The Lowest-Input-Lag Projectors for Gaming

Input lag on a projector is quoted per signal mode, and the headline number is almost always the 1080p high-refresh one. A projector that does 4.2 ms at 1080p/240 may be 17 ms at 4K/60, and both are true. This list ranks on the fastest published figure and prints the mode beside it, so the comparison is honest about what was measured.

How this list is ordered: Ranked by the lowest published input-lag figure, whichever signal mode produced it. 25 of the catalog’s projectors qualify.

  1. ViewSonic X2-4K projector

    1ViewSonic

    ~$1,599

    ViewSonic X2-4K

    A short-throw 4K LED gaming projector that accepts 1440p at 120 Hz — a signal mode most projectors ignore and most PCs and current consoles can output.

    Brightness
    2,150lumensANSI
    Screen at 10 ft
    168–200 in
    Input lag
    5 ms
    Light source
    LED
  2. BenQ X3100i projector

    2BenQ

    ~$2,799

    BenQ X3100i

    The gaming version of BenQ's 4LED platform: 4.2 ms at 1080p/240, 8.3 ms at 1080p/120, and three game modes tuned per genre.

    Brightness
    3,300lumensANSI
    Screen at 10 ft
    92–120 in
    Input lag
    8 ms
    Light source
    LED
  3. BenQ X500i projector

    3BenQ

    ~$1,999

    BenQ X500i

    A short-throw gaming projector that puts a 100-inch image up from about six feet, which is what makes it work in an apartment.

    Brightness
    2,200lumensANSI
    Screen at 10 ft
    166–200 in
    Input lag
    8 ms
    Light source
    LED
  4. BenQ TK710STi projector

    4BenQ

    ~$2,199

    BenQ TK710STi

    The laser answer to the X500i: the same 0.69 short throw and the same 4.2 ms gaming path, but with a 20,000-hour laser-phosphor engine pushing 3,200 ANSI lumens instead of 2,200.

    Brightness
    3,200lumensANSI
    Screen at 10 ft
    166–200 in
    Input lag
    8 ms
    Light source
    Laser-phosphor
  5. Optoma UHD35x projector

    5Optoma

    ~$999

    Optoma UHD35x

    The cheapest way to get 4.2 ms of input lag and 3,600 ANSI lumens into a room.

    Brightness
    3,600lumensANSI
    Screen at 10 ft
    83–92 in
    Input lag
    8 ms
    Light source
    Lamp
  6. Optoma UHD38x projector

    6Optoma

    ~$1,066

    Optoma UHD38x

    The UHD35x with the brightness turned up: 4,000 ANSI lumens from the same chassis, lamp and gaming path.

    Brightness
    4,000lumensANSI
    Screen at 10 ft
    83–92 in
    Input lag
    8 ms
    Light source
    Lamp
  7. Optoma UHZ35ST projector

    7Optoma

    ~$1,849

    Optoma UHZ35ST

    A 0.50 throw ratio puts a 100-inch picture on the wall from about three and a half feet, which is closer than anything here except the true ultra-short-throws.

    Brightness
    3,500lumensANSI
    Screen at 10 ft
    275 in
    Input lag
    8 ms
    Light source
    Laser-phosphor
  8. AWOL Vision LTV-3000 Pro projector

    8AWOL Vision

    ~$2,499

    AWOL Vision LTV-3000 Pro

    The gaming ultra-short-throw: 15 ms at 4K/60 and 8 ms at 1080p/120, which is unheard of in a category where 30 to 50 ms is normal.

    Brightness
    2,000lumensISO 21118
    100-inch screen at
    22 in
    Input lag
    8 ms
    Light source
    Tri-laser
  9. Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 projector

    9Valerion

    ~$2,999

    Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2

    An RGB tri-laser projector that behaves like a home-theater model: motorized lens shift, a 1.67x optical zoom, Dolby Vision, and 15 ms input lag at 4K/60.

    Brightness
    3,000lumensISO 21118
    Screen at 10 ft
    92–153 in
    Input lag
    8 ms
    Light source
    Tri-laser
  10. Valerion VisionMaster Max projector

    10Valerion

    ~$3,399

    Valerion VisionMaster Max

    The brightest ISO-rated projector in this catalog at 3,500 ISO lumens, with ±55% motorized vertical lens shift, a 1.67x zoom and a published 5,000:1 native contrast figure — the only tri-laser projector here that publishes native contrast at all..

    Brightness
    3,500lumensISO 21118
    Screen at 10 ft
    92–153 in
    Input lag
    8 ms
    Light source
    Tri-laser
  11. Optoma UHZ66 projector

    11Optoma

    ~$1,895

    Optoma UHZ66

    4,000 ANSI lumens from a 30,000-hour laser with a 1.6x zoom — the widest zoom range of any laser projector under $2,000 here.

    Brightness
    4,000lumensANSI
    Screen at 10 ft
    61–98 in
    Input lag
    9 ms
    Light source
    Laser-phosphor
  12. Sony BRAVIA Projector 7 projector

    12Sony

    ~$9,999

    Sony BRAVIA Projector 7

    Sony's renamed successor to the XW5000ES, and the fix for its two biggest limitations: 4K/120 now works, and input lag drops to 12 ms.

    Brightness
    2,200lumensANSI
    Screen at 10 ft
    62–100 in
    Input lag
    12 ms
    Light source
    Laser-phosphor
  13. AWOL Vision LTV-3500 Pro projector

    13AWOL Vision

    ~$5,499

    AWOL Vision LTV-3500 Pro

    AWOL's brightest laser TV: 3,000 ISO lumens of tri-laser output with Dolby Vision and 3D, aimed at screens up to 150 inches.

    Brightness
    3,000lumensISO 21118
    100-inch screen at
    22 in
    Input lag
    15 ms
    Light source
    Tri-laser
  14. Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS800 projector

    14Epson

    ~$3,499

    Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS800

    The brightest three-chip ultra-short-throw in the catalog, and the one with the shortest throw of any of them: a 0.16 throw ratio puts a 100-inch image on the wall with the cabinet almost touching it.

    Brightness
    4,000lumensISO 21118
    100-inch screen at
    14 in–15 in
    Input lag
    17 ms
    Light source
    Laser-phosphor
  15. Optoma UHZ55 projector

    15Optoma

    ~$1,599

    Optoma UHZ55

    Optoma's mainstream laser home-theater projector: 3,000 ANSI lumens, a 30,000-hour laser, a 1.3x zoom with a little vertical shift, and 20 W of built-in audio.

    Brightness
    3,000lumensANSI
    Screen at 10 ft
    87–114 in
    Input lag
    17 ms
    Light source
    Laser-phosphor
  16. ViewSonic LX700-4K projector

    16ViewSonic

    ~$1,300

    ViewSonic LX700-4K

    3,500 ANSI lumens from a 20,000-hour laser in a 7.3 lb body, with a 1.36x zoom and a short 1.06 minimum throw.

    Brightness
    3,500lumensANSI
    Screen at 10 ft
    95–130 in
    Input lag
    17 ms
    Light source
    Laser-phosphor
  17. Epson Home Cinema 2350 projector

    17Epson

    ~$1,399

    Epson Home Cinema 2350

    A 1080p three-chip 3LCD lamp projector with Android TV baked in, aimed at a bright family room rather than a blacked-out theater.

    Brightness
    2,800lumensISO 21118
    Screen at 10 ft
    63–103 in
    Input lag
    18 ms
    Light source
    Lamp
  18. BenQ HT4550i projector

    18BenQ

    ~$2,999

    BenQ HT4550i

    BenQ's 4LED flagship: 3,200 ANSI lumens, 100% DCI-P3 coverage, and — unusually for DLP at this price — real horizontal and vertical lens shift.

    Brightness
    3,200lumensANSI
    Screen at 10 ft
    92–120 in
    Input lag
    18 ms
    Light source
    LED
  19. BenQ GP520 projector

    19BenQ

    ~$1,199

    BenQ GP520

    A 4K Google TV lifestyle projector with 2x12 W of audio, auto keystone and auto focus, designed to be carried to a wall and switched on.

    Brightness
    2,600lumensANSI
    Screen at 10 ft
    115 in
    Input lag
    18 ms
    Light source
    LED
  20. XGIMI Horizon Ultra projector

    20XGIMI

    ~$1,699

    XGIMI Horizon Ultra

    The first consumer projector to combine a laser and an LED source in one engine, and still one of the few lifestyle boxes with a powered optical zoom.

    Brightness
    2,300lumensISO 21118
    Screen at 10 ft
    92–115 in
    Input lag
    18 ms
    Light source
    Hybrid
  21. Epson Pro Cinema LS12000 projector

    21Epson

    ~$4,999

    Epson Pro Cinema LS12000

    The projector that made 4K/120 gaming normal in a home theater.

    Brightness
    2,700lumensISO 21118
    Screen at 10 ft
    48–102 in
    Input lag
    20 ms
    Light source
    Laser-phosphor
  22. Epson Home Cinema QB1000 projector

    22Epson

    ~$7,999

    Epson Home Cinema QB1000

    Epson's Q series replaced the LS12000 at the top of the 3LCD line with a multi-array laser, the QZX processor and a new UltraBlack treatment.

    Brightness
    3,300lumensISO 21118
    Screen at 10 ft
    48–102 in
    Input lag
    20 ms
    Light source
    Laser-phosphor
  23. Epson Home Cinema 3800 projector

    23Epson

    ~$1,399

    Epson Home Cinema 3800

    The long-running 4K PRO-UHD lamp Epson, still on Epson's US price list seven years after launch.

    Brightness
    3,000lumensISO 21118
    Screen at 10 ft
    64–104 in
    Input lag
    21 ms
    Light source
    Lamp
  24. Sony VPL-XW5000ES projector

    24Sony

    ~$5,999

    Sony VPL-XW5000ES

    Three native 4K SXRD panels driven by the X1 Ultimate processor from Sony's televisions, in the smallest and lightest chassis Sony has ever used for a native 4K projector.

    Brightness
    2,000lumensISO 21118
    Screen at 10 ft
    62–100 in
    Input lag
    21 ms
    Light source
    Laser-phosphor
  25. Epson Home Cinema 5050UB projector

    25Epson

    ~$2,299

    Epson Home Cinema 5050UB

    The UB stands for Ultra Black: a dynamic iris and Epson's best 3LCD panels aimed squarely at a dark room.

    Brightness
    2,600lumensISO 21118
    Screen at 10 ft
    48–102 in
    Input lag
    23 ms
    Light source
    Lamp

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