Best Home Projectors (2025): Laser, LED and Ultra Short Throw Picks
Updated October 2025
If you want a bright living room setup, an easy short throw install, or a gaming focused projector, these are the models that consistently win in real homes. Continue reading for the best home projectors you can buy today. Our notes blend lab style checks with owner feedback from long term use, forum threads, and verified reviews.
Quick Summary
| Model | Type | Brightness | Best for | Smart features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS800 | Laser UST (ultra short throw) | High ANSI for bright rooms with ALR screen | Living room theaters and sports | Android TV, voice search, casting |
| Hisense PX2-Pro | Tri Laser UST | Very bright with rich color volume | Movies and streaming in ambient light | Google TV, Dolby Vision support |
| XGIMI Horizon Ultra | Hybrid Laser LED long throw | Strong for a portable style chassis | Apartment friendly setups and travel | Google TV, auto keystone, auto focus |
| BenQ X3100i | 4K LED gaming projector | Punchy LED brightness and contrast | Low latency gaming and mixed use | Google TV stick in box, game modes |
Tip: Ultra short throw projectors look their best with an ambient light rejecting screen. If you cannot add an ALR screen yet, plan to control light with smart bulbs and blackout shades. We link an easy smart setup below.
Hands on picks for 2025 best home projectors
#1. Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS800
The LS800 is a reliable living room anchor. Owners who switch from mid range TVs say sports finally feel big without moving furniture, and several report that fan noise fades once volume hits normal TV levels. Color looks natural out of the box. If you want a brighter punch, set Dynamic mode then dial back green and apply a basic calibration. Android TV keeps day to day streaming simple and casting works smoothly. Place the unit inches from the wall, set geometric correction once, and you are done. Use an ALR screen if your room has daylight.
Pros
- High brightness that can fight daylight with ALR screen
- Natural color balance with simple calibration steps
- Android TV with voice search and casting
- Very short throw makes placement easy near the wall
Cons
- Best results require an ALR screen for living rooms
- Large chassis compared with some UST competitors
#2. Hisense PX2-Pro
The PX2-Pro is known for vivid color and strong HDR tone mapping. Owners highlight that Dolby Vision titles look punchy after selecting the correct picture preset and disabling aggressive motion smoothing. Google TV is responsive and the built in speakers are perfectly fine for casual use. For a real theater upgrade, pair with a soundbar or an AVR. Footprint and throw are friendly for consoles and streaming sticks, and several users report reliable CEC power on behavior.
Pros
- Tri laser light engine with rich color volume
- Dolby Vision support with good presets
- Google TV interface is quick and stable
- CEC power control works well with many soundbars
Cons
- Default motion settings can add soap opera effect
- Like any UST, it benefits a lot from an ALR screen
#3. XGIMI Horizon Ultra
A compact long throw pick that is easy to live with. Auto focus and auto keystone lock in quickly, which owners appreciate in small apartments where the projector moves between rooms. Blacks are better in a light controlled room, and the hybrid light source holds color well across content types. Input lag is fine for story games. For serious competitive play, the BenQ below is a better fit.
Pros
- Auto focus and keystone make setup fast
- Balanced color and sharpness for movies
- Google TV apps and casting built in
- Portable friendly design that still looks premium
Cons
- Best results require light control at night
- Audio is decent but a soundbar is a nice upgrade
#4. BenQ X3100i
If gaming is a priority, the X3100i delivers low latency, sharp 4K upscaling, and tuned picture modes for consoles. Players report consistent HDMI handshake with PS5 and Xbox after the first setup. The LED light source keeps color stable over time, which is useful if you leave Game mode on all week. Fan noise is modest in Eco. If you also want the largest image from a media console placed inches from the wall, a UST model will be more convenient.
Pros
- Low input lag with console specific presets
- LED light source for consistent color over time
- Google TV dongle included in box
- Good out of the box calibration for SDR
Cons
- Not a short throw model, needs more room depth
- Black level is good for the class but not OLED like
How to choose the right projector
- Room and light control. If you have daylight in the room, a UST projector plus an ALR screen is the most forgiving path. If you can darken the room, a long throw model may look even better dollar for dollar.
- Throw distance and placement. UST sits inches from the wall and pairs well with consoles and set top devices. Long throw models need space and a mount or shelf, but you get flexibility and usually lower fan noise for the same price.
- Content type. Sports and daytime news call for brightness and motion handling. Movies benefit from deeper blacks and accurate tone mapping. Gaming needs low latency and a stable HDMI handshake.
- Screen choice. ALR screens help in bright rooms. In a dark room, a standard white or gray screen is fine. Aim for 100 to 120 inches to keep text legible and HDR highlights comfortable.
- Understand the tech. Most consumer projectors use DLP or LCD light engines. DLP creates the image with micro mirrors and a color wheel or lasers. LCD uses three panels. If you want a quick primer, see Digital Light Processing.
Smart home setup that makes a difference
Projectors shine when the room cooperates. Pair yours with smart bulbs and automations so the lights dim and the sound powers on without hunting for remotes.
- Use routines to dim smart bulbs to 20 percent and close shades when your projector input changes to HDMI 1.
- If you are building a full entertainment hub, connect your display and climate control through the Smart House Hub 2025 for clean device management.
- For 3D movie nights, see our updated Best 3D Glasses 2025.
- Holiday shopping soon. Watch the Holiday Tech Deals 2025 page for projector and screen bundles.
FAQ
Do I need an ALR screen for a UST projector
In a room with any ambient light, an ALR screen is the single biggest upgrade you can make. It rejects light from above and from the sides, which keeps black levels deeper during daytime viewing. If your room is dark, a standard screen can be enough.
How loud are these projectors
Fan noise varies by mode. Owners of the Epson LS800 and BenQ X3100i report that Eco or a mid picture mode keeps noise below the soundbar at normal volume. If a unit sounds harsh at high brightness, set a quieter mode at night and use a lamp or laser setting that targets your screen size.
Can I use a projector as my daily TV replacement
Yes, many people do. Expect a short warm up time and occasional firmware updates. Use a surge protector and a simple dusting routine. If you watch daytime news with windows open, choose a bright UST plus ALR screen.
What is input lag and does it matter
Input lag is the delay between pressing a button and seeing the action. If you play competitive shooters or fighters, the BenQ X3100i is a good pick because its game modes reduce latency. For casual gaming and media, any of the models here work well.
Do these work with Google Assistant or Alexa
Yes. Android or Google TV models accept voice search and casting. You can also add a smart plug or a routine that powers your AVR and dims your lights when the projector turns on. See our smart bulbs guide for quick lighting presets.
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