In this article, we have reviewed the top 5 Best Projectors Under £500 in the UK with pros and cons. Read on to learn more.
The best projectors can simulate a theatre-like viewing experience in your living room, allowing you to host private movie nights with your friends and family. The best part is that you don’t even have to spend a fortune to get your hands on a decent projector nowadays — a £500 budget is more than sufficient.
But if you don’t know what to look for, you might end up with a unit that fails to deliver good projection quality, which is why we have rounded up the best projectors under £500 in this guide. They are of different shapes and sizes, but the projection quality they will bring to your home cinema setup is unparalleled to the rest.
Complete List of the Best Projectors Under £500 UK
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Best Projectors Under £500 Reviews
Believe it or not, five-hundred quids is plentiful for a high-quality projector these days. While a native 4K projector will cost you a lot more, you can easily find an HD or even a Full HD model in this price segment.
Alternatively, you can go for a portable unit that you can carry with you outdoors. Whatever you are looking for, you should be able to find it among our picks below.
1. Optoma HD28e – 1080p Projector Under £500
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- Type: DLP
- Native Resolution: 1920 x 1080
- Brightness (ANSI Lumens): 3800
- Contrast Ratio: 30,000:1
The HD28e from Optoma offers a Full HD projection and has 3D capabilities. It can give you up to a 300-inch screen, meaning you get an immersive experience as in the movie theatres. The low input lag also makes it a fantastic choice for gaming.
The 3800 ANSI lumens of brightness, 30000:1 contrast ratio, and outstanding Rec.709 colour space coverage — all of it translates to a cinema-quality projection at home. The auto ±40° vertical keystone correction, ±50 digital image shift, and up to 2x digital zoom allow for flexible image adjustments.
Connectivity options include HDMI 1.4a, USB, and a 3.5mm auxiliary audio-out port. The HD28e even has 3W stereo speakers built-in to help you get started. Plus, the backlit remote control makes it easy to use in a dark room.
Overall, the Optoma HD28e is an all-around home projector at this price. Watching movies and playing games is a delight, all thanks to its bright and sharp projection.
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| Pros | Cons |
| Excellent brightness and clarity | Cooling fans get loud with Eco Mode disabled |
| Built-in stereo speakers | Bulky design |
| 3D capabilities (requires DLP-link glasses) |
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2. ViewSonic PX701HD
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- Type: DLP
- Native Resolution: 1920 x 1080
- Brightness (ANSI Lumens): 3500
- Contrast Ratio: 12,000:1
The ViewSonic PX701HD home and business projector is a solid alternative to the Optoma HD28e. It can offer a vibrant and clear projection in a room with high levels of ambient lights, with the maximum screen size going up to 300 inches. Movies mastered in the IMAX aspect ratio or the 3D format look great with this projector.
Based on the content, the PX701HD lets you cycle between five colour modes: Standard, Brightest, Movie, Gaming, and Sports. The 16ms input lag is good news for those who want to hook up their gaming PC, PlayStation, or Xbox console to the projector and enjoy gameplay on an immersive screen.
The PX701HD features 10W stereo speakers, which get pretty loud and deliver a room-filling sound. It supports vertical lens shift and 1.1x optical zoom, giving you more flexibility in terms of image adjustments. The I/O includes two HDMI 1.4 ports, one VGA-in, a Type-A USB slot (powered), and a 3.5mm audio-out jack.
In total, the ViewSonic PX701HD is an exceptional projector you can currently find under £500.
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| Pros | Cons |
| Bright, sharp, and colour-accurate output | Basic remote |
| Vertical lens shift | No HDR support |
| Dual HDMI inputs |
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3. Anker Nebula Capsule II Portable Projector Under £500
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- Type: DLP
- Native Resolution: 1280 x 720
- Brightness (ANSI Lumens): 200
- Contrast Ratio: 600:1
Nebula Capsule II is another name in the list of the Best Projector Under £500. The Nebula Capsule II from Anker is a pint-sized, cylindrical portable projector that gets plenty of things right. Its small DLP chip can project a native 720p, 200-ANSI-lumen image that can go as big as 100 inches, and the integrated 8W speaker can produce a room-filling 270° sound with a thumpy bass response.
The best thing about the Capsule II is that it runs Android TV 9.0 onboard with Chromecast built-in. It means you can log into your favourite streaming apps and watch your preferred content without requiring a separate device, though you still get an HDMI and a Type-A USB port for connecting other devices.
The Capsule II also features Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, enabling casting and screen mirroring. You can even use it as a wireless Bluetooth speaker when not watching movies, shows, or live streams. The built-in rechargeable battery offers up to 2.5 hours of continuous video playback and 30 hours of music playtime.
The Nebula Capsule II will be a perfect companion for your backyard movie nights and camping trips.
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| Pros | Cons |
| Decent 720p projection | Requires a dimly-lit environment |
| Auto vertical keystone and focus correction | Average battery performance |
| Android TV with Chromecast built-in | No native Netflix app |
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4. BenQ MW536, Business Projector under £500
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- Type: DLP
- Native Resolution: 1280 x 800
- Brightness (ANSI Lumens): 4000
- Contrast Ratio: 20,000:1
If you are looking for a projector solely for office meetings or classrooms, the BenQ MW536 is one of the best data projectors under £500. Its HD DLP chip, 4000 ANSI lumens of brightness and 20,000:1 contrast ratio offer a large, visible projection in well-lit rooms. The native 16:10 aspect ratio is perfect for presenting important documents and slides.
The dual HDMI ports support up to 1080p video signals and automatically downscales them to the native 1280 x 800 resolution. The auto-vertical keystone correction ensures a perfectly squared image regardless of the projector’s angle, while the adjustable feet offer additional flexibility.
The BenQ MW536 comes with remote control (batteries included), a VGA cable, and a universal ceiling mount to help you get started. It’s worth mentioning that the remote has a built-in laser pointer.
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| Pros | Cons |
| Perfect for business and classroom use | The built-in speakers sound quiet |
| Native 16:10 aspect ratio | |
| Excellent I/O |
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5. Epson EH-TW740 Home Cinema Projector Under £500
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- Type: 3LCD
- Native Resolution: 1920 x 1080
- Brightness (ANSI Lumens): 3300
- Contrast Ratio: 16,000:1
The Epson EH-TW740 is an LCD projector that packs all the essential features you’d expect from a home cinema projector. The 1080p LCD chip can achieve a massive 386-inch display while maintaining high brightness and contrast ratio. It also offers up to 18 years of extended lamp life.
The EH-TW740 provides a hassle-free setup experience, thanks to its auto ± 30° vertical keystone correction. I/O-wise, this Epson projector gets you a single HDMI port, a 3.5mm stereo audio output, and a Type-A powered USB slot. Epson’s optional ELPAP10 Wi-Fi adapter also enables wireless connectivity, allowing you to share content to the projector using the iProjection mobile app.
The Epson EH-TW740 comes with a battery-powered remote, along with a high-quality carrying case. The company sells the ceiling mount separately.
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| Pros | Cons |
| Suitable for home and office environments | No 3D capabilities |
| No rainbow effect, unlike single-chip DLP projectors | Limited accessory kit |
| Long-lasting lamp life |
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Conclusion
Now that you have reached the end of this guide to the best projectors under £500 in the UK, we hope you have successfully made a purchasing decision for your home cinema setup.
Since we have provided all the essential info about these projectors, you shouldn’t run into any issues choosing one. And if you do, reach out to us via the comments section below!
