Best Ultra Short Throw Projectors 2026: Eight Models Compared for Dark and Bright Rooms

Introduction

Ultra short throw projectors have become a favorite way to build a large screen experience without the hassle of long throw distances. This year brings eight new models from High Sense, Nexigo, Epson, XG, JMGO, and WAX, each with different strengths in brightness, contrast, and color accuracy. We tested them all on identical 100-inch screens, measured input lag for gaming, checked 24p motion handling, and evaluated 3D performance to give you a clear picture of what each model offers.

How We Evaluated These Projectors

Every projector was calibrated to a grayscale delta E under two and a color delta E under four before side-by-side comparisons. Brightness was measured in multiple modes, including standard and brightness-enhanced settings. Contrast was assessed both natively and with dynamic dimming or iris systems. Input lag was tested at 60 Hz, 120 Hz, and 240 Hz, and 24p playback was checked for motion judder. 3D performance used a frame-packed Blu-ray with intense pop-out effects.

The projectors range from a $1,799 budget option to a $5,997 flagship, so there is something for every budget. But as the testing shows, price does not always translate directly into the best image quality for your specific room and viewing habits.

WAX Nova Pro

The WAX Nova Pro is the least expensive projector in this lineup at $1,799. It uses a single laser light source with an advertised 2,100 ISO lumens, and measured slightly higher at 2,234 lumens in its office brightness mode. That mode disables white balance controls, but the image remains very watchable.

In dark room viewing, the Nova Pro finished fourth overall. Its native contrast measured around 300 to 1, which is respectable for the price. The single laser light source is less likely to produce laser speckle or color metamerism issues, making it a safe choice for people sensitive to those effects.

The Nova Pro supports HDR10 but not Dolby Vision, which was a noticeable difference in HDR content compared to some competitors. For bright room viewing, the extra 500 lumens over the High Sense PT1 made it more suitable when ambient light was present. However, the Nova Pro dropped frames at 120 Hz and does not support 3D content.

High Sense PT1

The High Sense PT1 is marketed as a budget-friendly version of the popular PX3 Pro, sharing the same triple laser light source but with less brightness. It is advertised at 2,500 lumens, though measurements came in at 2,221 lumens with the brightness enhancer and 1,698 lumens without it.

Despite the lower brightness, the PT1 was a standout performer in dark room viewing, finishing in a very close second place. Its dynamic laser dimming produced a massive 13,364 to 1 dynamic contrast ratio, which translated into convincing shadows and deep black levels in actual content. The PT1 also supports Dolby Vision, giving it an edge in HDR playback.

The PT1 was one of the loudest projectors in terms of built-in speakers, and it passed the 24p motion test without judder. Input lag was excellent, especially at 240 Hz where it measured under 5 milliseconds. The pure RGB laser light source is more prone to laser speckle and can cause color perception issues for people with color blindness, so a lenticular screen is recommended over a Fresnel screen.

XG Aura 2

The XG Aura 2 is a new model that includes a full Google TV operating system. It is advertised at 2,300 ISO lumens and measured 2,692 lumens in high performance mode, though that mode uses jet engine fan speeds and a green-shifted image. In standard mode, it came in almost exactly as advertised at 2,284 lumens.

The Aura 2 excels in 3D content, delivering what feels like a completely different league compared to other projectors. The 3D effect is strong and eye comfort is high, making it the top choice for 3D enthusiasts. It also has excellent input lag at 240 Hz, measuring under 5 milliseconds.

The dual laser light source uses blue and red lasers with a phosphor for green, and laser speckle was extremely low in most content. The Aura 2 also features automatic screen fit and distortion reduction tools that work with your phone’s camera, making it viable for temporary setups with non-tensioned screens.

JMGO O2S Ultra

The JMGO O2S Ultra is a just-released model that was first seen at CES 2025. It uses a triple laser light source with an advertised 3,600 ISO lumens, and measured considerably higher at 4,810 lumens in dynamic mode with full-speed fans. In more color-accurate modes, it dropped to 2,454 lumens, which was still the brightest in that category at the time.

In bright room viewing, the O2S Ultra was a top performer, with pure RGB lasers providing significantly more color pop than competitors. It also has the shortest throw distance of the group, making it easy to place on a low console. The projector comes with a foam carrying case, suggesting it is intended for temporary setups.

However, dark room viewing was not its strong suit. A setting called local contrast control caused blown-out highlights and crushed shadow detail in moderately lit scenes, and the black floor turned extremely blue in dark scenes. The O2S Ultra also had issues with frame-packed 3D compatibility, with only side-by-side and top-bottom formats working during testing.

High Sense PX3 Pro

The High Sense PX3 Pro was the winner of last year’s comparison, and it remains a strong contender. It is a triple laser projector with an advertised 3,000 lumens, and it significantly outperformed that with 3,475 measured lumens on brightness enhancer high. In standard mode, it measured around 2,900 lumens, taking the lead for the most usable lumens.

The PX3 Pro finished third in dark room viewing, with high native contrast and effective laser dimming. It is described as extremely well-rounded, performing well in both bright and dark rooms. The projector had a perfect focus score across all screen segments, and its 20 color flashes per frame help reduce the rainbow effect.

Like the PT1, the PX3 Pro uses a pure RGB laser light source that is prone to laser speckle and can cause white balance issues for people with color blindness. A lenticular screen is recommended over a Fresnel screen for this model.

Nexigo Aurora Pro Mark II

The Nexigo Aurora Pro Mark II received a significant firmware update in July that transformed its performance. It has an advertised brightness of 2,400 lumens, and measured 2,302 in its brightest mode with around 1,900 lumens in more color-accurate modes.

This projector took first place in dark room viewing, thanks to the most aggressive laser dimming on the market combined with a motorized dynamic iris. The combination allows it to clamp down quickly when scene luminance shifts, maintaining bright highlights while achieving deep black levels. In the 1917 staircase scene torture test, it just barely came out on top in the black floor battle while managing significantly brighter highlights.

The Aurora Pro Mark II also performed well in 3D content, with good eye comfort and a strong 3D effect. It uses a hybrid light source with pure lasers for each primary color plus additional phosphor for green and red, which eliminates the color blindness issue found in pure RGB projectors. Laser speckle is extremely low.

Epson QS100B

The Epson QS100B is the upgraded version of the popular LS800, losing built-in speakers and an operating system but gaining more color calibration options and 500 extra lumens for a total of 4,500. It measured an eye-searing 6,241 lumens in dynamic mode with usable color accuracy, though other color modes came in between 3,600 and 4,200 lumens.

This projector is built for bright room viewing. Even with headlights shining at the screen, it remains comfortably watchable for sports. However, dark room performance was poor, with bad colors and poor contrast in dark scenes despite measuring almost 13,000 to 1 dynamic contrast. This shows that dynamic contrast measurements do not always translate into real-world performance.

The QS100B uses three LCD projection technology, which produces a true composite image without the rainbow effect. However, it only has half of 4K resolution with two pixel shifts instead of four, making it look soft compared to competitors. It also had the worst focus scores, particularly in the corners.

High Sense L9Q

The High Sense L9Q is the flagship model at $5,997, with an advertised 5,000 lumens. It measured a maximum of 4,870 lumens with the brightness enhancer on ultra, which warns against prolonged use and is heavily green-shifted. In standard mode, it measured 3,716 lumens, putting it in second place overall for both total and usable brightness.

In bright room viewing, the L9Q looked better than the Epson in person, with superior focus, sharpness, and color. However, in dark room viewing, its significantly lower dynamic contrast could not keep up with the Nexigo, and its black floor was slightly blue-shifted.

The L9Q had a perfect focus score and 20 color flashes per frame for reduced rainbow effect. It also delivered the strongest 3D effect ever experienced, though it was uncomfortable on the eyes. The projector is absolutely massive, so it requires a substantial entertainment console.

Overall Buying Advice

For primarily dark room viewing, the Nexigo Aurora Pro Mark II and High Sense PT1 are both exceptional choices. The Nexigo comes out slightly on top in terms of black floor, while the PT1 leads in color accuracy after calibration and color space coverage. The main difference is that the Nexigo has a higher tendency to show dynamic artifacts from its mechanical iris, while the PT1 is more prone to laser speckle and color metamerism.

For a mixed-use projector for watching sports during the day and movies at night, the High Sense PX3 Pro is extremely well-rounded with strong usable brightness, high native contrast, and effective laser dimming. It may not match the black floor of the top dark room performers, but it is generally good at everything.

For bright room sports viewing, the Epson QS100B and High Sense L9Q are the top performers, but at their current prices, neither is recommended. The Epson LS 650 offers virtually the same picture quality for around $1,500, making it a much better value. If you just need something bright, there is no reason to spend $5,000 or more.

The JMGO O2S Ultra is the first viable portable ultra short throw projector, with a small size, super short throw ratio, and automatic setup features that make it possible to project onto non-tensioned screens or white walls with minimal distortion. The XG Aura 2 offers similar auto-fit features with louder speakers, but excels most notably in 3D content.

Conclusion

The ultra short throw projector market has never been more competitive. The Nexigo Aurora Pro Mark II and High Sense PT1 lead for dark room viewing, the High Sense PX3 Pro is the best all-rounder, and the JMGO O2S Ultra opens up a new category of portable projectors. The WAX Nova Pro offers solid budget performance, while the Epson QS100B and High Sense L9Q are impressive in bright rooms but hard to justify at their current prices. Consider your primary viewing environment and sensitivity to laser speckle or dynamic artifacts when making your choice.