Prime Day is over, but the projector deals are not going out of their light. Retailers often leave aggressive pricing up throughout the post-event period, and today you can still score real savings on compact portables, living room 4K models, and even ultra-short-throw “laser TV” systems. If you’ve been holding out to replace a TV or set up a backyard movie experience for the big games and fall films, this is one of your best remaining windows before those parts of the season are behind us and holiday shipping waits begin.
According to analysts at Futuresource Consulting, the new normal within home entertainment projection continues to see steady growth in specific segments, indeed portable LED and UST laser categories; whilst a buying frenzy around major shopping events consistently highlights a spike in deal-cycle beyond the headline dates.
Circana’s retail tracking has also observed comparable post-event momentum across consumer electronics, with discounts fading instead of completely tapering the same day. Translation: there’s still money to be made — if you know where to look.
What’s Still Discounted, and Why It Matters
Post-Prime Day pricing generally pools in one of three buckets.
- 1080p portable LED projectors marketed for movie nights and travel; we frequently see $100–$200 reductions on these among solid models that cost below $500.
- Midrange long-throw 4K (pixel-shift) DLP projectors that have better brightness and color; a lot of them are still at least a few hundred dollars under list.
- Ultra-short-throw laser systems that perch inches from the wall and project 100-inch-plus images: These are expensive, but some lingering discounts of 15% to 40% can take them down, depending on price level, by $400 to $800.
Why the discounts are sticking: inventory and seasonality. Vendors are seeking to capitalize on momentum heading into the sports calendar and ahead of new model refreshes. If you’re looking to replace a living room TV, those kind of sustained discounts might well swing the balance between sticking with a 65-inch TV and swapping that for a projected image somewhere in the region of 100–120 inches but still offering reasonable brightness and support for HDR.
How To Choose The Correct Discounted Projector
Begin with the brightness, measured in ANSI or ISO lumens (the “LED lumens” of which aren’t standardized). If you plan on watching movies in a dark room at sizes of 80 to 100 inches, we found that 500–800 ANSI lumens can do. If you’re in mixed lighting or you have sports on with the lamps on, shoot for 1,500–2,500+ ANSI lumens. In super-short-throw, laser light-sourced models from the 2,500–4,000 ANSI lumen range will match perfectly with ambient light-rejecting (ALR) screens in bright rooms.
Resolution and color matter next. “True 4K” projectors are a rarity without spending several thousand dollars — most consumer 4K DLPs use “pixel shifting,” and those look great with good source content. Look for at least HDR10 support, and if a brand references color coverage, 90%+ of Rec. 709 is one baseline; a wider gamut (DCI-P3) ramps up vibrancy for HDR. Beware of extreme “dynamic contrast” numbers — on/off measurements are prone to marketing. Instead, look for reviews or lab-tested ANSI contrast and black level performance from trusted publications or calibration groups such as the Imaging Science Foundation.
Throw ratio dictates placement. Long-throw projectors commonly require 8 to 12 feet for a 100-inch image; short-throw requires less; ultra-short-throw can sit inches away from the wall. If you’re planning to rent or move the projector around, automatic focus, keystone, and screen fitting may be worth paying for, although a lot of keystone correction can somewhat soften the image. Test fan noise (in dB) if the unit is going to be placed near viewers.
What We Think Is Real-World Brightness and Screen Size
Contrast is the enemy of ambient light. A good rule of thumb: In a dark room, you’ll need between 500 and 800 ANSI lumens to project up to ~100 inches; 1,500–2,500 lumens will get you closer to ~120 inches in moderate light; or, if you want some daytime viewing, go with something that’s pushing over 2,500 lumens with an ALR screen for a TV-like experience. If you’re throwing the image on a wall, there will be about a 10–20% loss in perceived contrast versus an actual screen. A screen is also a bit of an upgrade over just white paint, even with budget PVC screens.
Portable means bright in the backyard. Most LED models with internal batteries claim 2–3 hours, enough for a movie or two, but peak brightness may suffer on battery power. If you’re planning to throw watch parties, consider a compact 1080p LED unit that outputs between 800 and 1,200 lumens (to project in a room with ambient light), along with an easily collapsible screen from around 100 to 120 inches; pair these with a small Ethernet-enabled Bluetooth speaker for fuller sound.
Gaming and Streaming Checks: Input Lag and App Support
Input lag is important for gaming; anything under 30ms at 1080p/60Hz is great for casual play, while competitive gamers will want to aim for below 16ms. A few projectors tout 120Hz or even 240Hz modes at 1080p, but HDMI 2.1 and VRR are still pretty rare in projectors. If having a next-gen console feature really is important to you, look at the fine print for supported resolutions and refresh rates.
On streaming, certification matters. If you buy an Android TV– or Google TV–based projector, they come with full apps licensed, but some will be blocked, like Netflix, by DRM. If you desire plug’n’play, make sure your must-have apps are preinstalled and supported. AirPlay or Chromecast built-in make it easy to cast, but they don’t serve as an alternative for native apps when you want full-fat 4K HDR.
Smart Buys To Keep An Eye On Before Prices Bounce Back
- Portable 1080p LED: Good for dorm rooms, bedrooms, and backyards. Post-Prime Day, you generally pay in the $300–$600 range for auto-focus, good speakers, and 100–120-inch ability in a dim room. Expect 300–800 ANSI lumens and, on certain models, the ability to run off of a battery.
- Midrange 4K long-throw: Best for living rooms with some light control. On discount, there are often pixel-shifting 4K units in the $800–$1,500 range with over 2,000 lumens and HDR10 and gaming modes. If you’re considering a ceiling installation, keep an eye out for flexible zoom and lens shift to simplify that mounting process.
- UST laser “laser TV”: Best for replacing a TV ranging from 100–120 inches. These are still premium — but deal prices might start at hundreds off. Match it with a UST-optimized ALR screen to maintain contrast in bright spaces. Look for built-in TV platforms, robust speakers, and a minimum of 2,500 ANSI lumens.
Before you click buy, cross-reference prices with a price-history tool [make sure it’s not outpricing an old model as new]. Also try to see if you’re getting that special deal by scanning recent lab-tested reviews from trusted outlets and check return windows in case living conditions aren’t mirroring online expectations. And with retailers making way for holiday inventory, the handful of shopping days ahead can deliver outsized value on big-screen bliss — just in time for sports, spooky-season marathoning and everything in between.
