What you see above is not a poster that is somehow glowing in a dark room , but an trope projected on a bulwark by a in spades under $ 500 projector . If you ’re looking at projector in this class we gestate that you ’re expect for an entrance level projector , a project for travel , or are already familiar with the power that projectors in this class are subject of . If you ’re in the first two categories , get ready to become a part of the third . The best projectors under $ 500 are right smart more powerful than your middle school biological science lectures would have led you to think .
The best projectors under $500 for 2024
Yaber K2s projector
Best projector under $500
If you ’re used to the trappings of a innovative TV , with app - based programing , voice - trip navigation and more , stress Yaber ’s K2s projector . It has a built - in TV dongle that ease up you access to over 7,000 apps , but also Wi - Fi- 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 for joining to your other twist in typesetter’s case you want to port something over . In fact , if your speech sound isNFC - able , you may pretty much just tap the projector with your phone to join and lead off pour from it . It ’s all about well-fixed choice and getting started quickly here .
talker on a projector are course going to be a number disputative . Many multitude will not wish them . They do , however , have an advantage over the Speaker you ’ll see on thebest TVsin that the speakers are placed in a box and not a thin sheet . Here , in the Yaber K2s , we have dual speakers power by JBL — one of thebest speaker brand — which are run to give above - par speakers for the earnings grade . In fact , you could turn off the screen and use this as a JBL Bluetooth speaker unit rather of a projector , should you require to . in conclusion , there is Dolby Audio supporting , so if you want to do the traditional television - user affair and pair it with one of thebest Dolby Atmos soundbars , that ’s not only totally o.k. , it ’s actually extremely recommend .
There ’s little to not have sex about this tiny television alternative , except maybe that it is a morsel heftier than most projector of its style . And , again , that ’s only a little , as this weighs in at close to seven pound where most will be around three . And , really , that only means that it might be slimly less comfortable to travel with , when you include all of your other gear . We ’ve not cracked one open to see how it works , but the general distrust is that it is the double - verbaliser intent that pop up the weight up a tad . And , for that , we ’ll take it , as even with tone portable speaker , sometimes you merely do n’t have room to take them and give birth respectable ones already built in will make you happy .
Vankyo Leisure 470 Pro
Best for beginners
The projector you see above is the one responsible for the Hero of Alexandria image of this article . It ’s a dapper , warm to use projector that works absolutely as a TV alternative for small elbow room . Everything you need to do to set it up comes intuitively and you could get a astonishingly slap-up characterisation out of it with no screen . selection to deepen color setting , throw sizing , panorama proportion and more all survive within its well accessible fare . Once you ’ve gotten it ready the first time , pulling it out and adjusting the node on the top the projector will come easily and getting a comparatively focalize shot can be done in less than a minute , with allowances for minuscule adjustments once you force up your favored media .
One soft decimal point of annoyance with the Vankyo Leisure 470 Pro is its on - twist control , which are splayed out in a additive format . Why can this become galling ? When you require to use the arrow samara they are n’t arranged in the usual , usable WASD type format that we ’re used to , which can be peculiarly confusing in the nighttime and double so when you ’re to the side of the projector and have to splay everything in your intellect yet again . Luckily , the Vankyo leisure time 470 Pro comes with great extras . For this upshot , there is a ready to hand remote control with logical directional buttons , carte du jour control , and loudness control . Other extras contained within the soft carry casing let in cleaning shaft to keep your electron lens take care as clean as possible .
Connecting to media can be done in several ways , including connecting an HDMI cord to your laptop or console , connecting via Chromecast - style speech sound screen casting , and plugging in USB sticks with media loaded onboard . Overall , this is an unbelievably usable projector that you’re able to get for not only under $ 500 , but under $ 200 , wee it a great first projector . It would be shocking if you were not able to eek out loads more than 200 hours of amusement out of this equipment , if you do by it well , making the money per time of day of amusement in the cents , not dollars .
Xgimi MoGo 2 Pro
Best portable
The Xgimi MoGo 2 Pro is redolent of a orotund portable speaker that you might take with you to the pool or on camping trip . And , functionally , it fits in kind of the same useableness space . It weights less than 2.5 pounds and has a durable hard credit card exterior so that you’re able to easy pack it in your travelling bag and not occupy about run out of room or weighing down the traveling bag .
When you get to where you want to visualize , the built - in features of the Xgimi MoGo Pro 2 should facilitate you get the most of the experience . There ’s auto focusing and keystone chastisement , which will be helpful with the not - utterly - level environment that make out with locomotion and portability . Another overnice feature , is eye auspices that will make the projector obviate struggle brightly into your optic as you pass in front on it — a situation much more commonly establish when locomote than when using a projector is a more consecrated localization .
The Xgimi MoGo 2 Pro fall with Android tv set , which will provide an excellent modern interface for you to work with . you’re able to also connect via Chromecast to yourAndroid telephone set . We do find these system to be somewhat laggy , but that is as much a dimension of the organisation themselves as the projector . As per usual , using HDMI comes most highly recommended .
BenQ WXGA Business Projector
Best for business meetings
For the classic business enterprise meeting with a projector , we find that BenQ ’s WXGA Business Projector belike has most everything that you ’ll ever want for a reasonable audience . With thing like automatic vertical keystone discipline , limited modes for data introduction and read infographics , and high lumen projection , thing should course smoothly every time you get quick to present . Furthermore , there are atonof connection options , including the relatively rare VGA , USB miniskirt - B , and S - Video embrasure as well as the more common HDMI and USB - A. No matter what specialize hardware and tech your diligence uses , you ’ll likely have a respectable option to connect with the BenQ WXGA Business Projector . work this projector along will sure externalise a gumption of preparedness .
You ’ll also like the quick go - on features that get everything quick with 90 seconds . Furthermore , as soon as a VGA input is notice by the projector it will start to call on on mechanically . It ’s thing like this that can scale down meter spend in awkward quiet and technological fumbling and more time presenting confidently . One extra step you’re able to take for presentation achiever is to buyquality speakersto bring along with you , especially if you intend to portray to larger crowd , as this projector ’s internal loudspeaker system are on the quiet side . observe that this is not a on-key slight against the BenQ WXGA Business Projector , which probably expect you to do most of the noise - fashioning , and projectors in general do not have great loudspeaker system .
Onn. 720p Home Theater Projector
Best cheap projector
If you came look for a projector under $ 500 but realized that what you really wanted was a very cheap projector that you do n’t have to occupy too much about , can try out with , or want to give your kids as a natural endowment , this is the one . Somehow managing to be under $ 100 , Onn . ’s 720p Home Theater Projector provide a usable projector on the cheap that can give you the experience without the cost . thing are confessedly au naturel bones and there are n’t a gross ton of supererogatory features , much as you would have a bun in the oven for a projector of this price , but the picture should still be a decent 720p , you’re able to use it as close as four feet from your wall , and you ’ll even have the ability to wall - mount it should you so choose . Ultimately , the value - for - the - price is there .
At the remainder of the solar day , we do n’t ask this projector to give you twelvemonth - after - year length of service in continual utilisation . But , that ’s not what this product is about . habituate it for the periodic sleep party with your kids , let them make for video games on the wall , or use it as a warm gain to your display options for showing off the ikon you took and have stick on a MicroSD notice . Instead of viewing it as a TV replacement , but alternatively as a use - as - needed machine , this projector will quickly show that its quality exceeds the price .
How we chose the best projectors under $500
When we create our guide to thebest projectors , with it we let in a well - rounded templet into what piss a projector good . There wo n’t be an attack to repeat that in full here . If you ’re interested in projectors at turgid , you should decidedly read that ( and check out the sweet projector highlighted there ) instead . Here , instead , we ’re focusing on what makes a projector under $ 500 ticking and what you should look out for — and whole ignore — on these gimmick .
Ease of use
One of the advantages of an expensive projector is a lot of rather complex features that provide a superscript , snappy , almost movie - same experience . dwelling house theater of operations projectors — when you factor in the comforts of place — can even outdo the character of experience you ’d have in a movie house . But projectors under $ 500 ? They ’re going to be quite a bit dissimilar . You ’ll certainly be blown away by the quality you may get out of a budget projector , specially if you ’re cram into them as something fresh and have the expectations of yesteryear on your idea .
However , one of the unexpected advantages of projectors under $ 500 is thefreedom fromcomplex features . Here , we make a trade wind - off ; we accept that we wo n’t be getting movie field quality , but that we should be capable to use the projector easy and understand its features on a more nonrational level than we might otherwise expect .
The bottom line : If you are n’t a quality fanatic , projector under $ 500 might suit you better than more expensive projectors due to the peace of creative thinker you ’re getting the best out of them you may in arcminute , with little fiddling .
Projector screens
In the same vein as the above , your sub-$500 projector issue forth with a projection screen may or may not be the bonus you consider it is . While some categories of projectors absolutelyneeda screen , the huge majority at this price level will not . Unless you ’re run low outdoors , when anoutdoor projector screenwill pay off in dividends , a whitened ( or , even an off - white ) paries should be ok . In any consequence , many of thebest projector screensare relatively inexpensive to begin with and can be purchase severally , later .
The bottom communication channel : We’re not necessarily look at the addition of a projector screen as a fillip , particularly if it feel like it is used as a justification to bump up the monetary value . On the other hand , if the screen is of good calibre and it feel like a big money deal , then the purchase will be considered worth . This is a play - it - by - ear aspect of buying budget projector .
Projector styles and deals
There are a short ton of projector styles , most of which have a special purchasing guide on this very website . As a resultant , there is no firm flavor or stylus for projector under $ 500 . That being articulate , looking at thebest radical unretentive throw projectorsandbest 4 K projector , for example , and it will be voiceless to get hold something under $ 500 . If you find yourself concerned in something , however , be certain to gibe out our primary articles for the category , as you may find oneself something just beyond the $ 500 marker that we ’re halt at here . Also consider assure our systematically updated list of thebest projector dealsfor more projector under $ 500 ( that would ordinarily be considerably more ) .
In particular , we commend you go assure outSamsung Freestyle projector great deal . When on sales agreement , Samsung Freestyle projector hit at $ 500 or under , but their MSRP exceeds the mark , disqualifying them from the list . They ’re quick and simple to set up , have a point - and - shoot method of being cast , and the second gen one has access toSamsung ’s Gaming Hub . Without a doubt , should either one be under $ 500 at this minute , due to a pot , you should strongly consider it as if it were a member on this list .
