There is nothing like going to the cinema to enjoy a good movie. However, the rise of streaming platforms makes staying at home to enjoy your favorite series or one of the film titles in its catalog a more than interesting option.
And to be able to enjoy it (almost) as if you were at the cinema, we propose a list of the best mid-range projectors . Devices that have very interesting features, but within a very affordable price range, always below the barrier of 1,000 euros.
Tips to improve your audiovisual experience
Before proceeding with the analysis of the main models that you can find on the market, we are going to give you some tips that can greatly improve the way you see your content at home.
a movie room
The first tip would be to dedicate a specific room for your projector . It is true that not everyone has this space, but assembling and disassembling the projector every time you want to use it can end up frustrating you and causing it to end up parked in the back of the closet.
The same thing happens if you have to ‘clear’ the furniture, paintings or other objects in the room to start watching a series. That is why we recommend locating your projector in a room where you have a wide wall, better if it is white, designed for it.
In case you do not have a wall, you will have to get a fabric screen to be able to project on it. There are some very cheap ones, although you will quite limit the size of your projection.
beware of the source
The next key to visualizing your content in the best way is in the rest of the components. If you want to get the most out of your projector , the best thing you can do is connect it to a video source that has sufficient quality, such as a computer that has an HDMI output port, for example.
sound matters too
Finally, if you want to enjoy an authentic home theater experience, you should bet on a good sound system. In fact, one of the biggest drawbacks of budget or mid- range projectors is that they save on their internal speakers.
Connecting it to external speakers, whether they are stereo or 5.1, can be the decisive element that takes your evenings at the movies or series to the next level of quality.
Are mid-range projectors worth it?
The short answer to this question is yes, but with a but. Before launching to choose a projector among all the alternatives that the mid-range offers you, you should review some essential technical characteristics:
- Resolution . The mid-range does not have extraordinary capabilities in this regard, but as long as you can afford it, we recommend going at least for projectors that support Full HD resolution, that is, 1920 x 1080 pixels.
- Screen size . Most budget projectors lose some definition when you get too far from the screen. Therefore, you should check how much space you have available and how many inches the projector you choose offers you.
- optics . Another of the elements where manufacturers save the most, since it is one of the most expensive components of any projector. In this price range you will not see any high quality optics, but you can compare them to see which one best suits your needs.
- Power . Measured in lumens, the power of the projector tells you if it will look good in bright environments or not.
- Connectivity . HDMI is a standard in the audiovisual industry and will be the main source of video transmission for your content, although some models on the list also have an operating system and Smart functions. Something that is not bad if you are going to use it mainly to watch series or movies directly from your favorite streaming platform.
The most basic options
Mid-range projectors contain a world of possibilities if you know how to look, although they also include cheap equipment designed to fulfill its function for a more than reduced price.
Philips NeoPix Ultra 2: small and functional
One of your first options to consider may be the entry range from Phillips . The NeoPix Ultra 2 is a real beast that has Full HD 1080p resolution and guarantees a projection of up to 65 inches. It may not be the one that offers you the most range on the list, but it certainly has quality to spare in its lens thanks to the correction functions it includes.
In addition, it has an LED lamp that guarantees up to 20,000 hours of use before changing it and smart functionalities with preloaded applications and its own operating system designed by Philips. No one gives you so much for so little.
Wimius 8500: many lumens
This is a little-known brand in Spain, but it promises to offer the highest number of lumens in the entire list without sacrificing other features. Thus, the Wimius 8500 offers, as its name suggests, 8,500 lumens of power to be able to use it even in the brightest conditions.
Apart from this, it has Wi- Fi and Bluetooth connectivity to be able to mirror from your mobile or tablet, Full HD 1080p resolution and a wide range of colors so that enjoying any content is a pleasure.
Acer X138WHP: the entry range
Acer also has a wide range of projectors within its product catalog and, although there are even more basic alternatives, we have decided to recommend the X138WHP since the difference in features with the rest of the alternatives in its range is much higher.
Specifically, it has a power of 4,000 lumens , enough to see well in almost any light condition. In addition, it has LumiSense , ColorBoost3D and Color Safe II technologies, which guarantee a more realistic color reproduction. In exchange, you will have to give up a native 1080p resolution, as it only goes up to 1280 x 800 pixels, although it can scale up to 1920 x 1200 via software.
LG PF50KS: in the middle of the mid-range
The LG PF50KS projector is the most conservative bet in the CineBeam range of the South Korean brand, which has a complete Smart TV system based on webOS 3.5 as one of its main assets in favor. Its only drawback is that its 600 lumens of power can fall short for very bright rooms, so you will have to use it in dark environments.
In addition, it has Full HD resolution, an LED lamp that guarantees up to 30 years of use and the possibility of making projections of up to 100 inches, which is a considerable advantage compared to other mid-range models. As an addition, it has an integrated battery, in case you want to use it wirelessly.
BenQ TH585: perfect for gaming
Within mid-range projectors it is difficult to find options focused on the gaming world without the price suffering. But the BenQ TH585 achieves it by offering 1080p resolution and a large screen size of up to 100 inches to fully enjoy video games , since it has a refresh rate of 16 ms for a much smoother experience.
In addition, it offers a power of 3,500 lumens that will allow you to use it without any problem in any room without fear of losing definition due to ambient light. And as if that weren’t enough, it has a 10-watt speaker so you can easily use it with your favorite console.
The best mid-range projectors
Now that we’ve looked at the cheapest mid-range projectors , we take a short jump to the next level: the most powerful mid-range. These last five models are the last step before launching yourself into the top projectors on the market.
Epson EH‑TW740: an HD experience
Epson is one of the most recognized brands of projectors on the market and its high range is capable of competing with any other in terms of features. But today we focus on the EH‑TW740 , an alternative that offers you high-level features for a fairly modest price.
It has Full HD resolution, 3,300 lumens power and a long-lasting 3LCD lamp. Although its best advantage is that it allows you to project a screen of up to 386 inches, making it perfect for very large rooms or spaces, where you can really show off all its features. In addition, it has a contrast ratio of 16,000:1, capable of reproducing clearly defined shadows and deep blacks.
ViewSonic PG800HD: one of the greats
With the ViewSonic PG800HD you can rest assured that you are taking home one of the best value for money projectors on the market. The prestigious Californian brand has launched a device that has Full HD resolution and an impressive power of 5,000 lumens of brightness so that you never have viewing problems.
It has a 1.3x optical zoom so you can use it anywhere, no matter how big the room is, and it has two additional audio and video ports to connect any peripheral. In addition, it has SuperColor and SonicExpert technologies that improve color and sound reproduction.
My Smart Compact Projector: an interesting compact
Yes, Xiaomi also manufactures projectors and the Mi Smart Compact Projector is one of the most interesting compact projectors in the mid-range. It has a projection factor of 1.2:1, which translates into the possibility of easily achieving screen diagonals between 60 and 120 inches.
In addition, it has HDR10 mode to improve color reproduction, Full HD 1080p resolution and a fully sealed optical system, which prevents dust from entering and improves its useful life. And as if that were not enough, it has smart features thanks to Android TV 9.0 and Google Assistant. Without a doubt, one of the most complete options on the market.
Casio XJ-V110W: close to the high end
As they explain, in 2010, Casio became the first company in the world to develop a laser and LED light projector. And pioneering this technology has allowed it to offer the XJ-V110W .
A projector with 3,500 lumens of power that has Full HD resolution and offers one of the most efficient and fastest systems on the market. It is capable of starting up in just 5 seconds and can offer screen sizes from 35 to 300 inches.
Optoma GT1080e: a mid-range luxury
If the reference in high-end projectors is Sony, in the mid-range we could not stop talking about Optoma . The mid-range of the Taiwanese company crystallizes in its GT1080e , an alternative that offers Full HD resolution and a screen size that can reach up to 100 inches without breaking a sweat.
This projector is comfortable and easy to set up and offers 3,000 lumens of power to reproduce any content regardless of light conditions. In addition, it is optimized for video games, with its Gaming mode, and for cinema, with its 24 fps playback that captures the original essence of most major productions.
A movie experience for little money
Projectors are quite expensive devices in general. The most modern high-end models start at 1,500 euros and can reach scandalous figures, such as 20,000 euros for the most premium Sony devices. And, in this case, the higher price does have an impact on a notable increase in image quality.
But, on the other hand, there are projectors that can fulfill their function as long as you are not an overly demanding user. For example, the Mi Smart Compact Projector has very good features in terms of quality – price, such as Full HD resolution, a large screen size and smart functions that can give you great movie evenings.
As for the more premium items on the list, they certainly improve the technical characteristics, but our advice is that, if you can afford them, wait a little longer and save up to make the jump to the cheaper options of the high range. The experience will improve a lot.