Projectors are continually gaining popularity as alternatives to standard TVs. While the image qualities may vary a little between the two, projectors are a viable solution for organisations, schools, and a home entertainment. Additionally, for the price you pay, the image quality will be better the higher the price of the projector. Don’t worry, you can still have the best projector under $500 without having to sacrifice image quality or convenience.
Subsequently, we’ve gathered the best picks within this budget so that you can shop easier. Everything we pick will be aimed at a wide range of users that all have some sort of bar for quality images. We suggest you check the most suitable models for your needs in the market.
Benefits of a Projector
Projectors are quite ideally alternatives to TVs of the same budget range for different buyers. And so we ask, what informs the decision to buy a projector instead of a TV? Here is a summary of the benefits that projector owners enjoy:
- Less eye-straining due to less light, and bigger images (Better eye care).
- Adaptable screen sizes according to the application and the number of audience.
- The projectors are small and portable.
- Versatile applications make projectors a better cost to benefit ratio.
Accordingly, here are our top 5 projector picks under the $500 budget.
What is the Best Projector Under $500?
1. GooDee 2022 Upgraded 1080P Projector
- 2022 Upgraded Brightness: As GooDee best seller projector, we...
- Native 1080p Supported & Latest Cooling System: Supporting 1080P...
- 230" Max Screen & Internal Hi-Fi Stereo: Giant 230 inches display...
- Easily Connecting Your Multimedia Devices: Comes with...
- 5 Years Factory Support: GooDee provides 5 years for the...
The 2022 upgraded GooDeee 1080P projector will start us off with our recommendations for the best projectors under $500. This portable projector has a nice high contrast ratio and brightness without burning a hole in your wallet. What we found in our test rounds is that this model produced as much brightness as most other projectors in its class, with an even wider viewing to 230 inches. It has also a wide viewing distance range: 9 – 18 feet, optimal: 10ft.
It also has features, like the built in dual 3W speakers though these may benefit from some surround boost through an AV receiver or speaker system. And with its aspect ratio, its contrast ratio, and its powerful speakers, this home theater projector allows for outdoor entertainment anywhere from camping to the backyard. This projector is equipped with an effective cooling system, which decreases noise as well as increases the length of the bulb's lifetime, besides it's resolution in Full HD.
We also love the fact that there are flexible, easy to use connectivity options with this projector. You can access several multimedia devices supported by HDMI, VGA, USB and AV ports. In other words, you can link the device to gaming consoles(PS4, PS3 and Xbox) Chromecast, laptops, TV boxes, media players, Android Smartphones and iPhones or else. In short, this is the best projector under $500 if you want plenty of flexibility for playing media, giving a presentation, outdoor viewing and gaming.
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2. ViewSonic 3800 Lumens WXGA
- VERSATILE PROJECTOR: Advanced visual features ideal for use in...
- BIG SCREEN PROJECTION: Projects 120 inches from 15-feet 8-inches...
- EASY SETUP: Simple setup and control; just plug & play your...
- LONG LAMP LIFE: Super Eco Mode allows the lamp to shine bright...
- FLEXIBLE CONNECTIVITY: Supports most media players, PCs, Macs,...
Next in line, we present the View Sonic 3800 Lumens WXGA projector. With this DLP projector, you are getting a great image quality making it great for a business or classroom environment. This projector will produce sharp, clearly colored images and is suitable for such intended audiences at a screen size of 120 inches from a viewing distance of approximately 15 feet. Your presentations will be equipped with the crunch needed for improved concentrations.
In addition, this presentation tool is easy to setup, and, therefore, is perfect for such professional contexts. To install and attach this projector only takes a few minutes and you’ll be doing just that. The ViewSonic 3800 excellently deals with connectivity as you are able to connect to mobile phones, laptops and other media players using varying input options.
In addition, the remote control of it saves the time moving the projector frequently because life is much easier. And once installed, you'll probably need to dust it every once in a while or access it while changing input. With 15,000 hours lamp life, its hard to be the perfect pick for schools and business, but it is an ideal choice for regular use. You’ll end up with smooth images and a 3D image capability up to +/- 40° for perfect image proportions.
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3. ELEPHAS 4K Projector with Wifi and Bluetooth, Outdoor Movie Projector
- 【4K Projector and 1000 ANSI Lumen】Experience peak visual...
- 【Netflix, Youtube and Prime Video, etc】ELEPHAS projector has...
- 【Ultra Fast Dual Band WiFi and Bluetooth】 ELEPHAS WiFi...
- 【AUTO FOCUS PROJECTOR + AUTO KEYSTONE】Easily get a clear,...
- 【Super Long Energy Consumption and Premium After-Sales】The...
The ELEPHAS 4K Projector is an all-in-one home entertainment device that delivers top quality visuals and simplicity of use for any space. Wireless both by WiFi and Bluetooth, with NETFLIX, Prime Video and YouTube already preinstalled on this projector which is built for flexibility. And it supports a huge range of apps, so you can easily launch whatever content you want from over 100,000 choices, right from the projector itself, without any external devices.
ELEPHAS projector possesses native 1080P resolution and can support 4K content to deliver sharp and clear images with rich colors, perfect to play movies, games, make presentations and more. The Bluetooth functionality makes it directly pairable with either external speaker or headphone for big Audio output. It was compact enough to tote around on an outdoor movie night, a camping trip, or just to place in the living room for the ultimate movie theater experience.
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4. WiMiUS [Auto Focus/4K Support] Projector, 600ANSI Native 1080P Outdoor Movie Projector
![[Auto Focus/4K Support] Projector with WiFi 6 and...](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51tFB5dw5RL._SL160_.jpg)
- ➤【Innovative Auto Focus and Auto Keystone...
- ➤【Native 1080P & 600 ANSI & 20000:1 Contrast Ratio】P62 WiFi...
- ➤【The First Wi-Fi 6 Projector】Wi-Fi 6 is not only...
- ➤【Upgrade Bluetooth 5.2 and Hi-Fi Built-in Speaker】The...
- ➤【Fully Sealed Engine and Multi-device Connection】P62 is...
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5. Optoma W400LVe WXGA Professional Projector
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Types of Projectors
Projectors are classified based on the technology they use to display images. Typically, they are two display technologies: DLP and LCD. Details and appropriateness have been provided below.
1. DLP
DLP (Digital Light Processing) technology projects reflected tiny mirror from a screen with a rotating color wheel. Then, these projectors are known for radiant and sharp images. In addition, the DLP technology incorporates either a one or three chip image enhancer. The three chip DLP technology is usually very efficient and has minimal rainbow effects helping to produce smooth images.
As a result, the three chip DLP projectors are pricier but are best suited for movie theaters configured with an up to 4K resolution and 3D support. Yet, the DLP technology might not be flexible enough to various lighting conditions. Those rainbow effects are part of what makes the single chip projection so expensive, and also the best of this technology.
2. LCD
Alternatively, there is the LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) technology comes with no moving parts. On the other hand, this technology of projectors paints three liquid crystal planes on the same screen at the same time. However, it is less expensive and more durable technology. While not nearly as bright as their DLP cousins, the LCD projectors do produce quality images.
The portability, maneuverability and use in various lighting conditions are what make LCD projectors so loveable. They also move fast and sharp, great for gaming kind of tasks. Finally, you may find an LCD projector which is 3D compliant for the ultimate home entertainment. However, we recommend choosing the DLP 3D support.
The LCD technology may be affordable, but offer quality and images that are noisier than DLP. Its image quality is also ideal for most office and school uses, but the images can be better. Generally, the DLP technology is better than LCD, but task appropriation is the secret to picking smart.
Choosing Criteria for the Best Projector under $500
1. Screen Size
The first thing you want to consider for the best projector under $500 is the projector screen size. However, when it comes to relative affordability, you certainly should not sacrifice screen size. There are some of size features to consider such as the aspect ratio and the screen size. It is generally best to choose the projector which best suites your screen or surface.
Since every projector has its own screen size adjustments you should let the audience guide your choice of size. In layman’s terms — the more your audience, the bigger the screen will have to be to be just as useful. Businesses and schools will demand larger screen sizes than home users, so such screens should prove the most popular.
2. Projector Resolution
We recommend considering the quality of projection image resolution, even as you try to maximize the size of your projection screen. The secret to getting crisp, vivid images is quality projector resolution. Additionally, crisp images lead to more beautiful results that will be a pleasure whom you pleased.
Projectors have a fixed resolution capability as one of the main highlights. However, they can change the image quality based on its theoretical resolution. With that said you can buy a higher resolution projector as media is always getting upgraded.
3. Brightness and Contrast
Projector brightness is normally rated in terms of lumens or ANSI. The better the ratings, the brighter. Most projectors across the range of $500 and under have great brightness. The type of environment you can have your projector in is dictated by brightness.
An instance is day uses with high light when high lumens are perfect for such applications. On the flip side, smaller and dimmer environment does not demand much brightness. However, the brightness level should become higher with your audience and room size increasing.
Contrast is closely related to the brightness of a projector. The contrast ratio determines how light reflecting from white and black images. A higher contrast ratio is better, and ideally gives more details in an image. As a result of this, functioning with the brightness, this ratio gives out balanced and visible images.
4. Projector Throw Distance
Project throw distance refers to the distance of the projector from its screening surface. As a result, projectors utilizing a short throw distance should be mounted on ceiling and placed on a table. On the other hand, for your best images, long throw projectors should be mounted on walls or high ceilings. For the most part, throw distance decides your audience’s sitting position and image quality.
5. Connectivity and Compatibility
The best projector should come with flexible ports at the back for connecting with different input devices. For instance, flexible connectivity to various other media players requires HDMI, USB, VGA and AV inputs. Connectivity is also the ideal that any projector should be compatible with varied devices for varied uses. This way, you can swap out what you want to use your projector for, work, education, or entertainment, by changing the input or connected device.
Frequently Asked Questions on the Best Projectors Under $500
1. Is a higher lumen projector better?
The more lumens a projector has, the more light a projector will produce. You will also find some models with two lumen qualities that match color brightness and white brightness. In general, the higher lumen you have, the better your bright visuals will be.
Image Credit: thehometheaterdiy.com
