With 4K picture and speedy refresh rates, there are plenty of models vying for the top spot when it comes to the best projectors for PS5 and Xbox Series X. Two things have happened in the last couple of years that make a projector setup more than viable for your new generation console; prices have dropped and speeds have increased. That means you can enjoy 4K HDR picture with smooth framerates on the big screen, and we're showing you the best way to do it.
The new console finally arriving is always an exciting moment, but sometimes it makes you realise the limitations of your current setup. Maybe your TV doesn’t cut it anymore and you want to play in a massive 100-inch picture. Perhaps what you thought was the best projectors for gaming for you and has done a job for an older console but is now showing its limitations. Or this could be the moment you decide to take the plunge from HD into 4K. Wherever you fit in this, one of the best projectors for PS5 and Xbox Series X will suit you.
This list is set to grow as we test more and more projectors for Xbox Series X and PS5 so expect more HD entries, budget entries, and underrated, curveball entries alongside 4K beasts in the months to come, too.
The quick list
Best overall
The BenQ X3100i is the brand's latest flagship offering super-fast 1080p speeds and rich 4K visuals in the same box.
Best budget
This BenQ HT2050A projector has stood the test of time. While it's only offering Full HD picture rather than the 4K of modern devices, it's still the best budget all-rounder for the next generation of consoles.
Best premium
It costs a penny, but if you're after top class 4K picture and the full HDR10+ treatment, the Samsung Premiere is a wise investment.
Best short throw
A flexible design and excellent 4K picture make the BenQ X300G a go-to for PS5 players looking for a device that can fit just about anywhere.
Best motion handling
The Acer Predator has always impressed us, especially with its slick use of VRR in next generation consoles. That means you're always getting a smooth picture.
One of my first ever jobs was in the projection room of a movie theatre, and I've never quite been able to get away from the even-bigger screen since. I've been running different projectors for years, tinkering with every setting to find the perfect picture for every occasion. My current go-to is the BenQ X300G, but whether I'm loading up a PS5 game or settling in for a movie night I'm always thinking about how each experience can be improved.
Recent updates
December 9 - I have removed the BenQ X1300i from this page, as it has now been discontinued by the brand. That's a shame, this was a particularly speedy 1080p projector but I'm currently testing the cheaper Yaber T2 Plus and hunting down an alternative to try as well.
The best projector for PS5 and Xbox Series X overall
The BenQ X3100i takes over from the BenQ X3000i as the best projector out there for PS5 and Xbox Series X players. It's the latest flagship from a well established gaming projector brand, packing the same 4K picture at 16ms latency that we've come to know and love with some extra boosts in the brightness and contrast department.
✅ 4K is a must: While it's pixel shifted to full UHD, the BenQ X3100i produces some incredible 4K images well worth taking advantage of on PS5 and Xbox Series X.
✅ You also want a speedy option: If you don't mind killing the UHD resolution you can drop down to 1080p for an insanely fast 240Hz 4.2ms experience
✅ You also want to watch TV: Ignoring the streaming side of the BenQ X3100i would be a mistake, this is also a powerful device for 4K HDR content across a range of services, and packs Netflix on its included dongle.
❌ You want full 4K 120Hz: 60Hz is still fine, but if you want the full force of the PS5's 4K 120Hz output, you'll need to look elsewhere.
❌ You have a smaller space: The X3000i is a chunkier model compared to something like the X300G, so if you're working with a smaller space we'd recommend a short-throw projector or a portable device.
At first glance this is a very similar projector to the X3000i that came before it. Both models pack a squat boxy aesthetic with curved corners and a crisp white paintjob. Both even feature near identical controls on the left panel, save for the new lens shift option on the top of the X3100i. You'll find the same speeds under the hood, and a similar 4LED projection system inside as well. It's true, the X3100i is an iterative update, but considering you can only pick up the X3000i second-hand or refurbished these days it's the best on the market right now.
There are some new additions to keep things feeling fresh, though. Brightness has been upped to 3,300 lumens (300 more than the X3000i and noticeably better performing in ambient light than the X300G) while contrast has jumped from 500,000:1 to 600,000:1. While it can still be tripped up by muddier scenes (the beiges and browns started to look a little washy in my testing on Assassin's Creed: Mirage), block colors and vibrant picture looks incredible. Astro's Playroom leaps off the wall with an incredible clarity and super sharp attention to detail.
Dropping things down to 1080p and I was impressed with the fluidity of faster games like Apex Legends at full 240Hz whack. I never noticed any latency issues, with inputs and response times pretty much matching that of a full TV or monitor setup. That's not to be taken for granted; there are very few PS5 and Xbox Series X projectors out there that can accomplish such feats. One of my only gripes during testing was the lack of Dolby Vision support, and this is only really a PC concern - both consoles stick to HDR10 so there should be no problems there.
Throw in an easy vertical lens shift system for quick picture adjustment, easy to use focus and zoom dials on the side, and a slick piece of software called SettingXchange that allows you to easily apply specialist visual profiles created for each game, and the BenQ X3100i's position at the top of the market is sealed.
Read more: BenQ X3100i review
The best budget projector for PS5 and Xbox Series X
The mid-range projector market is crowded. It can be hard to work out what’s a standout unit, but the BenQ HT2050A has proven itself to be a favourite among gamers over the past few years and for that reason its definitely one of the best projectors for PS5 and Xbox Series X right now.
✅ A low price is a priority: If you're keeping an eye on the bank balance this cheaper model is going to be particularly interesting. You're dropping a few fancier features but still picking up big-screen entertainment.
✅ You still want some adjustment features: With vertical lens shift and easy keystone correction, the BenQ HT2050A doesn't skimp on setup features.
✅ You still want decent response times: The 16ms response time is impressive for the price - it's a spec we rarely see in cheaper projectors like this.
❌ You want full 4K resolution: If you think you'll miss the full UHD resolution of your PS5 or Xbox Series X, your money is better put towards a slightly more expensive device.
❌ Your budget stretches to a newer model: This is an older device, which does mean discounts are more frequent, but if you can spring for some newer features it would be recommended.
It may not quite be cutting edge anymore, but it’s stood the test of time and you can now often find great deals on a tried and tested great projector.
The key stat is the input lag: an astonishingly low 16ms in the dedicated Game Mode. This alone will make serious gamers sit up and take notice. It’s rated well for brightness and is regularly found to outshine others in the price bracket. Anything priced here will struggle with direct midday sunlight from large patio doors or projecting outside in the day, but it deals well with ambient light.
The vertical lens shift is a lovely luxury, rare for a mid-range projector, which can make placement easier – as does the vertical and horizontal keystone correction. However, the minimum angle of the vertical lens shift means you’ll need to check it will be suited to your location if you have a very specific spot in mind. The great depth of colour in the image will make the bright lights of New York in Spider-Man: Miles Morales really pop. You’re getting HD than 4K, but if you need a great projector for around the same price you’ve just dropped on your new console, this is the way to go.
The best premium projector for PS5 and Xbox Series X
Sometimes a truly exceptional product can not only live up to but actually exceed the pre-release expectations. Last year, Samsung surprisingly announced its first projectors in a decade, instantly becoming the most anticipated projectors for years, and they have been receiving rave reviews ever since. The LSP7T is the cheaper of the two, though is still a premium product.
✅ You don't have much space: The ultra-short throw design of the LSP7T makes it an excellent alternative for those working with a particularly small space.
✅ This is a long-term investment: There's a heavy cost associated with this device, but if you're buying for the long-haul it's well worth it.
✅ You want a high-end display: This has Samsung's display pedigree running all the way through, which means you're getting a top-shelf 4K picture.
❌ Speed is a priority: While the 53ms input lag isn't going to hurt too much, those focusing on super smooth gameplay will want to invest their cash elsewhere.
❌ You want a bigger picture: If you want to move past that 120-inch display, you'll need to check out the more expensive LSP9T model.
The LSP7T is a fantastic unit the Premiere series is going to be the gold standard of projectors for some time to come. They run the same operating system as Samsung Smart TVs – so you don’t have to fire up the console every time you want to watch Netflix. The input lag has been measured at a decent (if not exceptional) 53ms. Any of the huge open-world games of the latest consoles will look astonishing with this laser-sharp image.
For reference, the chief difference between the LSP7T and the LSP9T is in the light source. The bigger brother - the LSP9T, see below - has an HDR image that comes from a triple laser system (one laser for each primary colour) while LSP7T has just one laser for the whole image and produces a slightly smaller picture. A 120-inch picture of this quality is incredible, especially when it can be generated at an astonishingly close distance of a foot and a half to the projection surface. There’s also a slight downgrade on the internal speaker to the more expensive model, but it’s still loud and beautifully clear, and if you’re spending this kind of money you’ve almost certainly already got an excellent gaming sound system.
The best short-throw projector for PS5 / Xbox Series X
Yes, the BenQ X300G drops your HDMI down to 2.0 and doesn't run 4K gameplay at full 120Hz. If you're struggling for space, though, it could be exactly what you need.
✅ You play on consoles and handhelds: The X300G not only handles Xbox and PS5 inputs, but can also charge and display your Nintendo Switch or handheld PC through just one USB-C cable. That's incredibly handy for quick sessions.
✅ You want an easy setup: With an abundance of auto-settings and plenty of control over finer details this is a particularly easy projector to setup in all kinds of new places.
✅ You don't have much space: This is a short throw device, but with a compact footprint and easily portable design that means it can be set up pretty much anywhere.
❌ You want the full force of your consoles: With no HDMI 2.1 connection, the X300G can't quite draw the best picture possible out of your PS5 or Xbox Series X.
❌ You play a lot in daylit rooms: Ambient light proved a little problematic for darker scenes in our testing, so if you play during the day in a well-lit room regularly, you'll want something with a bit of a brightness boost.
With BenQ's now iconic boxy white chassis, black front panel, and red accent, the X300G sits nicely inline with the rest of the brand's gaming range. The actual aesthetic fits better with the PlayStation than it does with Xbox's monolith, but the crisp white still feels luxurious and premium whatever it's placed next to. That's looking at a photograph of it, though.
In real life, this is a far more compact system than those that came before, which means it slots neatly into smaller setups particularly well. We tested the device sitting at the edge of a desk approximately three meters away from its projection wall and everything ran smoothly. It is, however, a little too hefty to truly be considered portable. While easy enough to move from room to room, this is still too large and heavy to be carried in a backpack.
The X300G can display images at 60Hz in 4K or 240Hz in 1080p. That's seriously competitive considering the low input lag and mid-to-low price point. The X300G's secret weapon, though, is its versatility. A massive selection of automatic adjustment options, each working just a little better than we've seen in the past, makes it easy to relocate the whole setup.
Yes, you'll get better speeds and less distortion by manually setting everything up yourself. Being able to plug in and sit back for quick sessions is invaluable, though. There's also a robust sound system built in for those who don't want to plug into a headset.
Running Skyrim and Horizon Forbidden West off the PS5 was a dream when the conditions were right. Colors pop with excellent vividity, and there's a strong sense of detailing across the entire picture as well. That image was degraded a little when ambient light was thrown into the mix, losing a lot of the detail in darker scenes in particular. It's still more than playable with the sun peeking through, but performance is definitely far more impressive at night. This is when the oranges and blues of Evil West truly shone, and Horizon's jeweled landscapes could hit best.
The BenQ X300G is a fantastic gaming projector, and the best short-throw option for PS5 and Xbox Series X players right now. You're dropping a little speed but making up for it with excellent ease of use and versatility as a whole.
Read more: BenQ X300G review
The best projector for PS5 and Xbox Series X with motion handling
This is a projector aimed squarely at gamers. There's an ultra-fast refresh rate of up to 240Hz in 1080p for PC (120Hz at 1080p for consoles) and minimal input lag which we found makes this ideal for huge screen PS5 gaming. Finally, a competitor to the BenQ X1300i for dedicated gaming projectors! In our testing, games were silky smooth, without noticeable lag and even the quickest FPS stays sharp as you wildly move the camera around (if you play shooters as chaotically as I do…).
✅ You want silky smooth gameplay: A variable refresh rate moving all the way up to 240Hz on PC makes the Acer Predator GD711 a particularly slick picture thrower.
✅ You still want 4K picture: Getting a smooth picture at higher resolutions is often a struggle for projectors, but Acer has it sussed.
❌ You want an easy setup: While auto-keystoning can save you a few headaches this is a finnicky set up process.
We did find the 10W speakers to be tinny and weak, but if you’re dropping this kind of money on a projector for PS5, you're likely to both want and will buy, or already have, a good audio setup. What was more annoying to us, however, was the lack of zoom control, which feels utterly baffling, meaning you have to set projector size by placement. Unless your room fits the throw ratio you may need a ceiling mount to get it in the right distance. While there’s a wide range of colour pallets to chose from to enhance your viewing, some manual tweaks were needed to stop the picture looking a bit washed out.
These issues are annoying quibbles, but once you get to play games on this all of that is forgotten. Landscapes look lush, the bright game mode makes colours pop and the dark game mode keeps detail up in the shadows by using the DynamicBlack technology. Video looks amazing too and makes the most of the 4K resolution the GD711 can pump out, with a wide range of modes giving you ideal setups quickly for the perfect colour pallet. Once this is properly set up, it’s an outstanding gaming projector.
Read more: Acer Predator GD711 review
Best projector for PS5 / Xbox Series X FAQ
How do you connect a PS5 or Xbox Series X to a projector?
Connecting a console to a projector is, generally, the same as connecting to a TV or monitor. You'll simply be running an HDMI cable from your console to the receiver port on the projector itself. Your device will then be able to switch its input to the console and you'll be good to go.
The only element of setup that might run a little differently is audio. If you're connecting to an external sound system you'll be able to either use a 3.5mm cable to wire up your projector to your speakers - or connect via Bluetooth. It's worth noting that there might be some lag in your audio if you're connecting wirelessly, especially when run through a projector first. If you're in doubt you can always use a gaming headset direct from your console.
Can you connect a PS5 or Xbox Series X to a projector wirelessly?
There are dongles and gadgets that allow you to cast your PS5 or Xbox Series X to an HDMI receiver, and therefore to your projector, wirelessly - so it's certainly possible to connect without a cable. If you're picking up a cheaper dongle, though, it's worth noting that you're likely going to be paying for that convenience with speed. These receivers aren't going to offer the kind of lag-free response you can expect from a good old fashioned HDMI wire. However, if you're rigging up an overhead projector there are options out there for you.
Do PS5 and Xbox Series X run well on a projector?
Both the PS5 and Xbox Series run well on projectors - they're UHD devices with the speeds to keep up with a large scale picture throw.
How to choose the right projector for PS5 or Xbox Series X
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There are a couple of things to keep in mind when hunting down the right projector for PS5 and Xbox Series X in particular.
Resolution
The first is that all-important 4K resolution. If you're opting for a cheaper 1080p model you'll still find excellent results - and often these models are far faster than their 4K counterparts. However, if you're looking to get the most out of your consoles you'll want to go full UHD.
Connection
Next you'll want to make sure your projector has the right HDMI port. A few models are still rolling with HDMI 2.0, and there's nothing wrong with that, provided other features make up for it - our top pick uses an older HDMI connection. If you want the full bandwidth of resolution that the PS5 and Xbox Series X are capable of, though, you'll want to make sure you're picking up an HDMI 2.1 port.
Distance
Throw distance is the next factor to consider. You'll need to measure your space to find out which kind of projector you can accommodate. In general, you'll need a gap of around 13 - 15 feet between your projector and the wall you're casting on for a full 120-inch image. However, short-throw devices can considerably shorten that distance, while long-throw devices have a lot more flexibility. Of course, you'll also want to make sure you can actually fit the projector into your space. That means measuring the footprint if you're positioning it on a shelf or making sure you've got the right mounting options for a ceiling setup.
Audio
You'll also need to decide whether you're going to bother with inbuilt speakers. For example, if you know you're going to be using a gaming headset exclusively with your projector, there's no need to invest in a device with built-in audio. However, if you're simply making sure your home cinema setup can accommodate your consoles you'll want to check for external audio connections or make sure there's a decent speaker under the hood.
Lighting
Finally, consider the lighting of the room you will be playing in. Projectors range in brightness from a minimum of 2,000 lumens all the way up to more expensive models at 5,000 or even 6,000 lumens. 2,000 - 3,000 is the sweet spot for darker rooms, but if you're going to be playing during the day in a well-lit spot you might need to spring for something brighter.
Projector Glossary
Whether you're buying your first projector or upgrading for PS5 and Xbox Series X, there are a lot of terms to wade through to make sure you know exactly what you're getting. Projectors haven't quite hit the mainstream enough for these phrases to have entered everyday usage, so it can be helpful to brush up on some of the more common phrases.
- Blooming - When too much light is being passed through a series of pixels a blooming visual effect appears. This makes an image appear fuzzier.
- Color gamut - The number and range of colors a projector is capable of replicating is measured via the color gamut.
- Ghosting - When your projector and console aren't tuned in sync, ghosting may occur. This is a visual artifact that shows as faint replica images appearing on the screen.
- HDMI 2.1 - This is the version of HDMI that both PS5 and Xbox Series X use. For the best picture, make sure your projector also has an HDMI 2.1 port and you're using a compatible cable.
- Input lag - Input lag is used to record the delay between the console sending an image to your projector and the projector showing it on the screen. A high input lag means you're always going to be reacting later than you intend to due to the extra time it takes for you to see each new image.
- Keystone - When you first set up a projector, its image might not be a perfect square due to incorrect placement. Keystoning is the process of correcting this.
- Latency - Similar to input lag, latency is the speed at which images are projected after being received from your PS5 or Xbox Series X.
- Lens Shift - Lens shift grants you more freedom in where you place your projector, by allowing you to move the image independently of the physical device.
- Lumen - A projector's brightness is measured in lumen.
- Native Resolution - Every projector has a native resolution, which may differ from its highest possible resolution. In the case of PS5 / Xbox Series X projectors you're likely to find '4K' devices using a 1080p native resolution and then upscaling it. A Native 4K projector is far more expensive.
- Throw distance - This is the optimal distance between the projector and the screen, represented as a ratio.
These projectors are the best in the business but if you prefer your gaming screens as TVs then check out our guides to the best TV for PS5 and Xbox Series X, best OLED TV, and best 120Hz 4K TV.
