No matter how big the screen may be, it’s not going to be as big as a projection screen. That’s why the movie theaters use them, after all. Digital projectors are constantly improving, with 4K resolution, blur-free motion and HDR-quality color and contrast. Short throw projectors only need a few feet to give you a huge image. We’re seeing massive price cuts on some of our favorite digital projectors that are ideal for movies, TV, sports and more.
Best Projector Deals Right Now
If you haven’t sat down with a digital projector recently, don’t worry — at PC Labs we’ve been testing projectors for years, developing a robust and well-balanced list of benchmarks to compare them to each other. Whether you’re interested in a high-end model with vivid colors and sharp contrast that’s fast enough for console and PC gaming, or something more affordable and portable with slightly diminished specs, major brands have top-quality projectors available at deep discounts. Here are the best projector deals that we have for April.
The Best Portable Projector Deals
We gave an “Excellent” rating to the BenQ GP100A projector in our review, with contributing editor M. David Stone proclaiming that the unit is a strong contender for users who mostly watch streaming media, as it tops out at 1080p resolution so won’t do justice to your 4K Blu-Rays. That said, it’s bright, lightweight, and easy to set up. It also has some interesting features that add value, including a USB-C port that lets you hook up a power bank or easily mirror a mobile device, along with an Android TV streaming dongle. Right now NewEgg has a $100 discount.
This is a single-chip LCD projector that has an attractive footprint and some fun features, and right now Amazon has it on sale for a hundred bucks off retail. In our review of the Yaber T2, we noted that the LCD system eliminates the rainbow artifacts that you see in other types of projectors, and the built-in battery gives you up to two and a half hours of video playback on a single charge. With a maximum image size of 120 inches on the diagonal, this is a versatile choice for indoor and outdoor use. Connection options include Wi-Fi, Ethernet, HDMI, and USB. Click the $100 coupon for the best deal.
Amazon has a 20% price cut on this very versatile portable projector, which is barely larger than a soda can and weighs under two pounds. In our review, we praised its four-channel light source rated for 30,000 hours. Even though it only outputs 1080p resolution, it’ll happily accept HDMI input up to 4K, and comes pre-loaded with the Google TV smart platform for access to streaming services. The battery is copious enough to get you through a regular-length movie on a single charge, and the internal 8-watt speaker is loud enough for most rooms.
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The “Flex” part of the name refers to Epson’s suggestion that this affordable projector can be used for home, office or classroom use, with sharp enough resolution for watching TV shows and enough peak brightness for presentations and meetings. In our review, we had a lot of good things to say about the unit, including its triple LCD chips allowing for artifact-free color, simple two-step setup and a surprisingly loud speaker. It does lack optical zoom and some other higher-end features, but with a $50 discount at Target it’s still a good value.
Portable projectors let you take movie night on the go, and the Miroir L710S strikes a fine balance between price and functionality. Weighing in at just four pounds, it’s easy to transport and set up, features native 1080p resolution at a maximum clear image size of 100 inches with automatic focus. The two built-in 5-watt speakers aren’t cinema-quality, but are powerful enough to get the job done. The built-in Synq TV app lets you link up to your streaming services without additional setup, and you can also stream content through HDMI and USB inputs. Right now Amazon has this one on sale for 50% off retail.
Recommended by Our Editors
The Best Non-Portable Projector Deals
LG makes consistently reliable home electronics, especially displays, and it’s not surprising that their projectors are good too. We haven’t had our hands on the CineBeam UHD HU70LAB yet, but the specs are quite impressive, with 4K resolution, a maximum screen size of 140 inches, and a LED light engine that’s rated to last up to 30,000 hours. Image creation is courtesy a 0.47-inch 4K DLP XPR chip that uses fast switching between four colors for thirteen different color presets encompassing both HDR and SDR. It’s a great home theater pick, especially when Amazon has a 36% discount off retail.
We had a lot of good things to say in our review of the Xgimi Horizon projector, noting that it was a great choice for a family room thanks to its long-lasting LED light source rated for 25,000 hours, along with integrated Android TV that makes it a one-touch machine for accessing your streaming services, along with a pair of HDMI ports for external input. It’s a breeze to set up, although you may have to tweak the image a bit manually to get it to look its best. Amazon has it on sale for a whopping 40% off through the end of the month.
More Projector Deals
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
What Are the Different Types of Projectors?
Digital projectors create images using three primary types of technology. The most basic, DLP (Digital Light Processing), has an array of minute mirrors inside the lens to transform white light into other colors. 3LCD projectors use a trio of LCD screens, one for each primary subtractive color. LCoS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) uses an active-matrix display on a silicon backplate for the most accurate colors, although it is significantly more expensive.
What Should I Look for in a Projector?
The two most important metrics for a projector are brightness and resolution. Brightness is measured in lumens, with a larger number being better. However, projectors typically have two distinct brightness numbers, one for white light and one for color. Images may appear dull if the color rating is lower than the pure white rating. Resolution determines the number of pixels the projector uses to create the image. 1080p high definition is the most common. For best results, match your projector resolution to the image source.
How Do We Test Projectors?
The short answer? Thoroughly. When we test projectors, be they data projectors, home entertainment projectors, or home theater projectors, we give the units a 30-minute warm-up time while running through preliminary setup steps before performing extensive picture quality tests. And that’s just the start! Dive into any of our reviews to see how deep we go.
Do I Need a Screen for My Projector?
In general, although you can cast an image from a projector on any wall or surface, it’s not going to look as good as if you use a non-reflective white screen designed for that purpose. There are many different types of screens on the market, some for permanent installs, and even some that are inflatable for easy setup and storage. While they’re not strictly required, they definitely make your viewing experience better. Here’s our handy guide for how to choose the right screen for your projector.
What Is the Best and Cheapest Projector?
We’ve put together a robust rundown of the best projectors on the consumer market, covering a wide range of uses, from large units to anchor a home theater to portable models for movies on the go. That frequently updated rundown lists our current top pick, but there’s no single best and cheapest projector for everyone. You should look for one that is fast enough for casual gaming, is bright enough for movies, and has decent built-in speakers if you won’t attach it to an external sound system.
Why Are Mini Projectors So Cheap?
Like many other tech devices, projectors keep on shrinking. In our rundown of the best portable projectors, we examine why these mini-projectors are often so cheap. The most typical compromise made in a small projector is bulb brightness.
Pico-size models, which fit in a pocket, usually cap out at around 100 ANSI lumens of brightness, which can get washed out in ambient light. Image resolution is also often lower than you’d get in a more expensive model. 720p is more common among mini projectors. That said, they’re more than enough for most casual uses.
Are Home Theater Projectors Discounted Frequently?
A good home theater projector can cost thousands of dollars, even when it’s on sale. So, although you’ll be pleased to know that these extremely capable projectors are frequently discounted—often by higher percentages than cheap portable models—you’ll still have to earmark a significant portion of your tech budget to buy one.
What Are the Best Sales on Projectors This Year?
Most mainstream and high-end projectors are frequently discounted from their MSRPs, so you shouldn’t expect to pay more than 95% of the list price. However, with tariffs frequently in the news, it’s possible that we could see fewer and smaller discounts this year.
Are Projectors on Sale During Amazon Prime Day or Black Friday?
Yes. During these showstopper sales events, we’ve seen some excellent projectors from Xgimi, Epson, LG, and many other brands sell for their lowest prices ever.
About K. Thor Jensen
Contributing Writer
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About Tom Brant
Deputy Managing Editor
