This article provides a detailed analysis of the top best 14 projectors available today for less than $500. It covers imaging technology, available connection types, bulb life, throw distance, screen size, and brightness levels, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each product. You should definitely read the Buying Guide if you are truly new to the projector market. You will learn all the information you require to choose the best projector for your requirements.
There is no better time than the present, so let’s get started!
You can compare some of the top projectors available right now in the table below. Check it out because it will aid in guiding you through the main projector features.
Table of Contents
Top 14 Best Projectors Under $500
XGIMI Mogo Pro Portable Projector- Best Overall
Key Specs
- Resolution: 1080P
- Max Screen Size: 100 inches
- Connectivity: HDMI, USB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
Pros
- Got Android TV.
- design that is portable and small.
- Self-Keystone Correction
- built-in battery with a 2-hour minimum capacity.
- Brightness and resolution are both excellent.
Cons
- The sound quality is not great.
The XGIMI MoGo Pro Projector will be the option you shouldn’t skip if you’re looking for a projector model that you can take with you on every trip or a product that can be set up and used anywhere. Miss.
The representative from XGIMI is reasonably well-designed and fits into a pocket because it only weighs 1.87 lbs.
A strong battery that can play for at least two hours is also built into the product by the manufacturer. It’s possible that watching entertainment on a big screen at any time, anywhere, has never been so simple thanks to XGIMI MoGo Pro.
Even though the product is small and extremely portable, its performance is the worst of any on the list.
The fact that this mini projector still supports a maximum projection screen size of 100 inches and maintains Full HD resolution and good brightness is proof.
The manufacturer also supported Android TV, enabling you to download well-known streaming programs like YouTube, Disney +, Prime Video, and HBO Max. It’s not an overstatement to say that you have a world of entertainment at your fingertips with this equipment.
Anker Nebula Capsule II Smart Mini Projector – For Outdoor Environments
Key Specs
- Resolution: 720p HD
- Max Screen Size: 100 inches
- Connectivity: HDMI, USB, Bluetooth, Chromecast, Wi-Fi
Pros
- Lots of connections
- Portable
- Cool design
Cons
- Pricey
- Only 720p
Although the Anker Nebula Capsule II is about the size of a soda can, don’t be misled by its small stature: For gamers, movie buffs, and casual viewers alike, this small device has a ton of helpful features. This tiny device includes Android TV, voice control, an integrated speaker, a rechargeable battery, and a variety of connection options: HDMI, USB, Bluetooth, Chromecast, and Wi-Fi are all available.
Despite being somewhat expensive for this class, the Nebula Capsuke’s 200 ANSI lumens make it bright enough even for some outdoor settings. There are still many positive aspects of this small device, though we would prefer Full HD quality for the price.
Epson EX3240 SVGA 3LCD Projector – For Well-lit Rooms
Key Specs
- Resolution: SVGA (800 x 600)
- Max Screen Size: 350 inches
- Connectivity: HDMI
Pros
- Bright color performance
- Works great in well-lit rooms
Cons
- No audio jack output
- No 1080p resolution
A full-size projector that is appropriate for home theater setups is the Epson EX3240. It boasts a 10,000-hour lamp life, 3200 lumens of color brightness, HDMI compatibility, and straightforward controls. Additionally, it uses 3LCD display technology, which creates a brighter, more vivid image than projectors with comparable brightness ratings. If you intend to install your projector in a bright, sunny, or well-lit room, take this model into consideration.
Although the EX3240 is a little less expensive than some rival projectors, it does not have a native 1080p resolution. Also keep in mind that there is no audio jack output, so you’ll need to use an HDMI audio extractor to connect any external speakers. Although this projector is extremely basic in every way, it offers entry-level functionality, a long lifespan, and reliable performance in well-lit spaces.
WIMIUS 5G Wi-Fi Bluetooth Projector – Best Budget Option
Key Specs
- Resolution: 1080p HD
- Max Screen Size: 500 inches
- Connectivity: HDMI, VGA, USB, AV
Pros
- Full HD (1080p)
- Great image quality
Cons
- Limited mobile connectivity
Another projector that appears to perform above average in its class is the WiMiUS. The P18 is capable and reasonably priced. It features Full HD (1080p) resolution, keystone correction, impressive image quality with bright, high-contrast color (4000:1), and movie-friendly aspect ratios of 16:9 or 4:3. Though impressive for the price range, it can only support screens up to 500 inches. Serious home theater enthusiasts may wish for something bigger.
Additionally, the WiMiUS projector lacks Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity options, though there are other ways to connect mobile devices via HDMI, VGA, USB, and AV ports.
DBPOWER Native 1080P WiFi Projector – 1080P And WiFi
Key Specs
- Resolution: 1080p
- Max Screen Size: 300 inches
- Connectivity: HDMI, USB, VGA, AV, Screen Mirroring
Pros
- 1080p native resolution
- USB drive access
Cons
- Middling screen size
This DBPOWER Projector is an all-purpose, multi-purpose projector that has everything you require to watch movies, stream content from a mobile device, or give a presentation. The lamp has a 100,000-hour lifespan, three years of warranty, and built-in stereo speakers.
You can place a USB thumb drive directly into the projector and play content from it to play presentations or hard disk media. The projector is best suited for a distance of 3.3 meters, which results in a 100-inch screen, and has a maximum screen size of 300 inches.
Although it isn’t exactly home theater quality, it is likely more than adequate given the price and 1080p native resolution.
ONOAYO 5G WiFi Projector – Long Lifespan
Key Specs
- Resolution: 1080p
- Max Screen Size: 300 inches
- Connectivity: HDMI, USB, VGA, AV
Pros
- sealed optical engine.
- Up to 100,000 hours of lamp life.
- stereo speakers that are impressive.
Cons
- A quiet room has a little too much fan noise.
One of the most durable items in its price range is the ONOAYO 5G WiFi Projector.
The manufacturer of this projector model has made a number of adjustments to ensure that it can last as long as possible, giving the aforementioned claim a solid foundation.
In order to effectively block dust from entering, ONOAYO specifically uses a sealed optical engine. Any significant changes, like assisting in maintaining image clarity after prolonged use and better protecting the internal components, can be made by the mere presence of a small glass panel.
A lamp that lasts 100,000 hours, longer than any home theater projector under $500, adds to the durability.
However, ONOAYO is more than just a standby option. A long-term commitment is also recommended due to the product’s impressive array of benefits, which include stereo speakers, high contrast ratio, two-way Bluetooth technology, and excellent color reproduction.
AILESSOM Native WiFi Bluetooth Projector – Very Large Screen
Key Specs
- Resolution: 720p HD
- Max Screen Size: 450 inches
- Connectivity: HDMI, USB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
Pros
- 85% higher brightness
- up to 450″ projection screen is supported.
- Fast speed 2.4G/5G dual-band WiFi
- Easy adjustment.
Cons
- Batteries are not included with the remote control.
Ailessom brand representative is a great choice for many factors.
The excellent brightness to contrast ratio is first: 9800 L and 12000: 1: The product, according to the manufacturer, is 85% brighter than its rivals right now.
Ailessom can be used to present business presentations in well-lit offices thanks to its superiority in light and resolution.
Not that you can’t use this projector model for entertainment in your home. On the other hand, the product can give you previously unimaginable joy.
The projector specifically supports screens up to a maximum size of 450″ You will enjoy watching movies and playing games on the big screen, provided you have enough installation space.
Additionally, the product comes with dual stereo speakers with SRS from the manufacturer, whose sound quality is impressive enough to please even the most exacting listeners.
Viewsonic High Brightness Projector PA503X – Great For Presentations
Key Specs
- Resolution: XGA+ Wide
- Max Screen Size: 300 inches
- Connectivity: HDMI, VGA
Pros
- Very bright
- Impressive specs for the price
Cons
- Many user complaints about fan noise
The ViewSonic PA503X is the projector that we advise if you’re looking for one for an office, classroom, or other setting where presentations will take place. It has excellent brightness, good image quality, and sufficient connectivity options (HDMI, VGA). The PA503X may even outperform its peer group thanks to its WXGA resolution and 16:10 aspect ratio.
Additionally, a three-year warranty, good audio quality, and automatic keystone correction are included. Fan noise is a topic worth thinking about before purchasing, as we have seen a steady trickle of user complaints about it. But for the money, the PA503X is a very capable projector appropriate for almost any presentation or working situation. Simply do not anticipate it to astound viewers in a movie theater.
Anker Nebula Mars II Pro – Best Portable Projector
Key Specs
- Resolution: 720p HD
- Max Screen Size: 100 inches
- Connectivity: HDMI, USB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, screen mirroring
Pros
- Great for travel
- Battery-powered
- Easy to set up
Cons
- Only 720p
The Nebula Mars II Pro is a battery-rechargeable, highly portable device similar to the Anker Nebula Capsule. Also, it’s a little bit less expensive. In a similarly svelte design, it offers many of the same impressive features. Use the included remote to watch movies wherever you go—backyards, dorms, businesses, and Airbnbs—by connecting or loading content via USB, HDMI, audio jacks, or Wi-Fi. This device is designed for travel.
The Nebula Capsule lacks some features, such as Full HD, that you would anticipate from a fixed projector because it is designed for portability. Like the Capsule, it lacks 4K or HDR compatibility and has a fixed lens with no lens shift.
JIFAR HD 1080P Bluetooth Projector – Best For Well-lit Environments
Key Specs
- Resolution: 1080p
- Max Screen Size: 400 inches
- Connectivity: HDMI, USB, VGA, Bluetooth
Pros
- the most brilliant 1080P projector currently available.
- enables 4K video and Dolby Digital.
- HiFi Stereo Speaker.
Cons
- Hard to focus.
For some models, it is always a nightmare to project in a daytime living room or outside because few mid-range products are bright enough and have supporting features to ensure good image quality in bright lighting.
Although it seemed impossible, JIFAR HD 1080P 5G WiFi Bluetooth Projector was able to accomplish this. The manufacturer has given the product a brightness of 10,000 Lux and a contrast of 12000 to achieve the aforementioned effect. 1.
Not to mention the advantageous effects of the rather striking contrast previously mentioned. There is no projector model with the exact original resolution, same price range, and superior brightness JIFAR, so the brightness of 10,000 lux is already a major selling point of the product.
JIFAR confidently made numerous changes to improve the overall experience in addition to supplying more impressive images.
For instance, the manufacturer supports 5G WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0 connections. The aforementioned benefits make it simple for you to share the screen and play games smoothly and with less lag.
Miroir M75 Micro Projector- Cheap And Very Portable
Key Specs
- Resolution: 640 x 360p
- Max Screen Size: 50 inches
- Connectivity: HDMI, USB, micro USB, audio jack
Pros
- Very tiny
- Highly affordable
Cons
- 50-inch maximum screen size
The Miroir M75 Micro is about as portable as projectors can be, being about the size of a hamburger. The main selling points of this device are its small size and portability, which also make it perfect for quick movie setups or on-the-go gaming for a workspace or while traveling. Four standard connections are included in the M75: An audio jack, HDMI, USB, and micro USB (power).
The M75 will undoubtedly be useful if you’re in a bind and want to project a movie or game from your iPhone, Nintendo Switch, or another mobile device. With such a small projector, you really can’t expect this thing to stand in for a proper home theater rig—the maximum display image is 50 inches.
FANGOR 1080P HD Projector – Best For Home Theater
Key Specs
- Resolution: 1080p
- Max Screen Size: 230 inches
- Connectivity: USB, VGA, HDMI
Pros
- 16.78 million pixels.
- diffuse reflection technology that is pleasant to the eyes.
- For the price point, the audio quality is acceptable.
- provides 4K content playback support.
Cons
- The fan is somewhat loud.
The FANGOR 1080P HD Projector, a product with excellent display quality and many benefits worth considering, will complete your home entertainment area.
The light-refractive 6-layer glass lens, the original resolution of 1920×1080, the contrast ratio of 10,000:1, and the 16.78 million pixels left the Fangor representative in awe of the display quality.
Furthermore, this device is capable of playing 4K content without any compression or transformation. You can therefore count on getting a fantastic home theater with the FANGOR 1080P HD Projector.
If the sound quality is off, your home entertainment experience will fall short. Understanding this, FANGOR built stereo surround speakers into its product to provide a reasonable listening experience for the price.
Additionally, the projector can be quickly connected to external headsets by utilizing the product’s wireless connectivity.
YABER V10 5G WiFi Bluetooth Projector – At A Competitive Price
Key Specs
- Resolution: 1080p
- Max Screen Size: 450 inches
- Connectivity: HDMI, USB, VGA, Bluetooth
Pros
- system for high-performance cooling.
- High contrast images.
- 4-point keystone correction.
Cons
- There is no shield to protect the glasses.
Don’t overlook the following product from the Yaber brand if you want an amazing big-screen gaming experience: A projector called the YABER V10 5G WiFi Bluetooth.
The newest technology Bluetooth 5.1 two-way & 5G/2.4G WIFI give this model a gaming advantage over rivals in the same price range.
The device can easily mirror images, videos, and especially games with this technology thanks to its quick speed and low latency.
Yaber V10 further improves your entertainment experience by delivering images with excellent sharpness, a wide color gamut, and high contrast.
Last but not least, the YABER V10 also has a cooling system that is incredibly effective. The large ventilation area, which boosts heat dissipation efficiency by more than 40%, prevents the machine from overheating even after hours of playing your favorite games or watching movies on it.
Xiaomi Mi Smart Compact Projector – Stylish Design And 1080p
Key Specs
- Resolution: 1080p
- Max Screen Size: 120 inches
- Connectivity: Android TV
Pros
- Native 1080p
- Sleek design
Cons
- Clunky setup process
The Xiaomi Mi Smart Compact Projector is on the more expensive end of the spectrum, but it packs a powerful punch. The Mi is a reasonably priced, well-designed, and compact home theater system. It runs on Android TV, making it simple to install and download apps. Unfortunately, you will still need to use Android TV to configure the device even though you can connect using just one HDMI port.
Nevertheless, once it’s set up, you’ll benefit from native 1080p resolution, a 120-inch projection screen, and an average brightness of 500 lumens. All those specifications can undoubtedly be outperformed at a higher price point, but for the $500 range, that’s what you should anticipate. The Mi is still a very capable little projector for what it offers, and it also has a very stylish design.
A Complete Buyer’s Guide
If your goal is the best projector under 500, you need to not simply choose by the price but also depend on quite a few different factors. The following guide includes some of the crucial components.
What To Consider?
Look for the following specifications and features in a projector that costs less than $500: screen size, brightness/lumens, Resolution, throw distance, connectivity (HDMI, USB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi), and LCD vs. DLP are some of the differences. Aspects like size and weight should be taken into account if you intend to transport the projector.
Also keep in mind that projectors as a whole have limitations when compared to TVs; they can’t match the performance of contemporary HD or 4K LED TVs in terms of color, brightness, or contrast. Here are some additional things to think about:
- You should be aware of the size of the surface you plan to project onto before making any purchases because every projector has a minimum or maximum screen size. The throw distance, also referred to as the distance from the surface at which the projector will be placed, is another important consideration.”
- Lumens are a unit of brightness that projectors use to measure brightness. Lumens determine both the quality and size of the projected image. If at all possible, try to find or change the lumen rating to ANSI lumens, which provides a more accurate reading.
- However, DLP devices are easier to use, less expensive, and more portable than LCD projectors, which typically produce sharper, more colorful images. When deciding between more expensive projectors, take the difference into account.
Resolution
The quality of the images improves with higher resolution. You can find out how many pixels are displayed in the explanation; the more pixels, the more accurate.
Products with native Full HD resolution are available for less than $500. The Artlii Play3 Outdoor, the YABER Y31, and the AAXA M7 are a few other brands that support 4K input.
Unfortunately, it’s difficult to find a product at this price that supports 4K native resolution. The screen technology, pixel size, and screen size are just a few of the many factors that affect how clear an image is.
Brightness
For proper brightness selection, you must consider the intended use.
A product with brightness in the range of 1000 lumens should be adequate to meet the needs if you only need to use the projector in a home entertainment room, where the luminaires are to ensure that the sidelight isn’t too harsh.
To ensure display quality, you will need a projector with a brightness of at least 3000 lumens if you intend to use it for business.
Connectivity
Modern projectors come with various ports that can be used to connect various gadgets. Inspect the model you intend to purchase to see if it has the connectors described below:
- HDMI is the most frequently used input port in projectors and It adheres to an extremely high standard of quality, combining both audio and video channels into one complete unit. You need a specific HDMI adapter if you want to connect a projector to a smartphone.
- DVI can be of several kinds – DVI-A/D, DVI-D, and hybrid DVI-I ports that blend the characteristics of analog and digital signals are available.
- Composite is less popular than the abovementioned ports, but many project manufacturers still use this input. A signal is split into several threads by the composite technology; the yellow connector on the composite is for the video, and there are two connectors for the audio.
- You can also come across movie projectors with a VGA port. This analog connector is primarily required for VGA-compatible computers without additional ports to display content.
- RCA is very rare as it can receive only image signals. This means that if you want to connect audio equipment, you’ll need to buy extra accessories. Few consumers can afford additional costs.
- 3.5mm is used solely for audio signals. When connecting separate speakers and a sound system, this connector is useful.
- Optical connection has nothing to do with digital sound transmission, fully concentrating on analog signals. It is praised for providing audio of the highest caliber.
- Wi-Fi is aimed at wireless data transmission. Choose a projector with Wi-Fi support if you don’t feel like managing cables. These devices frequently come with pre-installed apps for quick adjustments. Furthermore, modern models support streaming directly from the internet.
Contrast
The distinction between light and dark areas is called contrast. Higher values of this parameter increase the likelihood that the monitor will produce a more realistic, true-to-life image with greater depth.
Lens Zoom
Given the likelihood that you will move your projector in response to your current needs, the ability to change the image size without physically moving a device is wonderful. The lens zoom makes this possible.
If the zoom ratio is raised, the image size grows. For instance, a 1.2x zoom enlarges the image by 20% over the minimum size. The image is doubled in size at a 2.0x zoom. The bad news is that not every projector has a lens zoom, so bear that in mind when selecting one.
How Did We Decide Which Projector To Use?
Projectors serve a variety of purposes, despite the fact that the idea is fairly straightforward. We made sure to include a variety of models when choosing the top ones. There is a projector here for everyone, whether they need a presentation tool, a portable gaming display, or a home theater setup.
To find the most promising models, we combed through user reviews, third-party reviews, and product specifications. Based on the aforementioned criteria, we then reduced the list: screen size, brightness/lumens, Resolution, throw distance, connectivity, ease of use, and LCD vs. DLP. Other features like keystone correction, motorized zoom, and lens shift are nice extras but may or may not be offered at this price point, so we didn’t necessarily need them.
Conclusion
Choosing a device with as many intricate features as a projector is never an easy task, especially if your budget is constrained.
But you undoubtedly have the best recommendations with the list of the best projectors under $500. You can select the product that is most effective for you based on your unique needs.
Consequently, give all the information one last thought before making your decision.
