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5 Best Projectors for Gaming

Best Projectors for Gaming

Most recommended
Optoma HD146XOptoma HD146X
  • 3600 Lumens
  • DLP Single Chip Design
  • Lamp Life: Up to 15,000 hours

A good choice too
BenQ HT2150STBenQ HT2150ST
  • 2200 Lumens
  • 96% Rec.709 for Accurate Colors
  • Wattage: 353 Watts

A good choice too
Optoma HD39HDROptoma HD39HDR
  • 4000 lumens
  • 120Hz Refresh Rate
  • Light Source Life: 15,000 hours (Lamp)

BenQ TK800MBenQ TK800M
  • 3000 lumens
  • 96% Rec. 709 for Accurate Colors
  • Keystone for Easy Setup

Optoma UHD50XOptoma UHD50X
  • 3400 lumens
  • Lamp Life: Up to 15,000 hours
  • 240Hz Refresh Rate


Choose the Best Projector for Gaming

Customer’s Choice: the Best Rated Projectors for Gaming

8 users answered this survey. Please help us improve this review!

62.5% of users selected Optoma HD146X, 12.5% selected BenQ HT2150ST, 25% selected Optoma HD39HDR, 0% selected BenQ TK800M and 0% selected Optoma UHD50X. Every month we analyze your answers and change our rating.

Some years ago, TVs were the most popular appliances for gaming as well as for watching movies and sports. However, the desire appeared to play games on bigger screens so projectors have started to dominate. Most high-quality projectors can offer a stunning picture, provide brightness that is enough for the daytime, and, of course, they are much more portable. You can use them both indoors and outdoors or just play your favorite game relaxing in bed.

Surely, not all the projectors are suitable for gaming. They need to be specialized, with certain technical characteristics. They should provide bright and distinct images creating the atmosphere of real-life presence. One of the most important features essential for gamers is the ability of projectors to keep low input lag. 

The gaming projectors can be rather massive or compact, with extra settings, 3D support, audio devices, or without them. The variety of offers on the present-day technical market may get you a bit confused. That is why we have described the best options as well as provided you with some useful tips on what to look for when choosing a gaming projector and how to deal with it correctly. The choice is only yours.

Optoma HD 146 X High Performance Projector for Movies & Gaming- The Best Home Theater Experience with High-Speed Crisp Images and the Stunning Quality

The projector provides the initial resolution of 1080 p (1920 x 1080) for high-definition images owing to the contrast ratio of 25,000 : 1.
The RYGCWB color wheel has 6 segments and it uses the HD146X for color calibration. The HDMI-CEC technology is used for automatical powering on / off providing the control over the projector and other HDMI-connected appliances with one remote.


The lamp life is approximately 15,000 hours provided that it is used 4 hours per day on average. The lifespan is over 10 years.

Functionality

The projector provides the brightest movies, gaming, and sports experience ever, being actually a highly technological home theater.
Owing to its brightness of 3,600 lumens, you can use the appliance in any room of your home. Shadows and darkness are boosted and the images are perfectly visible because of the Game Display Mode. The time for response is 16 ms so it is great for PC or console games. The enhanced Gaming mode provides fast input and great images.
The Dynamic Black technology is used to create high-contrast images so bright objects look very distinct and clear while the details of dark scenes are visible within the deep black and light-and-shade contrasting.
The picture created by the projector is truly incredible due to the advanced technology provided by Texas Instruments. The appliance uses one DLP DMD chip to ensure the image alignment.

Pros
  • The brightness of the appliance is great.
  • The Optoma remote is functional and easy to use.
  • The picture quality is great at this price point.
  • The images and movies are sharp and clear.
  • The projector’s fans are very quiet.
Cons
  • The remote could be made of some more durable material and not so crazily bright.
  • Sometimes, the 3D image is a bit distorted and looks irritatingly green.

All in all, the projector is worth buying. The installation is quite easy and no special placement is needed because the appliance uses a 40% keystone correction operating vertically and a 1.1 x zoom that makes it very flexible.
You can use an HDMI extender or USB power supply. The connection can be installed to Apple TV, Xbox, PS4, Chromecast, Switch, or a top set box. You will enjoy the great big-screen experience without any extra devices.
The operation of the appliance is very quiet because of its quite low 26dB noise level. The projector is able to display the 3D content from any source. You can use 3D broadcasting, game consoles, or a 3D Blu-ray Disc player. All the images are flicker-free due to the 120 Hz-rapid refresh rate, so you will need 3D glasses to use the projector in this mode.


BenQ HT2150ST 1080P Short Throw Projector- The True-to-Life Cinematic Quality Making Gaming Stunning and Breathtaking

The appliance provides a great quality of the picture with its initial image definition of 1080p Full HD with the brightness of 2,200 ANSI lumens and the contrast ratio of 15 000 : 1. The color wheel of 6 x RGBRGB provides truly rich and attractive colors.


The design is slim and long-lasting that means sharper and more distinct images owing to the DLP technology. Such technology is often used in the best cinemas and digital IMAX theaters. The quality is truly cinematic with the ISFccc-certified calibration and high contrast ratio.

Functioning

The colors are efficiently calibrated for gaming and watching movies. The images are projected up to 300 inches from a 100-inch screen at the distance of just 3 feet.
The gamers benefit from a specifically low input lag and various game modes. The technology provides a very smooth and realistic gaming experience.
You will be able to make your gaming still more attractive with the hyper-realistic HDR details on any huge Full HD 1080p flat screen. The response time providing images without the slightest blur.

Pros
  • The projector’s picture quality is simply remarkable.
  • The rainbow effect is almost non-existent on this projector.
  • The appliance has many setting options, for example, the color correction, that improve the image greatly.
  • The device looks very nice and the remote is quite usable and convenient. The projector provides image sharpness and clarity with a great input lag for gamers.
Cons
  • The black level could be better and the appliance could run a bit cooler.
  • The fan noise can be distracting if you are sitting right next to it.
The product is worth purchasing, of course. The manufacturer’s warranty is 3 years meaning that the company is quite sure about the quality and the service team is always available.
The installation is very easy and flexible with the vertical keystone correction. The 1.2 x zoom makes it still easier.


Optoma HD39HDR High Brightness HDR Home Theater Projector- A Versatile Device Serving the Needs of the Whole Family

This projector uses the HDR compatible HDR 10 technology allowing for 4K input and providing bright white and deep dark colors for better viewing. The Enhanced Gaming Mode gives the fast response time of 8.4 ms and the refresh rate of 120Hz.


The brightness is 4,000 lumens and an RYGCWB color wheel with 6 segments ensures the accurate color profile of SRGB & REC.709. The resolution of the projector is 1080 p (1920 x 1080) and the contrast ratio is 50,000 : 1 allows for the brand-new high-definition content running smoothly and without compression. The lamp allows for up to 15,000 hours with the average use of hours per day for more than 10 years.
The appliance has a built-in 10-watt speaker so you will not need any external speakers for the set-up.

Functionality

The projector can be connected to various media players and HDMI devices, for example, Amazon Fire Stick, Google Chromecast, or Apple TV with the input of dual HDMI and the 1.4a 3D support. The appliance is very versatile and can be used in game, theater, and family rooms. It is also applicable to different outdoor locations, for example, you can use it in backyards, tailgating, or camping.
The appliance provides the best viewing and gaming experience because of its bright and deep colors, lag-free and speedy response, stunning brightness allowing for its use with the lights on, and extensive reliability.

Pros
  • The projector works very well with the little side lamp ambience.
  • The zoom and image shift are very useful.
  • The project is easy to set up and looks fantastic.
  • The big screen support is great both for movies and video games.
  • The picture quality and brightness are great.
Cons
  • The appliance does provide a tiny rainbow effect that needs to be adjusted.
  • The compatibility is not available for some Alexa devices.

The projector is truly worth buying and quite versatile for the needs of the whole family. The installation process is very easy due to the vertical keystone correction. The placement is quite flexible because of a 1.3x zoom.
The device can display 3D content using any 3D source. It may use 3D Bl-ray Disc players, or brand-new gaming consoles, 3D broadcasting, or other devices. The images are always flicker-free because the projector is supported by the 120 Hz rapid-refresh option. Remember to wear 3D glasses.


BenQ TK800M 4K UHD Home Theater Projector with HDR and HLG- The Best Appliance for Watching Sports and Playing Games with the Greatest Level of Immersion

The components in the projector kit provided by the manufacturer include the remote, a quick start guide, a lens cover, the user manual, and a power cord for your most convenience.


The projector uses the state-of-the-art 4K projection technology with 8.3 million pixels for better clarity. The glass lens is 4-K optimized allowing for the array of 7 elements in 4 groups. You will receive the necessary light penetration to increase the image sharpness. The 3 840 x 2 160 resolution does not allow for any blur. The brand-new 0.47-inch DMD technology and the low-dispersion coating on the lens provide the stunning experience of gaming and viewing. The content support is also provided by HDR10 and HLG with the optimized HDR mode.

Functionality

The 4K UHD image quality is stunning featuring the slightest details. The image resolution is provided by the DLT technology. You will be able to play games in the most accurate 4K quality. The input lag is very low so your gaming will be fun and smooth on any device, such as Xbox, PS4, or Nintendo Switch.
The colors are bright and sharp due to the high native contrast ratio and 3,000 lumens of brightness. The manufacturer strongly recommends using the appliance for watching sports events because the projector allows for receiving the dedicated picture and sound modes. You will be able to hear clearly the commentaries of an announcer and the crowd’s roaring. You will truly feel as part of the favorite game or any sport event due to TK 800 M technology.

Pros
  • The appliance provides a perfect combination of brightness, color, and picture quality.
  • The focus knob has the widest range ever.
  • The new lens provides an amazing performance for creating perfect sharpness.
  • The thing is great for gaming and watching sports.
  • The brightness and contrast ensure the best pictures.
Cons
  • The dark images are sometimes not quite clear showing dots and spots.
  • The projector works better for watching sports but not for playing games.

In short, this projector is worth buying because its quality will deliver you the fullest enjoyment. You will be able to play games or watch sports in any environment receiving the complete feeling of presence and immersion. The sound quality is provided by the 5-watt power speaker. You can also use a 3D source for better enjoyment but remember to wear 3D glasses.
The installation of the appliance is also very easy owing to its completely adjustable zoom technology. The projector will become a great addition to your living room or backyard environment.


Optoma UHD50X True 4K UHD Projector for Movies & Gaming- a Device for Rich Cinematic Images Ensuring a Lot of Fun

This gaming projector is ultra-fast presenting the capacity of 240Hz and Enhanced Gaming Mode with the 16 ms response time. The input lag is quite low – 26 ms at 4K UHD. The HDR 10 & HLC technology allows for the best viewing experience with bright white and deep dark color.


The appliance also uses Dynamic Black technology that can ensure more image depth because the lamp’s output is smoother. The contrast ratio is very high as well – 500,00 : 1. It allows for very detailed dark scenes.
The projector provides 3,400 lumens of brightness. The lamp life is up to 15,000 hours of use for watching two 2-hour-long movies every day for 10 years or more.

Functionality

The projector is ceiling mounted or it can be placed on the table counter. The special adjustment is not needed since it uses 1.3X zoom, the 40 degrees keystone correction, and 5-15% lens performing vertically.
You will enjoy rich cinematic images with the RGBWRGBW color wheel consisting of eight segments. The frame rate is also very high providing the image sharpness.
You can use the projector as a home theater or a gaming device, or even outdoors if you want to organize an entertaining movie night. You can receive a 100-inch image from the distance of about 9-11 feet and a 120-inch image from the distance of 11-13 feet. The UHD50X technology even allows for 302-inch images.

Pros
  • The projector looks excellent in the dark and is quite viewable in ambient lights.
  • The images and brightness are great.
  • Zoom and lens shift make setup and adjustment very easy.
  • There are many calibration options, image presets, and other features for a viewer’s benefit.
  • The appliance supports 3G.
Cons
  • Enhanced Gaming Mode can downscale and distort signals.
  • The signal can start switching and continue that way for many times.

The appliance is amazing. It is quite easy to install, with the devices such as gaming consoles, media players, Macs, PCs, mobile devices, and tablets owing to HDCP 2.2 support with HDMI 2.0 inputs, or USB, VGA, and HDMI connections.
The ultra-fast refresh rate is quite advantageous for gamers who use Microsoft Xbox Series X or Sony Playstation 5.
The light can be left on while watching because of the brightness intensity. Using the projector screening is highly recommended because, unlike the direct light from screens, the projector just reflects light and does not cause much strain on viewers’ eyes.


What Should You Look For While Choosing a Gaming Projector: Buyer’s Guide 

You can come across many questions and issues while choosing a gaming projector. There are some essential factors that can influence your choice. Of course, the price is vitally important. Then, consider resolution – 4K or 1080 p – it is up to you to decide. The ways to connect a projector to other appliances is also vital. You may require some specific inputs, for example, RCA or VGA. Consider also the input lag. It plays a great role in high-quality, smooth, and trouble-free gaming.

Input Lag

Normally, input lag does not affect the quality of movies or sport programs. Gaming is something different. Your input lag should be below 20 ms to play smoothly. If it is under 40 ms, it is still acceptable but that which is below 60 ms does not work well. If the output lag is above 65 ms, it does not make sense to acquire such a projector for gaming.

Resolution

You need the resolution of at least 1080 p for gaming. You can also use 4K though it is more suitable for watching movies and sports.

Frame and Refresh Rates

Frame Rate is measured in FPS (frames per second). Refresh Rate is put in Hz (hertz). However, these two indicators practically mean the same. In fact, the projectors with 120 Hz or 240 Hz can show 120 FPS and 240 FPS. For gaming, you will need a high frame rate.

HDR Support

HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. This indicator means the depth of colors. Choosing a projector with a great HDR support is essential because most modern consoles, such as PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, any kind of streaming boxes and services support HDR.

Brightness

Brightness is measured in lumens and the bigger the indicator is the better the projector performs either in a dark room or in the daylight. For gaming, you will need at least 2,000 lumens of brightness or even more.

Some high-lumen projectors, however, can perform a bit worse in terms of image quality. So, you will have to choose whether you want brighter or more high-quality images.

Screen Size

It depends on the size of your room or the wall where images are to be projected. Measure the size of the room and the wall’s size separately before making a choice.

The best option for different sizes of walls are projectors with sensitive minimum and maximum scales. The size of the screen ranging from 40 to 200 inches is perfect for a sharp and well-rounded image. Such projectors, therefore, can be used for different sizes of screens.

Setup

The two types of setups used for gaming projectors are a permanent ceiling mount and a portable countertop setup. Both are widely-used though the portable setup is more convenient. The distance between the appliance and projecting wall (screen) should be adequate. To understand whether the projector fits your measures, read the User’s Guide. Some devices may need manual settings or modifying their internal settings.

Some projectors have touch-screens so you can set up the appliance using the menu. Many devices use remote controls that are always easy to work with. Choose the settings and type of projector according to your needs and preferences.

FAQs

Can the art projector be used for gaming?

You can use it for gaming, of course, if it meets the necessary criteria. However, art projectors are developed specifically for presentations and projects. So, their sound quality can be rather poor. Some art projectors, for example, opaque ones, are meant exactly for artists so you won’t be able to play video games on them.

How should I know that it is time for the LED light bulb in the projector to be changed?

The overall sign that you need to change the LED bulb is that it does not work. However, you can notice some other signs, for example, lower brightness or poorer image quality.

Do I need to clean my projector?

Of course, you do. Any kind of projector can collect dirt and debris on it with time. THat can distort images. Look up the procedure of cleaning in the User’s Manual for some specific maintenance instructions for the model you have.

What does the term ‘throw ratio’ mean?

In short, it is the distance between the projector and the screen (or the wall) on which the images are displayed. You can measure this distance yourself starting from the tip of the lens and proceeding to the wall. For example, a throw ratio of 5 : 1 means that your projector is located at the five-feet distance from the screen. This measure is very important because you need to know how big the throw ratio the projector you want to buy allows for. So, measure your room’s size beforehand.

Can I organize a gaming party with my gaming projector and what else do I need for that?

Sure. You can organize a gaming party with your projector. Though, you will also need such devices as PlayStation or a gaming console. Try to have several gaming consoles for the party. You may also need headsets. Having more than one device for connecting to the projector is essential because you will never know when one appliance can fail you. Some devices can also turn out to be incompatible with your projector. So, think about Plan B in advance.

Video Tutorial: A Good 1080P Projector vs A Budget 4K Projector – Is it worth spending more?

Conclusion

All in all, a projector is meant to help you play on a big screen. Life-size gaming is always big fun and a great advantage. Look for a bunch of options for gamers to be sure you have made the right choice.

You need brightness, high refresh rate, low input lag, high resolution, and some other things to make your game thrilling, entertaining, and breathtaking. Consider the brand and the price, and whether the costs you are going to pay match the expected quality of gaming. 

You can make a great choice of a gaming projector considering the tips from this article and visiting Amazon.com. You can also look for the best appliance ever in your local brick-and-mortar brand shop. What you always need to do is to compare prices at different retailers. Considering all these recommendations, you will make the best choice ever. Happy gaming!