Best Projectors Under $500 (2025)

Compare 19 projectors under $500. The entry point for quality home theater from trusted brands.

What is the best projector under $500?

Updated February 24, 2026 • Based on 19 projectors compared

The best projector under $500 in February 2026 is the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro 2024 Portable Projector with PowerBase Stand at $368.98. It delivers 1080p resolution, 450 lumens, and a 4.8-star rating from 370 reviews. At $400-500, you enter trusted brand territory with verified specs and real warranties.

Our Top Picks Under $500

1

Top-rated at 4.8 stars. 450 lumens, 1080p resolution.

450 lumens1080pLED1ms lagView on Amazon
3
$438.52
4.4 (75)

16ms input lag. Good for casual gaming.

4,200 lumens1080pLaser16ms lagView on Amazon

Prices updated daily from Amazon

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Current Deals - Under $500

Limited-time discounts on quality projectors. Prices verified within the last 24 hours.

LG CineBeam PF510Q Portable Full HD (1920 x 1080) LED Smart Projector, Airplay 2 and Screen Share support, Bluetooth Audio Dual Out

-67%
$199.99$599.99

Save $400.00

Resolution: 1080p
Brightness: 600 lumens
4.3(415)
View Deal on Amazon →

LG PF50KA Portable Full HD LED Smart Home Theater Projector (Renewed)

-60%
$199.99$499.98

Save $299.99

Resolution: 1080p
4.4(288)
View Deal on Amazon →

Casio XJ-A140V DLP Projector Portable 2500 Lumens Full HD HDMI, Bundle: HDMI Cable, Power Cable, Remote Control

-50%
$149.98$299.99

Save $150.01

Resolution: 1080p
Brightness: 2,500 lumens
4.4(119)
View Deal on Amazon →

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Under $500 Buying Guide

What to expect at $400-500:

  • Native 1080p resolution (not "supports 1080p")
  • 2500-3500 ANSI lumens (real measurement)
  • Trusted brands: ViewSonic, Optoma, Epson, BenQ
  • 1-2 year manufacturer warranty
  • 15-25ms input lag (acceptable for casual gaming)

Red flags to avoid:

  • Claims of 10,000+ lumens (impossible at this price)
  • "Native 4K" under $700 (always fake)
  • No-name brands with no US presence
  • 30-day seller warranty only
FAQ

Best for home theater?

Epson models offer best color accuracy with 3LCD technology. ViewSonic for brightness.

Best for gaming?

BenQ and Optoma DLP models have lower input lag (15-20ms). See our gaming projector guide.

Worth upgrading to $1000?

Yes - you get 4K resolution, sub-10ms gaming lag, and better HDR. See under $1000 picks.