The 11 best projectors to create an at-home cinema experience from the comfort of your sofa
It's officially cosy season folks, and we want to do nothing more than curl up on our sofas or armchairs with a snuggly throw blanket and hot chocolate in tow. Picture it: you've just come home from a crisp stroll in your fave walking boots, winter coat and scarf – what better way to warm up than popping a festive film on? There couldn't possibly be a thing, right? Well, actually, playing it on one of the best projectors would certainly up the ante.
Creating an at-home cinema experience in your own front room is actually a lot more simple than it looks; besides the cosy duvets and snacks (lots and lots of snacks), the main components to an at-home cinema set up worthy of the ‘gram are a white screen like this (or even just a white wall) and most importantly, a projector. So as the temperatures drop outside and a trip to the real cinema seems too much effort, we’ve done all the hard work and found the best projectors for your home to buy now.
What do I need to consider when buying a projector?
Even for the tech-savvy, a foray into purchasing a projector can be a bit overwhelming. Here are the key factors to consider when purchasing one.
There is a range of resolutions available on the market that will affect both your at-home cinema experience – and the price. 4K projectors are considered the gold standard to give you as many pixels and as clear a resolution as possible, but they come with a hefty price tag, and generally, this level of resolution is just not really necessary for a family movie night. HD projectors are the most popular and a good compromise between quality and price.
This is where it starts getting technical, but stick with us here – brightness is measured in lumens, but more lumens don’t always mean better viewing quality. The amount of brightness you’ll need actually depends on when you're planning on indulging in an outdoor movie marathon. For anything after dark, we’d say go for picture quality over brightness in a projector; but if you’ll be screening in the day, look to buy a projector with more lumens.
Another thing to keep in mind is the size of your garden and where you'll position your projector. Most projectors have a range of throw distances' (the distance between the projector and screen) but if you have limited space in your garden, it's best to go for a projector with a short-throw space (like this one) that will still give you high-quality images when your projector is up close.
Thinking practically can save you the trouble of buying the wrong projector for your home. Consider where you’ll power the projector from or if it can run for hours on battery, whether you’d like one that streams on WiFi, Bluetooth or that you have to plug your device into, as well as how much you’ll be moving it around.
The best projectors for an outdoor cinema
To find the best projector for yourself, you'd need to take into account the above factors, as well as your budget. Prices vary from under £100 to well over the £1000 mark, but there are plenty of projectors that fall in the middle ground that we rate highly. This micro projector from The Tech Bar is a great option, with its HD quality screening and five hours run time – plus it's super portable. Or there is this projector on Amazon that pairs easily with all forms of multimedia and has a good combination of resolution and brightness – plus did we mention its under £200? All the more savings for the snacks.
After more interiors content? We've found the best sofa beds for all your friends and family to use over Christmas, plus the best electric blankets to keep you warm during cold winter nights. Struggling to wake up with your alarm clock? Check out our Lumie Bodyclock review.
Scroll down for the 11 best projectors to buy now so you can start enjoying your at-home cinema.
Best projectors: Best 4k projector
BenQ TK850 True 4K HDR-PRO Home Theater Projector, WAS £1498 NOW £1432.25, Amazon
Selling points: 4K, 3000 lumens, dedicated sports modes
If you're serious about your at home cinema experience (not to mention sports viewing at home) this is the ultimate projector. It projects in 4K for striking clarity and crisply defined details, plus its high number of lumens means you can use it no matter the ambient brightness or time of day. It's definitely an investment but you'll never need to visit a cinema again.
Best portable projector
Portable Projector, £129.99, Amazon
Selling points: 4000 lumen brightness, dual speaker, multimedia compatible
Compatible with everything from an Apple TV, to a laptop and even your headphones (for a silent movie night experience that won't bother your neighbours) this projector is not only small in size, but price too. But it still will project a bright screen with amazing image quality with the inbuilt speakers providing surround sound for that real cinematic experience.
Best projectors with inbuilt speakers
Epson EF-12 3LCD, WAS £999 NOW £879, Amazon
Selling points: Full HD, 1000 lumens, sound by Yamaha
If you don't want to compromise on picture quality or brightness, this is the projector for you. Screening movies day or night with its full HD capability and 1000 lumen brightness, you can easily stream online content, so you can watch that new Netflix movie with ease (and all with Yamaha sound.)
Best projector for home: Short through projector
Acer H6517ST FHD Home Cinema Short Throw Projector, £599.99, Argos
Selling points: 1920 x 1080 resolution, 3000 lumens brightness, short throw projection, ceiling mountable
This Acer projector is a 1080p high resolution design made to deliver magnificent quality video with amazingly sharp detail. With 3,000 lumens brightness, it's also DLP 3D ready and features HDMI 3D technology plus short-throw projection which will help you to create the most realistic home theatre.
Save when you shop for the best projector with these Argos discount codes.
Best projectors under £100
ELEPHAS 2020 WiFi Mini Projector, £89.99, Amazon
Selling points: Pairs directly to smart phone with Wifi, Full HD 1080P, diffuse reflection technology.
This affordable projector packs a serious punch with it's HD display, 24-bit true-color support and inbuilt speakers - all designed to give you a real cinema experience at home. It easily syncs to your smartphone screen with a one-time WiFi connection, so before you know it you'll be cuddled up watching a movie in your own living room.
Best projector for home
ViewSonic M2 DLP projector, WAS £599 NOW £522, Amazon
Selling points: Full HD with supercolour technology, mirrors smart phones, shorter throw lens
Perfect for any size room due to its shorter throw lens, this projector is also a breeze to use – it can mirror screens from smart devices or connect via WiFi or Bluetooth. It comes with built-in dual Harman Kardon speakers that will fill the room (or garden) as well as a remote for when you need to pause and do a popcorn run.
Best projector for home or office
Epson EB-E01 XGA Office Projector, £369.99, Argos
Selling points: 1024 x 768 resolution, 3300 lumens brightness, ceiling mountable
Experience bright, high-quality images in the home or office with this easy-to-use XGA model, featuring 3LCD technology. From watching blockbusters on the big screen to hosting business presentations, this projector has a range of features to suit the occasion.
Save when you shop for the best projector with these Argos discount codes.
Best projectors
Philips NeoPix Ultra 2TV FHD Home Projector, £349.99, Argos
Selling points: Built-in 2 x 15 watt surround sound speakers, built-in android TV, WiFi, Bluetooth and an integrated multimedia player
Thanks to built-in android TV, all your favourite apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+ are already there. Connect all of your favourite devices via HDMI, and play all your videos, pictures, and audio files from USB, thanks to the built-in multimedia player. No need for extra sound systems either; the built-in speakers provide 2 x 15 watt booming surround sound.
Save when you shop for the best projector with these Argos discount codes.
Best mini projector: Best portable projector
Kodak Luma 150 Portable (1080p Compatible) Projector, £269.99, Argos
Selling points: Wireless connectivity, supports Miracast and Airplay, suitable for screens up to 150 inches
Enjoy stunning HD video with the DLP Wireless Projector from KODAK. Integrating revolutionary innovations in compact digital design, this miniature portable movie player produces high quality imaging. Just plug, play and experience.
Save when you shop for the best projector with these Argos discount codes.
Best mini projector under £500
The Tech Bar Smart Micro Projector, £495.95, Selfridges
Selling points: Ultra-portable, runs for up to 5 hours, HD quality resolution
Perfect for an evening under the stars, this easily portable projector from The Tech Bar may be small but don't let that fool you. It still has HD quality (up to 240"), can run via wifi, Bluetooth or connection and is incredibly easy to operate. Plus it can run for up to 5 hours for back to back screenings.
Save when you shop for the best projector with these Selfridges discount codes.
Best projector for home
DR.Q HI-04 Projector with Projection Screen, £91.35, Amazon
Selling points: Inexpensive, comes with projector screen, full HD
For under £100 this HD projector comes with it's own projection screen so you can start streaming your favourite flick from the word go. Equipped with ports for all forms of media, it features an upgraded colour light output as well as a native 720P resolution for clear, and vibrant image quality.
