Movie theatres are great for immersing in a fuller cinematic experience involving great, dynamic visuals and crisp, riveting audio. To achieve the latter, we’ve previously shared the best soundbars you can get. For a complete home cinematic experience, why not get a home projector for your own big screen experience at home? Now you can stream your favourite movies and K-dramas in your PJs if you like. All you need is some popcorn.

What to look out for when buying a home projector

When shopping for a home projector, there are three general technical specifications to look for.

Firstly, home in on the display resolution of the image in the form of pixels — 720p, 1080p and 4K. The higher the resolution, the clearer the image. Next, look at the brightness that is dictated by its lumens or ANSI lumens rating. A higher number would denote greater light output, which is better for bigger rooms or projectors placed further from the screen or wall. Finally, there’s the contrast ratio. Again, a higher ratio denotes that whites and blacks will appear whiter and blacker, giving you a richer image.

Besides the tech specs, there are other considerations to make too. You want to consider the projection distance — in other words, how far will the home projector be placed from the screen or wall you’re projecting onto. A smaller bedroom can make do with a less powerful projector but a larger space such as a living room will definitely need one that can project further. Finding a model with keystone correction will also ensure that the image cast will appear properly on the screen without being distorted by the angle at which the projection is made. Connectivity matters too. Certain home projectors can be connected to apps such as Netflix, Disney+ and YouTube or have your mobile phone cast or mirrored through it.

10 best home projectors to buy: At a glance

1. Pvo Mini Projector YG300 Pro
2. Happrun Native 1080P Bluetooth Projector
3. Kodak Luma 150 Ultra Mini Pocket Pico Projector
4. Yjmoye WiFi 1080P Projector
5. Aukey RD-860 Wi-Fi Mini Projector
6. Lumos Auro Pro Home Cinema Short Throw Projector with Smart Operating System
7. Xiaomi Mi Smart Projector 2
8. ViewSonic M2e Smart Wi-Fi Portable Mini Projector
9. Epson EpiqVision Ultra EH-LS300B Laser Projection TV
10. BenQ W4000i Home Theater 4K Projector

Home Theatre Projectors Below $400

Pvo Mini Projector YG300 Pro ($89.16)

This wallet-friendly Pvo projector is for those looking for an inexpensive model for your kids or to find out if a projector works for your needs. The compact model with a 1080p resolution, weighs only about 80g. The device connects via HDMI, USB and HDMI and can be powered through the accompanying power adapter or power bank and also comes with a remote control.

Pvo Mini Projector YG300 Pro ($89.16). Buy it on Amazon

Happrun Native 1080P Bluetooth Projector ($168.37)

For just a bit more, consider getting a better model from Happrun as your starter projector. While it definitely isn’t as lightweight as the Pvo model, this iteration offers 1080p resolution, 9,500 lumens and 10,000:1 contrast ratio. Similarly, it can be connected via HDMI, USB and AV and comes with a remote control. Audiophiles will be delighted to know that the sound experience can also be enhanced by using Bluetooth pairing to audio devices.

Happrun Native 1080P Bluetooth Projector ($168.37). Buy it on Amazon

Kodak Luma 150 Ultra Mini Pocket Pico Projector ($337.89)

This ultra sleek model measures just 10cm by 10cm — so lightweight and portable, you can even take it on your travels. The projector offers 1080p resolution, 60 ANSI lumens and 1,000:1 contrast ratio. The battery lasts up to 2.5 hours and is rechargeable via micro USB. It connects to microSD, USB, HDMI as well as Wi-Fi. For clarity of sound, the 3.5mm audio jack allows you to project sound via speakers or wired earphones.

Kodak Luma 150 Ultra Mini Pocket Pico Projector ($337.89). Buy it on Amazon

Yjmoye WiFi 1080P Projector ($219)

If screen mirroring your Apple or Android phone to the big screen is an important factor for you, then get the Yjmoye projector. The projector offers 1080p resolution, 5,000 lumens and 1,000:1 contrast ratio. It connects via HDMI, USB and AV. There is keystone correction and it comes with a remote control.

Yjmoye WiFi 1080P Projector ($219). Buy it on Shopee

Aukey RD-860 Wi-Fi Mini Projector ($299)

For better picture quality, look for higher contrast. The projector offers 1080p resolution, 6,000 lumens and 2,000:1 contrast ratio. There is also keystone correction. Connections can be made via USB, MicroSD, AV, HDMI and VGA or wirelessly via Wi-Fi. However, audiophiles who love Dolby sound systems may want to reconsider as it does not support Dolby audio decoding.

Aukey RD-860 Wi-Fi Mini Projector ($299). Buy it on Shopee

Home Theatre Projectors Above $400

Lumos Auro Pro Home Cinema Short Throw Projector with Smart Operating System ($498)

Created by Singaporean label Lumos, the Auro Pro is perfect for compact spaces as it only needs a minimum of 1.5m projection distance. The projector offers 1080p resolution, 10,000 lumens and 5,000:1 contrast ratio. The projector connects via AV, VGA, HDMI and USB and offers Dolby Audio. The upgraded Smart version also gives access to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, casting and keystone correction.

Lumos Auro Pro Home Cinema Short Throw Projector with Smart Operating System ($498). Buy it at lumosprojector.com.

Xiaomi Mi Smart Projector 2 ($790.63)

Looking to add another Xiaomi appliance to your growing collection? The projector offers 1080p resolution and 500 ANSI lumens. Keystone correction is done automatically so you don’t have to figure out how to get the perfect square image. It works as an Android TV, has built-in Google Assistant and supports Dolby decoding. Otherwise, it can be connected via HDMI, USB and audio jack.

Xiaomi Mi Smart Projector 2 ($790.63). Buy it on Amazon

ViewSonic M2e Smart Wi-Fi Portable Mini Projector ($895.36)

Weighing in at a mere 1kg, the ViewSonic projector is a powerful yet backpack-friendly model that can be brought on vacations. The projector offers 1080p resolution, 1,000 ANSI lumens and 3,000,000:1 contrast ratio. It is powered by Harman Kardon speakers and can be controlled wirelessly with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth or with USB-C and HDMI. It is built with a 64GB removable MicroSD card too and has keystone correction and auto-focus functions. Download the vCastSender app to turn your phone into a remote control.

ViewSonic M2e Smart Wi-Fi Portable Mini Projector ($895.36). Buy it on Amazon

Epson EpiqVision Ultra EH-LS300B Laser Projection TV ($3,499)

This Epson projector is made with laser diode instead of LED, which is touted to have a longer lifespan. The projector offers 1,080p resolution, 3,600 lumens and over 2,500,000:1 contrast ratio. There is auto keystone correction and built-in Android TV too. Else, you can connect to it via HDMI, USB, Bluetooth and wireless casting. You get to enjoy surround sound too as the speakers come from Yamaha, which has two drivers and a woofer.

Epson EpiqVision Ultra EH-LS300B Laser Projection TV ($3,499). Buy it at Epson.com.sg.

BenQ W4000i Home Theater 4K Projector ($4,299)

Those who really want to create a cinema experience at home can consider investing in this BenQ projector as it is built with various technologies that promise the highest visual quality. The projector offers 4K Ultra HD resolution, 3,200 ANSI lumens and 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio. There is also keystone correction and a 1.3x zoom ratio. It doubles as an Android TV, which means you can access apps such as Netflix, Prime, Disney+ and connect via Airplay and Chromecast. Otherwise, you can connect to the projector via HDMI and USB.   

BenQ W4000i Home Theater 4K Projector ($4,299). Buy it at Shopee.