Top 3 Best Projector Under 500 Dollars – 2022 Updated

If you are looking for the best projector under 500 dollars in 2022, you are at the right place. We understand that 500 dollars is an average budget to buy a quality projector. For this reason, many new brands are listing fake specifications to boost their sales. 

We care about you and your hard-earned money, that’s why we did extensive research to collect the top 3 best projectors under 500 dollars. Whether you are a gamer or just want to enjoy a theater-like experience in your bedroom, these projectors will not disappoint you. 

What To Look For In The Best Projector Under 500 Dollars? 

Most people say that buying a projector for under 500 dollars might be a bad idea, but it is not the case. Yes, you may have to compromise on a few features, but still, you will not regret your purchase. If you do thorough research and consult trustable resources for buying, you will buy the best projector for yourself. 

Following are a few features that a projector should have in 2022 to be considered as the best choice:

  • Versatile Connectivity
  • 1080p or Full HD Resolution
  • Over 100 Inches Wide Projection
  • Over 3000 Lumens Of Brightness

These are some features that a projector must have in 2022. With that said, let’s explore the 3 best projectors under 500 dollars that you can use in 2022 for a satisfying experience. 

Best Projector Under 500 Dollars – Comparison Table

Serial No. Name Dimensions (inches)Brightness (lumens)Resolution
1. LG PF50KA Portable Projector ‎6.7 x 6.7 x 1.9 600 ANSI1920 x 1080p
2. Optoma HD146X High Performance Projector9.5 x 12.4 x 4.336001080p
3. ViewSonic M2e Portable Projector7.2 x 7.2 x 2.11000 LED1080p

1. LG PF50KA

Portable Projector

  • Hardware Interface Bluetooth & USB
  • Mounting Type Table Mount
  • Brand LG
  • Wattage 65 watts
  • Brightness 600 ANSI Lumens

At number one we have this battery-operated projector from LG. We don’t see many projectors from this brand in the market, but it is now looking forward to capturing the market at every price tag. This item here is the best projector under 500 dollars as it offers a Full HD resolution with 600 ANSI lumens of brightness. 

If you are after a projector that you can carry while traveling, this projector is for you. It offers a wide projection up to 100 inches, which is what you will see in most projectors under 500 dollars. What makes it the best battery-operated projector is its battery backup of over 2.5 hours. It is pretty much perfect for enjoying a 2-hour movie. 

Talking about its connectivity, you get USB ports that allow you to connect it with your laptop, computer (at least Windows 7 or above), smart TV, and other devices. Apart from this, you get Bluetooth for making wireless connections. 

Other features that make it the best projector under 500 dollars are:

  • Plug n Play projector
  • Lamp life of over 30,000 working hours
  • No input lag, making it a good option for gamers

Issues Faced By Users

Some of its users faced issues with the wireless connectivity. They experienced delays in the output quality when connected via Bluetooth. Apart from this, there are no major issues with this projector. 

Pros

  • Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080p)
  • 2.5 hours of long battery backup
  • Can project up to 100 inches wide
  • Lamp with over 30,000 hours of working span
  • Less noisy and doesn’t overheat
  • Automatic vertical keystone correction

Cons

  • A laggy experience when connected wirelessly
  • There is no zooming feature
  • The remote control feels a bit complicated

The LG PF50KA is the best projector under 500 dollars for those who are looking for long battery backup. With 100 inches of wide projection, Full HD resolution, and 600 ANSI lumens of brightness, this projector is one of the best to buy in 2022. If you are impressed by this projector, get it from Amazon today before the stock runs out. 

If you are a heavy gamer, you can’t use a battery-operated projector as it will only work for a couple of hours. Don’t worry because, at number two, we have one of the best projectors for gaming under 500 dollars. So, let’s check it out. 

2. Optoma HD146X

High Performance Projector

  • Hardware Interface HDMI & USB
  • Mounting Type Ceiling Mount
  • Brand Optoma
  • Wattage 5 watts
  • Brightness 3600 Lumens

Optoma is no doubt one of the most famous brands out there. This brand doesn’t compromise on features and the performance of their projectors and other gadgets. The same is the case with the Optoma HD146X. According to gamers, it is the best projector under 500 dollars as it offers only 16ms of response time and a 120Hz rapid refresh rate. 

Optoma has made it an all-in-one projector from every angle. The projector comes up with a full native 1080p resolution and a high brightness of 3600 lumens. Not just that, you also get an RYGCVC color wheel that allows the projector to produce vivid colors. Due to the combination of these many features, this projector is worth buying in 2022. 

Talking about its connectivity, you get USB and HDMI ports. It means you can connect this projector to all of your gaming consoles such as Xbox and PS4. 

Other features that make it the best projector under 500 dollars are:

  • Game Display Mode for a unique experience
  • 500000:1 contrast ratio
  • 3D content support

Issues Faced By Users

Some of its users said that the projector takes a long time to power on and power off. Also, they had a poor experience when they tried to connect this projector with streaming devices using an HDMI cable. Apart from these, it is pretty impressive. 

Pros

  • 1080p native resolution
  • 120Hz rapid refresh rate with 16ms response time
  • Support for displaying 3D content
  • Lamp with a working span of 15,000 hours
  • Perfect image alignment
  • 3600 lumens of brightness

Cons

  • Not good for streaming devices
  • The remote control feels a bit cheap
  • It takes time to power on and power off

Do you love gaming? Are you after the best projector under 500 dollars with 1080p native resolution, 16ms fast response time, and 120Hz rapid refresh rate? If yes, then buying the Optoma HD146X High Performance Projector in 2022 will not make you regret it. But don’t waste much time because the stock is running out quickly. 

We hope that most of you might have picked their favorite projector for under 500 dollars. But if you are still reading, it means you haven’t found the projector of your choice. Well, this third and last projector on our list might be the one you are looking for. So, let’s check it out. 

3. ViewSonic M2e

Portable Projector

  • Hardware Interface Bluetooth, HDMI, USB & MicroSD
  • Mounting Type Table, Wall, Ceiling Mount
  • Brand ViewSonic
  • Wattage 54 watts
  • Brightness 1000 LED Lumens

Finally, we have a portable projector from one of the famous projector-making brands in the world. We know people face brightness issues with portable projectors, but it is not the case with this one. This projector offers 1000 LED lumens of brightness, making it the best projector under 500 dollars for travelers and camping lovers. 

The projector comes up with a 1080p resolution and has an autofocus feature. Talking about its output, it can project up to 100 inches wide, which is just perfect. Further, you get the Rec. 709 color accuracy that allows you to enjoy vivid colors. It is a reason why this projector is becoming more and more famous in 2022. 

Talking about connectivity, this projector comes up with USB (type A and type C), HDMI, and Bluetooth support. For this reason, you can connect it with almost every device and gaming console. 

Other features that make it the best projector under 500 dollars are:

  • Vertical & horizontal keystone correction
  • Dual Harman Kardon speakers
  • MicroSD support available

Issues Faced By Users

Some users said that the horizontal keystone correction is not that good. According to some users, the projector creates a hue effect while using the horizontal keystone feature. Apart from this, it is the best projector that you can get in 2022. 

Pros

  • 1080p resolution
  • 1000 LED lumens of brightness
  • MicroSD (16GB) support
  • Vivid colors, thanks to the Rec. 709 color accuracy
  • Versatile connectivity
  • Quality built-in speakers

Cons

  • Horizontal keystone correction is useless
  • You might experience hue effect
  • Remote sometimes doesn’t (only for a few apps)

So, if you are after a portable projector with high resolution and bright output, you can consider the ViewSonic M2e Portable Projector worth buying. It offers versatile connectivity, which is why it is winning the hearts of many projector lovers. So, buy this best projector under 500 dollars today because we never know when the stock runs out. 

Best Projector Under 500 Dollars – Buying Guide

Buying the best projector for under 500 dollars is easy when you have our advice with you. Today, we shared the top 3 best projectors that you can consider worth buying in 2022, but what if you are confused in deciding which one to buy? Well, you have to consider the following factors before buying the projector. 

Resolution

In 2022, almost every projector under 500 dollars offers 1080p resolution. Thus, it doesn’t matter which projector you buy, just make sure it has at least 1080p resolution. Anything less than 1080p is not worth the price tag. 

Brightness

Brightness plays a crucial role in the performance of a projector. The best projectors on our list offer over 3000 lumens and 1000 LED lumens of brightness. Here, you have to understand that there is a difference between lumens and LED lumens; LED lumens are brighter than ordinary lumens. 

If you want to use the projector in a small room or in a room with little or no light, you should focus on other factors than brightness. On the other hand, if you want to use the projector under daylight, you have to go for a projector with the highest brightness. 

Connectivity

If you are a gamer, you have to look for the best projector under 500 dollars that is compatible with gaming consoles. Nowadays, many projectors offer versatile connectivity, allowing you to connect your projector with multiple devices. Note that all projectors don’t offer wireless connectivity, so you have to choose accordingly. 

These are just a few points to consider when buying a projector. If you want to make a valuable purchase, you should check out our Projector Buying Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the best projector under 500 dollars in 2022?

As of 2022, you can consider one of the following as the best projector under 500 dollars:

1. LG PF50KA Portable Projector 

2. Optoma HD146X High Performance Projector

3. ViewSonic M2e Portable Projector

Q: Does Optoma offer the best projector under 500 dollars?

Yes, Optoma is one of the best brands that offer quality projectors at every price tag. When looking for the best projector under 500 dollars, you will see the Optoma HD146X High Performance Projector. It could be a perfect choice to buy in 2022, especially if you are a gamer looking for a gaming projector. 

Q: Can we buy a Full HD projector for 500 dollars?

Yes, you can buy a Full HD projector for 500 dollars, but make sure to buy from a trusted brand. You will see a lot of projectors claiming to offer a Full HD resolution, but they actually don’t. That’s why you have to do thorough research to make a valuable purchase. 

Bottom Line

There you have it, the top 3 best projectors under 500 dollars. You will see many projectors under this price tag, but these are the top 3 that you can consider worth buying in 2022. So, if you want to buy a quality projector for 500 dollars, you can buy any of these 3 projectors to have an outstanding experience. 

If you are confused in making a decision, the following quick tips might help you out:

  • The LG PF50KA Portable Projector is the overall best projector under 500 dollars with many exciting features.
  • The Optoma HD146X High Performance Projector is the best for gamers, but it doesn’t work with streaming devices.
  • The ViewSonic M2e Portable Projector is the best for those who want a portable projector with versatile connectivity.

We hope that now, you will be in a perfect situation to buy your best projector under 500 dollars. However, if you still have any questions, you can let us know in the comments below and our team will respond to you within 24 hours. 

Do let us know in the comments which projector you will buy and why. 

That’s all we got for you today. We’ll meet you with a new topic soon. Till Then, We Are Rank Projectors. Have a good day!

Thanks for reading!

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