5 Best Short Throw Projectors Under $300 in 2023

Are you looking for the best short-throw projectors under $300? You’ve come to the right place. 

I know finding good options at that price point can be a daunting task. Because I spent hours poring over Amazon reviews to find the top ones to recommend (Spoiler: I even spotted 4k options).  

And in this article, we’ll review five of the best short throw projectors you can get on a budget of $300. I’ll tell you the good and bad of each one and provide a detailed buying guide to help you make an informed best decision. 

I determined the best overall option to be the Fatork mini projector because it displays images in HD resolution, has multiple inputs, is portable, and has built-in speakers. 

The Best Short Throw Projectors Under $300: My Top Picks

Here’s a list of the best short throw projectors you can get for under $300: 

Fatork Mini Projector: Best Overall

Screen Size: 10 to 114 inches

Projection Distance: 1.64 to 9.85 feet

The Fatork mini projector is the best overall short throw projector under $300 for a reason: It ticks almost all boxes of the features you’d need in a projector. 

With a weight of only 0.86 pounds, you won’t need a backpack to carry it when you visit a friend’s house or go to the great outdoors. In addition, it’s the size of a soda can, so you can slip it into your pocket if you need to.

When it comes to connectivity, it has WIFI, USB, HDMI, and a 2.5mm audio input. What this means is that you can easily connect it to your iPhone, Android, DVD player, TV box, Amazon firestick, game console, iPad, and other devices. 

This projector utilizes a DLP display, so you don’t have to worry about visible pixels. It also comes with a 1080P resolution which is quite rare at this price point but you’d have to use it in a dark environment to get the best out of it because its brightness is a decent 150 ANSI lumens. 

It has an inbuilt speaker with good sound quality, so you won’t need an external one. Plus, it isn’t as noisy as other projectors. And if you’re worried about it heating up when in use, the manufacturer has taken care of it. 

The Fatork mini projector also has an inbuilt rechargeable battery that lasts up to 2.5 hours when you’re watching movies or playing video games and up to 6 hours if you only use it to listen to your favorite music. 

When you order this projector, it will come with a tripod for mounting, remote control, dc adapter, HDMI cable, and user manual. As long as you follow the setup instructions, you’ll be done with it before you know it.

Finally, Fatork has fantastic customer service that will help resolve any issues you may face with your newly bought projector up to 12 months after purchase. 

Verdict: The Fatork mini projector is hands down the best short throw projector you can get on a budget of $300. You won’t find any other with as many features at that price point. 

Akiyo Mini Projector: Runner Up

Screen Size: 30 to 120 inches

Projection Distance: 3.28 to 13.12 feet

Coming second on my list is the Akiyo mini projector. In terms of features, it follows the Fatork mini projector very closely. 

It weighs as little as 0.62 pounds and is small enough to fit in a standard-sized palm. You can even put it in your pocket as you visit a friend’s house or go for a walk or hike.  

This projector utilizes DLP technology so you can be certain that the pixels will be invisible. Although its 1080P resolution is impressive, the brightness is only 120 ANSI lumens which isn’t ideal for daytime viewing. 

It has four input options namely HDMI, USB, USB Type C and 3.5mm audio. So, you can connect several devices to it including iPads, smartphones, laptops, Chromecast, and firestick. 

The projector comes with inbuilt speakers and a rechargeable battery. So, you can be sure of an immersive experience as you watch movies, play video games or listen to your favorite music. Its battery can last up to 2 hours when fully charged. And get this, you can charge it with a power bank. How cool is that?

It comes with a tripod so you can set it up on even surfaces and project any content you like. 

Verdict: If you’re looking for a beautiful portable projector to use in dark environments, you should get this projector. It delivers in terms of image and sound quality.  

Gobran Mini Projector: Also Great

Screen Size: 50 to 300 inches

Projection Distance: 4 to 20 feet

The Gobran mini projector mainly stands out because of its remarkable 4K resolution. In addition, it is an ultra-short throw projector, which means that you can use it in tighter spaces.

It’s quite heavy when compared to the Fatork and Akiyo mini projectors coming in at 4.4 pounds. So, it’s not ideal for carrying around and you may have to put it in a backpack. 

This projector has a brightness of 8000 lumens. So, you can use it outside in low light environments as well as indoors in dark rooms and get clear and detailed images. 

It also comes with HDMI, AV, VGA, USB, Audio, and SD inputs. So, you can connect your smartphone, tablet, iPad, USB stick, TV stick, and other devices to it. 

The Gobran mini projector has inbuilt stereo speakers that will ensure you have an immersive experience as you watch your favorite shows or movies and play video games. 

When you purchase it, you will get a remote, HDMI and AV cables, a power cord, a user manual, and a small bag. 

Verdict: The Gobran mini projector is great for both indoor and outdoor use and offers many input options. And the best part? It has an incredible 4K resolution that is unheard of at this price point. 

JIMTAB M22 Projector: Also Great

Screen Size: 50 to 300 inches

Projection Distance: 4 .9 to 24 feet

The JIMTAB M22 projector weighs about 3.5 pounds which isn’t as impressive but you can still take it with you wherever you go in a backpack or small bag. 

It delivers good quality images at a resolution of up to 4K and has a brightness of 5700 lumens. You’ll get bright and sharp images but only in low light and dark environments.  

It comes with many connectivity options including WIFI, HDMI, Audio, USB, AV, and SD. So, you can pair different devices with it and project your content with ease. 

This projector has inbuilt speakers that deliver great sound quality, so you don’t have to get external ones.  

It uses LCD technology, so you may see pixels as you watch your favorite movies and shows or play video games. 

Verdict: The JIMTAB projector comes with many incredible features including 4K displays, inbuilt speakers, and WIFI support which are a gem at this price point. 

AAXA P400 Projector: Also Great

Screen Size: 100 inches

Projection Distance: 5.25 feet

The AAXA P400 projector is another lightweight short-throw projector you can get on a budget of $300. It weighs only 1.25 pounds and fits in a palm of standard size. This implies that you carry it in your pocket or a backpack when visiting friends or going to the great outdoors. 

It uses LCoS display technology and produces images at a resolution of 1080p. What that means is that you’ll get sharp images with fantastic color accuracy. 

However, this projector’s brightness is nothing to write home about (only 400 lumens). So, you may want to avoid well-lit environments for the best experience. 

The P400 projector supports multiple inputs so you don’t have to worry about connecting different devices. It also comes with an inbuilt speaker for an immersive experience and a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 2 hours. 

When you purchase this projector, you will get a tripod for mounting, a wall charger, a remote, and a user manual with clear, easy-to-follow instructions.

Verdict: The AAXA P400 projector offers great value for your money. Although it’s prone to the rainbow effect, it’s a great option for everyday use on a budget of $300. 

Choosing the Best Short Throw Projector Under $300: Buying Guide

You need to consider some factors when selecting the best short-throw projector on a budget of $300. In this section, we’ll take a look at what they are in detail. 

Size of your Screen

This is the most important factor when purchasing a projector. You want to avoid a situation where the projected image is too much for your screen and vice versa. I’d recommend you find out the specifications of the projector you need by using any of the free calculators online. 

Type of Display

There are three main display technologies used in today’s modern projectors: DLP, LCD, and LCoS. And each of them has its benefits and drawbacks. 

When choosing between DLP, LCD, and LCoS, the important points to keep in mind are that DLP and LCoS are prone to the rainbow effect while LCD often suffers from the chicken wire effect. If you want to read more about display types, we have a full guide that you can access here. 

Brightness

The brightness of a projector is measured in lumens. The higher the lumen count, the brighter the projected images and vice versa. Almost all projectors work well in dark environments.   

But if you intend to use your projector in a well-lit area or room, you will need one with a considerably higher lumen count. Otherwise, you will get dull images that you’ll struggle to make out what the characters are or the displayed content. 

Portability

As you may have guessed, you need a light and small-sized projector that can fit in your backpack or pocket if you intend to move around with it. Otherwise, any size and weight will work. 

Resolution

Resolution is a measure of the number of pixels in the projected image. The higher the resolution is, the greater the image quality will be. 

Of course, on a budget of $300, you’ll be limited on the kinds you can purchase. A good short throw projector will display images with at least 1080p resolution or 4K if you’re lucky.  

Inputs

What good is a short throw projector if it lacks the inputs you need? 

You want to look for options with HDMI, which is standard for HD displays, and VGA, USB, VGI, Audio, or AV inputs if you have use for them. 

Inbuilt battery and speaker

When selecting a short-throw projector, be sure to confirm whether it has an onboard speaker and rechargeable battery. You want to get the best sound quality without the need for external speakers and the ability to use it for hours without needing to charge it. 

Conclusion

In this post, we’ve discussed the best short-throw projectors you can purchase for under $300. We’ve talked about the features, pros, cons, and some key factors to consider before deciding on which one to get. And to recap, we found the best overall projector to be Fatork mini projector followed closely by the Akiyo mini projector.