10 Best Short Throw Projectors 2025 in the United States

The LG HF85JA Ultra Short Throw Laser Smart Home Theater CineBeam Projector is a compact and powerful option for those looking to create a home theater experience in a small space. One of its standout features is its ultra-short throw capability, which allows you to project a 100-inch image from just 17 inches away from the wall. This makes it an excellent choice for tight spaces where traditional projectors might be impractical. The projector offers a Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution, ensuring clear and detailed images, while the 150,000:1 contrast ratio allows for vivid and dynamic visuals, enhancing your viewing experience.

With a brightness of up to 1,500 lumens, it performs well in dimly lit environments but might struggle in very bright rooms. A significant advantage is its laser lamp, which has a long life of up to 20,000 hours, reducing the need for frequent replacements. Additionally, the projector is LG Smart TV enabled, providing access to a variety of streaming services without requiring additional devices. Keystone correction features help in adjusting the image to fit perfectly on the screen, ensuring flexibility in setup.

However, there are some downsides to consider. The projector's brightness might not be sufficient for rooms with a lot of ambient light. Also, being a 2017 model, it may lack some of the latest features found in newer projectors. Despite these minor drawbacks, the LG HF85JA is a highly capable short-throw projector that offers excellent image quality and convenience for home theater enthusiasts.

The ViewSonic LS921WU is a robust short-throw laser projector designed for large screen setups, making it suitable for both business presentations and educational environments. With a resolution of 1920 x 1200, it delivers sharp and clear images, ensuring detailed visuals. Its high brightness of 6000 lumens means it can perform well even in well-lit rooms, which is a significant advantage for versatile use.

The projector's lamp life is impressive, with the laser phosphor light source lasting up to 20,000 hours, reducing the need for frequent replacements and maintenance. Setup is user-friendly with features like 1.1x optical zoom, horizontal and vertical keystone correction, and wide lens shift, which help in achieving the perfect image alignment even in challenging setups. The 360-degree projection capability adds to its flexibility.

Connectivity options are extensive, including dual HDMI, USB, HDBT, and Ethernet LAN, ensuring compatibility with most devices. Remote management and scheduling are facilitated through LAN control, supporting Crestron and other systems, which is a handy feature for IT admins. While it supports 4K HDR HLG, the native resolution is not 4K, which might be a consideration for those specifically seeking ultra-high-definition content. This projector is an excellent choice for those needing a powerful, flexible, and long-lasting device, ideal for professional and educational settings rather than casual home cinema use.

The AWOL VISION LTV-3000 Pro 4K projector stands out in the short-throw projector category, particularly for home cinema enthusiasts looking for an immersive experience. With a remarkable resolution of 3840 x 2160 and the ability to project up to 150 inches, it delivers sharp and vibrant images that can perform well in various lighting conditions. The advanced triple laser technology ensures bright visuals even during the day, making it a suitable replacement for larger TVs.

One of its notable strengths is the integration of Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, which enhances both the picture and sound quality for a fully immersive experience. The projector's support for 3D content adds another layer of entertainment, making it appealing for movie lovers who enjoy cinematic experiences at home. The projector also features convenient connectivity options, particularly HDMI, and offers smart home integration through PJ Link IP control, which is perfect for users who have automated home systems.

The power-saving capability is a significant advantage, as it consumes less energy than traditional TVs, saving on electricity bills over time. On the downside, the high initial price and weight of 33.9 pounds might deter some users who are looking for more portable or budget-friendly options. Additionally, while the projector excels in audio-visual quality, the requirement for compatible screens (like ALR screens) means that users need to invest further to maximize performance.