Epson is expanding its lineup with four new projectors designed for both home entertainment and multipurpose use in classrooms, offices, and hybrid workspaces. The models—the Home Cinema 1100, Home Cinema 980, Pro EX9270, and Pro EX3290—are all under $1,000, making them more approachable for people who want a big-screen experience without investing in a high-end setup. Two of these models also include built-in Apple AirPlay, a first for Epson’s consumer projectors.

For a while, projectors took a back seat to big, affordable 4K TVs. But recently, there’s been renewed interest in projectors as more people look for flexible display options. Instead of dedicating an entire room to a home theater, you can now set up a projector in a living room, office, or even outside for movie nights. Epson seems to be betting that plenty of people still want the versatility of a large image without breaking the bank.

One interesting choice: Epson stuck with its Ultra High Efficiency (UHE) lamp light sources for these models rather than moving to LED or laser. Lamps need to be replaced every so often, but they’re generally cheaper upfront and still deliver plenty of brightness—a key factor if you’re using a projector in a room with windows or overhead lighting.

Home Cinema Models

The Home Cinema 1100 and 980 are geared toward casual home theater use. Both deliver Full HD 1080p resolution, Epson’s 3LCD technology (which avoids the “rainbow effect” sometimes seen on DLP projectors), and the ability to project an image as large as 300 inches.

The difference comes down to brightness:

• Home Cinema 1100: 3,400 lumens
• Home Cinema 980: 4,000 lumens

That extra brightness on the 980 could come in handy in rooms where you can’t block out all the ambient light.

Both models come with a built-in speaker for quick setup, though anyone looking for a more cinematic feel will likely want to hook up external audio. They also feature two HDMI ports for connecting devices like Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, or a gaming console.

The Home Cinema 1100 adds built-in WiFi along with Apple AirPlay and Miracast, making it easier to wirelessly share content from Apple or Windows devices. The 980 skips wireless but still offers straightforward plug-and-play use.

Pricing is competitive for entry-level projectors: $829 for the Home Cinema 1100 and $749 for the Home Cinema 980.

Pro EX Models

The Pro EX9270 and EX3290 are more general purpose projectors meant to handle a variety of scenarios, from office presentations to backyard movie nights.

• Pro EX9270: Full HD 1080p resolution, 4,100 lumens, plus WiFi, Apple AirPlay, and Miracast support. It also includes 1.6x optical zoom, keystone correction, and four-corner adjustment, which make it easier to fine-tune the image.
• Pro EX3290: A more stripped-down option with WXGA resolution (1280 × 800) and no wireless features, but it still delivers 4,000 lumens of brightness.

Like the Home Cinema models, both Pro EX projectors include two HDMI inputs and a basic built-in speaker. The EX9270 comes in at $949, while the EX3290 is the most affordable in the lineup at $649.

The headline feature for this release is Apple AirPlay support, included in the Home Cinema 1100 and Pro EX9270. Until now, AirPlay was limited to Epson’s higher-end projectors. With this addition, iPhone, iPad, and Mac users can wirelessly stream video, music, and photos without needing extra dongles or adapters.

For many buyers, easy wireless connectivity is just as important as picture quality. Between AirPlay, Miracast, and built-in WiFi, Epson is clearly trying to make setup less of a hassle—whether you’re showing a presentation at work or streaming a movie at home.

Epson’s latest projectors land in a sweet spot: affordable, bright enough for everyday environments, and flexible enough for both home and work. The Home Cinema 1100 and 980 give living rooms a low-cost way to scale up movie nights, while the Pro EX9270 and EX3290 can cover classrooms, offices, and casual entertainment.

And with AirPlay showing up in more budget-friendly models, it’s easier than ever to stream wirelessly without extra gear. For under $1,000, these new projectors could appeal to anyone looking for a simple way to get a big screen without committing to a pricey home theater system.