Let me start with the very good news about choosing the best projectors for watching sports: there are many awesome devices to choose from.
That can also be a bit of bad news because it means that you’ll have to read more than a few in-depth reviews and it will take a bit of time before you choose the best model for you.
Thus, have a bit of patience, take a bit of time and let’s discuss the models that I consider to be some of the best projectors for watching sports.
Check out my reviews for the best 4K projector screens if you want to find amazing screens for your projector, whether you’re using a device with HD, Full HD or 4K resolution.
Table of Contents
Best Projectors for Watching Sports: Top 10 Reviews
Before jumping to the reviews, let me offer you a few quick pointers that can help you pick the best projectors for watching sports.
First, there’s the budget.
To cast a wider net, I’ll include projectors around $300, then I’ll move up to models around $500-$1000, which are more than decent.
A budget around $1000-$2000 will grant you some high-quality options.
Last but not least, there will be a few that can be considered really expensive. One model from Sony costs more than $5,000 but it’s also one of the best true 4K projectors for sports, movies, and whatever else you want.
Secondly, you need to establish if you want to watch sports during daylight & at night or only at night in a dark room. This is a very important aspect to consider because if you want to enjoy sports in ambient light, you’ll have to focus on devices that have a high lumens volume, usually above 2,500-3,000 ANSI lumens.
Last but not least, we have different resolutions: we have one that is lower than HD, a few HD projectors, a few Full HD ones, and the pinnacle is true 4K projectors.
One last thing: if you want to experience the full capabilities of any projector, you need a very good screen. If you project directly on a wall, you’ll be missing out big time.
Keeping these things in mind, let’s review some of the best projectors for watching sports. I’ll start with the cheapest and finish with the most expensive options.
1. DBPower RD828 1080p – Cheap Projector for Watching Sports
I’ll keep this review short because there are a few specs that are completely weird. Still, the low price combined with that image quality compelled me to include this no-name model among the best projectors for watching sports.
Plus, there are actually user reviews who mention that they’re using the DBPower RD828 for watching sports on it and they really love it.
You could also buy it as one of the best projectors for dorm room. It’s perfect both in terms of price and image quality. Movie nights will never be as good as that.
What I love
In my opinion, it rarely gets much better in this price range.
What makes the DBPower RD828 intriguing are a few important specs: Full HD resolution for a projector under $300, really good overall image quality, decent contrast, and decent brightness if you don’t plan on watching sports during the day.
I also love that it’s a LED device with LCD-chip technology. Generally, you can expect a lamp life of 20,000 hours but it can go as high as 30,000 hours.
In terms of connections, it offers quite a few options. You can connect your Android or iOS device via screen mirroring as long as they’re on the same network.
It’s easy to establish a wireless connection. If you can’t get the hang of it, there are a few YouTube videos that demonstrate how it’s easily done.
You can also establish various connections via ports like HDMI (2), USB, Audio out. There’s no Bluetooth for wireless speakers.
You can also play movies from a USB stick or play PDF, PowerPoint presentations.
Last but not least, it comes with integrated 5W dual speakers. The sound is quite loud. You might be lucky and end up not needing any external audio.
Cons
Now, let me tell you about the weird specs. It claims that it has a brightness of 8,000L. These are not ANSI lumens, which is the international standard for brightness. So there’s no way to approximate how this model comes up against all the others.
Just keep in mind that it definitely performs better in the dark but it can also work during the day if you have some shades or something to block out most of daylight.
Next, there’s the lamp life that is estimated at 50,000 hours. Realistically, with LED projectors we can only get up to 30,000 hours.
Last but not least, you have to pay attention to this fact that doesn’t relate to watching sports but to watching movies/TV shows from streaming apps from your laptop/tablet/phone.
There’s this thing called HDCP (High Bandwidth Digital Content Protection) that blocks you from using streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, if you’re using your laptop, tablet, smartphone to launch these apps.
If you’re using a streaming device (Roku, Chromecast, FireStick, etc.), there will be no problems because they have their own OS and everything will work very well.
All in all, if you’re looking for one of the best projectors for watching sports under $300, you should check out the DBPower RD828.
2. ViewSonic PA503S – Data & Home Theater Projector
There are actually 3 models in the PA503 series: PA503S with SVGA resolution, ViewSonic PA503X with XGA resolution, and PA503W with WXGA resolution.
SVGA is a bit below 600p. XGA is a bit below HD. WXGA is a bit above HD. Thus, if you can, buy the WXGA one.
The only thing that sets these models apart is their resolution. They share all the other specs. I decided to review the ViewSonic PA503S because it’s the cheapest but get the PA503W if you can.
Resolution
The SVGA (800 x 600) resolution is not impressive but it can work satisfactorily. My only advice is to get a smaller screen if you don’t want your images to get too pixelated. A 60/80-inch screen would work better than a 100-inch one.
Because it’s a SVGA, it has a 4:3 aspect ratio. However, you can totally buy a 16×9 screen because you can change the aspect ratio from the menu. You can choose the 16:9 aspect ratio without aspect alteration.
Even though it was totally designed as a data projector (business, education), it totally works as a home theater device. It also means that you can pick it as one of the cheapest, best projectors for watching sports.
Surprisingly, we also get a 22,000:1 contrast ratio. That’s a very decent number that enables this device to project life-like images.
You can choose from 5 colors modes: Brightest, Presentation, Standard, Photo and Movie. There’s no Sports mode but I’m sure you’ll have your favorite among these 5 presets.
Brightness
Overall, the ViewSonic PA503S is one of the cheapest projectors for daylight use. It’s a data projector and the high volume of ANSI lumens clearly shows it.
It has 3,800 ANSI lumens. That’s a lot.
Lamp life
It’s a lamp-based model. That means that you’ll have to change the lamp as the brightness decreases. We don’t have the same problem with LED or laser projectors, that’s a clear advantage.
Lamp life is estimated at 5,000 hours in normal mode. It’s nothing extraordinary but it’s still quite good.
Lens shift
We get +/- 40 degrees lens shift. Nevertheless, this is only vertical.
There’s no horizontal (left, right) lens shift, which means that you’ll have to center it and find the best viewing angle before drilling the holes for a ceiling mount.
If you’re using a projector tripod stand, getting the right position will be faster.
Connections
There’s nothing extraordinary in this area, we get the usual ports: HDMI, dual VGA, mini USB, Audio in/out.
There’s also a tiny 2W speaker that won’t do much.
Surprisingly, you can watch 3D content, it supports immersive 3D viewing but glasses are not included.
The HDMI port allows users to play 3D content from 3D Blu-ray players and other HDMI-enabled devices (laptop, tablet, media players).
3. LG PF50KA LED Full HD – Portable Outddor Projector for Sports
The LG PF50KA is one of the best projectors for watching sports if what you’re looking for is ultra-portability and affordable prices.
Overall, it’s quite good and it also has some very good specs. It’s well-though if you want to choose it as the optimal projector for camping, watching sports, movies, etc.
Resolution
For a price under $600, we get a Full HD (1080p) projector, which is awesome.
The overall image quality is really good, definitely making it worth the price. It’s clear, crisp, with bright, vivid colors. It’s the main attraction for the LG PF50KA.
The manufacturer recommends using an up to 100 inches screen. I would say stick to an 80 inches one for optimal sharpness.
It also has a 1.4 throw ratio. It’s not a short throw.
There are no lens shift, which is to be expected from these portable projectors. But if you’re using it with a tripod stand, it will be easy to get the right viewing angles.
Brightness
It has 600 ANSI lumens. That’s very good for a LED projector. Usually, LED models have a brightness under 2,000 lumens. They work differently than lamp-based models.
You will get the best performance in the evenings but it also has a high enough brightness to be capable of displaying clear images even in ambient light. This is a strong reason for picking it as one of the best projectors for watching sports.
Size
It weighs just 2.1 pounds.
The dimensions are 6.7 x .1.9 x 6.7 inches. It’s a tiny thing.
This little, ultra-portable device is perfect for those who want a device that can be taken anywhere.
Battery life
Since it’s a portable model, it also has a built-in battery that lasts around 2-2.5 hours.
Lamp life
It’s a LED DLP projector with an estimated life of up to 30,000 hours. After that, the brightness will begin to decrease.
Still, 30,000 hours can amount to even more than 10 years of use, depending how often you use it.
Connections
It can connect wirelessly to all the devices that are connected to your network.
Besides that, we also get Smart TV, which is represented by an app store, web browser, and premium content providers (YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, etc.). It’s very easy to reach a variety of content with the press of a few buttons.
Nevertheless, you can also connect your cable box to watch TV and sports via its HDMI port.
It actually has: 2 HDMIs, USB, Audio out, LAN.
LG PF50KA also supports Bluetooth. It truly covers all available connections.
The built-in speaker is feeble, you’ll absolutely need external Audio. You can even connect a wireless soundbar via Bluetooth.
It also comes with a remote control, which is very helpful.
4. Epson Home Cinema 880 – Best Value Projector for Sports
If I were to quickly describe the Epson 880, I would simply say: best value for the money. It’s affordable, around $600 or so and it does offer the overall best image quality for the price.
Whether you’re buying it as the best projector for watching sports or for movies, this will satisfy a lot of demands.
Resolution
The major impressive spec about the Epson 880 is its Full HD (1080p) resolution.
It just shows that you don’t have to spend big in order to get life-like, bright, beautiful images. The image quality is one of the best but that’s pretty much what we always get from Epson, even for their cheaper devices.
It has a 16:9 aspect ratio.
The contrast ratio up to 16,000:1 might not blow you away but it still manages to have some nice blacks. You will be satisfied with the blacks in a completely dark room.
However, contrast ratio as a spec is definitely more appreciated for movies rather than sports. It’s a pleasure watching both on a big projector screen thanks to the Epson 880.
There are 4 modes: Dynamic, Bright Cinema, Cinema and Natural.
Brightness
This is another area where we have to add another positive point to this model.
The 3,300 ANSI lumens is very high. It’s a projector that looks very good in ambient light, too.
Lamp life
It’s a 3LCD lamp-based projector. The LCD means that there’s no fear of any rainbow effect.
Lamp life is estimated at 6,000 hours for normal use.
Lens shift
Epson is a manufacturer from which we can expect both vertical and horizontal lens shift if their devices cost over $1,000.
Since that’s not the case with the Home Cinema 880, we have to settle for +/- 30 degrees both horizontal and vertical keystone correction.
Connections
It supports Mira casting for smartphones, laptops, and tablets.
However, the easiest way to establish a connection is via its HDMI port.
It also has a LAN port.
There’s a 2W speaker, which is really tiny. The Audio port can work for external speaker systems, there’s no Bluetooth support.
5. Anker Nebula Capsule II
This is not my favorite model as one of the best projectors for watching sports. The thing is that it costs just a bit too much for what it offers. It loses in some areas if we compare it with LG PF50KA and Epson Home Cinema 880.
It’s definitely not a bad choice but it has some cons that you should keep in mind. Basically, if it were at least $100 cheaper, it would make more sense.
Resolution
The thing I have the biggest problem with is that this is a HD projector (720p). I would have liked it a lot more if it were Full HD.
Still, for a HD device, it manages to project sharp, vivid images. It’s also a matter of choosing a smaller screen, definitely under 100 inches.
However, in my opinion, the image quality doesn’t come close to Epson Home Cinema 880, even though they’re in the same price range.
There’s only vertical correction. It has autofocus.
Brightness
We only get 200 ANSI lumens. With this brightness, you can be sure that it won’t be the best model to choose if you want to watch sports during the day.
It will work nicely in completely dark environments.
Size
It’s a device that focuses on portability. For its shape as a can to its small size, it screams portability.
It weighs just 1.6 pounds.
Dimensions: 3.1 x 3.1 x 5.9 inches. It’s just a bit bigger than a can.
Battery life
We get the expected 2 hours for HD projection in standard mode.
Lamp life
It’s a LED DLP so we get up to 30,000 hours lamp life with no maintenance needed.
Connections
Unlike some other, older Nebula models, this Capsule II comes with Android TV 9.0. Android TV 12 is the latest release but the 9.0 version means that you can still download some of the latest versions of your favorite streaming apps, like Netflix and the rest. They mention having over 3,600 apps on this OS.
Besides coming with its own interface for running apps and the ability to connect it wirelessly over WiFi, we also get: HDMI, USB, Bluetooth, and Chromecast.
It also features one 8W speaker.
There’s no Audio out. If you need better sound or to connect your headphones, you have 2 options: via Bluetooth or via your wireless network if you have wireless speakers. If you have a soundbar or speaker system with HDMI you can also use the HDMI port. All you need is a cable.
Your cable box can be connected via HDMI.
If you have more devices that you want to connect via HDMI at the same time, you can get a HDMI splitter and connect as many devices as you’d like. It’s also fairly simple.
6. BenQ MW632ST
This BenQ is around the same price as the Nebula Capsule II, LG PF50KA, and the Epson Home Cinema 880. If your budget is around $600, these four models are the ones to set your eyes on.
LG PF50KA and Nebula Capsule II offer us ultra-portability. These two are fantastic choices if you want to watch sports while camping or when you’re far away from home. Plus, the LG is even Full HD.
On the other hand, the Epson 880 has one of the best picture qualities in this price range. You can’t beat Full HD and the quality that the Epson name stands for. Plus, the brightness is impressive and the contrast is very good.
I’m getting really excited to see what specs the BenQ MW632ST comes with to beat these 3 formidable competitors.
Resolution
This time, we get a slightly different resolution. I’m not totally impressed, that’s for sure.
The native resolution is WXGA (1280 X 800 pixels). By those numbers, you can tell that it’s just a bit above HD (720p). Now you can see why I’m not totally impressed.
It’s mainly designed as a data projector for medium classrooms or conference rooms but it can totally work as a home theater projector, too.
The images are sharp, vivid, with great contrast, and just overall very nice. It works even for gaming, without any annoying lag.
The 13,000:1 contrast ratio is quite good.
The max supported resolution is Full HD, as it happens with all models that have a native resolution lower than 1080p.
The unexpected thing is that the BenQ MW632ST can also be used as a Full HD 3D projector. The glasses are not included.
Short throw
This might be a spec that will interest some.
BenQ MW632ST comes with a 0.9 short throw lens design.
If we combine the short throw aspect with the 1.2x zoom, we get easy adjustability no matter where you find yourself wanting to watch sports. It can be a nice advantage if you don’t want to install it permanently.
But the short throw also means that you don’t need a ceiling mount, which can be a relief for some buyers. Prop it up on a piece of furniture or on a tripod stand for projectors and you’re pretty much set.
For a 100-inch screen, the distance from screen is 61.5 inches. It’s not an ultra-short throw.
Brightness
This is where it shines. It has a 3,200 ANSI lumens brightness.
You can certainly use it during the day. Although it will have the best images in a dark room.
Lamp life
It’s lamp-based so we get a lamp life of about 4,000 hours. That’s a bit low.
Keep in mind that it’s a DLP. You can be one of the unlucky ones to experience the rainbow effect, it depends from person to person.
Connections
It supports wireless projection.
There are also plenty ports: HDMI, HDMI (MHL for phones/tablets), USB (2), VGA, Audio out/in.
There is a VGA cable but no HDMI cable. There’s also a remote control.
It also has a 10W internal speaker.
7. Optoma GT1090HDR – Gaming Laser Projector for Watching Sports
With the Optoma GT1090HDR we’re moving further up the price ladder. It’s priced around $1,500 so it will be nice to see what we can get for this money.
It’s a gaming laser projector, which means that it should be absolutely great as one of the best projectors for watching sports, no matter how fast-paced they are.
Gaming doesn’t imply only a lack of lag but also vivid images, clear details, and good contrast. That’s what the GT1090HDR offers us. The HDR is one component to ensure that this is the case. The software is equipped to recognize the signal and automatically shifts into HDR mode.
It works beautifully even for 4K content.
Resolution
In this price range, we’re still stuck with the Full HD (1080p) resolution. On top of that, we can play up to 4K HDR content.
That’s nice to know but don’t confuse the two. You might see 4K HDR input mentioned but that means that the projector can play that type of content, while its native resolution remains 1080p. It’s still very good.
The images displayed are characterized by awesome focus, deep blacks, saturated, vivid colors.
The 300,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio is nice.
Last but not least, it’s capable of playing 3D content from Blu-ray 3D. You’ll have to buy the DLP-Link 3D glasses.
Brightness
The 4.200 ANSI lumens brightness is one of the highest we get. It means that this is a day projector without any problems.
Lamp life
We reviewed lamp-based and LED projectors. With the Optoma GT1090HDR we’re actually entering the laser territory, which is a very nice bonus.
The lamp-life is pretty much the same as what we get with LEDs. It’s estimated at up to 30,000 hours.
Even if it’s a laser device, it’s still a DLP. There is a chance that you’ll experience some rainbow effect. However, since it’s something that not everyone is affected by, you won’t know for sure until you get it.
Short throw
Another surprise is that this is a 0.50:1 short throw. We can project 100 inches images from only several feet away, to be more accurate from 43.7 inches away. That’s a very low short-throw but not an ultra.
For an ultra short-throw, the ratio has to be less than 0.40.
Lens shift
No lens shift, just keystone correction, which is pretty typical of Optoma.
We get both vertical and horizontal corrections, both +/-30%.
Connections
We get plenty: HDMI (2 ports including HDMI 2.0 for 4K content), micro USB, VGA, Audio in/out, LAN, 3D Sync.
There’s also a remote control and VGA cable but no HDMI cable. Plus, an integrated speaker.
However, we get no wireless connectivity and no Bluetooth support.
If you want to establish wireless connections, you’ll have to separately buy the WHD200, which is a wireless HDMI sender and receiver.
8. BenQ TK800M – 4K UHD Projector for Sports
A 4K UHD projector under $2,000? If that’s not reason enough to review this BenQ TK800M as one of the best projectors for watching sports, then I don’t know what is.
What is 4K UHD?
The question that some of you might have is: is 4K UHD true 4K? It’s not exactly true 4K but it’s very close to it.
True 4K is a resolution of 4096 x 2160 pixels.
4K UHD is a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels. They’re certainly very close.
BenQ TK800M offers viewers the opportunity to enjoy 8.3 million pixels at one very affordable price. True 4K achieves around 8.8 million pixels. That’s the difference between them.
It’s certainly higher than what Epson 3200 offers with 4K PRO-UHD, which only reaches over 4 million pixels at one time.
The 10,000:1 contrast ratio doesn’t seem impressive.
There are also several picture modes: 3D, Bright, Cinema, Football, Sport, User 1, User 2, Vivid TV.
Even the presets let us know that this can be one of the best projectors for watching sports.
They also indicate that it supports 3D content but we’ll have to buy glasses separately.
Brightness
3,000 ANSI lumens means that the TK800M can be enjoyed both during the day and at night. It’s a high volume.
Lamp life
It’s a lamp-based device with 4,000 hours on normal mode and up to 15,000 hours on LampSave mode.
Given that it utilizes DLP chip technology, you might experience the rainbow effect. You won’t know until you have it in our home because everyone’s brain reacts differently to this con. Some of us don’t notice it at all.
Lens shift
Only vertical, +/-40%.
Connections
HDMI 2.0 for 4K content and a second HDMI 1.4 for other devices. We also get USB A, mini USB, Audio.
There’s also a remote control with batteries but no other cables are included in the package.
9. LG HU810PW – Laser 4K UHD Projector for Sports
Since we started talking about 4K UHD projectors, let’s continue on that path by reviewing the LG HU810PW. It’s a fairly newly released device and it shows. It’s totally awesome.
Resolution
You can read under the BenQ TK800M, which is reviewed just above, what 4K UHD means. Basically, it’s a resolution that comes very close to true 4K. It’s a very high resolution with 8.3 million pixels.
However, the major difference between this LG HU810PW and the BenQ TK800M is that this LG is a laser projector.
With a price close to $3,000, this is not a cheap device but can be worth it for those who are looking for laser technology paired with a very high resolution as one of the best projectors for watching sports.
It doesn’t play 3D content. It might be a deal breaker for some of you.
On the other hand, it’s HDR compatible and it handles HDR beautifully.
We also get vertical and horizontal lens shift, which is great.
Laser projector
The light source is mentioned to have a life of up to 20,000 hours. There’s no need for a lamp change.
The light source is actually described as a dual laser, one for the blue and one for the red.
The LG HU810PW is a DLP laser but it won’t cause a rainbow effect because no color wheel is used for creating the images.
We only have a laser-based system. The lasers are creating both the light and the color, which is why there’s no need for a color wheel. That’s a big pro.
Brightness
The brightness is 2,700 ANSI lumens, which is good enough even for some ambient light.
Connections
Last but not least, this is a complete projector when it comes to connections. It’s a true beauty.
We get wireless connectivity and Bluetooth support. We also get screen share and Apple Airplay.
Moreover, there’s LG Smart TV, which features an app store for all your favorite content providers, voice recognition, magic remote, and web browser. It’s a complete OS and something you will usually get with LG devices.
The ports are: HDMI (3), LAN, USB Type A (2), Audio, HID (keyboard, mouse, gamepad).
What truly surprised me was to see that it’s Dolby Atmos compatible. I will admit that I wasn’t aware that there were any projectors that were Dolby Atmos compatible until this LG HU810PW.
10. Sony VW325ES – True 4K Projector for Watching Sports
How can I end my reviews on the best projectors for watching sports without reviewing an extraordinary and extraordinarily expensive device?
And who better to provide us with the device than Sony? They’re pretty much famous for their expensive projectors. It will be a delight to see what they have to offer with their VW325ES.
Resolution
Did you really expect it to be any less than true 4K? It’s a device that costs almost as much as a small used car.
Thus, we’re not surprised by the 4K (4096 x 2160 pixels) native resolution. This is true 4K not 4K UHD (3840 x 2160 pixels). Basically, it doesn’t get any better than this.
Sony labels it as 4K SXRD-3, which stands for Silicone X-tal Reflective Display panel technology while having 3 SXRD panels to deliver true 4K resolution.
This type of technology offers rich, inky blacks as well as clear cinematic motion and image smoothness. It’s perfect for fast-paced action movies, games, and also for fast-moving sports content. It reduces blur while maintaining brightness.
It is capable of generating four times the resolution of Full HD. That translates to images with 8.8 million pixels.
Sony VW325ES has true-to-life contrast and color thanks to the Dynamic HDR Enhancer. Every image comes to life,
Moreover, it also upscales existing Full HD Blu-ray and DVD movies to near-4K quality.
It also supports 3D viewing. You’ll have to buy their TDG-BT500A active 3D glasses separately.
Brightness
The brightness is 1,500 lumens. This is the kind of expensive projector that is best enjoyed coupled with an expensive screen and a dark room.
Even on screens up to 300 inches, this device still manages to display vibrant images.
Lamp life
It’s a lamp-based projector. We get up to 6,000 hours in low mode.
Lens shift
This is another area where we’re not disappointed: +85%/-80% vertical and +/-31% horizontal.
Connections
We get a few good options: HDMI (2), LAN, USB.
No wireless connectivity, though. And no Bluetooth.
There’s also a remote control included.
All in all, the truth of the matter is that, even if it seems very expensive, Sony VW325ES is one of the least expensive true 4K projectors. That picture quality cannot be matched. It’s also the perfect way to end my reviews for the best projectors for watching sports.
