If you want the best picture quality you can find, you want 4K ultra HD. Resolution is only part of the story, of course, but the truth is the best 4K projector will also usually have other key features, like a good brightness, a high contrast ratio, and accurate colors.
Not too long ago, getting 4K picture quality meant spending thousands of dollars on a projector. While many do still carry a hefty price tag, you can also find models in the $1,000-$2,000 price range with true 4K resolution, bringing the technology into the reach of the average movie watcher.
If pressed to pick a single winner, the Hisense PX1-PRO comes out on top (>>> Check on Amazon). Not only is its picture quality phenomenal, its ultra-short throw and built-in streaming and voice control make it a convenient, user-friendly projector.
The truth is, though, each of the projectors on this list has its strengths, and each one will be the right choice for a certain kind of user. Let’s look at areas where some of those other projectors shine before getting into the full reviews.
Best 4K Projector – Top Picks for 2024:
| Optoma UHZ50 | Optoma CinemaX P2 | Samsung LSP7T | Hisense PX1-PRO | BenQ TK700STi | BenQ V7050i | |
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| Resolution | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 |
| Brightness (Lumens) | 3,000 ANSI | 3,000 ANSI | 2,200 ANSI | 2,200 ANSI | 3,000 ANSI | 2,500 ANSI |
| Contrast Ratio | 2,500,000:1 | 2,000,000:1 | 1,000:1 | 1,000,000:1 | 10,000:1 | 2,000,000:1 |
| Throw Distance | 4.0' - 26.6' | 1.5' - 2.2' | 0.8' - 1.4' | 1.6' - 2.4' | 2.4' - 19.6' | 0.2' - 1.1' |
| Screen size | 34" - 303" | 85" - 120" | 90" - 120" | 90" - 130" | 30" - 300" | 70" - 120" |
| Internal Speakers | 10.0 Watts × 2 | 20.0 Watts × 2 | 30.0 watts | 15.0 Watts × 2 | 5.0 Watts Mono | 5.0 Watts × 2 |
| Price | BHPhotoVideo.com | BHPhotoVideo.com | BHPhotoVideo.com | BHPhotoVideo.com | BHPhotoVideo.com | BHPhotoVideo.com |
Throw Distance
A longer throw distance means you need more space to get the same size of image. That can be a problem for small rooms and can make installation more difficult even in larger spaces.
Projectors with an ultra-short-throw (lower than .5:1) spare you the need to ceiling-mount the projector, making them a far more flexible and user-friendly choice. The BenQ V7050i can produce a clear image with as little as 2 inches of distance, and has the absolute shortest throw distance on the list.
You’ll get this short throw from the Optoma P2, Hisense PX1-PRO, and Samsung LSP7T, as well.
Projector with the shortest throw distance: BenQ V7050i
Brightness
Measured in lumens, a projector’s brightness is an indication of how powerful the internal light source is.
If the projector is too dim, the picture will become washed out by other lights in the room, limiting your use of the projector to spaces that are completely dark—not always practical for everyday life.
In a completely dark room, a projector of 1,500 to 2,000 lumens is enough. The brighter the room, though, the more lumens you’ll need. For most moderately lit spaces, a projector with a brightness of 3,000-3,500 lumens is often ideal.
Brightest Projector: Optoma P2, BenQ TK700STi, Optoma UHZ50
Smart Features
More and more people are setting up smart home theaters that integrate voice control and other helpful functions.
Most 4K projectors offer some level of smart home support, including built-in smart TV interfaces and compatibility with Alexa or Google Assistant.
Two of the options on this list also support IFTTT: the Optoma P2 and Optoma UHZ50. This is a great feature for smart homeowners since you can more easily work the projector into routines and go beyond basic voice commands.
Projector with the best smart features: Optoma CinemaX P2, Optoma UHZ50
Optoma UHZ50
Pros
- Ideal brightness for lights-on viewing
- Low enough input lag for serious gamers
- Supports a variety of 3D formats
- Flexible installation
- 3 HDMI ports plus wireless networking
- Good volume and sound quality from built-in speakers
- Voice control and IFTTT support
Cons
- Needs up to 11’7” for a 100-inch image
The Optoma UHZ50 is a great multi-purpose entertainment machine that can handle just about any type of content. Along with support for image technology like HDR10 and HLG, it supports a variety of 3D formats and has an input lag as low as 4ms with a 240Hz refresh rate for full HD content (4K/60Hz 16.7ms) so it’s responsive enough for any style or level of gaming.
Along with this, the Optoma UHZ50 has all-in-one capability. For sound, the built-in stereo speakers put out enough volume to fill a typical living room or similarly-sized space, and have the balance and sonic clarity you need for a home theater.
It can also stream content through any of the apps available on the Optoma marketplace, thanks to the included Wi-Fi adapter. Since it has 3 HDMI inputs and 3 USB ports, using the adapter won’t limit your options for other content sources or peripherals.
Using that Wi-Fi adapter also gives the Optoma UHZ50 the capability for voice control through services like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Support for IFTTT expands your options for integrating the projector into home automation routines.
For hands-on control, you can use the included backlit remote. It’s as easy to install as it is to use, and has features like 10% vertical lens shift and 2D keystone correction for fine-tuning the alignment, though its standard throw lens does mean it needs a larger space to reach its full potential.
Optoma CinemaX P2
Pros
- Colorful, realistic high-contrast picture
- Ultra-short throw
- Compatible with Google and Amazon voice control
- Supports IFTTT for easy smart home integration
- Hassle-free installation SmartFIT app
- Built-in soundbar has high sound quality and output
Cons
- Streaming options are limited
- May trigger rainbow effect in sensitive viewers
The Optoma CinemaX P2 is another excellent option if you want a projector that can serve as an all-in-one entertainment package. This starts with its built-in soundbar, with two dedicated woofers and two mid-range drivers backed by 40 watts of power.
Both the mid-range clarity and the bass response are impressive, so you won’t necessarily need to hook up external speakers.
The Optoma CinemaX P2 also has a lot of smart features. It has an Android-based navigation interface that pairs with the Optoma Marketplace to download streaming apps.
The options are limited, so most users still pair it with a streaming stick or other content source, but it opens up the potential to function independently of any accessories. It’s also easy to integrate into smart home set-ups since it supports IFTTT and multiple voice control services.
You can use the Optoma CinemaX P2 in any space, too. The lamp performs well even in well-lit rooms and it only needs a couple feet of distance to produce a massive screen. Its user-friendly installation is another perk worth noting, especially when paired with the free SmartFIT app that automatically corrects the screen geometry.
Of course, none of this is as important as the picture quality—and the Optoma CinemaX P2 delivers on that front, too. It uses a 6-segment color wheel that covers the entire DCI-P3 spectrum and pairs that with a high dynamic contrast for a picture that’s vibrant and realistic with fantastic depth and texture.
The only potential issue is that the use of a color wheel can cause issues for those sensitive to rainbowing or color hotspots. For most viewers, though, it’s the ideal home theater projector. For our more detailed review of this projector click here.
Samsung Premiere LSP7T
Pros
- TIZEN Smart TV interface is robust and intuitive
- Great color accuracy with Purcolor and HDR10+
- Ultra-short throw (100” screen from 1 foot away)
- Built-in Alexa, Bixby, or Google voice control
- 30-watt 2.2 channel sound system
Cons
- Not bright enough for well-lit rooms
- Lower contrast
The Samsung Premiere LSP7T has similar strengths to the projectors above but sells at a lower price point. This makes it an excellent value for those who want a smart 4K laser projector with an ultra-short throw distance. In fact, it has the shortest throw on the list, producing a 100” image with just 12 inches between the screen and lens.
The smart features on the Samsung LSP7T are particularly impressive. Its smart TV interface has more options for apps than other projectors, making it a better option if you don’t want to use external content sources.
Along with that, it supports voice control through three popular services (Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Bixby), giving users even more options for interacting with the projector.
High-quality built-in sound is another thing that makes the Samsung LSP7T an excellent value. With 30 watts of power and dual woofers and drivers, the speakers on this projector are on par with most Bluetooth speakers for volume and audio quality.
The main disadvantage of the Samsung LSP7T compared to more expensive projectors is that the picture isn’t as defined or vibrant. The lamp isn’t as bright and the contrast is relatively low, so while it has 4K resolution the picture may not look as sharp, especially in well-lit environments.
Hisense PX1-PRO
Pros
- Exceptional color performance
- Ultra-short throw distance
- High sound quality from built-in speakers
- Android TV streaming interface
- Supports voice control through Google Assistant or Alexa
- Suitable for casual gaming
- Automatic keystone correction
Cons
- Not a great choice in bright spaces
The color performance of the Hisense PX1-PRO is phenomenal. Its TriChroma laser engine produces a color gamut that’s 107% of the BT.2020 color space, ensuring realistic and vibrant colors for all your content.
The crisp true 4K resolution and HDR contrast give the image detail to match its color performance.
The Hisense PX1-PRO brings that high-quality image to nearly any space. Its ultra-short throw lens lets it produce a 100-inch image from less than 2 feet away.
This also means its light doesn’t need to travel at far, making it look brighter than you’d expect for 2,200 lumens. While it may still experience some image loss in very bright spaces, you won’t need to turn out all the lights to enjoy your movie.
For sound, the 30-watt speakers of the PX1-PRO are backed by Dolby Atmos sound, bringing good clarity and balance to dialogue, sound effects, and music. You can also easily connect a surround sound system through the 3.5mm audio jack.
For content, its integrated Android TV interface gives it direct streaming capability. You can also mirror a phone or tablet through Chromecast, or connect game systems, cable boxes, and other content sources the old-fashioned way through the dual HDMI inputs.
For our more in-depth review of this projector, click here
BenQ TK700STi
Pros
- Sharp picture for both movies and gaming
- Includes Android TV streaming dongle
- Flexible set up with shorter throw distance
- Corner Fit Correction expands placement options
- Low input lag
- Wireless casting through AirPlay and Chromecast
Cons
- Limited connectivity
- Built-in sound is weak
The BenQ TK700STi is another model that’s perfect for gamers and multi-use spaces. It has the low input lag gamers look for, with a 16ms response time in 4K. Its gaming picture presets take this a step further, optimizing the image to suit your style of play with options for first-person shooters, sports games, and RPGs.
The lamp of the BenQ TK700STi puts out around 3,000 lumens—plenty bright enough for most indoor light environments. It also has a shorter throw distance than most projectors, producing a 100” image from about 6.5 feet away.
Corner Fit Correction and 2D keystone correction give it good placement flexibility within that range, keeping the image square even if you can’t install the projector head-on.
Our main complaint against the TK700STi is its connectivity. Like most projectors, it offers 2 HDMI ports. The issue is, its streaming system is a dongle, not a built-in interface, so it will take up one of those ports if you use it.
That can be frustrating for gamers with multiple consoles or complex home theater set-ups. The good news is that streaming interface could be the only content source you need in some cases, with full access to the apps in the Google Play store and Google Assistant voice search support.
BenQ V7050i
Pros
- Exceptional image quality
- Ultra-short throw distance
- Wide color gamut (98% of DCI-P3 spectrum)
- Low-maintenance, dust reducing design
- Good built-in sound
- Android streaming interface with Google Assistant
Cons
- Not suitable for bright viewing areas
- Too much lag for gamers
The throw distance of the BenQ V7050i is one of the shortest you’ll find. It produces a 100” image from less than a foot away, giving it a very easy and fast installation. This short throw also limits light diffusion, making the image look brighter than the 2,500-lumen rating might suggest, so while it’s not the brightest option on the list it puts out plenty of light for most homes.
The BenQ V7050i has the potential for all-in-one operation. This starts with its Android TV interface, giving you access to all 5,000 apps on the Google Play store for direct streaming. Its built-in speakers also provide a balanced sound, with treVolo virtual surround sound. Support for full surround sound means you’ll get the same high sound quality if you do choose to use an external system.
The most impressive thing about the BenQ V7050i, though, is its picture quality. Its color gamut covers nearly the entire DCI-P3 spectrum, the current professional cinema standard, which is further enhanced by HDR-PRO tone mapping that adjusts the contrast scene-by-scene.
The dedicated filmmaker mode ensures the authenticity of the video signal, so you’ll see movies and shows the way they were intended. Click here for our more in-depth BenQ V7050i review.
The Bottom Line
The Hisense PX1-PRO performs well across all its major features, with a high picture quality, easy installation and operation, and the flexibility to suit nearly any space or use (>>> Find on ProjectorScreen).
This doesn’t mean it’s the winner in each of these specific areas, though. Serious gamers will prefer the BenQ TK700STi or Optoma UHZ50. Complicated or small spaces will benefit from the super-short throw of the BenQ V7050i, while a bright projector like the Optoma P2 is ideal in well-lit spaces.
there’s no one perfect home theater projector—and the more expensive option isn’t always the best one for you. Consider which features are the most important for your home.
As you can see, there’s a great 4K projector out there for any budget and circumstance. Best of luck choosing yours!