The In-Depth Buyer's Guide 2019
Best 4K Projector
Top 10 Reviewed 4K Projectors
Contents
- 1 Winner: Optoma UHD60
- 2 Test Results and Ratings
- 2.1 - October 2019
- 2.2 4 main factors come down to picking the top 4K Projectors
- 2.3 Best 4K Projector
- 2.4 Optoma UHD60 Projector
- 2.5 Best 4K Projector for the Money
- 2.6 ViewSonic PX747-4K 4K Projector
- 2.7 Best 4K Projector for Gaming
- 2.8 BenQ HT3550 4k Ultra HD Projector
- 2.9 So Which 4K Projector is Right For You?
- 2.10 Features to Look For
- 2.11 The devil is in the details folks.
- 2.12 Display Size
- 2.13 Price
- 2.14 Throw Distance
- 2.15 Mounting Position
- 2.16 Fan Noise
- 2.17 Screen Quality
- 2.18 Common Mistakes to Avoid
- 2.19 Key Factors to a Good 4K Projector
- 3 4K Projector Related Articles
Winner: Optoma UHD60
9.8 out of 10
4K is here to stay, and you're likely looking to update your current home theater setup. Buying a new 4K projector can be a little intimidating, especially considering the average price tag, but here at GadgetReview, we've done the heavy lifting for you. We purchased the top 15 4K ultra HD projectors of 2019 to put them through the movie and gaming test to see which one is the best for you and your home theater.
During our testing, we tested specifically for image quality, HDR compatibility, color ranges and more. We watched countless movies and played our share of video games to find the best projector. After over 100 hours of testing and eliminating the 5 projectors that didn't meet our expectations, we can confidently say that the Optoma UHD60 is the best 4K projector of 2019. With its ultra-high contrast ratio, brightness and long-lasting bulb, this 4K projector will run strong in any kind of lighting and entertainment scenario. Keep reading to learn more about the UHD60 and the other 9 4K projectors on our list.
Test Results and Ratings
- October 2019
rank | PRODUCT Name | score | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Top Pick  |  | 9.8 | ||
Best Value  |  | 9.7 | ||
3 |  | 9.4 | ||
Splurge  |  | 9.1 | ||
 | 8.8 | |||
 | 8.6 | |||
 | 8.6 | |||
 | 8.2 | |||
 | 8.1 | |||
 | 8.0 |
How We Decided
4 main factors come down to picking the top 4K Projectors
Lumens
Brightness
Frame Rates
30 frames/sec
Iris
Active vs Static
$750-$6000
Value
Best 4K Projector
Optoma UHD60 Projector
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Why We Like It: When writing this list, we were on the lookout for the best 4K projector that struck a nice balance between cost, features, portability and performance. Even though the UHD60 may not have all the bells and whistles of super high-end projectors, it’s able to pack in most of what we love all while coming in at around $1,600 at the time of this review.
Best 4K Projector for the Money
ViewSonic PX747-4K 4K Projector
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Why We Like It: The ViewSonic 4K projector beats the lumen rating of the Optoma UHD60 at 3500, however in tests the blacks were shown to come off just a little bit lighter than we liked due to its weaker contrast ratio. All that aside, when you consider it’s sub-$1000 price tag, it’s easy to forgive those slight missteps to make this the best budget 4K projector you’ll find on shelves.
Best 4K Projector for Gaming
BenQ HT3550 4k Ultra HD Projector
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Why We Like It: With a 2200 lumen rating, HDR-compatibility for true color representation, and a 30,000:1 contrast ratio, the BenQ HT3550 is a great choice for gamers and home theater enthusiasts alike.
So Which 4K Projector is Right For You?
While we wished there were more models out there that we could use to crown the best 4K projector of 2019, there’s no denying that everything Sony is offering today can still project an image that’s off the charts in terms of quality, color richness, and the overall experience of seeing 4K blown up to real home theater proportions.
Whatever projector you choose on this list, you’re guaranteed to have a movie watching experience unlike anything else out there today. If you’re on a budget the ViewSonic 4K projector will get the job done, and if you want to splurge on the best of the best, the Sony VPLVW385ES is lying in wait. No matter what, the 4K revolution is here, and these are the projectors that will keep you prepared no matter what movies, games, or TV shows you throw their way.
Features to Look For
The devil is in the details folks.
Display Size
With standard 4K TVs, it can be difficult to appreciate the increased pixel count when a screen is any smaller than at least 60″ across.
With 4K projectors however, the average screen size will often hover anywhere between 80″ – 140″ across, meaning every pixel has the opportunity to shine in its ultra-high resolution glory.
Make sure to check the screen size-to-distance ratios on your projector before settling on your final pick.
Price
Look, there’s no getting around it so we’re not going to mince words here: 4K projectors are a serious investment, reserved for only the most home entertainment-obsessed individuals out there.
So think again if you’re looking for a best 4k projector under $5000. And keep dreaming if you’re looking for a best 4k projector under $2000. It’s just not gonna happen, at least not any time soon.
On average a 4K projector will cost a whole heck of a lot more than its 1080p counterpart, averaging anywhere from $8,000 on the low side up to $15,000 for the premium option.
Throw Distance
Just as you would with a standard 1080p projector, one of the first moves you need to make before even considering a 4K projector is to measure the throw distance to be sure there’s enough space between where you plan to mount your projector and where the screen will eventually sit.
The market for 4K projectors isn’t big enough for short-throw models to be a thing yet, so all the models we’ve listed here only use standard lenses to get the image from the unit onto the screen wherever it is in the room.
To make things easier, you can use a calculator like the one found here to decide which throw distance is right for you.
Mounting Position
This should be a big concern for prospective 4K projector buyers, because unlike their 1080p cousins, 4K projectors can often be extremely heavy, bulky, and hard to mount.
If you do intend on mounting it, be sure you’re putting it on a wall-mounted arm or shelf that’s rated to hold the poundage of the projector you want to buy.
Some of the projectors we’ve listed here are just over 30lbs at stock, which means that unless you’re confident in your construction abilities it’s probably smarter to find a stable surface to place the projector on rather than hanging it from the ceiling or a wall like you would in classical setups.
Fan Noise
If you thought regular 1080p projectors were loud, just wait until you hear what kind of noise a 4K projector puts out.
With more four times the amount of pixels to push out, 4K projectors need heavy duty fans to cool off their bulbs and internals.
Screen Quality
Last, there’s the quality of the screen you’re going to use to project the image onto.
If you’re going to splurge on a 4K projector, the last thing you want is for that beautiful, crisp image to be ruined by a sub-par wavy screen made out of budget materials. So be willing to spend and get what will hopefully be the best 4k projector screen for your home theater setup.
If you can afford it, try and get an electronic tensioned screen. These screens last longer because you’re not constantly pulling them up and down every time you’re done watching a movie, and are able to stay flatter over time thanks to the tensioned wire wrapped around the edges.
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Common Mistakes to Avoid
answers
What about 4K Content and 4K devices?
What about Throw Distance?
Key Factors to a Good 4K Projector
While all the projectors we have listed here are considered “good” by anyone’s standards, there are a few key aspects you should keep an eye out for when shopping around
- Frame rate
- Brightness
- Brand
With 4K every little detail of your media that might otherwise be obscured by 1080p resolution becomes a lot more vivid when you up the ante. Which means you’ll want a device that’s at least capable of displaying at 30fps (frames per second), but optimally you’ll want to shoot for 60fps if you can get it.
Who Contributed to this Review
Conner Flynn
Editor
Jordan Goodson
Contributor
Josh Noriega
Editor
Kyle Schurman
Editor
