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Best projectors to buy right now
Brightness decides everything: a projector that is dim in a lit room is a disappointment however sharp it is. For a living room, buy a native 1080p model with real lumens figures; cheap mini projectors are fine for kids' film nights in the dark.
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Best for most people
1. BenQ TH575i
10W · 16.7ms · 3,800 lumens · 1080p
The projector to buy for a living room, because it is built to be watched with the lights on. The listing quotes 3,800 lumens for a 120-inch picture, 16.7ms input lag for gaming, a 1.1x optical zoom and a licensed Google TV dongle in the box. Streaming runs from that plug-in dongle rather than built-in software, and the picture is 1080p, not 4K.
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Best premium 4K
2. BenQ TK710
4ms, 240Hz · 3,200 ANSI lumens · 4K HDR · Laser
For a dedicated home cinema or a serious gamer who wants 4K on a big wall. It has a laser light source with no lamp to replace, 3,200 ANSI lumens for lights-on viewing, HDR10 and HLG, 4ms response at 240Hz and vertical lens shift. The listing names no built-in streaming apps, so budget for a streaming stick or use a console.
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Best 4K all-in-one
3. Epson EF-72
Google TV · 20W Bose 2.1 · 1,000 lumens · 4K PRO-UHD
For a living room that wants 4K, streaming and decent sound in one good-looking box. It has Google TV built in, 20W 2.1-channel Bose sound with Dolby Audio, an adjustable stand and Epson's 3LCD system, which the listing says avoids the rainbow effect. At 1,000 lumens it needs a dim room, well short of the BenQs for daytime viewing.
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Best for moving between rooms
4. Epson EF-61W
20W Bose 2.1 · Up to 150in · 700 lumens · 1080p
For a projector that moves from the lounge to the bedroom wall. It is compact and lightweight, sets up its own picture when you switch it on, and has Google TV and the same 20W Bose sound as the EF-72. The 700-lumen picture is for dark rooms and evenings only.
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Best on battery
5. XGIMI MoGo 4
12W Harman Kardon · Up to 5 hrs with PowerBase · 450 ISO lumens · 1080P
For garden film nights, camping and watching on the bedroom ceiling. The included PowerBase stand doubles the run time to up to 5 hours, the stand turns 360 degrees and lines the picture up itself, and Google TV with licensed Netflix is built in. At 450 lumens it only works once the sun has gone down.
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Best for gaming without a console
6. Samsung Freestyle 2nd Gen
Samsung Gaming Hub · Up to 100in · Full HD HDR
For people who want to point a picture at the wall or ceiling and also play cloud games. It runs Samsung's smart TV apps and Gaming Hub, so you can stream games with no console, on a screen up to 100 inches. The listing gives no lumens figure, and Gaming Hub needs an internet connection, a subscription and a controller.
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Best budget for kids' film nights
7. Yoton Y3 Mini Projector
The cheap mini projector for a child's bedroom in the dark, and a strong seller. It weighs 317g, has a 360-degree stand and auto keystone, and the listing is honest that it is native 720p and meant for dim rooms. Netflix and Prime Video will not mirror from a phone, so plug in a TV stick for streaming.
Nothing matches those filters. Try fewer filters, or search for a brand like "MSI" or "Crucial".
How we rank
Ordered by how well each sells in its Amazon UK category, what the listing confirms it can do, and price. We have not handled these products: the write-ups rest on what each listing states. Prices and stock are checked daily.
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