10 Best Smart Projectors 2026 in the United States

The Optoma GT1080HDRx Short Throw Gaming Projector is a great choice for gamers and home cinema enthusiasts. With a full HD 1080p resolution and HDR10 support, it delivers bright and sharp images, thanks to its 3,800 lumens brightness and a high contrast ratio of 50,000:1. This makes it suitable for both day and night gaming. Its short throw lens allows you to project a large 120" image from just four feet away, which is perfect for small spaces. The enhanced gaming mode ensures a fast response time of 8.4ms with a 120Hz refresh rate, providing a smooth and immersive gaming experience.

Connectivity is flexible with dual HDMI ports that support a range of devices like gaming consoles, media players, and streaming sticks. The projector's lamp life is impressive, offering up to 15,000 hours of use, which translates to over 10 years of daily viewing. However, it does lack built-in smart features, so you'll need external devices like Chromecast or Fire Stick for streaming. Additionally, the audio quality may not be as robust as dedicated speakers.

At 7.7 pounds, it’s relatively portable, but keep in mind the need for external audio solutions for better sound quality. This projector is particularly suited for gamers and those looking for a solid home cinema experience, especially in smaller rooms where a short throw distance is beneficial.

The BenQ GP520 is a 4K smart projector designed for home entertainment, offering sharp and vivid images with its 3840 x 2160 resolution and HDR10+ support. Its brightness of 2600 lumens makes it suitable for typical living room lighting, but it might struggle a bit in very bright spaces. The projector features BenQ's CinematicColor technology and Rec.709 color accuracy, which helps produce vibrant and natural colors, enhancing movie and TV show viewing.

Auto Cinema Mode is a handy smart feature that adjusts the image based on the room’s lighting, so you don’t have to tweak settings manually. It also supports flexible placement with multi-angle installation and smart image alignment, making it easier to set up in various rooms without much hassle. For gamers, the ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) ensures smoother gameplay with minimal lag.

Connectivity is strong with HDMI 2.1, USB-A, USB-C, WiFi 6, and Bluetooth 5.2, allowing you to easily connect multiple devices and stream content through the built-in Google TV platform. This means you can access popular streaming services without needing an external device. Audio comes from dual 12W speakers and supports Dolby and 7.1 channel audio, delivering clear and immersive sound, though for a full cinematic experience, connecting external speakers via Bluetooth or eARC will be better. The projector also includes useful features like auto focus, digital keystone correction, and auto obstacle avoidance, which help maintain a clear and properly aligned picture with minimal effort. The LED light source generally offers a longer lifespan than traditional lamps, reducing maintenance. The BenQ GP520 is a versatile and user-friendly smart projector that suits home cinema lovers and casual gamers well. It excels with its 4K image quality, smart streaming options, and flexible setup, but those needing very high brightness or professional-grade audio might want to consider additional equipment.

The Optoma GT2100HDR is a solid choice if you’re looking for a short throw projector that delivers bright, clear images thanks to its Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution and strong 4200 lumens brightness. This means it can produce vibrant pictures even in rooms that aren’t completely dark, making it suitable for home cinema, gaming, business, or education. Its short throw design lets you place it close to the screen or wall without sacrificing image size, which is convenient for small spaces.

The use of DuraCore Laser technology improves energy efficiency and extends lamp life, reducing the need for frequent replacements. Connectivity options include HDMI and USB, making it easy to connect to various devices, although it does not include built-in smart apps, so external streaming devices are necessary for accessing apps. The projector is compact and lightweight, making it portable, but it uses an external power supply, which might result in managing more cables.

This projector is well-suited for those wanting a bright, energy-efficient, and flexible short throw projector primarily for HD video viewing. For users seeking built-in smart features or enhanced audio quality, adding external devices will be required.