Double Your Screen Size with The Best Cheap Projectors

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We updated this article in April 2023 to ensure all products tested and vetted by the Good Housekeeping Institute were in stock, available and reflected accurate pricing. To our list of best budget projectors, we added a model from XGIMI and Epson.

Tired of watching shows on your MacBook or tablet but not quite ready to splurge on a fancy flatscreen like the Samsung The Frame TV? A budget projector is an easy, affordable solution that enables you to increase the size of your screen – no wall mounting required! The majority of modern cheap projectors today feature impressive image quality along with built-in speakers and easy-to-navigate media interfaces so set up, operation and streaming couldn’t be easier. And unlike a TV, you can easily move a projector from room to room, or even take it outside with you for an outdoor movie night when the occasion calls.

The tech analysts and engineers at Good Housekeeping Institute have tested home theater and audio equipment for decades in the Media & Tech Lab and homes, from the best 4K projectors to outdoor projectors, outdoor speakers and soundbars. When selecting the best budget projector for the ultimate binge night, our experts considered top-performing brands from previous categorical tests, personal favorites and popular styles with positive consumer reviews online. We tested the majority of the models featured below and vetted each for its ease of setup and operation, portability, image quality and extra features like battery life and media interface. According to our pros, these are the best budget projectors in 2023 to bring Hollywood to your home.

Our top picks:

After our selections, read further to learn how to choose the best budget projector for your space and how we selected our top picks.

Nebula Capsule Max

Our pros were blown away by the clear HD picture quality this small, sleek projector was able to produce in low-light settings. Unlike more expensive models, it's so compact that it should fit into most backpacks or travel accessories so you can bring it with you on your next adventure and project on the go. We love that it features 4 hours of rechargeable battery life, making it a top choice for outdoor movie nights, camping trips or streaming anywhere in your home.

Our pros were equally impressed by the loud and crisp audio quality of the Capusle Max’s built-in speakers, which are so powerful that the device can double up as a standalone Bluetooth speaker. In our tests, we found the setup and operation of the projector to be seamless, and the media interface powered by Android TV extremely intuitive to navigate. With the Nebula Connect app streaming is made even easier; all you have to do is use your phone as a remote and decide which Netflix series to binge next. Though we do wish USB-C charging was supported, we appreciate that the included charger is compact and portable.

Leisure 3

This small, compact projector from Vankyo is a great option for streaming videos, watching shows or gaming. It’s not only affordable, but it's easy to connect your phone to stream or you can use a streaming stick like a Roku via one of the multiple ports. While we haven’t tested it in the Lab, we like that the screen size can be projected up to 176”, though our pros warn that resolution won't be as high-quality as other projectors.

MoGo 2

If you’re looking for superior picture quality and optimal brightness, look no further than the latest XGIMI MoGo 2. In testing, our pros found videos streamed via the XGIMI to be some of the most detailed and sharp on this list. The sound quality was just as impressive with built-in speakers that filled the room, and set up was a breeze. Because the projector runs on Android TV, you can expect an easy-to-navigate interface when you’re ready to start streaming. Another feature our experts were fond of was the projector’s auto keystone correction, which did an excellent job at readjusting the image to avoid any obstacles and appear rectangular on the screen no matter how many times we moved it.

Though slightly larger than some of the mini projectors on this list, the XGIMI is an excellent choice for smaller rooms like your bedroom as it’s compact enough to fit comfortably on a nightstand but does unfortunately require a power source. If you do, however, want to use the projector outside your camping tent or in your backyard but there’s no wall outlet in sight, you can still power it up via USB-C as long as you have a power station or portable battery pack handy.

Luma 150 Portable Wireless Projector

We love this budget projector for its compact size and ability to run off 2.5 hours of battery life, according to the brand, making it extremely convenient and easy to throw in a purse to share slideshows, presentations and more from anywhere you go. Unlike other budget projectors of this size, you can connect certain iOS, Android or Windows 10 devices wirelessly to project content via AirPlay or Miracast.

Our pros found the Kodak app intuitive to use and navigate, and like that it enables you to use your phone instead of a remote. Though you’ll have to make sacrifices when it comes to picture quality, the projector’s bells and whistles make it worthwhile. But if you're willing to spend a bit more, you can consider upgrading to the Luma 350 which boasts better brightness at 200 ANSI lumens as well as a larger screen and louder speakers.

EpiqVision Flex CO-W01

Our pros like Epson projectors for their great value and solid performance. Though you won’t get a 4K cinema experience, we were impressed by this projector’s picture quality as well as the screen’s brightness, meaning you should be able to get a clear picture even with some ambient light (but if you want even more brightness, consider this Epson projector with 3,600 lumens).

WiFi and Bluetooth aren’t supported so you won’t be greeted by a media interface featuring streaming apps, but it’s perfect for projecting presentations at the office, Zoom calls and streaming TV shows via your laptop or devices like Roku, Apple TV and more, which you can connect through the projector’s HDMI port. We also like that it comes equipped with a built-in speaker for when you need audio, though we found that the sound quality could be more robust.

EX3280 3LCD XGA Projector

While we haven’t tested this model in the Lab, our pros have been hands-on with Epson projectors in previous categorical tests and like the brand for its great value and solid performance. Though this projector won’t give you cinema-like quality, it’s perfect for projecting presentations at the office, Zoom calls and streaming TV shows via devices like Roku, Apple TV and more, which you can connect through the projector’s HDMI port. Our pros like its 3,600-lumen brightness so you should be able to get a clear picture even with some ambient light, and that it comes equipped with a built-in speaker for when you need audio. There’s even a skew sensor to help square your screen when you start projecting.

Anker Solar Outdoor Projector

The pros at the Good Housekeeping Institute think this pick from Anker is a fantastic choice if you’re looking for an outdoor projector. Not only is the resolution impressive at full HD, but the brightness is higher than most other budget projectors featured on this list. Our testers liked the built-in projector stand, which is convenient when you want to set up your screen and don’t have a tripod handy. Watching movies and shows is easy via HDMI or directly with Android TV 9, which offers more than 7,000 streaming apps. While this model doesn’t have a built-in battery, for a slightly higher price you can opt for a model that will offer three hours of power cord-free.

NeoPix Easy Projector

We like that this super affordable projector comes with a built-in media player and speakers so you don’t need anything else to watch your favorite Netflix series indoors or outdoors. It even features an audio jack so you can connect headphones or external speakers should you need to fill a larger space with sound. Though our pros agree that the resolution could be better, we like that it’s lightweight at under 2 pounds and easy to move from room to room. While this model is currently not available, our Media & Tech Lab will be conducting new projector tests in April 2023. Stay tuned for our new picks!

How we chose the best budget projectors

The experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute's Media & Tech Lab evaluated each budget projector for key criteria such as ease of setup, ease of use and ease of streaming, as well as portability, size, image quality, sound quality, brightness, contrast and connectivity. We also considered key features such as battery life and whether projectors support auto keystone correction. We reviewed each projector's overall value and omitted any projectors over $500. Our Lab pros were able to test the majority of models on our list and we based any additional picks on our years of experience testing consumer electronics, previous categorical tests of home and outdoor projectors and similar models or brands that have performed well in the past.

What to look for when shopping for a budget projector

When shopping for a budget projector, it’s important to set expectations and understand that you won’t be able to achieve the same results as with a more expensive 4K projector or even most mid-range flat-screen TVs. However, there are important factors to keep an eye out for when selecting the best cheap projector for your home.

✔️ Portability: One of the key features to consider when it comes to cheap projectors is how portable they are. Do you want a projector that's small enough to throw in a backpack or one that's super lightweight so you can move it around from room to room or easily bring outdoors for a movie night? If opting for a portable projector, you should consider one with a rechargeable battery so you can use it without an outlet. A built-in projector stand is also a nice bonus to help adjust the angle of projection and eliminate the need for a tripod.

✔️ Brightness: A projector’s brightness is measured in lumens, which is important since there will likely always be some ambient light in the space you're in. While some brands list a projector’s brightness in lumens, others reference ANSI lumens. When possible, we recommend finding a budget projector with at least 1,500 lumens to ensure you'll get a clear picture, though our pros warn that you might have to make sacrifices for size and portability.

ANSI lumens are proportionally brighter than standard lumens. A key difference between lumens and ANSI lumens is ANSI lumens are based on a repeatable industry standard whereas others can use different approaches for how they measure and market lumens. We prefer when they are systematically measured and ANSI lumen measurements provide that standardized approach to compare brightness. Lumens in general help you determine the amount of light the projector can produce. Higher lumens means higher brightness, which is considered better for picture quality. You want at least 500 ANSI lumens.

✔️ Resolution: While 4K resolution is always preferred, our experts recommend full HD resolution (1920 x 1080) for budget projectors if you plan on streaming TV shows, movies or videos. If the resolution is lower, your screen's image won't be quite as sharp and defined though this may not be an issue if you're projecting office presentations or don't need as high of image quality.

✔️ Screen size: Our pros recommend looking for a max screen size that is at least 100" to ensure you can comfortably watch a movie. While some brands claim you can achieve an even larger screen size, keep in mind that the picture will decrease in quality.

✔️ Connectivity and ports: Check how many ports your cheap projector comes with and ensure that there's one for HDMI, which is one of the easiest ways to connect your laptop or a streaming stick like Roku. Some projectors may even be able to connect to Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to stream from your phone or directly access your favorite apps like Netflix, Hulu and more internally.

✔️ Audio: Most cheap projectors come with a built-in speaker, which is a nice feature to have when on-the-go. Nevertheless, keep in mind that you may need to connect another audio source for better sound quality, such as an outdoor speaker. If you want to be able to connect headphones to your projector, look for ones that offer an audio jack.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

Media and tech reviews analyst Olivia Lipski oversees product testing and covers everything from consumer electronics like smart home devices, audio equipment and more. To update the recommendations made by the Good Housekeeping Institute, she reviewed the latest budget projectors in her home and worked closely with Rachel Rothman, chief technologist and head engineer at the Good Housekeeping Institute, who led previous categorical tests of home and outdoor projectors.

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