Nowadays you really don’t need to get an LCD TV to make videos appear larger.
You can simply enjoy viewing Movies from your smartphone, Laptop or your Game console if you connect it to a projector.
But then, you might be looking to get a cheap projector that can satisfy your needs But you are stuck on what you want to go for
If that is the case, It’s totally nothing to worry about.
Getting the Best Cheapest Projector might come with some downside. However, you need to ensure that the quality it has suits its intended purpose.
Coupled with that, it is also important to know what you need to watch out for when selecting one, as different brands of projector keep springing up in all types of spec.
And due to that, there are only so many brands of projectors we can cover in this blog post.
But, since that is the case, we will be talking about some of the things you have to watch out for while selecting a projector to purchase to buy one of the best cheapest projectors you should buy.
What to look for in a Projector
Getting a Budget-friendly projector might come with a few downsides when compared to much pricer ones.
However, there are certain things you can always look out for to help determine if a projector is worth buying or not.
Below is the list of possible things you should scrutinize when buying a projector
The Brightness
Projectors come with different lumen grades. Lumen is simply the measurement of projector brightness. The higher the lumen, the higher the level of such projector brightness and vice versa.
Projectors at the high end of the spectrum can come with a lumen of 2,000 lumens or more.
However, the less expensive projector can come with a Lumene number of as low as 100.
Although there is no standard lumen grade for the different projectors as these are based on manufacturer preferences.
But then, if you are looking to install the projector in a dark room, you should aim for one with around 500 lumens or more.
The Light source
Another thing you want to scrutinize is the light source of the projector.
Before videos are displayed on the wall, the projector focuses a light source unit a chip before the image is created.
There are three varieties of light sources which are Lasers, LEDs, and Ultra High Pressure (UHP) lamps.
Most high-end projects make use of the UHP. Coupled with that, this light source generates a lot of light which makes it burn out faster when compared to their light source.
Light Sources such as Laser LEDs tend to be more efficient but their performance is lower than UHP.
The Image Chip
Images chips come in different types namely DLP, LCD, and LCoS.
They are basically used to create pictures.
While LCOs seem to be the most costly among the three, they justify their performance since it is mostly found in mid to high-end projector.
Among the three, LCOs Deliver the best picture quality while LCD comes next.
The LCD has a good colour quality, however, the contrast ratio is lacking.
But then, that doesn’t affect the overall picture quality.
In addition to all that, single DLP projector chips are mostly found in cheap and mid-range projectors. It has a decent image quality depending on your want but with time one of the issue you might be faced with it is a situation whereby bright objects on the screen leave very quick while multicoloured pixel trails behind them.
But then, these vary across all projectors. However, it’s manageable. You can test the projector to see what these look like and if it is manageable for you
The Contrast ratio
What is the contrast ratio you might ask and why should you care about it?
Just like when you have an image on your phone that you want to edit, Contrast is one of the options you can edit to improve the quality of an image you are editing.
Now, when it comes to a projector, The higher the contrast ratio of a projector, the better the quality of videos coming out from it.
While this might not determine the overall quality of a projector video quality. It comes in handy to improve the video quality of a projector when its lumen number or light source is not average or below par
Best Cheapest Projectors
Since we have been able to look at some things you should do to scrutinize for the best cheapest projector. Let’s list some of the best and cheapest projectors you can get online
Recommended: How to Connect a Speaker to a Projector
TOPVISION Mini Projector
Rank: best projector under $100
If you are looking to get an entry-level projector with not soo many features, and you want to use it with your smartphone. The top vision Mini projector s a good buy.
While it doesn’t come with advanced ratings or features such as its lumen number or DLC chips, it comes with a pretty decent contrast ratio of 2000:1 and a 16:10 aspect ratio.
All these coupled with its maximum screen size of 176” and a native resolution of 800 x 480 pixels make the images showing from the project pretty decent.
However, you might experience some blur visuals around the edges of the screen, although the centre is sleek.
In addition to that, The top vision projector gives you ample streaming options to stream with your smartphone and laptop since you can use stream content using an HDMI cable, USBD stick or your SD card.
Besides that, it comes with an impressive warranty period of 2 years and its coast only $80.
Vankyo Leisure 3
The Vankyo Lesuire is considered to be one of the best cheapest Projectors on the list if you are looking for a projector with a budget of less than $100.
Among other things, projectors in that price range tend to suffer from different downsides such as low contrast ratio and low-quality Video resolution etc.
However, Vankyo Leisure E3 comes with a decent image resolution of 1920×1080 image resolution.
But that’s not all it provides enormous ease of use, since you can easily connect it to a laptop or smartphone, thanks to the HDMI ports, AV, and VGA ports that it makes available.
Coupled with that, the Vankyo Leisure 3 is easy to navigate since it comes with a remote and an intuitive interface.
That being said, there are a handful of downsides to this projector.
One of them is the Low video and audio quality. But then, it comes with a 3.5mm cable port which allows you to connect to an external speaker to complement that.
Also, adjusting the projector to get the perfect angle might be daunting and might require you to prop it up on a table or desk with something
With all these futures, the Vankyo projector is priced around $170-$280
Epson EX3280 XGA
Rank: best budget projector 2022
While the Epson EX3280, might not be the cheapest on the list of the best cheapest projector.
It is certainly decent for business-based activities or educational purposes.
Coming at a price of around $500 – $600, it has some pretty impressive features such as the 768p XGA resolution, the 15,000:1 contrast ratio and a high Lumen number of 3600 lumens. Isn’t that above par for a relatively cheap projector?
All these features make the text appears clearly while also giving a bright display notwithstanding the situation of the room.
Besides, the Epson EX3280 comes with a wide range of support since you can use it with HDMI, USB, and VGA inputs.
However, it doesn’t come with an SD card slot which might not be a downside with the array of features it presents.
Presently it is priced in the range of $500 – $600.
Philips NeoPix Easy Projector
The Price is pretty decent, but the video quality it presents might not be very spectacular if you are a fan of high image quality.
The video has a pretty decent quality since it comes with a contrast ratio of 3000:1. But then, this alone might not be enough to present a high-quality video since its resolution is only 480p.
Aside from that, another thing worth looking into about this projector is its wide range of external support such as HDMI, VG, USB, and MicroUSB sources.
Still, on the audio, this projector presents a 3.5mm audio output for headphones and speakers in case you are not very satisfied with the inbuilt audio output.
With these features, it comes with some downsides such as a low lumen number of 40 and the lack of support for VCGA connection.
Aside from that, it is a decent entry-level project that is perfect for home use
Presently it is priced at around $176.
Auking Mini Projector
Rank: best cheap mini projector
If you are looking to enjoy a home theatre feel without breaking the bank. This is the most recommended Projector you should go for.
You cannot compare it with Vanko or Top vision since its features stand out greatly with its low price.
One of the most remarkable things about this projector is its, video resolution.
It is very rare to see an under $100 Projector with a resolution of 1080p support.
Coupled with that, you can rest assured that the video quality will be crips clear and bright since it has a high contrast ratio of 2000:1 and a 75000-lumen number.
That being said, it also offers a wide range of support since you can connect it with your smartphone, tablet or your Laptop.
Looking at the downside, one of them is that the 1080p is not a true 1080p resolution. Also, it is not above par when it comes to capturing text in a presentation.
That is not all, it is not compatible with Netflix and Hulu due to copyright issues since it is a projector with mirrored
Which is the best budget projector?
The best budget Projector falls on factors such as your budget and what you want to use it for.
Based on the list above. The best cheapest projector for business needs is the Epson EX3280 XGA. While if you are looking to get a project for your Home theatre needs. The best cheapest projector you can get for yourself s the Auking projector
Can you get a good projector for under 500?
You can, you might just have to sacrifice some features like a low lumen number, low resolution or low contrast. However, there are decent ones you can get way below that.
Which is the best mini projector?
There are different mini projectors out there, but looking at features and online reviews of over 20k from users. The Auking stands out as one of the best in the business
Conclusion
By now, you should have been able to come up with your conclusion on what the best cheapest projector is and what you should look out for when getting your next projector. If you feel. this article has been helpful, feel free to share it with your friends and drop a comment below