The Best 4K Projectors for 2024 (2024)

When TVs, desktop monitors, and even laptops start packing more pixels into an image at lower prices, home theater and office projectors follow, but tend to lag in affordability. So while 4K resolution (3,840 by 2,160 pixels) has long since taken over as the standard for TVs, 4K projectors are only now approaching and even dipping below $1,000 to take over the sweet spot as consumers' preferred resolution. If you're shopping for a 4K model, you need to know that some issues shake out a little differently than they do with 1080p and lower resolutions, and some new factors come into play also. But if you choose carefully, you'll have a big-screen image you'll love—at least until 8K becomes the norm. But that's not going to happen anytime soon.

What are the issues to look at for 4K projectors? Some features were newly introduced along with 4K, most notably a different approach to native resolution and support for high dynamic range (HDR) imaging (which is also showing up in some 1080p models now). Others, such as brightness and portability, need to be considered differently with 4K compared with lower resolutions. And some—display technology, light source, audio, and input lag—are essentially the same as for any other projector. Below, we'll first cover our favoritemodels for common projector applications, choosing from among the projectors we've reviewed, then cover the issues you should consider when choosing a 4K model.

Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks

Buying Guide: The Best 4K Projectors for 2024

Understanding Native Resolution: Must My Projector Have a True 4K Chip?

Native resolution—the actual number of pixels that are physically on a chip—is a big deal for lower-resolution projectors. A model with a 1,280-by-720-pixel chip can accept a 1080p (1,920-by-1,080-pixel) signal and down-convert it to a 720p image on screen. But no matter how high-quality its lens, the resulting image will have a softer focus than an otherwise identical projector with a 1080p chip. The same is not true, however, for 4K projectors. That's partly because of a trick called "pixel shifting," and partly because there are limits to human visual acuity (even if you don't need glasses).

Almost all projectors that offer a 4K image or its equivalent and cost less than about $4,000 use one of two pixel-shifting techniques. The majority are based on 1080p DLP chips that use TI's XPR fast-switch pixel shifting. This technology breaks each 4K frame into four sets of 1,920 by 1,080 pixels, then displays all four sets on screen one at a time, shifting the pixels' position between each set. Your eye integrates all four sets into a single 4K image.

At this writing, the only projectors in this price range that use a different pixel-shifting technology are Epson's 4K Pro-UHD models. The Epson scheme is available in two versions, both of which use three 1080p LCD chips. The newest, and more expensive, 4K Pro-UHD models also deliver four sets of 1,920 by 1,080 pixels to the screen for each frame, much like DLP-based models. The older version of the technology, still available in less-expensive models, puts two sets of 1,920 by 1,080 pixels on the screen per frame.

(Credit: Epson)

By sheer pixel count, the older, more affordable version of Epson's approach is only half of 4K. But surprisingly, it delivers image resolution—in the sense of ability to resolve detail—that's indistinguishable from models based on TI's pixel shifting. One reason is that your perception of image sharpness and detail depends on other factors besides pixel count, including contrast, lens quality, and video processing, which Epson's Pro-UHD technology takes advantage of. Another reason is that your eyes may be wonders of nature's engineering, but they aren't exactly the James Webb Space Telescope—there's only so much detail you can see.

Sit far enough back from a screen, and you won't be able to tell the difference between a 4K image and VGA (640-by-480-pixel) resolution. An eagle might, but the human visual system can't. As you get closer, the differences between resolution levels get easier to discern, but you'd have to be closer to the screen than recommended for any given screen size to spot any difference between an image produced by a TI XPR-based projector and the original version of Epson 4K Pro-UHD technology—at least for screen sizes typical for home use. So when shopping for a 4K projector, don't let the difference in pixel count between those two choices affect your decision.

That said, you might or might not see the difference between either of those approaches and the newer version of Epson's 4K Pro-UHD, depending on how good your eyesight is and where you prefer sitting within the recommended range for the image size—closer to or farther from the screen. Also keep in mind that for models that use either version of Epson's approach, other factors besides the pixel count also add to your perception of sharpness and image detail.

(Credit: Optoma)

Somewhat tangentially, note that the term "4K," which for TVs more or less universally means 3,840 by 2,160 pixels, is actually defined to include other resolutions, such as the 4,096 by 2,160 pixels used in digital cinema. However, prices for projectors with those variations start at well above $4,000 for current models, making them significantly less affordable than the projectors we're focusing on here.

Do I Need HDR in a 4K Projector?

As you may already know, the improved image quality of 4K TVs over 1080p models depends not only on quadrupled resolution but even more on the shift from standard dynamic range (SDR) to high dynamic range (HDR), which was introduced along with 4K. Unfortunately, current projectors simply can't produce the peak brightness required by HDR, unless you make the image so small that you lose the inherent projector advantage of delivering a much larger image than any similarly priced TV or other display. Many have trouble delivering suitably dark blacks, as well. As a result, although many 4K projectors offer HDR support, some don't support it at all, and some of those that do don't handle it well. That said, while some older models produced HDR images that you wouldn't want to watch, the issue for more recent models that don't handle HDR well is more often that the image is watchable, but lower quality overall than the SDR image from the same projector.

If you're buying a projector for business presentations or education, and you want 4K resolution so you can show more detailed line graphics or make small text more readable, poor HDR handling or a lack of HDR won't matter. In most situations, it won't be an issue even if you include video in your presentations or show an occasional film in your classroom.

For home theater use and TV replacement, a projector with HDR support is better than one without it, at least in theory, but the quality of HDR varies so much between projectors that you need to confirm from an independent source how well it actually works. That's why we cover HDR quality separately from SDR quality in our reviews.

Which HDR Formats Should I Get in My 4K Projector?

There are several HDR formats. To take advantage of any of them, your projector must specifically support it, which means that before buying a projector you need to check which HDR formats it supports and make sure they include those used by the image sources you want to watch.

The most common format for projectors is HDR10, which is the version on discs and is also widely supported by streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. Many projectors also support Hybrid Log Gamma, better known as HLG HDR or just HLG. Although less common among image sources than HDR10, it's becoming more popular—it's currently supported by YouTube, for example.

(Credit: Xgimi)

An up-and-coming format is HDR10+, which is currently supported for a small selection of material on Amazon Prime, for example. This builds on HDR10, both improving image quality and eliminating some of the manual adjustment HDR10 requires when switching from one image source to another. A fourth format, Dolby Vision, is common in TVs, supported by several major streaming services for at least some content, and available in a small but growing number of projectors.

How Bright Is Bright Enough in a 4K Projector?

The easiest way to know whether a projector offers sufficient brightness for your needs is to read some reviews of it. Ours discuss the usable image sizes we found to deliver the best image quality in different lighting conditions. They also mention the screen size and type of setting (dark home theater, conference room, family room with ambient light) the projector is best suited for. (For more about screens, check out our guide to finding the right screen for your projector.)

It's possible to calculate the exact brightness you need for SDR images. However, it takes some math and depends on enough variables that there isn't room to detail the process here. Briefly, the variables include screen size; ambient light level, which determines how bright an image you need; and screen gain, which is the ability of some screen materials to boost image brightness by reflecting more light toward the viewing area.

As a point of reference, using the most common recommendation for SDR brightness in a dark room, 500 ANSI lumens is bright enough to light up a 100-inch diagonal, 1.0-gain screen with a 16:9 aspect ratio. In the low-to-moderate level of ambient light in a typical family room at night, you'd need 1,200 lumens for the same screen size. For the brighter light of an office, you'd need 1,500 lumens.

Keep in mind that the best image quality almost always comes at a lower brightness than the projector's rating (or its brightest available mode if the projector doesn't live up to its rating). A good rule of thumb is that the mode you'll want to use will usually be 40% to 50% as bright as the brightest mode. There is no widely accepted standard for how bright an image needs to be for HDR viewing, however, which makes it impossible to make broad recommendations for how bright a projector has to be. Some people recommend HDR brightness levels for dark rooms that almost everyone agrees would be too bright for SDR viewing. Others disagree, but still suggest levels near the top of the range for SDR.

These differences of opinion are due both to subjective preferences and to variations in how HDR is implemented from one projector to the next. As a practical matter, unless you can test a projector for yourself, reviews like PCMag's are your best source of information for deciding whether a given projector's HDR image is bright enough for your needs. Pay particular attention to descriptions of HDR image brightness as distinct from SDR brightness, and whether the HDR image is suitably bright at the same image size used for SDR, or seems darker overall.

Should I Get a Portable 4K Projector?

At this writing, there are no palmtop or pico projectors with 4K resolution, and none that works on battery power. The most portable 4K model we've seen is at the high end of the mini projector range, but only if you stretch the definition of "mini" to just under 4 pounds, and that model is now out of production.

On the other hand, it's easy to find "room-to-room" portable 4K projectors, which are just a few pounds heavier. Too bulky for briefcases or backpacks, they're suitable for carrying from one room to another or to the backyard (with an extension cord) for an outdoor movie night. Some even include built-in handles.

What Display Technology Should I Get in a 4K Projector?

As mentioned earlier, there are currently only two display technology options for affordable 4K and 4K-equivalent projectors: DLP (what most manufacturers use) and LCD (from Epson). The key advantage for DLP models is price: Among projectors with similar features and image quality, DLP units tend to cost less. In addition, DLP is currently your only choice for a less-expensive entry-level or portable projector.

A key advantage of LCD technology is the same for 4K as for 1080p: It can't produce rainbow artifacts. These red/green/blue flashes come from using a single chip for all three primary colors and rotating through the colors in sequence. LCD projectors (except for a few lower-resolution portables) use three chips rather than one, which lets them project all three primary colors on the screen at once.

Some DLP projectors are more prone to showing rainbow artifacts than others, and some people see these artifacts more readily than others, so you may or may not see them with any given DLP model. For business and education applications, most viewers will consider occasional rainbow artifacts at least tolerable for presentations. Whether you'll consider them an issue for home entertainment or home theater depends on how often you see them with a given projector, and whether you're annoyed by or don't mind them.

(Credit: AAXA)

If you don't see these artifacts or don't find them bothersome, more power to you. However, some people see them so easily and find them so distracting that they can't enjoy watching videos or movies with most DLP projectors. If you're in this group, you definitely want a three-chip LCD model.

If you can tolerate some rainbows but not too many, you may or may not be happy with any given DLP projector. Our reviews always mention whether we saw these artifacts and, if so, how often. But because you may see them either more or less easily than we do, we suggest that if you're bothered by rainbow artifacts or don't know if you are, you should try to buy from a dealer who allows easy returns without a restocking fee, so you can test the projector out for yourself.

Which Type of Light Source Is Best in a 4K Projector?

More and more projectors today use solid-state light sources, meaning LEDs or lasers, but some advantages remain for traditional lamps. (Plenty of projectors still use them.)

For the best possible image quality in a dark room, a well-designed home theater projector with a lamp will deliver darker black levels than the vast majority of models with a solid-state light source, as well as better contrast, which translates to more visually dramatic dark scenes. The darker blacks make a significant difference only when viewing in a dark room, which largely eliminates this advantage if you're buying a projector for office or classroom use, or for home entertainment in a room with ambient light.

Another advantage of traditional lamps is that they cost less than LEDs and lasers, so a lamp-based projector will be less expensive than an otherwise identical solid-state model. However, if you keep the projector long enough to need one or more lamp replacements, your total cost of ownership may be about the same. When comparing a less expensive lamp-based projector to a more costly one with an LED or laser light source, be sure to check the cost of replacement lamps—often as much as $300 or more—as well as how often you'll need to replace them.

The primary advantages of solid-state light sources are their longer life and slower loss of brightness as they age. A typical lamp will lose about 25% of its brightness over the first 500 hours of use, then continue to lose brightness more slowly until it needs replacement. Both LEDs and lasers will pretty much last for the life of the projector—with rated light source lifetimes of 20,000 to 30,000 hours. They also lose brightness as they age, but the rate of loss is closer to a straight line. That means they retain more than 75% of their original brightness considerably longer than lamps do, both in terms of hours of use and percentage of lifespan.

(Credit: Epson)

What about choosing between LEDs and lasers? LED projectors are more likely to have oversaturated color, but not all models have that problem. Similarly, lasers allow higher brightness levels, but the ranges for the two overlap, and there's no reason to ignore LED-based models in that overlapping range. So don't make assumptions based on the technology. Just pick a projector with good color accuracy and the brightness you need.

Note that when comparing projector brightness, you should limit your comparisons to ANSI or the equivalent ISO lumen ratings. There is no standard for LED lumens, which makes comparisons meaningless. You may also see some brightness ratings using CVIA lumens, a relatively new spec defined by the China Video Industry Association. CVIA is not directly comparable to ANSI or ISO, but if done correctly, it should be a lower number than ANSI or ISO lumen rating for the same projector.

Is the Projector's Input Lag Short Enough for Gaming?

Input lag, measured in milliseconds (ms), is the amount of time between when a projector receives a video frame and when it shows up on your screen. If you're making a business or classroom presentation or watching movies and videos, even a long lag won't matter. If you're building a flight simulator or projecting a first-person shooter game, a shorter lag can make the difference between surviving to the next frame or not.

The input lag for any given projector will vary with its resolution and refresh rate (how many times per second the image is redrawn). Doubling the refresh rate will often cut the lag in half. However, a projector capable of a 240Hz refresh rate at 1080p resolution will likely be limited to 60Hz at 4K, andan input lag that's four times as long. For current gaming projectors with the shortest available input lag, that translates to slightly longer than 4ms at 1080p/240Hz and 16ms at 4K/60Hz.

(Credit: Epson)

Obviously, the input lag that matters to you is the onefor the resolution and refresh rate you plan to use. Hardcore gamers should look for input lag measurements of no more than 17ms at their desired settings. Casual gamers may be comfortable with lag up to 50ms, or even a bit more. In either case, a shorter lag time is always better.

Do I Need External Audio in a 4K Projector?

For a long time, the conventional wisdom for projectors (inside the business, as well as among users) was that people who need high-quality or high-volume audio are going to use external soundbars or speakers, so there's little point in trying to build a deluxe sound system into the projector itself. For that reason, the best home theater projectors traditionally don't have any onboard audio.

Most projectors designed for business or education, by contrast, include an audio system, but in many cases it's just a convenience feature with volume far too low for the size of the room the projector is likely to be used in. Sound quality is usually tolerable, but rarely better than that. If you're buying a projector for these applications, be sure to check for both audio quality and volume.

Recently, manufacturers have begun to target some projectors specifically as TV replacements, adding audio systems in those designs to match the intended task. The two categories of 4K projectors most likely to offer better than merely decent onboard sound systems are ultra short throw (UST) laser projectors and room-to-room portables.

(Credit: BenQ)

The UST models, which are often billed as TV replacements or laser TVs, are typically a size and shape that makes it easy to add what amounts to a built-in soundbar on the side facing viewers. Room-to-room portables, most weighing roughly 6 to 9 pounds, often have a nearly cubical shape, with enough room inside the box for surprisingly high-quality audio.

So, Which 4K Projector Should I Buy?

The good news is that the number of affordable 4K projectors is climbing quickly, making it ever easier to find one that fits your needs and budget. Our favorites listed here, both above and below, with links to detailed reviews, are the best 4K or 4K-equivalent models we've tested for various usage cases and price ranges, and are an excellent starting point for your search.