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Ultra-short-throw (UST) projectors are often marketed as TV replacements because they can deliver a massive image from a very short distance and have a footprint smaller than any TV. It’s hard not to be intrigued by the idea of swapping out a burdensome big-screen TV for a small box and still getting a 100-inch image. But the truth is, these are still projectors, and expensive ones at that. After testing four UST projectors at varying prices and performance levels, we’ve concluded that the vast majority of people are better off getting either a large TV or a traditional projector. You’ll either get better performance or spend less—oftentimes both.

Using special lenses and mirrors, an ultra-short-throw projector can create a very large image on a screen or wall from a very short distance, so it fits in rooms where a traditional projector can’t. Most projectors require roughly 1 inch of distance from the wall for every inch of diagonal screen size. For a 100-inch image, you’ll need at least 8 to 10 feet between the screen and the projector. UST projectors can create the same size image just a foot or so away from the screen. They are designed to sit on a tabletop or shelf placed right near the wall, so you don’t have to mount them on the ceiling or find a convenient place behind your couch.

UST projectors are an extreme version of short-throw projectors. Traditional short-throw projectors like the one we recommend in our budget projector guide often look like big-lensed versions of their non-short-throw counterparts and are designed to fit the space in between UST and traditional projectors. If you imagine a traditional projector at the back of a room and a UST projector in the front next to the screen, a short-throw projector would be halfway between them. The exact distance varies, but generally a short-throw model is designed for placement on a coffee table between the couch and the wall or screen.

More affordable 1080p UST projectors, such as the Optoma GT5600, use DLP projection technology and a traditional lamp bulb to create the image, whereas more-expensive, 4K-friendly models, like the Epson LS500 or the Sony VPL-VZ1000ES, use LCD or LCoS technology and lasers as the light source. Companies such as Epson and Hisense also offer complete packages that pair their UST projectors with matching ambient-light-rejecting (ALR) screens, usually in a 100- or 120-inch size. These systems include everything you need to get up and running, taking the guesswork out of pairing a projector with a screen. (We discuss the importance of the screen below.)

While it seems UST projectors would be easier to set up and use than a traditional projector, the truth is a bit more complex. They are easier, but not exactly easy.

Placement is crucial—and unforgiving. Every UST projector comes with exact placement distances that you can’t change even slightly, so it’s vital to download the owner’s manual from the manufacturer’s website beforehand to verify the installation dimensions. To create, say, a 100-inch image, the projector must be an exact distance both from the wall or screen and below the height of the bottom of the screen. If you imagined placing the projector on top of your existing TV stand, that’s likely too high. The bottom of the image will be over a foot above the top of the stand, and the top of a 100-inch-diagonal image will be roughly 64 inches above that. Depending on the height of your TV stand, the top of the image might literally be on the ceiling. You can’t adjust this without reducing image quality.

Beyond the question of whether the image will fit on your wall or screen, there’s also the question of image height: Is the center of the screen now so high that you need to look up at the image? This could be as bad as mounting your TV too high, potentially causing neck strain and generally uncomfortable viewing, akin to sitting in the front row of a movie theater.

If you’re starting from scratch, installation might be a bit easier, since you can buy or build a stand that’s the necessary height. As you might imagine, that height needs to be fairly low. With most rooms and projectors, we’re talking less than 2 feet off the floor. If you have small children, this could be a problem for several reasons. The first is that the UST lens is on the top of the projector, practically begging for fingerprints or spills. Plus, many UST projectors use laser light sources because that technology is extremely bright and helps the projector create vibrant images. However, it’s bad for your eyes to look directly at any laser (the light reflected off the screen is fine). As such, the projectors have sensors that detect when you’re too close and turn off the laser. Anyone wandering nearby will cut the image, and wee ones might be able to get close enough and at an angle to see the bright kaleidoscope of colors—something to keep in mind.

Another setup consideration is that even slight misalignment of any of the projector’s corners can result in highly noticeable keystone issues, which is to say UST projectors are extremely susceptible to producing trapezoidal-shaped images. Most UST projectors have two or more adjustable feet to help you align the chassis with the wall, but they have far fewer manual lens adjustments (like lens shifting and zoom) than many similarly priced traditional projectors. Most of them do have electronic keystone adjustment, which digitally shifts the image to correct the shape, but this reduces the number of pixels used to create the image and thus reduces resolution and image clarity. It’s a shame to pay more for a 4K resolution, only to lose the benefits in order to set up the image properly.

Finally, to get the best performance out of a UST projector, you need to mount a rigid screen on your wall (see below); the use of retractable, portable, and temporary screens isn’t ideal because of the finicky placement requirements we just described. This takes the installation beyond an “easy TV replacement,” especially if the main reason you’re considering a UST projector is because you don’t want to drill holes to mount a traditional projector on your ceiling—which, to be clear, is only one way to install a traditional projector. I’ve used projectors as my main display for years, none of which have been mounted on the ceiling.

To get the most out of any projector, you need a screen. This is perhaps even more important with UST projectors, since it’s obvious that companies expect people to use them with the lights on. The purpose of any screen is to provide a uniformly smooth surface to reflect the light of a projector. Most screens are coated with materials that can focus more of this light back to where you sit, resulting in an even brighter image than with a non-treated surface. Figuring out the best screen to go with a UST projector is beyond the scope of this guide, as there are dozens of varieties. But we did test an ALR screen, which is specifically intended for use in a brighter room. The results were interesting and largely positive.

An ALR screen is designed to focus the light coming at you from the projector while simultaneously absorbing or reflecting all other light away from you. From certain angles, these screens appear almost black when there’s no image being projected on them.

We tested an ALR screen and a traditional matte-white screen side by side with the lights on and off, and there was a significant improvement in contrast ratio with the former. In instances where the image looked extremely washed out on the traditional screen, it was completely watchable with the ALR screen. So if you’re considering a UST projector, you should absolutely consider an ALR screen to go with it for the most “TV-like” experience.

That said, no projector or screen looks as good with the lights on as with the lights off. This is simple physics. Yes, a bright projector and an ALR screen can help, but the energy hitting the screen has to go somewhere, and a lot of that somewhere is your eyeballs. The image will look more washed out than it would in a dark room. If you expect to watch content during the day with the curtains open, you shouldn’t consider any projector. UST projectors and ALR screens aren’t magic—they’re just slightly better at functioning under bright conditions compared with traditional projectors.

We tested four UST projectors to get an idea of performance across a range of prices. Our two big-picture takeaways (pun intended) are: 1) If you want the brightest UST projector to actually compete with a big-screen TV, be prepared to pay a lot more; and 2) Because of all the additional optics required to project a huge image near-vertically, these projectors’ contrast ratios take a hit compared with those of traditional projectors.

All the models we tested are HDR-capable projectors that support a 4K signal and use a laser light source, allowing for faster on/off functions and removing the need to buy replacement bulbs for a projector lamp. They all include onboard TV-streaming services, and the Hisense model even has a TV tuner to pull in over-the-air signals from an antenna (not included). Some come with a screen, and all have built-in speakers. In our testing we found that the speakers sounded a bit better than what you typically get from projector speakers, due in part to the larger cabinet sizes of these UST models. But don’t expect miracles. As with most TVs, you’re better off pairing the projector with a soundbar or external speakers. For that purpose, all the models we tested offer HDMI-ARC, plus some combination of analog, digital, and Bluetooth audio output.

Vava VA-LT002: At $2,800, Vava’s VA-LT002 DLP projector is one of the less expensive 4K laser UST projectors available right now, but it sacrifices light output to get to that lower price. It’s rated at 1,800 lumens of light output, which is about half as bright as the other projectors we tested; consequently, the Vava lacks overall punch, comparatively speaking. You can’t turn off the dynamic contrast option, which reduces the laser brightness with darker images. This happens fast enough that it’s not objectionable, but it speaks to the fact that the Vava has fewer picture adjustments overall than the other projectors we tried. Subjectively, its image contrast doesn’t look much different, so on the whole the picture quality isn’t bad. But its high point is definitely its lower cost. The VA-LT002 doesn’t come with a screen but is otherwise fully featured, with three HDMI ports (one with ARC), the Android 7.1 OS, analog and digital audio outputs, and Bluetooth.

BenQ V7050i: Of the UST projectors we looked at, the $3,300 BenQ V7050i had one of the more clever designs. It features retractable measuring tools that help you position the projector at the correct distance from the wall or screen, and the motorized top panel slides open to reveal the lens, like the roof of a fancy sports stadium. This 4K DLP projector has a rated light output of 2,500 lumens. In terms of performance, in our testing it was brighter than the Vava, almost as bright as the Hisense L9G, and a little less bright than the Epson LS500. The V7050i had the best native contrast ratio of the bunch, so its image had a bit more depth and deeper blacks—though its contrast was not as good as that of BenQ’s own far cheaper, standard-throw HT2050A, our favorite budget projector. As far as UST projectors go, however, the V7050i is a solid performer with a relatively decent price. While it does not come with a screen, it does have an Android TV adapter, two HDMI outputs (one with ARC), and a digital audio output.

Epson LS500: One of the more expensive UST projection systems, the LS500 can be purchased with either a 100-inch or 120-inch screen for $5,000 or $6,000, respectively. It was the brightest projector we tested, with a claimed light output of 4,000 lumens. Like the majority of Epson projectors, it uses three LCD chips to create its image. Unlike the sleek single-box designs of most UST projectors, the LS500 has a little hat on top that holds the wide-angle lens. Performance-wise, the LS500 looks similar to other recent Epson projectors I’ve tested in its ability to deliver an exceptionally bright, colorful image. But the contrast ratio is far lower than what I’ve measured on those traditional Epson projectors. For example, I recently reviewed the Epson Home Cinema LS11000 for CNET, which also uses a laser light source. While the LS500 is a bit brighter, it has less than half the contrast ratio. There is some light bleed on the bottom of the image from the lens, but that’s common with UST projectors. It’s fairly noisy in full-brightness mode, as are most of its competitors. Overall, the image quality is fine for UST projectors, but the LS500’s biggest strength is its exceptional light output. It runs on Android TV via an included dongle, features three HDMI inputs (one with ARC), and has an analog audio output.

The short answer is this: If you really want a big-screen image (100 inches or larger) and have the space in your room to use a traditional projector, you’ll get better performance for far less money compared with a UST projector. Check out our guides to the best budget projector and the best projector for a living room for some of our brighter recommendations. The setup required isn’t that much more difficult. If you don’t want to mount one on your ceiling, many projectors can be placed on a shelf or stand behind a sofa. You still need a screen, but you can pick from a wider variety of options, including less conspicuous pull-down or portable models.

Sure, there are some situations in which a UST projector would work better. Perhaps your ceiling is too high, the depth of the room is too short, or you live in a rental where drilling into the walls and ceiling is forbidden. In those cases—or if most of your viewing is during the day—you should just get a 4K TV. All big-screen TVs are brighter than any projector, look better with the lights on, and in most cases actually create a better image overall than a similarly priced projector.

For the kind of money you’d spend on a UST projector, you can get a massive television. If your room is too narrow for a traditional projector and you can’t mount a regular short-throw projector, you’re probably sitting close enough to the screen that an 80-inch TV will look enormous. True, this isn’t the 100-plus inches you get with a projector, but an 80- to 85-inch TV is pretty huge and costs less than the better UST projectors we tried. You could get a 77-inch OLED for even less money, which will get you some of the best picture quality on the market, hands down.

For the record, we are big fans of projectors. I’ve used a projector as my main “TV” for nearly 20 years. But they aren’t, and never will be, as easy to use and live with as a TV. Even with the brightest projector and an ambient-light-rejecting screen, image quality will suffer during the day or with the lights on. If you watch TV and movies mostly at night and don’t mind keeping the lights low or off, a projection system can be a great everyday solution. But UST projectors simply cost too much without delivering a clear benefit in return.

Like fireflies and fireworks, movies under the stars make for magically memorable summer nights. But if your town or city doesn’t already host nighttime screenings, you can bring the drive-in to your own backyard—minus the Hollywood budget. To inspire your DIY outdoor movie screen, keep reading to see five of our favorite designs, any of which you can build in one weekend using the material suggestions that follow. Get the popcorn ready, lay a blanket on the grass, and enjoy the double feature!

With a few materials you likely already have on hand and a little ingenuity, you can whip up an easy-to-assemble (and disassemble) outdoor projector screen for your backyard. Here are a few of our favorite designs.

“And the Oscar goes to” white bed sheets for being the least demanding of all DIY outdoor movie screen materials. If you’ve got spare linens, simply clip a queen-sized, ironed-flat sheet to tall hedges or the side of your house. That’s it! Now you’ve got an instant outdoor movie screen for projecting your favorite flicks.

For a larger, sturdier movie screen, build a pair of wooden posts with help from the step-by-step directions available at Instructables. To stabilize the posts, secure each one with ropes and stakes. Finally, stretch a white tarp (or a blackout cloth) between the two, before locking the material in position with either staples or nails. Or, as shown in the photo, mount a retractable outdoor projector screen for a true drive-in movie feel.

In a woodsy backyard, use the trees to create a wonderfully whimsical DIY outdoor movie screen. First, suspend a rope from one tree to its most conveniently positioned neighbor. Next, hang the “screen” from the rope. The 2 Seasons created a similar setup, then took it step further by framing the projection area between wine-color drapes.

Structural elements of your home may provide all the support needed for a DIY outdoor movie screen. Here’s a look at what Sam (from My Barefoot Farm) managed to build in her backyard. She attached her screen (a 10 foot by 20 foot tarp with steel pipe framing) to the vertical supports beneath the second-story deck.

Avid movie-goers, take note: A DIY outdoor movie screen like this one would last long beyond this summer. Just paint one side of a plywood panel and support it from behind with a fence or the side of your house. At the end of the season, disassemble it and store the parts in your basement, garage, or shed.

While any exterior-rated white paint will work for painting a projector screen on wood or other material, you could get really fancy and opt for a specially formulated theater white paint. Whichever you choose, be sure to prep the surface by removing excessive texture and rolling on a primer first.

Backyard movie nights have grown in popularity in recent years and, as a result, outdoor projector screen fabric has become readily available on Amazon. Be sure to take accurate measurements for how much fabric you need before ordering, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for how to mount it.

If you don’t have the time or desire to DIY an outdoor projector screen, check out this readymade inflatable model. It measures 9 feet tall by about 6 ½ feet wide and features a 16-foot screen. Simply air it up, set up your projector, and enjoy a true drive-in movie vibe right in your backyard!

If you’ve got a tarp stashed somewhere in your garage or attic, you can make an outdoor projector screen. Traditional, weather-resistant tarps are especially useful because they come equipped with grommets—perfect for threading onto a rope for hanging your projector screen in your outdoor space.

Though specialty materials are readily available, they aren’t necessary to create an amazing outdoor projector screen. You could just reach into your linen closet and grab a bedsheet. Flat vs. fitted is best, of course, and steaming or ironing out any wrinkles will help to create a smooth surface for viewing movies.

Many projectors available today come with streaming capabilities, so you can use a smartphone app or even a streaming device such as a Roku to play your favorite movies and shows.

Any large, flat surface will work for a projector screen—the side of your house, the back of a shed, a large sheet draped over a clothesline. The possibilities are vast!

Creating an outdoor projector screen is an easy DIY project for any summer weekend. If you build it with exterior-rated materials and factor in a design that’s easy to assemble and disassemble, it’ll last for years to come!

Did Brad Pitt"s head get really wrinkly or is that just your crown molding? If you have a projector but no projector screen, you"re getting subpar picture quality and are wasting a great machine. Even if your wall is a crisp, spotless white, any imperfections will be obvious. But do you get wall-mounted screen or freestanding? Which size and aspect ratio? Manual or motorized? Don"t worry - we"ve got you covered. Below are the best projector screens of this year, no matter your budget. For more background, see our projector screen comparison table and buying advice below the picks.

We think that right now, the best projector screen needs to be automated, easy to set up and use, and guarantee a particular level of picture quality. In our opinion, the Elite Screens VMAX 2 ticks all three boxes. For starters, not only do you get a very sizeable usable area, but you get a slightly increased aspect ratio, at 16:10. There is a full 180 degree viewing angle, and like many models in this range, it comes ready for both 4K and 3D viewing. Installation is dead simple, as it comes shipped fully assembled (so no electronics knowledge required) and you won"t have to get up to adjust it, either, as it comes with its own remote. It"s a clear choice over screens from Silver Ticket, its big competitor.

That said, we do think the price could stand to drop a little. The Elite Screens VMAX 2 comes in multiple sizes, like most screens here, but to be honest, it"s still a little expensive for what it is. If you"re looking for a less-expensive automated screen, we"d recommend the Spectrum Electric, also from Elite Screens.

Up until recently, we’ve recommended Silver Ticket as the go-to brand for affordable projector screens. They recently discontinued many of their products, and are no longer widely available. Fortunately, there are several other excellent options, and one of them is the Vamvo Outdoor Indoor screen. It’s basic and functional, but it has several key advantages to other screens from the likes of Mdebeddron. For starters, it’s exceptionally easy to put together, and we think the picture is comparable to some of the more expensive screens mentioned here, like the Elite Screens Spectrum 2.

However, despite the Vamvo Outdoor Indoor claiming that it can be used, well, both indoors and outdoors, the reality is a little more complex. Without a very dark environment, such as a basement with blackout curtains, there is a noticeable degradation and picture quality. And while the screen is easy to build (it will be up and running in minutes) it’s also easy to tip over. Fortunately, a few sturdy weights. This from happening, and we think the great picture quality is enough to mitigate these issues. Vamvo have big shoes to fill, but they’ve done well here. This is an ideal screen if you’re on a budget.

When it comes to picking the screen that represents the best value-for-money combined with the most impressive technology, the weightily-named Seymour Screen Excellence Ambient-Visionaire Black 1.2 takes it. For our money, this is the top high-end projection screen pick of this year.

Although the one we have listed here is a 103” screen, Seymour works with a kind of mix-and-match system, allowing you to choose your frame type and size, and pair it with its Ambient-Visionaire material, giving you a highly customisable package. Regardless, we think the combination of specs that we’ve got here will be more than enough for most people, and most people will be utterly awed by the picture quality, which is out of this world. Rich, deep blacks and soaring contrast make this a winner. As a bonus, it’s incredibly easy to put together. It must be said that although it’s not expensive as something like the Stewart Filmscreen Phantom HALR, it’s still relatively pricey, and probably not suitable for those just getting started. For some screens that do fulfill that particular category, just check a little further down the list. They’re still very good, we promise!

Now here"s something a bit different in an outdoor screen: this Giant Gemmy model inflates like a bouncy castle, so you won"t need to mess around with pegs and guy ropes. It’s 151 inches wide and 85 inches tall, and even though the picture isn’t the sharpest on this list, you"re still guaranteed lots of fun at the next barbeque. There’s nothing to stop you using it indoors, too - although it won"t beat out similarly-priced models from Epson and Elite Screens on this count.

This screen includes a power adapter and self-inflates—no need to put your lungs to the test—and comes with a large carrying case to help cart it around. The Giant Gemmy is perfect for an outdoor movie night or sporting event with a crowd of people, but keep in mind that picture quality can’t be expected to match an indoor screen. We should say from the get go that tracking down stats, like again and aspect ratio, is surprisingly difficult for the screen. As we mentioned, go in prepared to deal with a surface that might not be ideal for your projector. All the same, this fulfills a very particular niche.

Any manufacturer can attach a motor to a screen, but only a few can do it really well. Elite Screens Make the best on the market, in our opinion, and their Spectrum 2 proves it. The screen uses a tubular motor, which is much quieter, faster, and smoother than the synchronous motors found in screens like Elite’s VMAX 2. The inclusion of the new MaxWhite FG material not only stiffens this non-tensioned screen, but also enhances the picture. We don’t think it beats the VMAX 2 or other motorised screens like the Screen Innovations Solo Pro 2 for quality, but it more than holds its own.

The biggest downside is the price. The Elite Screens Spectrum 2 is almost a hundred dollars more expensive than the original, and that may raise a few eyebrows. However, if you’re prepared to spend the money, you’ll get what is commonly considered to be one of the best motorised screens around. Elite have really made this particular category their own, and the Spectrum 2 is an exemplary screen.

Portable projector screens can be hit or miss, but the Pyle PRJTP46 is definitely a hit. Its small size (40 inches) and light weight make it easy to take with you, and it sets up in moments. It’s the ideal screen for impromptu movie nights at a friend’s house, or quick presentations while at work. The image is bright and clean and although pricier screens like the Vamvo Indoor Outdoor have the Pyle beaten on clarity, the quality is still good for the price.

One thing to be aware of with the Pyle PRJTP46 is that the design isn’t as robust as we’d like. The portable nature means that it’s somewhat flimsy, and can be knocked over or out of true if you brush against it. The viewing surface also has a tendency to not be completely flat, with more than one wrinkle popping up when we tried it. If you demand absolute clarity, and a totally flat viewing surface, it maybe worth looking at a more permanent option like the aforementioned Silver Ticket, or a model from Elite Screens.

Stewart make some of the most expensive screens available, so it’s a good thing the image quality matches the price. The Cima 135” isn’t quite as mind-blowing as the Phantom HALR, but it’s very good, with a big viewing area matched by some excellent picture quality. It’s relatively easy to set up and use, and we think that were it not for the eye-melting price tag, it would probably snag a spot on the regular list.

They use their own material, Tiburon G2, which has been tuned and calibrated to provide optimal viewing conditions at almost all angles. It rejects 40% of ambient light, and although it doesn’t really handle 3D, the smooth, durable, grey surface provides stunning quality, provided you’ve got a decent projector to match it. This screen and its variants are definitely not for everyone, but you do get what you pay for, and this is an absolute monster of a product. Check it out, if you have the funds.

Inflatable outdoor projector screens tend to be massive— it’s sort of the point— and the SUNCOO Inflatable Movie Screen is no exception. It’s a gigantic 120 inches wide, with 12.5 square feet of viewing area. Inflating it is relatively simple (the package includes a motorised pump) and although it doesn’t match the clarity and sharpness of indoor screens, it’s a perfectly acceptable option for hosting an impromptu outdoor movie night.

The problem is that there are better options available. The Giant Gemmy Airblown is still the leader in this particular category. Although it’s more expensive, by about $30, it’s also larger, and even easier to set up than the SUNCOO. The world of inflatable projector screens is a crowded one, and although the SUNCOO is a viable alternative to the Gemmy, it lacks any killer features to elevate it to a true essential. If you want an even larger option, there is a 200 inch version available, although it is of course more expensive.

Da-Lite are an odd company. They’ve been around since 1909, and they make some exceptional screens (such as the one we featured here, the 130” Model C) but they have next to no online presence. That’s peculiar, but it doesn’t stop the Model C being a worthy alternative to models like the Elite Screens VMAX2. The picture is solid, and we think that the roller used by Da-Lite is one of the best we’ve tested, with an impeccably smooth action.

One big downside with the Da-Lite Model C is that it doesn’t offer any advanced features for the money. Da-Lite Have a feature called Controlled Screen Return, which allows you to roll up the screen without jerking or damaging the mechanism, but you’ll have to pay an extra few hundred dollars to get it, which we think is kind of outrageous at this price. If picture quality is what matters to you, then the Model C is worth considering. But other screens like the previously mentioned VMAX 2 offer a better overall package.

Screen Innovations live up to their name. For the second version of the Solo Pro screen, they kept what made the previous model successful – the sleek picture and excellent, eye-catching design – while adding in some fresh ideas. There’s now a huge range of size options, all the way up to 160” (we’ve highlighted the 100” version here). The motors are rechargeable, meaning you no longer need to connect this motorized screen to a wall outlet. Perhaps the best improvement of all is that the screen can now be mounted in reverse orientation, which means it can be hung directly above an existing picture or TV screen. The Solo Pro 2 is also one of the easiest screens on this list to install.

The only downside is that it’s significantly more expensive – to the tune of about $1,500 – than the original Solo Pro. While you’ll certainly find different prices if you shop around, they won’t be all that different, making the Screen Innovations Solo Pro 2 one of the most expensive screens on this list. Given that our top screen - the stupendous Seymour Screen Excellence Ambient-Visionaire Black 1.2 - costs a mere $2,200, we don’t believe the Solo Pro 2 offers quite enough value here. However, it’s a top 10 screen without question.

EPV made one of our previous favorite screens, the DarkStar eFinity, and the Polar Star is a significant improvement. It has a unique edge-to-edge design, which means that while there is still a very slightly smaller viewing area than the overall size, it"s kept to an absolute minimum. The screen also ships with a backlight, helping to further enhance the already fantastic picture and color. It also helps that it"s fully ready for 3D and 4K, and that installation is a cinch.

But is it really going to beat the Seymour Screen Excellence Ambient-Visionaire Black 1.2, which is available for nearly $1,000 less at the time of writing? Our opinion is, it isn"t. It"s just a little too expensive right now, and we think the Seymour is a better option for most people. This high-end screen is still fantastic, but it should only be bought by those with a little bit of cash to burn. All those who are seduced by that amazing name…

Would you pay over $4,000 for a screen? It seems like a joke, until you read about what Stewart have done to make the Phantom HALR 110” screen among the best on the market. The secret is down to their ambient-light-rejecting technology, which really sets the screen apart. Without getting too technical, it involves the application of multiple layers to the screen body: a highly reflective under-layer, with a light diffusing layer plastered on top. What that means is that any light that isn’t directly projected onto it simply won’t exist.

Or at least, that’s the theory. For while this is an absolutely fantastic screen that delivers some genuinely brilliant picture quality, it does have its issues. Chief among these is its inability to deal with fast pans where the footage is bright – something which leaves behind visible artefacts. It’s enough to knock it down the list a little bit, a fact not helped along by that staggering price tag. Ultimately, this is a great screen with a lot of potential, but it isn’t quite there yet.

The Elite Screens Aeon CLR UST 100” is a screen designed for ultra-short-throw projectors – as in, ones that are directly beneath the screen. This model is one of the better ultra-short-throw (UST) screens available, despite not being quite as assured as the Screen Innovations Solo Pro 2, and costs just over a quarter of the price. It offers outstanding picture, especially in rooms which are not perfectly dark. Although the gray shade might not look great when it isn’t being used, it’s able to push back up to 65% off-angle ambient light. That means that you can get away with just closing the curtains without having to worry about stray ambient lighting sneaking in.

However, to get this effect, you will require a really good projector, which can easily double the total setup cost. Other similarly-priced screens, such as the Stewart Filmscreen Cima 135", are a little more forgiving with low quality projectors. However, we still think that the Aeon CLR UST is a solid choice, especially if you have a room that isn’t ideal for projection.

If you’re looking for a screen that can pull double duty as both an indoor and outdoor system, then it’s worth checking out the Elite Screens Yard Master 2. We think it’s the best ‘double duty’ screen on this list, with a better picture than the cheaper JaeilPLM 100 Inch 2-in-1. The robust construction and high quality materials make the Yard Master 2 a good pick and, as a bonus, it’s exceptionally easy to set up. It comes in a variety of sizes, all the way up to 180”. We’ve flagged the 120” version here, which should be more than enough for most people – the availability of larger versions varies depending on the store.

One thing to note with this model is that it may take a little time and experimentation to get the best picture quality from it. The Elite Screens Yard Master 2 is an excellent screen, but it felt a bit unforgiving. As such, it may be worth sacrificing picture quality for ease-of-use if you are new to home projection. Regardless, this screen definitely belongs on this list.

Usually, we don’t recommend dropping below $50 for a projection screen, as quality can seriously plummet, but we will make an exception for the Mdbebbron 120 inch Projection Screen. No, we don’t know how to pronounce the name either, but there’s no question that the screen has a unique proposition. It’s not rigid, but instead, is soft and flexible, and even ships folded up like a sheet. That means it’s one of the simplest and cheapest ways to get home projection. For example, it’s much easier to manage than the Best Choice Products Manual Projector Screen, which is over double the price.

However, the fold up design of the Mdbebbron comes with some major disadvantages. Unless it’s carefully mounted, you’ll have wrinkles for days, which is not going to do your picture any favors. The mounting solutions that ship with the screen are poor, at best, so it means you’ll need to do a bit of DIY. If you can get past this, however, you’ll find that this affordable screen is a good choice for those on a budget.

Normally, we’d steer you away from screens that cost less than about $30. There’s a massive drop-off in quality. The Akia Screens 120 inch is one of the few exceptions, and it’s genuinely startling how well it manages to perform for under $20. It’s a good, basic screen that will get the job done, although of course it doesn’t challenge even slightly more expensive screens on this list like the Mdbebbron, above. If you are looking for a basic, no-frills solution, the Akia is the one to go for.

The downside is in the construction of the screen. The material is extremely thin, almost see-through. That means that you will need to place this screen against as white a surface as possible to get the best result, which may not be ideal depending on your circumstances. If you want something a little more versatile, but does not cost very much more, we recommend the Pyle PRJTP46. Regardless, the wallet-friendly nature of the Akia Screen makes it a good choice for those who want bang for buck.

The most common question we get sent regarding projector screens is very simple: why can’t I just use the big, white wall that is already in my living room? To answer that question, and explain why it’s a really bad idea, you have to understand how light reacts on certain materials. When you project a movie, what your projector is doing is shining light onto the projection surface. No more, no less. For you to be able to get a high quality image, as much of that light as possible needs to be reflected back at you, so it can enter your eyes. So far so good.

The problem is, walls – even ones painted white – aren’t built to be reflective. There’s a very good reason for that, in that living in an apartment or a house with reflective walls would be pretty unpleasant. More importantly, walls aren’t completely smooth: even the best ones have a slight texture, one which is random – if you look close enough – and will do horrible things to light when it’s reflected onto it. That’s irrespective of how bright white the paint is. Yes, you could still in theory project an image onto it, but it will be nowhere near as good as it would be if you used a dedicated screen. That’s not only due to the fact that screen material is designed to accurately reflect the light from your projector back, while rejecting as much ambient light as possible, but also because most if not all projection screens come with a black border. There’s a reason for this: it’s a psychological trick, separating the image on the screen from the world around it in our mind, and making the image clearer. And no, painting a black square or rectangle on the wall will not give you the same effect. Put that paintbrush down.

Each screen will come with full instructions. If not, have a quiet word with the manufacturer, and tell them to stop being ridiculous. Many screens are free-standing. Some can be inflated, which is often the easiest option. Others will need to be bolted to the wall, which will require the use of a screwdriver and a cable detector. Please use a cable detector. Don’t go drilling into walls that may hide an electric shock.

If you’re setting up a theater room, you’ll have seats spread across a wide area and you’ll want to get the same picture everywhere. If you’re getting a screen for a theater room, you may want to dip below 1.0 screen gain - gain is explained below). Some grey screens claim a 0.8 measurement, which would help in wider rooms. However, if you’re setting up a conference room, or putting a projector in your living room, getting a higher-gain screen means you’ll be able to project with some lights on or when the sun is out. In general, a high gain is more helpful in a wider range of environments while a low gain is better at accurate color recreation and producing wide viewing angles. If this is super important to you, and all you want is a screen that is easy to set up, then we strongly recommend the Elite Screens VMAX 2, which balances terrific picture quality with very simple setup.

Very obviously, when you’re working with projector screens, you need to be concerned about size. This is not just a simple as two measurements of height and width. For starters, actually getting those figures involves a (sometimes reasonably deep) dive into manufacturer specifications. This is because manufacturers give the size of the screen in a single measurement, which represents a line from one corner to the other, diagonally. It makes for good marketing copy, but it can be a little bit annoying, as it doesn’t actually tell you how much of the screen is going to be taken up with an image.

Fortunately, one of the things many manufacturers do state is what is known as the usable area of the screen – as in, the actual area which can have an image projected onto it, usually contained within a simple border. And because we love you, we’ve dug this out for you. This will give you a general idea of just how big your movie image is likely to be. Remember: size isn’t everything, and you’ll get far more out of a slightly smaller screen made out of high quality material then you will out of a larger screen costs a little less.

Aspect ratio refers to the shape of the projected image, measured in various sizes.16:9 and 4:3 are common, but there are various options. Although 16:9 has stormed standalone TVs, some movie aficionados prefer 2.35:1. However, the HD standard (and the upcoming Blu-ray Ultra High-Definition standard) are for 16:9. If all your media is 16:9, you’ll want to get a screen to match to maximize your screen real estate. Also consider that larger screen need more support, with many large screens coming in at 35 pounds or more.

Gain is a measurement of light reflected off the screen to the optimal viewing angle (the “Zero Degrees Viewing Axis”). A screen gain of 1.0 is equivalent to the light reflected off “a standard white (magnesium oxide) board,” according to Projector Central, who presumably know about these things. The easiest way to think about it is as a percentage. A screen with a gain of 1.0 reflects back 100% of the light shone on it. A screen with 0.6 will only reflect 60% back, and a screen with 1.2 gain will shine back light at a 120% brightness. (For reference, the screen on our list with the brightest gain is the Seymour Screen Excellence Ambient-Visionaire Black 1.2 - unsurprisingly, its gain is 1.2).

Now you might think that, taking all that into account, a screen with high gain is what you want to go for, right? Well, it’s not that simple. High gain screens have problems. For one thing, the higher screens gain, the lower the viewing angle is – we will talk about this in more detail below, but the upshot is that the higher the gain, the harder it is to see a clear image unless you’re sitting directly opposite the screen. If you have a large screening area with lots of seats, especially ones off to the sides, you may want to go for a screen with a slightly lower gain. You’ll need to reduce the ambient light, but you should be fine. If you have a small viewing area, or space to put all the seats directly in front of the projector, then by all means go for a high gain screen.

Imagine yourself sitting in front of a projector screen, watching Mad Max, or Harry Potter,or whatever your favorite movie may be. You are sitting perpendicular to the screen itself, facing it. You are able to see everything. Now, imagine a half-circle, with you at the circle’s apex and the screen directly opposite on the diameter. This – as anybody who has done high school math will know – is a shape of 180°.

If the screen"s viewing angle is 180°, you will be able to see a clear image on it from anywhere in the half-circle. If it’s 120°, the image will start to blur and disintegrate as you move to the sides of the circle. The lower the number gets, the more you will need to be seated directly in front of the screen to get a clear picture. Really, that’s all there is to it. Viewing angle is a subject that can be filled with tons of jargon, if you delve into it, but all you need to know is that the wider the viewing angle, the better. And as we said in the previous section, high gain screens typically have slightly lower viewing angles, so do take that into account.

In a movie theater, the front speakers are nowhere to be seen. That’s because they are behind the actual movie screen itself. It’s one of those things that makes total sense when you think about it, but you also can’t believe you’ve never thought about it before. This arrangement can work because the material the screen is made out of is acoustically transparent – it doesn’t affect sound, allowing the soundwaves to pass through unmolested. We need the same arrangement in our home cinemas as well. This is especially true in small spaces, where you may need to place your floorstanding speakers or center channel speakers behind the actual screen itself. There’s nothing wrong with doing this, provided your screen’s material is acoustically transparent.

Ah, the beauties of modern technology. You want to get started on projection, but don’t want a boring projection screen hanging around your living room all the time? At the touch of a button, it could just roll away – although you will certainly pay for the privilege. Motorized or automated screens, which roll up into their housing, are typically a little more expensive than static screens, which don’t. You will also have to deal with potential breakages down the line, although it must be said that these are very frequent – especially not for the manufacturers on our list, most of whom make reliable screens. We think one of the best motorized screens, for reference, is the $318 Elite Screens Spectrum 2, along with the VMAX2 mentioned above.

You may have bought a projector because it takes up less space than a TV, so you’d want a screen that hides away too. Or you might be decking out a media room and want a more permanent solution. Above we even suggest portable options that can be taken outside for backyard viewings. If you want something that can be hidden away, consider a ceiling-mounted screen. They can even be pulled down at the push of a button if you opt for a motorized version. However, if you’re setting up a Hollywood theater, get something a little more permanent — these screens are optimized to be perfectly flat and can be attached directly to your wall, mitigating any concerns about the screens getting damaged via wear-and tear.

This is a particular stat that isn’t always immediately clear, but if you want to make projection of permanent part of your life, it’s super important to bear in mind. It refers to the ability of the screen to stay flat and even throughout its life. A tensioned screen will have sturdy wires running along the outside to keep the surface pulled taut, whereas a non-tensioned screen will not. A screen without tension will sometimes, over the course of its life, develop these weird little waves in it that can mess with the image. This isn’t a guarantee, but it’s sometimes prevalent, especially in cheaper screens. Not to worry, though. Most screens above around $200 will almost certainly have this feature included.

For the most part, projector screens and their setup instructions/buying advice have progressed to the point where actually purchasing and mounting one of these monsters is relatively straightforward. Unfortunately, this is a product category with a legacy of difficulty when it comes to actually getting the products themselves mounted, so it’s worth pointing out a couple of pitfalls that can easily be avoided.

The first, very obviously, is to make sure that your buying the right kind of projector, in terms of whether you want it manual or motorized. It’s an easy mistake to make, as you’re swallowed alive by aspect ratio and gain stats and viewing area sizes. You will also be wanting to closely measure the area you’re going to mount/display it, as it is super annoying to have to return a screen for a different size once you’ve actually bought it.

Second thing. We haven’t covered it here, as it’s not too big a problem with modern screens, but you need to make sure that the one you buy has a decent viewing angle. It’s not a problem if you just have a single couch, but if you have multiple sitting positions, you’ll want to make sure that your guests are going to be craning their heads or nudging their way into your space. Anything from around 90-180 degrees viewing angle should do the trick, and obviously the closer to 180, the better.

Finally: installation accessories. Some screens come with everything you need to mount them. But this is by no means guaranteed. You may need additional mounting brackets, screws, hammers, glue… Anything, really. Make sure you fully understand what is required to get a screen up and mounted, and if necessary, invest in things like mounting brackets.

One of the biggest announcements at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas was the reveal of 8K TVs from manufacturers like Samsung. 8K is a visual standard that measures 8,192 x 4,320 pixels. It looks, as you can imagine, quite brilliant. But what role is it going to play in the world of home projector screens?

The answer is, at least for now, not much. It’s been the same answer since November 2018, when JVC released the DLA-NX9 projector. It was and still is a monster - an $18,000 beast that could upscale 4K sources to 8K. In other words, the projection industry has been deep in 8K (or upscaled 8K) for quite a while now. While there are currently no native 8K projectors available, to our knowledge, they can’t be far off.

Forget the obvious point that, if you can afford that JVC projector, you probably won"t have any issues buying an enormous screen. There"s the rather concerning question of whether a screen bought today will be able to cope with the images thrown onto it by the projectors of tomorrow. We admit that we don"t actually have an answer to this question yet. Everything we know about projectors and projector screens leads us to say that it won"t be a problem. After all, there"s nothing to stop you reducing the size of the image to fit your screen, and no matter how many pixels are crammed onto it, you should still get an excellent picture. The question we face is how an 8K image from a projector as tooled-up as that JVC would fair on different materials.

Part of the problem is that there’s almost no content produced in 8K. Hell, there"s not even enough being produced in 4K right now! It’s one thing to buy a4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray of Game of Thrones, and quite another to track down a version of the series shot in 8K. You can"t, because it doesn"t exist. But that will change in the next few years. Not only are more Hollywood studios starting to shoot in 8K, but the Tokyo Olympics were broadcast in that format by the Japanese government. It"s televisions that will lead the charge here, rather than projector screens. We will update with more information when we have it.

As the name implies, Ultra Short Throw projector screens are designed to take an image from a projector close to the screen. However, it"s not as straightforward as you might think. Ultra Short Throw is one of the biggest R&D topics in projector screens right now, and there"s a lot you need to consider when buying one.

The biggest issue with Ultra Short Throw (UST) screens has to do with their light rejection, especially with ambient light. These screens tend to spread their light off-axis, thanks to the short distances involved. Unfortunately, this spreads a lot of it out of the viewing sweet spot, making it more difficult to get a good picture. The solution to this problem is to invest in a screen specifically designed for UST projectors - the top one on our list is the Screen Innovations Solo Pro 2. Of course, you"ll pay for the privilege - the Solo Pro 2 goes for $4,079 at the time of writing. However, despite the price, we believe it"s worth it for the convenience and the extra sharpness UST projection provides.

Here’s the good news. If you decide to have a movie night in your backyard, setting up the screen is actually the easy part. There are several dedicated outdoor screens available, and several on our list – the best one right now is the Giant Gemmy Airblown ($164). All you have to do, quite literally, is inflate it. As long as you pumped enough air into it, it will give you a competent, if slightly uninspiring, surface to project movies onto.

Most of the challenges that outdoor projection faces is with the projector itself. You want to have a projector that has at least 2,000 lumens of illumination and offers controls, like keystoning and lens shift, to help you get the right angle. Either way, once you have the projector setup, and you’ve chosen the right kind of screen, it’s very easy to sit in your backyard on a summer night, enjoying Netflix. We don’t have a list of the Best Bug Sprays, but you can probably handle that yourself.

There are many advantages of projectors for home entertainment. In broad terms, they range from the versatility of projectors as devices to better eye health. There’s something to be said about the value of projectors over big-screen TVs as well (see Projector Advantage #6 below).

Sure, large screen TVs can be a sight to behold, but that doesn’t mean they’re the best option. In the TV vs. projector match up, there are multiple advantages of projectors in a home entertainment setting, including:

The beauty of projectors is that, unlike televisions, they can operate on any surface, rather than through one set screen. In order to ensure quality, many projector owners opt to project onto specially-made screens or white-painted walls, but that isn’t strictly necessary.

In the case of said screens, a key advantage of projectors for home entertainment is thatscreen size can be configured to any size, large or small, that you desire. What’s even better is that projector screens, regardless of their size, are not permanent.

Should you buy a 40-inch television, and are unhappy with that choice down the line, the only option is to buy a new one. With projectors, the hardware is not bound to the external surface, therefore the screen size is infinitely customizable. Moreover, if your screen size requirements change later on, it’s much easier to adjust than to purchase the technology all over again.

Expanding on the issue of screen size, projectors have the advantage of not being restricted by an outer limit. In the case of televisions, there is a distinct size maximum that is dependent on the technology of the day. Home entertainment projectors are not limited in size in the same way TVs are, which is a significant advantage of projectors over other home entertainment alternatives.

At their base level, projector screens are naturally larger than their TV counterparts. Moreover, the size of the projections themselves is simply dependent on how far away they are from the screen. The further away from the projector, in this case, the larger the projection. To that end, 120-, 150-, or even 200-inch screens are not outside of reason.

When it comes to your eye comfort, the advantages of projectors in this respect are two-fold. Anyone of you who have ever taken an eye exam already knows that, even if you have the best possible vision, it’s always easier to read the larger letters than the smaller ones. (Check out this article comparing projectors to screens in terms of eye health.)

The same principle applies to the eye comfort associated with projectors. When compared to televisions, projectors enjoy the inherent advantage of larger screen sizes. Just as larger letters are easier to read, so too is it easier on the eyes to view a larger screen than a small one.

Screen size is just one contributing factor influencing eye comfort though. Did you know that your eyes actually feel more comfortable when looking at projected images?They do, and this is actually due to the effect that reflected light has on the eyes. This is in contrast to televisions, which use emitted light.

Other factors, such as the distance between the viewer and the screen, have an impact on eye comfort as well. Eyestrain, for example, is caused when trying to focus on images that are too small for your eyes to look at comfortably. Since projector users are able to project larger images, eyestrain becomes less common.

These days, whether it be phones, televisions, or projectors, size optimization is what manufacturers strive for. While telephones were once wall mounted bricks, they are now razor-thin smart devices that fit into your pocket with plenty of room to spare. Home entertainment projectors, on the other hand, have never had a need for such a transformation, as their size is a non-issue.

Home entertainment projectors pack a TV into a device similar in size to a laptop – try picking up a TV with one hand and see how far it gets you! So long as the projector is in a position to properly project onto the desired surface, then its actual location is not of much importance. Commonly, projector owners choose to mount their devices onto the ceiling, thus fully maximizing the space.

Moreover, the emergence of short-throw projectors has even made it so that they can be placed on a shelf within close range of the projection surface. The same goes for the projector screen, which can either be anchored to the wall or even made retractable. In opposition to televisions, the presence of which is permanent, the small size advantage of projectors allows them to maintain a more subtle presence in your entertainment space.

Not only are home entertainment projectors small, but they’re also lightweight. Usually weighing somewhere between 2 and 20 lbs, the average projector owner should have no problem moving around with it, if need be.

Consider for a moment, in the age of 45-inch televisions, which weigh about 30 lbs and are not convenient to hold, how often you hear of people moving them about on a regular basis. This is where the advantage of projectors truly shines.

Say that you want to bring your projector to a friend’s house for movie night – or maybe you want to do an outdoor screening on a warm summer evening. With projectors, all that is possible! With the advantage of portability, the only true limit for where it can function is access to electricity and a decent surface to project onto.

Considering the technological and practical advantages of projectors for home entertainment, they are altogether reasonably priced. That isn’t to say, however, that it’s impossible to find a very expensive projector, but for what you get at the base level, the cost/benefit ratio is quite good.

Although it is possible to find similarly priced televisions, the crux again comes down to the value proposition. While it’s possible to find televisions in the same price range as home theatre projectors, projection has a better overall value proposition to offer.

Given the advantages of projection, it makes sense for just about anyone to consider. Not only are projectors great for those who want a more dynamic approach to home entertainment, as we discussed in this article, but they’re excellent in business and education settings as well.

Thanks to advancements in projector technology and a gradual decline in projector prices, this option is more feasible than ever. If the advantages of projectors have swayed you into considering a purchase, the next step is to jump from the theoretical to the practical, in that you should decide which model is best for your needs.

For the ultimate home entertainment experience, 4K projectors like the PX747-4K and the PX727-4K by ViewSonic are both excellent options and worth some consideration! Other options like the LS830 provide a high brightness of 4,500 lumens, Full HD resolution, and a short-throw ratio specifically designed for home entertainment. Learn how to choose the right projector resolution for your needs, or check out ViewSonic’s range of projectors, here.

Cinemas all over the world have become no-go zones with COVID-19 around, but watching the latest blockbuster on the small screen at home is simply not the same. You could bring the big screen home, but buying a quality projector is going to set you back a small pile of cash. Fortunately [Matt] from [DIY Perks] has an alternative for us, demonstrating how to build your own true 4K projector with parts bought off eBay, for a fraction of the price.

The core of the projector is a small 4K LCD panel, which is from a modified Sony smartphone. [Matt] disassembled the phone, removed the backlight from the LCD, which leaves it semi-transparent, and mounted it at a right angle to the rest of the phone body. The battery was also replaced with a voltage regulator to simulate a full battery. To create a practical projector, a much brighter backlight is needed. [Matt] used a 100W 10 mm diameter LED for this purpose. The