How Many ISO Lumens Should I Choose for a Projector?

By XGIMI Tech - 2025-3

What projector brightness is best for you? Projection of the brightness, contrast, color, color temperature, and other indicators are related to each other, a slight change in the whole body, the comprehensive performance of the projection is affected by the price, if you look at the brightness to buy a projection, then there will inevitably be the possibility of choosing the wrong projector to suit their own. So how much projection brightness is best for you?

The projection environment is one of the vital factors to consider. Here conclude the most ideal ISO Lumen ranges for three three different scenarios.

• For Dark Rooms or Small Screen Sizes: Under 1000 ISO Lumens

• For Average-lit Rooms or Medium Screen Sizes: 1000-2000 ISO Lumens

• For Bright Rooms or Large Screen Sizes: Over 2000 ISO Lumens

For Dark Rooms or Small Screen Sizes: Under 1000 ISO Lumens

As a global leader in smart projectors, XGIMI has entered 100+ countries and regions, including the United States, Europe, and Japan, established more than 5,000 retail stores worldwide, and shipped more than 6.5 million units since the launch of its globalization strategy in 2021.

XGIMI Elfin Flip: 400 ISO Lumens,  HDR 10, 1080p FHD

The Elfin Flip delivers stunning visuals with 113% Rec.709 color coverage, 400 ISO lumens of brightness, and crisp 1080p resolution. Advanced HDR10 technology enhances every scene with remarkable detail and contrast, bringing your favorite content to life.

XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro: 450 ISO Lumens, HDR 10, 1080p FHD

With 450 ISO lumens of brightness and crisp 1080p resolution, the MoGo 3 Pro portable projector brings vivid colors and stunning detail to screens up to 120 inches.

For Average-lit Rooms or Medium Screen Sizes: 1000-2000 ISO Lumens

To use the projection in a medium lighting environment or to project an 80-100 inch picture, then a brightness of 1000-2000 ISO lumens is required. For example, the living room in your home, with transparent sunlight and a larger space, requires a higher brightness at which the projection can counteract the interference of ambient light and restore the colors and details of the picture. If this space is paired with a light-resistant curtain, the light-resistant effect can be achieved even if the brightness is not very high.

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XGIMI HORIZON Pro: 1500 ISO Lumens, 4K Crystal Clear, HDR 10

XGIMI HORIZON Pro home theater projector with 1500 ISO lumens output has always been bright for daytime and night-time. It is designed to immersive cinema viewing experience at home. 4K resolution and HDR 10 delivers high clarity and rich colors for films, sports events, video games, etc.

XGIMI HORIZON S Pro: 1800 ISO Lumens, 4K Crystal Clear, Dolby Vision

With our industry-leading Dual Light 2.0 technology, enjoy enhanced brightness for a more immersive viewing experience right in your living room. Dolby Vision amplifies highlights and deepens dark far beyond standard picture quality, delivering a more vivid and lifelike experience.

For Bright Rooms or Large Screen Sizes: Over 2000 ISO Lumens

For projection in very bright environments or with a screen over 100 inches, a brightness of 2000 ISO lumens or more is required. For example, in a large living room or a conference room that can accommodate a large number of people, it is best to install a light-resistant curtain in conjunction with the projector to ensure that the screen can be viewed even when the sun is shining during the day. With such brightness, unlimited use in large sizes and bright light environments is already possible.

XGIMI AURA 2: 2300 ISO Lumens,  Ultra Short Throw, Dual Light 2.0 Tech

Thanks to its ultra-short throw advantage, front projection maintains full brightness and picture quality without any loss. Effortlessly switch screen sizes from 80'' to 150'', delivering a breathtaking cinematic experience that captivates the senses. Paired with our exclusive ALR screen featuring a 1.4x brightness gain, enjoy enhanced brightness in any lighting condition.

XGIMI HORIZON Ultra: 2300 ISO Lumens, Dolby Vision, Optical Zoom

With 2300 ISO lumens, you get the best of both worlds—ultra-high brightness plus realistic color both night and day. Just sit down, relax, and be amazed by what you see!

XGIMI HORIZON S Max: 3100 ISO Lumens, IMAX Enhanced, Dolby Vision

The brightest projector in XGIMI's long-throw lineup, delivering brilliant 4K visuals with exceptional light and shadow detail. With 3100 ISO Lumens, enjoy outstanding brightness that remains unaffected by ambient light.

What Should We Learn about Projector Brightness?

Brightness is often seen as the most important factor when choosing a projector, with many consumers relying heavily on this “brightness-only theory.” However, this perspective doesn't always hold in practice. Interestingly, despite concerns about lower brightness, some users who purchased the Elfin Flip (with 400 ISO Lumens) found the image quality surprisingly impressive. One long-time user even mentioned that watching the Halo+ at night felt too bright and preferred to keep a light on for a more comfortable viewing experience.

This highlights an important point — while brightness is certainly a key factor, it’s not the sole determinant of a projector’s performance. Let's dive deeper into why the “brightness-only theory” doesn't always add up.

1. Brightness is Not the Only Key Factor When Choosing the Best Projector

Projector brightness is a commonly used lumens measure, high brightness does make the picture clearer in bright environments, so many people buy only look at the brightness. But brightness is not the only standard, only the brightness and ignoring other parameters may lead to poor picture results. For example, contrast, resolution, color reproduction, etc. have a significant impact on the picture quality. Low contrast can cause the image to lose depth and detail, making scenes appear flat.

• Low contrast can cause the image to lose depth and detail, making scenes appear flat.

• Insufficient resolution may result in a blurry picture, reducing overall clarity.

• Poor color reproduction can make projected colors look unnatural and lifeless.

For example, when watching a movie with night scenes, an unbalanced combination of these factors can severely impact the experience. Instead of a rich, deep black sky, you may see a dull, washed-out tone that diminishes the atmosphere and visual impact.

HORIZON S Max 4K Projector with 110% BT.2020 for Vivid Colors

Brightness is Not the Only Key Factor When Choosing the Best Projector

Many people believe that the higher the brightness, the better the projection effect in any environment, but ignore the impact of ambient light. In a complex light environment, even if the projector brightness is high, the picture may be blurred by the interference of ambient light. For example, in a well-lit living room during the day, even if the projector brightness is high, the color and display of the projected image will still be greatly reduced.

On the contrary, in a controlled light, relatively dark environment, lower brightness projector can also project a clear, colorful picture. Therefore, the simple pursuit of high brightness does not solve the impact of ambient light on the projection effect, reasonable control of ambient light, and choose the right projection environment, are often more important than simply enhancing the brightness.

Conclusion

If the projection space light is difficult to fully control, like often natural light or ambient light interference in the living room, it is recommended to choose more than 1000 ISO projector, which ensures that the picture in the brighter environment also has a certain degree of clarity.

In conclusion, the idea that “brightness is everything” is too one-sided. While brightness is an important factor, it’s just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to projector performance. To find the right projector and enjoy the best viewing experience, it's crucial to consider other key aspects such as contrast ratio, color accuracy, resolution, and the projection environment. By taking all these factors into account, you can make a more informed choice and achieve a truly high-quality projection experience.

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