Let us take this space to talk about what you can reasonably expect from an affordable projector.
Brightness: First of all, we have to address brightness. Brands will try to lure you in with big numbers of ISO or ANSI lumens. But at this price point… none of that matters a whole lot. None of these projectors are going to work in bright light. For that, you have to triple your budget and start looking at HD laser and short-throw projectors. For under $500—even under $1,000—projectors are still going to require darkness to really work.
Portability: The good thing about affordable projectors is that they’re all quite portable. All of the options on this list—besides the budget AuKing—can be tossed in a bag and set up anywhere. This is the main draw of these projectors, as they don’t replace TVs but give you an additional, more flexible, way to watch.
Resolution: Some people will say “Don’t buy anything less than 1080p,” but we think that’s kind of dumb. For a budget projector that’s a fun option for movie night, we think 720p is enough. Will you and your friends care if you can’t see Ryan Gosling’s pores during your backyard screening of Barbie? Nope! Save yourself some money and don’t freak out about resolution.
