Gaming on a laptop or TV is fine but imagine beating levels on the big screen. Images are obviously larger, up to 100” and more. Colors are brighter, and you don’t have to worry about shadows in dark scenes obscuring hidden treasure chests or enemies.
Projectors aren’t new to gamers. It’s not hard to find a laser projector that has an acceptable input lag. It is a little harder to find a 4K projector geared for gamers, but there are a few that can even keep up with multi-player shooter games.
The Optoma UHD30 is surprisingly affordable for a 4K gaming projector. You can’t complain about latency speed or the refresh rate. The Epson LS500 is priced higher, but it’s also a breeze to set up. If you want a bright picture, low input lag, and fast refresh rate, the Optoma UHD50X is the best 4K gaming projector (>>> Find on Amazon). It also comes at a low price point.
Before you grab the first 4K projector and settle back to play a game, it helps to compare the model specifications.
Best 4K Gaming Projector – Top picks for 2022:
| Optoma UHD50X | BenQ TK700STi | Sony VPL-VW715ES | Optoma UHD30 | ViewSonic PX748-4K | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |
|
| Resolution | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 | 4096x2160 | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 |
| Contrast Ratio | 500,000:1 | 10,000:1 | 350,000:1 | 500,000:1 | 12,000:1 |
| Brightness (Lumens) | 3,400 ANSI | 3,000 ANSI | 1,800 ANSI | 3,400 ANSI | 4,000 ANSI |
| Throw Distance | 4.0' - 26.6' | 2.4' - 19.6' | 12.5' - 30.5' | 4.2' - 33.0' | 3.2' - 24.7' |
| Screen size | 34" - 303" | 30" - 300" | 60" - 300" | 34" - 302" | 30" - 301" |
| Input lag | 25ms | 4ms | 39ms | 16ms | 4.2ms |
| Internal Speakers | 5.0 Watts Mono | 5.0 Watts Mono | No | 5.0 Watts Mono | 10.0 Watts Mono |
| Price | Find on Amazon ProjectorScreen.com | Find on Amazon Bhphotovideo.com | Find on Amazon Bhphotovideo.com | Find on Amazon | Find on Amazon Bhphotovideo.com |
Input lag and refresh rates are the first things you look for in a gaming projector, but image quality and other factors are also important. Here’s a quick look at what you want from your 4K projector.
Image Quality
It doesn’t matter if your game images are 100” if you can’t make out the details. You will quickly lose a character life if you can’t see the onscreen action. You need bright, detailed images with accurate colors to move on to the next level.
A 4K projector with a 2,000 lumens rating is enough to counter outside light but the higher the better. You also want to pay attention to the contrast ratio. Higher contrast ratios equal brighter whites and richer blacks. It makes a difference in image clarity.
Best 4K Projector for Image Quality: Optoma UHD50X
Gaming Quality
Gamers want to look at two specs, input lag, and the refresh rate. Bright, cinematic images are great, but it won’t help when the frames aren’t loading fast enough. There are two things you want from a 4K projector.
You need a low input speed, around 16ms or less. You also want a refresh rate 240Hz. It ensures smooth frame-by-frame action no matter how fast-paced the game plays.
Best 4K Projector for Gamers: Optoma UHD50X
Ease of Installation
Short-throw projectors are easy to set up. Place the projector in the center of the screen and enjoy the movie. You only need a few feet or less to throw 100’ images. Mid and standard range projectors can also be as easy to set up with a few image adjustment features.
Digital keystone and Geometric correction are two features you want. It’s a breeze to get images aligned on the screen. Vertical lens shift is another nice function to have. You can fine-tune the picture.
Best Easy to Install 4K Projector: BenQ TK700STi
Affordability
4K projectors have been around long enough to see a price drop without lowering quality. Gamers may have to give up a millisecond or two in lag time, and images may not be as bright as what you get on higher-priced models.
You can find 4K projectors with acceptable lag times, and capable of producing bright images. Latency speeds under 30ms ensure smooth frame-by-frame action, and a dynamic contrast ratio gives you rich detailed images.
Best Affordably Priced 4K Projector: ViewSonic PX748-4K
Optoma UHD50X
The Optoma UHD50X is built for gamers. You get immersive images, a fast refresh rate, and an input lag that ensures a smooth gaming experience.
With a 3,400 lumens rating and dynamic black technology, images are bright and detailed. An 8-segmented color wheel produces accurate colors without any rainbowing or bleeding. HDR10 and HLG technologies ensure an enhanced viewing experience whether you’re gaming or watching a movie.
In enhanced gaming mode, latency speeds drop to 16ms. Add in a refresh rate of 240hz, and even fast-paced action games play smoothly without any blurring. When you’re not in gaming mode input lag is 26ms, which is still acceptable for most games.
The UHD50X also boasts a flexible installation. Digital keystone correction, along with vertical lens shift, and 1.3x zoom ensures you won’t have any problems aligning images whether the projector is on a table or ceiling mounted. For our full review of the UHD50 click here.
Pros
- Low input lag
- Quiet fan
- Dynamic contrast
- Flexible installation
- Bright picture
Cons
- Image quality drops to 1080p in enhanced gaming mode
BenQ TK700STi
The BenQ TK700STi is a great choice for gamers who need a high-performance projector to squeeze every drop of action from consoles or PC games. This is one of the few projectors capable of displaying 4k while also maintaining lo lag and latency to ensure you have a smooth experience even with high-demand FPS and sports games.
Boasting a 3,000-lumen light output from a lamp system. The eight-segment color wheel ensures that you get crystal clear colors with more than one billion possibilities. A 10,000:1 contrast ratio ensures you’ll get solid blacks that enhance the viewing experience whether you are playing video games or watching a movie.
Enhanced gaming offers latency as low as 16ms with a 4k resolution and lower latencies for less detailed resolution. That ensures you’ll have the ideal image and preset programming for specific types of games means you can quickly get into the action.
A feature that really sets this projector apart from many other products is the short throw distance. It’ll pitch a 100-inch image from only 6.5-feet away. That ensures you’ll get a great image even in the smallest of spaces. Related comparison: Optoma UHD50X vs BenQ TK700STI
Pros
- Short throw distance and excellent alignment capabilities make this an easy-to-set up design
- Impressive level of resolution and frame rates to ensure smooth, beautiful gaming experiences
Cons
- The contrast ratio is slightly lower than other models
Sony VPL-VW715ES
There’s a lot to like about the Sony VPL-VW715ES, even though it does come with a higher price tag.
It produces stunning clear pictures in almost any lighting. Dynamic HDR technology gives you bright, accurate colors. Add in a 350,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and you get brilliant whites and rich, deep blacks.
The lumens rating is a little low at 1,800, but it’s still bright enough to counteract most external light.
Gamers will appreciate the low input lag, along with Motionflow technology. Frame-by-frame action flows smoothly in both HD and 4K resolutions.
The projector is heavy, at 39.3lbs. You don’t want to move it around. It does have a flexible installation, and the digital focus optimizer makes it easy to fine tune onscreen images. Click here for our more detailed Sony VPL-VW715ES review.
Pros
- Bright picture
- Accurate colors
- Low input lag
- Dynamic contrast
- Motionflow technology
Cons
- The fan noise can drown out sound at low volumes
Optoma UHD30
The Optoma UHD30 has something for everyone. Gamers get an input lag of 16ms in Enhanced Gaming Mode. You can enjoy a smooth gaming experience no matter what you are currently playing.
Onscreen images are bright and crisp thanks to UltraDetail technology. You get realistic, cinematic colors without fading or bleeding. A dynamic 500,000:1 contrast ratio, combined with HDR and HLG technology ensures deep blacks and bright whites.
Weighing a little over 8lbs, you won’t pull a muscle moving the projector around. It’s also easy to align onscreen images. Digital keystone correction and 1.1x zoom make image alignment a breeze whether the projector is ceiling mounted or placed on a table.
Pros
- High lumens rating
- Dynamic contrast
- Flexible installation
- Low input lag
- Fast refresh rate
Cons
- There can be a rainbow effect in darker spots on the screen
ViewSonic PX748-4K
The PX748-4K makes a good, lower-cost option for gamers who also want to enjoy excellent movie and television programming. For gamers looking to find some of the lowest lag and latency rates possible, the ViewSonic PX748-4k hits some big highs.
This projector uses pixel shifting technology to display 4k images from an otherwise non-4k chipset. Gamers can select a 1080p resolution and play with a lag rate of only 4.2 ms and an impressive 240 Hz refresh rate that creates a smooth and stutter-free gaming experience.
A 4,000 lumen bulb and a 12,000:1 contrast ratio will make the image easily viewable in rooms that have moderate light. You won’t need to blackout your windows to get clear images and dark black shades. It even features built-in controls for a motorized screen so that your room can go from a living space to an entertainment room in a moment.
The throw distance makes this a good choice for moderate-sized rooms. It’ll give you a 100-inch screen from only 8.2-feet, but you’ll need more room than that to get the biggest screens possible. You’ll need 32 feet to get a 300-inch screen, but this one is really best for 150-inch screens or less.
Pros
- The high lumens value makes this a good choice for rooms with ambient lighting
- Incredibly low lag and latency lets this projector take advantage of fast-paced games with lots of action
- Displays 4k images and has an excellent color range
Cons
- Lower resolution for high-speed gaming
Conclusion
Gamers have more than one option when they’re looking for a 4K projector. The ViewSonic PX748-4K is a budget-friendly projector that can handle most games. The Optoma UHD30 produces bright images and boasts a flexible installation. It also comes with a low input lag and a fast refresh rate.
If you’re looking for the best 4K gaming projector, the Optoma UHD50X comes with everything you want. Its price won’t blow your budget, and you can’t complain about image quality. You get realistic colors and bright images whether you’re gaming at night or during the day. The UHD50X also has a low latency speed even when you’re not using the projector in Enhanced Gaming Mode.
While the UHD50X is your best option, it’s ultimately your decision when it comes to choosing a 4K gaming projector.(>>> Check the current price on ProjectorScreen)