9+ Best Short Throw Projector 2023 | Unrivaled Guide & Products Overview

Are you looking for a cinematic viewing experience, but don’t have the space for a traditional home theater projector? Maybe you live in a studio or dorm and don’t have the range needed for a long-distance projector. Or maybe you need to give a presentation in class or at work and there are no projectors provided. In each of these circumstances, a short-throw projector is ideal. Short throw projectors provide a clearer and wider image in smaller spaces than long throw ones.

As with any type of projector, short shots vary greatly in specification and quality. Here we have compiled our recommendations for the best short throw projectors. If you’re looking for a home theater experience, check out our picks for the best home theater projectors. If you need a projector on the go, we’ve also compiled a list of the best short throw projectors.

Best Short Throw Projector

To enjoy a good home theater session, large format TVs are fine, but there is nothing like the immersive experience provided by a projector and a huge screen above 80-90 inches.

However, given the current typical homes, we can not always install one in our living rooms, being a usual problem the lack of length to the screen so that the projector can generate the image properly. If this is your case today we propose five new-generation models of the so-called “short throw” with which to enjoy the cinema in a big way.

Best Short Throw Projector | Comparison Table 2023

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Best Short Throw Projector | 2023 Products Overview

Product Overview:

The Optoma GT1080HDR is a short throw gaming projector that is specifically designed for gamers who want an immersive gaming experience. It features HDR10 technology which allows for brighter whites and deeper blacks, resulting in a more vivid and lifelike image. The projector is equipped with a 6-segment color wheel that produces accurate color with sRGB and REC. 709 color profiles. The enhanced gaming mode on the GT1080HDR offers a lightning-fast response time of 8.4ms with a 120Hz refresh rate, making it ideal for fast-paced games.

With a short throw lens, you can enjoy a large 120-inch image projected from just 4 feet away, making it perfect for smaller spaces or easier installations. The projector boasts a high brightness level of 3,800 Lumens, a 50,000:1 contrast ratio, and full HD 1080p (1920 x 1080) resolution, providing razor-sharp and detailed images.

Product Overview:

The ViewSonic PX706HD 1080p Short Throw Projector is a high-quality projector that offers a theater-like experience with its Full HD resolution of 1920x1080p. The projector is capable of projecting an image up to 300 inches, making it perfect for movie nights or gaming sessions. With its exclusive Color technology, it delivers cinematic colors with a wide color gamut, ensuring a beautiful image production in any environment.

The projector has a short throw lens, allowing it to be placed just inches away from a wall or screen, and its reduced input latency and gaming mode makes it ideal for intense action-packed gaming. The lamp life is long, with the Eco Mode allowing it to shine bright for up to 15,000 hours. It has flexible connectivity options, including HDMI, USB Type-C, and more, making it compatible with most media players, gaming consoles, PCs, Macs, and mobile devices. The projector comes with a power cable, VGA cable, and remote control and can be integrated seamlessly with Roku, Fire TV stick and ChromeCast for effortless programming for education, entertainment, or business environments.

Product Overview:

The Optoma EH412ST Short Throw 1080P HDR Professional Projector is a versatile and high-quality projector designed for use in a variety of settings, including business presentations, classrooms, and meeting rooms. With a brightness of 4000 lumens, this projector is capable of producing a clear and vibrant image even in well-lit environments. Additionally, the EH412ST is 4K HDR compatible, allowing you to enjoy rich, accurate color and sharper images when used with 4K HDR video sources or 1080P HDR gaming content.

The short throw lens of this projector makes it ideal for use in smaller spaces and easier installation. With a throw ratio of 0.5:1, you can project a large 120-inch image from just 4.5 feet away. The EH412ST also features an array of connectivity options, including 2 x HDMI, VGA in and out, audio-in and out, RS232, and USB-A, making it easy to connect to a variety of devices.

Product Overview:

The XGIMI Halo True 1080p Portable Projector is a versatile and high-quality projector designed for outdoor movie nights or indoor entertainment. With a native 1080p Full HD resolution and 800 ANSI lumens, the projector provides an ultra-clear and vibrant image with 225% more clarity than typical 720p projectors. The built-in Android TV 9.0 allows users to access over 5000 apps via Google Play, including popular streaming services such as YouTube, Prime Video, Hulu, and Disney+.

The projector also features a high-capacity built-in battery that provides 2 hours of playtime on a 150-inch screen, allowing users to take the Halo anywhere without being tethered to an outlet. Additionally, the dual 5W Harman Kardon speakers provide excellent sound quality, and users have the option to wirelessly connect soundbars and Bluetooth headphones.

Product Overview:

The Optoma CinemaX P2 is a 4K UHD smart laser projector designed for home theater use. It has a resolution of 3840 x 2160 and features HDR10 technology, offering a high-quality, cinematic viewing experience with an incredible 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio. The projector boasts a 6-segment color wheel, delivering richer colors and enhanced brightness, accurately reproducing movies, TV, and games as the director intended.

The Optoma CinemaX P2 is equipped with a bright and reliable laser, delivering up to 30,000 hours of stunning image quality with a brightness of 3,000 lumens. Its ultra-short throw design allows for convenient placement, offering a huge screen experience of up to 120 inches from only inches away. The projector is easy to set up, with Optoma's SmartFIT app and auto focus enabling hassle-free image alignment. Additionally, the CinemaX P2 is voice assistant compatible, allowing for intuitive control using Amazon Echo and Google Home devices, and it also supports IFTTT, providing seamless connectivity with thousands of other smart devices.

Product Overview:

The BenQ MW632ST is a WXGA short throw projector with a brightness of 3200 lumens, making it suitable for use in well-lit rooms. The projector has a high native contrast ratio, providing accurate and vivid color representation. With a resolution of 1280x800, the projector offers 2 times the resolution of SVGA, making it a great choice for presentations, movies, and pictures. The 0.9 short throw lens design prevents the user from getting blinded by light during presentations, making it an excellent choice for small spaces.

The projector is equipped with two HDMI ports, providing high-quality audio and video with just one cable. The lamp life is rated for up to 10,000 hours, meaning that the projector should last over 10 years even with daily use. The clear image size is 60 to 120 inches diagonal, and the image size is 30 to 300 inches.

Product Overview:

The WEMAX Nova 4K UHD Ultra Short Throw Smart Laser Projector is a top-of-the-line home theater projector that offers stunning picture and sound quality. With a resolution of 3840 x 2160, it boasts 4 times the resolution of full HD or 1080p, thanks to the industry-leading patented ALPD 3.0 and TI DLP technology. This technology allows for more efficient light usage, providing finer detail across a wider color gamut and deeper vibrance.

This smart projector also offers a massive screen size of up to 150 inches, with four different size options to choose from, making it a perfect center piece for your home theater. The 8-Point keystone correction ensures image quality, allowing for micro adjustments for the perfect cinema experience. The Nova laser projector also boasts powerful 30W Dolby Audio DTS HD Speakers, providing crystal-clear audio precision tuned to enhance the home theater experience.

Product Overview:

The Epson Home Cinema LS100 3LCD Ultra Short-Throw Projector is a digital laser display with Full HD and 100% color brightness. This product is available in a renewed version and comes with a 90-day Amazon Renewed Guarantee. The product is equipped with a powerful 4,000 lumens of equal color and white brightness, which offers 100% Color Brightness and an instant on/off feature. The deep black contrast ratio of up to 2,500,000:1 provides deep blacks and vivid colors for a superior viewing experience.

This ultra-short-throw projector is designed with advanced 3-chip technology, which ensures no color wheels, no white segments, and no rainbow effect. The LS100 can be placed just inches from the wall and still produce sharp, life-size images in Full HD resolution up to 10' diagonal.

Product Overview:

The Epson EpiqVision LS300 is a high-quality smart laser projector that delivers stunning picture quality up to 120 inches. It accepts content up to 4K resolution and displays an immersive, bright viewing experience for TV shows, sporting events, gaming, and movies with its full-HD HDR picture. The built-in Android TV provides a latest interface with a simple-to-use remote, including voice search with Google Assistant, allowing you to access all your favorite streaming channels like Hulu, HBO, Disney-plus, YouTube, and more.

The LS300 also features Sound by Yamaha, a custom-designed audiophile 2.1 speaker system that offers a powerful and emotional performance, and can even be used as a standalone speaker when connected via Bluetooth. The ultra-short throw laser array technology produces an exceptional level of brightness while significantly enhancing black density.

How to choose the best short throw projector for your home | Unrivaled Guide 2023

There are a few things you want to keep in mind when choosing which short throw projector is best for your needs. Here is a breakdown of some technical details to keep in mind while shopping.

Types of short-throw projectors

There are two main types of projectors: DLP (digital light processing) and LCD (liquid crystal display). 3D projectors are sometimes marketed as a separate model, the reality is that 3D is simply an ability that most DLP and LCD projectors can support today.

The DLP projectors offer great contrast and tend to be lightweight, which is ideal for portable models. They are also perfect for displaying fast-moving images, and higher quality models, such as 3-chip DLP projectors, offer better image quality.

On the other hand, the LCD projectors project a sharper, brighter, and more vibrant image. The LCD guns tend to offer a better picture, are quieter and more energy-efficient than their DLP counterparts.

There is also a third type of projector, LCoS (liquid crystal on a reflective silicon base), which has all the advantages of DLP and LCD guns. LCoS tend to be very expensive and are available only in the higher range.

With a home theater projector, you can live a movie night in the comfort of your own home. With HD projectors and state-of-the-art technology, you can now enjoy a cinematic experience without sacrificing image quality.

Projection distance

Projection distance is the minimum / maximum distance the projector can reach from a surface to project a desirable image. Short throw projectors are nice because they don't need as much space to display a large image as standard projectors. The average throw distance for a short-throw projector is around 4 feet or 1 meter, although some of the best can project large images at much shorter distances. Our overall choice, for example, can project an image from just over 7 inches away.

Lumen

Brightness is critical for projectors, as it determines how clear the image will be and how dark the room must be to see it properly. Brightness is measured in lumens, although ANSI lumen is a common measure in DLP (digital light processing) projectors.

There is no hard and fast way to measure lumens, so actual lumen rating may vary from model to model. Generally, the most common brightness for dedicated projectors is between 2,500 and 3,200 lumens. Portable projectors are usually much dimmer, but that's largely due to the smaller lighting fixture in the compact form factor.

Resolution

Resolution naturally determines the clarity of the image. This is measured in the same way as on televisions and monitors. However, it is important to read the small print when purchasing a projector. Many boast 4K or 1080p resolutions but refer to the content supported by the projector, different from the native resolution of the projector. Many cheaper projectors will promote HD resolutions, but will only have a native resolution of 840x480 (DVD quality).

Whenever you shop, check the native resolution to get a clear idea of ​​what the image will look like.

Connectivity

Projectors these days usually come with a good amount of ports for connecting Blu-ray players, game consoles, and streaming devices. They are usually essential, even if the projector has a built-in SmartTV interface. These interfaces are generally clunky and outdated, so you'll always have a better experience by connecting an external media device.

You will also need to make sure the projector has audio-out jacks. Projector speakers are generally weak, assuming they have speakers. To get the best experience, we recommend connecting a soundbar or home theater system.

If you want to go wireless, some projectors support AirPlay or Chromecast, although this is far from a universal feature. But you can get any projector to stream video by connecting an AppleTV, Chromecast, or other streaming stick.

Uses of Best Short Throw Projector

The main use of projectors has always been in corporate and educational environments, with almost no use in homes. This trend is changing and more and more people want a home theater projector. The short-throw projectors or short-range is a great option for home use because they allow the issuance of a large image at a really short distance.

They are an excellent alternative to conventional projectors and very useful in cases where we do not want or can place a video projector at a much greater distance with projectors of medium shot or long shot. This echo in addition to the price reduction of short-range projectors makes it a very attractive option to create a cinema experience with really economic projectors.

In case we need to place the projector at a distance still lower than the short-throw projectors, they have ultra-short-throw projectors, which allow the emission of the content on the projection screen to a few centimeters.

Movie at home
These projectors of short or ultrashort distance (short or ultra-short throw) are especially useful in domestic use. If we wanted to generate an image of about 80 inches in our living room, a conventional projector should be at a distance of not less than 2 meters. In most cases, this is difficult, in addition to leaving many wires insight if we have not thought about their installation before.

Where to place the projector

With a short-throw or ultra-short-throw projector, we can place the device in a piece of furniture attached to the wall, with the video projector just above it. This would also avoid the shadows that can be created if someone passes in front of the projector.

TV formats are growing, but nothing can really compare to a home theater projector. If you want an unparalleled cinema feel in the comfort of your living room, investing in a projector is worth it.
In recent years, projector technology has grown by leaps and bounds, and the image quality of the best projectors is now the highest quality TVs. When searching for your new projector, keep the following tips in mind.

Size of the room

This is probably your most important consideration. For starters, if you want to install a projection screen on your wall or paint your wall with a screen finish, make sure you have enough wall space to do it. Alternatively, you can also buy a portable screen or drop-down that will be attached to the ceiling.

The size of the room will help to determine the projection ratio. The projection ratio determines how far the projector should be from the screen. Most ordinary projectors need to be at least 10 feet away, but if you do not have much space, there are short focal length models that work a few meters away from the screen.

Also, think about how far you will be from the image, as it can be uncomfortable and difficult for the eyes if you have to sit a few meters away from it.