Are you looking for a new home cinema projector or would you like to get started with big screen fun? Sometimes it's not that easy to make the right choice. Many manufacturers promise a bright and colorful picture, but which home theater projectors really stand out from the crowd and what are the pros and cons? Regular readers and interested parties know that we regularly put all our products through their paces and compare them directly. Some find their way straight into our hearts, others are sorted out straight away and don't even make it into our range. As a rule, we do not carry all models from one manufacturer, but always select the particularly strong products in the respective price range. This time we have looked at the best home cinema projectors from our range for you and explain what we recommend for the respective projector and application and why it is sometimes worth spending a little more...?

Under 1000 Euro

In the price range under 1000 euros, the Dangbei Atom, an ultra-compact laser projector, stands out. In addition to its compact size, this projector offers a high-quality laser light source that ensures excellent image quality and a longer lifespan compared to traditional lamps. A key feature is the fully licensed Google TV operating system, which provides access to a variety of apps such as Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video and more. This feature allows users to enjoy a wide range of entertainment options directly without having to connect additional streaming devices.

In addition, the Dangbei Atom also supports HDR10, resulting in improved color depth and contrast, making the viewing experience impressive, especially for movies and games. With a resolution of up to 1080p and the ability to project images up to 150 inches in size, the projector is ideal for anyone wanting to get started with home cinema. The intuitive user interface and voice control function increase ease of use, while integrated WiFi and Bluetooth enable easy networking with other devices in the household. The Dangbei Atom therefore offers excellent value for money and is a top choice for anyone looking for a powerful but affordable projector.

Under 2000 Euro

A class better (2000 – 3000,- €)

There are three different manufacturers in the price range below 3000 euros, all of which do a very good job. Nevertheless, the home cinema projectors could not be more different in some areas, in others they are confusingly similar. These are the Optoma UHZ2000 4K laser projector, the BenQ W4000I 4K 4LED home cinema projector and the evergreen Epson EH-TW9400 4K lamp projector. We recently pitted the Optoma UHZ2000 against the new BenQ W4000i. Our conclusion: Both projectors have something to offer and ultimately the decision for one or the other will depend on the specific application. The two projectors are not really worlds apart. We particularly like the Optoma UHZ2000 because of its compactness and brightness, but the contrast and black value are also impressive. When it comes to the black value, the W4000i goes one step further. For film and series lovers who watch in a dark atmosphere without looking, so a positive added value. If you don't have the ideal space for the perfect black value anyway, you won't go wrong with the UHZ2000. Then you benefit from the higher brightness, which is actually absolutely visible. The complete home cinema projector comparison between the Optoma UHZ2000 and the BenQ W4000i can be read in detail in the blog post linked below this text.

Finally, the Epson EH-TW9400 joins the two competitors. Of the three models, the Epson EH-TW9400 is the oldest and doesn't offer one or the other feature. On the other hand, it still shines in its price range with an extremely high-contrast image and flexibility. The 3LCD projector not only shines with its extreme flexibility thanks to the generous lens shift, but also makes up for the shorter runtime (per lamp) with very low lamp costs. Even today, it is valued by film and series fans for its contrast and excellent black level. Together with the Advanced HDR Tuning (Filter Tuning), it is clearly ahead of the two candidates from Optoma and BenQ in terms of contrast and black value.

	BenQ W4000i	Epson EH-TW9400	Our opinion
Brightness	3200 lumens	2600 lumens	The BenQ W4000i is a very bright home cinema projector that is ideal for the living room. After that comes the Epson, which also offers a better black value.
Throw Ratio	1,15 – 1,5 (@ 120 inches at a distance of 306 – 399 cm)	1,35 – 2,84:1 (@ 120 inches at a distance of 359 – 755 cm)	The Epson has a fairly flexible zoom and is the most flexible in positioning of the three projectors.
lens shift	Manual - Vertical 60% and Horizontal 15%	Motorized - Vertical ± 96,3%, Horizontal ± 47,1%	Of the two projectors, the Epson is by far the most flexible and can also be easily adjusted via remote control (thanks to motorized lens shift).
chipset	0,65″ DLP	0,74 ″ LCD	The BenQ scores points here compared to the Epson with a slightly sharper image.
light source	4LED	Flashlight	The BenQ is equipped with a modern, maintenance-free lighting unit. The Epson, on the other hand, still comes with a conventional UHP lamp.
color space	100% DCI-P3	100% DCI P3	The BenQ and Epson offer the largest color space here.
Contrast	2.000.000:1	1.200.000:1	In the data sheet, the Epson has the lowest contrast. In reality it is exactly the opposite. The Epson scores here with a decent and reasonable native contrast. The extended iris ensures a good black level.
Input Lag	18 ms	23,4ms	The BenQ W4000i is the leader here. It is not for nothing that we have already given the BenQ W4000i the award: Gaming Projector 2023.
housing Color	Black	Black	Both identical color.
Price (RRP)	2999,00 €	2799,00 €

In the 3000 – 4000 euro class?

Up to 5000 euros

Below the €5000 limit, two manufacturers have currently established themselves in particular: Sony with the VPL-XW5000ES and Epson with the all-rounder EH-LS12000B. Where the Sony shines with its native 4K resolution and is particularly popular in home cinema, the Epson is also very popular in the living room cinema due to its brightness and the lens shift that has already been praised several times. Both promise the highest large-screen fun with high-quality processing.

Open end

Regardless of whether you want to spend 2000 euros or more on your new home cinema projector. With our expert recommendation, you can find the right home cinema projector in the respective price range between €800 and €5000. All of the projectors recommended here have one thing in common and that is the outstanding image performance in their price range. Nothing stands in the way of enjoying the big picture.