I’m very excited to share our picks for the best home projectors under $500. I’ve looked at all the home projectors in this market, done the research, and narrowed it down to four projectors, each of which brings something special to the market.
If you’re looking for a reasonably priced projector under $500, look no further, just choose one of these.
Best Overall Projector Under $500: ViewSonic PA503W
Our overall pick for the best projector under $500 is the ViewSonic PA503W. This projector has amazing color quality for the price which ViewSonic attributes to their exclusive SuperColor™ technology, WXGA 1280 x 800 resolution, high-quality built-in speakers, HDMI connectivity, and it’s really quiet (unnoticeable even) when it’s on. It’s really easy to set up so you’re quickly on your way to watching your favorite show. You can also watch 3D blu-ray movies with 3D glasses. Finally, you get 5 unique view modes that provide the best possible viewing experience in any environment regardless of light.
Lastly, ViewSonic is a great projector company. If you buy this projector on Amazon, you get a 3-year warranty so, of course we hope you don’t have any issues, but you should be set for 3 years if you do.
Features
- Amazing color accuracy
- 3D Blu-ray ready HDMI input
- 5 view settings for a variety of environments and lighting
- SonicExpert technology delivers enhanced sound
- User-friendly design includes tactile keypad, top lamp door, and cable management system that keeps your cords hidden
Specs
- Resolution: 1280 x 800 WXGA (See WXGA vs XGA vs SVGA)
- Throw distance: 3 – 36ft (See What is Throw Ratio and Distance)
- Brightness: 3600 Lumens (See How much do Lumens matter)
- Display: DLP (See DLP vs LED vs LCD)
- Internal Speakers: Yes
- Dynamic Contrast Ratio: 22,000:1
- Connectors: 1 HDMI, 2 VGA IN, 1 VGA OUT , 1 mini USB
Other projectors to consider at a lower price, also under $500
ViewSonic also offers the PA503X and PA503S at lower prices. ThePA503X is about $50 cheaper and the only difference is the XGA 1024 x 768 resolution. ThePA503S is a full $100 less on Amazon right now and the main difference is its SVGA 800 x 600 resolution. These are all great products by ViewSonic in the under $500 price range so if you are comfortable at a lower resolution (See our resolution guide here), then by all means, please spend less!
Best 3D Projector Under $500: Optoma GT760A
Our 3D projector pick under $500 is the Optoma GT760A. This projector is a great product for gamers and sports fans because it’s full 3D-ready, has incredibly fast response time (so no lag), and is great on a big screen at a short distance. With DLP technology, it can display 3D content from almost any 3D display device, including 3D Blu-ray, PS3, Xbox and Sky3D.
This projector also offers short throw projection, meaning you can project an impressive 80” diagonal image from less than 1m away from the screen. This allows you to place the projector closer to the wall which reduces shadows and lets you get fully immersed in your game. So it’s especially ideal for space-constrained areas.
The only downsides we hear are that the built-in speaker could be a little louder and that you do not have the ability to flip the image horizontally.
This is your projector if you care about significantly decreasing lag time, watching 3D movies and games, or being able to place your projector close to the wall. If you don’t care about those things, I would say the ViewSonic above might be the way to go. Check out the reviews though to see what others are saying.
Features
- Full 3D for the best gaming experience
- Short throw projection which is ideal for smaller rooms or space-constrained areas
- Designed for fast, flawless performance with today’s gaming consoles
- HDMI and USB inputs
Specs
- Resolution: 1280 x 720 HD (See the Projector Resolution Guide)
- Throw distance: 1.3~32.8ft (See What is Throw Ratio and Distance)
- Brightness: 3400 Lumens (See How much do Lumens matter)
- Display: DLP (See DLP vs LED vs LCD)
- Internal Speakers: Yes
- Dynamic Contrast Ratio: 20000:1
- Connectors: 1 HDMI, 2 VGA IN, 2 VGA OUT, 1 USB
Best Cheap Projector: Crenova XPE460
The Crenova XPE460 is a sleek, compact projector that only costs about $87. This is a great little projector if you want to watch home videos inside or outside in the dark, which, let’s be honest, is all that many people want and need. Let me be clear though, you probably don’t want to use this in a corporate setting inside.
It’s top selling points are it’s price, that it’s portable (so especially for bringing outdoors), that it displays content from 1080p devices, it has a very long-lasting lamp, and it runs on an LED light source. The Crenova XPE640 has a lifetime of 20,000 hours which is significantly greater than traditional lamps and all the other projectors on this list.
This model can product up to 130in image, which is much bigger than a TV that would be much more expensive. So if you want to watch movies on a big-screen then this projector is much more economical than anything else. Another important feature is that it can connect via HDMI and wirelessly so you can connect with your ipad or smartphone.
The major downside is the projected image. It only has a resolution of 800 x 480. So keep in mind that even though it can project 1080p movies, the resolution will still be paired down to 800 x 480. The fan can also be quite loud because of all the heat this little projector emits. However, for the price, this might still be worth it for you!
Features
- LED technology with an impressive lifetime of 20,000 hours
- HDMI, USB, and wireless connectivity
- 1200 lumens and great color in the dark
- Up to 130ft tall screen
- Compact, mini projector excellent for portability
Specs
- Resolution: 800 x 480 (See the Projector Resolution Guide)
- Brightness: 1200 Lumens (See How much do Lumens matter)
- Display: LED (See DLP vs LED vs LCD)
- Internal Speakers: Yes
- Dynamic Contrast Ratio: 1000:1
- Connectors: 1 HDMI, 1 USB, Wireless