5 Best 4K Projectors Under $500 in 2023

Besides 8K, 4K projectors offer the best in terms of picture quality. You won’t have to struggle to make out the characters in a movie or video game. The problem though is that they are expensive and the price alone will put off many buyers. 

The good news is that there are some good options if you’re on a budget of $500. But don’t expect them to be as good as those that cost upwards of $1000. 

I spent several hours poring over Amazon reviews to find the five best 4K projectors under $500, which I’ll be sharing with you in this article. I’ll tell you the good and bad about each one and provide an informative buying guide to help you make the best decision. 

And if you’re in a hurry, I found the best overall to be the Fangor 340 ANSI projector due to its many amazing features.

The Best 4K Projectors Under $500: My Top Picks

Following is a list of the 5 best 4K projectors under $500 along with their features, pros, and cons. 

Fangor 340 ANSI Projector: Best Overall

The Fangor 340 ANSI projector is the best overall because it has so many impressive features coupled with a great customer experience. 

It’s very portable as it weighs only 4.41 pounds and comes with a carrying case so you can easily carry it around as you visit a friend or even go camping.    

Besides the normal inputs which include HDMI, AV, and SD, this projector supports WIFI and Bluetooth connections. So, you can easily mirror your smartphone or pair it with a Bluetooth speaker if you don’t like the sound quality of the inbuilt speakers. 

The Fangor 340 ANSI projector has a brightness of 340 ANSI as you can tell from the model’s name, which is not great for daytime viewing or well-lit places. But the contrast ratio doesn’t disappoint coming in at 10,000:1. For the best experience, you’re better off using it for movie nights or in rooms where the blinds are closed. 

This projector can produce an image with a maximum size of 300 inches and provides the option to shrink it up to 50% with the distance remaining the same. 

In addition to the user manual and cables, you’ll get a cleaning cloth and remote when you purchase the Fangor 340 ANSI projector. 

Verdict: The Fangor 340 ANSI projector is in my opinion the best 4K projector you can get on a budget of $500. The only caveat is that you have to use it in low-light places for the best experience. 

Artlii YG620 Pro Projector: Runner Up

The second best 4k projector on my list is the Artlii YG620 Pro projector. The features it comes with differ slightly from the Fangor 340 ANSI projector. 

It has a weight of 5.73 pounds, which makes it a bit heavier than the Fangor projector but light enough to be portable. I can’t exactly tell whether you get a carrying case, but in case you don’t, you can always put it in your everyday backpack as you travel.

On top of the default inputs like HDMI, VGA, USB, AV, and SD, it’s equipped with WIFI and Bluetooth. So, you can effortlessly mirror your smartphone or tablet and boost the sound quality with an external speaker, soundbar, or headphones in case you dislike the sound coming out of the inbuilt speakers. 

This projector has a low brightness of 340 ANSI lumens, which limits you to low light conditions with an incredible 10,000:1 contrast ratio. And you can project up to a maximum screen size of 250 inches from a distance ranging from 5 to 27 feet. 

Verdict: The Artlii YG620 Pro Projector is one of the best 4K projectors you get for under $500. If you’re looking for a movie night projector for your living room, bedroom, or home theater, this is the one you should get. 

Tkisko TO1 Projector: Also Great

The Tkisko TO1 projector has a slightly higher brightness compared to the Fangor and Artlii projectors coming in at 400 lumens. So, you can comfortably use it in environments with more light and get sharp images. 

This projector has a great contrast ratio of 12000:1, which means that you will get images with darker blacks and whiter whites translating into detailed images. 

It’s easy to tag it along as you travel to different places as it weighs only 4.20 pounds. Something to note here is you’ll have to purchase a carrying case separately if you need it. 

In terms of connectivity, the Tkisko projector has several inputs such as HDMI, USB 2.0, and Audio and also supports Bluetooth and WIFI. So, you can use wired and wireless connections for your smart devices. And as it also has an inbuilt speaker, you may not need an external one for an immersive experience. 

The TO1 projector allows you to project up to a screen size of 300 inches, so you can easily recreate a theater experience at home. And better yet, you can shrink images up to 50% with the same distance. 

Verdict: If you want a projector to use indoors and outdoors for movie nights or video games, then then you should get the Tkisko TO1 projector. It has a good brightness level that will produce bright and sharp images even when there’s a bit of light. 

WiMiUS Newest W1 Projector: Also Great

Another great 4K projector you can get on a budget of below $500 is the WiMiUS Newest W1 projector. It comes with a backpack for portability and weighs only 6.27 pounds. It’s a bit heavier than the other options on my list but it’s light enough that even a 5-year-old can carry. 

You can connect your smartphone, iPad, and laptop via the multiple inputs this projector comes with including HDMI, AV, and USB. In addition, you can mirror your smartphone or tablet wirelessly and make the sound quality better by pairing it with an external Bluetooth speaker, soundbar, or headphones if you’re unhappy with the sound from the onboard speakers.

The WiMiUS Newest W1 projector has a high contrast ratio of 10000:1 which is great for detailed images and a brightness of 370 ANSI lumens. You will get good quality images but only if you use it in areas with low light. 

You can project to a screen size of up to 300 inches and shrink the image by up to 50% from the same distance. This makes it easy to transform your living room or home theater movie nights into memorable experiences.

Verdict: If you’re looking for a 4K projector to use for outdoor movie nights, then this is the one you should get. It has so many great features that you’re unlikely to find in other projectors at this price point. 

Sovboi VB2 Projector: Also Great

The last projector on my list is the Sovboi VB2 projector. It has a brightness of 400 ANSI lumens and a contrast ratio of 12000:1, which is a great combo for sharp and detailed images. And it weighs only 3 pounds, plus comes with a carrying bag, so you can comfortably travel with it.

This projector has HDMI, Audio, AV, and USB inputs, so you can connect your favorite smart devices and enjoy any content you like on a big screen. In addition, you can mirror your smartphone wirelessly and get even better sound by pairing it with your Bluetooth headphone, speaker, or soundbar. 

The Sovboi VB2 allows you to project up to a maximum screen size of 400 inches and zoom up to 50% from the same distance.   

Verdict: The Sovboi VB2 projector is a great choice for your home theater or living room. It has fantastic features that will help you relax at night after a long day at work.  

Choosing the Best 4K Projectors Under $500: Buying Guide

There are a few key factors you should consider when deciding on the best 4K projector to get for under $500. In this section, we’ll go over them.

Portability

Heavy 4k projectors can be a headache when you want to travel with them. It’s why you should look for those that weigh less and won’t be a burden to tag along in your travels. Some will even come with a carrying case so you won’t have to purchase one separately. 

Connectivity

I’m sure you have a couple of devices in mind that you wish to connect to a 4k projector when you get one. And they will require certain input ports like HDMI, USB, or Audio. You want to select a projector with as many connectivity options as you can get. 

Brightness

How bright a 4k projector is, is a determinant of whether it can be used in dark rooms or well-lit surroundings. The higher the lumen count, the better it will be for daylight viewing or well-lit environments and the other way around.

 Contrast ratio

The contrast ratio of a 4k projector will tell you how detailed the projected images will be. Higher contrast ratios indicate that you will get images with brighter whites and darker blacks, which essentially translates to better image quality. 

Speakers

When it comes to movies and video games, the sound is as important as images. You want to look for a 4k projector with inbuilt speakers that have great sound quality. That way you won’t have to invest in an external one. 

Conclusion

The best quality 4k projectors cost a lot of money but you can still get good options on a budget of $500 as we’ve seen in this article. You, however, must compromise on brightness and some other features. We’ve reviewed the top five best 4k projectors under $500 and discussed what to look for when you go shopping. And to recap, the best overall is the Fangor 340 ANSI projector.