Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Living Room Projector

Thinking of Replacing Your TV? Here’s Everything You Need to Know!

Choose the best living room projector with 5 tips

Dreaming of turning your living room into a home theater with a big screen, but not sure where to start? Choosing the right projector doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you have a large or small living room, the perfect projector can transform your space into a personal cinema. Follow these five key tips to find the best projector for your home theater setup.

Tip 1: Room Size and Projection Distance

Decide where your projector will be installed from the projection distance: standard throw, short throw, or ultra short throw.

When selecting a projector, the first thing you need to consider is WHERE it will be installed. The size of your room and the distance between the projector and the screen are critical factors in selecting a projector. For smaller to medium-sized living rooms, a short-throw projector is ideal. These models can project a large image even in close quarters.

Tip 2: Installation Location and Method

Decide how your projector should be installed: table top, ceiling mount, or move-around with tripod

The second thing you need to consider is HOW it will be installed. Will it have a fixed placement or be move-around for flexible use?

Fixed Placement

If your living room allows for a permanent projector setup, you'll need to think about how it will connect to other equipment, such as speakers or Blu-ray players. Ensure that the projector fits well with your media cabinet or entertainment center and that all wiring is neat and organized for a clutter-free look.

Ceiling Mount

If you plan to mount the projector on the ceiling, features like offset and lens shift are crucial. Offset allows you to position the projector close to the ceiling while maintaining the correct image placement on the screen, preventing it from obstructing your view. Lens shift lets you adjust the image vertically or horizontally without affecting the image quality, avoiding the need for keystone correction that can degrade picture clarity.

Table Top

If your living room allows for a permanent projector setup, consider how it will connect to equipment like speakers or Blu-ray players. Choose a projector that fits your space, ensuring cables are long enough and neatly organized to avoid clutter and tripping hazards.

For limited spaces but a big-screen experience, a TV Projector with Ultra Short Throw projection on a TV stand is ideal. This setup places the projector close to the wall, offering a large display without needing much distance, perfect for compact rooms.

Move-around with Tripod

For those who want to use their projector in different rooms, opt for a Portable Projector. Compact, lightweight models with built-in speakers and Smart TV systems, like Android TV or Google TV, allow you to enjoy streaming content easily, no matter where you set up. If you plan to use a tripod, make sure the projector is compatible with it and stable enough to prevent damage during movement.

Other things to consider are whether the projector will be placed directly in front of the screen, or if you will need side projection. If furniture or the movement of family members might block the projector's path to the screen, side projection might be a more flexible option. In this case, look for a projector with horizontal keystone correction to ensure a perfectly aligned image, no matter the angle.

Tip 3: Ambient Light

You may have heard that projectors only work well in dark rooms, but modern projectors can deliver stunning visuals in various lighting conditions. The key is to match the projector’s brightness output to your environment.

Bright Rooms (with lights on or natural light):

For watching movies or shows in a moderately lit or naturally lit room, like one with large windows or lights on, a projector with over 3,000 lumens is ideal. These projectors deliver bright, sharp images even in brighter environments, making the space enjoyable for family activities without compromising picture quality. If your living room has changing light levels or an open-plan design, choose a projector with adaptive light adjustment to automatically optimize image quality.

Rooms in Low-Light Settings:

Ambient light from windows, nearby rooms, or decorative lighting can disrupt your viewing experience by reducing brightness and contrast. For those who don't prefer watching in total darkness, this can significantly affect image quality. If your living room has decorative lighting, opt for a projector with intelligent picture enhancement that automatically adjusts to maintain optimal image quality.

Dark Rooms (lights off):

For those seeking a true cinema experience, a professionally calibrated projector with around 1,800 lumens will provide immersive visuals without being too harsh on the eyes. For cinephiles looking for exceptional display quality, consider a projector with superior color accuracy and a wider color gamut like DCI-P3 for a theater-like experience at home.

Learn more about BenQ's adaptive light adjustment technology >

Tip 4: Main Purpose

When purchasing a projector, your primary use case, whether for movies, gaming, or streaming, will determine the best model for you.

For Movie Lovers:

If you're a movie enthusiast, opt for a projector that supports the DCI-P3 color gamut. This industry-standard color range is widely used in filmmaking, delivering more vivid and realistic colors. Many projectors come factory-calibrated to ensure precise color accuracy, often achieving a Delta E < 3, a measurement that ensures highly accurate color reproduction, creating a cinema-grade visual experience right at your home.

For Gamers:

Gamers need smooth, lag-free performance. Look for a projector with ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) or one that supports less than 16.7 ms low input lag at 1080p 60Hz. This feature minimizes lag, ensuring your actions are instantly reflected on the screen. For AAA games with stunning graphics, consider a projector with 4K HDR and DCI-P3 to capture every detail and deliver breathtaking visuals.

For Streaming:

If streaming is your priority, choose a projector with built-in Smart TV capabilities. Popular systems like Android TV or Google TV offer direct access to Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and more, eliminating the need for external devices. This not only simplifies the setup but also enhances your overall entertainment experience.

Tip 5: Connectivity

Modern home entertainment often involves multiple devices. A projector with eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) let you connect to high-end sound systems, providing a full 7.1 surround sound experience. Additionally, projectors with USB-C PD and DP Alt Mode offer flexible connectivity options for mobile devices, making it easier to project content from your smartphone or tablet.

BenQ’s Smart Solutions for Adaptive Lighting

Projectors Tailored for Modern Homes

Today’s homes often feature open spaces or mood lighting, which can interfere with projector performance. BenQ has addressed this with projectors that incorporate AI-based adaptive lighting technology for various environments and usage scenarios. These projectors provide flexible and convenient solutions, delivering high-quality visuals even in tricky lighting conditions.

BenQ AI Cinema Mode >

Designed for living rooms with weak ambient lighting or spaces where complete darkness isn't possible, AI Cinema Mode automatically adjusts based on projection size, ambient light, and scenes of video content to recreate the cinematic experience with frame-by-frame optimization, making it ideal for -AV content fanatic.

BenQ Auto Cinema Mode >

Built for open spaces and mobile setups, Auto Cinema Mode adapts to ambient light and wall colors, offering versatile and easy-to-use features for on-the-go entertainment.

Here’s a quick comparison between the two:

BenQ Ambient & Space Adaption Technology	AI Cinema Mode	Auto Cinema Mode
BenQ Ambient & Space Adaption Technology AI Smart Scene Enhancement	AI Cinema Mode Yes	Auto Cinema Mode -
BenQ Ambient & Space Adaption Technology Ambient Light Correction	AI Cinema Mode Yes	Auto Cinema Mode Yes
BenQ Ambient & Space Adaption Technology Wall Color Correction	AI Cinema Mode -	Auto Cinema Mode Yes
BenQ Ambient & Space Adaption Technology Smart Image Alignment	AI Cinema Mode -	Auto Cinema Mode Yes
BenQ Ambient & Space Adaption Technology Recommended for	AI Cinema Mode For movie enthusiasts who watch in near-darkroom or darkroom environments.	Auto Cinema Mode For big-screen lovers who need flexibility in various lighting environments.

BenQ’s Home Projectors for Every Living Room

BenQ offers a range of projectors tailored to meet the needs of any living room, ensuring top-tier picture quality whether your space is brightly lit or a dedicated darkroom. Here are some recommended models: