Best Projector Under 500 Dollars in 2022
(This post contains affiliate links. See my disclosure about affiliate links here.)
We have to hand it to you; finding a projector under 500 dollars can be challenging. The market is saturated with different brands offering the same product for varying prices.
We’ve done all the hard work for you and narrowed down your search to 8 of the best projector under 500 dollars that are guaranteed to meet your needs. Keep reading to find our list of the best projectors under 500 dollars.
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Best Projectors Under 500 Dollars of 2022: Our Top 8 Picks
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Top 8 Best Projectors Under 500 Dollars
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The Epson Home Cinema is one of the best projectors for under 500 dollars because it displays incredible crystal clear clarity.
Also, its 16,000:1 contrast ratio makes everything look vibrant. The color accuracy stands up to high standards that are hard to find in less expensive projectors. The easy-to-install setup is perfect for anyone looking to get started right away.
The lamp life isn’t the best, but it still manages a decent lifespan to keep your projector working properly without needing any extra maintenance or upkeep.
If you’re on a budget and want an affordable yet reliable projector, then this one would be worth consideration.
It’s incredibly user-friendly with excellent connectivity options like HDMI ports which make connecting multiple devices simple.
You can find many other features such as USB ports or Bluetooth capabilities. Everything about it seems well thought out rather than haphazardly thrown together, making quality output possible every time.
Best of all, its high resolution helps ensure nothing gets lost in translation when viewing your favorite movies and more!
Specs:
- Display technology: 3LCD
- Resolution: 1080p
- Brightness: 3300 lumens
- Contrast ratio: 16,000:1
- Lamp life: 6,000 hours
- Connectivity: HDMI
- Setup: easy to install
Pros:
- High contrast ratio
- Flexible placement
- Keystone and skew sensor
- 3LCD technology
- Full HD native resolution
Cons:
- RCA may be faulty at times
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If you’re on a budget and want an affordable yet reliable projector, then this one would be worth consideration.
The contrast ratio is one of the most important aspects to consider for a projector. A higher contrast ratio means brighter whites and blacker blacks which makes images come alive.
With the Epson VS260, you won’t have any problems achieving impressive results since it offers an outstanding 15000:01 contrast ratio that provides crisp, rich details for images.
Its True 3LCD technology provides outstanding color accuracy while maintaining great color brightness without any issues seen in other models.
Also, it features 3300 lumens of brightness, which is perfect for displaying images even if you’re in a well-lit room.
Furthermore, the VS260 provides easy installation and versatile connectivity, making it easy to connect streaming devices including Apple Tv and Chromecast.
Specs:
- Display technology: 3LCD
- Resolution: XGA
- Brightness: 3300 lumens
- Contrast ratio: 15,000:1
- Lamp life: 6,000 hours
- Connectivity: HDMI
- Setup: easy setup for video and audio right out of the box
Pros:
- Amazing brightness (perfect for well-lit environments)
- Great adjustment options
- High compatibility with other devices
- Easily portable
Cons:
- Average built-in speaker
- Lacks 3D capabilities
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This projector is an excellent option if you’re in the $500 range because it can wirelessly play videos from your tablet or phone.
It’s also great for easily watching movies on a big screen with no lag time, especially if you’re streaming directly to this device instead of using an HDMI cable.
Best of all, this model supports up to 1080p resolution, which means you won’t miss out on full HD viewing experiences that look incredible in high definition.
In addition, this projector is equipped with the latest LED technology, which is more than 20% brighter than other 1080p projectors.
Also, it supports 4K resolution which displays 10 times more details than 1080p supported models.
Moreover, it features a 4-point data correction which is as larger as ±60°, you can project from larger angles.
Best of all, the LED lamp provides an operating life of more than 10 years. This will be perfect as you won’t spend money anytime soon.
Specs:
- Display technology: DLP
- Resolution: 1080p
- Contrast ratio: 12,000:1
- Brightness: 9,500 lux
- Lamp life: 200,000 hours LED lamp
- Connectivity: 5G wireless, USB, Bluetooth
Pros:
- You get 4 years of warranty (two times longer than other manufacturers)
- One year of replacement, the rest 3 for free repair
- Supports 4K resolution
- 9,500 lux
- 10 years of lamp life
- Wifi and Bluetooth connectivity
- Case included for easy portability
Cons:
- Not native 4K resolution
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YABER Y30 is a popular choice for its unique features and excellent performance. It’s easy to set up right out of the box.
It has great connectivity options with HDMI or VGA ports that allow it to connect to a wide variety of devices easily.
Also, the intuitive remote control makes controlling everything straightforward without having to point at what you want too much.
This model also offers high-definition results which look good from every angle, no matter where you’re sitting.
Specs:
- Display technology: 3LCD
- Resolution: 1080p
- Brightness: 8500 lux
- Contrast ratio: 10,000:1
- Lamp life: 100,000 hours
- Connectivity: 2*HDMI ports, 2*USB ports, VGA port, AV port
Pros:
- Can easily connect with other media devices
- Great sound quality
- Brilliant display
Cons:
- Problematic single-click brightness
- Does not support HDR
- Input resolution needs improvement
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The BenQ TH585 is an excellent projector for under five hundred dollars, considering all of the features it offers.
It’s able to produce an impressive 3500 lumens, which means you can watch movies in almost any lighting condition regardless of how bright or dark things are around you.
One big plus about this model is its built-in speaker, so you won’t have to purchase external speakers.
However, the speakers don’t offer great sound quality – especially when using it as a home theater. So, you should consider this factor when buying this projector.
Specs:
- Display technology: DLP
- Resolution: 1080p Full HD
- Brightness: 3500 ANSI lumens
- Contrast ratio: 15,000:1
- Lamp life: 10,000 hours
- Connectivity: HDMI
- Setup: easy setup right out of the box
Pros:
- Very bright, crips, and sharp
- Digital lens shift and keystone correction are incredible
- Low input lag
Cons:
- Poor built-in speaker
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The Kodak Luma 150 projector is an excellent choice for people who need something they can take with them and don’t mind sacrificing some screen size.
It’s very compact and easy to set up right out of the box without having any problems since it only weighs about one pound.
It offers high-resolution results that look good from every angle no matter where you’re sitting, so everyone in the room gets an optimal viewing experience.
Specs:
- Display technology: DLP
- Resolution: 1080p
- Brightness: 60 ANSI lumens
- Contrast ratio: 1,000:1
- Lamp life: 3,000 hours LED lamp
- Connectivity: HDMI, USB, and wireless
- Designed for easy portability
Pros:
- Easy portable
- Modern design
- Rechargeable internal battery
Cons:
- Low image brightness
- Modest resolution
- No tripod
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It’s got several valuable features that make this model stand out from the crowd. Automatic vertical keystone correction brings your images into focus even if you’re projecting onto surfaces like walls, floors, and ceilings.
Also, it has a built-in speaker with high-quality audio output, so there won’t be any need for additional speakers.
Along with a convenient carrying handle, making it easy to take wherever desired without too much hassle.
Specs:
- Display technology: 3LCD
- Resolution: XGA
- Brightness: 3600 ANSI lumens
- Contrast ratio: 15,000:1
- Lamp life: 12,000 hours
- Connectivity: features an HDMI port, so you can easily connect streaming devices, including Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, and Chromecast.
- Setup: easy setup
Pros:
- Compatible with all laptops or media players
- High color accuracy with extra brightness
- Easy to setup
Cons:
- Does not offer 3D capabilities
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Last but not least, the Kodak Luma 350 is an excellent projector for people who want to take it wherever they need or desire.
This model weighs under one pound and can be taken anywhere without too much hassle. It’s also straightforward to set up right out of the box, so there won’t be any issues putting it to work.
This device will give your movies all the sharpness you could want at over 100 inches in screen size, making everything clear on large surfaces.
Specs:
- Display technology: DLP
- Resolution: 854 x 480
- Brightness: 350 lumens
- Contrast ratio: 3,500:1
- Lamp life: 30,000 hours LED lamp
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI, USB
- Setup: easy to use
Pros:
- Lightweight and extra portable
- Projects awesome decent-size image
- Bluetooth compatible
Cons:
- The video quality needs improvement
- Average speakers
Best Projector Under $500 Buyer’s Guide
There isn’t one projector that is perfect for everyone. You have to consider what you need out of your projector before deciding which one you will buy.
To help you find the best projector for under 500 dollars, here are some things to keep in mind when making your decision.
Design and Build Quality
When you’re spending a good chunk of change on something, the build quality must be high. That means no flimsy parts and components that will break after minimal usage.
Another factor worth considering is how big your room is. You don’t necessarily need a projector with high lumens if you have a smaller space to project.
Projector Type
There are two main types of projectors on the market: LCD and DLP. Each one has its pros and cons.
DLP projectors are best suited for home theaters. The color contrast is higher than with LCD, meaning blacks will look darker and more realistic than the lighter colors.
LCD projector types tend to be better when projecting vivid images due to displaying accurate colors.
However, they can suffer from poor black levels, so if you’re looking for a cinema-like experience, then DLP might be your preferred pick over an LCD projector.
Screen Size
The size of your screen will depend on the size of your room. For example, if you have a small bedroom, then an 80-inch projector might be too much for it to handle and result in lousy viewing angles.
It’s essential to take note of the dimensions of your room and calculate what size screen you’ll need. It will narrow down your search for the best projector under 500 dollars because it means that you don’t have to choose a projector with extra features if they aren’t necessary.
Brightness Level
The brightness level indicates how bright or dim the image will project onto your wall or screen.
A brighter projector means that the image will be more visible during daylight hours, while a dimmer model might not even show up at all!
The best way to find out if you need an extra bright projector is by noting how light or dark your room is.
If it’s pretty dim, then there’s no reason why you should get anything below 2000 lumens. However, if it gets plenty of natural light, 500-1000 lumens would suffice for most people.
So keep this factor in mind depending on where you plan to use your projector most often, to find the projector that will be best for you.
Contrast Ratio
The contrast ratio is essentially the difference between how bright or dark something the projection will display.
For example, if you have a black background with white text, this color difference will determine how easy it is to read what’s written there.
A low contrast ratio means that the words might not pop off of the screen as much, and thus they’ll be more difficult for your audience to see. So consider your content when choosing which projector would work best for you.
Resolution
Resolution is the number of pixels in an image. More pixels mean that you’ll have a more detailed picture when projecting something onto your screen or wall.
The resolution also determines your projected image size before it starts to look pixelated and fuzzy.
So depending on whether you need high resolutions for graphics-heavy media like movies or games, decide which kind of projector under 500 dollars would be best for you.
Projector’s Throw Distance
The throw distance is how far your projector will be from the wall or screen you’re projecting. If you don’t consider this factor, it can cause many problems, such as sitting too close and suffering eye strain.
Also, if the image is projected at an angle and not straight on like it should, then what’s displayed might look skewed and distorted rather than crisp and clear.
So consider where exactly you plan to use your projector. Most often, all of these factors play off each other to give you the best experience possible when choosing which projector under 500 dollars would work best for your needs.
Lamp Life
Lamp life is the amount of time that your projector’s lamp will last before you replace it. If you want a reliable experience that doesn’t require constant maintenance, this factor becomes incredibly important.
For example, suppose you plan on using your projector for hours. In that case, you’ll likely need something with a higher lifespan so that it can make it through its usage without dying out.
Connectivity
Connection is the number of ports available on your projector. This factor is essential if you need to use multiple devices with your projector that require different plugins for everything to work properly. So keep this factor in mind depending on how many sources you’ll be connecting.
You’re not only looking to buy a projector, but you want one that comes with all the bells and whistles as well. It’s important that whatever device you end up choosing has excellent connectivity options like HDMI ports.
Other features such as USB ports or even Bluetooth capabilities help make your life easier when using a projector. Different input/output connection options give you more freedom and functionality, which is always nice if within budget range!
Image Quality
If a projector has poor image quality, then there is no reason you would buy this over a brand offering better quality.
Image quality varies from one person to another. However, some people might not care about a 1080p resolution, while others need every sharp and crystal clear detail.
Make sure you know your needs and find a projector with the proper resolution for those needs!
Ease of Use
Overall, the best projectors should be easy to use from installation to operation; everything should work without problems.
The projector should be able to connect without any difficulties; the remote control should function well, and so on.
If you find yourself struggling with your device or it doesn’t work like advertised, then what’s the point of buying something that isn’t user-friendly? It defeats the purpose! You want an easy-to-use product that will give you hours of entertainment for years to come.
FAQs
What is the best home projector under 500?
All of these are great options to consider since they all have different features that make them stand out from the crowd.
However, we recommend the Epson Home Cinema 880 projector as the first choice for people who want something that will provide excellent picture clarity and brightness levels along with convenient features.
How much is a decent movie projector?
While it’s difficult to pinpoint a specific price range for people who are looking to buy projectors, we recommend sticking with one of these models since they all provide excellent features and image quality. That being said, you can expect to pay around $500 to $20,000 for a quality projector.
What is the best projector money can buy?
All of these models are great options depending on what you’re looking for in a projector. However, the best projector money can buy is the BenQ HT3550 True 4K Projector.
Conclusion
The final decision is up to you, but some great options are available for projectors that won’t break the bank.
Each of these offers something different for people who want a device they can count on in terms of image quality and durability along with long-lasting lamp life, so you don’t have to worry about replacing them any time soon.
These products go above and beyond what other models offer by providing excellent picture clarity, convenient features like keystone correction, auto-focus, and portability without compromising too much in terms of brightness levels or design.
I hope this article helps clear things up when shopping for the best projector under 500 dollars.