The 10 Best Projectors for Gaming

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Austin Carroll is a writer and web designer from Eugene, Oregon. He's been at HGG for five years and maintains an active role designing and develop... Read more

Reviewed by Benjamin Barr

Ever play 4-player split-screen and wished you had a bigger display? Perhaps you simply enjoy the finer details that immerse you in the gaming world. Whatever the reason, the best projector for gaming delivers cinema-quality games and movies at home — for a fraction of the price.

Just imagine the possibilities. Vivid graphics, extreme portability, and flexible playing options are all possible with the best projectors for gaming. You can finally create the ultimate gaming room that everyone wants to hang out in.

This article takes you through the top 10 options on the market and gives you a behind-the-scenes look at this trendy gaming solution. Ready for the big screen? Let’s get started.

Zoom Out: Comparison Table of the 10 Best Projectors for Gaming

Looking for a projector to light up the party? We’ve got you covered with our comparison table that lists the top options. We’ve also gone ahead and listed the main features you should look for in a projector when it comes to gaming.

Projector	Size	Resolution	Brightness
BenQ TH685	30" to 300"	1080p	3500 Lumens
Optoma UHD50x	34" to 302"	2160p	3400 Lumens
AZEUS RD-822	40" to 200"	720p	5000 Lumens
Optoma UHD30	33" to 300"	2160p	3400 Lumens
Optoma HD39HDR	30" to 301"	1080p	4000 Lumens
Samsung The Premiere Projector	120"	2160p	2200 Lumens
Epson EF-100	22" to 150"	800p	2000 Lumens
BenQ TK850	30" to 300"	2160p	3000 Lumens
Optoma CinemaX P2	85" to 120"	2160p	3000 Lumens
Nebula Mars II Pro	30" to 150"	720p	500 Lumens

Zoom In: A Closer look at the 10 Best Projectors for Gaming

Below, you’ll find a detailed look at the 10 projectors from our comparison table.

1. BenQ TH685

The best projector for gaming overall

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Our top pick for the best projector for gaming overall is the BenQ Th685. This projector may only have a 1080p resolution, but its fast 120Hz refresh rate and 8ms response time are ideal for gaming. It will work with a wide range of screen sizes (30″-300″) and has an integrated 5-watt speaker.

BenQ’s monitors are known for their superior image quality. This holds true for their projectors as well. The Th658 is HDR compatible and uses CinimaticColor to ensure colors match what the directors envisioned.

There are a handful of 4K monitors in this price point, but none match the BenQ TH658’s ultra-low latency. Refresh rate and response time are far more important than resolution for any game requiring fast frame rates.

USERS LIKE

Under $800
Allows 4K and HRR-10 inputs
Excellent picture quality with HDR and CinimaticColor

USERS DISLIKE

Only 1080p resolution
No screencap or travel bag included
Full brightness can make blacks look washed out

2. Optoma UHD50x

The best premium projector for gaming

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Do you want the absolute best gaming projector money can buy? The Optoma UHD50x True 4K UHD Gaming Projector has some features that even gives the most pampered gamers something to be excited about. Not only does it produce a beautiful 4K image for movies and television, it also has an Enhanced Gaming Mode where you can switch to a 1080p resolution and enjoy a 240Hz refresh rate with a 16ms response time.

The UHD50x is both HDR and HLG compatible, and it uses Dynamic Black technology to provide more depth to images “by smoothing lamp output to create a high contrast ratio.”

Add all that together, and you’ve got a projector that produces one of the best images at 4K and can switch to a game mode with the fastest response time on the market. It still manages to hold 60Hz in 4K even without game mode, making it the best 4K projector for gaming.

USERS LIKE

HDR and HLG
True 4K resolution
240Hz refresh rate game mode

USERS DISLIKE

Over $1,500
Takes a long time to boot
Enhanced Gaming Mode downscales to 1080p

3. AZEUS RD-822

The best budget projector for gaming

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We aren’t all looking to spend over $500 on a TV killer. Some of us just want something affordable to hook a Nintendo Switch up to. The AZEUS RD-822 is our pick for the best budget gaming projector.

To be clear, this thing isn’t going to break any records for picture clarity, and it’s certainly not the best choice for high-speed FPS games. That said, it is an extremely affordable projector with a sufficient amount of power for most console gamers.

It also has a built-in 5-watt speaker to save you even more money!

USERS LIKE

Under $100
Highly portable
Super bright at 5000 lumens

USERS DISLIKE

No zoom feature
Only 720p resolution
Poor customer service

4. Optoma UHD30

The best 4K projector for gaming

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The Optoma UHD30 is basically the UHD50X’s little brother, making it a natural choice for the best 4K projector for gaming. It’s a 4K display with a 240Hz lag-free gaming mode at 1080p. They both have 3400-Lumen brightness and work with the same range of screen sizes. The difference is that the UHD50X has a slightly sharper picture and a moderately better zoom feature. The UHD50X also has less lag when gaming in 4K instead of utilizing the 1080p game mode.

So why would we recommend the UHD30? It’s $300 cheaper, making it an excellent value alternative with most of the features of a much more expensive machine.

USERS LIKE

Under $1,300
True 4K resolution
240Hz refresh rate game mode

USERS DISLIKE

Fan is loud in DynamicBlack mode
Requires a lot of tuning out of the box
Some issues with HDR running properly

5. Optoma HD39HDR

The best 1080p projector for gaming

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4K? Who needs it? There’s no point in splurging more than double the price on one of the more expensive Optoma models if all you’re doing is gaming and you want to keep that refresh rate high.

The Optoma HD39HDR generates a 1080p display at a more than adequate 120Hz refresh rate. It’s also one of the brighter projectors on this list. It’s 8ms response time is much faster than its Optoma counterparts and rivals that of our top pick, the BenQ TH685.

USERS LIKE

Under $800
120Hz refresh rate
Super bright at 4000 lumens

USERS DISLIKE

Overheating issues
Some focus uniformity issues
Instances of “rainbow artifacts”

6. Samsung The Premiere Projector

The best smart projector for gaming

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Hooking up everything to a projector can be a pain. What if all you needed was one device for everything? Samsung’s “The Premiere” projector might be what you’re looking for. It’s a short-throw projector equipped with 2.2 channel surround sound, utilizing a powerful subwoofer and two 30-watt speakers. You can use TIZEN for all your streaming needs, and it works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Bixby.

It isn’t the best for FPS gaming with only a 60Hz refresh rate, but it’s perfectly adequate for consoles.

USERS LIKE

Easy to install
Vivid picture with good colors
Super quiet – almost no fan noise at all

USERS DISLIKE

Almost $3,000
Focus issues on edges
Slow 60Hz refresh rate

7. Epson EF-100

The best best Android projector for gaming

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Want to make sure all your tech works together in symbiotic harmony? The Epson EF0100 has Android and Google Assistant built-in.

This projector has a pretty weak 800p resolution. The 120Hz refresh rate is great for gaming, but you wouldn’t want to use it at its maximum screen size. Despite this, the picture quality is good. It uses Epson’s patented Microlaser Array Projection Technology, which is designed to produce brightness without any “rainbowing” while simultaneously enhancing blacks.

USERS LIKE

Built-in Android and Google Assistant
No rainbow artifacts due to Three-chip LCD engine
Choice of stylish black and copper or white and silver designs

USERS DISLIKE

No HDR or 3D support
Much better resolutions at this price point
2000 lumens is about the bare minimum brightness

8. BenQ TK850

The best cinematic projector for gaming

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Looking for the best projector for gaming and movies? I direct your attention to the BenQ TK850. This beast of a projector has all the picture and color accuracy that we love from BenQ, along with a true 4K resolution and a quick 120Hz refresh rate for gaming.

It’s HDR compatible, uses CinimaticColor just like the TH685, and has a superior, 1.3X zoom lens. It’s pricy, but the BenQ TK850’s performance value is well worth the cost.

USERS LIKE

120Hz refresh rate
HDR-Pro supercharged by Dynamic Iris
Excellent color correctness and true blacks

USERS DISLIKE

Somewhat noisy
Weak built-in speakers
Issues with “light leakage”

9. Optoma CinemaX P2

The best short-throw projector for gaming

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Don’t want to run all those power and HDMI cables up to the ceiling? A short throw-projector could be the alternative you’ve been looking for. It’s placed below your screen, and it projects the image up and back onto the wall behind it.

The Optoma CinemaX P2 is an excellent throw-projector that produces a 4K image, has a built-in 40W soundbar, and works with Alexa and Google Home.

USERS LIKE

Excellent sound quality
Easy set-up out of the box
6-segment color wheel for accurate color reproduction

USERS DISLIKE

Over $3000
Slow response time
Focus issue on the edges

10. Nebula Mars II Pro

The best portable projector for gaming

View on Amazon

Not everyone is looking to bolt their projector to the ceiling and never move it again. You might want to bring it to a Mario Kart party or maybe set up a big outdoor movie night!

The Nebula Mars II Pro is the best portable projector for gaming out there. It throws a 720p image at 60Hz, which is sufficient for light gaming, and has some features that make it easy to set up anywhere with a tripod or a table. It has two built-in 10-watt speakers, three hours of video playtime on a fully charged battery, and can be controlled with your phone using the Nebula connect app!

USERS LIKE

Good sound quality with dual 10W speakers
Built-in battery with 3-hours of video playtime
Extremely portable and easy to set up anywhere

USERS DISLIKE

Low, 720p resolution
Shallow tripod mount
Weak brightness (500 lumens)

Gaming Projector Guide Part I: What is a Projector for Gaming?

You’ve just settled in at the movie theatre, popcorn in hand. You’re in a vast auditorium with hundreds of seats and a giant screen in front of you. The countdown starts, and the screen flickers to life. But, take one look behind you, and you’ll see that the image source isn’t the screen at all. It’s a projector that’s receiving a video signal and casting it outward through a state-of-the-art lens system. Pretty cool, right?

A projector for gaming is an image or video projector, just like the one you’ll find at the theater. The primary difference? They’re designed to work alongside modern-day computer systems and consoles right from your home. Moreover, they’re optimized to display vivid colors and contrast in high-resolution format — precisely what you’d expect from a quality video game display.

How Do Projectors Work?

Projectors utilize lasers or bright luminescent lights to project a source image onto the corresponding display surface, whether that be a dedicated screen or merely a flat vertical area. This light source is measured in lumens, and the higher the lumens, the brighter the display.

Naturally, lumen count is an important consideration when choosing a monitor. Why? Well, the brighter the room, the higher the lumen count needs to be in order to display images correctly. Not only that, but larger projection areas need a brighter and more powerful lumen source to accurately display all the finer details that games and modern cinemas require.

But it’s worth all the hubbub, as projectors for gaming offer a great deal of flexibility. Let’s take a look at the major benefits that good projects for gaming have to offer.

Gaming Projector Guide Part II: Benefits of Projectors for Gaming

The best projectors for gaming provide many unique benefits that regular screens simply can’t compete with.

Vivid graphics. The best projectors for gaming offer HD and even 4K resolution for fine details and brilliant colors. This translates to an immersive experience that transports you right into the game or movie itself.
Giant adjustable screens. Since you get to choose the size and location of the projector and display surface, you can create the theatre-style setup of your dreams! In fact, 100-inch and higher displays are common with the best projectors for gaming.
Calibrated for gaming. Many of the best projectors are marketed directly at the gaming community, and they feature exceptional built-in technology like low response times and timeless image quality. The result? A major competitive advantage.
Affordable options. The best projectors for gaming start under $300, making beginner options comparable to a standard gaming display. Plus, their unrivaled flexibility means you can repurpose or adjust your settings without purchasing a whole new unit.

The best projectors for gaming offer many unique features and specs. This ensures a powerful display that can be customized to fit your exact needs.

Gaming Projector Guide Part III: Choosing the Best Projector for Gaming Setups

With so many options, features, and technical jargon, how exactly do you choose the best projector for gaming? Let’s break it down with a look at the main considerations:

Lumens
Image quality (HD, 4K, etc.)
Color & contrast accuracy
Response time
Speakers & extras
Price & brand

The lumen count is perhaps the most important element, as you’ll need a projector that can handle the required workload. To get an accurate measurement, consider the room you’ll be installing the projector in, as well as the intended size of your display output. Dark rooms without much ambient light are fine around 1500-2500 lumens. That said, brighter rooms with more natural light and larger displays will require 3000 lumens or above for proper image output.

Projection Distance and Size-min — *Image Credit: ViewSonic.com*

Additionally, check the specifications of your projector to ensure high image quality (HD is a great starting point), modern color technology, and quick response times. Projectors often come with speakers and additional features, so also be sure to check those out as you’re comparing price and brands.

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Join the Discussion

Give feedback on the article, share additional tips & tricks, talk strategy with other members, and make your opinions known. High Ground Gaming is a place for all voices, and we'd love to hear yours!

Punky Brewster

I went with Optoma HD27HDR for 1080 X 2 passive 3D low lag gaming, and 1080 X 1 120Hz as well. These projectors listed don’t seem good for gaming compared to mine. Cheers and have a great day!

Austin Clarke

Hey Punky. Thanks for letting me know! I’ll definitely consider adding that to the list ’cause it looks like a great projector.

Glad to hear your setup is working well for ya 🙂

Cheers!

Aadi

I am really confused for buying projector for my gameplay. But this article helps me soo much and helps me for take the right decision.
Thanks for this awesome article.