The Best Projectors in 2026
The Hisense C2 Ultra is the projector most reviewers agree on for living rooms. Get the Epson LS11000 for a dark home theater, the BenQ TK710 for 3D on a budget, the Nebula X1 for a very bright all-rounder, or the AURZEN ZIP for a cheap pocket projector.
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How this page was made: this is a research-based guide built from manufacturer spec pages, official prices and published lab measurements from the outlets we name and link. We haven’t tested these products ourselves, and we don’t invent scores. Our methodology.
Quick answer
The Hisense C2 Ultra is the projector most reviewers agree on for living rooms. Best overall: Hisense C2 Ultra Projector, $2,299. Best for a dark home theater: Epson Home Cinema LS11000, $3,800. Best home theater value: BenQ TK710 Projector, $1,899. Best compact living-room: Hisense M2 Pro Projector, $1,300. Most flexible: Anker Nebula X1 Projector, $1,699.
Last updated Prices checked Oct 2026
Key facts at a glance
| Pick | Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Hisense C2 Ultra Projector | most living rooms | $2,299 MSRP |
| Best for a dark home theater | Epson Home Cinema LS11000 | dedicated dark home theaters | $3,800 |
| Best home theater value | BenQ TK710 Projector | a home theater for less | $1,899 |
| Best compact living-room | Hisense M2 Pro Projector | small rooms and bedrooms | About $1,300 |
| Most flexible | Anker Nebula X1 Projector | a very bright all-rounder | $1,699 MSRP |
| Best pocket projector | AURZEN ZIP Tri-Fold Projector | travel and kids’ rooms | $399 MSRP |
This guide combines Wirecutter’s[1], Tom’s Guide’s[2] and PCMag’s[3] projector picks (prices checked October 2026). Brightness figures are the reviewers’ measurements or the makers’ claims, as noted. A projector also needs a screen or a smooth light wall, and most need a soundbar or speakers for movie nights.
Which should you buy? Our quick picks
How do they compare?
| Projector | Price | Type | Brightness | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hisense C2 Ultra | $2,299 MSRP; $1,900 sale seen | 4K laser, gimbal stand | 3,231 lumens (Tom’s Guide measured) | Most living rooms |
| Epson LS11000 | $3,800 | 4K laser | 2,400+ lumens max; about 1,800 accurate (Wirecutter measured) | Dedicated dark home theaters |
| BenQ TK710 | $1,899 | 4K laser, 3D | About 1,750 lumens in accurate modes (Wirecutter measured) | A home theater for less |
| Hisense M2 Pro | About $1,300 | Compact 4K laser | Lower than the C2 Ultra (Wirecutter) | Small rooms and bedrooms |
| Nebula X1 | $1,699 MSRP | 4K laser with carry handle | 3,491 lumens (Tom’s Guide measured) | A very bright all-rounder |
| AURZEN ZIP Tri-Fold | $399 MSRP | 720p pocket, battery | 100 lumens (Tom’s Guide) | Travel and kids’ rooms |
The picks in detail
1. Hisense C2 Ultra Projector
Best for: most living roomsWirecutter’s[1] top living-room pick and Tom’s Guide’s[2] best projector overall. It sits on a built-in gimbal stand you can tilt to aim at a wall or ceiling, and Tom’s Guide measured 3,231 lumens. Tom’s Guide lists a $2,299 MSRP; Wirecutter has seen it for $1,900 at Best Buy. Hisense has announced a C3 Ultra successor, so expect discounts.
Price (Oct 2026): $2,299 MSRP Source
Pros
- Very bright
- Flexible gimbal stand
- Picked by multiple outlets
Cons
- Expensive
- Successor announced
2. Epson Home Cinema LS11000
Best for: dedicated dark home theatersWirecutter’s[1] top home-theater pick, at $3,800 from Amazon and Best Buy. Wirecutter calls the image rich and accurate, and measured over 2,400 lumens in its brightest mode and over 1,800 lumens in the more accurate Natural mode. It doesn’t support 3D. PCMag’s[3] ultra-premium pick is the pricier Epson Pro Cinema LS12000.
Price (Oct 2026): $3,800 Source
Pros
- Rich, accurate image (Wirecutter)
- Laser light source
- Traditional theater design
Cons
- Expensive
- No 3D
3. BenQ TK710 Projector
Best for: a home theater for lessWirecutter’s[1] budget home-theater pick at $1,899. Unlike the Epson, it supports 3D. Wirecutter measured around 1,750 lumens in its accurate Cinema and RPG modes; the brighter mode looks inaccurate.
Price (Oct 2026): $1,899 Source
Pros
- 3D support
- Laser light source
- Cheaper than the Epson
Cons
- Less contrast than pricier projectors
4. Hisense M2 Pro Projector
Best for: small rooms and bedroomsWirecutter’s[1] budget living-room pick, at about $1,300. It runs the same Vidaa smart OS as the C2 Ultra, with similar contrast and color in Wirecutter’s measurements, but lower light output, fewer connections and weaker speakers.
Price (Oct 2026): About $1,300 Source
Pros
- Compact
- Smart OS built in
- Contrast close to the C2 Ultra
Cons
- Not as bright as the C2 Ultra
- Fewer connections
5. Anker Nebula X1 Projector
Best for: a very bright all-rounderTom’s Guide[2] names Anker’s Nebula X1 its most flexible projector, with strong contrast and color, and measured 3,491 lumens. Despite the carry handle, Tom’s Guide says it’s big and heavy, so treat it as a home projector you can occasionally move, not a portable. It also notes weak audio. Tom’s Guide lists a $1,699 MSRP; retailer prices vary.
Price (Oct 2026): $1,699 MSRP Source
Pros
- Very bright
- Strong contrast and color
Cons
- Big and heavy
- Weak audio (Tom’s Guide)
6. AURZEN ZIP Tri-Fold Projector
Best for: travel and kids’ roomsTom’s Guide’s[2] compact, portable pick at a $399 MSRP. It has a built-in battery and a laser light source, but Tom’s Guide lists just 720p and 100 ANSI lumens, so use it in a dark room.
Price (Oct 2026): $399 MSRP Source
Pros
- Pocket-size with a battery
- Cheap
Cons
- 720p
- Only 100 lumens
Also considered
PCMag’s[3] other picks: Valerion VisionMaster Max (premium), Hisense L9Q (premium ultra-short-throw), BenQ X3100i (gaming), LG CineBeam S (portable ultra-short-throw) and Xgody Gimbal N6 Pro (bargain).
Epson Pro Cinema LS12000: PCMag’s ultra-premium pick for dedicated theaters.
Projector or TV?
A projector gets you a 100-inch-plus picture for the price of a big TV, but it looks washed out in daylight unless you use an ambient-light-rejecting screen. For a bright room, a 75-inch TV is usually the better buy. See best TVs.
How bright is bright enough?
Makers’ lumen claims aren’t always comparable. Where possible, we quote reviewers’ measurements. For a living room with some light, look for about 2,000 lumens or more. Many projectors have built-in apps, but a streaming device is often faster.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best projector in 2026?
What is the best projector for a home theater?
What is the best portable projector?
Sources
Pricing and plan details were checked on the official pages below as of Oct 2026. Vendors change prices, credits and plan names often, and some show regional pricing at checkout, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy.
- Wirecutter: The best projectors (nytimes.com)
- Tom’s Guide: The best projectors (tomsguide.com)
- PCMag: The best home projectors (pcmag.com)
Related
The Best Outdoor Projectors in 2026
Wirecutter’s best outdoor projector is the Nebula Mars 3 ($900): bright, rugged and with the longest battery life it measured. PCMag’s top outdoor pick is the 4K Nebula Cosmos 4K SE ($1,099.99), and the Mars 3 Air ($520) is a smaller, cheaper option.
best ofThe Best TVs to Buy in 2026
For most people the best TV is a mid-priced OLED: Wirecutter’s pick is the Samsung S90H and PCMag’s OLED value pick is the LG C6. Get an LED TV like the Sony Bravia 7 II or TCL QM8L for a bright room, or the Vizio Mini LED Quantum if you’re on a tight budget.
best ofThe Best Streaming Devices in 2026
The Google TV Streamer is Wirecutter’s best streaming device. Roku is the simplest, Fire TV suits Alexa homes, and Apple’s new Apple TV 4K is the best for iPhone owners, but it now costs $299. Prices went up across the board in 2026.
best ofBest Soundbars of 2026
Wirecutter’s top soundbar is the Vizio Elevate 7.1.4 Pro at about $450. The TCL S55H is the best cheap soundbar at about $110, and Samsung’s Q990H is the surround-sound upgrade.
best ofBest 75-Inch TVs of 2026
The TCL QM8L is Tom’s Guide’s best 75-inch TV for most people. If you want OLED, the 77-inch LG C5 is TechRadar’s pick, and the Hisense QD7 gets you a 75-inch screen for only a little over $500.