The 5 Best Projectors Under $1,000 of 2024

Searching for the best projector under $1,000? Consider the BenQ TH671ST, which offers solid performance at an affordable price. While its brightness is on the lower side—resulting in a dim 1080p image in well-lit rooms—it’s still bright enough to perform well in dimmer settings, which the projector is well suited for due to its decent contrast. Plus, the projector's wide color gamut and excellent pre-calibration accuracy ensure vibrant and precise colors. It can display a 60-inch image from about three feet away and up to a 180-inch image from around nine feet, making it ideal for smaller spaces or if you prefer to place the projector closer to your screen or wall.

Weighing just 5.9 pounds, it’s compact and easy to move compared to larger models. However, it does lack some features, such as built-in Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or a smart OS. In terms of connectivity, it includes two 1080p @ 60Hz HDMI ports and a VGA port. The second HDMI port supports MHL, allowing you to connect your phone or tablet directly to the projector for streaming content, which is convenient given the absence of a USB data port. Instead, it comes with a mini USB service port and a USB Type-A port for power delivery, great for powering a streaming dongle. Overall, this projector is well-rounded in terms of price.

The Epson Home Cinema 1080 is the best bright room projector under $1,000 that you can buy. It projects a very bright 1080p image, so it can easily handle moderately lit rooms, which is a good thing, as the projector's performance in dark rooms is disappointing due to its inadequate contrast; consider the BenQ TH671ST instead if you're mostly looking to use the projector in darker rooms. Its colors are alright; they're not very vibrant but are accurate out of the box. Additionally, there's no need to improve the unit's color accuracy through calibration, as it already performs exceptionally well right out of the box.

The Epson is only 5.9 pounds, so you can move it easily if you need to, and it has automatic vertical keystone correction, so it adjusts the image automatically if you change its projection angle. Plus, its optical zoom lets you adjust the projected image's size without moving the unit. The projector has two HDMI 2.0 ports and a USB-B port, allowing you to control the projector through a computer. Unfortunately, the unit doesn't come with a smart OS. Still, it does have Wi-Fi 5 and Miracast for screen mirroring, so all it's missing for full streaming functionality is an external streaming dongle, which you can power through the unit's USB-A port. Overall, the Epson is the brightest projector you can get for under $1,000.

Are you only using your projector in dark rooms and don't care about color accuracy? Then the ViewSonic PX701-4K is the best dark room projector under $1,000 we've tested. Its pixel-shifting technology lets it project a higher-resolution picture than the other picks can, giving it the sharpest image of the bunch. It is decently bright, and its contrast is good, making it a solid low-cost home cinema option. Unfortunately, this unit has one big flaw regarding image quality: its color accuracy is very poor out of the box, and you can barely improve it through calibration. This means that while this model excels in dark rooms, it might not be a good choice for home theater purists or anyone who cares about accurate colors.

It's a light projector at 6.2 pounds, so you can move it easily if needed. It even has automatic vertical keystone correction, so it can fix any geometry errors automatically on the vertical axis. It lacks any smart OS or wireless features, but it has a USB service port that you can use to power an external streaming dongle if you want any streaming features. Plus, this model has two HDMI ports capable of gaming at 4k @ 60Hz or 1080p @ 240Hz, making it a great pick for gamers on a budget. Ultimately, this might very well be the best product on this list for those who don't care about color accuracy; others might want to consider the slightly less vibrant but much more accurate BenQ TH671ST.

If you're looking for a model you can easily carry without plugging it into an outlet, the best portable projector under $1,000 we've tested is the XGIMI Halo+. It's a very small unit and weighs only 3.7 pounds, so you can easily throw it into a backpack. Plus, it has an integrated battery promising up to 2.5 hours of uninterrupted playback, which is long enough to watch most movies. Its portability is made even better due to its many image correction features. To round up the package, it comes with the Android TV smart interface, with Chromecast and AirScreen support. It has Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 capabilities, making it super easy to connect the projector to your phone's wireless hotspot or Bluetooth speaker.

The projector is dim but is significantly brighter than most competitors in its class, and it'll project a pleasant image when all the lights are off due to its okay contrast. Its color accuracy is quite poor out-of-the-box, so this isn't really a product for color purists. Still, color accuracy doesn't matter too much when projecting a movie on the side of a barn or van. It has one HDMI port, which also doubles as an eARC port, and a USB port through which you can play video files directly to the projector. Overall, if you're looking for a projector to take camping or to the beach, this is the best possible option.

If you're looking for the best possible value, look no further than the NexiGo PJ40 (Gen 3). Even though it's much cheaper than any other projector on this list, it’s no slouch when it comes to image quality thanks to its truly excellent contrast, delivering punchy images in light-controlled rooms. Its brightness is inadequate for any room with lights on, but it performs well in dark settings. While its colors are muted, the NexiGo PJ40 (Gen 3) still delivers impressive image quality for its price. Calibration is highly recommended to achieve the most accurate visuals, as the default settings are noticeably off.

The NexiGo comes with a rich feature set for its price. It includes Bluetooth 5.1, Wi-Fi, and robust casting capabilities with Miracast and Apple AirPlay. Although it features built-in Android TV, its implementation is rather limited, so you’ll need a streaming dongle if you plan to use any streaming apps. The projector is equipped with two HDMI ports, one of which supports ARC, making it easy to connect a soundbar directly. Additionally, it has a 20W speaker system, which is a convenient option if you prefer using the projector’s built-in audio. Rounding out its feature list are a dedicated Game Mode and HDR10 support. While it may not have the brightness to stand out in well-lit environments, it offers excellent value for dark-room setups.