It’s okay to be not okay sometimes. However, when affordability meets entertainment, things start becoming challenging, and most of us end up being compromised. Here, I am referring to the best projector under 500, which can take your entertainment from a TV to an immersive screen while being within budget.
Don’t worry; you won’t be compromising on the quality of the projector, as I’m sharing with you the only tested projectors under $500 dollars in 2023.
| Image | Name | Features | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ViewSonic PA503W | Lumens: 3800 Resolution: 1280 x 800p | ★★★★★ (4.9/5) | Check Price |
 | BenQ MW560 | Lumens: 4000 Resolution: 1280x800p | ★★★★★ (4.9/5) | Check Price |
 | Epson Cinema 880 | Lumens: 3300 Resolution: 1920 x 1080p | ★★★★★ (4.8/5) | Check Price |
 | Anker NEBULA Mars II | Lumens: 500 ANSI Resolution: 1280 x 720p | ★★★★★ (4.8/5) | Check Price |
 | Artlii Energon 2 | Lumens: 340 ANSI Resolution: 1920 x 1080p | ★★★★★ (4.7/5) | Check Price |
 | BenQ TH585P | Lumens: 3500 Resolution: 1920 x 1080p | ★★★★★ (4.7/5) | Check Price |
 | Epson VS260 | Lumens: 3300 Resolution: 1024 x 768p | ★★★★ (4.6/5) | Check Price |
 | Anker NEBULA Capsule | Lumens: 200 ANSI Resolution: 1280 x 720p | ★★★★ (4.6/5) | Check Price |
| YABER Y31 9500L | Lumens: 9800 Lux Resolution: 1920 x 1080p | ★★★★ (4.5/5) | Check Price |
 | ABoolon 1080P | Lumens: 900 ANSI Resolution: 1920 x 1080p | ★★★★ (4.5/5) | Check Price |
Look At How I Selected The Best Projectors Under 500 For You
Even though 500 dollars are not enough for a high-quality projector, as the appropriate range is from $1000 to $2000, I’ll let you know the factors that help you buy the perfect projector even for $500. So cheers, and pay attention to these factors.
Picture Quality
Picture quality is everything for a viewer. There is no rocket science in pointing out this feature as a key factor, as it’s self-explanatory. However, this factor mostly relies on another key factor called resolution. The projector’s resolution is a real decider, and FHD 1080p is the standard for a $500 projector in 2023.
Most projectors can indeed go beyond 8k resolution. However, they’re expensive. So, let’s be in our range and focus on native 1080p resolution for now.
Screen Size
Every projector has its screen sizes for optimum viewing. Since it varies from projector to projector, you should focus on a suitable range (80 to 150 inches) that most $500 projectors come with.
Moreover, most projectors let you know about their optimum viewing range, where they work perfectly, keeping the image quality top-notch. So, you must choose a projector that fits your preferred screen size.
Easy to use
Projectors with a simple user interface and easy-to-operate features are always good. Another important thing that adds flexibility to the projector’s functionality is its media controls, be it built-in streaming or supported popular apps like Amazon prime and Netflix, and a wide range of connectivity options.
Top 10 Projectors Under $500: Pros, Cons, and Verdicts
ViewSonic 3800 WXGA Projector
Why should it be on your plate? It’s an amazing performance for different purposes like presentations, business meetings, and classrooms.
Specs:
- Native Resolution: 1280x800p
- Brightness: 3800 ANSI lumens
- Screen Size: 30 – 300 inches
- Display Type: DLP
What I liked & Disliked
Pros:
- 3D Blue-ray supported
- Color Accuracy
- High-contrast and brightness
- (+/- 40°) Keystone correction
Cons:
- Built-in Speaker is not that loud.
- Doesn’t come with a lens protection
Visual performance is outstanding—be it your classroom or business presentation, this ViewSonic PA503 can easily outperform any other same-category projector because of its 3800 ANSI lumens of brightness and 22,000:1 contrast ratio.
I also like its SuperColor technology helps meet the reality of true-to-life color accuracy. You have five different color modes to enjoy a wide range of displayable colors: standard, brightest, photo, presentation, and movie.
You can also reduce the power consumption of the projector by using its energy-saving SuperEco mode and extend the lamp’s life. However, it dims the brightness by 70%.
Besides, I didn’t like its built-in 2W speaker because of its super low sound. Otherwise, the overall performance of the projector, especially for $500, is outstanding, even the in the daylight.
BenQ WXGA Business Projector MW560
Why should it be on your plate?
Specs:
- Native Resolution: 1280x800p (WXGA)
- Brightness: 4000 ANSI lumens
- Contrast Ratio: 20,000:1
- Display Type: DLP
What I liked & Disliked
Pros:
- Bright and Sharp
- Auto Keystone
- Different presentation modes
- Easy to setup
Cons:
- Decent sound quality
BenQ’s MW560 packs 4000 ANSI lumens that ensure more bright image even in daylight. A 20000:1 contrast ratio adds vibrant colors and a lifelike image experience to visuals. The projector utilizes DLP display technology, making it suitable for 3D content via Blu-Ray. However, you’ll need active 3D glasses to have the best 3D experience on your plate.
Moving to the connectivity options, you have all the standard input ports; moreover, dual HDMI ports, making it more flexible when it comes to multiplatform usage. Setting the projector is also easy; it has an auto vertical keystone and Ergonomic retractable foot for better image alignment.
The projector also supports a 16:10 aspect ratio and boasts a native 1280×800 WXGA display resolution. You have different color modes to serve purposes. These dedicated modes, data review, presentation, and infographic, come in handy when showcasing graphics and text in detail. These dedicated modes make this projector a perfect pick for business purposes.
Who’s it for?
If you want a projector for your business, the BenQ MW560 is the best business projector for under $500.
Epson Home Cinema 880
Why should it be on your plate?
Specs:
- Native Resolution: 1920x1080p
- Brightness: 3300 ANSI lumens
- Contrast Ratio: 16,000:1
- Display Type: LCD
What I liked & Disliked?
Pros:
- Bright and Sharp images
- Adjustable keystone
- Native 1080p resolution
Cons:
- It doesn’t have mounting holes.
The Epson Home Cinema 880 is another great projector that tops our list. It’s a native 1080p projector with a high contrast ratio of 16,000:1, with over 3300 lumens and LCD technology taking the projector toward the brighter side compared to the BenQ MW560.
Since the projector is made around an advanced display 3LCD technology, the picture quality is amazing; moreover, it offers balanced RGB color detailing in every frame. You also won’t find those irritating rainbow artifacts.
The projector includes ports for a satellite box, gaming console, streaming device, and Blu-ray player. Setup is easy and doesn’t require technical skills; it has a built-in picture skew sensor that automatically corrects the image.
Even though this projector has many great features, it lacks some basic things, such as mounting holes.
Who’s it for?
The Epson 880 is a great choice for a home cinema because of its color accuracy and dark scene detailing.
Anker NEBULA Mars II Pro
Why should it be on your plate?
Specs:
- Native Resolution: 1280x720p
- Brightness: 500 ANSI
- Projection Size: 40 – 100 inches
- Display Type: DLP
What I liked & Disliked?
Pros:
- 3 hours battery backup
- Amazing sound quality
- Good lamp life
- Built-in Chromecast
- Portable
Cons:
- Doesn’t fit with universal stands smoothly.
Anker Mars II pro is a multimedia projector with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. It’s native 720p, boasts 500 ANSI lumens, and offers projection sizes from 720p to 100 inches. The projector is equipped with DLP IntelliBright technology that can produce a bright image with a maximum display resolution of 1280x720p and a 16:9 aspect ratio.
Since the projector is primarily designed for portability, it also runs on battery power and uses Android TV OS 7.1. The battery backup is around 3 hours if used in battery mode; you can easily watch a couple of movies on a single charge.
The Anker Nebula Mars II pro has 2x10w speakers built-in that can deliver cinematic and deep sound with balanced bass. As an Android-based projector, you don’t need any streaming device; it has all the popular OTT apps pre-installed. However, the only issue is Copyrighted content from the OTTs like HULU and Netflix; you can’t mirror these services. In order to watch them, you’ll need to download and install these apps directly from the Mars II play store.
Who’s it for?
If you’re looking for the best outdoor portable projector under $500, The Anker Nebula Mars II pro is a great option. However, it requires dimmer environments to produce a bright and sharp image.
Artlii Energon2 Projector
Why should it be on your plate?
Specs:
- Native Resolution: 1920x1080p
- Brightness: 340 ANSI
- Projection Size: 44 – 250 inches
- Display Type: LCD
What I liked & Disliked?
Pros:
- Picture Quality, bright & sharp
- Front & Rear projection ability
- Good lamp life
- 4K supported
Cons:
- The fan is a bit loud
- It doesn’t support horizontal keystone
The Artlii Energon2 is an entry-level 1080p projector that offers many impressive features. It boasts 340 ANSI lumens, supports 4K content, is equipped with Dolby Audio, and has Bluetooth & dual Wi-Fi (2.4GHz & 5GHz) connectivity options.
This projector can produce a 44 to 25-inch image from 5ft to 27 ft. The overall projection size can be controlled via remote and manually. To expand your entertainment with other devices, the Artlii supports most input ports, such as HDMI, USB, SD card, AV, VGA, 3.5mm audio output, etc.
You can entirely rely on its wireless connectivity options, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The projector offers fast dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz & 5GHz) and fast Bluetooth. These features are very handy when it comes to connecting external Bluetooth-enabled devices, such as speakers and soundbars, ETC.
However, this projector has some drawbacks, including a loud fan, horizontal keystone, copyrighted content mirroring, Etc.
Who’s it for?
If you want occasional entertainment with 250 inches large screen, The Artlii Energon2 is an ideal outdoor projector for under $500.
BenQ TH585P 1080p Projector
Why should it be on your plate?
Specs:
- Native Resolution: 1920x1080p
- Brightness: 3500 ANSI
- Contrast Ratio: 100000:1
- Display Type: DLP
What I liked & Disliked?
Pros:
- Color Accuracy
- Low input lag
- Dual HDMI (HDCP 1.4/1.4a)
- 1.1x Zoom
- Quiet
Cons:
- No horizontal keystone support
BenQ TH585P is a native 1080p projector with various expensive features and advanced technologies. It supports full HD resolution 1920x1080p natively, 4k content supported, packs 3500 ANSI lumens, and offers 15000 hours of lamp life.
This projector ensures fast response time and low input lag (16ms); it has a microsecond DMD chip for smooth gaming and streaming. Besides, it produces a bright, sharp, and crisp image with lifelike color accuracy.
As the alignment of the projected image has always been a task for projectors, the BenQ TH585P handles it easily with its Auto vertical keystone. Moreover, you can expand your gaming experience on a large borderless screen of up to 100 inches, even in a well-lit location.
With these positives, the BenQ TH585p also serves some negatives. For example, no horizontal support, D sub & RS232 ports seem outdated, and no lens cover in the box.
Who’s it for?
If you’re looking for the best home entertainment projector under $500, you have the BenQ TH585p.
Epson VS260 3-Chip 3LCD XGA Projector
Why should it be on your plate?
Specs:
- Native Resolution: 1024x768p
- Brightness: 3300 ANSI
- Contrast Ratio: 15000:1
- Display Type: 3LCD
What I liked & Disliked?
Pros:
- Picture Quality
- 3LCD display technology
- Bright, Crisp Image
- Zoom & Digital Shift
- No rainbow artifacts
Cons:
- Sound
- Single HDMI port
The Epson VS260 packs 3,300 lumens of brightness, a contrast ratio of 15,000:1, and a native resolution of 1024x768p. It is equipped with an advanced 3LCD display technology known for a bright and sharp image while keeping those irritating rainbow artifacts away.
This projector features a built-in picture skew sensor responsible for correcting keystones automatically. You can also use its Easy Zoom In/Out feature to adjust the picture using its remote control. Epson provides a standard 1-year warranty and free technical phone support.
As with most projectors, the Epson VS260 has some drawbacks, including its ports; for example, a single HDMI port and no aux port for connecting an external sound system.
Who’s it for?
If you want a projector for training and presentation purposes, the Epson VS260 is an incredible option.
Anker NEBULA Capsule Max Mini Projector
Why should it be on your plate?
Specs:
- Native Resolution: 1280x720p
- Brightness: 200 ANSI
- Screen Size: 100 inches
- Display Type: DLP
What I liked & Disliked?
Pros:
- Super Portable
- Outstanding sound
- Autofocus
- Easy to use
Cons:
- It requires a dimmer environment.
Anker is known for its portable devices; hence, Anker Nebula Capsule Max is one of them; it is incredibly portable and easy to use/operate. As with most portable projectors, it also offers around 200 ANSI lumens and natively supports 720p resolution with a maximum of 100 inches display size.
This Nebula can run on battery power and promises up to 4 hours of video playtime backup, enough for watching a couple of movies in one go. Popular apps like Hulu, Netflix, Disney, ETC., can be downloaded directly from its Nebula Manager store. However, you can’t mirror copyrighted content from your devices.
Since the Anker Nebula capsule max lies under the mini projector category, it requires dimmer locations to produce a watchable image with good quality. You can control this mini projector from your smartphone using the “Nebula Connect: app.
Who’s it for?
It’s ideal for those looking for the best portable mini projector under a budget of $500.
YABER Y31 9500L 1080P Projector
Why should it be on your plate?
Specs:
- Native Resolution: 1920x1080p
- Brightness: 9800 Lux
- Contrast Ratio: 10000:1
- Display Type: LED
What I liked & Disliked?
Pros:
- Bright, sharp, good contrast
- Easy to focus
- Easy to operate
- Zoom & Adjustment options
Cons:
- Fan is loud
YABER Y31 is another good projector for buying under $500. It offers native FullHD 1920x1080p resolution, a contrast ratio of 10000:1, advanced 4D keystone correction, stereo sound, and an advanced cooling system.
It boasts 9000 lux of brightness to fill a large 300-inch bright, sharp, and clear image. On the back panel, you have all the essential ports, including 2xHDMIs, VGA, AV, and 2xUSB ports. Inside the body, you’ll find three cooling fans next to each other—Yaber markets as a double-sided cooling system—enhancing heat dissipation of the projector.
YABER offers a 3-year warranty with lifetime free tech support. However, there are things where Y31 struggles; for example, it is limited to a single MP4 video file format through USB. You can play other video formats (AVI, MKV, WMV) via devices like your phone, laptop, ETC.
Who’s it for?
It’s a good-quality projector with lots of customizable settings. The YABER Y31 is a good value-for-money projector.
ABoolon 1080P Projector
Why should it be on your plate?
Specs:
- Native Resolution: 1920x1080p
- Brightness: 900 ANSI lumens
- Contrast Ratio: 15000:1
- Display Type: LCD
What I liked & Disliked?
Pros:
- Picture Quality
- Lightweight, portable
- Easy to use
- 4K content supported
Cons:
- Center to the edge light disturbance
ABoolon is another entry-level native full HD projector for 2023. It has 900 ANSI lumens of brightness and supports true FullHD resolution (1920×1080)p.
One of the highlights of the projector is its image correction feature; it offers 4P/4D Keystone Correction to help you adjust the image ±50° vertically and horizontally. Moreover, a 50% image zoom feature lets you toggle between the screen sizes from 50% to 100% without touching the projector.
For wireless connectivity, the projector supports dual-band Wi-Fi and the latest Bluetooth 5.1. Online streaming is very smooth as long as your internet connection is fast. You have an array of input ports for a Wired connection, including HDMI, USB, VGA, AV, SD, TV input, and audio out port.
Who’s it for?
The ABoolon is a good smart outdoor projector; it’s entry-level but gets the job done.
Buying Guide: What to consider before buying a projector under 500 dollars?
Most people struggle to buy a good projector because it requires some technical knowledge. Therefore, good guidance is always needed when it comes to projectors. Below are some crucial buying factors you should consider before you touch your wallet.
Resolution
The projector’s resolution tells you the total number of pixels it has. For example, suppose you compare a 720p and 1080p projector with each other in terms of resolution. In that case, you’ll find better sharpness and image detailing in a 1080 projector because of the higher number of pixels in 1080p resolution. So, your goal is always to look at a higher resolution as long as your budget allows.
Brightness
A projector’s brightness is measured in lumens. The more, the better. For example, if you compare a 2500-lumen projector with a 4000-lumen projector, you’ll find the higher one more bright and thus suitable for well-lit locations, such as outdoors.
Moreover, a high-lumen projector is always expensive. So choosing the right number of lumens according to your purpose becomes crucial.
What is my recommendation? I’ll advise you to choose a projector of at least 2500 ANSI lumens for under $500.
Contrast Ratio
The projector’s contrast ratio is another important factor you should consider. The contrast ratio tells you about the darkest and lightest parts of an image displayed. If you’re a gamer, you know how the darkest part of any game can play a major role while gaming.
In short, a high contrast ratio produces a more vibrant and realistic image.
Connectivity
You must check all the input ports on the projector you wish to buy. Even though most projectors these days include all the standard ports, such as HDMI, VGA, and USB, taking a good look into this side can be a smart decision.
Portability
The projector’s portability was not a buying factor to consider in the past, but it has become crucial now, especially in 2023. It is important to consider because we love changing projector locations. Moreover, if you travel a lot, a good portable projector can ease your traveling. So keep this factor in mind before buying.
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
There are many good brands in the projector industry, such as Epson, Optoma, BenQ, ViewSonic, Etc.
Budget projectors generally lie under $500 to $2000 as far as home theaters are concerned. So, Set your budget under this price range if you want a high-quality image.
I suggest you look for at least 2500 ANSI lumens in a home theater projector if your budget is under $500.
Conclusion: Best Projector Under $500
The projector industry has changed significantly; you don’t need to waste money on expensive projectors. If your budget is somewhere between $500 to $1000, you can expect a great alternative to your TV.
Any projector from the above list is well-suited to all environments, be it outdoor or indoor.
In a nutshell,
So, What is the overall best projector under $500? I’ll recommend, in this price range, the Epson Home Cinema 880.
