5 Best Projectors Under $200 in 2018!

Are you looking for a projector, but at the same time, not willing to spend a fortune on it? You’ve come to the right blog post. First off, you need to know a fun fact about projectors – they come in absolutely every price point. Therefore, opting for a cheaper option on the market doesn’t necessarily mean settling for less. In case you’re in a rush, we determined that the Meyoung TC80 LED Mini Projector is the best option. However, in case you’re looking for something specific, we broke down several options under $200.

Projectors are easy to install, and the image size is far better for your eyes when compared to your regular TV set. In addition, the size and resolution are adjustable, so almost everything can be set up to your liking. They are compact, portable and a key to gathering the family and friends in your own little Hollywood. Being able to do all that with spending only $200 sounds pretty awesome, doesn’t it?

Top 5 Projectors Under $200

The Meyoung TC80 Mini Projector Home Theater is our first choice for so many reasons. Firstly, the color spectrum it provides is unbelievably rich. It has a brightness level of 1200 lumens, and its native resolution is 800 x 480 pixels. Additionally, it has shown to be extremely powerful and convenient even in open space conditions. Hence, you can freely look forward to spending the summer nights watching movies with your family and friends outdoors.

The Meyoung projector supports HDMI, but you have to purchase an HDMI adapter separately. You can easily hook it up to your smartphone, laptop, PC, Blu Ray, or gaming console.

When it comes to the sound system of this projector, the original speaker comes with a built-in amplifier. So, there goes one more thing you won’t need to buy.

Pros and cons

• Extremely Affordable
• Remarkable image quality
• Perfect for Indoor and Outdoor
• Easy to setup
• Portable and Lightweight

• Runs a bit hot
• A bit loud

The Vankyo Leisure 3 Portable Projector is our second favorite projector under $200. Firstly, this projector is designed with an innovative cooling system with heat dispersion, so you won’t have to worry about the device running hot. Also, there is a noise suppression technology, so the fan sound won’t be bothering you at all! When it comes to the sound system, the Vankyo projector comes with two built-in speakers that will ensure you have an amazing viewing experience.

Unlike other projectors in the same price range, the Vankyo projector will deliver a much brighter and more colorful image. When it comes to connectivity, the Leisure 3 projector enables you to connect TV sticks, laptops, DVDs, Consoles, and TV box via an HDMI hookup. In addition to the HDMI input, there are other inputs such as VGA and AV. In case you’re planning to hook up the projector to your iPad, iPhone and/or Android device, you will need to purchase adapters.

A nice addition to the whole deal is a customized bag, which is going to be very useful to those who need to use the projector on the go. The dimensions and the size of the projector will undoubtedly make this easy, as the projector weighs slightly more than 2lbs.

Pros and cons

• Doesn’t heat-up
• Fan noise is minimal
• Compact, light, and portable
• Variety of inputs
• Carrying Bag

• Not suitable for well-lit spaces

In order to have the ultimate cinematic experience in the comfort of your home, you can opt for the third projector on our list – the GooDee Home Theater Projector. The video quality this projector provides is very accurate and extremely vivid. It’s going to be ideal for projecting movies and video games, as well as holding presentations and showing graphics to your colleagues. One more innovation that this projector carries is the LED-light source that this projector uses, along with the LCD technology, which will reduce the use of energy and ensure longer bulb life, too.

As far as connectivity is concerned, the GooDee projector supports HDMI, VGA, USB and Micro SD inputs. Thanks to the dual HDMI and USB ports, this projector is even easier to use than other projectors in the same price range. This projector won’t cause you heat-related troubles, as it is equipped with a powerful cooling system that will provide high-quality heat dispersion. Also, the GooDee has an improved fan system, so you won’t have to worry about the fan being noisy.

Sound-wise, this projector will grant you a powerful, crystal clear sound due to having 2 powerful built-in 3W speakers. These speakers will produce much richer bass than the soft speakers on other small projectors. Hence, you won’t need to spend money on external speakers, as the native ones are more than satisfactory.

Pros and cons

• Competitive image quality
• Remarkable sound quality
• Great value for the money
• A variety of inputs

• A bit heavier than the other options

The fourth projector on our list is the DBPOWER GP15 projector. This one deserves a place on our list for many reasons. Firstly, the GP15 projector is equipped with upgraded LCD and +50% lumens to deliver premium picture and richer color for a delightful cinematic viewing experience.

The bulb life of the DBPOWER projector is estimated to last up to 50,000 hours. So, it will take a while before you start thinking of a replacement. This projector is compatible with standard television boxes, Amazon Fire TV Stick (which is not included), a Chromebook, PCs, Laptops, Tablets, Blu Ray, DVD player, SD Card, USB Flash Drive, Media players (Music, Pictures, Video, TXT), iPad, iPhone and Android smartphones.

As a noteworthy advancement, the GP15 projector is equipped with an improved cooling system, which reduces fan noise significantly. Therefore, you won’t have to worry about the loud noise coming from the projector while watching videos.

As its name says, this DBPOWER Mini Projector is extremely portable due to being lightweight and compact. It weighs only 1.7lbs, so you can carry it in your briefcase or backpack and have your own theater at any place, anytime.

Pros and cons

• Extremely portable
• Short-throw
• Long lasting bulb life
• Clear and vivid images in the dark

• Must purchase a wireless dongle to connect to your phone

We arrived at the very end of our list! The number five, according to our experience, is the APEMAN Mini Portable Video Projector, which undoubtedly deserves its place on the list of best projectors under $200.

The APEMAN’s projector is really cheap, but that doesn’t mean that it will leave you disappointed – it’s quite the opposite! With this projector, you will get a superior imaging experience thanks to the upgraded 2200 lumens brightness level. Also, when it comes to connectivity options, you won’t be limited. This projector can be connected to smartphones, iPhones, iPads, laptops and other devices via an HDMI port. The USB input port and SD card can read video, audio and image formats, too. Also, the Apeman Mini projector supports wireless connection via Amazon Fire Stick and Chromecast.

This is another projector that falls within the mini category thanks to its sheer size. Given the fact that it weighs only around 2lbs, it will be perfect for projections on the go. You can carry it around and have your own theater while camping, traveling or having a presentation at work.

Pros and cons

• Cheapest on this list
• Compact and lightweight
• Long lasting bulb life
• Many connectivity options

• Runs a bit hot
• Average image quality and sound

What to Look for in a Projector

We’ve arrived at the very end of our list of best projectors under $200. There are five of them for you to choose from and get the perfect one to match your budget and needs. In case you’re still struggling to make a decision, here are some basic guidelines for you to follow.

Brightness/Lumens

Firstly, you need to consider the brightness level of the projectors. You should take into account both the white brightness and color brightness level. Pay attention to the fact that the brighter your room is, the higher the lumen rating of the projector should be. If you plan on playing videos in a well-lit space, you should definitely consider the brightness level.

Resolution

Secondly, don’t ever neglect the resolution! Keep in mind that the lower the resolution, the more pixelated your projections will be.

Inputs

Also, another feature you should consider is the projector’s connectivity. USB, VGA, and HDMI are options that you should always keep in mind. The projectors we listed above cover all of them.

Lastly, always think about what you plan to use your projector for. If you plan on using it for the purpose of your work, then the size is something you need to take into consideration. You certainly don’t want to carry around a 10-pound projector going to work every day, do you? And, don’t forget the throwing distance. In a tiny space, you’ll be able to enjoy the projections only with a short-throw projector.

Conclusion

There are a number of reasons why you should purchase a projector. We covered the majority of them, and if you decide to buy one from the list, you can be rest assured that it’s a solid choice.

Again, you can’t go wrong with the Meyoung TC80 LED Mini Projector. It is far better than other projectors that fall within the same price point, so we can safely say that you’ll get great value for your money.

Hopefully, after reading this article, you can find an option that will amplify your movie-watching or game-playing experience. You can create your own little Hollywood in the comfort of your home for less than $200!

References

• Header image from https://www.computerworld.com/
• https://www.voicepath.co.uk/

Amy Williams

Writer for Homefaith.com