Projectors are one of the most versatile ways to take a small display and make it larger than life. No matter if you are looking for a better at home viewing experience, office display, or gaming screen, a good projector is a right way to go. The best part is that, thanks to advancements in projection technology, now it is possible to get an excellent projector for less money than you might think. While the best projector under $200 might not have all the bells and whistles of a more expensive model, it will still provide you with a high-quality display and easy-to-use interface, no matter how you choose to utilize it.
If you want to get a good projector, there is a lot that you need to take into account. The media types the projector is compatible with, the resolution, and the throw distance you intend to use the projector for are all big considerations. You’ll also want to have a clear idea of how bright you need the projector to be and, based on how you will use the display, the amount of contrast control that you need to have.
While all those details might seem a bit daunting, never fear! We have put in all of the hard work for you. We have spent tens of hours reading through thousands of reviews to find the best projectors under $200 on the market today. By reading our buying guide and in-depth reviews, you’ll easily be able to find the best projector for your needs in no time at all.
Features to Consider Before Buying a Projector
There are several key features that you need to take into account if you want to be sure to get the best projector under $200 on the market today. In this section, we will go through everything you need to know.
Connectivity
There are several different options when it comes to connecting a projector whether you intend to use it at home or the office. The best option is to use an HDMI cable, as this will provide you with the best quality sound and picture. If you are using an older setup, then you need to make sure that the projector you want can handle an old VGA or RCA cable.
Compatibility
Of course, when it comes to connectivity, you also need to realize that some projectors will only work with certain kinds of devices. No matter if you intend to use this projector with a PC, Mac, Xbox, PS4 or even your smartphone, you need to make sure to check the compatibility requirements to see if you can use it. Otherwise, you will just be wasting your time and money.
Brightness
While you might think that the brighter the display, the better off you will be, that isn’t always the case. Depending on the location that you are going to be using your projector, you might want to be able to get by without a high brightness level.
Contrast
The contrast in an image is the amount of difference that the image has between light and dark. The higher the amount of contrast, the greater the difference between light and dark. You’ll want to make sure that the projector that you choose has a high contrast range.
The high contrast range a projector possesses is especially important for picture clarity. By selecting a projector with a wide range, you will be able to adjust the image to not only achieve your preferred viewing experience but a higher level of clarity as well.
Resolution
To put it as simply as possible, the better the resolution a projector possesses, the better the quality of the picture that it will display is. If you are looking for high-definition gaming or home theater experience, then you want to look for a projector that can handle higher resolutions.
Most projectors operate on a fixed resolution system. This means that they can only put out set amounts of resolution, no matter what the input resolution might be. You need to make sure that you get a projector with a variety of fixed resolution options. That way, you’ll be able to find the right resolution for your media type and usage.
Keystone correction
No matter where you intend to set your projector up, odds are that you will need to adjust the picture projection before you actually start using it for presentations, movies, or games. This is especially true if you are going to be setting your projector up on the ceiling above your screen or on a surface below your screen.
Keystone correct allows you to adjust the projected picture digitally. This allows you to turn what might be a distorted image into a nearly perfect rectangle. This is an essential feature as it allows you to use your projector anywhere, and still have a clear and easy-to-see picture.
Throw distance
The throw distance of any projector is the distance that it is able to “throw,” or project, an image and keep it clear. Depending on the size of the projector, and how much it costs, this could be several feet to over thirty feet in distance. If you’re looking to use your projector outside, you’ll probably need a greater throw distance, so our selection of the best outdoor projectors might be of use to you. The good news is, you can find plenty of these at under the 200-dollar mark.
Before you make your final decision on the projector that you want, be sure to take careful measurements so that you are sure of your throw distance needs.
Screen Size
Screen size relates to the viewing experience; it can be minimum or maximum, depending on the projector which screen size it uses. It also depends on the surface you will be projecting on to. So, here, throw distance plays an important role, which I’ve already cleared that you have to measure the distance between a projector and the surface in order to get the best picture quality.
Lamp Age
As you already know that bulb of a projector is the most expensive part of a component. Furthermore, it doesn’t cover in warranty. So make sure you buy a projector which has a better bulb’s life. However, it depends on the projector you’re buying. If you buy an expensive projector, you will get a lamp with a longer lifespan. I suggest you purchase one which comes with at least 10,000 hours of bulb life.
Best Projector Under $200 For 2022:
1. Wsiiroon LED Projector
If you though the budget projector market was missing a model that looked a bit like an inkjet printer, then you haven’t come across the Wsiiroon before. With a name that I am going to have to go back and check I have spelled correctly every time I use it, the Wsirooney (goddammit!) is a chunky black and white number that looks strong enough to stand on. Don’t do it by the way.
This time out, we can meet our HD requirement as the native resolution here is 1920×1080. The lamp is also much better than the Vankyo coming in at a rating of an impressive 3000 lumens.
Of course, we are paying considerably more for this model as it comes in closer to the $200 budget line, so we should be expecting better components.
Forty-five thousand hours of lamp life are yours, and the 2000:1 contrast ratio means you are better off darkening your room considerably before getting going if you want to see the HD in all its glory.
Unusually for this kind of price too, the built-in speaker is half-decent. It’s not Dolby Atmos, but it is decent enough to watch a film by should you be so inclined, so that’s less expense, less wires and less messing around during set-up.
- HD
- Decent audio
- Lots of connections
- Not suitable for presentation work
2. IRULU Projector
We are right on our $200 budget with this funky little box. If the last one looked like a printer, this offering looks more like a Bluetooth speaker.
Again, it is HD, and it might be that the style and smaller form-factor make it ideal for a gaming set-up. As you can probably see from the image, it is packing a serious speaker system, and again it sounds just fine if you don’t have decent audio equipment to hand. But our view remains, if you want the big screen experience there’s no point in spoiling with internal speakers.
The image the Irulu puts out is crisp, clean, and bright. You would be hard pushed to tell it was emanating from a budget projector; it can look that good in the right setting.
If I have to nit-pick, the fan is too loud for me. Comfortably the loudest here. If I was prepared to tinker, I’d look at cracking it up and replacing it with a silent Noctua unit, but most people aren’t going to be prepared to void their warranty like that.
- Unique, small form-factor
- Very bright image
- Good sound
- Loud fan
- Most expensive of the three
3. Fangor 506 Wi-Fi
The Fangor 506 is an attractively priced perfect projector for home entertainment. It is a popular budget-friendly projector that supports 4K resolution movies.
Connect your phone to this projector using WiFi and sound systems using Bluetooth.
The Fagnor 506 produces high-quality pictures that are incredibly sharp on account of its high resolution of 1920x1080p along with excellent brightness and a high contrast ratio of 10000:1.
This projector is the best fit for home entertainment and outdoor movie nights. Although it is small in size, it is not very easy to carry around. It is heavy on account of an efficient cooling system included.
- HD resolution
- Long bulb life
- Excellent speaker quality
- Excellent brightness
- Quiet
- Heavy
4. Vamvo L6200
This is another great projector by Vamvo. L6200 is the upgraded version of L4200 with a slight difference in pricing. However, they both are affordable to everyone.
In contrast to L4200, the Vamvo L6200 offers a brightness of 5000 Lumens and an insane contrast ratio of 8000:1 that produces vibrant images. With the native resolution of 1080p, the overall picture quality offered by L6200 is far better than L4200.
Connecting this projector to your phone, laptop, TV, Blu-ray player and gaming console is a breeze. Vamvo L6200 comes with dual HDMI and USB ports and a few more handful of connectivity ports like a VGA, AV, micro SD card, 3.5mm audio jack, etc.
The Vamvo claims to incorporate the latest cooling system in the L6200 model that ensures long lamp life and low noise.
- Excellent brightness
- Massive screen size
- 1080p native resolution
- Affordable
- Can be used for gaming and office presentations
- Nothing as of now
5. GooDee YG600 HD 230inch Projector
GooDee YG600 is without any doubt a highly rated projector and can be the best projector under $ 200. It is majorly constructed to present you with the best cinematic experience in affordable options of price range. It is constructed with a 1280*768 native resolution and will let you see an exact high-quality video of your movies.
The most appealing feature of the projector is the 6800 lux, which offers you the freedom of applying each interior and exterior without getting a diminished view of the picture. To increase the versatility it also offers you the choice to notch up the display screen length from minor 44inch to huge 230 inches.
With a contrast ratio of 3000:1 and good color support, you get a vibrant and sharp image that looks nearly the same in every light environment. GooDee YG600 can be a great entertaiment package that includes a dual 3-watts SRS integrated speaker for the best audio quality.
- The video quality and vividness are outstanding
- Lamp life is extremely long
- A wide range of screen sizes is available
- Compatible with most of the device
- It does not provide 1080p
6. JIFAR H6 full HD projector
One product you should not overlook while looking for the greatest HD video projector under $ 200 is JIFAR H6. This projector boasts a TFT LCD projection system and a native resolution of 1080p, allowing it to give a visually stunning experience that you would not imagine at this price range.
The projector provides a resolution of Full HD, where you can watch all of your 1080p movies and shows in their excellent image quality without compromising. Regardless of being a cheap model, the clarity and vividness are outstanding, thanks to the 9000-lux and 10000:1 contrast ratio.
The MStar sophisticated color engine, on the other hand, is the real deal- you do not want to miss it, and it elevates the visual experience to new heights. It has a screen or projector size ranging from 60 to 140 inches making it suitable for a variety of applications, including presentations, entertainment, and outdoor projector works. Moreover, you do not need to compromise while connecting to HDMI, Bluetooth, VGA, and USB.
- Almost all types of mobile devices are supported
- Images are simple to correct
- Higher contrast ratio
- The visual and color quality is excellent
- Overheating might be a problem
7. ELEPHAS 100 DLP Portable Projector
You need to get one of the best pocket projectors under 200 which is so light in weight and comes with a portable design.
Built-in WIFI will surely excite you and maximize your entertainment level. Just enjoy your late-night parties while watching your fav movies. The best mini projector is here for you which gives you a feel of 3D picture quality.
It is a 3D projector that further enhances the beauty of picture and video and of course, made with a lightweight and bright DLP projector that offers you wireless screen reflecting skill.
You will love this best projector that allows you to easily connect the projector with your WIFI and enjoy the continuous mode of playing. However, it can also support Miracast and Airplay; RD606 gives you always a flexible connectivity option for your ISO or Android devices.
- Lightweight
- Mini size
- WIFI
- Compatible many devices
- It becomes overheated from time to time
8. RAGU Z498 Mini Projector
The RAGU Z498 Mini Projector offers a durable and wireless design. Moreover, this projector uses upgraded LCD technology to offer 85% more brightness than others in this range.
Not only that, but it also offers upgraded noise cancellation technology capable of suppressing 90% of unwanted noise. This mini projector also has an innovative cooling system that produces less sound.
In addition to that, the projector offers 90% more NTSC color correction than similar projectors with fantastic vivid and life-like colors. And the Square Pixel Imaging technology uses the latest LED with a 3000:1 contrast ratio to deliver the best clarity.
Besides that, this mini projector can support a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels on a wide viewing experience ranging from 28 to 180 inches with a throw distance from 5 to 16 feet.
Additionally, this device is compatible with all Apple and Android phones and laptops, and it offers multiple port connections, including HDMI ports, SD, and USB ports.
- It offers an 85% brighter display
- The projection distance ranges from 5 to 16 feet
- The projection screen size ranges from 28 to 180 inches
- It is compatible with phones and tablets
- The battery offers 50,000 hours of playback
- It is quite bulky and not portable enough
- It comes at a high price range
9. Wsky Projector
This Wsky projector is a fantastic option for those that want a small but powerful multimedia projector. With a 1080P resolution and a 176-inch screen, the Wsky Projector offers the user more screen real-estate than most of its competitors.
It also comes with a built-in 50,000 hour LED lamp and is designed to be easy to use and carry around. This makes it perfect for homes with limited storage space as you can easily fit it just about anywhere. It can support most forms of media, including HDMI, VGA, AV, and TF.
This projector from Wsky is an excellent option for those that want a small and portable multimedia projector that comes with an incredible price tag. It comes with the ability to support the most popular media formats.
- Its built-in speakers make it easy to use
- Easy to carry around
- The images produced on its projection area are very clear and crisp
- Perfect for business presentations and more
- Hard to operate
10. Mooka RD823 1080p Mini Projector
Another potent addition in this list of best home theater projector under 200 dollar is Mooka RD823. Despite being a cheap projector, it not only comes with a 720p native resolution but also offers 1080p maximum resolution support for all your movies and games.
Thanks to the 500 lumens of brightness and 5000:1 contrast ratio, you will be overwhelmed by its HD wide-angle view. The Mstar advanced color engine, on the other hand, ensures optimum color quality in all the frames and delivers a cinema-grade visual output.
The powerful inbuilt HiFi stereo speaker makes it a complete package and delivers high-fidelity sound quality to give you an enjoyable movie session. A flexible connection is a great advantage of this device, and the availability of HDMI, USB, VGA, AV, card reader, and audio-in serves as the proof.
With excellent picture quality, this unit also pampers you with a substantial 39-250inch screen range, thus making it one of the best outdoor projectors under 200 dollars. It serves as an investment because the 50,000hr lamp life makes sure a decade long longevity.
- Seamless WiFi connection
- Colossal lamp longevity
- Excellent image quality with good sharpness
- Extensive screen size coverage
- It gets noisy after a few minutes
FAQs
What is a good lumens number for a projector?
The level of brightness depends on where you are using your projector. For example, if you choose to use the projector in a dark room, 1,000 lumens can give you a clear, bright image while 2,000 lumens may be too bright, causing the image to be blurry or even hurt your eyes.
Which is better DLP or LCD projector?
There is much to be said on the DLP versus LCD projector debate. While LCD projectors have a sharper image and superior picture quality, DLP projectors are lighter, portable, and considered to be more reliable. DLP (Digital Light Processing) technology uses micro-mirrors to project images from a monitor onto a large screen.
Can an under $200 projector be perfect for my home theatre setup?
When you are buying projectors the important things are: how easy is to set up, audio, image quality, and price. Many types of projectors can be used for home, but the most common are DLP and LCD types. The DLP projectors are lightweight and compact with high-quality contrast and LCD are energy efficient and produce brighter images.
How to mount the projector on the wall or hang it from the ceiling?
Mounting the projector on the wall or hanging it from the ceiling is very easy. There is a fixed single-mounting hole and screws that should be adjusted and rotated according to the different height settings. You can also use the tripod stand for mounting purposes.
Which of the features is better, laser or lamp?
Laser and lamp light both are considered good, but in the end, it depends on your choice of preference. However, laser light might work for a long time as compared to the lamp, but both are considered good.