Find out which is the best 2025 projector for you, discover what you need to choose to get the most bang for your buck.
Today we want to explain in a simple way what minimum selection criteria to choose your economic projector optimally. With this selection guide, we can be clear about the specifications that most interest us for the use we are going to give every day. Depending on our budget or use we want to do, we can opt for cheap or expensive devices. If you want to see how it works, you can consult our projectors reviews, so you can get an idea.
Best economical projectors 2025
Projectors are constantly evolving products and there are daily deals, if we are looking for the best price we have to keep an eye on the latest offers to get our bargain.
- Discover the New Projector Bargains in 2025 and save the most.
- Check out Our Android Projector Reviews for alternatives.
Cheap Portable Projectors
We have plenty of inexpensive projectors, usually the most aggressive offers are on AliExpress, and we can find some on Amazon. The specifications are sufficient for use in low light environments. They can be enough to watch movies occasionally or for our children’s content. They have a basic Android system that allows you to install apps such as KODI, IPTV, simple games or emulators.
Projectors with auto focus
These models are somewhat more advanced and are recommended for users who want to demand a little more quality. In the front area they mount a webcam that corrects the geometry and focus of the image automatically. They typically have a Bluetooth remote control and are easy to control from a distance.
Google TV Certified Projectors
Depending on our needs and regular use of apps we may be interested in having a projector with Google TV Certified, with this we can watch Netflix even in 4K if the projector supports it.
Key concepts in projectors
Within the projectors we find all kinds of formats and qualities, we must take into account that these models compete on price and try to adjust their specifications in various aspects to cut their PVP.
Types of projectors
Classic projectors
These are the models that usually have a larger housing size and the best performance for the price. They are indicated for regular use at home.
Compact projectors
They are small and have more basic features. Due to their specifications, they are normally used in dark rooms and never outdoors.
Professional projectors
These models for outdoor use have a high light output. These products are very expensive because they have quality components.
Projectors with Android
We have projectors with Google TV certified compatible with Netflix and others that have basic Android. They can combine any of the above mentioned technologies.
Projector projection technology
The projectors work basically all by the same principle, they have a light emission system, lens system and color filter that processes the image to take it out by the main focus. Within this criterion we have different technologies that we are going to explain in a simple way, the concept in all is similar, light emitter, lenses and filters.
Light source
LED
The most widespread nowadays due to their long life (50K hours) and technical characteristics, although with less luminosity. They are available at a good price.
LASER or hybrid
This is a high performance technology, excellent in brightness, contrast and for 3D. The price of these products is always high and is oriented to the most demanding.
Traditional lamp
Basically, a conventional bulb designed for this use, powerful, but hot and short life (6K hours). They are already in disuse.
Types of projection systems
LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) projector
Technology based on LCD filter, the economic ones have a single LCD screen, the expensive ones mount three (3LCD) one for each color.
- Pros: Price / More efficient brightness / Natural colors.
- Cons: Bulky / Image pixelation / Long term quality due to dust (open and clean)
- Recommended for: Home use and low ambient light.
DLP (Digital Light Processing) projector
Technology based on color wheel and DMD mirror system chip, can have up to three chips, one per color.
- Pros: Contrast / Sharpness / Small size.
- Cons: Rainbow effect in high contrast scenes / Noise from color wheel.
- Recommended for: More demanding users or for professionals and supports bright environments.
LCOS Projector (Liquid Crystal on Silicon)
It is a new technology that combines LCD and DMD technology achieving the advantages of both systems.
- Pros: Defined blacks / High contrast / Cinematic quality.
- Cons: Expensive and less bright.
- Recommended for: Highest demanding or professional users.
Main technical specifications
Here you can see what points to take into account when buying a producer. Some of them may be more important than others when making our decision. We recommend always having a clear budget before you start looking.
Lumens
This is the number that defines the light power and indicates the area in which it can be used
- Low cost: 300 lumens for dark rooms.
- Economic: 2000 lumens for rooms in semi-darkness.
- Pro: 3500 lumens or higher for rooms with ambient light
Contrast
Indicates the definition between the different elements of an image.
- Economic: with a value of 2000:1 we can have enough (actually they are lower than that figure).
- Pro: minimum 10000:1 for rooms with lighting.
Lifetime
The models with LED system must have a minimum life of 30,000 hours. It is necessary to value if we are going to use it continuously or occasionally and to make calculations.
Lenses and dust
To keep the image in optimum quality, if we do not have sealed lenses, we will have to open and clean them. A point to take into account if we are going to spend money.
Native resolution
This is the key point for image definition and should not be confused with the supported resolution.
- Economical: we recommend 1080p FullHD quality (1920 x 1080 px) but 720p HD (1280×720 px) may be sufficient. If it is for occasional use we can go 480p (800×480 px).
- Pro: normally we will opt for 4K resolution (3840×2160 px) with HDR or Dolby Vision support.
Supported resolution
Resolution supported by the video inputs and typically all support up to 1080p or 4K. This is not the same as the native resolution of the projection system.
Projection distance and size
Classic distance between 1.5 – 5.5 m, screen size between 30 and 200″. Please check the official specifications and adapt the distance indicated.
Connections
- Video / Audio: Always with HDMI input. Options with VGA, AV and audio jack for external speakers.
- Data: There are models with USB for file playback.
- Wifi or Bluetooth: Allows network file playback or connect the controller via BT.
Operating system
Many projectors may have limitations by having a limited OS, we recommend connecting an Android TV-Box. Also some may come with Google TV certified and 100% functional.
Built-in speakers
They are usually of low quality and external speakers are recommended, especially in cheap models. By positioning other speakers in the right place we will have an improved immersion.
Noise
The cheap models have low quality fans and can be quite noisy (50db). A key point if we are going to use it close to us when projecting.
Mounting
It is necessary to observe if we can mount it in the position that we are interested in front, back or in ceiling. We have to take into account that we have space to accommodate it in its position, see measurements before buying.
Image correction
Inexpensive models are often all manual, automatic models are somewhat more expensive. Many use webcams on the front to calculate the correction geometry.
Check actual projector resolution
Keep in mind that the resolution of the Android system environment is different from the resolution at which the video is played on our TV, which will be the native resolution. Many times we see confusion between the Android environment being viewed at 1080p or 720p with the actual resolution at which the video is viewed.
- There are apps like AIDA that only give the resolution at which Android is rendered, not the video playback. Do not fall into this error, it is quite common.
Check real resolution with 4K or FullHD test
To verify the native resolution in video playback, we leave a couple of videos that show us the actual resolution at which the content is played on the screen.
- We have to check that the lines and dots of the control grids are perfectly defined.
- Download videos to check 4K or FullHD resolution, DO NOT USE WEB IMAGE.
