Budget ProjectorsUpdated October 4, 2026

Best Projector for Home Theater in 2026

Four home theater projectors compared on listed brightness, resolution and price: XGIMI HORIZON 20, Epson Home Cinema 980, BenQ TH685P and NexiGo PJ40 Pro.

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Prices change daily on Amazon. Check today's price on the XGIMI HORIZON 20 before reading the full review.
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Our Pick

XGIMI HORIZON 20

The XGIMI HORIZON 20 ($1,559) is the 4K model, listing 3,200 ISO lumens, an RGB triple laser, lens shift and Google TV. The Epson Home Cinema 980 ($799.99) lists 4,000 lumens of color and white brightness in 1080p. The BenQ TH685P ($979) lists 3,500 ANSI lumens. The NexiGo PJ40 Pro ($299.99) is the budget pick. The Epson EF21 and XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro this guide used to list are unavailable new on Amazon.com. 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

FeatureXGIMI HORIZON 20Epson Home Cinema 980BenQ TH685PNexiGo PJ40 Pro Google TV
Price$1,559$799.99$979$299.99
Resolution4K RGB triple laser1080p 3LCD1080p, 4K-supported inputs1080p native, 4K supported
Brightness (listed)3,200 ISO lumens4,000 lumens (color and white)3,500 ANSI lumens800 ANSI lumens
Smart OSGoogle TV with licensed NetflixNone listed (USB powers a streaming stick)None listedGoogle TV
Throw / Picture SizeOptical zoom + lens shift, up to 300 inNot stated in the listing text we read100 in from 8.2 ft (per BenQ)60-100% zoom, up to 300 in

Quick Comparison

#1
XGIMI HORIZON 20Top Pick
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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#2
Epson Home Cinema 980Runner Up
Epson lists a 3LCD 1080p projector with 4,000 lumens of color and white brightness, two HDMI ports and a built-in speaker, at $799.99.
$799.99
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#3
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.
$979
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#4
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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Our Top Picks

Top Pick

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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Runner Up

Epson Home Cinema 980

$799.99

Epson lists a 3LCD 1080p projector with 4,000 lumens of color and white brightness, two HDMI ports and a built-in speaker, at $799.99.

Pros
  • 4,000 lumens of color and white brightness, per Epson
  • 3-chip 3LCD, with 100% of the RGB signal shown for every frame, per Epson
  • Two HDMI ports and a USB port that powers a streaming stick, per Epson
  • A built-in speaker, per Epson
  • 4.6 stars on Amazon
Cons
  • $799.99
  • Only 58 Amazon ratings
  • No built-in smart OS listed; the USB port is for powering a streaming stick
Epson lists the Home Cinema 980 as a 3-chip 3LCD 1080p projector with 4,000 lumens of color brightness (IDMS rated) and 4,000 lumens of white brightness (ISO rated), two HDMI ports, a USB port that powers a streaming device and a built-in speaker, at $799.99. It has 58 Amazon ratings at 4.6 stars. These figures are the maker's own; we have not tested the projector.
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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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How This Was Researched

We compare what each maker and Amazon listing states (resolution, brightness, smart OS, light source 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

On 4 October 2026 the MoGo 3 Pro and Dangbei N2 were listed as currently unavailable on Amazon.com, and the Epson EF21 had used offers only, from $809.52. We removed them from the ranking, and the Nebula Capsule 3 now sits in our portable guide.

Not necessarily. Three of the four here are 1080p. The HORIZON 20 is the only 4K model and costs $1,559.

Our Top Pick

XGIMI HORIZON 20

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

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Best 4K Projector Under $1000

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.