You will agree with us that playing and viewing your games with a large, crystal clear screen can be fun and mind-blowing. However, investing on a large screen TV for a mind-blowing gaming experience would cost a lot of money so, using a game projector might be all you need.
However, with a slew of game projectors available on the market today, selecting the right game projector that suits your needs might be a challenge, especially if you’re new to this equipment. In this article, we are going to show you some of the best gaming projectors on the market today. We will also give you some tips on how you can find and select the right one for your needs.
Let get started!
Read more: Top 8 Portable Mini Projectors
Table of Contents
How to Choose the Best Gaming Projectors in 2021
When shopping for gaming projectors, there are some important factors and features you check out for before purchasing the projector. Some of the features are:
1. The Projector’s Resolution
A projector’s standard resolution has SVGA (800×600) and XGA (1024×768). The SVGA resolution allows you to view up to 1,440,000 pixels point and the XGA resolution heightens the view to an increasing rate of 2,359,296 pixels. With these resolutions, you can view smaller lettering and numberings on your projector. Projectors that supports HD resolution of up to 1920×1200 (WUXGA) should be considered when you desire a device with unique picture quality.
2. The Portability of The Projector
Projectors come in different sizes; the micro-portable sizes, ultra-portable sizes, portable sizes, and the large sizes. The micro portable ones are less than 2.5kg; ultra-portable ones are less than 4kg, portable ones are less than 10kg while the hall size ones are over 10kg. So, consider if you’ll be moving your projector frequently and select a model that suits that purpose.
3. The Projector’s Brightness
When gaming every little detail counts and you can’t afford to miss any of those details. In a bright or well-lit room, projectors with very high lumen ratings are advised. However, if the room is a standardized theatre, you might not need a very high lumen for projection. In such a room, the projector or lumen required for projection is a model with 1000 lumens.
However, if your room lighting is mild, you will need to get a projector with more than 1500 lumens, and if your room is wide, open and spacious, you will also need a projector with at least 3000 lumens.
Also, your projector screen size is a determining factor for the lumens required in for projection. If your projector screen size about 50-60 inch, we recommend a projector with over 1000 lumens, if it is 60-80 inches you need a projector with over 1500 lumens. For an 80-100 inches projector, you need at least a projector with 1500 – 2500 lumens and 2500+ lumens for 100+ screen size.
4. Ensure the Projector is Made to Project Games
Although a quality Full HD projector is great for viewing movies, it isn’t the best for games, so don’t be tempted to get it for the projection of your games. Projectors meant for projecting games are programmed to reduce the lag time, and they are actively responsive.
If you are a good gamer, you will understand how a tiny bit of lag can affect the whole gaming experience. So, get a projector that is designed for games. Although they might cost you more, they will definitely deliver a great gaming experience.
5. Check Out for The Game Mode
Almost all game projectors have an exclusive ‘game mode’ also known as the ‘fast mode.’ The game mode may steal a bit of the projector’s image quality and a bit of the lag time, but it will step up the refresh rate giving you a crystal-clear image and drastically decrease the urge to strain your eyes.
6. Take Note of the Throw Distance
Projectors come in different throw distances, the short, long, and ultrashort projector throw. The throw means the distance of your projector from your wall when mounted. Long throw projectors are cheaper than the small and ultrashort throw projectors, but they may not be functional in small rooms. Ultra-short throw projectors are best used in a large room or hall while the short throw projector is the most common and are most effective in standard room size.
7. Budget
Game projectors are available in different price ranges, so it is important for you to define your budget before you make your choice. Generally, the more expensive a game projector is the better its quality, but this does not mean you cannot get a quality game projector that would meet your needs at a cheaper cost.
8. Users feedback
Apart from having great specifications, checking the users’ feedbacks and review of a game projector is a great way to know its quality, ease of use and get an insight into its performance in real life. To shortlist our best game projectors, we reviewed several products that were recommended on Amazon and other specialized websites and picked 15 gaming projectors that were more recommended. From there, we singled out eight gaming projector with the best ratings and lots of positive feedbacks to help narrow down your search and assist you in making the right choice.
Top 8 Best Gaming Projectors 2021 Reviews
| Product | Best Feature | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1. BenQ HT2150ST | Our Best Short Throw Projector | 4.7 |
| 2. Epson Home Cinema 2040 | Our Best Long Throw Projectors | 4.5 |
| 3. Optoma GT1080Darbee Projector | Our Best Responsive Projector | 4.3 |
| 4. ViewSonic PX747-4K Projector | Our Best Picture Quality Pick | 4.1 |
| 5. LG Electronics PF1000UW | Our Best Ultrashort Throw Pick | 3.9 |
| 6. EUG Wireless Projector | Our Best Wireless Projector | 3.4 |
| 7. Sony VPL-HW45ES | The Best 3D Projector for Gamers | 4.7 |
| 8. EUG Multimedia Projector | Best Gaming Projector for Beginners | 4.2 |
1. BenQ HT2150ST – Our Best Short Throw Projector
This model of BenQ needs just needs an average of 5 feet to project pictures as high as a 100-inch picture on its screen. In this case, the projector can be positioned in front of you without casting shadows on the screen. The product is unique because it has up to 2200 ANSI lumens and 15000:1 contrast ratio responsible for its great lighting. In a dark room or a room with moderate brightness, you will be surprised how much it will illuminate such rooms.
The HT2150ST is best for game players and lovers because of its low input lag. You can compare it lag to that of television when you enable the Fast Mode and its Game Picture Mode. The product is affordable, and it offers exceptional performance compared with projectors in its league.
Pros
- Excellent picture quality
- Fast and responsive for smooth gaming
- High contrast ratio
- Short throw
- Easy to setup
Cons
- Some users wished its fan is quieter
2. Epson Home Cinema 2040 – Our Best Long Throw Projectors
The Epson projector offers high-quality images almost like that of the BenQ; however, it isn’t a short throw projector like the HT2150ST from BenQ. To get a successful projection, you need close to 9 feet of space to project a quality image.
Although it isn’t as expensive as the BenQ, this Epson projector has 2200 lumens which aid its lighting output, and this light projection is appropriate for most rooms. With an iris that can get as high as ratio 35000:1, you can easily adjust the contrast of the images displayed on its screen. An additional advantage of this product is its higher input lag and the ability to project action scenes up to 300 inches with no rainbow effect. The product is worth the price charged for it.
Pros
- High contrast ratio
- Can project action scenes up to 300 inches
- Smooth, crisp image
- Easy to setup
- Versatile connectivity
Cons
- From our survey, some users wished its fan is quieter
- A few complaint of overheating
3. Optoma GT1080Darbee Projector – Our Best Responsive Projector
What can we say? We only have praises for this very responsive projector. Like the BenQ, this projector is one of the perfect optimized short throw projectors. Its added advantage is its enhanced response time, its rousing visuals, and excellent contrast. You can place the projector on your TV stand or in an entertainment center. Thanks to its .49 throw ratio, it projects about 100-inch picture display from as low as 4 feet afar from where it is mounted.
Inside the projector is the DarbeeVision image processor responsible for it alluring image details and its ability to separate objects for better image clarity which gives you the cinema sensation when playing a game. The projector has a complete HD 1080p resolution, 28,000:1 contrast ratio and 3,000 lumens of lighting that generates great black level for best exploits in the gaming world.
The projector’s lag shouldn’t be ruminated on as its enhanced gaming mode provides you the spontaneous response and extra time of 16ms to engage you at the most turbulent times in a game. We also can’t ignore its complete 3D projection and the lamp that comes with the projector.
Pros
- High contrast ratio
- Super responsive
- High resolution
- Smooth, crisp image with high brightness
- Easy to setup
- Short throw
Cons
- A few complaint of lamp failure
4. ViewSonic PX747-4K Projector – Our Best Picture Quality Pick
If you are the type that values a sharp image quality when gaming and doesn’t really care about a projector input lag, then you should get a projector with 4K UHD resolution. Although most projectors in this category are a bit expensive, we love the PX747-4K projector from ViewSonic because of its quality, and it isn’t as expensive as other projectors in its category.
ViewSonic is an average throw projector, but it offers HDR support and delivers vibrant images and comes with many input port which includes the HDMI and the VGA. It has very good sound production, and it is very easy to set up. The projector input lag is as much as 43milisecounds, and it is one of the best input lag of 4K projectors in the market. Only fast gamers might complain about its input lag.
Pros
- High contrast ratio
- High resolution (4K) up to 300 inches with HDR compatibility
- Bright, smooth, crisp image
- Easy to setup
- Flexible connectivity
Cons
- No 3D
- The lens has no cover
5. LG Electronics PF1000UW – Our Best Ultrashort Throw Pick
This excellent offering from LG is one of the best gaming projectors with ultrashort throw that you will find on the market today. You can mount this projector as low as 5 inches away from the ground, and it will still deliver its expected 60 inches full HD image with a whopping 150,000:1 contrast ratio.
Though it isn’t as bright as the other projectors we reviewed so far (due to its 1000 lumens), the projector is special in its own way. That is because it offers other great properties of a good projector like excellent functionality and the ability to connect to the internet plus other streaming services with ease. It has wireless connectivity and a good Bluetooth sound system that allows easy usage in a small area. With these features, you can connect your projectors with speakers or headphones for a mind-blowing gaming experience.
Pros
- Very high contrast ratio
- Fast and responsive
- High resolution
- Vivid, smooth, and crisp image
- Portable and easy to setup
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth compatibility
- Ultra-Short throw
Cons
- No 3D
- Its smart TV feature will not function outside the US
6. EUG Wireless Projector – Our Best Wireless Projector
Great visuals. The projector projects very bright and clear visuals – this is because it has 3,900-lumen bulb in it. With a native resolution of 1200×800 and a contrast of ratio 5000:1 the images are soft and none fluttering, so you won’t have to strain your eyes even when you have been playing for long. The projector’s Led bulb is durable and can last up to 17 years.
Just like the projectors we reviewed above, it comes with inbuilt cooling fans the help to regulate its temperature even if you play your game all through the night. EUG wireless projector screen sizes vary from 50 to 200, and the projector is best placed 6.5 inches away from the screen. Its quad-core CPU helps to refresh the projector quickly, so you won’t have to worry about the lag time. You will definitely love its wireless experience and its affordable cost. You can connect your smartphone or game controller to your projector or surf the web using its fast-wireless connection.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Android OS (can work as a smartphone by downloading and running apps from play store)
- Fast and responsive
- Bright, smooth, and clear visuals
- Easy to setup
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth compatibility
- Short throw
Cons
- Some users complained about its noisy fan
- No 3D
- Outdated OS
7. Sony VPL-HW45ES – The Best 3D Projector for Gamers
We can brag about the vibrant picture quality of this projector all day long. The product image quality is superb, and it has an input lag reduction. When you turn on the projector, the lag reduces to just 22ms. Its maximum lighting output is 1800 lumens which makes it less useful in a bright room but very functional in a dark room.
It also comes with the motion flow technology that ensures a smooth on-screen action. With this product, you’ll definitely get a fantastic viewing experience and a full 3D support.
Pros
- High resolution
- Fast and responsive
- Bright, smooth and clear visuals
- Easy to setup
- 3D compatible
- High contrast ratio
Cons
- A bit pricey
8. EUG Multimedia Projector – Best Gaming Projector for Beginners
This multimedia projector from EUG is very affordable. You don’t need to empty your pocket or break a bank to get one. It is best for new beaus in the gaming world. It projects very bright images due to its 3900 lumens and can even be brought out of your room to project movies at night.
Its resolution is just about 1280×800, and its contrast is not above 5000:1 ratio and this is probably due to its cheaper price tag.
Pros
- High resolution
- Fast and responsive
- Bright, smooth and clear visuals (works for outdoor movies)
- Easy to setup and use
- Compatible with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0
- Very affordable
Cons
- No 3D
- Outdated Android OS
Gaming Projectors FAQs
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Why do I need a gaming projector?
With TVs and the computer monitor, you might miss some essential details due to the smaller screen size. Large televisions can’t fill the void of the size a gaming project offers unless you want to spend more than necessary on a large screen TV. A gaming projector offers you the ability to see every little detail, help you play better and increase the fulfillment and satisfaction you get from playing the game.
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What do I need to put in place to start using a gaming projector?
Apart from getting the projector, you need to decide on the size of screen you want, a large blank space to place the screen and figure out where or the angle you want to place the projector in your home. If you choose, you can turn a room in your home into a gaming room with comfortable furniture.
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What should I consider when purchasing a gaming projector?
You might want to consider getting either DLP or LCD version of the projector. Both versions have great qualities although there is just a slight difference in them. If you are the type that takes quality as a very important factor, you should browse the differences in both qualities and pick one that suits your demands. The lag time is also a crucial thing you should consider. Get a projector with the shortest lag time, so you get to see exactly what is going on at every step of the way. Also, consider a projector with good image quality and portability.
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How much should I spend to get a gaming projector?
This depends on your budget. But the truth is: you don’t have to hemorrhage your bank to get a good gaming projector. Research on prices of gaming projectors reviewed above and picked one that falls within your budget. We are sure you will get a great and affordable one.
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What are the top brands of gaming projectors?
Gaming projectors come in different brands and categories. Thankfully we have come out with a review on the top eight products we guarantee. Feel free to purchase any of our eight top picks.
Conclusion
We have reviewed different great gaming projectors and their awesome features and answered some of the questions you might have regarding the need to get a gaming projector. We are sure that this article has also opened your eyes to the most important things to look out for when looking for the Best Projector for Gaming. What are you waiting for? Get to the market today and buy the best projector that is suitable for your needs.
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