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What will you use your projector for most?
Before we get into all the techy stuff, it’s a good idea to work out what you’re going to use it for the most — since different types of projectors will be best suited to one activity over another. We've broken it down into four categories to help you find the features you’ll need for everything from watching movies to giving presentations:
Want the best projector for your home theatre? You'll want:
Full HD or 4K resolution to see all the detail in your favourite films.
A high contrast ratio to see deep blacks and bright whites.
HDMI port(s) for connecting a Blu-ray player or laptop for streaming.
Widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio for a full image without black bars or cropped scenes.
Look out for these must-haves in the best portable projectors:
Wi-Fi or Bluetooth for wireless streaming and audio (plus a neat setup).
Light and compact design so it’s easy to take with you.
Manual zoom and adjustable focus to get the view just right anywhere.
Built-in batteries for watching films at friends’ houses or presenting to clients you’re visiting.
For presentations that go without a hitch, go for office projectors with:
HDMI, VGA, and USB inputs to hook up laptops and extra peripherals.
A large HD-ready screen for clear, readable text and graphics.
16:10 aspect ratio for even more screen real-estate.
High brightness (at least 3000 lumens) to see content clearly in daylight.
Want next-level gameplay? Choose a gaming projector featuring:
A 4K resolution for amazing graphics from your PS5 or Xbox Series X|S console.
Low input lag so there’s no delay between your controller and what’s onscreen.
A high refresh rate (at least 120Hz) for smooth gameplay free of motion blur.
Keystone correction to properly align the image and prevent distortion.
What’s your perfect projector screen size?
Most projectors produce a picture from around 30" to 300", with some going up to a whopping 500 inches! We've listed the most common projector display sizes below to help you figure out the best fit for your space:
30" to 100" projectors
For gaming and watching movies in your lounge, a small projector screen up to 100 inches is all you'll need. Images will be easy to see and look great in the dark.
101" to 200" projectors
Got a spare room you want to turn into a home cinema? Or maybe you need a projector for a classroom or conference room? A projector around this size should fit perfectly.
201" to 300" projectors
A large projector screen between 201 and 300 inches is best for small-to-medium sized concert venues and lecture halls with audiences up to 100 people.
Over 300" projectors
Projectors over 300 inches are made for outdoor movie theatres, big concert halls, and huge auditoriums. You can get an epic screen with a high-quality picture.
What is the best projector resolution?
The more pixels your projector has, the higher the resolution. This means greater depth, detail, and quality in any content it displays. Here are some common projector resolutions you’ll see:
HD Ready (1280 x 720)
HD Ready (720p) projectors have the lowest resolution to qualify as high definition. But they still deliver a sharp picture for your favourite shows, with most HD Ready projectors under 100".
WXGA (1280 x 800)
This resolution is slightly wider than HD Ready for a 16:10 aspect ratio. This makes WXGA projectors perfect for presentations with graphs, charts, and multimedia content.
Full HD (1920 x 1080)
Full HD (1080p) is the most common projector resolution you'll find, and best for projectors with a screen over 100". With more than 2 million pixels, you get a super crisp picture.
Shop Full HD 1080p projectors
4K Ultra HD (4096 x 2160)
4K projectors offer four times the number of pixels of Full HD (that's around 8 million!). If you're thinking of getting a projector over 200", you'll want 4K for crystal-clear visuals.
Shop 4K Ultra HD projectors
Projector connectivity
Projectors can connect to all sorts of tech — from set top boxes to Blu-ray players, streaming devices, laptops, tablets, phones, and gaming consoles. You can boost your sound by hooking them up to soundbars, speakers, and headphones too.
HDMI
Any HDMI device can be connected to a projector with an HDMI port. This includes Blu-ray players, games consoles, soundbars, and streaming devices (like a Fire TV stick).
VGA
A VGA (Video Graphics Array) port lets you pair your projector up with other common office tech like laptops and desktop PCs.
USB
Projectors with a USB port can read content from USB drives and devices — perfect for sharing photos and movies. Some can even charge your phone or tablet while you watch.
Wi-Fi
A Wi-Fi projector lets you stream content from your phone, tablet, or laptop via wireless tech like AirPlay and Chromecast. This makes it easy to quickly share photos, videos, or a presentation without having to faff around with cables or adapters.
Bluetooth
Projectors with Bluetooth let you wirelessly connect to Bluetooth-enabled speakers and soundbars for a bigger and more immersive sound. Want to watch a film without disturbing anyone? Just pair up with Bluetooth headphones.
3.5mm jack
The 3.5mm jack is just like the headphone port on your laptop or phone. It lets you connect compatible desktop speakers, a portable speaker, or pair of headphones using a standard auxiliary audio cable.
