Wondering how to choose between all of the available projectors? This article will go through the best budget projectors on the market, so you can figure out which one is right for your needs.
Many people are interested in getting an affordable projector, but are unsure where to start. As with any item that is being purchased, there are a variety of features that need to be considered before making a purchase. Purchasing a projector involves many variables including cost, size, light output and power consumption among other considerations. This article will present some of the best projectors at different price ranges for you to consider when purchasing one for yourself or someone else as a gift.
1. Optoma HD142X 1080p Home Theater Projector
Product Overview:
The Optoma HD142X is a high quality projector creating great quality images in 720p and 1080i. The compact size of this home theater projector ensures that it can be used anywhere in your home or even outdoors under the right conditions. Power consumption of this device is only 363 watts which makes it an energy efficient choice when compared to other models on the market. This projector provides a true-to-life image at 24 inches in size and produces a native resolution of 1080p meaning that it can upscale the original source to 1080p.
This projector is designed to last for 40,000 hours of use and comes with an automatic lens focus with no adjustment required during use. This model uses DLP Technology which allows for high contrast images as well as superior light output. The brightness of images produced by this device ranges from 0.7watts in standby mode up to 1,500 watts after full operation. Projector also provides SRS WOW setting which simulates surround sound when used with Home Theater Systems or other audio sources that support it.
Pros:
High contrast ratios with little or no afterglow providing a true-to-life image. Power consumption is only 363 watts. 40,000 hour long lamp life with auto-focus for reduced maintenance costs. Simulated surround sound through SRS WOW feature when used with home theater systems and other audio sources that support it. High quality audio compatibility and low fan noise.
Cons:
Slight image distortion in Full HD and 4k mode. No HDMI, no VGA cables included for higher resolutions than 720p and 1080i without an additional adapter purchase.
2. Optoma HD202E 1080p Home Theater Projector
Product Overview:
The Optoma HD202E is a projector that packs a lot of power in a small and portable design. This device produces images with 1920 x 1080 resolution at 24 inches in size and is capable of producing over 2,000 lumens of light output from its lamp. The brightness on this projector increases by 50% when the lamp reaches 10,000 hours of use or around 4 years. Power consumption for this device is only 290 watts which means that it will not drain your battery even if you use it for an entire day of entertainment.
The SRS WOW feature simulates surround sound when used with a home theater system or other audio sources that support it. In order to utilize this feature, you will need to purchase one of the opto-acoustic diffusers for the projector. This model comes with English and Spanish languages making it great for international usage. Projector also includes a contrast ratio of 1,000:1 which is much better than its competitors on the market today.
Pros:
Power consumption is only 290 watts allowing for energy efficient use. Full HD 1080p resolution at 24 inches in size and 1920 x 1080 DMD chip pixel pitch results in a clear high-contrast image.
High brightness of 2500 lumens is suitable for viewing even in rooms with ambient light. SRS WOW feature allows for simulated surround sound when used with home theater systems or other audio sources that support it.
Cons:
No HDMI cable included requiring a separate purchase if you need to use this feature. Projector is not capable of displaying 3D images without an additional adapter purchase. Warm up time of a few minutes may be an inconvenience to some users.
3. Optoma HD161 1080p Home Theater Projector
Product Overview:
The Optoma HD161 is a device that was designed to compete with top model models on the market today. This model produces images at 1920 x 1080 resolution in both 720p and 1080p modes. The brightness of the projected image can reach up to 1,500 lumens and has an improved contrast ratio when compared to the Optoma HD142X model at 1,000:1. This device also comes with SRS WOW feature simulating surround sound when used with a home theater system or other audio sources that support it. The device provides a full-color image in modes such as RGB and YPBPR making it suitable for a variety of uses.
Some of the benefits that come from purchasing this model include greater contrast ratio, reduced afterglow and more efficient operation when compared to other Optoma models on the market. The lamp life on this model is around 30,000 hours which means that you will not have to worry about maintenance costs or replacing the bulb anytime soon. This projector comes with 18% vertical and 12% horizontal lens shift allowing you to tilt or move the projection in order to gain better viewing angles without moving around your furniture or standing up to get the best angle possible.
Pros:
Power consumption is only 265 watts allowing for energy efficient use. Full HD 1080p resolution at 24 inches in size and 1920 x 1080 DMD chip pixel pitch results in a clear high-contrast image. High brightness of 2500 lumens is suitable for viewing even in rooms with ambient light. SRS WOW feature allows for simulated surround sound when used with home theater systems or other audio sources that support it.
Cons:
Lens adjustment may cause problems to some users as you need to be careful not to scratch the surface with your fingers while adjusting the focus. No VGA, HDMI and YUV cables included for higher resolutions than 720p and 1080i without an additional adapter purchase.
