12 Best Projectors Under $500 for Home Cinema in 2021
- Last Updated: January 12, 2021
- Matthew Wilson
You want a good projector, but you’re afraid you can’t find one in your price range, right? Well, we’re here to tell you that you can get one! Whether you want the best 1080p projectors under $500 or just a good one for office presentations, we’ve got you covered.
We looked at all available models under $500 and mercilessly culled the herd, getting rid of low-quality models and those with bad reputations. Keep reading. We’ll show you the best and teach you how to find a great one on your own in the buyer’s guide below the reviews.
Pay attention to the ones we think are the best out there. And be sure to read the buyer’s guide after this. We really want to teach you about the important factors to consider before you buy anything.
Contents
Home Projectors under $500 Comparison
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1. Epson VS250 SVGA 3LCD Projector
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2. VANKYO LEISURE 3 Mini Projector
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3. YABER Native 1080P Projector
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4. Mini Projector, APEMAN 3800L Brightness Projector
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5. BenQ MW535A Vibrant Color Projector for Home
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6. Anker Nebula Capsule Max, Wi-Fi Mini Projector
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7. Optoma HD243X 1080p Projector for Movies and Gaming
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8. AuKing Mini Projector 2020 Upgraded Portable Video-Projector
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9. APEMAN NM4 Mini Portable Projector
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10. GooDee 2021 Upgrade G500 Mini Video Projector
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11. ViewSonic SVGA High Brightness Projector for Home and Office
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12. Mini Projector, Vamvo Ultra Mini Portable Projector
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| Supported Resolution: | 800×600 | 1920×1080 | 1920×1080 | 1920×1080 | 1920×1200 | 1280×720 | 1920×1200 | 1920×1080 | 1920×1080 | 1280×720 | 1920×1080 | 1920×1080 |
| Brightness (lumens): | 3,200 | 3,600 | 6,800 | 3,800 | 3,600 | 200 | 3,300 | 2,600 | 50-100 | 4,500 | 3,600 | 1,800 |
| Screen Size: | up to 150″ | 33″ to 170″ | 45″ to 200″ | up to 180″ | up to 120″ | up to 100″ | up to 300″ | 32″ to 170″ | 30″ to 100″ | 44″ to 200″ | up to 120″ | up to 130″ |
| Contrast ratio: | 15000:1 | 2000:1 | 8000:1 | 2000:1 | 15,000:1 | 2,000:1 | 24,000:1 | 2000:1 | 1000:1 | 2000:1 | 22,000:1 | 2,000:1 |
| Lamp life(hours): | N/A | 40,000 | 100,000 | 45,000 | 15,000 | 30,000 | 15,000 | 55,000 | 45,000 | 50,000 | 15,000 | N/A |
12 Best Home Projectors Under $500 on the Market:
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Our Rating
Highlighted Features Of The Product
- Display Technology: 3-chip LED
- Resolution: 800×600
- Brightness: 3,200 lumens
- Contrast 2,000:1
- Throw: 3 to 32 feet, max image size 150”
- Zoom: None
- Connectivity: HDMI and wireless
Overview
This is the best short throw projector under $500. It only needs to be 30” from the surface you’re projecting onto. That makes it great for watching TV in a bedroom or making a presentation in a small office. It’s bright, too. At 3,200 lumens, you won’t have to make the room darker than normal, and you won’t have to worry about dimming the lights in the office.
Its native resolution is only 800×600, which is decent for more affordable projectors, but it will support source resolutions of up to 1080p with no problem. Read the buyer’s guide following these reviews for more information about native versus supported resolution.
People love the brightness, which is among the brightest of all projectors in this price range. Some have even used it for outdoor movie nights in their backyards. The overall feeling is that this model offers the best value among affordable projectors.
Pros
- Great value
- Very bright
- Wide throw range
Cons
- Manual focus – You have to turn the lens to focus the image
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Our Rating
Highlighted Features Of The Product
- Display Technology: LED lamp
- Native Resolution 800x480
- Brightness: 3,600 lumens
- Contrast: 2,000:1
- Approximately 5 to 30 feet, max image size 170”
- Zoom: none
- Connectivity: HDMI, VGA and USB
Overview
Here’s an all-around good projector. It offers a great image with deep, bright colors and awesome sound from the two built-in speakers. What we have here can rival the very expensive projectors of the previous generation’s technology. It offers an immersive experience with a bright, colorful image and great sound.
This is also a pretty bright projector, and everyone has noticed. They like that they don’t have to worry about dimming the room to watch movies or play games. There has been some confusion about the resolution. This is not a 1080p projector, as it is advertised by some online sellers. There have been complaints about that, but it isn’t Vankyo’s fault.
All in all, everyone loves the image quality, ease of use and the overall value.
Pros
- Bright
- Good contrast and bright colors
- Quiet fan
- Included carry bag
Cons
- Takes a while to get the setup right
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Our Rating
Highlighted Features Of The Product
- Display Technology: LED lamp
- Resolution: 1080p
- Brightness: 6800 Lumens
- Contrast: 8,000:1
- Throw: 4 to 15 feet, max image size 200”
- Zoom: 1.9
- Connectivity: Dual HDMI, dual USB, VGA and AV composite
Overview
The brightness of this one is incredible. Combined with the sweet contrast ratio, you get a fantastic picture. A native resolution of 1080p gives the best HD picture of any projector on our list. It can support 4K as well. When you put together the brightness, contrast and high resolution, you get the best 4K projector under $500.
Who doesn’t love something that’s easy to set up? Those who take the time to learn how to use the keystone adjustment feature talk about how easy it is to get it going and have a great, perfectly shaped picture. They like how super bright it is, too. 6,000 lumens in awesome for any projector, but it’s incredible for a projector under $500.
Pros
- Very bright and colorful
- Easy to set up
- Color-popping contrast
- Big 200” max image size
- Good throw range
- Good sound
Cons
- May need free firmware update from manufacturer
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Our Rating
Highlighted Features Of The Product
- Display Technology: LED lamp
- Resolution: 800×480
- Brightness: 3,800 lumens
- Contrast: 2,000:1
- Throw: 3 to 12 feet, max image size 180”
- Zoom: 1.6
- Connectivity: HDMI, USB, Micro USB, AV composite and wireless
Overview
We like this little projector for its great picture quality and easy setup.It can be placed just a few feet away from the viewing surface, but it must be within twelve feet. So it would be good for a bedroom or smaller living room, but it’s not the best for larger rooms.
People who like to have a big TV image in a small room, like their bedroom, like the short throw. They can have a 50” picture with a throw of only about five feet. The picture quality is a big hit as well. Good contrast and a bright projection make for a realistic image.
Pros
- Nice picture
- Short throw
- 15-degree vertical keystone adjustability make for an easy setup
- Many connection options, including micro USB
Cons
- Maximum throw of 15 feet can restrict placement options
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Our Rating
Highlighted Features Of The Product
- Projects 120inch image from 13feet-2inches with 15,000:1 contrast to increase clarity and reduce eye strain
- 3600 lumens of high brightness
- Three adjustable feet, vertical keystone and 1.2X zoom for easy setups
- CONNECTIVITY: HDMI x2, VGA x2, Audio in/out
- Up to 15,000 hours of lamp life saves overall maintenance costs
- 3-year limited parts and labor warranty; 1-year or 2,000 hours lamp warranty
Overview
When most projectors of this price range claim a resolution of 1280, they mean that they support that resolution. The actual res is usually lower. But this budget HD projector has a true native res of:
VGA(640 x 480)
WUXGA_RB(1920 x 1200).
The brightness and contrast translate into a superb picture. And that picture can be a whopping 300”. You’ll need about 28 feet between the projector and the viewing surface for that size, but you can still have a good 200” picture with around 20 feet of throw room.
People who have owned other projectors say that this is the best in its price range. They like the resolution, which is a true 1920 x 1200. Combine that with the decent contrast, and you’ll understand why people rave about the picture quality.
Pros
- Huge maximum picture of 300”
- Awesome picture quality
Cons
- With this throw range and resolution, it would be nice to have better zoom for more control over the picture size and an easier setup
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Our Rating
Highlighted Features Of The Product
- Display Technology: DLP chip
- Resolution: 720p
- Brightness: 2,000 lumens
- Contrast: Approximately 2,000:1
- Throw: 4 to 9 feet, max image size 100”
- Zoom: none
- Connectivity: HDMI, USB, wireless and Bluetooth
- Over four hours of battery life from a two-and-a-half hour charge
Overview
You want a small projector that you can take with you anywhere? This one is less that six inches high and three inches in diameter. There’s no need to bring along a DVD player. It connects to WiFi, so you can access your cloud-based entertainment, pictures and videos from just about anywhere.
Everyone loves smart devices. That’s one reason for this tiny projector’s popularity. People like that it can connect to WiFi and to phones and tablets with Bluetooth.
Most are surprised with the picture. It doesn’t look like you would get a full projector experience out of this little thing, but you really do. The biggest difference people notice is the picture size. The maximum size is 100”.
Pros
- Very high-quality picture
- Excellent sound from the built-in 8W speaker
- Small and portable
Cons
- WiFi cuts the battery life almost in half to under three hours
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Our Rating
Highlighted Features Of The Product
- DLP single-chip
- Resolution: 1080p
- Brightness: 3,300 lumens
- Throw: 1.47-1.62 – 300” max image size
- Zoom: 1.1
- Connectivity: Dual HDMI and USB
- 24,000:1 contrast ratio
Overview
This is the best gaming projector under $500. The bright image, high contrast and big picture make for an immersive experience. But a big consideration for a gaming projector is lag time. You want less than 50 milliseconds. Well, this cool projector has a lag of only 16ms. That’s unbelievable for a projector of this price.
Gamers are very impressed that they can have a gaming projector for under $500 that isn’t a piece of junk. Many gamers who own this one had tried cheap projectors for games before and thought that they would have to spend over $1,000 for a decent one. They were pleasantly surprised when they started playing with this model!
Pros
- 16 ms lag makes for seamless gameplay
- Brightness and contrast mean great colors and a fine picture
- Nice throw range, zoom and keystone adjustability for easier setup
- Awesome 300” max picture size
Cons
- There have been problems with rainbowing reported in online reviews
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Our Rating
Highlighted Features Of The Product
- Display Technology: LED lamp
- Resolution: 800×480
- Brightness: About 2,000 lumens
- Contrast: 2,000:1
- Throw: 3 to 15 feet, max image size 170”
- Zoom: none
- Connectivity: HDMI, VGA and AV composite
Overview
This one offers a very good, bright and colorful picture up to 170”. All this comes in a small package that you can take with you anywhere. The sound isn’t great, and there’s no way to connect your sound equipment to it. So you may want to look elsewhere if you need to have strong, dynamic sound.
First off, people wish that there was a way to connect additional speakers. Apparently, the integrated speakers leave something to be desired.
But most bought this one for its portability. And that’s where it shines. It’s 8”x6”x3”. It can fit in a purse or a small duffel bag. The picture quality hasn’t drawn many complaints. In fact, everyone is pretty happy with it. It has good resolution and nice coloring.
Pros
- Small and portable
- Nice picture
- Short throw
Cons
- Maximum 15 feet of throw can cause problems in larger rooms
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Our Rating
Highlighted Features Of The Product
- Display Technology: DLP chip
- Resolution: 480p
- Brightness: 1,000 lumens
- Contrast: 1,000:1
- Throw: 30” at 3 feet to 100” at 9 feet
- Zoom: none
- Connectivity: HDMI
Overview
We think this is the best portable projector under $500. It’s small, light and has the ultimate minimalist design.
The only input is a single HDMI port. There is a USB port, but it is only a power source for streaming players and phones. You can get an adapter to allow your phone to work through the HDMI port, no matter what kind of phone you have. The sound is pretty good, but it isn’t the best. It is, however, the best sound of any projector of this size and design.
People who understand what it is and what it’s for like it a lot. Some have complained that it only has HDMI inputs and that the sound isn’t great. But this was designed for simplicity and the ultimate in portability. And it excels in those areas.
Pros
- Very small and light: 4”x4”x1” and less than half a pound
- Simple to set up and use
Cons
- Relatively short battery life: 2 hours
- Lowish resolution
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Our Rating
Highlighted Features Of The Product
- Display Technology: LED lamp
- Resolution: 1280×768
- Brightness: 4,500 lumens
- Contrast: 3,000:1
- Throw: 5 to 15 feet, max image size 200”
- Zoom: none
- Connectivity: HDMI, VGA, USB and AV composite
Overview
The keyword here is value. This projector gives performance comparable to a full-size projector at a much higher price. I mean, it’s got 1280 native res! It’s also very bright: 4,500 lumens. The high contrast means bright and deep colors.
A price tag of $600 would be reasonable for this one. But the actual price is less than $150. At that price, you could get a few and replace most of the TVs in your home with projectors.
People are usually surprised that they get this kind of performance from a projector of this price and size. Many of those who are experienced with projectors compare this one favorably to models well over $500, even though this one costs under $150. That really is an amazing price for this thing.
Some people have taken advantage of the great value to put a projector in their bedroom or even a guest room.
Pros
- Incredible value – This quality projector can be bought for less than $150
- Small size
- 200” picture at a distance of 15 feet
- Very bright
- Great resolution
Cons
- Manual focus – You have to rotate the lens
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Our Rating
Highlighted Features Of The Product
- Display Technology: DLP chip
- Resolution: 800×600
- Brightness: 3,600 lumens
- Contrast: About 2,000:1
- Throw: 1.96-2.35 – 300” max image size at max distance of 43 feet
- Zoom: 1.1
- Connectivity: HDMI, VGA and mini-USB
Overview
How would you like a nice big 300” picture? You can have it with this affordable HD projector, as long as you have a good 43-foot throw. The remarkable thing about this projector is the color. The contrast is good at around 2,000:1, but the proprietary SuperColor technology is the star. It utilizes a six-segment color wheel for optimum clarity and color separation.
Many have commented on the clarity of the picture. That has to do with the multi-layer precision glass lens. Multi-layer lenses are usually seen only on more expensive projectors.
Some have griped that the sound quality of the speaker isn’t that great, but there is an audio out jack. One innovative buyer purchased a dongle to connect to the audio jack so he could use his Bluetooth speaker.
Pros
- Very good contrast and brightness
- 3D-ready – Just plug and play
- Wide throw range – 4 to 43 feet
- Brilliant color
- 16ms lag
Cons
- We recommend using the audio out jack and connecting good speakers to supplement the somewhat weak built-in speakers
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Our Rating
Highlighted Features Of The Product
- Display Technology: DLP chip and LED lamp
- Resolution: 800×480
- Brightness: 1,800 lumens
- Contrast: About 2,000:1
- Zoom: none
- Connectivity: HDMI, USB and micro-SD
Overview
This is a good pocket projector. Many people use it for office presentations. It can be used for entertainment purposes, but the room has to be pretty dark.
People have complained about the brightness and the loudness of the speaker. They say that the room has to be dark for a good image and that the speaker isn’t as loud as a smartphone speaker.
Well, this is a pocket projector. It isn’t the best for entertainment, but it is fantastic for presentations. Those who use it for its intended purpose are impressed. There are people who use it for movies and TV, but most of them use an external speaker.
Pros
- Small and light
- Short throw
Cons
- Not very bright
- Not the best speaker
Factors To Consider When Buying A Home Projector Under $500
Think about these factors when weighing your options so you can get the best home theater projector under $500.
Native Resolution Vs Supported Resolution
Avoid the number one amateur mistake by understanding the difference. Think of native resolution as actual resolution. Regardless of the input, native res is what will be displayed. Supported resolution is the highest res that will be accepted as input.
For example, say you have a projector with a native resolution of 720p and a supported resolution of 1080p. You can play a source of up to 1080p, but it will be converted to 720p before being projected.
Brightness And Contrast
The brightness of projectors under $500 is usually comparable to those of more expensive models. Light sources aren’t expensive. Contrast is a different story. It’s determined by the image chip, which is a big cost factor.
A contrast ratio of 2,000:1 is pretty good for a projector priced under $500. If you want a more affordable product we have to check this list of projectors under $ 300 and get the best one for the perfect price.
Throw Distance
Less expensive projectors are often made for the purpose of smaller rooms. That means that they sometimes have a shorter throw distance, but not always.
Just check the specs. Measure the distance from the surface you’re going to project onto to the place you want to put the projector. Then make sure the throw distance of the model you’re considering covers that.
Gaming
There are some extra considerations for projectors that will be used for playing games. Follow the same rules for home projectors in regards to contrast, brightness, and other picture factors.
But you need to pay attention to lag. Lag is the amount of time it takes for the frame to appear as an image after being received by the projector. It’s measured in milliseconds or ms.
Anything under 45ms is good for gaming, but lower is better. We’ve reviewed two projectors above with lags of 16ms, and they would be great for gaming. Check them out.
Projectors Under $500 FAQs
Here are the questions that people who are looking for the best digital projector under $500 ask the most.
Manufacturers use cheaper image processing components to save on costs, then pass that savings along to the consumer. That’s why projectors under $500 usually have a contrast ratio of under 3,000:1 and native resolution of 720p and below.
In order to save a bunch of money, like a thousand dollars, you have to sacrifice some image quality.
Many people who want a cheap projector are looking for a portable one. It may seem intimidating to have to set it up every time you want to use it.
All projectors can be set on a table. That’s probably what you’ll want home theater to do if you’re giving a presentation or playing a game at a friend’s house.
Keystone correction is useful in these scenarios. That’s a feature that basically allows you to move the lens up, down or side to side to compensate for an uneven surface, like a table.
If the lens isn’t perpendicular, the image will not be a perfect square or rectangle.
Almost all projectors have at least one HDMI port. That covers most any device or console you’d want to connect to it. Even phones can connect to an HDMI port.
You just need an adaptor. Some cheap projectors also have VGA hookups, which is a common means of connecting to a PC or laptop.
USBs are pretty common connections on affordable projectors, but sometimes they’re just for supplying power to devices that are connected to them through another port. Check and see if the USB is a power port or a data port.
Conclusion
The Yaber Native 1080p projector is the best projectors under 500$. It offers a superior picture in actual 1080p resolution, which is rare in affordable projectors. If you need a projector with a throw of 15 feet or less, check out Epson’s VS250. It will give you a great picture in smaller rooms.
You gamers out there will love the bright colors and incredible lag of 16ms that Optima’s HD243X will put on your wall. You want the best movie projector under $500. It doesn’t seem to be an impossible dream anymore, does it? You know what you’re doing now. You know what to look for and what to avoid. You’ve seen the twelve best.
Every day you spend without a projector from this day forward is just a waste of time. There are some really good deals out there. Why wait any longer. You deserve it. Use what you’ve learned here and make your choice today
