Best 10 Projectors Under 500

When you want to buy the best projectors under 500, then there are some things that you need to consider to get the most out of your money. Of course, when you don’t have a lot of money, it can be very tempting to go out and buy the cheapest 4k projector you can find, but you should make sure that it is of good quality.

Whether you want a projector for your classroom or a tour house to watch movies with friends and family, having a good quality is very important. However, that does not mean you should get high-end devices from the market by paying a fortune.

In this guide, we will help you find out the most suitable best budget projector for your use so that you will not have to go out of your budget to enjoy one of the best projectors on the market. Thus, keep reading; keep reading if you want to buy one of the best projectors under 500.

10 Best Projectors Under $500

1.      BenQ HT2050

The BenQ HT2050 is one of those projectors that provides many features for a low price. It has an impressive 3000 ANSI lumens, incredible for daytime and nighttime use. Its 1080p resolution is sharp, providing detailed text and images while still making things look beautiful on screen.

This means you can use this projector during the daytime as well as night and will still get a precise and reliable quality performance. It also has excellent color quality with 10-bit technology (8-bit plus two more bits).

You get over one billion possible colors, making any picture look as realistic as possible. Moreover, this project misses out on 3D glass, but you will get a 1.3x zoom with it, which is impressive.

It also features a solid sound quality as compared to other projects in the same price range. Finally, its compact size (7x11x10 inches) makes it easy to move around or store away when not in use.

Having a weight of 7.3 pounds, it is not as heavy as a projector and is suited for every situation whether you want it for schools, theatres, or your house. These features make it such a versatile projector that it can use in any situation, making it one of the best projectors under 500!

2.      Sony VPL-HW45ES

The Sony VPL-HW45ES is a short-throw projector, meaning it can display an image up to 120 inches across while just being 8.6 inches from that surface. That’s an unusual feature in one of the best projectors under 500 that makes it possible to mount in your home theater with very little projection distance between your seating area and screen.

The throw distance is about four feet for a 100-inch image, so you’ll want to mount it high on your wall for the best results. If you have at least 10 feet of space behind where you’re going to sit, then its 1,000 lumens should be enough light for viewing during daytime hours; if not, plan on using curtains or a screen that can block light from behind.

Furthermore, the projector features 9 different presets, which will make your videos look more appealing. You will also see that the project supports 3D glass, and its trigger is built-in in to the project.

Moreover, built wisely, the device looks premium, and you can get it in two colors: black and off-white. Plus, unlike many other projectors, you can mount it on the rare shelf as its exhausting vents are located at the front.

3.      Epson Home Cinema 2040

The Epson Home Cinema 2040 is Epson’s top-of-the-line home theater projector, and it boasts several impressive features. In addition to displaying ultra-HD video with vibrant color, it can project an image that covers up to 300 on any wall or screen.

Its long-lasting lamp offers up to 5,000 hours of use before you need to replace it, and low fan noise makes it a good choice for ambient night viewing. Additionally, a built-in 16:9 aspect ratio switch automatically detects and changes aspect ratios in different media formats, so you won’t have to adjust your projector depending on what content you are watching.

Fortunately, the device comes compatible with HD 3D playback. And comes with both noise reduction and MPEG noise reduction. You will not find the noise reduction feature in many other projectors in this price range. Thus, this makes the projector stand out in the market.

You will also find excellent audio quality with this projector, giving you everything you can expect from one of the best projectors under 500.

Read: How to project a screen on a wall without a projector?

4.      Optoma HD141X

As an updated model of its predecessor, Optoma’s HD141X packs a surprising number of cutting-edge features into its $500 price tag. Starting with 3LCD technology and XGA (1024 x 768) resolution, brightness runs at 2400 ANSI lumens (projector only) with a 3000:1 contrast ratio.

This means you will get excellent projection quality both during the day as well as at night with this fantastic device. This model is portable; it weighs just 8 pounds and even comes with a carrying case. Thus, you can carry it around if you want with ease.

However, it’s not the most lightweight model, but it remains pretty portable. In addition to that nifty feature, it supports 720p/1080i/1080p HDMI input and is 3D-compatible (3D glasses are sold separately). Moreover, it supports inputs from media players such as Blu-ray players and cable boxes via either HDMI or VGA connections.

This projector also provides an input lag of only 33 milliseconds, making it an impressive gaming option. Nevertheless, be aware that there is a chance that you will see rainbows from this project. Apart from that, it is a pretty durable and suitable device making it a suitable option in our list of best projectors under 500.

5.      ViewSonic PJD7828HDL

ViewSonic is one of my favorite names in projectors, and their PJD7828HDL display is a strong example of why. This 1080p HD projector offers an excellent 3200 lumens that offer crisp and bright imagery and total 10-watt speaker output to keep you entertained if you’re using it for home entertainment.

When working in a large office or classroom setting, it’s also essential to make sure that all present can see your image. The PJD7828HDL has several key lens options for optimizing clarity based on where it’s placed. Moreover, it can even be ceiling mounted thanks to its ultra-short length.

Additionally, you get a 1.3x zoom with this projector, which is impressive. This projector is also a pretty portable device, weighing only 5.3 pounds, unlike other heavy projectors that you will see in this list.

Thanks to its lightweight, you can easily mount this on a wall or on the roof. Moreover, the projector fully supports 3D and DLP-link glass, which is impressive and provides a pretty reliable video gaming speed without lagging. Plus, the projector will also provide you with a rather satisfactory audio quality which will make the experience a lot better.

6.      Sanyo PLV-Z5P/U

If you’re looking for a high-quality picture but don’t want to break your budget, Sanyo’s PLV-Z5P/U projector is excellent. The Sanyo PLV-Z5P/U has 1280 x 800 resolution and can display images up to 300 inches across. This projector offers 4K playback and can show 1080p content at 120 frames per second.

Furthermore, it supports HDR and HDMI input, VGA, and AV ports, which give you plenty of flexibility when connecting it to other devices. The Z5P also features 3D technology (for playing games or showing photos), wireless support for WiFi 2.0, and a 5-watt speaker that is better than most in its price range. Plus, you will get a pretty accurate and vibrant color performance from this projector.

All the colors appear sharp and vibrant, giving you a rich experience. Moreover, the projector comes with different modes so that it can be adjusted according to the environment it is being used in. Pure cinema mode suits dark rooms the best; however, you should activate the dynamic mode for bright rooms. There are a couple of other modes as well, including living mode, and brilliant cinema mode, all providing you with satisfactory performance.

7.      Epson VS240

There’s no shortage of options for picking out a new HDTV, but finding an ideal projector for your budget and needs can be more difficult. By comparison, a decent 1080p HDTV can run you anywhere from $300 to several thousand dollars, depending on size and brand.

Epson’s VS240 is one such option that delivers stunning picture quality at a price most anyone can afford. As far as specs go, the VS240 offers all of what you need and none of what you don’t. It features a Full 1080p resolution with a 20000:1 contrast ratio and three HDMI ports for easy connections.

This means you can enjoy a solid performance with enough connectivity options so that you don’t face any problems with connecting it with other devices. Additionally, this device is not only affordable, but it is pretty portable and travel-friendly as well. It only weighs 5.2 pounds which is impressively lightweight for a project, and it still manages to provide you with an appreciable performance.

8.      LG PH150G

It is found that LG PH150G has substantial advantages in performance, image quality, and design. It features a 1280 x 720 ration and 100,000:1 dynamic contrast. Additionally, its HDR capability enhances light and shadow details essential to life-like image rendition.

For its superior light control technology, it prevents washout even in a very bright room. With its good gray uniformity, viewers can enjoy a clear picture with no dirty screen effect regardless of where they watch from.

Furthermore, you will get a lamp life of 30,000 hours, and the device offers Bluetooth sound-out compatibility. Moreover, it only weighs 1.1 pounds which means it is a mini travel-friendly projector. Thus, you can carry it to your school, back home, and anywhere you go if you need it without it feeling like a burden.

9. ZCGIOBN US7-900DAB-1

The ZCGIOBN is a tremendous entry-level ultra-short-throw projector from one of China’s leading projector manufacturers. While more expensive than other models on our list, it offers value for money, delivering crisp and bright images in full HD 1080p resolution.

The projector has low fan noise and an excellent throw ratio of 0.24:1 (1m – 1.4m), meaning it can produce 120 images from just 12 inches away. Moreover, the ZCGIOBN also features DLP technology to ensure clear and sharp images, with no color wheel flicker or rainbow effect.

This is an excellent choice for your living room, especially if you have children or pets! Moreover, this projector comes with 50,000 hours of lamp life and 1920 x 1080 screen resolution. The projector also features a premium body with reliable performance but is quite heavy.

Having a weight of around 10 pounds, this one of the best projectors under 500 is not the most portable device you can get. Thus, if portability is your priority, this device might not be the best option for you.

10. GooDee BL98

The GooDee BL98 is one of several affordable projectors under $500 with HDMI ports. Its 1080p resolution and 3,000 lumens brightness make it a solid option for gamers who want a projector that can easily handle high-definition images.

It also has 2,500 hours of lamp life, which translates to about ten years if you use it for just two hours per day. That’s ideal for frequent users or households with multiple media devices. Additionally, the GooDee BL98 comes with free customer support and a two-year warranty.

Combined, these perks can improve your overall experience if something goes wrong later on down the line. Plus, you will get a reliable audio quality with this device as well, and despite being bulky, it is pretty efficient to set up as well.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a high-quality projector with a low-price tag, you should consider one of these ten. As previously mentioned, these are the best projectors under 500, which means they won’t break your bank meanwhile sill still providing you with a satisfactory experience.

All of them provide good value for their cost. The only aspect that varies is their picture quality, but even though those vary only slightly, there isn’t much difference in quality between them when it comes to projecting images.

At least three of these projectors could be used by home theater enthusiasts and still deliver an experience that exceeds what most viewers can see in commercial theaters today! Plus, if you are a gamer and want to have gaming sessions on projectors, some of these might be a treat for you too.