The best ultra short throw projectors for 2023

Home theater projectors are getting better and better, delivering bright, high-resolution images that can bring the theatre experience to your home with sizes that can hit upwards of 120 to 130 inches. But while more and more movie and sports lovers are turning to projectors, setting one up can require a lot of space to allow for the distance that traditional long-throw projectors require, which can be anywhere from 10 to 20 feet depending on the size of image you want.

Short throw and ultra short throw (UST) projectors are becoming more popular because they drastically reduce this distance down to mere inches. And in the case of many UST projectors, like our pick for the best ultra short throw projector, the Samsung LSP9T Premiere, this can be as little as 4.5 inches for a 100-inch image. While UST projectors can be pricey, ranging anywhere from $2,000 to more than $6,000, and often require a screen and a soundbar for a better audio experience, if a big-picture theater-at-home is what you’re after, a UST projector is the way to go. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up what we think are the best ultra short throw projectors on the market right now, hitting a variety of price points.

Samsung LSP9T Premiere

Best overall ultra short throw projector

Samsung’s ultra short throw projector has an excellent collection of specs that guarantee a high-end home theater experience while also saving a bunch of space. That includes a 2,800-lumen bulb that ensures images will be visible even in bright-room conditions, 4K resolution at up to a 130-inch image size, and Samsung’s own Tizen smart TV platform for browsing apps and more.

This ultra short throw project also comes with 30-watt speakers, and while projector speakers aren’t generally that impressive (we highly suggest getting a full sound system), these plus the built-in subwoofer are better than traditional TV speakers. It’s also a smart projector with support for Alexa, Google Assistant, and Samsung’s own Bixby voice assistant, so you don’t have to get up when you can turn the projector on or search for a show with basic voice commands.

Like many short throw projectors, Samsung’s model is also fairly portable if you’d like to move it to different locations and doesn’t require the same sort of calibration each time that other types of projectors may require. It’s a complete package, although the price may deter some buyers.

Hisense PX1-PRO

Best for color reproduction

Hisense’s TriChrome engine is the real highlight of this ultra short throw laser projector, able to reach 107% coverage of the BT.2020 color gamut: that means extra color accuracy, which is always an important consideration for projectors. Combine it with the peak brightness of 2,200 lumens, and you won’t have to worry about losing any image detail if you’re switching from a TV. It also provides a 4K image at up to 130 inches.

We love to see a projector supporting the Dolby Atmos sound format as well. Add in the HDMI eARC support for easy passthrough connections for modern speakers, and this is one of the best projectors for sound quality you can find. Thanks to its Android TV platform, it’s also friendly for Google app users and supports casting video using the Chromecast tools.

If there’s any downside here, it’s that 130 inches is a fairly large space, and you’ll need a lot of room for a screen that large, which may not fit in every home theater space.

Vava VA-LT002 Home Theater Projector

Best mid-priced ultra short throw projector

Vava’s UST projector is more of a midrange model that allows buyers to save some money without skimping on too many important features. Those features include support for up to a 4K image, a lamp that can reach 1,800 lumens of brightness, and capable 60-watt Harmon Kardon speakers. This is another projector that supports the Android TV platform, which should make managing your streaming services even easier.

We also like to see support for both HDR10 and Dolby Audio here, which will work well if you are primarily interested in a movie-watching experience. It’s another model that’s highly portable, too, so you can easily reposition it or take it to different rooms (classroom, meeting rooms, etc.) if necessary.

LG Cinebeam HU715QW

Another great ultra short throw all-rounder

Combine the impressive 2,500 lumens with 4K technology backed by LG’s XPR tech, add in support for HDR10, and this projector can really deliver an image to make your friends jealous. It’s another model that includes Dolby Atmos and HDMI eARC to benefit your careful speaker setup, too.

The platform also uses LG’s ThinQ smart tech, which means you can give voice commands if you like. Screen sharing is supported via AirPlay 2, Miracast, and more. There are also some handy modes here, including different brightness modes for medium light, bright rooms, dark rooms, and others. Unfortunately, the two 20-watt speakers could be more impressive, so this is another example of why you’d really want an external sound system or soundbar to use as well.

Epson EpiqVision LS300

Best affordable ultra short throw projector

It’s hard to find a budget ultra short throw projector, but Epson’s model will probably be the best you can find. It costs about the same as a very good HDTV, and you get support for up to 4K images at 120 inches, although only native HD support (always look at the native support numbers). The laser can reach 100% of the traditional RGB color base, and HDR optimization is here as well for improving contrast and clarity for many kinds of content.

Android TV and its associated support for Chromecast casting are here as well, making this another good pick for Google users or those streaming content from other devices. The Yamaha 2.1 speakers are also very good, considering the price. And brightness is perhaps the most impressive of all, reaching all the way up to 3,600 lumens if necessary (although staying at that level will burn your bulb out quickly). All in all, this is an ideal pick if you want to replace a TV that’s frequently watched in the daytime.

Wemax Nova 4K Laser Projector

Best big-picture projector for a cinema experience

This well-rounded projector does all kinds of things right, starting with 4K support, HDR10, and an extra-large image option that can reach up to 150 inches (although, at that point, your 4K resolution may not be the same). It has a great 2,100-lumen rating that pairs well with ALPD technology that uses light more efficiently to help reduce eye strain at closer distances and save lamp life.

While the main draw here is the support for extra-large images that can easily span a whole wall or home theater room, the broad support of this Wemax model — which also uses Android TV — makes it a good fit for a variety of users. Although if you really want that 150-inch cinematic experience, you may want to break out the measuring tape before you hit the buy button.

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