4 Best Budget Short-Throw Projectors Below $700

Short-throw projectors are the ultimate solution if you want to watch a bigger projection in a small room. These devices deliver good picture quality and decent sound for the price. However, most short-throw projectors are expensive and cost north of $1,000 typically. Nevertheless, there are a few budget short-throw projectors below $700.

Best Budget Short Throw Projectors Below $700

In this post today, we will explore affordable short-throw projectors for home use. So without further ado, let’s get started. But before that,

1. Fatork Mini Projector

  • Native resolution: 1920 x 1080 | Lumens: 150 ANSI Lumen
  • Speakers: Yes, 10 Watts

The Fatork projector brings the best of both worlds. Not only is it affordable, but this short-throw projector is small and compact. The compact size makes it highly portable, and you can carry it with you. The rechargeable battery is the cherry on top.

The company advertises a projection distance of 1.64 ft to 9.85 ft, which gives you enough flexibility to place it at the location of your choice. You can also mount it on a tripod.

The battery life is decent for the price. The best part is that you can recharge it while using it. The 150 ANSI bulb gives off a decent glow. However, it’s not suitable for daytime viewing.

It delivers a 1080p resolution, and users like the picture quality it brings to the screen. The sound and the images appear well above average for the price. The only limitation is that the picture wheel is tiny, and it can be an issue if you have big hands.

The Fatork short throw projector has ample connectivity options (HDMI and USB drives) and supports wireless connectivity with major platforms.

It’s popular among its user masses primarily for the good picture quality it brings for the price and the size. If you do not want to empty your pockets on a sizeable projector, this budget short-throw projector is worth a shot.

2. ViewSonic PS600X Projector for Home

  • Native resolution: 1024 x 768 | Lumens: 3700 ANSI Lumen
  • Speakers: Yes, 10 Watts

The ViewSonic PS600X is a regular-sized projector and allows you to throw the picture from 1.3ft to 12ft. However, you will have to sit at least 4.5ft away to see the picture without any loss in quality. That said, the picture quality is on par with the price. It’s a WXGA projector and gives you an aspect ratio of 16:10, thus apt for watching movies.

The 3,500 ANSI Lumens bulb also adds to the picture quality. While you may not see the best images during the day, pictures and images appear sharp and bright. However, if you are used to a 4K screen or 4K TV, you may see hazy picture quality.

The ViewSonic PS600X bundles ample connectivity options, including legacy VGA connectors, HDMI and Ethernet. However, it doesn’t have Bluetooth and wireless connectivity. Despite its shortcomings, it has earned positive reviews, and users like its affordable price tag and easy-to-use nature.

3. BenQ MW632ST WXGA Short Throw Projector

  • Native resolution: 1,280 x 800 | Lumens: 3200 ANSI Lumen
  • Speakers: Yes, 10 Watts

The BenQ MW632ST is one of the best investments you can make for your entertainment requirements. Like the one above, it is a WXGA projector with a 16:10 ratio. However, its picture quality puts it a level above others. This BenQ projector delivers a sharp picture and accurate color balance. At the same time, the 3,200 Lumen light lends its share of brightness.

In fact, the folks at PC Mag opine that it delivers near-excellent picture quality for videos and images. It handles shadows and color quality well, making it apt for both videos and still images. Moreover, the built-in 10-watt speaker is a decent companion for playing short videos and movies.

Lastly, you get a healthy selection of ports, including 2 HDMI ports and a legacy VGA connector. At its heart, the BenQ MW632ST is a meeting room projector. However, users have had good experiences with playing movies. It’s popular among its user masses for its picture quality and brightness. And well, let’s accept that it’s not as expensive as some of its expensive 4K counterparts.

4. Optoma GT780 Short Throw Projector

  • Native resolution: 1,280 x 800 | Lumens: 3800 ANSI Lumen
  • Speakers: Yes, 10 Watts

Last but not least, we have the Optoma GT780. This one has a native resolution of 1280 x 800 and comes with a 3,800 ANSI Lumens bulb and a 10W speaker (see the best soundbars for projectors). Interestingly it has a very short throw distance, starting from 35-inches (2.9ft). This allows you to view your still images and videos in a small room.

It displays a sharp image. However, you need to ensure that you are running a high-res video. Or else, you might end up seeing pixelation or dull image in plain old HDR files.

Again, you get both HDMI and VGA as input options. The speakers aren’t great, but they are loud enough. Though this Optoma projector is the most expensive short throw projector on this list, it’s not the most durable projector, and there have been reports of this projector giving up after a year or so.

Buy this only if you like the short throw distance.

Project Projector!

These were some of the budget short-throw projectors you can get for under $700. If you want the best value-for-money proposition, the Viewsonic and the BenQ projectors should serve your needs well.

Last updated on 19 October, 2022

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