The 2019-2020 Best Home Theater Projectors Report

As summer ends, it’s time to reflect on the home theater and home entertainment projectors we’ve reviewed over the past year—or models closely related to ones we’ve tested—and compile everything into one detailed guide. This report is designed to help you find the projector that best fits your needs.

What to Expect in This Year’s Report

We’ve categorized projectors into four price ranges and reviewed a wide selection—excluding only some very low-end models (under $500). Brands featured this year include AAXA, Acer, BenQ, Epson, JVC, LG, and Sony.

This edition is titled the 2019–2020 Home Theater Projectors Report for two key reasons:

Most new projectors are announced at CEDIA (September) or CES (January).
By the time we publish in August, we’ve reviewed nearly every major model released in the past year.

Late Arrivals & Upcoming Updates

At CES 2020, companies like LG, Optoma, VAVA, and others announced 4K-capable ultra-short throw DLP projectors, originally scheduled for release in June. However, most were delayed until at least August.

Of those, LG’s model is the only one currently shipping (as of late August). Optoma’s P1, which we received as a pre-production unit, barely made it into this report. It’s now expected to ship around September 15th.

We plan to publish an early 2020 update to include:

These delayed models
New projectors launched at CEDIA in September
Any major releases from CES in January

Many projectors shown at CES last January are only now starting to ship—seven months later

Changes in Price Classes

We regularly update our price categories to reflect market trends and better group projectors. A few years ago, “Entry Level” meant under $2000. Due to falling prices, we now define Entry Level as under $1000.

Updated Price Classes for This Year

Under $1000 – Entry Level
$1000 – $2000 – Mid-Low Range
$2500 – $5000 – Mid-High Range
Over $5000 – High-End

Last year’s $1000–$2500 range has been split to better align products. Many current projectors in the $1000–$2000 class are 4K capable, including 4K UHD DLPs and 1080p pixel-shifting 3LCD models. However, they generally lack strong black level performance, a key feature found in more expensive projectors.

For example:

The BenQ HT3550 and Epson HC4010 are solid performers, but neither has impressive black levels.
Move up to $2500+, and you get models like the BenQ HT5550, which offers improved black levels and competes more fairly with the Epson HC5050UB (a better version of the HC4010).

By placing the HT5550 in the $2K–$5K class, it can be directly compared with its closest competitor. If we’d used the old $1000–$2500 range, these wouldn’t be matched up fairly.

How We Determine Price Classes

We group projectors by list price or the price the manufacturer sells on their own site, even if that’s lower than list. “Street price” refers to what most authorized dealers charge. We don’t consider gray-market pricing.

While street pricing can affect award decisions, it doesn’t change the class placement. So, for instance:

A $1200 and a $1900 projector are both in the $1000–$2000 class, but pricing will affect which is ranked higher.
However, if one lists at $1999 and another sells slightly lower at $1799, they stay in the same class.

Entry-Level Projector Trade-Offs

Projectors under $1000 come with lots of compromises. Some things they do well; others, not so much. That’s expected. As we like to say:
“If they did everything well, they wouldn’t be entry-level.”

Trade-offs are what make reviews subjective. Our rankings reflect personal priorities—what we value most in a projector.

My Bias: Black Level Performance

I place high importance on black levels—especially for home theater projectors. In a dark room, a projector’s performance in dark scenes can truly set it apart. While other reviewers may prioritize brightness, color accuracy, or sharpness, I’ll often favor a projector with deeper blacks.

For example, I’ll explain when a projector wins an award due to better black levels vs. one that may have a lower price or quieter fan. Years ago, even Evan Powell of Projector Central and I disagreed on how heavily to weigh black level performance.

Bottom Line

There is no single best home theater or home entertainment projector at any given price. It depends on your needs and priorities

Our goal is to help you choose the best projector for your budget, room, content type, and personal preferences—because what matters most is often subjective.

That’s why our awards vary: One projector may be better than another depending on your needs.

Growth of 4K-Capable Projectors

Since last year, many new 4K-capable projectors have entered the market, including:

4K UHD DLPs
1080p 3LCD pixel shifters (very close to 4K UHD in actual viewing)
LCoS projectors

These now appear in the $1000–$2000, $2000–$5000, and over $5000 price ranges. In just a few years, 4K performance has become much more accessible. Four years ago, only expensive native 4K Sony models were available.

Thanks to newer, lower-resolution DLP chips, 4K-capable projectors are now available in every price class except Entry Level, and some are approaching the $1000 mark in street price.

Choosing Between 4K and 1080p Projectors

Combining 4K-capable and 1080p models in the same price range creates tough choices. For example, around $1999, you can choose from:

Sony VPL-HW45 (pure 1080p, no pixel shifting, excellent image quality)
BenQ HT3550 / Optoma UHD51A (4K UHD – 1920x1080x4)
Epson HC4010 (1080p pixel shifter, loaded with features)

Here’s how they compare:

The Sony has the lowest native resolution but delivers a great picture.
The BenQ and Optoma have higher native resolution.
The Epson shifts pixels less than the others but may still look sharper due to good image processing.

As we often say, it’s about “perceived sharpness”—what you see on screen matters more than technical specs

For Our Millennial Cord-Cutting Friends

This section is for our Millennial readers — the “cord cutters” who have ditched cable in favor of streaming.

As a projector reviewer, I try to convince people that epic content like Avatar, Game of Thrones, The Super Bowl, or Avengers: Endgame deserves to be experienced on a big screen — not on a phone, tablet, or laptop.

If you don’t own an LCD TV and rely on small screens, consider getting a compact projector for those times when a large screen would make a real difference. A small, high-resolution pocket LED projector or a compact home entertainment projector can transform your viewing experience.

Example:
When my daughter moved to NYC, she and her roommate didn’t have cable, satellite, or even a TV. They streamed everything. I gave them a pocket LED projector with MHL support. They used a streaming stick to watch Netflix and more on a much bigger screen. Lisa reviewed that projector — the Optoma ML750ST — in our Millennials Series. Since then, we’ve reviewed many other 720p and 1080p pocket projectors.

While this report focuses on home theater projectors designed for high-quality movie, sports, and HDTV viewing, we also test for input lag, which is important for gamers. Some of our reviewers, like Nikki and my future son-in-law, are serious gamers. Not all home theater projectors are ideal for gaming, but we do highlight those that perform well in that area. Keep in mind, though, even the best gaming projectors can’t match the ultra-low input lag of dedicated gaming monitors.

Now, let’s dive into the report, starting with our list of 2019–2020 winners. We’ll explain why each was chosen and help you decide which projector is right for you.

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