Best Projectors Under $500 (2025)

Compare 15 projectors under $500. The entry point for quality home theater from trusted brands.

What is the best projector under $500?

Updated January 9, 2026 • Based on 15 projectors compared

The best projector under $500 in January 2026 is the ViewSonic PA504W 4000 Lumens WXGA High Brightness Projector with Vertical Keystone, HDMI 1.4, USB 2.0 Type A, and VGA Inputs for Home and Office at $499.99. It delivers 720p resolution, 4,000 lumens, and a 5.0-star rating from 2,665 reviews. At $400-500, you enter trusted brand territory with verified specs and real warranties.

Our Top Picks Under $500

1

Top-rated at 5.0 stars. 4,000 lumens, 720p resolution.

4,000 lumens720pLaserView on Amazon
2

4,000 lumens - handles rooms with some ambient light.

4,000 lumens1080pLCDView on Amazon
3

Gaming-ready. Good for casual gaming.

550 lumens720pLEDView 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 PH550 CineBeam LED Projector with Built-In Battery, Bluetooth Sound Out and Screen Share

-60%
$359.70$499.99

Save $140.29

Resolution: 720p
Brightness: 550 lumens
4.4(360)
View Deal on Amazon →

Hitachi CP-X3042WN LCD Projector - 720p - HDTV - 4:3

-50%
$245.00$489.99

Save $244.99

Resolution: 1080p
4.7(12,768)
View Deal on Amazon →

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

-38%
$372.99$599.99

Save $227.00

Resolution: 1080p
Brightness: 600 lumens
4.3(1,127)
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.