Low lag projectors good for casual gaming and playing games with friends and family
This category includes budget-friendly gaming projectors that are zippy, but not necessarily the fastest units in market. This type of gaming projector would be great for families with small children and people who like to play collaboratively with friends.
BenQ GS50
Price
$799
Brightness
500 ANSI lumens
Technology
DLP with LED light source
Native Resolution
1920 x1080
Light Source Lifespan
20,000 Hours)
Input lag
1080p@60HZ
Sound
2 x 5W + 1x 10W 2.1 CH treVolo designed
The GS50 is a smart all-in-one Full HD (1920 x 1080p) portable DLP projector. BenQ rates the brightness of the GS50 at 500 ANSI lumens. The LED light source is rated to last up to 20,000 hours on Normal Mode and 30,000 hours on ECO Mode. In addition, the GS50 has a built-in battery that is rated to last up to 2.5 hours.
The GS50 has a worry-free durable design that is ergonomically designed for a rugged and active lifestyle. The GS50 is IPX2 splash-resistant, with light splashes being channeled out of the projector and splash-resistant film protecting the speakers. An IPX2 rating means the GS50 can resist water that hits the projector at a 15° angle or less. The testing for an IPX2 rating includes a test duration of 10 minutes and a water equivalent to 3mm rainfall per minute. The projector is also 2.3-foot drop-resistant thanks to its double protection of a 1mm-thick water-resistant TPU inner layer and a drop-resistant outer resin. The BenQ GS50 has a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $799.
The XGIMI Halo+ is an Full HD (1080p) portable smart projector with a built-in 59W battery rated to last up to two hours. The Halo is rated at 800 ANSI lumens, and XGIMI stated at the time, the Halo was the brightest projector in its class. Well, the Halo+ just took over the throne with its rated brightness of 900 NASI lumens.
The Halo+ has Intelligent Screen Adaption Technology (ISA) and Auto Keystone Correction, allowing the projector to instantly focus and find an optimal screen size while avoiding obstacles like light switches or picture frames. The Halo has Auto Keystone Correction but not the Intelligent Screen Adaption Technology, meaning the Halo will not avoid obstacles. The Halo+ and Halo both have dual 5-watt built-in Harman Kardon speakers that emit clean, distortion-free Hi-Fi sound with ample bass response.
The simple plug-and-play capability of the Halo+ is simply outstanding; it practically sets itself up once powered on. This portable projector is a noticeable improvement over the Halo, which is an impressive portable projector with a built-in battery. The Halo+, with advanced technology, makes it well worth the additional $59 it cost over the Halo.
The games tested on the Halo+ played exactly as they should. There was no significant input lag while playing games on the Halo+. XGIMI states 1080p@60Hz input lag (signal lag) is at 26.5 milliseconds.
The Sony VPL-XW5000ES is a 2000-lumen native 4K home theater laser projector that retails for $6,000. The XW5000ES, which is Sony’s entry-level 4K home theater, is the least expensive native 4K 3-chip LCOS projector on the market.
The Sony XW5000ES is the successor of the highly-rated VPL-VW325ES ($5500 SRP), which we reviewed last year. All of Sony’s current lineup up of 4K home theater projectors, including the XW5000ES, utilize a Z-Phosphor laser light source. The laser light source has a rated life of 20,000 hours which results in years of nearly maintenance-free operation.
To maximize the gaming experience, the XW5000ES includes a Low Latency Game Mode. When this mode is engaged, the projector switches off most of its video processing to dramatically reduce game lag.
Sony quotes 27ms input lag when playing content in 4K@60fps and just 16ms gaming in Full HD@120fps. We measured 4K/60p at 28ms and 1080/120p at 17ms, which will satisfy most gamers.
The Hisense L9G Laser TV is a Tricolor laser-equipped smart 4K ultra-short-throw projector with a brightness rated at 3,000 ANSI lumens. The L9G is great as a gaming projector and the Game Mode on the Hisense L9G is a massive movie screen experience. While the L9G input lag is slightly higher than most of the projectors on this list it includes several HDMI 2.1 that enhance game play.
Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), or Game mode, lets gaming systems automatically switch to a low-latency, low-lag mode. When low latency is no longer needed, the source disables the signal, and the display reverts to its previous mode for watching content such as movies and TV shows.
When you turn on the L9G Game Mode, input lag is reduced to about 35ms when playing at 60fps. This is fast enough to make gaming on the L9G feel tight and responsive. Since the L9G is equipped with ALLM, the L9G's game mode is triggered automatically by a PS5 or Xbox Series X as soon as gaming content is detected,
Variable Frame Rate (VFR) where the projector's displayed frame rates to match the speed that a game systems render frames during gameplay which reduces judder and frame tearing.
HDMI Quick Frame Transport (QFT) reduces latency for smoother no-lag gaming and real-time, interactive, virtual reality. QFT transports each frame at a higher rate decreasing "display latency," improving the responsiveness of games.
While the L9G has HDMI inputs that can accept a 4K/120p, due to the speed of the DLP imager, the maximum displayed frame rate in 4K is 60fps. The L9G can display HD content at frame rates up to 240fps which Hisense claims an input lag of just 10ms.
While the XGIMI Horizon Ultra retails for just $1699, it includes several advanced technologies that are currently not available on more expensive competitor's projectors. One of the most interesting technologies utilized in the Horizon Ultra is its newly developed light source.
XGIMI stated that three factors impact picture quality in projectors: brightness, color accuracy, and color gamut. Bright projectors often struggle to reproduce accurate colors. While RGBB LED projectors can reproduce a vast array of colors accurately, they are usually not very bright. Tri-laser projectors can deliver high brightness and a wide range of colors but often produce noticeable color fringing and speckle.
The Dual-Light technology in the XGIMI Ultra combines an RGBB LED with a red laser to produce a bright, color-accurate image. The Horizon Ultra is XGIMI's brightest display to date. XGIMI states that the Horizon Ultra can deliver 2300 ISO Lumens, which is 77% brighter than its predecessor, the HORIZON Pro, while delivering class-leading color accuracy.
