Best Cheap Projector

Although TVs are more common in living rooms, projectors come with a slew of benefits. With a television, you have a fixed screen size. But projectors let you adjust the size of the picture based on how far back from the screen you’ve placed the projector. As such, projectors boast a much better price-to-screen-size ratio. While projectors can be expensive, there are plenty of good budget projectors on the market. Check out the best cheap projector options which will get you a big screen for a small price!

Is a Cheap Projector Worth it – Are Budget Projectors Good Enough?

Typically, a low price tag means a few cut corners. And that’s especially true for inexpensive projectors. Truthfully, most projectors under $500 simply can’t compare to even $500 mid-range projectors. Still, not all cheap-o projectors are mere toys. If you can live with a few minor shortcomings, a budget projector can be a great purchase.

First off, don’t expect daytime viewers. Projectors can’t withstand much ambient lighting, and for lights-on watching you’ll need a high brightness unit. For measuring brightness, projectors use lumens. A bright home theatre projector is typically rated at around 3000 lumens, and even that’s not going to be ideal with a ton of sunlight streaming in. Unfortunately, it can be tough to gauge how bright many cheap projectors are since manufacturers include a misleading lux rating which is not to be confused with lumens.

You won’t find many features common to even mid-range projectors on budget projector options. 3D capabilities, ARC (audio return channel) for routing audio from projector to a soundbar or receiver, horizontal keystone, autofocus, and lens shift among other features are typically absent. Moreover, picture quality with cheap projectors is usually below that of projectors available around the $500 price point. You won’t find cinephile-caliber contrast, black levels, sharpness, or color reproduction.

But there’s one area where inexpensive projectors dominate, and that’s with the experience. Not everyone is a hardcore film buff looking for perfect image quality. If you simply want a massive screen on the cheap, a budget projector can achieve just that. Additionally, with a low-priced projector, you don’t have to worry about it as much as a higher-priced projector. As such, for backyard movie nights, a kid’s room, or travel, a cheap projector can be a great investment. Ultimately, the adage does hold true and you get what you pay for. However, there are some excellent projectors that won’t break the bank.

Is a cheap projector worth it: While the image quality and feature set can’t match that of even mid-range projectors available for about $500, there are plenty of good, inexpensive projectors that afford great bang for your buck.

What to Look for in a Budget Projector

When you’re shopping for an inexpensive projector, there’s a lot to consider. You’ll need to think about everything from price to resolution, brightness, inputs and oputputs, keystone, and more.

Price: The more you can pay, the better the projector. But you can find some decent projectors for well under $500.

Resolution: To help keep the cost down, many cheap projectors come with 1080p or even 4K compatibility, but a lower resolution for downscaling a high-resolution image. Unfortunately, many manufacturers use the phrase “1080p compatible” which can be misleading. Look for the term “native resolution” to determine the actual resolution of a projector.

Inputs/outputs: Consider the devices you want to connect and figure out what inputs/outputs (I/O) you’ll need to view those sources such as HDMI, VGA, and composite.

Input lag: Gaming on a projector is notoriously buggy. Although you can find many low input lag gaming projectors, most of them don’t fall under the budget category. Nevertheless, for casual gaming, you can get by with the average cheap projector.

Image adjustments: Keystone lets you achieve a perfectly rectangular image even at an angle, and may be vertical or horizontal. There’s also focus and image presets such as “standard” and gaming.”

Brightness: If you plan to use your projector with any ambient light, you’ll want a bright projector. Look for ANSI lumens which isn’t the same thing as lux.

Best Cheap Projector Under $200 – Crenova XPE600 

The Crenova XPE600 has no business being as good as it is. Featuring a native 1080p resolution, the XPE600 can handle a 4K input, downscaling it to full HD. It’s got a pair of HDMI inputs, a VGA input, audio input and output jacks, plus dual USB ports. There’s a convenient set of touch controls on top of the unit alongside a manual focus wheel and a 15-degree vertical keystone. The LED light source is rated for up to 50,000 hours and it’s capable of producing up to a 200-inch image. The 6000:1 contrast ratio makes for a good-looking image. A set of four screws let you ceiling mount the XPE600 for a permanent installation.

Unfortunately, you won’t find many image adjustment settings such autofocus or horizontal keystone. The 15-degree vertical keystone is adequate but a bit protracted, so you’ll still need to have the projector almost perfectly centered on the screen. Its onboard speakers are pretty decent, especially for the price. At less than $200, the Crenova XPE600 is an absolute steal. While it won’t hold up with much ambient lighting, the image quality is fantastic in a dark room. With a native 1080p resolution, the Crenova XPE600 is the best projector under $200 and one of the cheapest full HD projectors available.

Pros:

• Native 1080p resolution’
• Accepts a 4K input (downscales it to 1080p)
• Good I/O: 2 x HDMI, 2 x USB, VGA, audio in/out, A/V composite
• Able to be ceiling mounted
• ±15° vertical keystone correction
• Focus wheel
• Good image quality
• Under $200
• Up to 200-inch image

Cons:

• No horizontal keystone
• Lacks 3D
• Doesn’t include bag/carrying case
• Not particularly bright

Best Cheap Projector for Most User – Vankyo V630W

The Vankyo V630W punches well above its weight class. A native 1080p projector, the V630W sports a whole host of features notably absent on most projectors in its class. There’s an included carrying case and several accessories. You’ll find a 50-degree electronic keystone correction for both vertical and horizontal keystoning. What’s more, its built-in Wi-Fi allows for wireless screen mirroring of content from devices such as phones and tablets. The built-in speakers are great and its brightness can withstand some ambient lighting.

Despite its solid brightness, the V630W doesn’t have a lumen rating capable of handling much ambient lighting. 3D capabilities are nowhere to be found. Color reproduction pales in comparison to mid-range projectors. Nevertheless, the Vankyo V630W is the best budget projector for most users. Movies and TV shows look good, gaming is immersive, and amenities like 50-degree electronic keystone and Wi-Fi for screen mirroring make the V630W a best-in-class projector.

Pros:

• ±50° electronic keystone correction
• Vertical and horizontal keystone
• Digital zoom
• Up to 300-inch image
• Native 1080p image
• 5000:1 contrast ratio
• Onboard Wi-Fi for wireless screen mirroring
• 4 mounting holes for ceiling mount compatibility

Cons:

• Not the brightest
• Middling image quality – can’t compete with mid-range projectors
• No 3D
• Lacks a built-in streaming ecosystem

Best Projector Under $300 – GooDee YG620

The GooDee YG620 is one of the cheapest full HD projectors on the market. At under $300, it’s well-priced. There’s a 7000:1 contrast ratio and native 1080p resolution. You can cast up to a 300-inch image, and the dual stereo 5W speakers are actually not bad. The LED light source sports a 100,000-hour lamp life. A large cooling fan keeps the unit cool and quiet. You’ll find image controls for zoom, focus, and keystone.

Sadly, the GooDee YG630 isn’t terribly bright, though compared to similarly-priced projectors it’s about on par for light output. Unfortunately, you won’t find any smart features such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Though the speakers are great for the price, they’re nothing to write home about. Overall, the GooDee YG620 manages a bright enough image and boasts a 1080p native resolution image for one of the top cheap but good projectors on the planet.

Pros:

• 1080p native resolution
• LED projector
• Up to 300-inch image
• Great I/O” 2 x HDMI, 2 x USB, microSD card slot, VGA, AV input, headphone output
• Solid dual 5W stereo speakers

Cons:

• Not the brightest
• Lacks smart features

Best Inexpensive Projector for Outdoor Movies – Apeman LC650

The Apeman LC650 offers electronic keystoning and a 75% zoom. While it’s a native 1080p projector, the Apeman LC650 can accept a 4K signal and downscale it to 1080p. It features a 7000:1 contrast ratio and dustproof design, so it’s a great choice for outdoor movie nights. The LED light source boasts a 50,000-hour lamp life. A set of standard screw holes allow for ceiling mounting.

With its fully-sealed design, the Apeman LC650 is an inexpensive projector for outdoor movies. Disappointingly, its low lumens mean you’ll have to wait until its pretty dark to begin watching. But for the price, the LC650 is an incredible value that provides a big image on a small budget.

Pros:

• Native 1080p resolution
• Supports 4K signals
• Good I/O: 1 x HDMI, 2 x USB, 1 x AV, 1 x AUX
• Up to 300-inch image
• Good speakers
• Fully-sealed design
• Electronic keystone
• 7000:1 contrast ratio

Cons: 

• Low lumens
• Lacks smart capabilities

Best Cheap Projector for Daylight Viewing – Vankyo V600

The Vankyo V600 produces a crisp, bright native 1080p image. Although it’s not as bright as most mid-range projectors, the V600 can withstand a moderate amount of ambient lighting. It comes with tons of accessories including a convenient carrying case and rocks a 5000:1 contrast ratio. The long-lasting LED lamp will deliver years of performance. Picture quality is pretty solid and you’ll find a slate of standard image adjustments including a few image presets, manual focus, and manual vertical keystone. The speaker is decent and exceeds expectations.

Sadly, you won’t find horizontal keystone correction or lens shift, though is to be expected. The fan can get a bit loud, although that’s not a major issue depending on how far away from the projector you’re sitting. In low light situations, the picture quality is stunning, and even with moderate ambient light, the V600’s image holds up ok. Especially for the cost, the Vankyo V600 is an outstanding budget projector that doesn’t compromise on quality.

Pros:

• Native 1080p resolution
• Up to 300-inch image
• Lots of accessories including a carrying case
• Great I/O: VGA, 2 x USB, 2 x HDMI, microSD
• Vertical keystone
• Focus wheel
• Good color reproduction
• Decent brightness

Cons:

• No 3D
• Lacks smart features
• No electronic keystone, horizontal keystone, or lens shift

Best Inexpensive Outdoor Projector – BenQ GV1

The BenQ GV1 is a fantastic mini portable projector. Despite its small stature, the GV1 packs quite a punch delivering a shockingly bright, crisp image. Its native 480p resolution and 200 ANSI lumen image looks surprisingly vivid. Onboard, you’ll find Android for streaming from its built-in apps or wireless streaming. Additionally, a USB-C input lets you connect devices using a USB-C to USB-C cable or USB-C to HDMI cable. The soda can-sized projector is tiny yet mighty, and the built-in speaker is capable of filling a small room. What’s more, the BenQ GV1 doubles as a Bluetooth speaker.

Disappointingly, there’s no Google Play compatibility, so app compatibility is hit and miss. Lack of a traditional HDMI port is somewhat cumbersome, and wireless screen mirroring doesn’t always work very well. However, the BenQ GV1 is an excellent portable projector for outdoor movie nights that even includes a battery. For a self-contained, wire-free movie-watching experience, the GV1 more than delivers.

Pros:

• 200 ANSI lumens
• 480p resolution
• Wi-Fi, Bluetoooth, and Android onboard
• Doubles as a Bluetooth speaker
• USB-C port
• Surprisingly bright, crisp image

Cons:

• Low lumens
• Low resolution
• USB Type-C input only – lacks a full-size HDMI
• No Google Play access

Best Budget Projectors – Top Cheap but Good Projectors You can Buy

Ultimately, there are tons of low-cost projectors that don’t suck. While it’s certainly true that even a a $500 projector can deliver far superior visual quality, that’s often twice the price of most budget projectors. The Vankyo V630W and V600 are excellent options, while Crenova’s XPE600 is a solid choice. BenQ’s GV1 sacrifices brightness and resolution while still providing the fantastic quality that BenQ is renowned for. Apeman’s LC650 is cheap but good, and the GooDee YG620 boasts great bang-for-the-buck. Overall, it’s totally possible to get a big image for a small price.