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Scores updated Oct 12, 202651 products scored
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UK9 projectors scored out of 100 · prices in £

Best Projector UK 2026: We Scored 9 Home Projectors Out of 100. Several Were Far Dimmer Than the Box Says.

Projector boxes say anything from 200 to 26,000 lumens. Lab tests tell a different story: a "550 lumen" Samsung measured about 240, and a "9,500 lumen" Amazon box measured under 95. So we scored nine home projectors on brightness you can check, the UK apps that actually open, and what they cost. Brightness you can check means ANSI or ISO lumens: two standard lab tests that give similar numbers. The winner costs £279.

DSDev SharmaTV & Projectors analystUpdated · 14 min read

Every score here is ours. If you buy through a link on this page we may earn a commission, and the scores stay the same either way. How we’re funded

Nine home projectors side by side: Cineva One, Epson EF-61, XGIMI Halo+, Nebula Mars 3 Air, Samsung Freestyle, BenQ GV50, XGIMI MoGo 4, Dangbei N2 Mini and a cheap Amazon projector
All nine, from £40 to £569. Of the four that labs have tested, three were far dimmer than the box.
Projectors scored
9
Owner comments read
600+
Lumens a "9,500 lumen" box measured
<95
Price gap, cheapest to most expensive
£529

The short version, if you are in a hurry

Top score: Cineva One, £279 (Index 81)

The highest ANSI lumens figure under £400 (ANSI is a standard lab test of brightness). It has a true 1080p chip, Netflix on the remote and a picture that squares itself. It is £70 to £290 cheaper than the big names, and you get 60 nights to try it on your own wall.

All 9, highest Index first

  1. 1Cineva OneA · 81
  2. 2Epson Lifestudio Pop EF-61B+ · 76
  3. 3XGIMI Halo+ (New)B · 72
  4. 4Nebula Mars 3 AirC+ · 63
  5. 5Samsung The Freestyle 2nd GenC+ · 61
  6. 6BenQ GV50C · 59
  7. 7XGIMI MoGo 4C- · 57
  8. 8Dangbei N2 MiniD+ · 54
  9. 9The £40 to £90 "4K, 9,500 lumens" Amazon projectorsD- · 23

Go straight to the No. 1 pick (£279) »or see all 9 scored

Best projector 2026

Highest Index score

Cineva One

Cineva One

★ 4.8 from 1,642 reviews on the maker's page

A81Index score 81 out of 100
  • 650 ANSI lumens
  • Native 1080p
  • Netflix on the remote
  • Autofocus + keystone
  • Full-size HDMI
  • 360° stand
  • 60 nights to try it

£279£449

Check price →

£279 · 60 nights to try it · every penny back · free UK delivery

or read the full report first ↓

Why so many projectors end up in the loft

UK owners say it plainly. "It was unusable in any form of daylight." "You basically have to have the room as close to pitch black as you can get it… It's in the cupboard gathering dust." "Like most of these Chinese brands, the built in Netflix app is reported as problematic." "Now the room has a decent telly in and no one bothers with the projector."

The cause is usually the number on the box. A "9,500 lumen" projector measured under 95 lumens in tests for a court case. Samsung's "550 lumen" Freestyle measured about 240. So we scored brightness only on figures a lab could check, and counted unmeasured ones at 85%, ours included.

A cheap black mini projector in its open box in a dusty British loft beside Christmas decorations
Where most £50 projectors end up.

What to look for

  • A brightness figure in ANSI or ISO lumens, ideally measured by a lab
  • 500 ANSI lumens or more if you want a lamp on
  • A native 1920 × 1080 chip, not "4K supported"
  • An official Netflix app, and a full-size HDMI port for a stick
  • Autofocus and auto keystone
  • At least 30 nights to try it on your own wall

What to avoid, and which projectors here do it

  • Lumen numbers with no unit: the £50 Amazon boxes
  • "LED lumens" that measure far lower: the Samsung Freestyle
  • Box figures that labs could not match: the XGIMI MoGo 4
  • A 960 × 540 or 720p chip sold as 1080p or "4K": the MoGo 4 and the Amazon boxes
  • Micro HDMI ports: the Samsung Freestyle
  • Unofficial apps that Netflix does not support: the Amazon boxes

All 9 projectors, highest Index first

  1. 1Cineva OneA81
    Price
    £279
    Measured
    Not yet measured
    Apps
    Netflix, Prime, Disney+, YouTube; iPlayer via a stick
    • Bright with a lamp on
    • True 1080p
    • iPlayer built in
    Check price »
  2. 2Epson Lifestudio Pop EF-61B+76
    Price
    £399
    Measured
    No ANSI figure found
    Apps
    Google TV; iPlayer unconfirmed
    • Bright with a lamp on
    • True 1080p
    • iPlayer built in
  3. 3XGIMI Halo+ (New)B72
    Price
    £479
    Measured
    New version not measured
    Apps
    Google TV; no iPlayer
    • Bright with a lamp on
    • True 1080p
    • iPlayer built in
  4. 4Nebula Mars 3 AirC+63
    Price
    £479
    Measured
    383 (ProjectorCentral)
    Apps
    Google TV; ITVX, no iPlayer or Channel 4
    • Bright with a lamp on
    • True 1080p
    • iPlayer built in
  5. 5Samsung The Freestyle 2nd GenC+61
    Price
    £349
    Measured
    234–249 ANSI
    Apps
    All UK catch-up apps
    • Bright with a lamp on
    • True 1080p
    • iPlayer built in
  6. 6BenQ GV50C59
    Price
    £569
    Measured
    RTINGS: brightness "poor"
    Apps
    Google TV; ITVX, Channel 4, no iPlayer
    • Bright with a lamp on
    • True 1080p
    • iPlayer built in
  7. 7XGIMI MoGo 4C-57
    Price
    £378
    Measured
    258–270 in normal mode
    Apps
    Google TV; no iPlayer or Channel 4
    • Bright with a lamp on
    • True 1080p
    • iPlayer built in
  8. 8Dangbei N2 MiniD+54
    Price
    £199.99
    Measured
    Not measured
    Apps
    Netflix, Prime, YouTube only
    • Bright with a lamp on
    • True 1080p
    • iPlayer built in
  9. 9The £40 to £90 "4K, 9,500 lumens" Amazon projectorsD-23
    Price
    £54.99
    Measured
    Under 95 (one "9,500" model)
    Apps
    Unofficial; Netflix at 540p, below HD
    • Bright with a lamp on
    • True 1080p
    • iPlayer built in

Prices checked 12 Oct 2026 at the shop named on each card.

Sort that table by price and the order means little. The most expensive projector, the BenQ at £569, sits sixth. The XGIMI Halo+ at £479 is third. The MoGo 4 costs £99 more than our No. 1 and measured at less than half its brightness on our sums.

Our No. 1 does not win every score. The Samsung wins easily on UK apps. The Epson and the Halo+ score higher on brightness. The Cineva One wins because it is near the top on every score at once, and it costs £279.

The lumens gap: the box against the lab

The most important table in this report. The number each maker prints, what a lab measured where one has, and the figure we used in the score.

  1. Cineva One

    On the box
    650 ANSI
    Measured by a lab
    Not yet
    Figure we scored
    About 550 (85%)
    iPlayer built in
    No, use a stick

  2. Epson Lifestudio Pop EF-61

    On the box
    700 ISO
    Measured by a lab
    Not yet
    Figure we scored
    About 595 (85%)
    iPlayer built in
    Not confirmed

  3. XGIMI Halo+ (New)

    On the box
    700 ISO
    Measured by a lab
    Not this version
    Figure we scored
    About 595 (85%)
    iPlayer built in
    No

  4. Nebula Mars 3 Air

    On the box
    400 ANSI
    Measured by a lab
    383
    Figure we scored
    383
    iPlayer built in
    No

  5. Samsung The Freestyle 2nd Gen

    On the box
    550 "LED"
    Measured by a lab
    234–249
    Figure we scored
    About 240
    iPlayer built in
    Yes

  6. BenQ GV50

    On the box
    500 ANSI
    Measured by a lab
    Not published
    Figure we scored
    About 425 (85%)
    iPlayer built in
    No

  7. XGIMI MoGo 4

    On the box
    450 ISO
    Measured by a lab
    258–270
    Figure we scored
    About 265
    iPlayer built in
    No

  8. Dangbei N2 Mini

    On the box
    200 ISO
    Measured by a lab
    Not yet
    Figure we scored
    About 170 (85%)
    iPlayer built in
    No

  9. The £40 to £90 "4K, 9,500 lumens" Amazon projectors

    On the box
    "9,500–26,000"
    Measured by a lab
    Under 95 (one model)
    Figure we scored
    Under 100
    iPlayer built in
    No

Measured figures are in the projector's normal picture mode, from ProjectorCentral, Projector Reviews, The Hook Up and TechRadar. ANSI and ISO lumens are close enough to compare. "LED lumens" and numbers with no unit are not.

Check the No. 1 pick’s price today »

Every projector, scored

#1
Best projector 2026

Cineva One

Native 1080p · 360° stand · mains powered

A81Index score 81 out of 100
The Cineva One, a white compact projector on its 360-degree stand

Score breakdown

  • Brightness you can check · 25%79
  • UK apps that work · 20%62
  • Real 1080p and set-up · 15%88
  • Easy to live with · 15%82
  • Price and cover · 25%94

No projector here under £400 prints a higher ANSI lumens figure. It has a true 1080p picture, a normal HDMI port and 60 nights to try it on your own wall. It costs £279.

The most common UK owner story about projectors goes like this: "It was unusable in any form of daylight." "This doesn't support Netflix or Disney plus." "It's in the cupboard gathering dust." Three things fix most of that. A brightness figure you can trust. Apps that open. And a picture that sets itself up. The Cineva One is the only projector under £400 here that prints a strong ANSI figure, has a true 1080p chip and focuses itself.

We have to be fair about the number. 650 ANSI lumens is Cineva's own figure and nobody has measured it independently yet. So we counted it at 85%, the same rule we used for every unmeasured figure in this report. Even at 550, it is more than double what labs measured on the Samsung Freestyle and the XGIMI MoGo 4.

It is not perfect. iPlayer and ITVX are not built in, so if catch-up TV matters, budget for a Fire TV Stick. It has no battery. But it costs £279, and you get 60 nights to try it on your own wall. That is the only test that really counts.

Strengths

  • 650 ANSI lumens on the maker's page, printed in the standard unit, not "LED" or box lumens
  • A true 1920 × 1080 chip, so text and faces stay sharp at 100 inches
  • Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ and YouTube from its app store, and a full-size HDMI for a Fire TV Stick
  • Autofocus and auto keystone square the picture in about 2 seconds, and it moves the picture clear of a shelf or frame
  • The stand turns all the way round and tilts straight up to the ceiling
  • 60 nights to try it at home, every penny back, then a 2-year guarantee
  • Free UK delivery from a UK warehouse

Weaknesses

  • 650 ANSI is the maker's figure. No lab has measured it yet, so we counted it at 85%
  • BBC iPlayer, ITVX and Channel 4 are not built in. You need a stick in the HDMI port
  • No battery. It runs from a plug socket
  • Cineva does not publish a fan noise figure
  • A new name, sold only on its own site
Price
£279
On the box
650 ANSI (maker's figure)
Measured
Not yet measured
Resolution
Native 1920 × 1080
Apps
Netflix, Prime, Disney+, YouTube; iPlayer via a stick
Set-up
Autofocus, auto keystone, steps around obstacles
HDMI
Full-size HDMI
Battery
No, mains
Cover
2 years + 60 nights to try

Pick it if you want a big, sharp picture in the bedroom or lounge in the evening, without paying £350 to £570.

£279£449

£279 · 60 nights to try it · every penny back · free UK delivery

Check price →
#2
Longest guarantee

Epson Lifestudio Pop EF-61

Three-panel picture · Google TV · Bose sound

B+76Index score 76 out of 100
The Epson Lifestudio Pop EF-61, a white and navy box projector with a Bose speaker
  • Brightness you can check · 25%85
  • UK apps that work · 20%66
  • Real 1080p and set-up · 15%70
  • Easy to live with · 15%78
  • Price and cover · 25%76

A properly made projector from a big name, with a 5-year guarantee and Bose sound. It loses on price, on autofocus and on UK apps.

If we were scoring build alone, the Epson might win. It is quiet, it has a three-panel picture and a five-year guarantee. One of our analysts thinks it should be first.

It came second because of price and set-up. It is £120 more. What Hi-Fi found iPlayer did not work on a sister Epson model. It also barely tilts, so it is hard to point at the ceiling from a bedside table.

Strengths

  • 5-year guarantee, the longest here by far
  • Three picture panels (Epson calls it 3LCD), so no flashes of rainbow colour, and colours as bright as white
  • Quiet: French test site Les Numériques measured 31.2 dB from 1 metre
  • Bose speakers, and the only eARC port here, the best type of HDMI for sending sound to a soundbar

Weaknesses

  • Les Numériques: no autofocus unless auto keystone is on. It also barely tilts
  • On a sister Epson model, the EF-22, What Hi-Fi found BBC iPlayer did not work
  • No battery, and no independent ANSI measurement yet
  • £120 more than our No. 1
Price
£399
On the box
700 ISO (maker's figure)
Measured
No ANSI figure found
Resolution
Native 1080p, three panels
Apps
Google TV; iPlayer unconfirmed
Set-up
Auto keystone; autofocus only with it on
HDMI
HDMI (eARC, for a soundbar)
Battery
No
Cover
5 years

Pick it if you want a big-name projector that lasts and you will set it on a shelf once.

Skip it if you want it to focus itself, or tilt up to the ceiling.

Against our No. 1: Brighter on paper, with a 5-year guarantee. But it is £120 more and barely tilts. It has no autofocus unless auto keystone is on, and iPlayer is likely missing too.

£399Amazon.co.uk, 12 Oct 2026

See our No. 1 pick instead »
#3
Brightest portable

XGIMI Halo+ (New)

Portable · Google TV · battery

B72Index score 72 out of 100
The XGIMI Halo+, a compact grey cube projector with its remote
  • Brightness you can check · 25%85
  • UK apps that work · 20%68
  • Real 1080p and set-up · 15%88
  • Easy to live with · 15%76
  • Price and cover · 25%50

A bright, well-made portable with a battery. But it costs £200 more than our No. 1, has no iPlayer, and XGIMI scores 1.7 on Trustpilot.

The Halo+ scores higher than our No. 1 on brightness, and it has a battery. If you want a projector for the garden, it is a strong choice.

But it is £200 more at XGIMI and £340 more on Amazon. It has no iPlayer either. And XGIMI's after-sales record in the UK is poor.

Strengths

  • 700 ISO lumens and a true 1080p chip
  • Battery for the garden
  • The official Netflix app, through Google TV
  • Harman Kardon speakers

Weaknesses

  • No BBC iPlayer. One Amazon owner: "No bbc iPlayer????"
  • £479 from XGIMI, but £619 on Amazon
  • Owners say 3D and 4K input were removed from this new version
  • XGIMI scores 1.7 on Trustpilot UK
Price
£479
On the box
700 ISO (maker's figure)
Measured
New version not measured
Resolution
Native 1080p
Apps
Google TV; no iPlayer
Set-up
Autofocus, auto keystone, obstacle avoidance
HDMI
HDMI
Battery
Yes, about 2.5 hours
Cover
2 years

Pick it if you want a bright projector with a battery for the garden.

Skip it if you mostly watch indoors and £479 is a stretch.

Against our No. 1: A battery, and a bit more brightness on paper. But it is £200 more, has no iPlayer either, and XGIMI scores 1.7 on Trustpilot.

£479£619 on AmazonXGIMI UK, 12 Oct 2026

See our No. 1 pick instead »
#4
Honest brightness figure

Nebula Mars 3 Air

Portable · Google TV · battery

C+63Index score 63 out of 100
The Nebula Mars 3 Air, a grey cube projector with a carry handle
  • Brightness you can check · 25%55
  • UK apps that work · 20%70
  • Real 1080p and set-up · 15%72
  • Easy to live with · 15%74
  • Price and cover · 25%52

A lab measured 383 lumens against the 400 on the box, so its number is honest. But it is dim with a lamp on, has no iPlayer, and costs £200 more than our No. 1.

The Mars 3 Air is honest about its brightness, which is rare. The trouble is that 383 lumens only looks good in a dark room, and you pay £479 for it.

Strengths

  • Its 400 ANSI lumens held up in a lab test: 383 measured
  • Very quiet fan
  • Battery and a handle for the garden

Weaknesses

  • Amazon owner: "not bright enough for daytime use… you can't get I player"
  • PCMag: normal TV and films look "darker overall than it should be", and no setting fixes it
  • RTINGS got about 90 minutes of battery, not 2.5 hours
Price
£479
On the box
400 ANSI
Measured
383 (ProjectorCentral)
Resolution
1080p
Apps
Google TV; ITVX, no iPlayer or Channel 4
Set-up
Autofocus, auto keystone
HDMI
HDMI (older 1.4 type)
Battery
Yes, about 90 minutes in a test
Cover
12 months (US terms)

Pick it if you want a battery projector from a known brand and you watch in the dark.

Skip it if you want to keep a lamp on.

Against our No. 1: An honest, measured 383 lumens. Our No. 1 claims 650 and costs £200 less, with a 60-night trial to check it.

£479£419 at Richer SoundsAmazon.co.uk, 12 Oct 2026

See our No. 1 pick instead »
#5
Best for UK apps

Samsung The Freestyle 2nd Gen

Portable · Samsung TV system

C+61Index score 61 out of 100
The Samsung Freestyle 2nd Gen, a white cylinder projector in a cradle
  • Brightness you can check · 25%34
  • UK apps that work · 20%95
  • Real 1080p and set-up · 15%70
  • Easy to live with · 15%64
  • Price and cover · 25%54

The only projector here with every UK catch-up app built in. But the "550 lumens" on the box measures about 240 in the lab, and Samsung has stopped selling it.

If apps were everything, the Freestyle would win. It wins that score by a mile. But the box says 550 lumens and labs measured about 240. With a lamp on, that is not enough.

Strengths

  • Every UK app built in, iPlayer, ITVX and Channel 4 included
  • Tiny, and it turns in its cradle to the ceiling
  • Samsung UK scores 4.2 on Trustpilot

Weaknesses

  • Three labs measured 234 to 249 ANSI lumens on the first Freestyle, which uses the same light parts. TechRadar on this one: "noticeably dim, even when viewed in a completely dark room"
  • A micro HDMI port, with no adaptor in the box
  • No battery unless you buy the base
  • Samsung UK lists it as "No longer available"
Price
£349
On the box
550 "LED" lumens; 230 ANSI in Samsung's spec
Measured
234–249 ANSI
Resolution
1080p
Apps
All UK catch-up apps
Set-up
Autofocus, auto keystone
HDMI
Micro HDMI
Battery
No (base sold separately)
Cover
Not confirmed

Pick it if you watch mostly iPlayer and ITVX, in the dark, on a smaller picture.

Skip it if you want a bright 100-inch picture.

Against our No. 1: Every UK app built in, which ours lacks. But it has less than half the brightness on our sums, a micro HDMI port, and costs £70 more.

£349£429 at John LewisAmazon.co.uk (Richer Sounds), 12 Oct 2026

See our No. 1 pick instead »
#6
Best speakers

BenQ GV50

Portable · Google TV · battery

C59Index score 59 out of 100
The BenQ GV50, a round white projector on a tilting base
  • Brightness you can check · 25%55
  • UK apps that work · 20%72
  • Real 1080p and set-up · 15%76
  • Easy to live with · 15%72
  • Price and cover · 25%34

Big sound and a tilting base. But it costs £569 and has no iPlayer. Live UK TV also judders on its built-in apps.

A good-sounding projector at a high price. For £569 we expected iPlayer and a smooth picture on UK telly.

Strengths

  • 18 W speakers, including a bass speaker
  • Tilts to the ceiling
  • ITVX and Channel 4 included

Weaknesses

  • No BBC iPlayer. What Hi-Fi found UK TV judders, because its apps run at 60 frames a second and UK TV is made at 50
  • Owner: "warranty 2 years, but light was dead just in eight month"
  • Owner: auto-zoom made it "entirely unusable"
  • £290 more than our No. 1
Price
£569
On the box
500 ANSI (maker's figure)
Measured
RTINGS: brightness "poor"
Resolution
Native 1080p
Apps
Google TV; ITVX, Channel 4, no iPlayer
Set-up
Autofocus, auto keystone
HDMI
HDMI 2.0 + USB-C
Battery
Yes
Cover
UK term not confirmed

Pick it if sound matters more than anything and you have the budget.

Skip it if you watch UK broadcast TV through it.

Against our No. 1: Better speakers. But it is £290 more and dimmer by its own figure. It has no iPlayer, and UK TV judders.

£569Amazon.co.uk (Richer Sounds), 12 Oct 2026

See our No. 1 pick instead »
#7
Smallest

XGIMI MoGo 4

Portable · Google TV · battery

C-57Index score 57 out of 100
The XGIMI MoGo 4, a small cylinder projector on a stand
  • Brightness you can check · 25%38
  • UK apps that work · 20%70
  • Real 1080p and set-up · 15%58
  • Easy to live with · 15%64
  • Price and cover · 25%60

Small and portable. But ProjectorCentral measured 258 to 270 lumens in normal use, against 450 on the box. Its 1080p picture comes from a smaller 960 × 540 chip.

It replaced the MoGo 3 Pro, which XGIMI no longer sells in the UK. In normal use, a lab measured it at about 60% of its box figure.

Strengths

  • Light and portable, with a battery
  • The official Netflix app, through Google TV

Weaknesses

  • Measured at 258 to 270 lumens in normal mode. The 404 peak only comes in a mode reviewers call "quite green"
  • Owner: "loud fan noise (I mean, really really loud)"
  • No iPlayer or Channel 4
  • XGIMI scores 1.7 on Trustpilot UK
Price
£378
On the box
450 ISO
Measured
258–270 in normal mode
Resolution
960 × 540 chip, shifted to 1080p
Apps
Google TV; no iPlayer or Channel 4
Set-up
Autofocus, auto keystone
HDMI
HDMI
Battery
Yes
Cover
UK term not confirmed

Pick it if you want the smallest projector for a dark bedroom.

Skip it if you want a bright or sharp picture.

Against our No. 1: Smaller, with a battery. But it has less than half the brightness on our sums, a 960 × 540 chip, and costs £99 more.

£378Amazon.co.uk, 12 Oct 2026

See our No. 1 pick instead »
#8
Cheapest named brand

Dangbei N2 Mini

Dangbei's own app system · mains powered

D+54Index score 54 out of 100
The Dangbei N2 Mini, a dark grey projector on a curved stand with its remote
  • Brightness you can check · 25%24
  • UK apps that work · 20%40
  • Real 1080p and set-up · 15%78
  • Easy to live with · 15%66
  • Price and cover · 25%74

A true 1080p projector for £200. But it is rated at only 200 lumens, and its apps stop at Netflix, Prime and YouTube.

Honest and cheap, but too dim for anything but a dark room.

Strengths

  • £199.99 for a true 1080p chip
  • The official Netflix app
  • 2-year guarantee

Weaknesses

  • Only 200 lumens on its own spec. Owner: "a bit dim if there is any light"
  • Owner: "no iPlayer or any other recognisable channels"
  • Owner: "Disney Plus doesn't work at all"
Price
£199.99
On the box
200 ISO
Measured
Not measured
Resolution
Native 1080p
Apps
Netflix, Prime, YouTube only
Set-up
Autofocus, auto keystone
HDMI
HDMI 1.4, no 4K input
Battery
No
Cover
2 years

Pick it if you want a sharp picture in a pitch-black room for under £200.

Skip it if you want a lamp on, or Disney+.

Against our No. 1: £79 cheaper. But it has about a third of the brightness, fewer apps, and no 60-night trial.

£199.99Amazon.co.uk, 12 Oct 2026

See our No. 1 pick instead »
#9
Made-up numbers

The £40 to £90 "4K, 9,500 lumens" Amazon projectors

720p chip · unofficial apps

D-23Index score 23 out of 100
A typical cheap white mini projector sold on Amazon
  • Brightness you can check · 25%15
  • UK apps that work · 20%10
  • Real 1080p and set-up · 15%15
  • Easy to live with · 15%25
  • Price and cover · 25%45

"9,500 lumens" and "4K" on the box. A lab measured one "9,500 lumen" model at under 95. A best-selling model has a 720p chip and plays Netflix at 540p, below HD.

These are the projectors behind most "it's in the loft" stories. The number on the box is not a lumen figure in any unit a lab recognises.

Strengths

  • Cheap enough for a one-off garden party

Weaknesses

  • ProjectorCentral: an AuKing "9,500 lumens" measured under 95 lumens
  • A 720p chip behind "4K supported". Owner: "Nowhere near 4k!!!"
  • Owner: "This doesn't support Netflix or Disney plus what we wanted"
  • Owner: "Fan is wayyy to loud, also the power plug gets hot"
Price
£39.99–£89.99
On the box
"9,500" to "26,000", no unit
Measured
Under 95 (one "9,500" model)
Resolution
720p chip, "4K supported"
Apps
Unofficial; Netflix at 540p, below HD
Set-up
Manual focus
HDMI
HDMI
Battery
No
Cover
Depends on the seller

Pick it if you want a toy for a child's sleepover.

Skip it if you want to watch a film.

Against our No. 1: £189 to £239 cheaper. But you get a fraction of the light, a 720p chip, and Netflix that barely works.

£54.99£39.99 to £89.99Amazon.co.uk, 12 Oct 2026

See our No. 1 pick instead »

Why the Cineva One came top

We expected an XGIMI or the Epson to win. Both are well made. What changed it was putting the box figures next to the lab figures, and then the prices next to those.

The Cineva One prints 650 ANSI lumens. Nobody has measured it independently yet, so we cut it to about 550 in our sums. That is still more than double what labs measured on the Freestyle and the MoGo 4. In practice it means a 100-inch picture with the main light off. With a lamp on, go a little smaller, to around 80 inches.

The picture is a true 1920 × 1080 chip, not a smaller chip shifted to look like one. Autofocus and auto keystone square it in about 2 seconds, even off to one side. The stand turns all the way round and tilts to the ceiling, which is handy if you watch in bed.

Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ and YouTube come from its app store. iPlayer, ITVX and Channel 4 do not, so plug in a Fire TV Stick. Unlike the Samsung, it has a normal HDMI port, so no adaptor.

It costs £279, with 60 nights to try it and every penny back. That is the real test of brightness: your own wall, your own lamp.

Two pictures of the same bedroom wall with a lamp on: a dim, grey picture from a cheap projector and a bright one from the Cineva One
The maker's own photos, both with a lamp on: a cheap projector first, then the Cineva One.
The Cineva One tilted up on its stand, throwing a picture onto the bedroom ceiling
The stand tilts straight up to the ceiling.

“She reads with her lamp on and the picture's still clear on the wall. Netflix was on the remote the first night, no stick, no faffing.”

Dan W., Leeds, review on the maker's page

“Four stars because the sun hits that side of the house after lunch, so it's curtains shut or wait till evening.”

Graham P., Norwich, review on the maker's page

Who should not buy it

  • You want a TV replacement for daytime. No projector here is one
  • You need a battery for the garden. Look at the Halo+
  • You want every UK catch-up app with no stick. Look at the Freestyle
  • You want a big-name brand with a 5-year guarantee. Look at the Epson

Our top-scoring projector · £279

£279 · 60 nights to try it · every penny back · free UK delivery

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How we scored

We did not test these projectors ourselves. We compared published specifications, read each maker's guarantee terms, used brightness and noise figures measured by named labs, and read more than 600 owner comments from Amazon UK, AVForums, Mumsnet, MoneySavingExpert and Reddit's UK forums.

Each criterion is scored 0 to 100. To get the Index, we multiply each score by its weight, add them up and divide by 100. For the Cineva One that is (79×25 + 62×20 + 88×15 + 82×15 + 94×25) ÷ 100 = 81.15, which rounds to 81.

Brightness and price carry the most weight, 25 each. "Is it bright enough?" is the first question owners ask, and brightness is the number most often made up.

  • Prices checked 12 October 2026 at the shop named on each card.
  • Measured lumens come from ProjectorCentral, The Hook Up, Projector Reviews and TechRadar, each named on the card.
  • Where nobody has measured a projector, we count its maker's ANSI or ISO figure at 85%. That includes our No. 1.
  • "iPlayer built in" means the BBC iPlayer app runs on the projector itself, without a stick or casting.
Spec sheets, a tape measure and a light meter on a coffee table in a lounge
Spec sheets against lab figures, projector by projector.

The five weights

  • Brightness you can check25%

    Lab-measured ANSI lumens where they exist. Unmeasured maker figures count at 85%. Numbers with no unit count for nothing.

  • UK apps that work20%

    An official Netflix app that works, then Prime, Disney+, YouTube, BBC iPlayer, ITVX and Channel 4, built in or easy to add.

  • Real 1080p and set-up15%

    A true 1920 × 1080 chip, then autofocus and auto keystone that square the picture by themselves.

  • Easy to live with15%

    Fan noise, a full-size HDMI port, a stand that tilts to the ceiling, sound and battery.

  • Price and cover25%

    Today's UK price, the guarantee and how long you have to send it back.

What we did not score

Contrast figures and HDR badges, which are about how deep the darks and bright the highlights look. Owners rarely mention them, and makers measure them in different ways. "4K" labels count for nothing: we checked the real chip instead.

Should you just buy a bigger TV?

An ordinary British living room in the evening with a flat TV on the chimney breast
The other option: a 65-inch TV starts at about £399.

For daytime watching, yes. A TV is far brighter, and it has every UK app built in. A 65-inch TV at Currys starts at about £399, and a 75-inch at about £569.

In the evening, a projector gives you far more picture for the money. A 100-inch picture has more than twice the area of a 65-inch TV. And when it is off, the wall is just a wall. Owners who keep the TV for the day and add a projector for film nights are often the happiest.

Why is it £279 when the big names are £349 to £569?

The Cineva One, its voice remote, power lead and manual laid out next to the box
What is in the box: projector, stand, remote, power lead.

The parts inside a projector like this are made in the same few factories whatever the badge. What you pay extra for at the top is the brand, the shop's margin and the advertising.

Cineva sells only on its own site, with no shop taking a cut. That is why it is £279, and also why you may not have heard of it. That is what the 60 nights are for. The maker's page lists everything in the box.

What to expect in the first month

Three children in pyjamas on a duvet watching a big underwater cartoon on a bedroom wall
A Saturday night in the first month.

  1. 1Night 1

    It sets itself up

    Point it at the wall and it focuses and squares the picture in about 2 seconds. Sign in to Netflix from the remote.

  2. 2Week 1

    Find your size

    Main light off, try 100 inches. Lamp on, bring it down to about 80. Plug in a stick if you want iPlayer.

  3. 3Week 2

    The ceiling

    Tilt the stand up and watch lying in bed. It squares the picture on the ceiling too.

  4. 4Month 1

    Decide

    By now you know if it suits your room. If it is not bright enough, you still have about a month left to send it back.

Before you buy any projector

Ignore any lumen number without "ANSI" or "ISO"

"9,500 lumens" with no unit is not a measurement. One owner on PistonHeads put it well: "lumen output is a bit like 80's car BHP". ANSI and ISO lumens are two standard lab tests of brightness, and they give similar numbers. Look for one of them, and for an independent lab test if you can find one.

Check for a true 1080p chip

"4K supported" means it accepts a 4K signal, not that it shows one. Many cheap boxes use a 720p panel or smaller. Look for "native 1920 × 1080". Our No. 1 prints it.

Check the apps before you buy

An official Netflix app is the big one. Then check BBC iPlayer, ITVX and Channel 4. Almost no projector has all of them. A Fire TV Stick in the HDMI port fixes most gaps, so make sure there is a full-size HDMI port.

Plan the room, not just the projector

With the curtains drawn and the main light off, aim for a 100-inch picture. With a lamp on, a smaller picture of around 80 inches looks brighter. No projector here copes with afternoon sun. A plain, smooth wall works fine, and magnolia is OK.

Sort the sound

Built-in speakers are fine in a bedroom. For the lounge or the garden, pair a Bluetooth speaker or a soundbar.

The real cost of buying the wrong projector

A cheap projector on a pile of books throwing a pale, washed-out picture on a bedroom wall with the ceiling light on
The ceiling light on. The most common disappointment.

The cost is not just the money. It is the film night that never happens. Owners describe the same thing again and again: a dim picture, apps that will not open, and a box that goes back in the cupboard. "In hindsight it was a mistake."

A projector that is bright enough, opens Netflix and squares itself gets used on a Tuesday, not just at Christmas. One that does not ends up in the loft.

One honest limit: no projector at this price beats daylight. If your room gets the afternoon sun, plan on curtains or evenings. That is true of every projector in this report.

Our top-scoring projector · £279

£279 · 60 nights to try it · every penny back · free UK delivery

Check price →

The analyst who disagreed

I would put the Epson first. A five-year guarantee from a big name, a quiet fan and a three-panel picture are worth £120 to me. The others argued that the Cineva One's 60 nights cover the risk of a new brand, and that the Epson's limited tilt rules it out for bedrooms. On price and set-up, they are right.

Sam Adeyemi · Ratings Index analyst, who disagreed with the order

Questions people ask

Can you watch a projector with the lights on?

With a lamp on, yes, if it is bright enough and the picture is around 80 inches. In daylight, no projector here is a TV replacement. Owners of dim projectors say "you basically have to have the room as close to pitch black as you can get it". That is why brightness is our biggest score.

How many lumens do I need for a bedroom or lounge?

For an evening picture with a lamp on, look for 500 ANSI lumens or more. Below about 300, plan on curtains shut and lights off. Be careful: many boxes print numbers with no unit, or "LED lumens". These usually come out far lower in a lab.

Does Netflix work on cheap projectors?

Often not properly. The £50 Amazon boxes run unofficial apps, and one test found Netflix playing at 540p, below HD. XGIMI, Nebula, BenQ and Epson use Google TV, which has the official Netflix app. Our No. 1 has Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ and YouTube from its app store, and a full-size HDMI port for a Fire TV Stick.

Which projector has BBC iPlayer built in?

Of the nine, only the Samsung Freestyle has every UK catch-up app built in. For the rest, plug a Fire TV Stick, Roku or Chromecast into the HDMI port. That gives you every app and login you have on your TV.

Is a projector better than a 65-inch TV?

For daytime watching, no. A TV is far brighter. In the evening, a projector gives you a much bigger picture for the money. A 65-inch TV at Currys starts at about £399; the Cineva One gives you a 100-inch picture for £279.

Why is a £279 projector brighter than a £378 one?

Brightness on the box is not the same as brightness on your wall. The MoGo 4 says 450 but measured about 265 in normal use. The Cineva One says 650 ANSI, which has not been independently measured yet, so we counted it at 85%. Its 60 nights to try it is how you check it yourself.

What if it is not bright enough for my room?

Send it back. The Cineva One gives you 60 nights to try it at home, every penny back if it is not for you, then a 2-year guarantee. Check the 60-night guarantee on the maker's page.

Where can I buy the Cineva One?

Only from Cineva's own UK site. Delivery is free and tracked from a UK warehouse. The maker's page shows today's price and what is in the box.

Our verdict

Start with the exceptions. If you want every UK app built in and watch mostly in the dark, the Freestyle does that. If you want a big name and a 5-year guarantee, the Epson is a fine buy at £399. If you need a battery, the Halo+.

For most people, the question is simpler: will it be bright enough in my room, will Netflix work, and what if it does not? The Cineva One has the strongest ANSI figure under £400, a true 1080p picture and Netflix on the remote. You get 60 nights to check it on your own wall, for £279.

The number on the box is a promise, not a measurement. The best projector is the one you can check on your own wall.

Cineva One

Best projector 2026

Cineva One: a bright 100-inch picture, or your money back

★ 4.8 from 1,642 reviews on the maker's page

  • 650 ANSI lumens on the maker's page: a 100-inch picture with the main light off, and bright enough to leave a lamp on
  • Native 1080p: a true 1920 × 1080 picture, sharp to the corners
  • Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ and YouTube from the app store, plus a full-size HDMI port for a Fire TV Stick
  • Autofocus and auto keystone in about 2 seconds, even off to one side
  • A 360° stand that tilts straight up to the ceiling
  • 60 nights to try it, every penny back, then a 2-year guarantee
  • Free tracked delivery from a UK warehouse

£279£449

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£279 · 60 nights to try it · every penny back · free UK delivery

Price note: when we last checked, the maker’s page showed £279, down from £449. No code needed. If it has changed, the button shows today’s price.

References

Every number on this page is a maker’s figure, a named lab or review, or something owners said in public. Check any of them.

  1. 1.Cineva One UK page: 650 ANSI lumens, native 1080p, apps, 60-night guarantee, 2-year guarantee, checked 12 October 2026
  2. 2.ProjectorCentral: XGIMI MoGo 4 review, measured lumens and fan noise
  3. 3.PCMag UK: XGIMI MoGo 4, 960 × 540 chip
  4. 4.What Hi-Fi: MoGo 4 vs Nebula Mars 3 Air, UK apps
  5. 5.XGIMI UK: Halo+ (New)
  6. 6.XGIMI on Trustpilot UK
  7. 7.ProjectorCentral: Samsung Freestyle review, measured lumens
  8. 8.TechRadar: Samsung Freestyle 2nd Gen review
  9. 9.Trusted Reviews: Samsung Freestyle 2nd Gen, UK catch-up apps
  10. 10.ProjectorCentral: Nebula Mars 3 Air review
  11. 11.Trusted Reviews: Nebula Mars 3 Air, no iPlayer
  12. 12.Epson UK: Lifestudio Pop EF-61, 5-year warranty
  13. 13.Les Numériques: Epson EF-61 test
  14. 14.What Hi-Fi: Epson EF-22, iPlayer not working
  15. 15.BenQ UK: GV50
  16. 16.What Hi-Fi: BenQ GV50 review
  17. 17.Amazon UK: Dangbei N2 Mini
  18. 18.ProjectorCentral: Epson wins judgement over AuKing brightness claim
  19. 19.AndroidPCTV: Magcubic HY300 Pro review, Netflix at 540p
  20. 20.Currys: 65-inch TVs, price low to high
  21. 21.Mumsnet: to buy a projector instead of a TV
  22. 22.Reddit r/AskUK: projector and screen instead of TV

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