Best Gaming Projectors For The Ultimate Big Screen Experience In 2020

Eric Jones April 12, 2020

0 361 8 minutes read

Screens are a large part of a gamer’s setup. Any avid gamer wants the screen they play on to be bright, full of contrast, large and have a high resolution with low input lag. Some people prefer normal monitors for their gaming needs but at times the size of a monitor screen just doesn’t cut it. Sometimes it’s just better to have a larger screen to play on which provides a ton of detail and creates an immersive experience. Unfortunately large screens with specs matching a gamers’ needs are extremely expensive. They’re also quite heavy and usually need to be mounted to a wall so it’s not exactly a very portable setup.

That’s why a gaming projector is the best option for gamers who want a large screen to play on, without spending an insane amount of money on buying one. Gaming projectors allow the user to transform their room, a wall or a projector screen into an immersive battle station. The best part is that you can simply plug it and play without having a complicated mount to assemble or drill holes in your wall like you’d need to for mounting a monitor.

When buying a gaming projector, there’s a lot of specifications you need to keep in mind. The brightness, input lag, resolution, screen size and throw distance are some of the more important ones. We’ve compiled a list of the best gaming projectors available considering all their specifications, quality, price and functionality so you don’t have to conduct hours of research to buy a projector which fits your needs perfectly.

1. Optoma GT1080HDR

Best for Gamers

Low input lag
High brightness
Short throw
Great value for money

No 4K resolution

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Optoma’s GT 1080HDR projector is the best projector available for gamers, especially when considering the specifications it comes with, the performance it delivers and the price that you have to pay for it. You get premium specifications which is what each gamer is looking for when vetting projectors they should buy. It offers great image quality with HDR10 technology enhancing the color depth, contrast, accuracy and vibrancy. Although the resolution is only Full HD (1920×1080) and doesn’t have 4K output, the projector scales 4K content down to its native resolution and displays sharp, vibrant images with high detail even in the darkest areas due to the high 50000:1 contrast ratio.

This gaming projector with its 0.5:1 throw ratio, enables users to use it even in small rooms. You can get a 100 inch image at just 4 feet projection distance, which is pretty great for casual gaming in your room. It can display an image up to 312 inches, which is perfect for tailgate parties and movie nights as well. However, the main focus of the projector is its gaming applications. The projector has an enhanced gaming mode, which, when enabled, produces images with a 120 Hz refresh rate. In turn, this leads to ultra low input lag and a response time of just 8.4ms which is almost instantaneous and perfect for any gamer playing on a projector.

Moreover, the projector has a bulb producing 3800 lumen brightness which is more than enough to see images clearly even in brightly lit rooms. The flexibility and versatility of Optoma’s GT1080HDR projector is exemplified by the fact that it has the ability for vertical keystone correction up to 40 degrees which means it doesn’t need a ceiling mount to project the perfect image without distortion. You can simply put it on the floor or a table and easily elevate the image without any distortion. Overall, the GT1080HDR is one of the best 1080p projectors available, providing snappy performance with great image quality and a ton of versatility which makes it easy to setup and even easier to use. All of that combined with its build quality and upto 15000 hour lamp life (on dynamic mode), available in a very affordable price fully explains why this projector deserves the number one spot on our list.

2. Optoma HD27HDR

Amazing Value

Low input lag
Short throw
Great value for money
3D support

No 4K resolution

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Coming in close 2nd in this list, another projector from Optoma, the HD27HDR is even cheaper than its cousin mentioned above. It’s cheaper than the GT1080HDR and provides similar specs and performance. At a peak brightness of 3400 lumens, it is adequately bright for brightly lit rooms. The projector produces decent image quality considering its 1080p, Full HD resolution, but no 4K output is a drawback that some users may be disappointed by. The color accuracy of the images is admirable due to its six segment RYGCWB color wheel which helps produce rich colors. The 50,000:1 contrast ratio combined with HDR support allows the projector to produce detail even in the darkest segments of the image.

The performance factor of this projector is at par with the best in this list. It offers a 16 ms response time at 60 Hz but when Gaming mode is turned on you get a 8.4 ms response time at 120 Hz which is pretty spectacular for a projector. For any gamer, that’s quite instantaneous and something that is appreciable. It also offers 3D support which is a feature that’ll be even more useful in the coming years with extensive compatibility and a plethora of supported games. It also has vertical keystone adjustment so you don’t need to necessarily mount it on a ceiling for it to display images properly. You can simply place it on the floor or a table, angle it upwards and adjust the vertical keystone to avoid any image distortion which adds to the versatility of this projector.

Overall, considering the price this projector retails at, it’s one of the best available in terms of value for money. It has more than decent image quality and high end performance when compared to other projectors in this price range. It has a long bulb life as well, going up to 15000 hours with dynamic mode. The only limiting factor is the Full HD resolution it produces, but buying a 2K or 4K projector would incur a much greater cost. All in all, the Optoma HD27HDR is a fantastic projector which offers great specs at good value. Definitely worth a buy if it suits your needs.

3. BenQ HT3550

4K Magic

Amazing color accuracy
4K resolution
3D support

Low brightness

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BenQ’s HT3550 is an entry level 4K projector which provides amazing picture quality with decent performance for gamers as well. The 4K UHD 3840×2160 resolution outputs absolutely stunning, detailed images with rich colors and deep blacks. As is quite common with BenQ products, the color accuracy is the spectacular. The 30,000:1 contrast ratio combined with the sharp, vivid images that it displays mesmerizes the user. The lens focus is super smooth and enables clear, crisp images to be displayed, which means that even reading small fonts isn’t a problem.

On the other hand, the brightness of the lamp is quite poor at just 2000 lumens. In a dark room, the images are beautiful, vivid and have deep blacks which almost mimic those of OLED TV screens and monitors. However, in dimly light or bright rooms, the images tend to get washed out. It’s simply not bright enough to contend with any other light in the room so you’re going to either need curtains to keep your room clear of daylight or stick to using the projector at night.

Although the HT3550 has a 120 Hz refresh rate, it has high input lag of about 50 ms which is quite a lot for competitive gamers. However, it isn’t that noticeable for anyone else. If you’re a gamer who wants a home theater / gaming setup for casual, single player games which aren’t quite competitive, then this projector is absolutely perfect for your needs.

Moreover, it has a few impressive features including the 3D support (3D glasses required), 30 degree vertical keystone and short throw distance.They allow the user to setup the monitor on a bookshelf or a table even if it’s six feet away from the screen to get a respectable image size of about 100 inches, without any distortion. The build quality is sturdy and the design is attractive for a projector of this price range. It’s got decent speakers as well but more serious users would prefer external speakers for optimal sound quality and loudness. The lamp life is quite good as well. It can run up to 15000 hours on SmartEco mode.

Overall, this is a fantastic choice for a home theater / gaming setup for casual gamers. It provides remarkable image quality and as an entry level 4K projector, it’s well worth its cost. The only drawback is the low brightness of the lamp which restricts the projector to be used only in dark rooms.

4. Optoma HD146X

Affordable Performance

3D support
High brightness
Inexpensive

No 4K
No short-throw

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Optoma’s HD146X is the cheapest projector on this list. It’s got fantastic features considering its price and offers a lot more than most of its competitors. It supports 3D output from any 3D source which is something other mid-range projectors tend to lack. It has a high brightness of 3600 lumens, so you can comfortably use it in a normally lit room without having to shut the lights down. However, the room does need to be slightly large since the projector doesn’t have short-throw. Also, it only has a 1080p resolution and doesn’t support 4K output. Albeit, that isn’t much of a big deal considering the price. It’s got a gaming mode built into the software which brings down input lag to only 16 ms which is almost instantaneous. It also supports flicker free technology and a smooth 120 Hz output which makes gameplay feel even better.

The HD146X beats its competitors in both performance and image quality more often than not. With an RYGCWB color wheel for home cinema color calibration it outputs fantastic, cinematic images. The image quality is further strengthened by the 25,000:1 contrast ratio which helps create sharp, vivid colors in the image. The dynamic black technology further improves it by creating more deeper blacks.

On the performance side of things, this projector from Optoma does pretty well too. It’s equipped with a 120 Hz, flicker free output which provide smooth gameplay without image tearing. The 16 ms input delay time feels instantaneous in most games and won’t impede your performance one bit. It supports 40 degree vertical keystone adjustment as well as 1.1 zoom so placement isn’t too big of a deal and the projector can easily be adjusted on a table or a bookshelf.

In conclusion, it’s clear that even at a mid-range price, the projector provides fantastic specifications and lacks in almost no department, ranging from performance, image quality and brightness. The HD146X is a great pick for a mid-range projector if you don’t need short-throw.

5. BenQ TH671ST

Mid Range Projector

Smooth images
Short throw
Accurate colors

No 3D support

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BenQ’s TH617ST is a projector which matches most of the other projectors in its price range and quality available in the market. It’s been chosen as the number four projector due to BenQ’s amazing color accuracy and overall image quality. Featuring a contrast ratio of 10,000:1, the images produced are rich, vibrant and have deep blacks. Its 3000 lumen brightness enables users to view projected images with ease even in brightly lit conditions. Anything except direct sunlight falling on the image is acceptable and the image will not appear washed. The Full HD 1920×1080 resolution provides crisp, sharp images with high detail even with screen sizes up to 300 inches, which is even suitable for movie nights. One disappointment for gamers and movie watchers is that there’s no 3D support.

The TH617ST also has a gaming mode which produces smooth images and has low input lag with 16.67 ms response time. This is great for gamers as the input they give is almost instantly displayed on the screen. It also features a short throw ratio enabling users to project a 100 inch image from just 4.9 feet away, which is a plus for users who want to play games in their rooms. It’s easy to setup and has a lot of versatility due to its vertical keystone adjustability, so it’s not necessary to mount it on a ceiling and can simply be placed on the floor, a table or a bookshelf.

The only drawback from this projector is that it doesn’t support 3D output. 3D support is something that’s somewhat expected from a gaming projector in 2020 so that’s a compromise you’ll have to make. Otherwise, it has all the features to support its number four spot on this list. It even has 15,000 hours of lamp life on Eco mode which is above par.

Overall, this projector from BenQ checks all the boxes for a gamer, except the missing 3D support. It has great image quality with accurate, vibrant colors, with snappy performance and low input lag. It features short throw so it’s easy to use even in small rooms which adds to its versatility. All in all, the TH617ST is a pretty good buy if you’re looking for a gaming projector and don’t need 3D support.