No. 1 here · Best overall
XGIMI MIRA Pro
3,000 ISO lumens · RGB triple laser · 0.175:1 throw
$1,699$1,999Nov 13, 2026
Best UST projectors under $2,000
4 laser projectors in 4K at $2,000 or less on Nov 13, 2026, price counting for 45%; three are true RGB triple lasers.
Under $2,000: all 4 in order
No. 2 here · Best price
AWOL Vision LTV-3000 Pro
2,000 ISO lumens · RGB triple laser · 0.25:1 throw
$1,699$2,999Nov 13, 2026
No. 3 here · Best all-rounder
Hisense PT1
2,500 ANSI lumens · RGB triple laser · 0.2:1 throw
$1,999.99$2,999.99Nov 13, 2026
No. 4 here
Formovie Cinema Edge
2,100 ISO lumens · Laser phosphor · 0.23:1 throw
$1,799$2,499Nov 13, 2026
Under $2,000: the 4 projectors under $2,000, in detail
How this order is built
No. 1Best overall
XGIMI MIRA Pro
Best for first-time UST buyers who want triple-laser color and fast gaming without spending $2,000.
- RGB triple laser and 110% of BT.2020 for $1,699: nothing else under $2,000 claims both with 3,000 lumens
- 1 ms at 1080p/240 Hz in Game Mode with VRR on, per XGIMI
- Automatic screen alignment and motorized focus: the easy first evening
The catch: The picture stops at 120 inches, per XGIMI, and the page gives no native contrast figure: the 20,000:1 it quotes is with dynamic black switched on. Sound is 36 W with DTS Virtual:X and Dolby Audio, not Dolby Atmos. XGIMI also doesn't state a laser life or name Netflix for this model.
- Brightness
- 3,000 ISO lumens
- Light source
- RGB triple laser
- Throw ratio
- 0.175:1
- Input lag
- 1 ms (brand)
- Warranty
- 2-year
No. 2Best price
AWOL Vision LTV-3000 Pro
Best for movie and 3D fans on a budget who watch after dark and want a big picture.
- RGB triple laser, 107% of BT.2020, Dolby Vision and HDR10+ for $1,699
- Input lag published at both resolutions: 15 ms at 4K/60, 8 ms at 1080p/120
- Active 3D, motorized focus, pictures from 80 to 150 inches
The catch: 2,000 ISO lumens is the lowest brightness on our list: this is an evening projector. The built-in system is Android 9.0, which is why AWOL adds a Fire TV stick on the product page. The throw ratio is 0.25:1, so it sits further from the wall than newer models, and the warranty is 12 months where rivals give 24.
- Brightness
- 2,000 ISO lumens
- Light source
- RGB triple laser
- Throw ratio
- 0.25:1
- Input lag
- 8 ms (brand)
- Warranty
- 1-year
No. 3Best all-rounder
Hisense PT1
Best for Apple households and smart-home fans who want Hisense color for under $2,000.
- RGB triple laser with 110% of BT.2020 for $1,999.99
- Dolby Vision and HDR10+, with Google TV and Wi-Fi 6E
- AirPlay, Apple Home, Alexa, Google Assistant and Control4 support, per Hisense
The catch: 2,500 ANSI lumens is fine for evenings and a shaded room, light for a sunny one. Hisense publishes no input lag figure and no return window for the PT1, and its page doesn't name Netflix the way the PX3-PRO's does. There is no 3D and no IMAX Enhanced.
- Brightness
- 2,500 ANSI lumens
- Light source
- RGB triple laser
- Throw ratio
- 0.2:1
- Input lag
- No figure
- Warranty
- 2-year
8.9/10Very good
$1,999.99$2,999.99
At Hisense, checked November 13, 2026
Check price at HisenseRead review
No. 4
Formovie Cinema Edge
Best for a first big screen for evening viewing, on a tight budget and a shallow shelf.
- Google TV with native Netflix and Wi-Fi 6 at $1,799
- The slimmest cabinet we list: 3.6 inches tall, 15.4 lb
- Motorized focus and three HDMI 2.1 ports (one with eARC)
The catch: For $100 less, the XGIMI MIRA Pro is a real triple laser with 110% of BT.2020, Dolby Vision and 3,000 lumens. The Cinema Edge covers 110% of Rec.709 only, handles HDR10 and HLG but not Dolby Vision or HDR10+, states 32 dB of fan noise (the second-loudest figure here) and has a 14-day trial.
- Brightness
- 2,100 ISO lumens
- Light source
- Laser phosphor
- Throw ratio
- 0.23:1
- Input lag
- No figure
- Warranty
- 2-year
All 4, side by side
Open the comparison tool4 projectors in this table: scroll sideways to see them all
| Projector | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brightness (brand) | 3,000 ISO lumens | 2,000 ISO lumens | 2,500 ANSI lumens | 2,100 ISO lumens |
| Light source | RGB triple laser | RGB triple laser | RGB triple laser | Laser phosphor |
| Throw ratio | 0.175:1 | 0.25:1 | 0.2:1 | 0.23:1 |
| Native contrast | Not stated | 2,500:1 | 3,000:1 | 3,000:1 |
| HDR formats | Dolby Vision, HDR10+ | Dolby Vision, HDR10+ | Dolby Vision, HDR10+ | HDR10, HLG |
| Lowest input lag | 1 ms (brand) | 8 ms (brand) | No figure | No figure |
| Smart TV | Google TV | Android 9.0 | Google TV | Google TV with Netflix |
| Warranty | 2-year | 1-year | 2-year | 2-year |
| Where to buy | Check price at XGIMI | Check price at AWOL | Check price at Hisense | Check price at Formovie |
✓ marks the best figure of the row. "Not stated" means the brand doesn't publish it. Each projector keeps its one overall score; this page only changes the order. Prices checked November 13, 2026.
What to know before you choose
Two thousand dollars used to buy a dim, single-laser ultra short throw. On November 13, 2026 it buys a 4K RGB triple laser with Dolby Vision, from three different brands, thanks to Black Friday prices and one very aggressive newcomer. This ranking takes every projector at $2,000 or less on that date and orders them with price counting for 45%.
The XGIMI MIRA Pro is the clear leader at $1,699: 3,000 ISO lumens, 110% of BT.2020, a published 1 ms gaming mode and a 2-year warranty. The AWOL LTV-3000 Pro costs the same and trades brightness for a 150-inch reach and 3D. The Hisense PT1 adds AirPlay and a known TV brand for $1,999.99. The Formovie Cinema Edge is the slim one with Netflix built in, but it is not a triple laser. Remember that these are projector-only prices. A screen adds a couple of hundred dollars for plain matte white in a dark room, and $500 or more for an ALR screen.
How this ranking is weighted
Every projector keeps its overall score from the public formula. For this page we re-order the eligible projectors with the "Budget" weights: price 45%, brightness 15%, picture 15%, warranty and return window 10%, and the rest for the other 3 criteria. The full table is on the methodology page.
Head-to-heads between projectors of this list: XGIMI MIRA Pro vs AWOL Vision LTV-3000 Pro, AWOL Vision LTV-3000 Pro vs Formovie Cinema Edge.
Other rankings: best ultra short throw projector, best ust projector for bright room, best ust projector for gaming, ust projector with screen, best laser tv, best ust projector for home theater.
By Owen Whitaker, editor, home theater projectors · updated November 13, 2026
Guides that go with this ranking
All guides
Under $2,000: questions buyers ask
More answers in our guidesWhat is the best UST projector under $2,000?
The XGIMI MIRA Pro (9.5/10) at $1,699 on November 13, 2026: an RGB triple laser with 3,000 ISO lumens, Dolby Vision and a 2-year warranty.
Is there a good UST projector under $1,000?
Not among current 4K laser models from the brands we follow: the cheapest we list cost $1,699 on November 13, 2026. Under $1,000 you are looking at 1080p or refurbished units.
Are these Black Friday prices?
Yes for all four: each brand showed a higher regular price next to the one we list ($1,999 to $2,999). We give the price you could pay on November 13, 2026 and name the regular one in each review.
Should I spend more than $2,000?
If your room is bright or you want built-in sound that replaces a soundbar, yes: see the Hisense PX3-PRO at $2,499.99. For evening viewing on a 100-inch screen, the projectors on this page are enough.