Top 5 Best Projectors Under $150 in 2023 (Reviews & Buying Guide)

With so many projectors on the market, finding one that’s right for you is not an easy task, especially on a budget of $150. It may take ages to find an option you’re comfortable with. Luckily, you don’t have to.

I spent hours scouring the internet in order to shortlist the five best projectors under $150 for every use. Read on as we review each one and discuss the factors you should consider before buying a projector under $150.

The Best Projectors Under $150: My Top Picks

Here are the top five best projectors under $150:

Mudix Movie Projector – Best Overall

If you’re looking for an all-round projector under $150, then the Mudix movie projector is your best bet. It has so many features that it’s hard to believe the price.

First off, it has a native resolution of 1080p but can support content of up to 4K. What would happen though is that the resolution would be downscaled to 1080p. Add a brightness of 500 ANSI lumens or 12,500 lux into the mix and you’re assured of excellent image quality.

Second off, it’s small in size measuring 9.8 by 6.7 by 6.7 inches and is extremely light weighing just 10.4 ounces. This makes super portable and easy to move from one room to the other or the backyard.

Third off, the Mudix movie projector offers a variety of connectivity options namely 5G & 2.4G WI-FI for screen mirroring, USB, HDMI and VGA.

I was also impressed with the advanced cooling system it comes with. That is important because it ensures the fans aren’t loud enough to interrupt your movie, gaming or presentation sessions.

The Mudix projector also has a decent 5W HIFI speaker that is loud enough for a small audience.

Pros

• HD Resolution; supports 4K
• Low fan noise
• Super portable
• Several connectivity options
• Long lamp life (50,000 hours)

Cons

• No keystone correction for image alignment
• Not a good option for well-lit places

Poyank WI-FI Projector – Runner Up

Looking for a mini projector you can mount on your ceiling or tripod and project anything you like? Then the Poyank WI-FI projector is worth a look.

The first thing that stands out about this projector is the connectivity options it offers. It has the typical ports you’d expect namely HDMI, VGA, USB and audio mini jack. It also supports WI-FI connections as the name suggests. That means that screen mirroring your smartphone or tablet is possible.

Plus, the image quality is impressive. It has a native resolution of 1280 by 720p but can support content with a maximum resolution of 1920 by 1080p or HD. The contrast ratio is a decent 5000:1 and the lamp brightness is 300 ANSI lumens or 7,500 light source lumens. That is to say that it’s good enough for dark rooms but might struggle to maintain image quality in lit environments.

What I also like is that it’s relatively quiet when in use. And that is thanks to the built-in upgraded noise reduction technology that prevents the fan noise from drowning out sound from the internal HIFI stereo speakers.

Being a lightweight mini projector, you shouldn’t have any difficulty setting it up.

Now the best part about the Poyank projector is it costs just under $60 at the time of writing this piece.

Pros

• 720p resolution; supports 1080p
• Supports wireless connectivity
• Large screen size (up to 200 inches)
• Built-in speakers that produce solid sound
• Not pricey

Cons

• No Bluetooth

TMY V08 Projector – Best Value for Money

Sure, you can save money by projecting your content onto a painted wall or other surface. But once you watch the same content on good quality projector screen, you’ll never go back. That’s my favorite thing about the TMY V08 projector – you get a 100-inch screen as a bonus when you buy the projector. How awesome is that?

What’s more, the screen is wrinkle-free and can easily be mounted with the double-sided tape that comes in the package.

As far as the projector goes, it has a native resolution of 720p but also support 1080p content. It’s worth noting here that any 1080p content will be downconverted to 720p. The contrast ratio is also good enough with a value of 5000:1.

You can use it in low light places comfortably but there’ll be washout in well-lit rooms. And that is due to its brightness value being a mere 300 ANSI lumens or 7,500 light source lumens.

Setup-wise, you can mount this projector on a ceiling or tripod because it’s light, small in size, and comes with a remote for convenience. And if you need to align the projected images, there’s a keystone correction feature that will come in handy.

When it comes to connectivity, you get HDMI, VGA and USB ports but no Bluetooth or WI-FI, which is a bummer. However, you can screen mirror your smartphone or tablet via HDMI connection.

Something else I like about the TMY projector is the dual stereo speakers that some reviewers swear by and the low fan noise.

Pros

• Quiet
• Comes with a 100-inch screen
• 720p resolution; supports 1080p
• Portable
• Long lamp lifespan (60,000 hours)

Cons

• No wireless connectivity
• Remote is crappy

Mooka WI-FI Projector – Best for Outdoor Use

The one feature that sets the Mooka projector apart from other contenders on my list is its high lamp brightness with a value of 8000 light source lumens or 320 ANSI lumens. Generally speaking, it isn’t as high as you would need for daytime use or well-lit environments. But it’s sufficient for outdoor movie nights.

The pictures you’ll get will have a resolution of 720p, a contrast ratio of 5000:1 and can be as large as 200 inches diagonally. Now if you have content that’s 1080p, you can still watch it but it will be downconverted to 720p.

Installing the Mooka projector should be a piece of cake, thanks to its low weight, small size and image alignment features like focus, zoom and keystone correction.

This projector allows you to connect content sources wirelessly via WI-FI or through wired connections. You’ll get HDMI, USB and audio mini jack ports built into it.

The dual internal speakers are also of good quality and will produce loud enough sound for a small audience. If that’s not enough, you can always hook up external speakers, soundbars or headphones.

Pros

• Comes with a carrying case
• 720p; supports 1080p
• Easy to install
• Supports WI-FI connectivity
• Bright enough for outdoor use
• Long lamp lifespan (50,000 hours)

Cons

• Not a good option for presentations

Auking 2023 Upgraded Mini Projector:  Also Great

There’s no particular feature that distinguishes the Auking mini projector from all others on my list. But it has a good number of desirable features that make it worth a mention.

To begin with, it has a brightness of 7,500 light source lumens or 300 ANSI lumens, which is good enough for low-light rooms. The resolution is also decent at 720p but also supports 1080p content. You’ll get a screen size of up to 170 inches.

Better still, this projector has several ports for connectivity namely USB, Micro USB, VGA, HDMI and audio mini jack.

What I also like is that it comes with dual onboard speakers that produce room filling sound and aren’t interrupted by fan noise, thanks to advanced noise reduction technology.

Something else I like is the adjustable foot pad that will come in handy when installing the projector. There’s also a focus wheel for image alignment. What’s more, you’ll get a remote in the package for convenience if you decide to set up the projector in a place that’s hard to access.

Pros

• 720p resolution; supports 1080p
• Low fan noise
• Simple to install
• Many connectivity options
• 2-year warranty
• Long lamp lifespan (55,000 hours)

Cons

• Not a good option for presentations

What to consider before purchasing a projector under $150

Here are the factors you have to consider when deciding which projector to buy on a budget of $150:

Connectivity

While this may seem obvious, it’s something that many buyers overlook. Depending on how you wish to project your content, certain ports may or may not be necessary. Some projectors only support wired connectivity while others happen to support both wired and wireless as proven in this article.

Brightness

Whether it’s watching movies or making presentations, brightness is a vital factor. It determines the picture quality you’ll get in areas with varying light levels. At least 100 ANSI lumens is recommended for indoor use with blinds closed or when it’s dark. 300+ ANSI limens is recommended for outdoor use at night or when there’s low light.

Image Quality

You’ll get resolutions varying from 480p to 4K on the market. I’d recommend getting as high of a resolution as possible on a budget of $150. Be sure to confirm that it’s the native resolution and not the maximum resolution it supports.

Portability and Added Bonuses

Most projectors under $150 are lightweight and portable but factor’s still worth a mention. You want a projector you can move from room to room, to the backyard, camping site or office without needing an extra hand.

Some projectors like the TMY projector come with a screen as an added bonus while others like the Mooka projector come with a carrying case. Be sure to look out for such bonuses.