If you're looking for the best budget projector you can find, we're here to lend you a hand with your search!
The best projectors are fantastic for providing that home cinema feel, and we're here to show you that you don't need to spend a fortune on one of the best 8k TVs to get a high-quality immersive experience.
As always, we've done the research for you and compiled our list based on specs, reviews and any other additional features.
So, whether you're interested in an excellent all-rounder like the YABER Y21 or a fantastic projector for under 100 like the ELEPHAS GC333, we've got you covered.
Let's dive in!
Best budget projector
- YABER Y21 Projector
- WiMiUS WiFi Bluetooth Projector
- FANGOR F-506 230" Portable Movie Projector
- ELEPHAS Projector, GC333
- MOOKA RD-823 WiFi Projector
Best budget projector for max brightness - YABER Y21 Projector
If you're looking for a projector that offers significant brightness, the Yaber Y21 could be the best choice for you.
A whopping 7,800 Lumens of brightness should mean this projector will display an image that is easily visible even in environments with moderate lighting, which can be useful when watching outdoors.
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This projector also offers a display size of 45-350 inches, making it adjustable to suit your needs and with an 8,000:1 contrast ratio, the display should appear both clear and bold.
The Yaber Y21 also comes with two HiFi speakers which boast powerful audio that adds to the immersive cinema experience.
Best all-rounder budget projector - WiMiUS Projector
If you're looking for a solid budget all-rounder, this projector from WiMiUS could be the choice for you.
This projector offers both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections allowing you to connect easily and display images from various devices.
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In terms of display, this projector boasts 6,500 lumens of brightness which claims to provide a whopping 8000:1 contrast, meaning the image produced should look bold.
The WiMiUS projector is also extremely lightweight, weighing a mere 1kg making it great for portability.
Best budget projector with Bluetooth - FANGOR F-506
The Fangor F-506 is another solid choice and includes Bluetooth which can be an extremely useful tool to have with a projector.
Thanks to Bluetooth technology, you'll be able to connect to many of the best wireless speakers, giving you the freedom to match the visuals with your favourite speaker.
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When it comes to the visuals, you're getting a 1080p maximum display resolution, with up to a 230-inch display and 6,500 Lumens which should work together to produce high-quality images.
Another standout feature of this is screen mirroring, which can be done wirelessly from your smartphone or tablet via a Wi-Fi connection.
If wireless connectivity is a must-have, the Fangor F-506 could be a strong contender for you.
Best budget projector under 100 - ELEPHAS Projector GC333
If you're after a great projector for even less, the ELEPHAS GC333 is a solid choice for under 100 pounds or dollars.
This projector boasts widespread compatibility, as it can connect to phones, tablets, laptops/PCs, game consoles, USB drives, Fire TV and more, which should cover all your needs.
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In terms of the display, you're getting full HD on an area of up to 180-inches with 4,500 Lumens of brightness, which means this projector should be excellent for indoor use.
The ELEPHAS GC333 also comes with 170-degree viewing angles, and 50,000 hours of lamp life giving you some serious bang for your buck.
Best budget projector under 200 WiFi - MOOKA RD-823 WiFi Projector
The MOOKA RD-823 is another standout choice for us and it can use Wi-Fi to connect seamlessly to your IOS, Android and Windows devices.
Wireless connectivity makes this a solid choice if you're setting up a home theatre and don't want wires everywhere, especially if the projector is mounted on the ceiling.
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In terms of display, you're getting a 5000:1 contrast ratio and 95% colour gamut producing over 17 million hues, combined with 7,500 Lumens the projection should look bold and vibrant.
The MOOKA RD-823 also produces up to 200" display, which we'd say makes it a standout choice for home theatres.
Frequently asked questions
Before choosing the best budget projector, there are several questions worth looking into to help you find the best choice for you.
Is 5000 Lumens good for a projector?
Lumens is the standard measurement used to indicate the brightness produced from a projector, how much you need largely depends on use.
If you're going to be using your projector for a home theatre or gaming in a smaller dimly lit room, then we'd say 3,000 Lumens is more than enough.
If you're wanting to use the projector outside during the day or in well-lit indoor environments, then we'd recommend upwards of 7,000 Lumens.
What is the best projector screen size?
The best display size to suit your needs is largely dependent on the size of the room and the viewing space you'll have available.
It is recommended that you sit a minimum of double the screen width away and a maximum of five times the screen width for an optimal viewing experience.
Read More: What monitor size is best for gaming?
We'd say around 100-inches is the minimum to look for to get the home cinema feel with upwards of 150" being preferable depending on the size of your room.
Is 50,000 hours of lamp life good?
The short answer is yes, 50,000 hours is more than enough.
50,000 hours will last over 5 years on continuous use, over 11 years if used 12 hours a day, and over 17 years if used 8 hours a day.
How Much Should I Spend On A Projector?
The best projectors vary greatly in price, with some on our list coming in at under 100 pounds or dollars and the most premium devices being upwards of $5,000.
How much you should spend ultimately depends on what you're looking for and your budget. One of the best budget short throw projectors will not set you back by a great amount, but higher quality options will cost a pretty penny.
If you're looking for casual use at home or while camping outdoors, we'd say the ELEPHAS GC333 is a solid option for under $100.
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However, if you're looking to max out your home cinema experience with a 4K projector, you're likely looking to spend ten times that amount or more.
So, if you're looking for something in 4K, you may be better off with one of the best TVs for PS5 or the best TVs for Xbox Series X.
And if gaming is your priority you can even find some excellent affordable 4K monitors on the market.
Are mini projectors worth buying?
A lot of the best budget projectors out there can be classified as mini projectors due to their small size, and we'd say they are worth buying.
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This is simply due to their smaller stature making them portable and convenient to carry around and set up in a jiffy, alongside also being rather affordable, too.
Do projectors have input lag?
The short answer is yes, much like TVs, projectors do have some degree of input lag.
If you want to use your projector for gaming, it is worth making sure that you go for a projector that offers a low input lag.
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Does refresh rate matter for a projector?
If you play fast-paced games and action movies, the refresh rate would matter. A higher refresh rate will deliver better performance. A standard projector (which is most projector these days), have a 60Hz refresh rate. However, if you plan on using it for gaming, then choose a projector with a 120Hz refresh rate.
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