Do you love watching movies in a cinema on a bigger screen? Everything becomes enjoyable when you watch it on a bigger screen with a tub full of popcorn with you. It is not humanly possible to binge-watch shows or movies in a cinema. However, you can undoubtedly bring cinema to your doorstep at a fraction of a price if you wonder how projectors are the best things available within the market and a cheaper alternative to a big flat screen. The market is full of a plethora of options, but it is still challenging to find a perfect match, especially if you are on a budget. You can easily find the best projector under 300.
However, you must see that it has all the features you need. Did you know 50% of adults under the age of 45 have the habit of binge-watching shows? If you are reading this article, we are sure you are one of them because, let’s be honest, who does not like some good Netflix shows these days. This article provides excellent information about different kinds of projectors, their benefits, and top suggestions, that too on a budget. So, are you ready to dive in?
Key benefits of a projector
Back in the day, people will only find projectors in schools and offices. However, people do buy home projectors now for various purposes. We know most people want a home projector to watch movies on a bigger screen. This section is all about the projector benefits and why it is a lovely addition to your appliance purchase. Let’s begin:
- Reflects light
If you think of the word entertainment, gaming or watching movies will come to your mind. All these activities involve being in front of the screen. You see many young kids and people with glasses these days as lights emitting from the screen can have adverse effects. However, your screen size can be a contributor to defective eyesight. The projector reflects light rather than emitting it; hence, exposure to blue light is less. A person can adjust the screen size according to their will. It makes the letters appear more prominent, so you are not compromising your eyesight when reading.
- Theater like experience
Most of us want our private televisions, but they are a considerable investment. Projectors are a much cheaper option than spending your money on buying huge TVs. If you compare cost per unit, projectors do not even cost a fraction of a price. Also, one of the best things about the projector is that you can quickly customize screen size. You can see clear images and read text with much more clarity.
- Easy to store
For people enjoying their bachelor’s life and living in a small apartment, a projector is an excellent alternative to tv. A TV is an investment, and you need to go through the hassle of installing it or getting it installed. On the other hand, a projector is low maintenance, and you can keep it anywhere. It is also a great device to travel with as it is compact and lightweight. You can use the projector on a plain white wall; it is not necessary to have many things to make this work. If you are a frequent projector user, you can also mount it on the wall to save space.
- Comparison List of Top 10 Best Projector Under 300 dollars in 2022
- 1. ViewSonic 3800 Lumens SVGA High Brightness Projector
- 2. Epson VS250 SVGA 3,200 Lumens LCD Projector
- 3. ViewSonic M1+ Portable Smart Wi-Fi Projector
- 4. WOWOTO A5 Pro Android 7.1 100ANSI Video Projector
- 5. YABER Pro V7 9500L 5G WIFI Bluetooth Projector
- 6. ONOAYO 5G WiFi Projector
- 7. Video Projector HAWS 3800LM 1080P Full HD HDMI Office Projector
- 8. Optoma S343 SVGA DLP Professional Projector
- 9. WiMiUS Video Projector
- 10.Anker Nebula Capsule Smart Wi-Fi Mini Projector
- Things you can do with a projector:
Comparison List of Top 10 Best Projector Under 300 dollars in 2022
Product | Brand | brightness | Item weight | What’s unique |
ViewSonic 3800 Lumens SVGA High Brightness Projector | ViewSonic | 3800 lumens | 7.14 pounds | 2W internal speakers |
Epson VS250 SVGA 3,200 Lumens LCD Projector | Epson | 3200 lumens | 5.30 pounds | SVGA resolution |
ViewSonic M1+ Portable Smart Wi-Fi Projector | ViewSonic | 300 LED Lumen | 1.7 pounds | 2.5-hour full power mode |
WOWOTO A5 Pro Android 7.1 100ANSI Video Projector | WOWOTO | 500 lumens | 8.8 ounces | 300000 hours long LED lamp |
YABER Pro V7 9500L 5G WIFI Bluetooth Projector | YABER | 380 ansi lumens | 4.9 pounds | Auto 6D keystone correction |
ONOAYO 5G WiFi Projector | ONOAY | 9500 lumens | 3.7 pounds | 5.0 Bidirectional Bluetooth |
Video Projector HAWS 3800LM 1080P Full HD HDMI Office Projector | DHAWS | 3800 lumens | 5.5 pounds | 30% brighter than most projectors |
Optoma S343 SVGA DLP Professional Projector | Optoma | 3600 lumens | 6.7 pounds | 22000:1 contrast ratio |
WiMiUS Video Projector | WiMiUS | 9500 lumens | 3.96 pounds | 60% zoom function |
Anker Nebula Capsule Smart Wi-Fi Mini Projector | Nebula | 100 ANSI lumen | 1.04 pounds | IntelliBright Algorithm |
1. ViewSonic 3800 Lumens SVGA High Brightness Projector
Key specifications:
- Wattage: 260 watts
- Color: white
- Item weight: 7.14 pounds
- Brightness: 3800 Lumen
Ideal for: Small business School Home |
Features:
ViewSonic 3800 lumens projector is all one could need as it is pretty affordable and provides adequate color contrast. We think it is the perfect choice for small businesses, schools and works best as a home projector due to its compact size. It has a proprietary super color technology that does a commendable job in intensifying colors. It has a 6-segment color wheel that functions to work across diverse color palates and makes everything appear super colorful.
The projector provides a high contrast ratio, and its 3800 lumens brightness can maintain brightness in every environment. We want to appreciate this projector because it’s up to 15000 hours of lamp life. You can dim brightness by 70%, which further enhances the lamp life significantly. The ViewSonic ultra-low latency is its star feature as it smooths out images faster as the frame changes. It has a 16ms input latency which is commendable to provide video and image clarity.
Another perfect feature of the projector is its vertical keystone correction. You will undoubtedly enjoy how the projector helps in correcting prepositioned and distorted images in just one click. It has a 3D Blu-ray player through which you can directly put up 3D images. The HDMI connectivity option is also great to transport data for presentations or school projects. Overall, it is a commendable projector that does not compromise on brightness and quality.
ViewSonic has to be one of the top favorites as they have been in the technology industry for the past 30 years. The projector also comes with an internal speaker, which is perfect if you do not own an extra pair. Also, a user can power on and power off the projector faster. It is lightweight and portable, an ideal choice for a movie night.
Pros
- Up to 15000 lamp hours
- 2W internal speakers
- 3800-lumen brightness
- SuperColor technology
Cons
- Poor speaker sound quality
2. Epson VS250 SVGA 3,200 Lumens LCD Projector
Key specifications:
- Wattage: 296 watts
- Color: white and black
- Item weight: 5.3 pounds
- Brightness: 3200 Lumen
Ideal for: Offices and small businesses Educational institutes Home theater |
Features:
The Epson projector has 3200-lumen brightness which works exceptionally well to brighten a lifeless room with vivid colors. It works on different color spectrums, which helps in intensifying the video and images. You will love the brightness of the projector even if the room is well–lit. It makes up to 28 dB fan noise in the eco-mode and 37 dB noise in normal mode. We think that the projector works best for small businesses, schools and an excellent option for home theater. Amongst its many cool features, we also love the SVGA (800 X 600) resolution, which works exceptionally well to add the color burst and clarity one needs.
If you need the projector for your projects or simply enjoy your shows, you will love its compatibility with Mac and Android. You can quickly transfer data and play audio, video of your choice. With an F-number of 1.44 and a focal length of 16.7 millimeters, you will see the whole picture without the projector trimming off the sides. The digital zoom of 1.0 and 48000p pixel dot are two features that will ensure that you have full command over the screen customization.
If you are a beginner to projectors, this one will be a feast to use as it has super easy controls for image adjustment. It also comes with a manual through which you can set it up without any professional assistance. There are two buttons on the projector, W and T, to increase or decrease the image size. The 2-watt speakers within the projector work well to deliver high-quality sound even if you do not have an external sound system. The HDMI connectivity option makes everything super easy as you can transport files through a single wire.
Pros
- HDMI connectivity
- 2W internal speakers
- 3200 lumen brightness
- SVGA resolution (800 x 600)
Cons
- No external port
3. ViewSonic M1+ Portable Smart Wi-Fi Projector
Key specifications:
- Wattage: 45 watts
- Color: Silver
- Item weight: 1.7 pounds
- Brightness: 300 LED Lumen
Ideal for: Taking school lectures Camping and vacations Home theater |
Features:
The ViewSonic M1 projector has to be one of the lightweight and smart projectors available within the market as it weighs only 1.7 pounds. It comes with a U-shaped stand at the bottom which helps in giving the projector adequate height. With WVGA (854 X 480) LED projector, you can expect to have vivid image quality and seamless display. It is an ultra-portable projector which you can carry with you anywhere. It has Harman Kardon Bluetooth speakers, which is a great innovation. You can only connect Bluetooth for audio, but it provides a room-filling sound. It serves a dual purpose which is exceptional for the price you pay.
ViewSonic comes with a shorter throw lens which provides a total dimension of 8 feet and 9 inches. It comes with an Aptoide menu which is a blessing for today’s generation. You can watch Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime. It is an excellent investment for people who love to binge-watch shows and movies. You can download these apps on your projector in a super simple way and binge-watch whatever you like without hesitation.
It has a built-in battery which is perfect for taking only beach vacations or camping. It has a 2.5-hour battery which is adequate to watch a whole movie. However, the battery can also last you up to 5 hours if you only listen to the songs. It is compatible with various devices such as Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, etc. It also has eye-care technology, which we think is fantastic. You can use the virtually free reflective light eye-protecting technology and also the blue light technology. It helps in reducing stress on the eye significantly. Also, it is super effortless to set up, especially after you read the manual. Overall, we love what great features the projector has to offer at such an affordable price.
Pros
- 2.5-hour full power battery
- Bluetooth speakers
- 300 LED lumen brightness
- WVGA resolution (854 x 480 fps)
Cons
- Does not work in a bright room
4. WOWOTO A5 Pro Android 7.1 100ANSI Video Projector
Key specifications:
- Wattage: 260 watts
- Color: Black
- Item weight: 8.8 pounds
- Brightness: 500 Lumen
Ideal for: Listening to songs Camping and vacations Home theater |
Features:
WOWOTO video projector is famous once for its compact size and less than one kg weight. The 2000:1 contrast ratio is impressive because the rest of the colors pop 2000 times more than black. In a dim lightroom, you will be able to see the clearest quality and phenomenal contrast like never before. One of its striking features includes its palm-size compact structure, which means you can easily carry it anywhere. 850 x 480 fps resolution works best to enhance the picture quality. Due to the 1080p full HD display, you can zoom in or zoom out as much as you like. It is perfect for dark and indoor environments such as camping adventures.
You can connect this projector to 2G to 5G WIFI networks to run social media and entertainment apps perfectly without stopping. You can watch YouTube and Netflix on the projector as well. The 2+32G updated storage and 7.1 android system are also special features that make it worth the purchase. This projector makes a perfect gift as it is easy to carry and has an adjustable screen size. It has the nearest screen size of 2.1 inches, but it can go up to 150 inches from a distance of up to 2 meters. If you want to have a great experience, you must place the projector between one to two meters. The DLP core-part optimal technology is one of the best parts about the WOWOTO video projector as it enhances the images and videos by making them razor sharp.
The WOWOTO video projector ensures that it provides exceptional brightness and contrast to the pictures. It is the best in ensuring longevity and provides world-class reliability, making your investment worth every penny. The 2100 mAh battery lasts for more than two hours without charging. You can easily connect your projector to Airplay or other devices to listen to songs and watch movies. We think it is the best projector for camping and trips as it makes it more fun.
Pros
- 2-hour full-power battery
- Wireless screen share
- 500-lumen brightness
- 300000 hours lamp life
Cons
- No alternative sound amplifier
5. YABER Pro V7 9500L 5G WIFI Bluetooth Projector
Key specifications:
- Wattage: 50 watts
- Color: White
- Item weight: 4.9 pounds
- Brightness: 380 ANSI Lumen
Ideal for: presentation Listening to songs Home theater |
Features:
YABER pro Bluetooth projector is a complete feast for people who want both Bluetooth and WIFI connectivity options. The 6D keystone correction function is one of its key features which ensure excellent image stabilization. After the projector goes through any severe impact, the image returns to its original position within one second. Amongst many great things, the WIFI connectivity options play a pivotal role in smooth transitioning from image to video and vice versa.
The Bluetooth connection with an SRS sound system helps you play any song. It comes with a Bluetooth headset that is compatible with your laptop, Blu-ray, etc. The 9500 Lumens brightness within the projector ensures that the images and videos appear as vivid as possible. The V7 projector undoubtedly has more advantages when it comes to brightness. The 12000:1 contrast is insane as it makes the color appear 25% brighter than normal projectors.
This makes the best home entertainment projector as it provides both audio and video quality simultaneously. The creative projection technology offers exceptional performance and provides an immersive display with lots of clarity. One of the astonishing things to notice is that it comes with a lifetime professional support service. You can get it repaired for up to 3 years and can return it within six months of your purchase if you do not like it. 100% color gamut coverage provides a cinema-like experience, and the 360-degree surround sound is the cherry on the top. The 50% infinity superzoom and wide app compatibility make it worth the purchase. If you want an overload of features in a small projector, go for it.
Pros
- 100% color gamut coverage
- 12000:1 contrast ratio
- 9500-lumen brightness
- 360-degree surround sound speakers
Cons
- Sound does not sync with the video well
6. ONOAYO 5G WiFi Projector
Key specifications:
- Wattage: 50 watts
- Color: White
- Item weight: 3.7 pounds
- Brightness: 9500 Lumen
Ideal for: Listening to songs Home theater Watching movies and shows |
Features:
ONOAYO WIFI projector is one of the popular ones available within the market. It is a 5G wireless projector that connects to Bluetooth, but you can connect it to various devices and play music on it. The 10-watts high-fidelity speakers work perfectly to produce a room-filling sound. The super BT sensors are perfect to receive signals even if the device is kept far away. The 9500 Lumen brightness is a critical feature that allows this projector to project images and videos in bright colors. You can see even the smallest of the details as the 300-inch screen makes everything noticeable to the eye. You will have the most immersive viewing experience.
The four-point key tone correction helps correct the image and stabilize it when you accidentally shake the projector. We are in awe of the 12000:1 contrast ratio which helps in making the image appear more vivid and colorful. The super zoom technology is also one of its specialties which helps in neutralizing the image. You have the option to flip the image 360-degrees, reduce the image size to 50% and zoom it significantly to make things more visible.
One of the things that we appreciate within this projector is the sealed optical technology which prevents dust from entering and interfering with the clarity. IT has 100,000 hours of lamp life which is insane and also depends on the usage. It is compatible with USB sticks, Android, iOS, etc. It comes with a three-year warranty and also the brand has an instruction video to know how to set it up.
Pros
- 100000 hours lamp life
- 12000:1 contrast ratio
- 9500-lumen brightness
- Reduce image size to 50%
Cons
- Takes time to connect to the WIFI
7. Video Projector HAWS 3800LM 1080P Full HD HDMI Office Projector
Key specifications:
- Wattage: 260 watts
- Color: Black
- Item weight: 5.5 pounds
- Brightness: 3800 Lumen
Ideal for: Party Home theater Wedding Meeting classroom |
Features:
The DHAWS video projector is the ultimate user choice for various reasons. It has a three–year warranty which ensures its longevity and also the brand provides lifetime technical support. If you want a high-quality display, then the 1080P display is going to be your ultimate jam. The multi-chip coated film lens helps in brightening up the colors and has a perfect contrast. We are astonished that it has 50000 hours led hours which is perfect for weddings, classroom or parties.
Amongst many visual features, we love the fact that the video projector has a Hi-fi audio speaker, you can use the projector as a speaker when you are not watching anything. The 3800 lumens brightness is one of its best features that helps in creating a great contrast. The projector is 30% brighter than traditional projectors, enhancing its value even more. The keystone correction is also one of the features that most people appreciate. It helps in adjusting the image distortion quickly if the projector is destabilized.
Its connectivity is one of its best features as it can be connected to a camera, laptop, mobile, amplifier, and SD card. The projector has a 44-inches to 200-inches screen size that projects well in all circumstances. The projector distance is from 1.5 to 5.6 meters which are perfect for anyone’s needs. Overall, we love how well the projector works, and it is available at a budget-friendly price.
Pros
- 44-200 inches screen size
- 30% brighter than other projectors
- 3800 lumen brightness
- 50000 hours lamp life
Cons
- No zoom
8. Optoma S343 SVGA DLP Professional Projector
Key specifications:
- Wattage: 10 watts
- Color: white
- Item weight: 6.7 pounds
- Brightness: 3600 Lumen
Ideal for: Party Outdoor activities Wedding Meeting Home theater |
Features:
The Optoma professional projector is of the best quality; one can use it for weddings, parties, classrooms, meeting rooms, etc. It has an SVGA (800 X 600) resolution, which helps in making the text in images appear clearer. An individual can also zoom to see the text in images clearly in a meeting or when studying. The 3600-lumen brightness is one of the best features as it helps brighten the image and makes graphics more vibrant.
One of the best things about this projector is that it has a lamp life of 15000 hours, enabling you to use it for 4 hours every day. We think it is the best fit for classroom and lecture halls as it has in-built 10-watt speakers. You do not need any kind of external speakers as it already provides a great surround sound experience. It has a 15:1 throw ratio which means the image will remain clear even if you project it from a distance. You can keep the projector 18-feet away, and then you can achieve a 120-inch screen size.
The vertical keystone correction is one thing that people appreciate as it makes the image more stable. 1.1 X zoom is its specialty because you can zoom according to your needs to achieve clarity. There are various connectivity options within this device; you can use VGA and HDMI to connect. The device’s overall weight is 7 pounds, making it a great choice to travel with and use for camping and various outdoor activities.
Pros
- 120 inches screen size
- 7 pounds weight
- 3600 lumen brightness
- 15000 hours lamp life
Cons
- Takes longer to transition from image to videos
9. WiMiUS Video Projector
Key specifications:
- Wattage: 140 watts
- Color: Black
- Item weight: 3.96 pounds
- Brightness: 9500 Lumen
Ideal for: Party Wedding Meeting Home theatre |
Features:
The WiMiUS video projector is two-in-one as it has a Bluetooth and WIFI connection. You can connect it to 2G, 3G, and 5G internet, which is ideal for long-term use. When you connect it to 5G, it functions better, and the projector is more protected. The projector comes with a bag and all the accessories one could need. The native resolution of 1080P ensures that things are clear and within the frame. The 9500-lumen brightness ensures that the contrast is high and everything appears super bright. The 4K support makes everything super appealing to the eye.
The four-point keystone correction is the best image stabilizer that you can use to protect the image from vertical and horizontal distortion. The 60% zoom is a lifesaver for people who want a zoomed-in image of anything. You can have a grand screen with this as its projects from a distance of 1.5 meters to 10 meters.
One of the best things about the WiMiUS projector is its ability to connect with various devices. You can connect it with a PC, PS4, camera, laptop, mobile, etc. It has a remarkable ability to transition from image to video seamlessly. You can watch Netflix and any TV series you like on this projector. The ten years of LED lamp life is ideal for excellent longevity. It also comes with a 3-year of technical replacement warranty and 4-years of actual warranty.
Pros
- 1.5- 10 meters projection distance
- 60% zoom
- 9500-lumen brightness
- 10-years lamp life
Cons
- Image appear blurry when zoomed
10.Anker Nebula Capsule Smart Wi-Fi Mini Projector
Key specifications:
- Wattage: 5 watts
- Color: Black
- Item weight: 1.04 pounds
- Brightness: 100 ANSI Lumen
Ideal for: Weddings Outdoor activities lectures Home theater |
Features:
The Anker Nebula Capsule Smart projector is a genius idea as it is speaker and projector in one. It is a super-size projector with a screen that can expand up to 100 inches. You can make the projection size smaller or bigger depending upon your preference. It has two ports for external wires; Bluetooth and USB. You can also ditch the wires and simply use Mira cast, Bluetooth, or Airplay. One of the unique elements of this projector is that you can use the nebula app to control the projector. You can download this app from Google Play or the Apple store.
If you are all about multi-purpose things, then you are going to love the projector’s pumping speaker. The speakers are loud enough to engulf the whole room in a seamless sound. The advanced IntelliBright algorithm is perfect for a brighter appearance, and the 100 ANSI makes sure that the contrast is spot-on. The capsule size projector is one of the best as it is super compact and easy to travel with yet provides a 100-inch screen.
The android 7.1 compatibility is perfect for streaming through media apps seamlessly. You can watch Netflix and YouTube on a bigger screen and enjoy it with great joy. The sleek black design of the projector makes it look like a decorative piece with the house. Its 360-degree surround sound speakers are undoubtedly its selling point.
Pros
- Android 7.1 compatibility
- 360-degree speakers
- Advanced intelliBright technology
- 100 ANSI lumen
Cons
- Hard to connect to WIFI
Things you can do with a projector:
If you think that a projector is only limited to watching shows and movies, you are wrong. There are way too many things you can do with a projector; you have to be creative. If you want to use a projector for versatile items, we suggest you go for it. In this section, we have a few suggestions about what you can do on a projector. Let’s see:
Play video games
Video games are a ride or die for many teenagers. If you are having a game night, you do need a bigger screen to have fun. TV is big and has a standard size screen, but nothing can beat a projector. You will have a banging time with your friends playing your favorite games on a bigger screen.
Taking lectures
Nowadays, many people prefer online classes as opposed to real-time classes. In such cases, it is difficult to maintain your interest on a smaller screen. You can connect your phone or laptop to a projector and take online classes. It is a great way to feel like you are actually in the class and maintain your concentration levels.
Bedtime stories
If you have a toddler, a projector will be a lifesaver, especially if you are okay with a little screen time. You can turn on the projector to play lullabies, jingles, and bedtime stories to make your kid fall asleep easily. It is the best purchase you will ever make if your kid gives you a hard time.
Decorative wall
If you are a décor enthusiast, then we think you can use a projector to décor any plain wall. You can select your favorite picture and project it on the wall through a projector. It is a simple hack that does not require any money.
Conclusion
Projectors are an excellent investment, especially for all the binge-watchers who need a bigger screen. If you think projectors are expensive, you are wrong. You can find the best projector under 300 easily. We have mentioned some of our top picks. There must be a few features you have to compromise on, but you can find one that fits your needs and that too on a budget.