Lifestyle projectors

Standard-throw smart projectors with the streaming platform, the speakers and the auto-setup built in. Put it on a table, point it at a wall, press play.

14 models · 8 brands · $400–$3,399

Brightest on the ISO/ANSI scale: Anker Nebula X13,500 lumens
Cheapest of the type: Yaber K3~$400

Anker Nebula~$2,749

Anker Nebula X1

Lifestyle · DLP · 4K pixel-shift

Brightness: 3,500lumensANSI
Screen at 10 ft: 92–153 in

3,500 ANSI lumens
1.67x optical zoom
Self-aiming gimbal

Best for: The brightest standard-throw picture that still sets itself up

Valerion~$3,399

Valerion VisionMaster Max

Lifestyle · DLP · 4K pixel-shift

Brightness: 3,500lumensISO 21118
Screen at 10 ft: 92–153 in
Input lag: 8 ms

3,500 ISO lumens
±55% motorized shift
5,000:1 native contrast

Best for: The brightest ISO-rated picture with a lens that can be aimed properly

XGIMI~$1,429

XGIMI Horizon S Max

Lifestyle · DLP · 4K pixel-shift

Brightness: 3,100lumensISO 21118
Screen at 10 ft: 115 in

3,100 ISO lumens
Integrated tilt stand
Dolby Vision

Best for: A bright room where the projector has to aim upward from a low table

Hisense~$2,298

Hisense C2 Ultra

Lifestyle · DLP · 4K pixel-shift

Brightness: 3,000lumensANSI
Screen at 10 ft: 92–153 in

3,000 ANSI lumens
1.67x optical zoom
Tri-laser

Best for: A lifestyle projector that has to move around the room and still frame the screen

Valerion~$2,999

Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2

Lifestyle · DLP · 4K pixel-shift

Brightness: 3,000lumensISO 21118
Screen at 10 ft: 92–153 in
Input lag: 8 ms

3,000 ISO lumens
Motorized lens shift
15 ms at 4K/60

Best for: Tri-laser color with home-theater installation flexibility

BenQ~$1,199

BenQ GP520

Lifestyle · DLP · 4K pixel-shift

Brightness: 2,600lumensANSI
Screen at 10 ft: 115 in
Input lag: 18 ms

2,600 ANSI lumens
24 W audio
HDMI 2.1 + eARC

Best for: A living room where the projector has to set itself up every time it moves

Dangbei~$949

Dangbei DBOX02

Lifestyle · DLP · 4K pixel-shift

Brightness: 2,450lumensISO 21118
Screen at 10 ft: 108 in

2,450 ISO lumens
24 dB
30,000-hour laser

Best for: The quietest bright laser projector under $1,000

XGIMI~$1,699

XGIMI Horizon Ultra

Lifestyle · DLP · 4K pixel-shift

Brightness: 2,300lumensISO 21118
Screen at 10 ft: 92–115 in
Input lag: 18 ms

2,300 ISO lumens
1.25x powered zoom
18 ms at 4K/60

Best for: A lifestyle projector that has to be placed once and then adjusted from the remote

Anker Nebula~$1,564

Anker Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K

Lifestyle · DLP · 4K pixel-shift

Brightness: 1,840lumensANSI
Screen at 10 ft: 108 in

1,840 ANSI lumens
25,000-hour laser
Carry handle

Best for: A laser lifestyle projector with a handle, if it can be found discounted

XGIMI~$949

XGIMI Horizon S Pro

Lifestyle · DLP · 4K pixel-shift

Brightness: 1,800lumensISO 21118
Screen at 10 ft: 115 in

1,800 ISO lumens
Tilting stand
$949

Best for: A dimmable room that wants the Horizon S design without the flagship price

Anker Nebula~$950

Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K SE

Lifestyle · DLP · 4K pixel-shift

Brightness: 1,800lumensANSI
Screen at 10 ft: 115 in

1,800 ANSI lumens
Dolby Vision under $1,000
Carry handle

Best for: A 4K Dolby Vision picture on a sub-$1,000 budget

Hisense~$1,297

Hisense M2 Pro

Lifestyle · DLP · 4K pixel-shift

Brightness: 1,300lumensANSI
Screen at 10 ft: 106–138 in

1,300 ANSI lumens
Tri-laser at 8.6 lb
1.3x optical zoom

Best for: Tri-laser color in something small enough to move every evening

Epson~$999

Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22

Lifestyle · 3LCD · 1080p

Brightness: 1,000lumensISO 21118
Screen at 10 ft: 134 in

1,000 ISO lumens
22 dB — the quietest here
Swivel stand

Best for: A bedroom, where quiet matters more than brightness and the ceiling is the screen

Yaber~$400

Yaber K3

Lifestyle · LCD · 1080p

Brightness: 990lumensISO 21118
Screen at 10 ft: 115 in

990 ISO lumens
Box claims 1,600 ANSI
30 W JBL audio

Best for: A first projector on a tight budget, with realistic expectations about the picture