Projectors are essential tools for every home theatre enthusiast. They allow us to project movies, TV shows, games, and other multimedia content onto a large screen. They come in various sizes and price ranges, from inexpensive models to high-end ones costing thousands of dollars.
With so many options available, choosing the perfect projector can be overwhelming. That’s why I put together this guide to help you choose the best projector under $700. But why $700? Because projector at this price offers a great mix of features and affordability. There are many brands that offer a good choice between DLP and LCD projectors.
From 4K to HD, I have got you covered with a range of best projectors under $700 that delivers an impeccable home theatre experience.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Choices: Editor’s Pick
Here are the top 3 choices for the best projector under $700:
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WEMAX DICE 700 – Best Portable
Designed aesthetically with a handle over the top, this is the best portable dorm room projector. It is compact and high portable.
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Epson Pro EX7280 – Best Bright
Getting a projector with 4000 lumens at this price is impressive. If you are looking for the best bright room projector, Epson Home Cinema Pro EX7280 is the best you can get for under $700.
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Optoma HD146X – Best Budgeted
If you are looking for a perfect balance of features and price under $600, Optoma HD146X is the right deal. It is a versatile projector for movies and gaming.
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XGIMI Elfin Mini Projector – Best Pico Projector
It is the best pico projector on our list with powerful in-built speakers and the ability to handle 4K content.
Best Projector Under $700: Buying Guide and Review
I have reviewed the 9 best projectors that give you the best value for your budget under $700. Let’s check out what they have in all to offer:
1. BenQ TH671ST Short Throw Projector
As houses have limited space, short-throw projectors are best as Home Cinema Theatre projectors. A noteworthy feature of the 1.2x zoom feature offers extra convenience for flexibility in placement. The high 3000 lumens rating and 1080p resolution make it an excellent choice for any home cinema projector. It delivers a superior contrast ratio and good color accuracy, essential for any home theatre projector.
The best part is this BenQ projector is ideal for gaming as well. It comes with a low input lag of 16.4ms. It can also fit as one of the best projectors for the dorm rooms. You get the robust audio quality with its 5-watt speaker sufficient for small to medium-sized rooms. Running this projector at full brightness gives you 4000 hours of lamp life, which is incredible. Overall, it is a portable projector that comes with easy handling.
2. ViewSonic PX701HD 1080p Projector
It is a versatile home projector suitable for office presentations as well. With a brightness level of 3500 lumens, a full HD projector offers you value for money. The low input lag of 16.4 ms makes it a good choice for gamers. The onboard 10-watt speaker provides sufficient audio to a medium-size room. Digital Image Shift and 1.1x Zoom are the two noticeable feature that makes this projector stand out.
Setting up this projector at a distance of 9.5 feet gives you a 90-inch projection which is magnificent for any small room. It comes with three modes as Gaming, Sports, and Standard. It comes with +/-40 degree vertical keystone control to square off the image. Weighing at 5.7 pounds, it is a lightweight and compact projector easily stored when not in use.
3. Epson Pro EX7280 Projector
If you are looking for a versatile projector that can be used as a home theatre and for your office meetings, Epson Pro EX7280 is one of the best LCD projectors on our list. It comes with a skew sensor to square off the images automatically. It comes with a 1.2x zoom and a horizontal slider to fine-tune the alignment. The 4000-lumen lamp makes it a bright projector on our list that can be used for outdoor movie watching and under ambient lighting conditions. If you are looking for a budgeted projector under $500, this projector is an excellent deal.
This LCD projector supports 3D content and accepts 4K video quality. It is a long throw projector capable of 100″ image projection from a distance of 9-11 feet. It comes with a range of connectivity options: HDMI, RCA, USB inputs, and HDMI. Loaded with built-in wireless connectivity, it is an ideal home and office projector that can present clear text and best image quality for your presentations.
4. Optoma HD146X High-Performance Projector
Another plug-and-play projector on our list is affordable and robust too. It is an excellent started home projector with 3600-lumen brightness and a 25000:1 contrast ratio. The impressive lamp life of 4000 hours can be extended further to 15000 hours on Eco mode. It is a full HD projector with 3D compatibility. The low input lag of 16ms makes it ideal for your gaming endeavours.
It is a mid-range projector with connectivity options such as USB Type-A, HDMI, and 3.5 mm Stereo Audio. The incredible autofocus feature avoids distraction from the screen. Dynamic Black Technology gives intense depth to images leading to a stunning contrast ratio. Compared to other models in this price range, it has a visually appealing design.
5. WEMAX DICE 700 ANSI Lumens Projector
One of the most miniature projectors weighing just 5 pounds can easily slip into suitcases and backpacks. The sturdy handle makes it highly portable. It comes with a battery backup of 2-3 hours that makes your movie and presentations run in one go. It keeps the images sharp with its auto-focus feature. You can quickly get the centered and squared picture with its 4-point keystone correction.
You get bright and accurate colours from its 4-channel LED colour spectrum. The integrated Android TV 9.0 gives you access to more than 5000 apps. It comes with advanced features like built-in streaming and Wi-Fi connectivity.
6. XGIMI Elfin Mini Projector
Another compact and lightweight DLP projector is on our list with the dimensions of 7.5 x 1.8 x 7.5 inches (WxHxD). Designed aesthetically, this projector is as light as 2.2 pounds. It comes with a DLP 1080p imaging chip that can handle 4K input easily. Do you know, it is counted among the best pico projectors? HGIMI Projector provide you most giant possible projection by resizing the images to avoid any interruption from switches or other accessories on the wall.
It comes with a small remote featuring all the adjustments. It is loaded with Harman Kardon tuned speakers to produce good audio quality. It gets all the video streams from your phone with its built-in Chromecast Wi-Fi support. It can suitably handle HDR10+ content. It comes with a ceiling mount and tripod mounting options to choose from—horizontal and vertical keystone correction up to 40-degrees present perfect rectangular images.
7. Nebula by Anker Mars II Portable Projector
A mini projector with a powerful sound system and higher native resolution. Weighing at 3.9 pounds, it is a considerably larger pico projector than others on the list. The impressive 30,000 hours of lamp life gives 500 ANSI lumens. The 12500 mAh rechargeable battery gives three hours of playback time.
Featuring the double Bluetooth speaker system, it comes with 10-watt speakers. You get most of the projector controls from its remote. The Nebula Connect app for Android and iOS regulate the projector using a mobile device.
8. Epson VS240 SVGA 3LCD Projector
If you are looking for an affordable projector that comes with plenty of connection options, Epson VS240 is your deal. It is a plug-n-play projector that comes with an easy setup. If you want to connect with laptops and media players. HDMI cable gives quick accessibility. With 3000 lumens, this bright projector can perfectly work during the daytime.
It is an SVGA resolution (800 x 600) projector appropriate to not text-intensive presentations. To use the features like E-zoom, it comes with a handy remote. There is a slider for horizontal keystone correction at the back of its focus wheel to square off images. Overall it is a compact and lightweight projector that you can carry anywhere you need.
It is an efficient projector under $500 that comes with 4:3 and projects a 55-inch image at a distance of 8 feet. Lamp life at 5000 hours in normal mode is praise-worthy.
9. BenQ HT2050A Home Theater Projector
Built around a single DLP chip, this projector comes with 2200 lumens brightness making it ideal for the darkroom setup. With a dimension of 4.8 by 15 by 10.9 inches (HxWxD), it is a compact projector suitable for small setups. But owing to its heavyweight, it comes with restricted portability. Features such as modest vertical lens shift, manual 1.3x zoom, and standard manual focus make it a worthy projector under $1000.
Ports such as HDMI, VGA, and three RCA phono plugs (composite video source) give ample choices to connect with various media sources. The projector can source excellent colour quality, shadow details, and skin tones. The 10-watt inbuilt speaker delivers superior audio quality than most projectors in competition.
Now that we have reviewed 9 best projectors under $700, its time to look into factors that one should consider before buying an efficient projector at this price-band
Essential Features for Projector Under $700: Buying Guide
Here are the important considerations one must take into account before investing in a projector under $700:
Resolution
Resolution is the number of pixels displayed per inch or pixel density. A higher resolution means more detail and better picture clarity. For example, if you buy a 1080p projector, you will get 1920×1080 pixels per inch. It means that every inch on the screen has 1920 pixels. There are many full HD resolution projectors available in this price band. However, you can settle for WXGA if you get higher lumen brightness making it perfect for ambient light conditions.
Brightness
Brightness refers to how much light is emitted from the projector. Most projectors fall between 1000 – 4000 lumens. Higher the lumen output, the brighter the display. With reasonable resolution, you can quickly get projectors up to 3000 lumens at this price band. We have reviewed Epson Pro EX7280 Projector with excellent lumen brightness at 4000.
Colour Gamut
Colour gamut refers to the range of colours that your projector can reproduce. If you are looking for a projector that can produce vivid colours, go for a wide colour gamut. A wide colour gamut allows the projector to accurately reproduce all shades of colours. In the case of a limited colour gamut, some colours may appear washed out or dull. If you are unsure about the colour gamut, ask the seller to provide you with a sample of the projector’s content.
HDMI Input
HDMI inputs allow you to connect your device directly to the projector using HDMI cables. It also helps reduce cable clutter. Some projectors have built-in HDMI ports, while others require external HDMI cables. So, check whether the projector supports HDMI connectivity or not. If yes, you can use any HDMI-compatible devices like smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc.
Speaker
Speakers play a significant role in delivering high-quality sound. They are responsible for providing clear audio signals to your ears. Check whether the projector includes speakers or not. If yes, then make sure they deliver good quality sound. Also, check whether the included speakers are powerful enough to fill a room. If not, then you need to invest in separate speakers. In such a case, look up wireless or Bluetooth connectivity in your projector for easy connection between speaker and projector.
Remote Control
The remote control allows you to operate the projector without touching the device itself. It is very convenient, especially when switching off the projector after watching movies. Many projectors come with remote controls, but you should always check whether it is an IR (infrared) remote or not. The latter is preferred as it works even in dark rooms.
Power Supply
Power supply plays a crucial role in operating a projector. Make sure that the power adapter provided by the projector is sufficient to run the projector continuously for long hours. Also, check whether there is a power indicator LED on the projector. If yes, then it indicates that the projector is powered on.
Lens Type
Lens type refers to the shape of the lens used in the projector. Different lenses offer other qualities, such as a convex lens.
Conclusion
Projector for a budget under $700 is a sweet spot that offers the right mix of affordability and features. With many projectors doing rounds in the market, we have shortlisted the best projectors that provide you value for money. Each projector comes with a USP that makes it different from others. Depending on your budget and preference, you can choose the appropriate projector to enjoy an impeccable movie-watching experience.
If you are looking for a mix of features and affordability for your home theatre projector, projector under $700 are the best deals worth exploring.
I am Charlie and founder of Projectorpick.com. I always find a huge gap on the internet between the audience and the relevant information for Home Theatre available on the internet. I saw many forums where people were bombarding several questions regarding Home Theater and ending up disappointed with no relevant answers. Keeping this in virtue, I decided to start this blog to address all such unattended questions.
