Gaming ProjectorsUpdated October 4, 2026

Best Projector for Gaming in 2026

Four projectors compared on listed input lag, brightness and price: BenQ TH685P, NexiGo PJ40 Pro, Optoma GT1080HDR and XGIMI HORIZON 20.

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Prices change daily on Amazon. Check today's price on the BenQ TH685P before reading the full review.
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Our Pick

BenQ TH685P

BenQ lists 8.3 ms latency at 1080p/120Hz and 3,500 ANSI lumens for the TH685P at $979. NexiGo lists 10 ms for the PJ40 Pro at $299.99. The XGIMI HORIZON 20 ($1,559) lists 1 ms input lag and 240Hz in 4K. The Optoma GT1080HDR ($799) lists low input lag and a short-throw lens but not a figure. These are the makers' figures and we have not measured any of them. Prices and stock were read on Amazon.com on 4 October 2026 and change often. We have not tested these projectors.

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At a Glance

FeatureBenQ TH685PNexiGo PJ40 Pro Google TVOptoma GT1080HDRXGIMI HORIZON 20
Price$979$299.99$799$1,559
Input Lag (listed)8.3 ms at 1080p/120Hz (per BenQ)10 ms (per NexiGo)Low input lag (figure not stated in the text we read)1 ms (per XGIMI)
Brightness (listed)3,500 ANSI lumens800 ANSI lumens3,800 lumens3,200 ISO lumens
Resolution1080p, 4K-supported inputs1080p native, 4K supported1080p, 4K HDR compatible4K RGB triple laser
Smart OSNone listedGoogle TVNone listedGoogle TV with licensed Netflix

Quick Comparison

#1
BenQ TH685PTop Pick
BenQ lists 3,500 ANSI lumens, 1080p at 120Hz, 8.3 ms latency, a 5W speaker and a 3-year warranty, at $979.
$979
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#2
NexiGo PJ40 Pro Google TVBest Value
NexiGo lists 800 ANSI lumens, native 1080p, Google TV, a 10 ms low-latency mode and 20W speakers, at $299.99.
$299.99
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#3
Optoma GT1080HDR
Optoma lists a Full HD short-throw projector with 3,800 lumens, 4K HDR compatibility and low input lag, at $799.
$799
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#4
XGIMI HORIZON 20Runner Up
XGIMI lists a 4K RGB triple-laser projector with 3,200 ISO lumens, lens shift, optical zoom and Google TV, at $1,559.
$1,559
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Our Top Picks

Top Pick

BenQ TH685P

$979

BenQ lists 3,500 ANSI lumens, 1080p at 120Hz, 8.3 ms latency, a 5W speaker and a 3-year warranty, at $979.

Pros
  • 3,500 ANSI lumens, per BenQ
  • 8.3 ms low latency at 1080p/120Hz, per BenQ
  • 95% Rec. 709 and HDR10, per BenQ
  • 100-inch image from 8.2 feet, per BenQ
  • 3-year warranty, per BenQ
Cons
  • $979, three times the price of the NexiGo PJ40 Pro
  • A single 5W speaker, per the listing
  • No built-in smart OS listed; it needs a streaming device
  • Only 82 Amazon ratings
BenQ lists the TH685P as a 1080p gaming projector with 3,500 ANSI lumens, 120Hz refresh, 8.3 ms low latency at 1080p/120Hz, 4K-supported HDMI inputs, HDR10, 95% Rec. 709, a 5W treVolo speaker with an equalizer and a 3-year warranty, and says it does not have the VGA-in or monitor-out of the TH685. It is $979 on Amazon.com with 82 ratings at 4.1 stars. These figures are the maker's own; we have not tested the projector.
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Best Value

NexiGo PJ40 Pro Google TV

$299.99

NexiGo lists 800 ANSI lumens, native 1080p, Google TV, a 10 ms low-latency mode and 20W speakers, at $299.99.

Pros
  • 800 ANSI lumens, per NexiGo
  • Google TV built in, so no streaming stick is needed
  • 10 ms low latency, per NexiGo
  • Native 1080p with 4K support
  • 60-100% zoom for an image up to 300 inches, per NexiGo
Cons
  • $299.99, at the top of a $300 budget
  • 204 Amazon ratings, far fewer than some cheaper projectors
  • Fan noise is not stated in the listing text we read
NexiGo lists the PJ40 Pro with native 1080p, 800 ANSI lumens, Google TV for direct access to apps, AI image enhancement, auto keystone, 20W speakers, a backlit remote, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and a 10 ms low-latency mode. It is $299.99 on Amazon.com with 204 ratings at 4.4 stars. These figures are the maker's own; we have not tested the projector.
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Optoma GT1080HDR

$799

Optoma lists a Full HD short-throw projector with 3,800 lumens, 4K HDR compatibility and low input lag, at $799.

Pros
  • 3,800 lumens for lights-on viewing, per Optoma
  • A short-throw lens for a 100-inch image from just over 3 feet, per Optoma
  • Low input lag for gaming, per Optoma
  • 4K HDR compatibility, per Optoma
  • Lamp life of up to 15,000 hours in Eco+ mode, per Optoma
Cons
  • $799
  • A lamp, not a laser or LED light source
  • No built-in smart OS listed; it needs a streaming device
Optoma lists the GT1080HDR as a Full HD 1080p short-throw projector with 3,800 lumens, 4K HDR compatibility, low input lag, a 100-inch image from just over 3 feet and up to 15,000 hours of lamp life in Eco+ mode. It is $799 on Amazon.com with 695 ratings at 4.3 stars. These figures are the maker's own; we have not tested the projector.
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Runner Up

XGIMI HORIZON 20

$1,559

XGIMI lists a 4K RGB triple-laser projector with 3,200 ISO lumens, lens shift, optical zoom and Google TV, at $1,559.

Pros
  • 3,200 ISO lumens and 100,000:1 contrast from an RGB triple laser, per XGIMI
  • Optical zoom and lens shift, per XGIMI
  • IMAX Enhanced, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Filmmaker Mode, per XGIMI
  • 240Hz and 1 ms input lag, per XGIMI
  • Google TV with licensed Netflix and Harman Kardon speakers, per XGIMI
Cons
  • $1,559
  • A standard-throw projector, so it needs room between the unit and the screen
  • 148 Amazon ratings
XGIMI lists the HORIZON 20 as a 4K RGB triple-laser projector with 3,200 ISO lumens, 100,000:1 contrast, optical zoom, lens shift, a 300-inch picture, 240Hz and 1 ms input lag, Dolby Vision, IMAX Enhanced, HDR10+, Filmmaker Mode, Harman Kardon speakers and Google TV with licensed Netflix. It is $1,559 on Amazon.com with 148 ratings at 4.4 stars. These figures are the maker's own; we have not tested the projector.
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How This Was Researched

We compare what each maker and Amazon listing states (input lag, refresh rate, brightness, resolution and price) for four projectors on Amazon.com on 4 October 2026. Where a listing does not state a figure we say so rather than guess. We have not tested these projectors, and where a seller is an unfamiliar brand its own brightness and lifespan claims are unverified.

How I research

Frequently Asked Questions

XGIMI lists 1 ms for the HORIZON 20, BenQ 8.3 ms at 1080p/120Hz for the TH685P and NexiGo 10 ms for the PJ40 Pro. Optoma lists low input lag for the GT1080HDR without a figure. These are the makers' figures; we have not measured them.

Their Amazon pages no longer exist, so we replaced them.

Our Top Pick

BenQ TH685P

BenQ lists 3,500 ANSI lumens, 1080p at 120Hz, 8.3 ms latency, a 5W speaker and a 3-year warranty, at $979.

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Prices and availability are as of the date shown and change often. Some links pay us a commission at no cost to you: today that is EcoFlow and eufy, through Awin, in some countries. Amazon and other shop links earn us nothing right now. I haven't tested the products myself unless a page says so. A paying link never moves a pick.