The 12 Best Ultra Short Throw Projectors for That Cinema Feel at Home

Your lack of space between the end of your bed and the wall probably got you here, so I won’t explain in detail what an ultra short throw projector is. It helps you to project the image onto the screen from a short distance.

In this review, we gathered the best projectors on the market from independent media outlets, review articles, and Amazon to help you with your purchasing decision. Take a look and decide which ultra short throw projector you can buy from under $500 and up.

Things to Consider

Purchasing an ultra short throw projector isn’t exactly an experience such as buying a new house, but there are definitely some things you should consider before deciding to purchase a specific model since you can cash out up to 6k on a projector.

1. Short throw vs. ultra short throw

First, take a look at how much space you have between the screen and the projector. You’ll need between three and eight feet of space to be able to watch a 100-inch screen or larger. It’s why it’s called a short-throw. On the other hand, there’s an ultra short throw, for which you’ll need three to twenty inches of space between the device and the wall. Either way, you can use both types where you’re short on space.

2. Connectivity

Next, ensure that the device has the type of connection you need to pair it to your device. For example, if you were thinking of gaming, make sure there’s an HDMI (most of the projectors have it, anyway.)

Also, if you were thinking about pairing it with older devices, make sure there’s an analog connectivity option.

3. Resolution

Another element to look for is the resolution. Nobody likes to watch a pixelated movie these days. It simply shouldn’t be an option. The higher the resolution, the better.

However, make sure you’re not considering the cheapest 1080p since it will most likely give you a lesser quality than that. In this case, it’s safer to opt for a 720p in the mid-price range.

4. Brightness

There’s another thing you should consider when buying a short throw projector. It’s the amount of brightness. Brightness is measured in lumens. If you plan to watch a movie in a dark room, anywhere from 200 to 1000 lumens should be enough bright.

Still, if you plan to have light in the room, look for at least 2500 lumens since the source will have to emit more brightness to compete with the room’s lighting.

5. Price

Some people think short-throw projectors are cheap devices. However, they could cost you anywhere between $200 to $6000. So, although there are cheaper ones in the market, they probably won’t last as long as the mid-range or high-range projectors.

Nonetheless, we managed to pick a couple of them in any price range that have good specs and will work just fine for years to come.

QUICK OVERVIEW

The Best Short Throw Projectors

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Products	Features
EDITOR’S PICK 4.5 160+ 160+ BenQ TK800MBenQ TK800M	Resolution: 4096×2160 3,000 lumens PRICE RANGE: Under $1500 Resolution: 4096×2160 3,000 lumens PRICE RANGE: Under $1500 Check price at Amazon
MOST REVIEWED 4.5 395+ 395+ VAVA 4K UHDVAVA 4K UHD	Resolution: 4096×2160 6,000 lumens PRICE RANGE: Under $3000 Resolution: 4096×2160 6,000 lumens PRICE RANGE: Under $3000 Check price at Amazon
TOP PICK 3.9 20+ 20+ LG HU85LALG HU85LA	Resolution: 3840×2160 2,700 lumens PRICE RANGE: Under $5000 Resolution: 3840×2160 2,700 lumens PRICE RANGE: Under $5000 Check price at Amazon
BUDGET PICK 4.4 295+ 295+ ASUS S1ASUS S1	Resolution 854×480 200 lumens PRICE RANGE: Under $500 Resolution 854×480 200 lumens PRICE RANGE: Under $500 Check price at Amazon
BUDGET PICK 4.2 160+ 160+ Optoma GT5600Optoma GT5600	Resolution: 1920×1080 3,600 lumens PRICE RANGE: Under $1500 Resolution: 1920×1080 3,600 lumens PRICE RANGE: Under $1500 Check price at Amazon

Under $500

ASUS S1 Portable Projector

The ASUS S1 is the first on the list. Although this one has little lumens compared to the rest of the projectors here, it’s the perfect device for personal use since it weighs less than a pound and fits in the palm of your hand.

The S1 has 200 lumens of brightness and the WVGA 854×480 resolution, which is enough to give you a solid image on your wall, whether you’re gaming or watching a late-night movie. Moreover, the 6,000 mAh rechargeable battery will give you up to 3 hours of continuous use and can power your mobile devices as a power bank.

You can connect it via HDMI or MHL port to your devices. The ASUS Sonic Master built-in speaker delivers a solid sound for this tiny projector. All in all, this one is an excellent option for those on a budget.

Under $1500

Optoma GT5600 Ultra Short Throw Projector

The Optoma GT5600 is a little different than the previous model. It boasts 3,600 lumens of brightness and offers clear and detailed visuals with the 20,000:1 contrast ratio. It has the same resolution as the GT1080HDR, but this model has some advanced features.

For example, it can go wireless with the Optoma HDCast Pro 1080p HDMI MHL Multimedia Stick and has a 16-Watt speaker that delivers crisp sounds when gaming or watching a movie.

The lamp will last you up to 15,000 hours, meaning you won’t have to worry about how long the device will last. Also, You can add the optional HDCast Pro for screen mirroring and streaming via Wi-Fi. Note that this one is sold separately.

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BenQ TK800M Short Throw Projector

The BenQ TK800M is another great ultra short throw for a real cinema feel at home. It boasts a 4K UHD image quality and gives you 3,000 lumens of brightness that give you enough light to be able to watch it in a lighter setting. Moreover, the Eco setting gives you more life hours of your lamp.

The projection distance of 10 to 11 inches gives you 92 inches on the screen, but you can also move it away up to 17 inches to make a bigger image if you have more space later. Also, this model has a 5-Watt speaker system that enables you to enjoy the sounds when you watch your favorite sports match.

The projector comes with the remote, the power cord, the lens cover, the user manual, and the Quick Start Guide.

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LG HF65LA Ultra Short Throw Projector

The HF65LA from LG gives you a 100-inch image with only a few inches away from the screen in 1080p. This convenient short throw projector offers 1,000 lumens of brightness and it is extremely easy to set up. 

The 4-corner keystone technology, the HF65LA adjusts all of the four corners of the image to align it perfectly. But what stands out the most on this model is the quality of the sound. It delivers crisp and clear sound that you can play on your headphones or home audio speakers via Bluetooth.

It gives an incredible 30,000 lamp light hours, which is one times more than the previous models. The HF65LA is LG Smart TV compatible and can wirelessly screen-share content from other devices.

Under $2000

LG HF85LA Ultra Short Throw

The HF85LA Ultra Short Throw from LG is a smart short throw that you can control with the LG Smart TV Platform. It gives you the real cinema experience with only 8 inches away from the screen, making it perfect for tight spaces.

The HF85LA boasts 1,500 lumens of brightness and 20,000 hours of lamp lifespan which ensures you can watch your favorite series for years to come. Moreover, you can watch it wirelessly through your Android smartphone or your tablet when you connect the two devices.

This projector has a 150,000:1 contrast ratio which produces excellent image quality and it projects a 120-inch image.

The HF85LA works with 2 AAA batteries and you can link an external speaker via Bluetooth compatible audio system.  Also, this one is a breeze to set up. A real value for money.

Under $3000

Epson Home Cinema LS100

With the Epson Home Cinema LS100, we’re getting into more expensive territory. This ultra short throw projector boasts an incredible 4,000 lumens which will definitely light up, even in the brightest conditions.

The Epson Home Cinema LS100, as the name says, is a real home cinema. It has a Full HD resolution and offers an easy image setup, allowing it to be off-center. Moreover, the lamp will give you 20,000 hours, which is more than enough to give you a seamless viewing experience for years to come.

You can connect this ultra short throw one to various devices, such as media players, gaming consoles, and other HDMI devices: Firestick and Apple TV, or Google Chromecast. It also has a contrast ratio up to 2,500,000:1 which delivers a stunning image.

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ViewSonic LS810 Ultra Short Throw Projector

Although the last model was a real deal, there are better ones on the market. The LS810, for example, has some stronger features than the previous one. It has 5,200 lumens of brightness, which means it will display a bright image even in the brightest conditions.

It’s ideal for business and education purposes with limited space since it can project a 1280×800 WXGA image across the entire wall. Moreover, the laser projector has a lamp life of 20,000 hours and a 100,000:1 contrast ratio, designed to give you an excellent image at any time.

The PortAll feature is among the cooler ones on this device. It enables you to stream your content from a wireless dongle or connect to other devices via an HDMI cable. Also, there’s the micro USB cable that enables you to power micro USB-enabled devices.

It works with virtually any device and it comes with an HDMI and VGA cable, as well as WXGA power cable. With this one, you’ll get 3-year limited parts and labor coverage.

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VAVA 4K UHD Ultra Short Throw Projector

The VAVA 4K UHD can cast a 100-inch image on the screen from just 7.2 inches away. This little short throw is an excellent addition to your limited space. What’s best about it is that it delivers a 4K image – just like you’re at the cinema.

The 1,500,000:1 native contrast ratio and the 25,000 hours of lamp battery life ensure you the movie-theater experience each time you turn it on. This projector has an integrated Harman Kardon soundbar that gives you the crisp sound with 60 watts of power.

The 6,000 lumens of brightness will light up in an already bright room, while the Bluetooth, USB, Triple HDMI, Wi-Fi, and Optical connectivity ensure a hassle-free setup.

Under $4000

Optoma CinemaX P2 Smart 4K UHD

The Optoma CinemaX P2 Smart 4K UHD is a real piece of equipment. This ultra short throw boasts an incredible 3,000 lumens of brightness and delivers a 3840×2160 resolution and a 120-inch image from 14 inches away.

The CinemaX P2 is perfect for professional use, such as in presentations and meetings. It offers HDMI and USB input options and its lamp life is around 30,000 hours, so you’ll get plenty of watch time with this one.

This one isn’t wireless and rechargeable like the previous one, but it compensates for that by giving you the dynamic contrast ratio of 200,000:1 and more than enough lumens to display an extremely bright image, even in the brightest room settings.

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Optoma CinemaX P1 4K UHD Ultra Short Throw Projector

The Optoma CinemaX P1 4K UHD is a 3,000-lumens, true 4K device made to deliver the perfect image to the screen. Its 1,500,000:1 contrast ratio paired with a wide color gamut ensure you have vivid colors each time you turn the projector on.

Just like the previous models, this one has lots of lamp light hours. 30,000, to say precisely. That means you can stream your favorite TV shows and play your favorite games for the next few years.

The P1 4K can stream 120-inch images from 15 inches away, while its 40-watt NuForce soundbar gives you the perfect crisp sounds any time you use it. Moreover, it’s Alexa and Google Assistant-enabled and aligns with all four corners with the SmartFIT correction app.

You can pair other smart devices with your Optoma, making this a real smart home experience.

Under $5000

Hisense 100L10E

With Hisense 100L10E, we’re at the high-end spectrum of short throws. This laser projector comes with a movie-theater technology that delivers razor-sharp 4K Ultra HD images and incredibly vibrant colors. 

The 100L10E can be placed only 8 inches away from the screen for a 120-inch image. You can control it with your voice with the help of Alexa and the remote control you get with it. As with the previous two, the sound on this Hisense has dbx-tv sound effects that you can hear through 4 embedded 40-watt Harman Kardon speakers and a 60-watt wireless subwoofer.

It has 3,000 lumens of brightness that provide you with a bright image even in the brightest conditions. The enhanced spectrum with over a billion colors will give you the image you only could previously see in cinemas.

The best thing about it? It comes with a screen. Moreover, this one is backed by a 2-year manufacturer’s limited warranty, so no more worries about the hardware.

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LG HU85LA

Lastly, there’s the most expensive projector on the list, the HU85LA from LG. This one boasts a 4K UHD display and delivers 2,700 lumens of brightness, which is significantly less than the previous models. Still, this one has excellent features in other domains.

It can display a 120-inch image onto the screen from just 7.2 inches away. Also, it is Alexa, as well as Google Assistant-enabled, so you can control it via a remote. The 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio deliver vivid images, while the minimalist design will fit into every contemporary household.

The HU85LA has a built-in speaker system and effective dynamic HDR10 tone-mapping. If you’re on a budget, it would be best to skip this one as is lacks HLG HDR compatibility.

Conclusion

What a while ago almost nobody knew about is now becoming the must-have device in any modern household. Short throw projectors are genius tools to convert your home into a cinematic haven. Whether you’re ready to cash out $500 or $6000, a short throw is a perfect addition to your date night in setup.