Best Projector Under 600

Movies, shows, and games look better with a home theater projector. The colors are brighter and more realistic. The only downside consumers often face is the price.

To find an affordable projector you often have to give up some features. However, things have changed. Now you can find affordable models that come with everything you want.

The BenQ TH575 is created for gamers. Along with an enhanced gaming mode and low latency speed, you also get a high contrast ratio for sharp, detailed images. It’s hard to beat the image quality you get with the Epson Home Cinema 880.

You don’t even have to worry about ambient light interfering with image brightness. If you’re looking for an easily portable projector for work, home, or school, the Optoma DH351 is a breeze to set up, comes with plenty of connectivity, and only weighs a little over 6 lbs. (>>> Find the current price on Amazon).

Before you bring one of these affordable projectors home, it’s a good idea to review each model. This way you know that you purchased the best projector under 600.

Best Projector Under 600 – Top Options for 2023:

• BenQ TH575
• Epson Home Cinema 880
• Epson EpiqVision Flex CO-FH02
• BenQ TH585P
• Epson EX5280
• Optoma DH351

Gaming Quality

There’s nothing like playing your games on the big screen. You’ll feel like you’re in the game. Details are sharp and images clear, even in dimly lit scenes. The only problem gamers faced was the slow input lag and refresh rates.

Projector technology has advanced to compensate for input lag. Now most models come with gaming modes that dramatically reduce lag times. While 23ms is okay for casual gamers, avid players need something faster. An input lag of 16ms and a microsecond DMD response time is enough to ensure games play smoothly without any delay.

Best Projector for Gaming: BenQ TH575

Image Quality

There are several aspects to look at when you’re determining image quality. Brightness, rated in lumens, and resolution are two things to look for. The lumens also let you know if ambient light is a problem. You also want to check the contrast ratio. Lower ratios can result in faded blacks and whites.

Most budget-friendly projectors produce quality images. However, some are better than others due to higher lumens and contrast ratios. The higher the specification numbers, the better the image looks on the screen.

Best Projector for Image Quality: BenQ TH585P

Ease of Use and Portability

Not all home cinema projectors are easy to move around. Some projectors can weigh around 30 lbs. A flexible installation is something else to consider. Rooms have different configurations, and you don’t want to spend a lot of time setting the projector up.

Features like keystone correction and lens shift allow you to easily align onscreen images even when the projector isn’t centered on the screen. A high-lumens light source is also key for counteracting ambient light.

Best Portable Projector: Optoma DH351

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BenQ TH575 Review

Image playing your games on a 100” screen. With the TH575, you can take your gaming experience to the next level. The projector’s gaming mode produces stunning graphics, but that’s not all you get.

Latency speeds drop to 16ms, it’s fast enough to keep up with most competitive games. Add in the fast, microsecond DMD refresh rate and you won’t notice any delays between the controller and game action.

A fast input lag doesn’t matter if you can’t see the onscreen images. Full HD resolution and a high contrast ratio ensure you can see all of the details in bright and dark scenes. A 3,800 lumens light source takes care of ambient light. You can game during the day without darkening the windows.

Connectivity is crucial. You need to be able to connect your gaming devices. The projector comes with dual HDMI ports, ideal for gaming consoles, laptops, and other devices. It’s also 3D ready which is always a bonus, whether you are gaming or watching movies.

Installing the projector is a breeze. It has a flexible throw distance. When you can’t center the projector with the screen, the automatic vertical keystone correction and 1.1x zoom make image alignment a breeze. The projector also weighs under eight pounds, it’s light enough to take with you for game night with friends.

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Epson Home Cinema 880 Review

Anyone that wants larger onscreen images will want to take a look at the 880 from Epson. All you need is a blank wall or compatible screen to cast 320” images.

You’ll feel like you’re at the theater when you’re watching movies at home. You will need plenty of space to throw large images. The Epson Home Cinema 880 is not a short-throw projector.

With 3LCD chip technology combined with 10-bit color processing, you’ll see bright, clear images. A 3,300 lumens rating is more than enough to balance daylight. You don’t have to close the curtains to watch a movie. The contrast ratio is a little low at 16,000:1. Whites and blacks aren’t faded, but they are lacking some brightness and depth.

You’ll love the projector’s flexible installation. It opens up the possibilities of where you can install it. Horizontal and vertical keystone correction, along with digital zoom make it easy to align images even when the projector is placed at an angle.

If you’re still having problems centering onscreen pictures, the geometric correction function will make it easier.

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Epson EpiqVision Flex CO-FH02 Review

The upgraded EpiqVision Flex CO-FH02 offers a lot at an affordable price. While you aren’t getting 4K resolution, the image quality is still amazing.

Along with 1080p images up to 300 inches, the projector uses a 3LCD chip. The advanced technology displays 100 percent of the RGB color spectrum.

You get accurate colors without rainbowing that can occur with other color technologies. A 3,000 lumens light source ensures you can use the projector any time day or night.

The bright lumens rating also adds to the projector’s flexibility. It’s lightweight at 5.7 lbs. and compact enough to fit in most backpacks.

You can use the projector for presentations, along with use at home. Setting the projector up can be a little tricky. It comes with a fixed lens, so you want to center it with the screen.

Something that stands out is the projector’s smart streaming capabilities. An Android TV interface and built-in Google Assistant make navigating the menu a breeze. Most of the popular streaming apps come pre-installed, including Prime, Hulu, Apple TV+, Netflix, and more.

An internal bass speaker boosts audio quality enough for presentations, but you may still want to look into connecting external speakers for movie nights.

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BenQ TH585P Review

Gamers look for several things in a projector. They want a low input lag, immersive picture, and fast response rate. You get this and more with the TH585P. While it doesn’t support 4K content, the 1080p resolution produces crisp, clear images.

A 10,000:1 contrast ratio ensures blacks and whites are immersive in dark and brightly lit scenes. It also helps that the projector has a 3,500 lumens rating. Bright, ambient light won’t cause images to appear faded.

The light source also has a light-saving mode that extends its life to around 15,000 hours. It gives you plenty of time for hours of gameplay.

In gaming mode, the resolution stays at 1080p. It doesn’t drop down. Gaming mode does give you a 16ms input lag and fast microsecond DMD fast response.

Commands from the controller are almost instantaneously played out on the screen. Don’t worry about connecting your external devices, the projector has dual HDMI ports.

Setting up the projector for game or movie night is a breeze. It weighs a little over 8 lbs. and has a flexible throw distance, thanks to the 1.1x zoom. Automatic vertical keystone correction makes it simple to align images.

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Epson EX5280 Review

Whether it’s for home, office, or school use, the Epson EX5280 delivers. It produces bright images in most lighting situations. The projector is also a breeze to set up and use. With Epson’s award-winning customer service part of the package, you always have hands-on help if needed.

A 3,800 lumens light source ensures onscreen images never appear washed out. The bright light source also allows you to use the projector in most board and classrooms. Spreadsheets and videos are crisp and clear, thanks to the XCA resolution. Three-chip 3LCD technology produces accurate colors without the distracting rainbowing effect.

The EX5280 has everything you need to quickly set the projector up. It’s incredibly lightweight at a little over 5lbs. The onboard picture senor automatically corrects vertical image alignment. You also have a horizontal slide bar and a 1.2x zoom lens function. Connecting your devices and streaming content is a breeze. Simply connect your device to the built-in HDMI port and start displaying your content on the screen. You even get onboard speakers to take care of the audio.

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Optoma DH351 Review

The Optoma DH351 has everything you need to put on amazing presentations. It’s lightweight and compact, making it easily portable. You also aren’t going to have any problems setting the projector up.

Weighing a little over 6lbs, it offers a flexible installation. Along with 1.1x lens zoom, you can take advantage of the +/-40 vertical keystone correction.

The projector doesn’t need to be elevated to keep images centered on the screen. You also have plenty of connectivity options for your external devices. The projector comes with an HDMI port, USB-A power out, and an input for audio. You will need to connect external speakers for audio.

With 1080p, onscreen images are crisp and clear. The resolution may be a little too low for home use, especially if you are used to 4K, but it’s more than enough for presentations.

Add in the 22,000:1 contrast ratio and you get dynamic whites and blacks. A 3,600 lumens light ensures ambient lighting isn’t a problem.

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Conclusion

You don’t have to spend a lot of money on a home cinema projector. You can find one that’s perfect for your needs priced under 600. Gamers will want to look at the BenQ TH575. It has a 16ms input lag and a fast refresh rate for smooth gaming.

The BenQ TH585P is also designed with gamers in mind, but movie lovers will appreciate its image quality. You get bright, immersive images even in ambient light.

The HD146X produces one of the best pictures for a projector under 600. Colors are accurate and images are bright and clear in ambient light.

If you want a projector that can go to work and school with you, the Optoma DH351 is your best option (>>> Find on Bhphotovideo). It’s lightweight, produces bright images, and comes with plenty of connectivity. Its easy portability makes it easy to move around and share with others.

With several top-rated home theater projectors to choose from, at affordable prices, you can find the best one no matter where you want to use it.

REFERENCES:

• Epson Home Cinema 1080 vs 880