The 4 Best Short-Throw Projectors - Summer 2024 Reviews

Looking for the best short-throw or ultra-short-throw projector? Look no further than the Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS800. It's a fully-featured projector that can do it all. It can project an 80" image at a distance of only 0.9": that's almost flush with the wall! If you're looking for a bigger image, it can project up to a 150" image at a distance of 9.9", which is still close enough for the projector to fit on some larger desks. It's one of the brightest projectors we've tested, so you don't need to worry about turning off the lights when using it, but it also performs decently well in pitch-black rooms due to its decent contrast. It projects a sharp image through its 4k pixel-shifting technology, and its color gamut and accuracy are both satisfactory, so ultimately, this projector has no real weaknesses regarding image quality.

This is a very large projector and is quite heavy at 27 pounds. It also lacks any automatic image correction features, so this projector is meant to be stationary. Luckily, it's packed with features, including built-in Android TV with full Chromecast integration. It even has a decent 2.1 speaker system from Yamaha, although we recommend a home theater speaker system for maximum impact. When it comes to ports, there's a bit of everything here: two USB 2.0 data ports, a 3.5mm audio jack, an optical out connection, and a 2.0A DC Out USB port, which is helpful if you want to power a dongle. It also has three HDMI ports, including an ARC port. All HDMI ports can accept a 4k @ 60Hz signal, but the third one also projects a 1080p @ 120Hz signal, which is great for gamers. The projector also supports Bluetooth 5.0 and comes with Wi-Fi 5. Overall, the Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS800 is the most well-rounded ultra-short-throw projector and has something for everyone.

If you're looking for a projector solely to use in a dark room, the Formovie THEATER is a better option than the Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS800. While it doesn't get nearly as bright, its contrast is vastly superior; it has the best contrast of any projector we've tested. It's also much more colorful, which is especially noticeable when watching HDR content. Unfortunately for movie purists, the Formovie's color accuracy is inadequate out of the box; make sure to invest in a calibrator to get the most out of it. Like the Epson mode, it's an ultra-short-throw projector, and it's capable of projecting an 80" image at a distance of about 5.5" and up to a 150" image at a distance of 19.3"; not nearly as good as the Epson here, but good enough to give you a ton of versatility when it comes to placement.

This unit is massive and isn't meant to be moved often; it weighs 21.7 pounds and has no automatic image correction features. It has a 30W integrated audio system from Bowers & Wilkins, but you'll get the best sound when connecting a soundbar or receiver to the projector's eARC port, which is its third HDMI port. The Formovie supports 4k @ 60Hz signals on all three HDMI ports, has two USB data ports if you want to play files directly from a USB key, and has both a line-out jack and an optical out port. Regarding smart features, the Formovie has a bit of everything: Android TV 11.0 built-in with Chromecast support, integrated Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. Overall, as long as you keep the lights off and invest in a good calibrator, this projector won't disappoint, as it's the best ultra-short-throw projector for home theater.

If you don't need the absolute best, consider the Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS300. Unlike the Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS800, it doesn't support 4k pixel shifting, so its image isn't as sharp as the more expensive Epson, but it's otherwise almost as good. What's especially impressive about the cheaper Epson is its pre-calibration color accuracy, which is truly excellent; you don't need to have this projector calibrated, which is great as it doesn't come with any in-depth calibration options. Otherwise, its brightness is great, and its contrast is alright, although they both fall slightly short of the LS800. It's decently colorful, too, although it looks a bit washed out in HDR. Regarding projection distance, it's an ultra-short-throw projector like the more expensive Epson. Still, its minimum throw ratio is a bit higher at 0.27, so you need to install it a bit further away from the screen; it projects a 60" image at a distance of about 1 inch, up to a 120" image at a distance of 15.2".

It's a pretty heavy projector but is noticeably lighter than the top two picks at 15.7 pounds. It also doesn't have any automatic image correction features. It comes with an integrated 2.1 speaker system from Yamaha, but you'll get better sound from it with a soundbar or speaker system connected to its ARC port, which is its second HDMI port. Both HDMI ports can projector a 1080p @ 60Hz signal, and it has one USB-A data port through which you can stream files from a USB portable drive. There's also an optical-out audio port if you prefer that option over ARC. The unit also has built-in Android TV with full Chromecast integration and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support. Overall, this projector offers many, but not all, of the features of the Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS800 but at a much lower price.

You don't need to empty your bank account to get a decent short-throw projector, as the BenQ TH671ST offers a satisfactory experience for a budget price. Its brightness is mediocre, but its contrast is quite good, leading to a pleasant viewing experience in dark rooms. It's also colorful, and its pre-calibration color accuracy is great. It projects a 60" image at a distance of about 3 feet and up to a 180" image at about 9 feet, which is a much longer projection range than the picks above, so plan accordingly. This unit is the only one on this list to use a traditional lamp as its light source; while lamps don't last nearly as long as lasers, you can change them when they burn out.

This model is compact and weighs only 5.9 pounds. Still, it has no automatic image correction features, so you must make every adjustment manually. It has only one 5W speaker, so you need a soundbar to get adequate sound. When it comes to ports, it has two HDMI 1.4 ports, and both can project up to 1920x1200 or 1080p @ 60Hz. The second HDMI port has a few extra features; it has HDCP 1.4 support, so you can play HDCP-encrypted content, like movies from physical media, through that port. It also has MHL support, so you can directly plug your phone or tablet into that port to stream your screen to the projector. This is good, as the unit doesn't have a USB data port. Instead, it has a mini USB service port and a USB Type-A port for power delivery. It doesn't support Bluetooth or Wi-Fi out-of-the-box, and it doesn't have a smart OS, so you'll need a streaming dongle for those features. This model is of great value as long as you can deal with its longer projection range.