The TV market has many great budget options that are good enough for most consumers, but the cheapest projectors tend to be small, portable models, which are typically extremely dim. Still, some cheap and budget-friendly projectors can deliver a decent viewing experience, and many of them have great smart features, eliminating the need to spend more on an external streaming device. You can find many models excelling in different facets, such as movies, gaming, or portability. If you're unsure about the size of screen you can accommodate at your distance, you can also use our projector throw calculator to determine how each model fits your room.
We've bought and tested more than 80 models, and below, you'll find the lowest-priced projectors to buy. If you're shopping at a price point, look at our best projectors under $500 and under $1,000. For a more exhaustive list of projectors at all price points, look at the best projectors instead, or the best home theater projectors if you're shopping for a blacked-out room. You can also vote on which ones you want us to purchase and test.
We've independently bought and tested over 80 projectors and published detailed results for each, so you can decide which one to buy. These have all been tested under the same standardized methodology, allowing you to compare them side by side. We still have all these projects in our lab, so we can continually go back and compare them to ensure our reviews are still accurate. All our test methodologies are also public on our website, so you can validate the results yourself.
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Best Budget Projector
MoviesGamingBrightnessNative ContrastPre-Calibration Color AccuracyColor GamutSizeInput LagImaging TechnologyLight SourceLEDSee all our test resultsNative ResolutionPixel Shift 4kIf you want the best budget projector, the Epson Lifestudio Flex Plus is the one we would go with. What makes it stand out is not that it dominates in one area, but that it's well-rounded in a way most projectors at this price are not. It delivers a sharp pixel-shifted 4k image, okay enough brightness and contrast for evening viewing, solid color performance, and a feature set that feels modern and easy to live with. It's not a true bright-room powerhouse, but it's flexible enough to work in more setups than many cheaper projectors, which often force you into a fully dark room or make bigger compromises elsewhere. For gaming, it's alright; it's limited to 60Hz, but its input lag is low enough for some casual gaming.
It also feels like a more complete product than most budget models. The chassis has a 180-degree horizontal swivel, vertical tilt, and a full set of auto-setup tools like autofocus, auto-keystone, obstacle avoidance, and auto-screen fit, so it's easy to move around and set up quickly. Google TV is built in, and the single HDMI 2.0 port supports eARC if you want to add a soundbar later, while the two 5W Bose speakers are good enough for casual use. Overall, the Lifestudio Flex Plus is the best budget pick if you want a projector that does a bit of everything well without any glaring weakness.
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Best Cheap Projector
MoviesGamingBrightnessNative ContrastPre-Calibration Color AccuracyColor GamutSizeInput LagImaging TechnologyLight SourceLEDSee all our test resultsNative Resolution1080pIf you want to spend as little as possible while still getting a projector that can look good in a dark room, go for the NexiGo PJ40 Pro. It’s much cheaper than the Epson Lifestudio Flex Plus, and its native contrast is genuinely great for the money, giving it a surprisingly punchy, cinematic look when the lights are off. The Epson is still much brighter, more colorful, more accurate out of the box, and more polished overall, so the NexiGo is best treated as a dark-room projector for modest screen sizes. For gaming, it can accept 4k and 1440p signals downscaled to 1080p, but there's no high-refresh-rate option, and input lag is high, so it’s better for slower single-player sessions than fast or competitive play.
The feature set is still generous for the price. It has full Google TV implementation with official app support, including Netflix, so you don’t need to add a streaming dongle for everyday use. You also get Bluetooth 5.1, Wi-Fi, casting, two HDMI ports, one with ARC for a soundbar, and two USB ports for direct playback. Its built-in 20W speaker system is handy if you don’t want extra gear, and the projector is small and light enough to move around easily. If your goal is maximum big-screen value for dark-room movie nights, the NexiGo PJ40 Pro is the standout cheap choice.
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Best Budget Portable Projector
MoviesGamingBrightnessNative ContrastPre-Calibration Color AccuracyColor GamutSizeInput LagImaging TechnologyLight SourceLaserSee all our test resultsNative ResolutionPixel Shift 4kIf you want a budget projector that is even easier to carry around than the Epson Lifestudio Flex Plus, the LG CineBeam Q is the one to go for. It's genuinely tiny and easy to toss in a backpack, and the built-in carry handle makes quick moves from living room to balcony painless. There's no integrated battery, but it can run from USB-C Power Delivery (65W or higher), so a compatible power bank covers picnics or patios without an outlet. Portability is helped by quick auto-setup tools, like fast autofocus and keystone, so you can set it down and get a tidy image quickly. Rounding out the package, it runs webOS with full app support (including Netflix) and offers AirPlay/Screen Share, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, making it simple to cast from your phone, use a hotspot, or pair a Bluetooth speaker. For gamers, its input lag is sadly too high for any serious gaming, as it's only adequate for slow turn-based titles, and even those feel sluggish.
As a projector, it's on the dim side, which is the big trade-off compared with the brighter Epson Lifestyle Flex Plus. Still, its RGB laser light engine delivers a crisp 4k image via pixel shift, along with rich color and excellent contrast, so it looks very good in a dark room for something this small. There is only a single HDMI input, and audio is best handled over Bluetooth if you want more than the built-in speakers can provide. If you want a grab-and-go budget projector and can live with the lower brightness, this is the portable pick to get.
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Best Budget Gaming Projector
MoviesGamingBrightnessNative ContrastPre-Calibration Color AccuracyColor GamutSizeInput LagImaging TechnologyLight SourceLampSee all our test resultsNative ResolutionPixel Shift 4kIf you want the best budget gaming projector, pick the ViewSonic PX701-4K. Compared with the Epson Lifestudio Flex Plus, you give up some of that projector's more polished, lifestyle-friendly feel, but the ViewSonic is clearly the better fit if gaming is your priority. It supports 4k @ 60Hz and 1080p at up to 240Hz, and Game Mode keeps controls feeling very snappy, making it a strong option for competitive PC gaming while still handling 60Hz console play without feeling sluggish. It also accepts 4k signals via pixel shifting for a crisp image, and brightness is solid for the price, so a small bias light will not hurt, though, like most affordable DLP models, it still looks best in a darker room.
If movies are higher on your list than games, it's still serviceable. Contrast is good, but color accuracy is poor out of the box and doesn't improve much with calibration, so cinephiles should consider alternatives. The chassis is light at around 6.2 pounds, and setup is simple with an automatic vertical keystone. There's no built-in smart platform or wireless casting, but the USB service port can power a streaming stick for apps. In short, if you mainly care about speed and high refresh on a tight budget, the ViewSonic PX701-4K is the budget gaming pick.
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Best Cheap Portable Projector
MoviesGamingBrightnessNative ContrastPre-Calibration Color AccuracyColor GamutSizeInput LagImaging TechnologyLight SourceLEDSee all our test resultsNative Resolution720pIf you want an inexpensive projector that is easy to take with you, and don't mind losing the LG CineBeam Q's excellent contrast and vibrant color, the XGIMI MoGo 2 is a far cheaper option. It's extremely compact at only 2.4 pounds, so it fits in a backpack without effort. Like the LG, it doesn't include an internal battery, but it can be powered from a USB-C power bank, which is handy for travel. Setup is also largely hands-free thanks to autofocus, full auto keystone, intelligent screen alignment, and obstacle avoidance. It runs Android TV 11 with Chromecast and AirScreen, plus Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0, so streaming and wireless audio are covered.
The downside is picture performance, which is to be expected at this price point. It's very dim, so you will need a fully dark room, and even then, the image is more serviceable than impressive. Contrast is only average, and while it supports a wide color gamut and HDR, it doesn't have the brightness to make those formats look impactful. Overall, the MoGo 2 is the right choice if portability is the priority and you're willing to trade image quality for a small, travel-friendly projector at a low price.
Notable Mentions
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Hisense M2 Pro:
When the Hisense M2 Pro is on sale, it's the best budget model money can buy due to its best-in-class image quality and top-notch gaming features; it outperforms the Epson Lifestudio Flex Plus in every way. When it's not on sale, it's too expensive to recommend as a budget model, but keep your eyes peeled, as it routinely drops under $1000.
See our review -
Wanbo X5 Pro:
The Wanbo X5 Pro is a great deal, as it performs almost identically to the NexiGo PJ40 Pro, often at a similar price. They trade blows on some aspects, but the NexiGo has slightly better image quality, is more accurate out-of-the-box, and is far easier to calibrate. Still the Wanbo isn't nearly as noisy under load, which matters in quiet environments.
See our review -
NexiGo PJ40 (Gen 3):
The NexiGo PJ40 (Gen 3) is a solid alternative to the NexiGo PJ40 Pro if you don't need a smart OS. If you do, the PJ40 Pro is a better option, especially as it's also more accurate. Otherwise they perform very similarly.
See our review -
XGIMI Halo+:
The XGIMI Halo+ is the best budget battery-powered portable: it's lighter than most, has two to 2.5 hours of runtime, has quick auto-setup, and is perfect to grab and go for parks or camping. Still, when not on sale, it's significantly more expensive than the XGIMI MoGo 2, making the latter the better deal in most cases.
See our review
Recent Updates
May 06, 2026:
The Epson Home Cinema 1080 has been removed due to availability issues. We've also updated the Notable Mentions and swapped the NexiGo PJ40 (Gen 3) for the NexiGo PJ40 Pro due to the latter's smart OS implementation.
Mar 11, 2026:
Price creep has pushed the Hisense M2 Pro off the list; it has been replaced by the versatile Epson Lifestudio Flex Plus. The picks were slightly rewritten, and the XGIMI MoGo 2 was added as the 'Best Cheap Portable' option.
Dec 17, 2025:
The newly reviewed Hisense M2 Pro replaces the venerable BenQ HT2060 as the Best Budget Projector due to being better all-around. The BenQ HT2060 is now in the Notable Mentions.
Nov 17, 2025:
The BenQ HT2060 is now the top pick, as rising prices for the other picks are putting them close enough to the superior HT2060 to make it the more interesting option. Otherwise, the text has been updated throughout, and the LG CineBeam Q has been added to our Notable Mentions.
Apr 17, 2025:
The Epson Home Cinema 1080 is now the 'Best Budget Projector' as the BenQ TH671ST is now too expensive to be a budget pick. It has been moved to the Notable Mentions.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best budget-friendly projectors for most people to buy. We factor in the price (a cheaper projector wins over a pricier one if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no models that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you'd like to do the work of choosing yourself, here's the list of all our projector reviews, with a price limit of $900. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no projector is perfect, many are good enough for most uses; however, avoid the worst models to ensure adequate quality.