Best Projector Under 500 dollars (USD): Reviews, Recommendations & Comparisons May. 2024

Best Projector Under 500 dollars (USD): Reviews, Recommendations & Comparisons May. 2024
4.9 (98.75%) 16 votes

May 2024

Interested in the best projector under 500 dollars? We have chosen the best projectors for under $500 and have provided a table to make it easier for you to decide.

best projector under 500 dollar
In the image: An example of an image projector. See more choices below:
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See Our Choice of the 3 Best Projectors:

1. Best Portable Projectors For Business Presentations
2. Best Portable Video Projector
3. Best Cheap Projector Under 100 Dollars (USD)

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✅Get the best devices here and see more consumer reports as well as reviews.

When choosing projectors, there are a lot of factors to consider apart from the price.

If you choose the cheapest projector, it may actually be more expensive than what you have hoped for.

The reasons for being more expensive could be due to low quality image projections and a lot of other reasons that may surface.

This is not to say that you cannot go for a cheaper price, since there are good quality projectors available if you choose the right projector.

These days, it is important that a projector is compatible with all sorts of devices.

Whether it is a USB flash drive, a laptop, your cell phone, a game console or even your favorite tablet, you would expect that your brand new projector work with most or all of these devices.

If not, then perhaps consider an alternative choice or maybe increase your budget just a little bit so that you won’t regret it later.

If you find a product that has 100% positive 5 star reviews, then the product is probably brand new.

The truth is that there is no single product out there that is perfect.

Some products just have more positive features than others but not a single product is 100% perfect.

Some people literally spend months just to try and find the right projector that suits their needs, but you don’t have to, since we have already done the legwork for you.

Here you will find the best projector under 500 dollars as well as projectors that are under $300, $200 and $100.

Top 10 Portable Projectors

 Updated May 2024 

Let’s have a look at the best top 10 portable projectors that we have reviewed for 2024.

ProjectorProjection SizeProjection DistancePrice
best portable projectors for business presentations small
ViewSonic 3300
83" - 207" (2.1m - 5.3m)
12ft - 30ft (3.7m - 9.1m)
See Price

best mini projector small
RIF6 CUBE Pico
Max 120" (3.1 m)
Unknown
See Price

best cheap projector under 100 small
DBPOWER T20
32” - 176” (0.8m - 4.5m)
4.9ft - 16.4ft (1.5m - 5.0m)
See Price


best portable video projector small
Blusmart LED-9
30" - 150" (0.8m - 3.8m)
3.9ft - 16.4ft (1.2m - 5.0m)
See Price


best budget projector small
RAGU Z400
50" - 130" (1.3m - 3.3m)
5.0ft - 13.0ft (1.5m - 4.0m)
See Price


best budget home theater projector small
iDGLAX iDG-787W
30" - 100" (0.8m - 2.5m)
3.0ft - 10.0ft (0.9m - 3.0m)
See Price


best home theater projectors small
ELEPHAS LED
50" - 130" (1.3m - 3.3m)
4.9ft - 13.1ft (1.5m - 4.0m)
See Price


best cheap projectors small
XINDA 1800
28" - 180" (0.7m - 4.6m)
3.9ft - 18.0ft ( 1.2m - 5.5m)
See Price


best projector under 200 dollar small
Abdtech LCD
32" - 200" (0.8m - 5.1m)
3.9ft - 19.7ft (1.2m - 6.0m)
See Price


best mini projectors small
iCodis CB-300W
Max 120" (3.1 m)
Unknown

See Price


Best Projector Under 500 Dollars Comparison Chart

best projector comparisons

Find below our top choices for the best projector under 500 dollars that has received excellent consumer reports and reviews.

We also think that these projectors are good deals. Buying tip: if you can get it for under $350 it is a deal. Updated May 2024 

best portable projectors for business presentations
Our #1 Choice
More Info Here
Our #2 Choice
More Info Here
Our #3 Choice
More Info Here

Best Projector under 500 Dollars (USD)

Best Portable Projectors for Business Presentations

✅ViewSonic 3300 HDMI Projector

best portable projectors for business presentations
current price

This is the projector on the list with the highest native resolution of 800 x 600 pixels and if you are giving a business presentation, you will need the best quality projection for the best possible price.

While giving a presentation is stressful enough, you don’t need the extra hassle of worrying about image quality and this projector will take care of it.

The projector has 5 modes that vary from movie quality (where you have a very dark room) to higher light conditions where there is a lot of surrounding light.

This is not just a portable projector that you can use for business, but you can also use it at home or any other venue that has a flat surface to project the image on.

There are hundreds of consumer reports and reviews praising the versatility of this portable projector and therefore there are quite a few consumers who have already tried and tested this beautiful projector.

Of all the projectors here, this is the only projector that is recommended for business presentations due to the good image quality; especially in conditions where there is more light.

This projector is also suitable for teaching and other meetings.

✅Get more superb images and info here. Consumer reviews and reports also available.

Positives
  • Suitable for businesses.
  • Long projection distances.
  • Superb image quality.
  • Can view images even if there is ambient light.
Negatives
  • Audio not the best.
  • Positioning of image would have been easier if the projector had adjustable feet in the back.

Best Mini Projector Review

✅CUBE Pico Mini Projector

best mini projector
current price

The cube is an amazingly small portable projector that fits into the palm of your hand and is specifically designed for smartphones as well as other input devices.

The battery life is 90 minutes but you can actually use the projector while you are charging it.

When you buy the projector, you will get all the necessary connectors that will allow you to connect to multiple devices such as your laptop, cellular phone, tablet or gaming station.

Although the mini projector can function as a standalone device, the flexible mini tripod that is included will make things so much easier since you will have the total flexibility in placing the projector anywhere you like at almost any angle.

Where to Use This Portable Video Projector?

  • Camping: We all know that it can get boring quickly when you are out camping, especially if you have a family member that doesn’t like fishing or camping. If you are camping out in a tent, you can simply project the image against the tent wall; if not, a makeshift sheet will do the job.
  • Exercising: Choose a room where you have some space, close the curtains and project an exercising video against the wall.
  • Relaxation: Get your friends together and watch and enjoy a big screen experience.

The large amount of consumer reports and reviews for this mini projector is mostly positive and judging by the amount of consumer satisfaction, this portable projector is a good buy.

This is the best projector under 300 dollars (USD).

✅See more high quality images here as well as more consumer reports and reviews, the price and more info.

Positives
  • Small and flexible.
  • User friendly.
  • Wow factor… it’s like a mini “Borg” cube from Star Trek.
Negatives
  • Needs total darkness to work.
  • Poor audio quality. You will probably have to buy some decent speakers.

Best Cheap Projector Under 100 Dollars (USD)

✅DBPOWER T20 LCD Mini Projector

best cheap projector under 100
current price

The T20 is an amazing mini projector for the price.

Unfortunately this projector is not recommended for business presentations.

Use it with a digital camera, TV box, your cellular phone, your laptop and more.

This is a best-selling mini projector that has quite a few positive consumer reports with a few negative reviews sprinkled in between.

According to the manufacturer, the projector is 50% brighter due to the unique Led technology that is being used.

Enjoy it indoors as well as outside for a fantastic viewing experience.

For the small amount of cash you have to fork out, this projector will provide you with a big screen experience that will enhance your visual senses.

✅See more high resolution pics here.

Positives
  • Best seller… therefore well tested.
  • Competitive price.
  • Excellent customer service.
Negatives
  • Difficult screen size adjustment. Must move projector back and forth to adjust size.
  • Poor instructions.

✅Blusmart LED-9 Best Portable Video Projector

best portable video projector
current price

This mini projector is capable of showing a picture even when the light is turned on, therefore you can watch your favorite movie in any light condition.

It is obviously better to project images when it is totally dark, because you will get the best quality images.

However, sometimes it is just not possible to view images in the dark; therefore this mini projector will assist.

The projector has two USB ports and one HDMI port so that you can connect multiple devices.

This projector actually allows you to connect to your smartphone wirelessly by means of a HDMI dongle, which is not included.

The manufacturer claims that it is 60% brighter than normal projectors and judging by the illustration, this may just as well be true.

✅Have a look at more high resolution illustrations.

Positives
  • Good image quality.
  • Good value for money.
  • Image easy to adjust.
Negatives
  • The projector heats up.
  • Sound quality not good.

✅RAGU Z400 Video Projector Portable

best budget projector
current price

The Z400 is the best budget projector with a price under $100.

It is a slick looking mini projector that is light enough (less than 35 Oz’s or 1 kg) to hold up with one hand although it is not really small enough to fit into the palm of your hand.

It has two USB ports so that you can insert your flash drive and watch your favorite movies without too much fuss.

The projector also has an HDMI port so that you can connect multiple devices such as your TV, smartphone and more.

Can be connected to an Amazon fire stick and is great for watching movies outside at night.

The LED lamp will last over 30 000 hours.

Of all the projectors reviewed, this is one of the cheapest projectors and will give you hours of fun.

✅More beautiful pictures here.

Positives
  • User friendly.
  • Easy to operate.
  • Portable projector.
Negatives
  • Image quality a bit dark at times.

✅iDGLAX Best Budget Home Theater Projector

best budget home theater projector
current price

The iDGLAX iDG-787W comes with a three year warranty and the supplier actually invites you to contact them in case you experience any problems.

With any product, good customer service is essential and goes a long way in establishing trust in a brand.

Ball bearing fans reduce heat and noise thereby ensuring that your unit will last longer without requiring a service.

Connect this portable recorder to multiple devices and enjoy hours of fun watching movies, playing games or watching sport.

This projector is not suited for conditions with high amounts of light and requires darkness in order to see images clearly.

The warranty on this product is quite long at three years.

✅More pics and info here.

Positives
  • Works straight out of the box.
  • Good value for money.
Negatives
  • Not suitable for businesses.
  • Needs complete darkness.

✅ELEPHAS LED Mini Video Projector

best home theater projectors
current price

The Elephas is one of the best home theater projectors for its price and is also one of the lowest priced projectors reviewed here.

This projector connects to quite a few devices and also has a wide range of input ports to accommodate these devices.

We all know that playing a racing or any other game on your cell phone is extremely annoying for certain people due to the small size, but with this projector you can now enjoy a wide screen experience while still playing the game on your smart phone.

All you need is a surface large enough to accommodate the projected image and you are on your way.

The image can be projected as far away as 4m (13.1 feet) and the projection size is 50 – 130 inches (1.27 – 3.3m).

✅See more beautiful images here.

Positives
  • Good audio quality.
  • Easy to use.
  • Good image quality.
Negatives
  • Instructions not the best.
  • Remote control problematic.

✅XINDA 1800 Screen Video Projector

best cheap projectors
current price

This is one of the best cheap projectors that will provide crisp and clear images at a distance of up to 18ft (5.5m).

This projector has the longest projection range of all the projectors under $100.

Unfortunately the projector is not suitable as a business projector and needs total darkness to function effectively.

The lamp life of this projector is 30 000 hrs where other normal lamps will last about 3 000 hrs.

To change the picture size, you will have to move the projector around but you can adjust the focus.

The supplier also provides other models with different prices as well as different colors for some models.

Consumer reports are generally favorable but there are also some negatives attached to this projector.

✅See higher quality pics here.

Positives
  • Good image quality.
  • Compact mini projector.
Negatives
  • Audio needs improvement and fan a bit too noisy.
  • Difficult to adjust image size.

Best Projector Under 200 Dollars

✅Abdtech Portable Projector Home Theater

best projector under 200 dollar
current price

If you are looking for the best projector under $200, then the Abdtech projector is the one for you.

With an image projection distance of 19.6ft (6.0m), this projector has the second longest projection distance of all the projectors reviewed here… the no.1 projector on this page not only has a longer projection distance, but also a higher price tag.

Therefore, if projection distance is important to you, you are getting value for your money.

With a native resolution of 854 x 540 pixels, it is also the projector with the second highest resolution compared to all the other projectors.

The only other projector with a higher resolution is the no.1 rated projector.

Therefore, the image quality is crisp and clear and will provide you with hours of enjoyment.

✅Have a look at some great pics here.

Positives
  • Compatible with a lot of devices.
  • Good image quality.
  • Can be used in rooms with ambient light.
Negatives
  • Audio distorts at high volume.
  • Some projectors may be faulty when delivered.

Best Projector Under 400 Dollars

✅iCodis CB-300W Mini Projector

best mini projectors
current price

Volume wise, this projector occupies the smallest volume of all the projectors reviewed here (even less than the “Cube”), so this is a true mini projector.

This projector is very small and can easily be taken anywhere.

It has a brightness of 3000 Lumen and delivers HD quality images.

In this design, the battery has been removed to enhance noise reduction as well as reduce heat.

Since the operating system uses Android, you can also access the internet with a browser such as Chrome.

To ensure flexibility and different angles, it is recommended to buy a flexible tripod.

For an even smaller mini projector, have a look here.

✅See bigger and better images here.

Positives
  • Best mini projector.
  • Good projection distance.
Negatives
  • Some USB ports may not work.
  • May be incompatible with certain devices.

The top 10 reviews for the best projector under 500 dollars has provided some interesting results and if you choose any of them, it should last a lifetime and provide hours of joy!

Today’s best list:
Best Projector Under 500 Dollars
List updated:
May 2024

Interesting Projector Facts

We all know that when it comes to projectors, the darker it is, the better the image quality; however, some of the projectors reviewed here can actually project good images in a building even during the day where the curtains are not closed.

The reason that a projector does not want ambient (surrounding) light is because the ambient light actually interferes with the projected light, thereby reducing image quality.

If you buy a projector that does not have a USB port for instance, you can always buy an adapter that fit your needs.

An interesting fact about modern day projectors is that lamps last extremely long these days (thousands of hours) and should last you for years without having to replace the lamp as was the case with older projectors.

If you have difficulty in adjusting the angle of the projector, then a flexible mini tripod can help.

In May. 2024, the best projector under 500 dollars can deliver amazing quality images. Generally, the higher the price, the further a projector can project an image.