The Best Gaming Projectors

Gaming projectors are the blessing of technology to let the gamers play at an ultimate wide display to enjoy the maximum gaming adventures. But the gaming industry is evolving day by day, and you just need to buy the best gaming projector. Breathtaking gaming experience and the unprecedented view are only possible by owning the best 4k projector with a 120" or larger screen. Perfect kill shots with extreme accuracy are possible with a larger viewing canvas. It’s not possible to have a similar experience on a 60" monitor or TV. Most gamers have no idea how much finishing demons and outlaws feel like on a gigantic screen. It’s beyond any gamer’s expectations. Today projectors have grown to be extremely bright, long-lasting, and with response times that match any gaming monitor on the market. Our target is to help you buy the best projector for home theater and let you play as you wish ever before.

The projector needs to be easy to handle and set up. The user must target the best portable projector to ensure less clutter and no extraordinary skill or tool is required for setting it up. 240Hz gaming is now possible on a projector, thus making the 240fps gaming experience smoother and sharp. First-person shooters and even sports games require faster refresh rates and lower response times for a better experience. These are the performance perimeters of the best projector for outdoor movies. Playing FIFA with friends on a large screen with wireless controllers is a dream of many gamers. The reduced price and improved features have made projectors the hottest tech this year. Before diving into a buying frenzy, go through our shopping tips to know what to look for in your tech.

Our top picks

Quick Shopping Tips:

Display Type: We have focused on primarily DLP-type display projectors in our list. DLP offers a high refresh rate and delivers sharper images. The microscopic mirrors or digital micromirror device (DMD) is made from a semiconductor chip that mimics colors. It gives the projector the ability to show 3D pictures as well.

Native Resolution: Now that we understand DMD, you need to know that the small micromirrors are pixels that your projector can display. Native resolution means that the number of input pixels equals the number of micromirrors on the DMD. The non-native resolution, usually higher than the native resolution, doesn’t necessarily mean that your projector cannot display a higher resolution. It’s just blending pixels from the input to adjust for the corresponding micrometer.

Input Lag: When buying a display, you must consider the response time that your projector has to offer. The delayed response can lead to a frail gaming experience despite having a high refresh rate and top-notch resolution settings. Gaming at 240+ fps on a game like Fortnite but not detecting the enemy movement on time will lead to losing many battle royales.

Refresh Rate: The number of times the whole projected screen will change in a second. The higher the refresh rate means less frame loss and smoother image. Projectors still haven’t introduced adaptive sync technologies, so you will need to have your PC generate higher frames per second compared to the refresh rate offered by the projector to experience smoothness truly. Prioritize refresh rate based on the capability of your output device, may it be a console, Desktop PC, or laptop.

The Best Gaming Projectors: First look

The Best Gaming Projectors: In-depth Review

Optoma lands on top of our list due to its reputation in the gaming community. It has been pushing the limits of technology in projectors, and with Optoma UHD38, they have achieved a stunning 4.2ms response time at a 240Hz refresh rate. It is the best gaming projector that users can use for competitive gaming. High-intensity first-person shooters like PUBG and Call of Duty Warzone can be played with high fps ensuring that the target is hit with insane accuracy. Considering the rise of 4K gaming consoles, it seems obvious now to make projectors 4K capable thus, Optoma also added the feature. However, this feature is not entirely true. The projector does not natively support the 4K resolution, so it relies heavily on pixel shift technology for better output.

Projectors now feature built-in android or any other operating system to allow users to watch Netflix and listen to songs on Spotify with simple app installation. There are some very subtle value additions to this product by Optoma. The remote control is backlit, an excellent addition to a display product. The insane capability of a 300" display with such a high refresh rate makes it perfect for a luxurious gaming experience. Brightness is not an issue with this projector as it features a 4000 lumens bulb that can last as long as 4000 hours in bright conditions and 10000 hours in eco mode.

BenQ has thought of a dedicated projector for gaming years ahead of time. BenQ TK700STi is one of the manufacturer’s proud products, and we consider it the best fastest gaming projector available to date. It is the most premium projector on our list due to its exceptional native 4K resolution. The unbelievable clarity and pixel distinguishment will leave your eyes wanting more gaming action. It is custom tweaked for gaming needs of all genres. It is hands down the best projector for gaming. Extraordinary low 16ms response time on a native 4K resolution running at 60Hz is a milestone that other manufacturers want to achieve. Being the product that requires premium bucks for purchasing, we expected a larger DMD. However, it has 0.47", which is lower than the other projectors that BenQ has lined up under the gaming radar.

TK700STi, similar to other BenQ products, comes with a QS01 dongle to do the Android work but still does not support Netflix, which every other person has an account. There is no better option than this projector if you are purely a gamer who enjoys high resolution and sharp image quality. If you are a competitive gamer looking to play high-intensity online games, then this BenQ projector can offer you a 4.16 response time at 1080p resolution running at 240Hz. The 3000 lumens of brightness is ideal for well-lit rooms. It comes with the HDR technology that, along with the Android 10.0 operating system fed through a dongle, can deliver vibrant video quality. It comes with a built-in room-filling speaker that works with Dolby Atmos to enhance user experience.

If you want an ultimate gaming experience on a 300" screen, then XGIMI Horizon Pro can fuel your emotions with a 3000 lumens brightness and 60Hz MEMC technology. 4K gaming is a requirement of the age, so we present you with the best 4k gaming projector due to its native 4k resolution. The projector quality speaks premium with a metal frame remote and metal body in a mesh structure that wraps all around the projector. It can project anything in between 30-300". It comes with dual 8W Harman / Kardon speakers that give decent audio output that can unbelievably fill the complete room. The only significant drawback that this projector has is the price tag. It’s the most expensive one on our list, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t justify its cost.

Having friends over at game night playing FIFA or just watching Netflix during movie nights will just take the experience to a whole new level. You cannot play competitive games on this projector as it has 60Hz and a response time that doesn’t match the leading projectors. Overall the pros overshadow the cons by a significant margin. Android TV 10.0 OS is installed perfectly on the device, and the interface flows smoothly between apps. The 0.47" DMD results in sharp image quality. 4K gaming using an RTX 3090 results in excellent output. It’s a perfect choice for console gamers targeting a 4K screen. The responsiveness of the projector is fantastic, and the colors appear sharp and bright. Users have reported having a better experience than a 65" 4K TV, and it has gained trust as the best projector for gaming. There seems to be no noise in the blacks, and the projector has enough power to remain visible in ambient light conditions. It is a complete powerful package meant for gamers.

If you are looking for a projector that aesthetically speaks louder than your gaming console, then XGIMI Elfin is compact and loved as the best mini gaming projector that you can get your hands on. It’s ultra-slim and intelligent, with mad features that any gamer would love to have in their display. The smart auto screen adjustments are above par. It automatically aligns, avoids obstacles, adjusts keystone, and focuses automatically to erase all the setup-related headaches. The projector also has a reliable LED lifespan of 30000h. It comes with an Android operating system as a cherry on top. Users have reported that this projector is unsuitable for environments where lighting is well done. The compactness of the projector has limited its ability to provide a high response rate and the native resolution of 4k.

It is unsuitable for competitive gaming conditions where a slight lag can defeat. However, casual gamers or console gamers can enjoy the large 200" screen at 800 lumens for a sweet gaming experience. With this highly portable gaming projector, game nights at friends' houses can be hassle-free and extravagant. Harman/Kardon is the most reliable sound system found on any TV or projector. This projector has 2x3W speakers that can fill the room with clear sound for those stadium noises in FIFA. It consumes a meager power of 65W, almost similar to an LED TV with a far smaller viewing size and zero portability. It is a clear winner as an ultimate gaming gadget.

BenQ X1300I has been the best long throw gaming projector on the top charts. BenQ has been producing display devices for decades, and their projectors are known for their sharp images. X1300I has a large 0.65" DMD size, allowing more brilliant image quality due to distinct pixels. At 3000 lumens, this projector is the best projector for gaming. BenQ has specifically developed this projector gaming application. There are specialized modes for different gaming categories, mainly RPG, SPG, and FPS. Since it has LED as the light source, the lumens on this projector are limited to 3000. That isn’t necessarily bad as LEDs last 4-6 times longer than traditional lamps. It is a surprise to see that there is no Netflix available in the google play store of this projector.

There seems to be a support issue for the QS01. QS01 is the dongle that this projector uses as an android device. Some users have also reported a rainbow issue with the screen, especially 3D. The projector has a sleek look which makes it aesthetically blend in within a room setup. It can be placed on a table or mounted on the ceiling away from sight with a universal CMG3 ceiling mount. You don’t need a TV after buying this projector. It comes with an Android 9.0 operating system and a BT and WiFi device that enables you to have 6500+ google play apps ready to install at your fingertips. YouTube, Prime Video, Disney, and many similar apps are readily available without any need to plug in external devices.

Gaming on a 300'' large display at any place with constant power will not be a problem with Xgimi Halo. If the portable projector is your query, then this product is made for you as it is the best portable gaming projector that can provide display output without any power input for 4 hrs. Going camping or having some friends in the garden will not hinder your movie-watching experience. It’s easy to set up and has autofocus and keystone adjustments to immediately adapt to the projected surface, making it the best gaming projector. It comes in a small, lightweight package that sits perfectly on a table with a silver grill for intake. There are not many things that can go wrong when you have this level of portability in your projector. However, we think you should consider that you won’t play Netflix on your device as it is not compatible. Any app running on the machine’s Android 9.0 OS will work fine, but only Netflix cannot start.

There is also a little detail that you should know that the blacks during any video played on Amazon Prime or any other player seem to have a noticeable noise level. It’s overall a fantastic piece of tech that a person can own. The inclusion of a Harman Kardon sound system makes it an attractive choice. The 2x5W speakers have brilliant sound compared to their size. The fair highs, decent mids, and punchy lows allow this projector to be used as a standalone entertainment system. It can run 3D videos and is compatible with 4K display input despite being able to output 1080p as the native resolution. The 0.33" DMD has been designed excellently to give precision output that any buyer searches for in a device.

We have included a fair amount of BenQ projectors in our list mainly due to their extravagant quality in projectors and long-built reputation. BenQ TH585 is no exception to BenQs legacy; it is the best budget gaming projector. If you have recently gotten into gaming on large displays that span over an entire wall, then this projector is a great start. A gaming projector should have low input lag, a big screen, gaming-oriented features, and HD resolution for a perfect experience. YH585 provides all the gaming features and comes with an attractive price tag which lands it as the best price/performance ratio projector on our list. The speakers on the projector are below par. There is only one 10W speaker, which means no stereo sound right out of the box.

People have reported that the sound is also weak despite having an external connection to the projector. Compared to other projectors, it does not have a built-in operating system which makes it unable to operate as a standalone device. You will need to plug in an android based system or a PC to play videos via mirroring. As a starter tech for gaming projections, it’s an excellent choice. Gamers running on a budget can enjoy a large screen at a response time of just 16ms. Online gaming is possible at this time, and Playstation and Xbox will run their 4K output on this projector. It has a native resolution of 1080p, but it can support a 4K resolution. The 3500 lumens are high enough to allow operation in well-lit rooms.

Optoma UHD35 is the only one on our list with the refresh rate matching some of the top gaming monitors in the market. The extremely high refresh rate of 240Hz and best price/performance ratio give it the title of best budget 4k gaming projector. It uses the high XPR fast-shift pixel-shifting technique to achieve the 4K resolution while it has a 1080p DMD to produce the pixels. The bright 3600 lumens lamp source ensures that the projector works fine within a well-lit room. The built-in speaker is also decent, with a 10W audio output. 1920 x 1080 is the most played resolution, and this projector aces in performance when it comes to HD, making it the best gaming projector. The drawback of having a pixel shift-based projector is that it does not have clarity compared to a true 4k DMD.

We understand that it’s not possible to have micromirrors that match the output of your 4K gaming GPU at this price point. Having such high refresh rates have low application in gaming consoles, but for competitive PC gaming like PUBG, Apex Legends, or Valorant, it gives a meager 4.2 ms response time. You need to consider that a gaming projector can play 240Hz only at 1080p or lower resolutions. At higher resolution, like the 4Kit can support 60Hz, and without the adaptive sync, you need a higher refresh rate to ensure max overlapping of the frame over screen refresh rate. This projector can display up to 300" of screen size and a ratio of 1.66:1 that distance can go up to 390", so keep that in mind. It has numerous applications for a competitive gamer, but consider a lower-priced option with an Android system and a 60Hz refresh rate if you are into movie watching.

Final Words

First, you need to decide whether you are a console or a PC gamer. If you are looking to play games via an Xbox X series or PS5, then a 120Hz or higher display refresh rate is what you should be searching for. The higher refresh rates would be of no use. If you are a PC gamer with an RTX 3090 installed under the hood, you will have to look at an option that supports a 240Hz refresh rate with a minimum response time, preferably <5ms. Although gamers get used to the delay caused by response time in competitive gaming, a response time greater than 5ms means losing an advantage over the enemy.

The second most important thing is the brightness and blacks. The projector needs to be bright and has no noise in the blacks to have better and clear display quality. Projectors with built-in speakers, battery, and android are great for movie watching. Casual gaming is also accurate on built-in speakers but does not expect them to beat wired projectors with blazing fast speeds.

Frequently Asked Questions