A short-throw projector can be a game-changer for people living in small apartments and rooms. It will save lots of space and deliver an immersive movie-watching experience with a massive screen.
Setting up a movie theatre using a projector comes with its own challenges, like a huge dedicated room, expensive equipment and a complicated installation process.
But no worries because you can go for a cheap short throw projector to avoid such challenges!
The requirement of small space, compactness, quick installation and portability has made short-throw projectors popular over the decade. Unlike standard projectors that need to be kept at a minimum distance of 8-10 feet, a short-throw projector can sit 2-3 feet away from the screen and display a massive image of 100-inches.
Finding an affordable short-throw projector is not easy because such devices are quite expensive. Also, be aware of the cheap models available in the market that claims to offer short-throw projection because they can’t provide the picture quality you want.
In this article, we will discuss our research for budget-friendly short-throw projectors for home entertainment and gaming, including their pros and cons.
List of Best Short Throw Projectors
- BenQ MW632ST – Best Budget Pick
- BenQ HT2150ST – Best Gaming Projector
- ViewSonic PX706HD
- Optoma GT1080HDR – Editor’s Choice – Lowest Input Lag
- ViewSonic PS501W
- MosicGO EliteProjector – Ultra Short Throw Projector
- Optoma EH200ST
- Optoma EH412ST – Best Business Projector
Now without any further ado, let’s discuss the above projectors in detail.
List of Best cheap short throw projector
#1 – BenQ MW632ST (100-inch image from 5 feet)
This is our budget-friendly pick on this list, which costs $649 only.
BenQ is one of the trusted brands for offering the best quality and high-performance home entertainment, office and gaming projectors.
The BenQ MW632ST is a compact and lightweight projector capable of projecting an image of 100-inches from a distance of 5 feet.
Specifications
- Brightness: 3000 ANSI Lumens
- Contrast Ratio: 13000:1
- Native Resolution: 1280×800 pixels
- Supported Resolution: 480p, 1080p
- Connectivity Options: Dual HDMI, VGA, USB Type A, RCA, RS232
It offers excellent picture quality with accurate colours. The combination of features like short throw and optical zoom makes it standout among its peers. The only thing that may disappoint you is the native resolution of 1280×800 pixels.
#2 – BenQ HT2150ST (100-inch image from 3 feet)
This is another projector from the brand BenQ that costs $849. It is our top pick for the best short-throw gaming projectors of 2022.
In contrast to the MW632ST discussed above, the HT2150ST supports 1080p native resolution and has a shorter throw ratio. It can project a 100-inch screen from a distance of 3 feet.
The BenQ HT2150ST offers impressive picture quality by producing accurate colours and true black levels. The low input lag of 16ms and high refresh rate of 120Hz makes it a perfect fit for intense, action-packed gaming.
Specifications
- Brightness: 2200 ANSI Lumens
- Contrast Ratio: 15000:1
- Native Resolution: 1920×1080 pixels
- Connectivity Options: Dual HDMI, VGA, USB Type A, USB Mini, RCA, RS232
If you are looking for the best short throw projector for home theatre and gaming, then the HT2150ST can be your best choice.
#3 – ViewSonic PX706HD (100-inch image from 5 feet)
Here comes one more short-throw gaming projector with low input lag.
The brand ViewSonic is popular for budget-friendly projectors on the market. The PX706HD is designed for gamers living in small apartments and rooms. It can project a huge image of 100-inches from a distance of 5 feet.
The ViewSonic claims to support Full HD 1080p resolution along with 3D compatibility. The picture quality offered by this projector is impressive.
Specifications
- Brightness: 3000 ANSI Lumens
- Contrast Ratio: 22000:1
- Native Resolution: 1920×1080 pixels
- Input Lag: 16.4 ms
- Connectivity Options: Dual HDMI, VGA, USB Type-C, USB Mini, RCA, RS232
If you are looking for a 3D compatible budget-friendly projector for home theatre, gaming and business presentations, then ViewSonic PX706HD is the value for money deal!
#4 – Optoma GT1080HDR (120-inch image from 4 feet)
The Optoma GT1080HDR packs a big punch of features at the price of $849. It accepts 4K input and supports HDR for deeper black, brighter white levels and greater colour depth.
For gamers, the input lag of 8.4ms coupled with a refresh rate of 120Hz at 1080p resolution is really impressive.
This projector lets you project a massive 120-inch screen from a distance of 4.3-feet.
Specifications
- Brightness: 3800 ANSI Lumens
- Contrast Ratio: 50000:1
- Native Resolution: 1920×1080 pixels
- Input Lag: 8.4 ms
- Connectivity Options: Dual HDMI, VGA, USB Type A, USB Mini, RS232
Full HD 3D compatibility is another selling point of this projector.
Overall, this projector comes with lots of features for home theatre as well as gaming. The picture quality offered is excellent even in the presence of medium ambient light. We would suggest using this projector is dark room for a better viewing experience.
#5 – ViewSonic PS501W (120-inch image from 4 feet)
The ViewSonic PS501W supports a native resolution of 1280×800 pixels. It is very identical to the previously discussed BenQ MW632ST.
It offers a throw ratio of 0.49, meaning that you can project a massive image of 120-inches from a distance of 4.1 feet.
Specifications
- Brightness: 3400 ANSI Lumens
- Contrast Ratio: 22000:1
- Native Resolution: 1280×800 pixels
- Supported Resolution: 480p, 1080p
- Connectivity Options: HDMI, VGA, USB Type A, USB Mini, RS232
This is a decent projector with optimal features required for a home theatre setup in a small room.
#6 – MosicGO EliteProjector (100-inch image from 2 feet)
The MosicGO EliteProjector is an Ultra Short Throw Projector capable of projecting a 100-inch image from a distance of 2 feet.
The picture quality offered by this projector is not as satisfying as the counterparts with a similar price tag. But if you are searching for a UST projector and have a tight budget, this device is for you!
Specifications
- Brightness: 1000 ANSI Lumens
- Contrast Ratio: 20000:1
- Native Resolution: 1920×1080 pixels
- Connectivity Options: HDMI and USB Type C
It has a built-in battery with up to 3 hours of video backup and a tripod stand for getting started quickly. You can use this projector for indoor and outdoor movie watching or gaming.
The MosicGO EliteProjector has a response time of 17ms required for lag-free gaming.
#7 – Optom EH200ST (100-inch image from 3.5 feet)
The Optoma EH200ST is designed keeping office presentations in mind. It produces vivid and clear pictures required for business presentations. It is also popular as one of the best golf simulator projectors in 2022.
This projector can display an image of 100-inch from a distance of 3.5 feet.
Specifications
- Brightness: 3000 Lumens
- Contrast Ratio: 20000:1
- Native Resolution: 1920×1080 pixels
- Connectivity Options: Dual HDMI, USB Mini, VESA 3D Sync Port
The overall performance offered by this projector is seen through the excellent customer ratings obtained over time. It is one of the few projectors on this list that offers impressive picture quality.
An upgraded version of this projector has increased brightness and HDR compatibility. We will discuss that projector in the next section.
#8 – Optoma EH412ST (120-inch image from 4.5 feet)
The Optoma EH412ST is sold as a true business projector with impressive features required for conferences, meetings, classrooms and training rooms. It costs $1130.
It can project a massive image of 120-inches from a distance of 4.5 feet. With its brightness value of 4000 Lumens, contrast ratio of 50000:1 and HDR support, you will enjoy vibrant and sharper image quality.
This workhorse comes with built-in 10W speakers that are powerful enough for small-to-medium-sized rooms.
Specifications
- Brightness: 4000 Lumens
- Contrast Ratio: 50000:1
- Native Resolution: 1920×1080 pixels
- Connectivity Options: Dual HDMI, VGA, USB Type A, RS232
Optoma EH412ST offers exceptional picture quality at 1080p resolution along with lots of versatility.
Moreover, it supports 3D content.
Conclusion
Short Throw Projectors are useful for people living in small apartments or rooms. Their functionality is identical to standard projectors, and you do not need to worry about compromising performance by keeping your projector very close to the screen.
The price of short-throw projectors can break your bank, but in this article, we tried to round up the best affordable short-throw projectors available in 2024.
If you are on a tight budget, then go for BenQ MW632ST. In case you are willing to spend more than $600, then opt-in for any of the following projectors,
- BenQ HT2150ST
- ViewSonic PX706HD
- Optoma GT1080HDR
At last, if you are buying a best short throw projector for office or classroom presentations, then go for Optoma EH412ST.
In the comment section below, let us know your thoughts on short-throw or UST projectors.
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