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Home movie lovers and business people know that projectors are no longer what they used to be. They are now smarter, sharper, more versatile, and more communicative.
In this guide, we review the best projectors under $500 in 2021, analyzing their features and explaining why they are the top home theater picks.
Quick Overview: Best Projectors under $500 in 2021
- EUG 3900 Outdoor Movie – Best Overall Projector under $500
- ViewSonic 3600 Lumens WXGA – Best Value Projector
- BenQ MW535A – Top Quality Projector
- Epson VS350 XGA – Good Value Projector
- Epson VS355 WXGA – Best Project for Office Presentations
- Epson EX3260 SVGA – Best Price Deal Projector
- Optoma HD143X Home Theater – Excellent Home Theatre Projector
Best Projectors under $500 in 2021 Selection
| Image | Product | Rating | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall  | EUG 3900 Lumen WXGA Interface: VGA, USB, HDMI | 9.7 | Check On Amazon |
Best Value  | ViewSonic 3600 Lumen WXGA Interface: VGA, USB, HDMI | 9.5 | Check On Amazon |
Top Quality  | BenQ WXGA 3600 Lumen Interface: USB, HDMI | 9.1 | Check On Amazon |
Good Value  | Epson VS350 XGA 3300 Lumen Interface: HDMI | 8.8 | Check On Amazon |
Best for Office  | Epson VS355 WXGA 3300 Lumen Interface: HDMI | 8.6 | Check On Amazon |
Good Deal  | Epson EX3260 SVGA 3300 Lumen Interface: HDMI | 8.2 | Check On Amazon |
Newer Tech  | Optoma HD146X 3600 Lumen Interface: USB, Lightning, HDMI | 8 | Check On Amazon |
1. EUG 3900 Outdoor Movie Projector – Best Overall Projector under $500
EUG 3900 Lumen WXGA
The EUG 3900 Outdoor Movie Projector provides extensive connectivity for outdoor movies, TV, video games, and other presentations.
Thus, it has 2 HDMI-in, 2 USB, a Composite Video connection, one VGA output, and an Audio in/out.
This is one of the best projectors for less than $500 dollars.
This projector’s 6500:1 dynamic contrast ratio and its full-color display of 16.7 Million produces bright images of size 50 inches to 200 inches with a throw distance of 3.9 to 9.4 feet.
- Excellent inbuilt stereo speakers, using SRS technology
- High resolution
- Refresh rate up to 60Hz
- Not very easy to suspend from the ceiling
2. ViewSonic 3600 Lumens WXGA – Best Value Projector for Big Screens
ViewSonic 3600 Lumens WXGA
The ViewSonic 3600 Lumens WXGA Projector’s advanced and versatile features make it ideal for use in education and small business conditions.
It is capable of big-screen projection, projecting 120 inches wide from 15 feet 8 inches in 3600 lumens. Its Aspect Ratio is 22,000:1.
This projector sets up easily with simple plug and play for your presentations, videos, and pictures.
It supports most media players, PCs, Macs, and mobile devices with HDMI, VGA, etc.
- Big screen projection
- Low price
- Compact and lightweight
- No carrying case
3. BenQ MW535A Projector – Good Value Projector with Attractive Design
BenQ MW535A 1080p
The BenQ MW535A projector is another premium projector for the under $500 range.
Perfect for bright settings, it is suitable for educational use and small business environments.
The projector’s 3600 lumens of brightness and 15.000:1 contrast aspect ratio helps its big-screen projection of a 120-inch display from 13 feet 2 inches. This increases screen clarity and reduces eye strain.
It has 15,000 hours of lamp life. For connectivity, it has two HDMI, two VGA and an Audio in/out.
It supports WUXGA resolution at 1920 by 1200.
- Bright display
- Smart Eco Mode
- Speakers not quite loud enough
4. Epson VS350 XGA Projector – Good Value Projector
Epson VS350 XGA
One of our top pick for projectors under $500 is the Epson VS350 XGA Projector. This projector is ideal for detailed, text-laden presentations.
Able to project text in great detail, this projector has an XGA resolution of 1024 by 768.
This is 1.5 times more resolution than normal SVGA.
This projector makes your presentations come alive in vivid colors, even in well-lit rooms.
Its 3,300 lumens of equal color and white ensures all-round brightness.
- High XGA resolution
- Easy connection and setup
- Intuitive menus
- No 3D video capability
- Poor heat control
5. Epson VS355 WXGA Projector – Best for Office Presentations
Epson VS355 WXGA
Providing more vivid colors, even in well-lit rooms is the Epson VS350 WXGA Projector, similar to the Epson VS350 XGA Projector in many ways, but not quite like it.
It also has 3,300 lumens of brightness. Setup is also fast and easy, with the projector up and running a few minutes. It also has easy image regulation and very convenient controls.
However, with a WXGA resolution of 1280 by 800, it dishes out 2 times more resolution than SVGA for HD presentations and videos.
Thus, this projector has more resolution that the compatriot, the Epson VS350 XGA Projector discussed above.
- WXGA resolution of 1280
- Best for office presentations
- USB plug and play
- Attractive price
- Cannot handle 3D content
6. Epson EX3260 SVGA – Attractive Price Projector
Epson EX3260 SVGA 3300 Lumens
The Epson EX3260 SVGA Projector is another remarkable projector you can get for less than $500.
With the usual Epson high color brightness and a one-year warranty, this projector is a good buy, any day.
The display quality is outstanding and of professional levels.
A 1080p+ SVGA resolution of 1920 by 1200 means you have 4.5 times more resolution than any SVGA for Full HD 1080p content.
- Quiet
- Easy to use
- SVGA display resolution
- No audio out port
- Can’t handle 3D
7. Optoma HD146X – Excellent Projector for Home Theater
Optoma HD146X
The final projector in our review is the Optoma HD146X Home Theater Projector.
The picture quality of this projector is stunning. The high contrast of 25.000:1 and RGB attribute combines to deliver bright, exciting colors.
This projector provides 3.600 lumens of brightness.
It provides low lag for games at fast 1080p input response times with fast games and performance-demanding PCs.
- Good image quality
- Two HDMI connectors
- Low lamp life
To conclude
The top of the pack for the under $500 range is the EUG 3900 Outdoor Movie Projector.
We chose this projector for its versatility – its ability to provide extensive connectivity for outdoor movies, TV, video games, and other presentations. Its 2 HDMI-in, 2 USB, a Composite Video connection, one VGA output, and an Audio in/out keep it ready for any option you may require.
Also, its high dynamic contrast ratio and full-color display of 16.7 Million produces unmatchable images to satisfy even the most demanding user.
More like this: if you are interested in similar articles like this one, make sure to check our reviews on the best projectors under $200, projectors under $300, and projectors under $1000.
