I didn’t plan to ditch my TV. It was big, it worked, and it made Netflix look fine. But after dragging one too many consoles across the floor just to rearrange my setup for the hundredth time, I started wondering why I was working around a screen when I could just... Project one.
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That’s where short-throw projectors come in. You don’t need a fancy setup. You don’t need a screen. Hell, you barely need distance. These things sit a couple feet or even inches from the wall and throw out massive, surprisingly gorgeous images that make your TV feel like a relic. I picked out a bunch, some cheap, some overkill - and found the ones that actually turn your wall into something worth watching. Let's take a look.
6 Optoma GT2000HDR
I'm going to start our list off with the most budget-friendly pick I could find - The Optima GT2000. It throws a 100-inch image from just 3.3 feet away, and Optoma rates it at 3,500 ANSI lumens. It's native 1080p, which might sound dated, but it'll accept your 4K HDR content and downscale it, so everything looks fine.
Gamers will be happy with the 8.6ms lag at 1080p120, and the thing only weighs 6.6 pounds and fits in an 11×8.5×4.5 inch footprint, so you could literally pack it for vacation if you wanted. Power draw stays reasonable at 100W in Eco mode, and the fan noise won't drive you crazy.
Now, the 15W mono speaker sounds about as good as you'd expect from something built into a projector, and you're stuck with basic Rec. 709 colors instead of the wider gamuts that make HDR content really pop. But honestly, for getting into short-throw without selling organs, this thing works.
5 LG CineBeam HU915QB
Here's where LG did something smart instead of just making everything brighter. They split their UST lineup into two models - the HU915QE focuses on raw lumens while this QB version focuses on getting colors absolutely perfect. The 3-channel RGB laser setup delivers full 100% DCI-P3 coverage, which is something the brighter model can't match because it trades some color accuracy for those extra lumens.
The CineBeam comes with a 3,000 ANSI lumen rating, and 0.19:1 throw ratio which means that you can get a projection of 100 inches from just 3.9 inches off your wall. The whole unit weighs 27 pounds and comes in this understated matte black finish that doesn't scream "expensive projector" when people come over.
WebOS 6.0 means you get the full smart TV experience with Netflix, Apple TV+, Disney+, plus AirPlay 2 if you're stuck in Apple's ecosystem. The 40W speakers actually sound great for built-in audio, but they still struggle with bass (like pretty much every projector ever made).
Gaming isn't really this thing's forte - you're looking at around 67ms lag, so maybe stick to RPGs instead of competitive shooters. What makes the QB special is the calibration support - it works with professional Calman AutoCal systems, so video nerds can dial in reference-quality color accuracy that rivals studio monitors.
4 Samsung LSP9T "The Premiere"
Samsung went all-in on the movie experience with this one, and you can tell from the moment you see that RGB triple-laser setup in action. This one covers about 108 % BT.2020 volume (and ~147 % DCI-P3), and the 2,800 ANSI lumens aren't the highest on this list, but they're still enough for rooms where you can control the lighting a bit.
The ultra-short throw gets you 130 inches from just 9 inches off the wall. Samsung really aimed this at movie buffs with Filmmaker Mode and HDR10+ support, plus a built-in 4.2-channel 40W sound system that can pair with their Q-Symphony soundbars for some interesting surround sound tricks. Tizen OS brings all the smart features you'd expect, including voice control through Alexa, Google Assistant, and Samsung's own Bixby if you're into that.
Here's the thing though - placement has to be absolutely perfect because there's no lens shift or zoom to save you if you're off by even a little bit. Samsung includes an auto-setup routine to help, but you'll probably end up measuring everything twice anyway. Again, the gaming lag sits around 55ms, so competitive gamers should look elsewhere.
3 BenQ X500i
BenQ looked at the projector market and said "what if we made one specifically for gamers?" And this is what they came up with. The 4-LED RGBB light engine completely eliminates rainbow artifacts since there's no spinning color wheel to create them in the first place. More importantly, for competitive gaming, input lag drops to just 4.2ms at 1080p240Hz and 16ms at 4K60, with Auto Game Mode that automatically detects when you plug in Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo Switch.
The 1.2x optical zoom plus digital shift gives you some flexibility in placement - you can hit 100 inches from about 6 to 7 feet away, which is way more forgiving than those fixed-lens projectors that need millimeter precision.
It also has 84% DCI-P3 color coverage (2200 lumens), which's pretty impressive for an LED-based projector. The Android TV 11 dongle is Google-certified, though Netflix still requires some sideloading tricks that aren't too hard to figure out. The USB-C input works with DisplayPort alt-mode, so you can connect laptops directly without adapters.
2 ViewSonic X2-4K
This has the distinction of being the world's first "Designed for Xbox" projector, which means it passed Microsoft's 63-test certification program - though honestly, that's more of a marketing thing than something that affects daily use. The gaming performance matches the BenQ with 4.2ms lag at 1080p240Hz, 2000 lumens, and 16ms at 4K60, so competitive gamers get what they need.
The throw ratio of 0.69-0.83:1 with 1.2x zoom works well for 80-120-inch screens in rooms where you can control the lighting somewhat. Throw in the Harman Kardon 12W stereo speakers and HDMI eARC support for external audio systems, and we have a decent pick.
The Aptoide smart platform is pretty limited compared to proper Android TV or webOS, so most people end up connecting an Xbox or Fire TV anyway, which kind of defeats the purpose of having smart features built in. The cooling system can get aggressive when HDR content pushes the LEDs hard - fan noise spikes to 39dBA, which can be a pain for some people.
1 XGIMI Aura 2
This model is interesting because it brings a bunch of premium features without the premium price tag that usually comes with them. The Dual-Light 2.0 laser hybrid delivers 2,300 ISO lumens (which translates to roughly 2,600 ANSI lumens) with 99% DCI-P3 color coverage that rivals projectors costing twice as much.
What really sets this apart is being the first UST projector with both Dolby Vision and IMAX Enhanced certification, so HDR content actually maps correctly instead of blowing out highlights like some cheaper models tend to do. The 0.177:1 throw ratio gets you 100 inches from just over 7 inches off the wall.
The Intelligent Screen Adaptation system handles autofocus, keystone correction, wall color compensation, and can even mask off areas that aren't part of your screen automatically - it's like having a tech installer built into the projector. The 60W front-firing Harman Kardon soundbar actually goes toe-to-toe with some mid-range external bars, which is impressive considering it's built into the projector housing.
Power consumption stays efficient at 180W in normal mode, which is pretty good for this class of projector. Gaming lag sits around 20ms, which is fine for casual gaming but not quite a competitive level.
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FAQ
Q: Do I need a screen, or can I just point it at my wall and hope for the best?
Technically, your wall will work. If it’s flat, white, and not textured like popcorn ceiling. But if you want that crispy contrast and better brightness in the daytime, a proper ALR screen makes a huge difference. Not essential, but definitely the upgrade path.
Q: What’s the difference between short-throw and ultra-short-throw?
Short-throw projectors sit a few feet from the wall. Ultra-short-throw projectors sit basically on it. Like, inches away. If you're dealing with tight space or just hate seeing wires, UST is the move.
Q: Will this replace my TV for everything?
If “everything” means Netflix, gaming, movie nights, and the occasional YouTube rabbit hole, then yeah, it absolutely can. Just remember that most projectors still aren't amazing at handling news channels at 7AM with sunlight pouring in.