Before anything else: ignore the contrast ratios on this page. They run from 1,600:1 to 2,800,000:1 across ten projectors, and that spread is not a measurement of anything — it is the difference between manufacturers quoting native contrast and manufacturers quoting dynamic contrast with the laser dimmed to black. We record what each maker publishes, and we are telling you plainly that the figures are not comparable to each other.
Brightness is comparable, and it is the specification that decides whether a projector works in your room. Every figure below is the live computed Mars Score.
Joint highest: Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS800 and Hisense L9Q Laser TV
Both score 82.0 — and they are the clearest possible illustration of the contrast problem. The Epson is $3,499 with 4,000 lumens; the Hisense is $5,999 with 5,000 lumens, the brightest projector in our catalog.
Both are 4K laser ultra-short-throw units with three HDMI inputs, built-in speakers and a smart platform. The Hisense's quoted 5,000:1 is a native figure; the Epson's 2,500,000:1 is a dynamic one. They describe different things.
At $2,500 less, the Epson is the one to buy unless your room is genuinely bright enough to need the extra 1,000 lumens.
Best value ultra-short-throw: Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS650
Mars Score 78.9 at $2,499. 3,600 lumens, 4K laser, three HDMI inputs, Android TV. It is the LS800 minus 400 lumens for $1,000 less, and for most living rooms that is the correct trade.
Who should buy it: anyone who wants a TV-replacement projector that sits 30 cm from the wall.
Cheapest 4K short-throw: Optoma UHD35STx
Mars Score 78.9 at $1,799 — the cheapest projector here — with 3,600 lumens. The catch is the light source: this is the only lamp-based unit in the top five, meaning a consumable bulb that dims over time and eventually needs replacing, where every laser here is rated for tens of thousands of hours.
Buy it for the price, and budget for a lamp.
Most portable: JMGO N1S Ultra 4K
Mars Score 78.2 at $2,299. 3,500 lumens, 4K laser, Google TV — and it is a long-throw gimbal projector, not a short-throw, so it sits on a table across the room rather than under the screen. Its single HDMI input is the tightest on this page.
The expensive short-throws: Optoma UHZ65UST and Samsung The Premiere 9
78.2 at $5,499 and 77.7 at $5,999 respectively. 3,500 and 3,450 lumens, three HDMI inputs each. The Optoma has no smart platform at all — which is arguably correct for a projector this expensive, since you will use an external streaming box anyway — and the Samsung runs Tizen.
Both are outscored by a $2,499 Epson. That gap is what you are paying for build, optics and colour calibration, none of which appear on a spec sheet.
Best for gaming: BenQ X3100i and TK860i
Both 76.6, at $2,299 and $1,899. Both 3,300 lumens, 4K, long-throw, two HDMI inputs, Android TV.
The X3100i uses an LED light source rather than the TK860i's lamp — better colour volume and no bulb to replace, for $400. BenQ's gaming-focused units are the ones with the low input lag this category does not record; if you are projecting a console, start here.
Most modern feature set: XGIMI Horizon S Max
Mars Score 75.0 at $2,499. 3,100 lumens — the dimmest here — 4K laser, long-throw, Android TV. It is last on this page and it is also the most convenient: XGIMI's automatic keystone, focus and obstacle avoidance make it the one you can move between rooms without a setup ritual.
How to choose, in four questions
- Lumens, and only lumens. 3,100 to 5,000 here. Under about 3,000 you need a dark room; above 4,000 you can watch with the lights on.
- Short-throw or long-throw. Short-throw units sit under the screen and replace a TV; long-throw units need a room's depth and usually cost less.
- Laser, LED, or lamp. Lamps are cheapest and are a consumable. Only the Optoma UHD35STx and BenQ TK860i here use one.
- Do not compare contrast ratios across brands. If two projectors are otherwise equal, the number on the box tells you which marketing department was bolder.
All projectors in the catalog are ranked on the projectors page, and the full dataset behind these scores is open data.
Turn this reading into a better product decision
This buying guide is a decision framework, not a substitute for checking the exact variant, regional price, availability, and warranty that apply to you. Use the linked catalog data to separate published facts from personal priorities, then compare the final shortlist directly rather than relying on a generic ranking.
Verify the fit
Open the Projectors category page to filter the relevant field, then inspect full product profiles and the score methodology.
Keep the recommendation current
This article references 10 catalog products; use the live product pages for current specifications and comparison links.
vsMars keeps editorial judgment, normalized Mars Score inputs, and affiliate links separate. If a detail is missing or out of date, report it so the catalog and this article can be corrected.