Best gaming projector 2026

With stunning image quality that combines a 4K resolution with incredibly high contrast and ultra-wide color space coverage, this projector is a true home cinema-class unit but in a compact and reasonably-priced package that can also turn its hand to gaming.

It manages the latter both by providing amazing 4K@60Hz image quality for cinematic games but also by providing up to a 240Hz refresh rate at 1080p, with as little as a 4ms input lag. It’s not quite going to compete with the very latest 240Hz+ OLED gaming monitors, but it’s plenty smooth enough for most gaming you’re going to want to do on a display up to 300 inches in size.

With plenty of connections, a fantastic GoogleTV interface, a beautiful design, and even decent built-in speakers, this is not only a projector with great image quality but one that’s immensely versatile too. It is pricey, but for image quality and versatility it offers, it’s decent value.

Read my full Valerion VisionMaster Pro2 review for more information.

BenQ’s X3100i gaming projector builds on the success of the flagship X3000i. During testing, we found the X3100i easy to configure and loved its crisp 4K resolution and overall image quality.

Its image quality isn’t true 4K as such, though, with it effectively using a dithering technique where the DLP mirror array slightly shifts multiple times per frame to show a portion of the 4K image and builds up its full resolution that way. Likewise, the ludicrous 600,000:1 contrast is only a result of shifting the LED lamp brightness from frame to frame – known as a dynamic contrast, not a true static contrast.

Still, this projector delivers where it matters, with its 4K image still looking very sharp and smooth, with excellent color reproduction and still impressive contrast. Likewise, its gaming performance is excellent. Like the VisionMaster Pro2, it would be great to see 120Hz at 4K, but 60Hz at 4K is still great for slower-paced titles, and offers 120Hz at 1440p, as well as 240Hz at 1080p, letting you balance resolution and refresh rate to your needs.

Read our BenQ X3100i review for more information.

Costing a fair bit over a grand, the Acer Predator GD711 is a high-end LED projector created with gaming at its core. With 4K resolution, a whopping contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1, reasonably brilliant brightness at 4,000 ANSI lumens, and ample ports – as well as wireless connectivity – to hook up your devices.

But what I like about the Acer is the fact that it comes packing a Variable Refresh Rate. This means that you can enjoy 4K gaming at 60Hz or 1080p at 240Hz for PC and 1080p at 120Hz for consoles, the latter two being utterly ideal for fast-paced pro gaming.

Offering a screen size up to a staggering 300 inches, auto keystone means the projector automatically compensates for trapezoidal distortion if the projector is not positioned correctly, and flipping to Game Mode will see your image fine-tuned. Our expert reviewer found it easy to set up and they praised the responsiveness but found the color clarity lacking.

The 10W mono speaker gives you an all-round media solution if you don’t have computer speakers, but they lack real punch or volume. The Acer Predator GD711 is on the pricier side, but it’s the best option for serious gaming.

Read our Acer Predator GD711 review.

The BenQ X500i offers fantastic clarity and color for a wide range of media, but it’s a projector that offers up particular stellar visuals and gaming features. With a 4K HDR resolution, it also features a low 4ms input lag in its Game modes, which our reviewer found gave “buttery smooth gameplay.”

The X500i is integrated with Google TV, via an Android TV streaming stick at the back, meaning you can access your favorite apps like Netflix. There are controls on the top of the unit, plus plenty more on the included remote. And while image correction and keystone aren’t as advanced as the XGIMI Halo+ below, it’s still quick and easy to get a fantastic picture.

During testing, we found the audio well-rounded and bassy, but with a clear treble for vocals too. The BenQ X500i isn’t “cheap” but it offers great value for the visual and audio quality, and is a great pick for ceiling-mounting. Get it if you’re after a 4K gaming projector and value color accuracy, and impressive brightness at multiple resolutions.

Read our BenQ X500i review.

The BenQ X300G is almost a more compact, cube-shaped version of the BenQ X500i. In short, it’s a fantastic 4K portable projector, offering you a gorgeous, vibrant picture for gaming and watching movies. It’s not cheap, but it’s the top pick if you want to create a large screen in a smaller room.

Our reviewer called the X300G’s design “stunning” and added that the ventilation was great at keeping the projector cool, so it never sounded loud. There’s a Google TV dongle integrated, which adds all the major streaming platforms and apps including YouTube and Netflix.

4K HDR content is a dream to enjoy for games, although if you’re using a PC we’d drop to 1440p at 120 Hz for a smoother performance. 4K is great for entertainment purposes, but for real competitive gaming, the 16ms latency isn’t fast enough.

Get the X300G if you want a beautiful 4K media experience, want a fantastically crisp and colorful projector with an easy setup, but not if you want to take this projector somewhere without power. It’s portable for gaming around the house though, and is a fantastic cinema companion.

Read our BenQ X300G review.

This projector is a fair bit cheaper than many of the others, but it still manages to provide absolutely fantastic 4k picture quality, with top-notch color accuracy. In terms of its ability to project your games, or anything from your laptop or PC, there’s very little to critique. As a projector alone, it’s a great all-rounder.

However, the reason this one carries a much smaller price stage it has a generally much smaller selection of features. Yes, it may have a variable refresh rate, which is pretty cool, but what it’s missing is any substantial third-party support. Other projectors, like the XGIMI’s Halo+, give you built-in Google TV and a whole suite of built-in apps. Without these, the GM712 can feel a little bare bones.

But the thing is, not everyone needs the bells and whistles. If you just want to be able to project your games onto the wall and play them on a larger scale than you can with your monitor with decent picture quality, the GM712 has you covered.

Read our full Acer Predator GM712 projector review.

This projector has not been specifically designed with gaming in mind, so if you’re looking for a projector to use for super competitive game sessions, this probably isn’t going to be for you. However, if you just want a compact and portable projector that’s easy to grab for occasional use, the Dangbei Atom is a fantastic choice.

Handily, this projector comes with the Google TV app already installed, which means you’ll gain immediate access to all your favorite streaming apps like Netflix, Disney Plus, and Paramount Plus, as soon as you get it set up. Its variable 40-180-inch display makes it easy to use even in rooms without a huge amount of wall space, though we recommend doing it on a light-colored wall. It’s bright enough that you don’t need complete darkness to use it though – it still looks good with a bit of ambient light on.

One of its biggest limitations comes from its poor built-in speakers. They’re just very quiet and will stop you from feeling fully immersed in the movies or games that you’re playing through it. If you’re building a set-up here, we’d recommend buying one of the best computer speakers to go with it – but if you’ve already got a sound solution, this won’t be an issue.

We could also quibble about its large power cable (which is rather obtrusive) or the fact that it only has one HDMI port – but for the price, there’s more to praise than there is to critique. The picture quality is crisp and sharp even when you’re projecting at the full 180-inch size. Meanwhile, its automatic image correction ensures that everything is always well-angled.

In dark games, enemies can be a bit blurry and hard to identify, so if you play a lot of grungy horror games, it might be difficult to enjoy them. But brightly lit platformers can look wonderful. Like we said, you can get better gaming projectors, but this one is a solid all-rounder and an especially good choice for movie fans.

Read our full Dangbei Atom review.

It’s no exaggeration to say the XGIMI Halo+ is the best travel projector for your money right now. Its compact size and built-in battery make it incredibly versatile, and equally suitable for a camping trip, streaming session, or family game night. Our reviewer got more than 2.5 hours of playback XGIMI that quotes, which is enough to watch most movies without a recharge.

The Halo+ is packed with features to help you get a good picture without experience – Auto Keystone Correction, Auto Focus, and Intelligent Screen Alignment adapt to the projection surface effectively, and setup takes minutes when you move the projector around. It comes with Android TV 10 built-in for streaming over Wi-Fi, but this doesn’t include the Netflix app.

For gamers, the response rate of the XGIMI Halo+ lags behind dedicated rivals like the Acer Predator lineup, but its Game Mode Boost adds low latency down to 26.5ms. This won’t be fast enough for advanced gamers, but it’s enough for casual players and families. If you want a versatile projector with great image and audio quality, easy setup, and a portable design, the versatile Halo+ provides an exceptional experience.

Read our XGIMI Halo+ review.