Editorially reviewed · Verify specs & prices before purchasing
A 100-inch image from under $500 is achievable — but the lumen claims on budget projectors are routinely inflated by 3-5x versus real ANSI measurements. Knowing which specs to trust separates a projector that works in your room from one that only works in a pitch-black basement.
The BenQ TH671ST at $499 is the projector to beat under $500 for home theater use with gaming. 3,000 ANSI lumens (manufacturer-verified, not LED equivalent) produces a watchable 100-inch image with ambient light and a brilliant image in a dark room. Short-throw 0.69:1 ratio: 5 feet from the screen produces a 100-inch image — workable in most living rooms. 1080p native resolution. 16ms input lag at 120Hz specifically for gaming mode. 10-watt built-in speakers. 15,000-hour lamp life in eco mode. Three-year warranty.
| Projector | Best For | ANSI Lumens | Throw Ratio | Input Lag | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BenQ TH671ST | Best Overall | 3,000 | 0.69:1 (short) | 16ms at 120Hz | ~$499 |
| Epson Home Cinema 880 | Best Family/Casual | 3,300 | 1.22:1 (standard) | ~30ms | ~$479 |
| XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro | Best Portable | 400 ISO | 1.2:1 (standard) | ~50ms | ~$429 |
| Anker Nebula Cosmos 2 | Best Smart OS | 900 ANSI | 1.2:1 (standard) | ~35ms | ~$449 |
| ViewSonic PX701HD | Best Budget Brightness | 3,500 | 1.5:1 (standard) | ~33ms | ~$389 |
Short-throw projectors solve the apartment-sized living room problem. Standard throw at 1.5:1 needs roughly 12.5 feet for a 100-inch image — requiring placement behind seating in most rooms. The TH671ST at 0.69:1 ratio needs only 5.7 feet for the same image, placing the projector on a coffee table or shelf without blocking sight lines. The 16ms input lag at 120Hz is the key gaming spec: it matches the responsiveness of most budget gaming monitors for casual gaming. 1080p/120Hz input support means PS5 and Xbox Series X run at 120fps. BenQ's CinematicColor technology produces accurate Rec.709 color without manual calibration — most competitors require ISF calibration for accurate color at this price.
The Epson Home Cinema 880 at $479 uses 3LCD projection technology instead of DLP. The practical difference: 3LCD produces no rainbow artifact (a brief color fringing some people see on DLP projectors during fast motion or when looking away from the screen), making it more comfortable for sensitive viewers. 3,300 lumens with 3LCD produces genuinely bright images across a wider range of room conditions than equivalent-spec DLP. The 1.22:1 standard throw needs about 10 feet for a 100-inch image — manageable in most living rooms with a ceiling mount or rear shelf. Built-in Android TV in this version handles streaming without external devices. Color accuracy out-of-box is above average for the price.
This is the single most misleading spec in projector shopping. ANSI lumens is the standardized measurement: nine points across the projected image, averaged. Manufacturer-rated brightness can be measured at peak brightness on a single point, using LED brightness equivalency multipliers, or under controlled conditions not representative of real use. A projector claiming "10,000 lumens" often measures 600–1,200 ANSI lumens. The rule: any projector under $300 claiming over 5,000 lumens is using inflated figures. For real room brightness, you need 2,000+ ANSI lumens for a dark room and 3,000+ ANSI lumens for a room with ambient light. The BenQ, Epson, and ViewSonic options in this guide list verified ANSI lumens. Smart/portable projectors like XGIMI and Nebula use ISO 21118 lumen ratings, which are more honest but not directly comparable to ANSI.
The BenQ TH671ST at $499 is the best projector under $500 for dedicated home theater use. 3,000 ANSI lumens is the brightness spec that matters most — it produces a watchable 100-inch image in a room with ambient light. Short-throw 0.69:1 ratio means you only need 5 feet of distance for a 100-inch image. Full HD 1080p native, gaming-optimized 16ms input lag at 120Hz. The Epson Home Cinema 880 at $479 is the better pick for family use with slightly better color accuracy and easier setup.
1,000 lumens produces a watchable image only in a fully dark room at 80 inches. 2,000 lumens handles dark rooms at up to 100 inches and dimly lit rooms at 80 inches. 3,000 lumens works in a room with closed blinds at 100 inches. 4,000+ lumens handles ambient light in living rooms. Most "native 1080p under $300" projectors advertise "LED lumens" or manufacturer-rated brightness that is 3-5x higher than ANSI lumens. Always verify ANSI lumen rating, not manufacturer-quoted brightness.
Short-throw projectors (0.4:1–0.7:1 throw ratio) produce a large image from 2–5 feet away — essential for apartments, small living rooms, or setups where furniture or room length limits distance. Standard throw projectors (1.2:1–2.0:1) need 8–12 feet for a 100-inch image and produce sharper images at lower cost. If you have the space, standard throw delivers better image quality per dollar. If space is a constraint, short-throw justifies its premium.
Run a live AI comparison: BenQ TH671ST vs Epson Home Cinema 880
Browse all comparison articles · Product buying guides · Trending comparisons
How GoodPickr scores products · Why GoodPickr? · All popular comparisons
Buyers who prioritize BenQ's strengths and want the best in this category.
Budget-conscious buyers or those who don't need the premium features — consider the alternatives below.
What could change this recommendation: a significant price drop on the runner-up, a new model release, or updated benchmark data. This page is re-verified periodically.
We'll alert you when BenQ TH671ST or Epson Home Cinema 880 hits a new low — or when our recommendation changes.