD28HDR is a state-of-earth projector that offers HDR10 compatibility which enables brighter whites and deeper black levels for an in-depth viewing experience. Moreover, this projector’s installation is easy and allows for ceiling mounting that can project a 120” image from approximately 12 feet away. Overall, it will be the best projector to opt for paying less cost.
2. ViewSonic PX747-4K Projector
- Resolution – 4K UHD (3840 x 2160)
- Display Technology – DLP
- Contrast Ratio – 12,000:1
- Image Brightness (Lumens) – 3,500
- Throw Ratio – 3.2 – 38.4 ft. (100″ Screen @ 10.7 ft.)
- Other features – HDR Content Support, 10W inbuilt speaker, etc.
ViewSonic PX747-4K is one of the best cheapest 4k projector available under $1000 price range. This 4K projector will make your gaming and movie time more joyful with the 4K resolution mode and it also enhances the power of movies through its view. It is one of the mind-blowing projectors with 3500 lumens that delivers stunning bright images in nearly any environment. It also comes with a backlit remote control giving the best possible features of lit-up catches in dark rooms and for nighttime viewing.
The ViewSonic PX747-4K projector provides flexible mounting options with wider optical zoom. As it is integrated with a 10W speaker, it offers immersive audio in nearly any room or environment. With a 12,000:1 contrast ratio, the projector lets you enjoy crisp and clear images. Its enhanced game display mode provides lightning-fast input response times making it an ideal 4K projector for gaming.
3. Optoma UHD50 4K Home Theater Projector
- Resolution – 4K UHD (3840 x 2160)
- Display Technology – DLP
- Contrast Ratio – 500,000:1
- Image Brightness (Lumens) – 2,400
- Throw Distance – 120″ @ 10.5 feet
- Other features – 15,000 hours of lamp life, HDR10 technology
The Optoma UHD50 is another powerful 4k projector available in the market today. This projector creates 2,400 lumens of brightness and couples with an amazing contrast ratio of 5,00,000:1. It is equipped with HDR10 technology that provides great color depth with a darker black level and brighter white. With 8.2 million pixels and a resolution of 3840 x 2160, the projector creates a razor-sharp picture for the home cinema experience. The Optoma UHD50 also offers a 1.3x zoom lens and vertical image adjustment that allow you flexible installation or table placement in various spaces.
With a 1.3x zoom lens, the projector will throw a 120″ image from a distance of about 10.5–13.9 feet. This Optoma model is quoting 15000 hours of lamp life in Dynamic Black mode and comes standard with a one-year limited warranty on parts and labor. It is compatible with your HDMI device and available analog audio input along with MHL compatibility for connecting all mobile devices like iPads and smartphones. Overall, the Optoma UHD50 is an exceptional entry-level budget 4k projector for those who want to enjoy a home theater experience without breaking the bank.
Best 4k Projector Under $2000
4. BenQ HT3550 4K Home Theater Projector
- Resolution – 4K UHD (3840 x 2160)
- Display Technology – DLP
- Contrast Ratio – 30,000:1
- Image Brightness (Lumens) – 2,000
- Throw Ratio – 1.13 – 1.47 (100″ @ 8.2 feet)
- Other features – flexible installation, 3-year warranty
One of the best 4k home theater projectors you can consider buying at a moderate cost is BenQ HT3550. It is an ideal option for those who are looking for the best inexpensive light cannons for the home cinema experience. This DLP projector comes with a 4K UHD 3840 x 2160 resolution consisting of 8.3 million pixels that provide amazing clarity and crisply defined fine details while gaming or watching movies. The projector also comes with HDR10 and HLG support that produce accurate, rich, and dramatic picture quality.
The BenQ HT3550 has 2,000 ANSI lumens and a contrast ratio of 30,000:1 which delivers true blacks and amazing pictures with minimal tweaks to settings. It has a short throw ratio of 1.3x zoom and vertical lens shift means that it is possible to project a picture into any room with a dynamic range of projection distances and heights. The projector includes a flexible array of connectivity ports, which include a 2.5A USB port, USB 3.0, two HDMI ports, and optical SPDIF ports. On the whole, with great features, BenQ HT3550 is one of our highly recommended 4K projectors you can buy under $1500.
5. Epson Home Cinema 4010
- Resolution – 4K UHD (3840 x 2160)
- Display Technology – 3LCD
- Contrast Ratio – 200,000:1
- Image Brightness (Lumens) – 2,400
- Throw Ratio – 1.35:1 – 2.84:1 (D:W)
- Other features – Full HD 3D, Frame Interpolation, HDR
The Epson Home Cinema 4010 is one of the 4K-compliant projectors with 3LCD technology that displays 100% of the RGB color signal without any rainbowing effect. It relies on pixel-shifting technology that results in an exceptionally sharp 4K visual experience. The projector offers 2,400 lumens for both white and color brightness and a rated contrast of 200,000:1 which produces a black level and shadow detail with dark content.
Furthermore, Home Cinema 4010 provides a tremendous 2.1x zoom range, which means you can project a screen up to 300” from a variety of distances. The projector supports HDR10 and renders the full three-dimensional DCI-P3 color gamut, which makes it suitable for both standard dynamic range 1080p as well as UHD Blu-rays. The projector features a high-quality 15-element precision glass lens designed for outstanding image clarity and elimination of chromatic aberrations. For gaming or entertainment, the Epson Home Cinema 4010 is the best 4K projector under 2000 dollars to buy in 2021.
6. Optoma UHD60 True 4K UHD Projector
- Resolution – 4K UHD (3840 x 2160)
- Display Technology – DLP
- Contrast Ratio – 1,000,000:1
- Image Brightness (Lumens) – 3,000
- Throw Ratio – 1.39 – 2.22:1
- Other features – 15,000 hours of lamp life, HDR-compatible, Big screen gaming
Optoma is guaranteed as one of the best manufacturers on the list of home theater projectors. The Optoma UHD60 is unique among the 4K projectors under $2000 that provides high-quality home cinema feel with 8.3 million on-screen pixels on a 4K UHD display. The projector features the highest lumen rating of 3000, which makes it bright enough in any environment. The UHD60’s HDR picture is truly impressive which is remarkably well color balanced having brighter whites and deeper blacks.
The projector has a 1.6x zoom lens and vertical lens shift for flexible installation with a throw distance of anywhere between 12 to 19 feet to project a 120″ image. Under $2000, the UHD60 offers the highest 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio to provide you an ultimate 4K UHD home viewing experience with improved picture quality, particularly if you are viewing in a dark theater room. There are dual 4W in-built stereo speakers that create loud and scrip audio. The dynamic lamp life will be 10,000 hours which makes it suitable for watching movies, gameplay, or any other picture-viewing experience.
7. ViewSonic X10-4KE LED Portable Smart Wi-Fi Home Theater Projector
- Resolution – 4K UHD (3840 x 2160)
- Display Technology – DLP
- Lamp Life – 30,000 Hours
- Image Brightness (Lumens) – 2,400
- Throw Ratio – 3.2 – 38.4 ft. (100″ Screen @ 10.7 ft.)
- Other features – integrated Harman Kardon speakers, Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
The ViewSonic X10-4KE is the best 4k short throw projector, and offers amazing picture quality at this price point. The projector has 2400 lumens, which is bright enough for living rooms and media rooms. The projector has a solid-state RGB LED light engine with a 30,000-hour of usage, which reduces your total maintenance cost, as compared to lamp-based projectors, whose lamps last between 3,000 and 8,000 hours. With fixed optical Zoom, the projector lens has a throw ratio of 0.8 and a throw distance range of 1.6 to 11.5 feet. It can project an image of up to 120”, making it ideal for action-packed movies, sports, and games.
The X10-4K features two built-in Harman Kardon Bluetooth speakers that can be wirelessly controlled via Bluetooth devices. These speakers produce a deep, loud, 360-degree room-filling sound that makes it perfect for outdoor movie nights. The ViewSonic X10-4KE is also compatible with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can power the projector on and of, control volume, input selection, and auto-focus with your voice. Furthermore, it has 16GB of internal storage, so there’s plenty of room for you to store your favorite movies.
Best 4k Projector Under $3000 & above
8. Epson Home Cinema 5050UB
- Resolution – 4K UHD (3840 x 2160)
- Display Technology – DLP
- Contrast Ratio – 30,000:1
- Image Brightness (Lumens) – 2,000
- Throw Ratio – 1.13 – 1.47 (100″ @ 8.2 feet)
- Other features – Clear and textured audio with the inbuilt speakers
This superior Epson Home Cinema 5050UB is a great choice for those who want a solid 3-chip projector that supports 4K resolution and HDR media. This projector comes with advanced pixel-shifting technology that controls 3-LCD chips to parallel process millions of pixels and provides you with a sharp 4K visual experience. It comes with typical 2,400 lumens and an outstanding dynamic contrast Ratio of 1,000,000: 1 to deliver high-level white and color brightness.
This easy-to-install home projector has a lens shift that allows you to worry less about the placement and produces a 100-inch projection at an 8.2-foot distance. The Home Cinema 5050UB is also an ideal gaming projector with very little input lag. The other advantage of this projector is that there are no “rainbowing” or “color brightness” issues that plague some DLP projectors with color wheels. The projector also supports HDR for exceptional visual performance. Overall, the Epson Home Cinema 5050UB is the best 4k projector for home theater under the price of $3000.
9. LG HU80KA 4K UHD Laser Cinebeam Projector
- Resolution – 4K UHD (3840 x 2160)
- Display Technology – DLP
- Contrast Ratio – 150,000:1
- Image Brightness (Lumens) – 2,500
- Projection image: – 150 inch @14. 1ft
- Other features – Wirelessly screen-share, HDR 10, versatile setup
The next smart projection device in the list of best 4k projectors would be LG HU80KA which lets you enjoy smart TV functionality on a big screen. The projector has a maximum brightness of 2500 lumens, which makes it suitable for use in ambient lighting conditions. It features an eight-segment RGBYRGBY color wheel that helps reduce rainbow artifacts. With CineBeam’s 20,000-hour laser life, you could watch a two-hour film every day for 28 years before needing to replace it.
This model is integrated with XPR technology that combines image processing with two DMD mirrors capable of shitting images at the microsecond level. The HU80KA is compatible with HDR10 which supports a wide color gamut and peak brightness for vibrant images. The focus and zoom are controllable by a pair of dials at the top of the CineBeam projector, which can produce an image anywhere between 66 and 150 inches. Furthermore, it comes with LG’s smart hub, which allows you to access a number of TV and film apps such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and YouTube.
10. Sony Home Theater Projector VPL-VW295ES
- Resolution – Full 4K (4096 x 2160)
- Display Technology – SXRD
- Dynamic Contrast – N/A
- Image Brightness (Lumens) – 1,500
- Lens – Standard 4K Lens
- Other features – Compatible with a wide lens, long-lasting lamp, HDR10/HLG
One of the other important projectors that occupy the top position in the list of expensive home theater projectors would be Sony VPL-VW295ES. It is big in size with a screen size of 200”. It has an impressive 1,500 ANSI Lumens brightness to do a very respectable job on 4K HDR content. That feature is enough to produce 4K images with bright highlights and rich, deep blacks in any room environment.
The projector also presents motion flow and advanced reality creation technology creating a crisp, sharp picture in every scene that will make you love it. Further, the input lag ensures a fresher refresh rate for gamers.
With the help of anamorphic lens compatibility, you can enjoy movies and games in your favorite format. It comes with HDR compatibility that brings a wider contrast range with an even high range of brightness levels. The projector is based on 3-SXRD imager channels, one each for red, green, and blue that display a full 8.8-million pixels in vibrant and rich colors at every instant. If true 4K resolution is your primary concern, then Sony VPL-VW295ES is the best 4K projector for movies and gaming you can buy now.
Factors to consider while buying a 4K projector
Today, people are more informative and they love to choose the best product with all the best qualities. Here are some of the important things you need to consider when you are buying the new 4k projector.
Know the purpose
Projectors can be used in different places like homes, schools, colleges, offices, etc. so, you should first find the application of the projector. This will help you to concentrate more on the resolution and image quality along with the audio output. Further, you should consider an all-in-one model that offers some features like HDMI ports or some automatic standby.
Reliability
You need to ensure that the model you’re going to choose comes with some reputation brand and customer support facilities. Consider a brand that sells products with excellent customer reviews and this will help you to make the projector reliable.
Portability
You should also consider the overall weight and size of the projector before making the final decision. If you are planning to buy a projector that will be stationary, this might not give more importance. This consideration becomes more important especially if you are planning to use the projector at a different place.
Projector technology
There are three types of technologies like LCD, DLP, and LED. LED is considered to be the best from a different perspective, but it comes with a high price tag. When you are looking for low-cost projectors, LCD or DLP would be the most suitable choice. They are also a great choice in terms of specification and picture quality.
Brightness quality and light output
For a 4K projector, you should not settle with lumens below 1500. If you’re planning to use the projector in a completely dark environment, then the ideal brightness would be between 1500 and 2500 ANSI lumens. However, we recommend you to go for 3000 & above ANSI lumens for better clarity of the 4K resolution.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Bottom Line
Now, you have now gone through the range of projectors that will help you choose the right one for your needs. Whether it’s the best cheapest 4k projector or a costly one, make sure to do enough research on the projector and find out all the technical aspects of it. This will help you with the perfect selection for your hard-earned money.
If you’ve any concerns about this comprehensive buying guide, let us know in the comments below.
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