The Best Gaming Projectors. 4K and Full HD Models

Optoma HD28HDR

A Great Projector For The Money

The Optoma HD28HDR is a full HD 1080p home theater projector designed for both gaming and movie enthusiasts. The projector also supports 4K input (as in native 4K support), is HDR compatible and boasts 120Hz refresh rate, which is awesome for gaming aficionados, as well as an enhanced gaming mode, low 8.4 milliseconds response time and 3600 lumens of brightness on max settings.

As far as tech specs go, the Optoma HD28HDR makes for a significant improvement over the previous model, the HD27HDR respectively, i.e. this baby is everything you’ll ever require for a wild gaming session, provided you’re into projectors. We already mentioned the native 4K support, and that means high definition content without downscaling or compression, which produces detailed and sharped images, plus an amazing 50,000:1 contrast ratio.

The High-Bright lamp is rated at 15,000 hours, and the Game Display Mode enhances shadows and dark scenes, thus providing perfect visibility. The projector can connect to gaming consoles and media players for gaming and life-like home-theater experiences, and if you want to enjoy Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV or Apple TV, you can connect it to a 4K UHD HDMI dongle to stream videos, play games, share photos or whatever.

As far as entry-level gaming projectors go, the Optoma HD28HDR is pretty amazing in terms of quality vs price; however, keep in mind that this is not a true 4K projector, as in it can accept 4K signal on one of its HDMI 2.0 inputs, but it will only display 1080p resolution on screen.

Optoma UHD38

Solid 4K Projector for Gaming

The Optoma UDH38 is an excellent sub-$1500 4K projector if you’re into gaming and multimedia, with an emphasis on the former. The UHD38 offers 4000 lumens of brightness, an excellent 4.2 ms response time@1080p, which is respectable, enhanced gaming mode and 240 Hz refresh rate, not to mention a high-quality home cinema experience via true 4K Ultra HD mode, as well as lag-free gaming and blur-free visuals, accompanied by unparalleled smoothness.

Another good thing about the Optoma UHD38 is that it offers plenty of contrast, brightness, and color for the money, which makes it a bargain if you’re looking for a solid 4K HDR projector. The specialty of this unit is arguably its low latency immersive gaming experience, which also plays a role in home cinema applications.

Keep in mind that the projector’s long-throw lens makes it suitable for larger rooms, as the UHD38 is designed as a reasonably compact projector which is basically an all-rounder consumer product, with extra features for gaming.

The 4,000 ANSI Lumens thing makes it ideal for day-use, or even outdoors, that provided you have a good surface or screen to project onto, and the enhanced gaming mode dramatically reduces input lag, which makes it a solid choice for gamers.

To give you an idea about the latest feature, you’ll get a 16.7ms response time with console and PC games played at 4K/60Hz, and 8.9ms at 1080p/120Hz.

There are faster specs on gaming LCD monitors, but not on many TVs and projectors, and, truth be told, a gaming monitor cannot compete with a projector in terms of immersive, super-sized images with crisp, vibrant HDR color and superb contrast.

BenQ TH685

The Best Projector For a Basement Gaming Setup

Getting back to more Earthly stuff, we have the BenQ TH685, a very affordable 1080p gaming projector, and before you ask, yes, you read that right: this is a GAMING PROJECTOR, which means it’s been designed with 120 Hz refresh rate and 8.2 ms latency, plus an enhanced game mode to please avid gamers out there.

To make it easy for our readers, if you’re looking for a well-priced, as in amazing value for money, gaming projector, this is it. The BenQ TH685 is the perfect choice for first-person shooter aficionados on a budget, making for a super responsive beamer, and provided that you have control over your room lighting, this is as good as it gets.

Keep in mind that the BenQ TH685 doesn’t do well if you’re not using it in absolute darkness, so be advised. Other than that, this affordable gaming projector comes with 3,500 lumens of brightness and under 10 ms input lag, which makes it great for last-gen gamers. Design-wise, this is a mid-size long-throw DLP projector and can fill a screen-size of up to 100’’ from 8 ft away.

Connectivity is taken care of by 3.5 mm input/output jacks, in/out VGA, RS-232, 1x USB and 2x HDMI with HDCP 2.2. Obviously, the HDMI ports can’t carry 4K, but they do recognize HDR, which comes in handy if you want to connect your projector to an Apple TV or a similar device. Unfortunately for geeks, the BenQ TH685 doesn’t have smart features, i.e. it’s as dumb as it gets, and the only automated thing it can do is to automatically adjust the vertical keystone.

Performance is great though, as full HD gaming looks and feels great, and there’s a built-in game mode which kicks-in automatically when a console is plugged in, and enhances brightness and boosts refresh rate to 120 Hz. If you’re into buttery-smooth gaming, there’s no equivalent for the BenQ TH685.

ViewSonic Short Throw Gaming Projector PX706HD

A Real Full HD Gaming Projector

If gaming is your whole world and you are trying to bring it to an even higher level, ViewSonic Short Throw Gaming Projector PX706HD is an ideal device for you. Although it isn’t among the cheapest, its low 16.4ms input lag and a crystal-clear image make it perfectly suitable for all sorts of gamers.

This projector has very good integrated 5W speakers, offers 1080p native resolution and provides 3D support. Also, it comes with various connection outputs, such as USB Type C port, VGA port, two HDMI, etc. Because of its short throw lens (it can project picture from just a six-feet distance), it is appropriate for small rooms, or offices and altogether presents a very flexible device.

ViewSonic Short Throw Gaming Projector PX706HD has a three-year warranty, offers 1.20:1 zoom, comes equipped with a lamp that should last for at least 4.000 hours and offers brightness of up to 3.000 Lumens. Moreover, its Movie mode provides almost 1.650 Lumens, which is impressive not just for its class of projectors, but also for much more expensive devices.

In other words, if you are looking for the best HD projector for gaming, ViewSonic Short Throw Gaming Projector PX706HD is pretty close to being a perfect device.

Epson Home Cinema 1080

Full HD Projector for Gaming on a Budget

As per its name, this projector is designed to be an affordable component of one’s home cinema system. Even if 1080p resolution may sound obsolete in 2020, at least for “high end videophiles”, this relatively modest projector from Epson may very well be an excellent addition to your gaming rig, due to its low price and more than decent performance.

To begin with, the Epson Home Cinema 1080 has a 3400-lumen lamp, which provides excellent picture quality in 1080p, while its “brains” (the hardware inside that is) deliver fast data processing, optimized for gaming, action sports and anything in between. The advanced 3 LCD technology incorporated into its built displays 100 percent of the RGB color signal for every frame, and that translates into excellent color reproduction and brightness.

There are 2 HDMI ports for connecting your projector to your gaming console, cable or satellite box, BluRay or whatever, and the built-in picture skew sensor will automatically correct/adjust the keystone instantly for a square image. Finally, if you’re looking for a well-built 1080p projector for gaming and more, the Epson Home Cinema 1080 is easy to recommend, as it delivers great picture quality and decent brightness in the right circumstances, everything at a very affordable price.

LG HU70LA

The Best Native 4K Projector Under $2k

Our next pick is the LG HU70LA, a 4K UHD Smart Home Theater CineBeam Projector with Alexa Built-in, running on LG’s in-house made webOS Lite, and compatible with all popular streaming apps, the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime, and VUDU.

What’s really cool about the LG HU70LA is that it makes for a native UHD projector with solid image quality and 4K resolution that can be bought for less than $2k, i.e. this baby is quite affordable for what it is, which makes it a solid contender for the best gaming projector in its price range.

And speaking of the price range, you should learn that there are 4K projectors out there that cost 3-5 times as much as this LG, so yeah, this really is a bargain if you’re into gaming. Obviously, LG had to cut some corners to deliver us with this miracle, especially in the sound department, but that doesn’t really matter, since you can hook it up to external loudspeakers and all that. Since it was built for home-use, the LG HU70LA is incredibly compact at 31.5 x 21 x 9.4 cm, and has a minimalist design. Connectivity-wise, you’ll get 2 HDMI ports on the back, 2 classic USB ports, a USB-C, ethernet port, antenna input and optical output.

Setting it up is very easy, due to LG’s WebOS operating system, which supports almost all streaming services; by the way, the projector comes with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies & TV, and YouTube pre-installed; the Magic Key remote also supports voice commands, but what’s best about this affordable 4K projector is image quality.

Here LG did an awesome job, as the HU70LA delivers near-perfect color accuracy and detail for an UHD projector. The lamp is rated at 1500 lumens, has a life span of 30,000 hours and it’s built around a four-channel LED light source. Bottom line, if you’re looking for a native 4K projector for gaming and more, this is the way to go.

Optoma HD146X

Amazing Value for Money

We know, it’s getting like a paid ad at this moment but what do you know: we have another Optoma for you. Here comes the HD146X, a high-performance full HD 1080p projector, but a very affordable one this time. The HD146X is specially designed for gamers and binge videophiles who are still satisfied with “ancient” standards such as 1080p, but kidding aside, this is an excellent projector for the money.

Even if Optoma cut some corners in their quest to bring amazing value to their customers, the HD146X has a super bright bulb (3600 lumens) in a DLP single-chip design, as well as 16 milliseconds response time. Hence, if you’re looking for a no-nonsense projector which offers cinematic picture quality and high-def/crisp images, as well as the latest calibration technology courtesy of Texas Instruments, fast response time in enhanced gaming mode and also a game display mode for boosting dark scenes and shadows for better visibility, this projector has your name on it.

Connectivity-wise, this projector comes with HDMI, USB-A, 3.5mm Audio Out, and, interestingly enough, despite its humble price tag, the HD146X is one good looking projector, being crafted from high quality glossy black plastic. Also, for the money asked, the HD146X is more than impressive in terms of picture quality and contrast ratio, and due to its Wall Color feature, it can be used on non-white surfaces with ease, at it will automatically adjust colors for the best viewing experience.

Bottom line, for the price asked, the HD146X is one hell of a gaming-projector, and if your budget is limited to $500 give or take, just take it for a spin and you won’t regret it.

BenQ TK700STi

Solid Multipurpose Beamer

The BenQ TK700STi is an excellent projector with high refresh rate (gamers, pay attention) and low input lag, making for an outstanding option for anybody looking for native 4K content.

The price point is also very interesting, to say the least, i.e. you’ll end up with a lot of projector for the money asked.
Especially for gaming purposes, the BenQ TK700STi would make for an inspired choice, even if it doesn’t come cheap. The projector supports 4K at 60Hz with 16 ms response time, which is great. Basically, if you’re looking for 120’’ of crystal clear/bright game on your screen, this is the projector to have.

The BenQ TK700STi is capable of delivering crisp images with smooth frame rates and low input lag, not to mention HDR support and 3000 lumens brightness, which means you can take full advantage of the new generation of gaming consoles.

While 60 Hz @4K is outstanding, you must learn that this projector is also 120 Hz capable @1080p, so if you’re ready to compromise and play at a lower res, your game play would be even better. There are also 3 modes in the form of SPG, FPS and RPG, i.e. the display can be optimized to best fit the type of action taking place on the screen.

TV content looks great in 4K, but the 120 Hz capabilities and low response time will not make a big difference in this regard. This is a “best of both worlds” type of thing, hence if you’re not going to use it for gaming or enjoying 4K content, you should look elsewhere, for a cheaper option.

Optoma GT1090HDR

Outstanding Laser Projector for Gaming

No, this is not a conspiracy, but Optoma is one of the most popular projector-makers in the world, and also one of the most successful, hence we’re at it again: enter the Optoma GT1090HDR, a short-throw laser home theater projector, with 4K HDR input and “lamp free”. Everything’s taken care by a laser beam in this state-of-the-art projector, and the main advantage of laser technology is that you’ll get 4,200 lumens of brightness and 30,000 hours of maintenance-free reliable operation.

Also, short-throw laser technology works equally good day and night, not to mention that you’ll never have to worry about changing lamps and all that. But wait, there more good news: Optoma threw in IPX6 dust resistance rating for the optical engine, which means you can use this projector outdoors, and that’s awesome for (LAN) parties, presentations, what have you.

Now, keep in mind that the GT1090HDR is not a true 4K projector, as it can only produce images in full HD 1080p, but it supports 4K input, which is good enough for the price. Moreover, this laser projector is excellent for gaming, as it’s best suited for use in small rooms (or outside), and it’s capable of delivering crystal clear images even in well-lit environments.

It’s important to mention that the GT1090HDR comes with HDR10 technology for deep blacks and bright whites, plus an impressive 300,000:1 contrast ratio, 120 Hz refresh rate and low input lag. Needless to say, if you’re a gamer and you can afford it, this is the golden path to greatness!

XGIMI Elfin Mini Projector

Good Punch in a Compact and Lightweight Form Factor

As per its name, the XGIMI Elfin Mini is a petite projector, smaller and lighter than usual, henceforth more portable and less expensive. Strangely enough, the Elfin Mini doesn’t have an internal battery, yet it still makes for a compact, solid projector for home use.

Battery power would have been nice, but then again, we do not live in a perfect world. Everything focuses on being small with the XGIMI Elfin Mini, as the projector weighs less than 2 pounds, and is 2 inches thick. Despite its size, the Mini boasts powerful speakers, which is a nice touch, and, another cool thing, operation is pretty much fan-less, as in you can rarely hear the fans running.

Image quality is pretty good, and the projector offers high brightness levels which help with visibility during the day, or if you want to enjoy brighter content. The Elfin Mini runs on Android 10, yet, strangely enough, lacks support for Netflix; all things considered, between the projector, the speakers and the streaming software bundled, this makes for a solid all-in-one package.

Despite its compact size, the Mini offers 800 ANSI lumens, and the design is pretty similar to a Mac Mini from Apple. The lens is protected by a hard glass shield , and there are also sensors on the front for handling image framing and automatic keystone.

Connectivity wise, you’ll get an HDMI 2.0 port, USB 2.0 port, and a 3.5mm audio jack, and there are zero control buttons except from power. Google Assistant commands are available, as well as a remote control included in the package, which handles interfacing with Android 10.

Picture quality is decent for a projector of its size, and bottom line, the Elfini Mini would make for a great option if you’re looking for a big screen from a small projector, you have a small room, or you like simplicity.