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Best 1080p Projector For Under $1000: Find Out Which One Suits Your Needs and Budget



We did not review the Optoma HD28HDR, a lower-priced sibling of the HD39HDR that has a slightly lower stated brightness (3,600 versus 4,000 lumens). Like the HD39HDR, it accepts a 4K signal (downconverting it to 1080p), supports HDR10 playback, and has a 120 Hz refresh rate and low input lag for gaming. It has no lens shift and only limited 1.1x zoom. Geoff Morrison reviewed this projector for CNET and found that, while it does look good with HDR content if you watch a lot of that, the BenQ HT2050A is a better overall performer.




Best 1080p Projector For Under $1000




The ViewSonic PX727-4K won a Hot Product Award when it was introduced in 2018. Back then the projector delivered good performance for a $1500 projector. It delivered a sharp detailed image with accurate color right out of the box. The unit now sells for under $1000 which still makes it a performance value.


The PX747-4K produced accurate color reproduction along with a sharp, clear image. Even though the one is a couple of years old, its sub-$1000 price point still makes it a great value for someone looking for an entry-level projector with good performance.


To determine the best projectors under $1000, we first researched the top 50 models online, measuring their features and aggregating customer sentiment and other expert reviews. Based on that research, we then narrowed the list down to the top 10 projectors on the market today.


And after 40 hours of testing, we appointed the Optoma HD143X projector as our #1 pick for under $1000 in 2020 because of its brightness, overall low price tag, and high contrast level. Keep reading to learn more about this project and the other 4 we selected as our top picks.


As prices continue to drop, projectors are becoming a hit with consumers who want the biggest possible picture they can get. While they may not be the best for watching during the day or if you want the absolute most crisp HD picture possible, for anyone who values a massive movie experience over everything else, a home theater projector takes the cake.


  • What's the best projector under $1,000? When it comes to entry-level home theater, there are a lot of options out there. In the sub-$1,000 price bracket, there are five different models available right now that are particularly exciting: the BenQ HT1075, the Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 2030, the InFocus IN8606HD, the Optoma HD26, and the Viewsonic PJD7820HD. All are native 1080p projectors, and all retail for less than $1,000. That's about where the similarities end, however.What we've learned from this shootout is what we've always known: that there is no perfect projector for every situation, and that your individual needs are far more important than any notion of objective quality. So take a step back, decide where and how you're going to use your projector, and then decide which one of these scenarios best describes your needs.Are you interested in:Home theater in a darkened room? (BenQ HT1075)

  • Home video in a brightly-lit room? (Optoma HD26)

  • Replacing your TV with a projector? (Epson 2030)

  • Movies and TV on the go? (Viewsonic PJD7820HD)

  • A projector with high-end bells and whistles? (InFocus IN8606HD)



BEST HOME THEATER:BenQ HT1075The HT1075 is an incremental upgrade to the venerable W1070, which at two years old was due for a replacement. The addition of MHL and a new simplified menu system add to the already excellent image quality, color accuracy, and placement flexibility, but the projector is still available for a very reasonable $899 from authorized resellers.The HT1075 is our choice for home theater for five reasons:Picture quality. When it comes down to it, the HT1075 simply has a cleaner, more refined, more natural image than any of its competitors. This is due to a million little factors, from contrast to color to digital noise to detail clarity, but the whole is definitely greater than the sum of the parts. When you set the BenQ HT1075 up next to any of the other projectors in the shootout, you get a better image out of the HT1075 - at least as far as home theater is concerned.Excellent factory calibrations. Without changing a single setting, the HT1075 is ready for prime time. That's because the projector comes from the factory with accurate, well-saturated color and a smooth, level grayscale. Color accuracy both out of the box and after calibration is visibly better than the other projectors in the shootout. If you don't feel ready to learn the ins and outs of calibration, the HT1075 is a great projector to start with.Fast color wheel. All single-chip DLP projectors can produce color separation artifacts, or rainbows, for some people. Lots of folks will see rainbows on a 2x-speed color wheel, which is what the other projectors in the shootout use, especially when the color wheel contains non-RGB segments. But the HT1075 uses a color wheel with only RGB segments, and it spins at either 4x or 6x speed depending on the input signal you give it. Color brightness. Because the HT1075's color wheel only uses RGB segments, it produces bright, saturated colors that look balanced and natural next to bright highlights. When white light output is significantly higher than color light output, it makes colors look dull and drab and can make the image as a whole seem artificial. The other projectors in the shootout can also produce balanced white and color light output, but only by drastically lowering white light output to match.Placement flexibility. The HT1075's 1.3:1 lens is good for this class of projector, but its inclusion of vertical lens shift is exceptional. Though the adjustment range is limited to just a few inches up or down, it is especially useful when you are permanently installing both the projector and its screen, because it gives you some ability to fine-tune the image's location on your wall. When you are going to use the same projector and screen over and over again, as you do in a home theater, getting the placement just right is especially important.Limitations of this projectorThe HT1075 isn't the right projector for everyone, even though it has a lot of good qualities. It has higher input lag than the other projectors in the shootout, so it's not the best choice for fast-paced gaming. Those planning to use their projector as a TV replacement should note the relatively high price ($230) of the HT1075's lamps, which can add up quickly when you're using the projector for six to eight hours per day. And there's no VESA 3D sync port, which is a downside for anyone who doesn't want to use DLP Link 3D.


BEST for TV Replacement:Epson Home Cinema 2030As the only non-DLP projector in this shootout, the Epson 2030 already stands out quite a bit. But its combination of high-end features, great color, and a bright calibrated mode make it a compelling option even for those who aren't bothered by rainbow effects, and $99 lamp replacements make maintenance a painless experience.We like the Epson Home Cinema 2030 for TV replacement for five reasons:Picture quality. The Home Cinema 2030 has a perfectly balanced picture with accurate, vibrant color. The image is smooth and natural, with cleanly-rendered detail but no hint of artificiality. Black level is comparatively weak, though shadow detail is still well-defined, and the so-so black levels don't matter as much in a bright room. And with over 1400 lumens in Cinema mode, the Home Cinema 2030 can easily handle a room with some ambient light.Lamp life and cost. Even at full power, the Home Cinema 2030's lamps are rated to last 5,000 hours. That number jumps to 6,000 hours in Eco mode, but also entails a 32% drop in light output. However, since lamp replacements are only $99 for real, genuine Epson lamps, there's not much reason to conserve lamp hours if you need the extra brightness.No rainbows. Rainbow effects are a natural consequence of DLP projectors' use of sequential color display. Those with faster color wheels are better at reducing or eliminating rainbows than those with slower color wheels, but even the BenQ HT1075, which has the fastest color wheel in this shootout, will cause rainbows for some people. If you already know that you are hyper-sensitive to rainbow effects, the Home Cinema 2030 is the only 3-chip projector in this shootout, and therefore the only projector that will absolutely not cause any rainbows.Two-year warranty. Though it can't match the three year coverage of the Viewsonic PJD7820HD, a two-year warranty should help assuage any fears you might have about running a projector instead of a television. And since going without TV is something that most folks don't want to contemplate, Epson will cross-ship a replacement projector to you during the warranty period thanks to their ExtraCare program (though they do require a credit card authorization in order to use this service). Input lag. If you switch Image Processing from "Fine" to "Fast," the Home Cinema 2030 clocks in at only 34 milliseconds of lag. That's right on par with the other projectors in this shootout. However, Fast processing also reduces resolution, which can be an issue if you were counting on pixel-perfect source reproduction. "Fine" processing isn't an option for gamers, as it measures about 100 milliseconds using this option.Limitations of this projectorThe Home Cinema 2030 is a great TV replacement, but it can be difficult to mount due to an atypical throw offset. If the projector is level, the projector will place about 8% of the image below the centerline of the lens. This makes coffee table placement difficult, and means that ceiling mounts will require an extension tube. You could also tilt the projector and apply keystone correction, but part of the benefit of a native 1080p projector is the ability to display 1080p sources at a 1:1 pixel match. That benefit disappears as soon as you apply keystone correction. A weak two-watt speaker means you'll want external speakers for any kind of serious viewing. 2ff7e9595c


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