2024-2025 Buyer’s Guide to the Best Gaming Projectors

Gaming Projectors: Big Screens, Big Fun

When you think of projectors, you might picture business meetings or dark home theaters—not exactly ideal for gaming with friends. But brands like BenQ are changing that with brighter displays, powerful built-in audio, and gaming-optimized features. Thanks to these innovations, projectors are now a top choice for gamers.

We thank BenQ for sponsoring the 2024–2025 Gaming Projector Report and Buyer’s Guide.

Game Anywhere

Modern gaming projectors are compact, sturdy, and easy to take on the go. No more dark theater rooms or ceiling installations—just plug in and play wherever you are. Whether it’s a backyard hangout or a friend’s place, you can now enjoy games on a massive screen in almost any space.

The Power of Projector Gaming

Gaming has become incredibly lifelike—skin textures, lighting, movement—all beautifully rendered. But playing on a small monitor or a 60” TV doesn’t do it justice. Projectors let you play on 100+ inch screens with vibrant 4K visuals and room-filling sound, making you feel like you’re inside the game.

Whether it’s Halo Infinite or Gran Turismo 7, playing on a giant screen with your field of vision filled is the closest thing to full immersion—until VR takes the next big leap.

 Key Features to Look For in a Gaming Projector

To get the best experience, look for a projector that’s fast, loud, bright, and visually rich. Here are the essential features:

 Input Lag (Reaction Speed)

Most important for serious gamers.
Input lag is the delay between your controller action and what appears on screen.

• Optimal (16–20ms): Ideal for competitive gamers

• Good (26–33ms): Works for most players

• Acceptable (33ms+): Okay for casual, offline, or family gaming

Every projector in this guide delivers 26ms or better, meaning they’re fast and responsive.

Imagine sneaking through a corner in Call of Duty, spotting your opponent before they see you—BAM, headshot—thanks to low input lag. That’s why speed matters.

 Why It Matters

Hardcore gamers—especially those who stream, compete, or play fast-paced online shooters—need gear that keeps up. A laggy projector can ruin the experience. That’s why serious gamers are switching from TVs to gaming projectors, which now offer larger screens and better performance at a competitive price.

• Casual gamers may be fine with lag over 33ms (e.g., Animal Crossing, RPGs, local multiplayer).

• Competitive gamers need faster response (33ms or lower).

• Pro-level gamers should aim for 16–20ms input lag for optimal results.

BenQ Projectors: Made for Gamers

BenQ is leading the charge in gaming projectors with models like the X3100i and TK700. These are designed with low input lag, amazing visuals, and built-in audio that thumps. They’re not just displays—they’re full-on gaming machines with performance to match.

 Summary

Gaming projectors have evolved. They’re no longer just for movies or boardrooms—they’re fast, portable, and immersive. With massive screens, incredible visuals, and lightning-fast input lag, they’re perfect for everyone from casual gamers to pros.

If you’re looking to level up your setup, there’s never been a better time to go big with a projector

Realistic Color

Vivid, accurate color is key to lifelike gaming visuals. BenQ, a long-time innovator in gaming monitors, uses its expertise to build projectors with excellent color performance. Their gaming monitors—like the MOBIUZ series—are known for reducing screen tearing, input lag, and ghosting, while delivering rich, accurate color. That same knowledge is now used to power their projectors.

To ensure color precision, BenQ launched the Color Lab in 2015. There, they developed exclusive algorithms for stable, accurate color tracking, ensuring their projectors deliver realistic images every time.

 Light Source

The lighting in your room is a key factor when choosing a projector. If you’re gaming in a space with ambient light—like a living room—you’ll need a bright projector (high lumens) to see clearly without turning off all the lights. After all, no one wants to trip over a soda can in the dark.

Also, consider the light source type. Traditional lamp-based projectors have bulbs that wear out and are expensive to replace. If you game often or for long hours, LED or laser projectors offer much longer lifespans, making them a better investment for serious gamers.

 Resolution & HDR

Great gaming isn’t just about fast response—it’s also about stunning visuals. That’s where 4K resolution and HDR come in.

HDR (High Dynamic Range) brings better contrast, more vivid colors, and more visible detail in both bright and dark scenes—great for spotting enemies in shadows or catching small details in the environment.

However, not all HDR projectors are created equal. Many lose brightness in HDR mode. To truly support 4K HDR gaming at 60fps, a projector must have an 18Gbps HDMI port. Only a few models can do this properly.

BenQ uses its own HDR-PRO™ technology, combining software and hardware enhancements to produce more detailed and color-accurate HDR images compared to standard HDR projectors.

Audio Performance

While most projectors aren’t known for great audio, some—like BenQ’s X3100i—are breaking that trend. It features treVolo-tuned 5W x 2 virtual surround speakers and Bongiovi DPS technology to enhance sound quality for gaming.

Bongiovi DPS uses a 120-point real-time audio calibration to improve clarity, depth, presence, and stereo imaging. This creates a more immersive audio experience whether you’re using built-in speakers, headphones, or external speakers. It adapts sound dynamically for games, movies, music, and more.

Optimized Gaming Modes

High-quality gaming projectors now offer picture and sound modes that go beyond just reducing input lag. Instead of simply dimming the projector, these modes enhance audio and visual settings based on game type.

BenQ projectors are a great example. Their models, like the X3100i, feature GameMaestro technology, which customizes audio and picture settings for different game genres—RPG, FPS, and sports.

BenQ’s Game Modes:

• RPG Mode – Cinematic immersion: Deep bass makes monster roars and explosions more powerful. Orchestral music and detailed visuals fully draw you into fantasy environments.

• FPS Mode – Tactical advantage: Enhanced surround sound lets you hear footsteps, gunshots, and nearby threats clearly. Shadows reveal hidden enemies so you can react faster.

• SPG Mode (Sports Game Mode) – Live-game feel: Realistic colors (green fields, skin tones, jerseys) and enhanced voice clarity make it feel like you’re right in the stadium.

These presets don’t just tweak visuals—they adjust audio dynamics to match gameplay. Whether it’s booming effects in shooters or crisp commentary in sports, each mode enhances your experience.

A dedicated remote button makes switching modes quick and easy, including options for movies and standard video content.

In short: BenQ’s GameMaestro modes optimize both picture and sound to match your game type, delivering a richer, more immersive experience every time you play