{"id":10194,"date":"2026-03-12T12:13:17","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T16:13:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thesmarthomehookup.com\/test_install\/?post_type=recommendation&#038;p=10194"},"modified":"2026-04-12T16:36:49","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T20:36:49","slug":"mid-priced-projectors-100-500","status":"publish","type":"recommendation","link":"https:\/\/www.thesmarthomehookup.com\/test_install\/recommendation\/mid-priced-projectors-100-500\/","title":{"rendered":"Recommended Mid-Priced Projectors ($100-$500)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f47521;color:#f47521\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-query is-layout-flow wp-block-query-is-layout-flow\"><ul class=\"wp-block-post-template is-layout-flow wp-block-post-template-is-layout-flow\"><li class=\"wp-block-post post-10212 products type-products status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry rec_category-mid-priced-projectors-100-500\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\">Best Overall<\/h2>\n\n<div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:700;\" class=\"is-acf-field is-text-field wp-block-mfb-meta-field-block has-medium-font-size\"><div class=\"value\">Nexigo PJ40 Pro<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group indent-me acf-content is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8cf370e7 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:500;\" class=\"is-display-inline-block is-acf-field is-text-field wp-block-mfb-meta-field-block\"><div class=\"prefix\">MSRP:<\/div><div class=\"value\">$279.99<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:500;\" class=\"is-display-inline-block is-acf-field is-text-field wp-block-mfb-meta-field-block\"><div class=\"prefix\">Common Price:<\/div><div class=\"value\">$279.99<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"is-display-inline-block is-acf-field is-link-field wp-block-mfb-meta-field-block\"><div class=\"prefix\">Link: <\/div><div class=\"value\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4rphs0A\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/amzn.to\/4rphs0A<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:0px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer wp-container-content-4daaf377\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"is-acf-field is-textarea-field wp-block-mfb-meta-field-block\"><div class=\"value\">The Nexigo PJ40 Pro is the clear winner in 2026 and other than a loud fan when used at its highest brightness level, the PJ40 Pro is an absolute budget masterpiece with top tier brightness, contrast, image processing, input lag, and a genuine Google TV smart OS and it\u2019s my recommendation for anyone trying to build a home theater experience on a tight budget.<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thesmarthomehookup.com\/test_install\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/39.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thesmarthomehookup.com\/test_install\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/39.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.thesmarthomehookup.com\/test_install\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/39-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thesmarthomehookup.com\/test_install\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/39-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thesmarthomehookup.com\/test_install\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/39-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thesmarthomehookup.com\/test_install\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/39-600x338.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"is-display-inline-block is-acf-field is-link-field acf-content wp-block-mfb-meta-field-block\"><div class=\"prefix\">More information:<\/div><div class=\"value\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/SKW2IIaLp_4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/SKW2IIaLp_4<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f47521;color:#f47521\"\/>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-10156 products type-products status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry rec_category-mid-priced-projectors-100-500\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\">Cheaper and Quieter<\/h2>\n\n<div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:700;\" class=\"is-acf-field is-text-field wp-block-mfb-meta-field-block has-medium-font-size\"><div class=\"value\">Elephas W1K<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group indent-me acf-content is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8cf370e7 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:500;\" class=\"is-display-inline-block is-acf-field is-text-field wp-block-mfb-meta-field-block\"><div class=\"prefix\">MSRP:<\/div><div class=\"value\">$399.99<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:500;\" class=\"is-display-inline-block is-acf-field is-text-field wp-block-mfb-meta-field-block\"><div class=\"prefix\">Common Price:<\/div><div class=\"value\">$247.44<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"is-display-inline-block is-acf-field is-link-field wp-block-mfb-meta-field-block\"><div class=\"prefix\">Link: <\/div><div class=\"value\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4kAbvMh\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/amzn.to\/4kAbvMh<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:0px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer wp-container-content-4daaf377\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"is-acf-field is-textarea-field wp-block-mfb-meta-field-block\"><div class=\"value\">The Elephas W1K is also going to get an honorable mention this year for excellent brightness, contrast, and picture quality with substantially lower fan noise, but for those interested in the highest quality image I think the PJ40 Pro is still the better choice.<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thesmarthomehookup.com\/test_install\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/40.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thesmarthomehookup.com\/test_install\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/40.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.thesmarthomehookup.com\/test_install\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/40-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thesmarthomehookup.com\/test_install\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/40-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thesmarthomehookup.com\/test_install\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/40-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thesmarthomehookup.com\/test_install\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/40-600x338.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"is-display-inline-block is-acf-field is-link-field acf-content wp-block-mfb-meta-field-block\"><div class=\"prefix\">More information:<\/div><div class=\"value\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/SKW2IIaLp_4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/SKW2IIaLp_4<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f47521;color:#f47521\"\/>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-10213 products type-products status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry rec_category-mid-priced-projectors-100-500\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\">Portable and Silent<\/h2>\n\n<div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:700;\" class=\"is-acf-field is-text-field wp-block-mfb-meta-field-block has-medium-font-size\"><div class=\"value\">TCL C1<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group indent-me acf-content is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8cf370e7 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:500;\" class=\"is-display-inline-block is-acf-field is-text-field wp-block-mfb-meta-field-block\"><div class=\"prefix\">MSRP:<\/div><div class=\"value\">$249.99<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:500;\" class=\"is-display-inline-block is-acf-field is-text-field wp-block-mfb-meta-field-block\"><div class=\"prefix\">Common Price:<\/div><div class=\"value\">$224.99<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"is-display-inline-block is-acf-field is-link-field wp-block-mfb-meta-field-block\"><div class=\"prefix\">Link: <\/div><div class=\"value\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/40ZUeTS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/amzn.to\/40ZUeTS<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:0px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer wp-container-content-4daaf377\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"is-acf-field is-textarea-field wp-block-mfb-meta-field-block\"><div class=\"value\">If you\u2019re looking for a smaller, quieter, more portable option, I also like the TCL C1, but I would avoid it for video games and screens larger than 90 inches since it lacks the brightness to make a high-quality image on larger screen sizes. But I do really like the fully sealed light engine, and I look forward to hearing long term testing feedback from users about whether dust still found its way into the projector.<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thesmarthomehookup.com\/test_install\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/41.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thesmarthomehookup.com\/test_install\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/41.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.thesmarthomehookup.com\/test_install\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/41-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thesmarthomehookup.com\/test_install\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/41-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thesmarthomehookup.com\/test_install\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/41-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thesmarthomehookup.com\/test_install\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/41-600x338.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"is-display-inline-block is-acf-field is-link-field acf-content wp-block-mfb-meta-field-block\"><div class=\"prefix\">More information:<\/div><div class=\"value\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/SKW2IIaLp_4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/SKW2IIaLp_4<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f47521;color:#f47521\"\/>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-10214 products type-products status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry rec_category-mid-priced-projectors-100-500\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\">Best \u201cDumb\u201d Projector<\/h2>\n\n<div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:700;\" class=\"is-acf-field is-text-field wp-block-mfb-meta-field-block has-medium-font-size\"><div class=\"value\">Nexigo PJ40 Gen 3<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group indent-me acf-content is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8cf370e7 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:500;\" class=\"is-display-inline-block is-acf-field is-text-field wp-block-mfb-meta-field-block\"><div class=\"prefix\">MSRP:<\/div><div class=\"value\">$279.99<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:500;\" class=\"is-display-inline-block is-acf-field is-text-field wp-block-mfb-meta-field-block\"><div class=\"prefix\">Common Price:<\/div><div class=\"value\">$239.99<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"is-display-inline-block is-acf-field is-link-field wp-block-mfb-meta-field-block\"><div class=\"prefix\">Link: <\/div><div class=\"value\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4ixTMTM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/amzn.to\/4ixTMTM<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:0px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer wp-container-content-4daaf377\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"is-acf-field is-textarea-field wp-block-mfb-meta-field-block\"><div class=\"value\">I want to make another argument for just getting a projector with no smart OS and adding a FireTV stick or Roku for streaming. The Nexigo PJ40 Gen 3 finished third overall in 2024 for viewing experience with 692 ANSI lumens and 3173:1 contrast ratio, and importantly if you want to play video games, it also has a game mode with less than 20ms of input lag. The PJ40 has an adjustable fan, which is admittedly very loud at max brightness measuring in at close to 49 decibels, but the fan can be adjusted down along with the maximum brightness of the light source, and it can get all the way down to 34.7 decibels if that\u2019s what you\u2019re going for. At maximum brightness, the PJ40 draws 150.5 watts to output 692 lumens for an efficiency of 4.6 lumens per watt, which is slightly lower than the Elephas, and in addition to not having a SmartOS, the PJ40 also lacks motorized focus, and doesn\u2019t have a Bluetooth remote. But combined with a streaming stick it\u2019s the only projector in the video that would check all of my boxes in terms of image quality, input lag, and focus uniformity.<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thesmarthomehookup.com\/test_install\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/63.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thesmarthomehookup.com\/test_install\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/63.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.thesmarthomehookup.com\/test_install\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/63-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thesmarthomehookup.com\/test_install\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/63-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thesmarthomehookup.com\/test_install\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/63-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thesmarthomehookup.com\/test_install\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/63-600x338.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"is-display-inline-block is-acf-field is-link-field acf-content wp-block-mfb-meta-field-block\"><div class=\"prefix\">More information:<\/div><div class=\"value\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/vHmy8sobWEc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/vHmy8sobWEc<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f47521;color:#f47521\"\/>\n\n<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":9537,"template":"","rec_category":[26,20],"rec_type":[],"class_list":["post-10194","recommendation","type-recommendation","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","rec_category-mid-priced-projectors-100-500","rec_category-projectors"],"acf":[],"mb":[],"mfb_rest_fields":["title","gutenberg_elementor_mode"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thesmarthomehookup.com\/test_install\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/recommendation\/10194","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thesmarthomehookup.com\/test_install\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/recommendation"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thesmarthomehookup.com\/test_install\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/recommendation"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thesmarthomehookup.com\/test_install\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9537"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thesmarthomehookup.com\/test_install\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10194"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"rec_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thesmarthomehookup.com\/test_install\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rec_category?post=10194"},{"taxonomy":"rec_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thesmarthomehookup.com\/test_install\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rec_type?post=10194"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}