Best home cinema projectors
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The best home cinema projectors for UK rooms, from living rooms with some light to dedicated dark cinemas. In short: the BenQ W2720i is the best all-rounder for most rooms, the Hisense M2 Pro is the easiest to live with if you don’t have a permanent spot for it, and the Epson EH-LS9000 is the one to step up to for a quieter, punchier laser picture.
Quick picks
- Best overall: BenQ W2720i: accurate colour, sharp 4K detail and strong gaming specs for the money.
- Best compact and flexible: Hisense M2 Pro: a small triple-laser projector with Dolby Vision that sets itself up.
- Best step-up: Epson EH-LS9000: a quiet laser projector with a crisp, punchy picture.
Also consider: the Hisense C2 Pro (a more flexible version of the compact idea), the Hisense PL2 (ultra short throw, sits just in front of the wall), and, for a dedicated dark room on a bigger budget, the Sony VPL-XW5000ES with native 4K panels.
Comparison
| Projector | Imaging | Light source | Dolby Vision | Placement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BenQ W2720i | DLP, 4K by pixel-shifting | 4LED | No (HDR10, HDR10+, HLG) | Vertical lens shift |
| Hisense M2 Pro | DLP, 4K by pixel-shifting | Triple laser | Yes | Autofocus and auto keystone, 1.3x zoom |
| Epson EH-LS9000 | 3LCD, 4K by pixel-shifting | Laser | No | Ceiling or shelf mount |
The picks in detail
BenQ W2720i
Best for: most people buying their first serious projector, for a darkened living room or a dedicated room.
Good
- Accurate, natural colour out of the box
- Sharp, detailed 4K picture from a 1080p chip that pixel-shifts
- HDR10+, 4K at 120 Hz and eARC: good for gaming and sound systems
- Vertical lens shift makes placement easier
Not so good
- No Dolby Vision
- Black levels fall short of the best laser and LCoS projectors
- Fan noise is noticeable in the brightest modes
Hisense M2 Pro
Best for: living rooms and spare rooms where the projector comes out for films and goes away afterwards.
Good
- Triple-laser light with Dolby Vision support
- Autofocus and auto keystone correction: set up in minutes
- Compact, with a 1.3x zoom for flexible placement
- Projects images from about 65 to 200 inches
Not so good
- Not bright enough for a sunlit room (around 1,300 ANSI lumens claimed)
- Limited inputs
- Built-in speakers are thin: add a soundbar
Epson EH-LS9000
Best for: a dedicated room or a darkened lounge where you want a bigger step up in picture quality.
Good
- Crisp, punchy, colourful picture
- Gaming-friendly specs
- Quiet in use
Not so good
- Blacks aren’t as deep as the best rivals
- Menus can be confusing
- No built-in streaming apps: you’ll need a streaming stick or box
How we choose
We haven’t tested these products in our own rooms. Our picks come from reading published expert reviews and awards (including What Hi-Fi?, EISA, Trusted Reviews, Expert Reviews and AVForums), checking makers’ specifications, and weighing the strengths and weaknesses reviewers consistently report. Where sources disagree, we say so or leave the figure out. Projector brightness figures are makers’ claims; reviewers often measure less.
We don’t invent scores. Prices, stock and model ranges change often, so check the current price and that a model is still on sale before you buy. Picks last checked October 2026.
What to look for
- Throw ratio decides where the projector can go for your screen size. Check it with our throw distance calculator before anything else.
- Brightness should be compared on ANSI or ISO lumens only. See how many lumens you need.
- Contrast and black level matter most in a dark room. Native contrast is more meaningful than dynamic figures.
- Resolution: native 4K chips or pixel-shifting. Both can look excellent; check which you are paying for.
- HDR handling: projectors tone-map HDR to suit their brightness, and some do it far better than others. See HDR on projectors.
- Lens shift and zoom make placement much easier. Fixed-lens and ultra short throw models must be placed precisely.
- Fan noise, especially if the projector sits near the seats.
- Gaming: input lag and 4K 120 Hz support if you play on it.
Not sure a projector is right? Read projector or TV first.
Questions
Do I need a screen?
A plain white wall works to start with, but a proper screen gives a more even, brighter and sharper picture. See our screen guide.
Can I use a projector in daylight?
Only a bright one, ideally with an ambient light rejecting screen, and the picture will still look better after dark. See controlling light.
Do projectors need a separate sound system?
Built-in speakers are usually basic. A soundbar or speaker system makes a big difference. See soundbar or separates.