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If you don’t have time to go through the whole reviews, here is our recommended projector for the dorm room. ViewSonic PA503S Projector.
When you made a list of the things you need for your dorm room, did you include a projector? Probably not. Most people go for a TV instead. Not today, though.
Let us show you the other side where all the magic happens. A decent projector in your room will bring your entertainment to a whole new level. You can even practice your class presentations.
The size, portability, screen size, and budget all make projectors a winner over a TV. Read on to know more about why you should select a projector for your dorm room.
We’ll guide you all about how to select them. If you need any tips, read about whether you should get a cheap projector or not.
But first, let’s look at the best projectors available for a dorm room. You’ll fall in love with them, just like we did.
Top 6 Best Projectors for dorm room reviewed
1.ViewSonic PA503S Projector – Best movie projector for dorm room
Let’s start this list with a ViewSonic projector. It comes with a decent resolution that supports 3D.
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- Resolution: 800 x 600
- Brightness: 3600 lumens
- Contrast ratio: 22,000:1
- Projection size: 30 to 300 inches
- Throw distance: 3.9 ft to 43 ft
- Dimensions: 4.33 x 11.57 x 8.58 inches
- Weight: 7.14 lbs
- Lamp life: 15000 hours on Dynamic Eco mode
This DLP projector can stream your favorite content, including Netflix, not only in the dark but also in bright rooms. The image contrast is excellent, and there is no screen door effect.
You can connect your laptops, PC, mobile phones, or DVD players with it to stream anything you like. It comes with the standard VGA and HDMI input.
The throw distance is a bit longer. You need 15 ft 8 inches to project an image of 120 inches. Moreover, the resolution is just 600p, which is best for movie projector only, but not for PowerPoint presentations.
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The 1.1x optical zoom is not useful. The in-built speakers of 2W need better external audio. The lamp life of 4500 hours on Normal mode is not long enough.
A vertical keystone correction of ±40° helps in image alignment. A six-segment color wheel helps deliver vivid images. If you’re a gamer, you’ll love the minimal input lag. It is 16ms only with a 60Hz refresh rate with an HDMI input.
Pros
- It can stream Netflix
- Decent brightness
- Quiet fan
- Easy setup
- Vertical keystone correction
- It needs external audio
- No USB or Bluetooth ports
- Throw distance is a little longer than desired
- No lens covers
- Bad customer service
2.YABER Y61 Projector – Top mini projector for dorm room
Dorm rooms are not very spacious, right? What better projector for a dorm room than a portable mini one?
- Resolution: 1280 × 720, supports 1080p
- Brightness: 5500 lumens
- Contrast ratio: 6000:1
- Projection size: 45 to 200 inches
- Throw distance: 4 ft minimum
- Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.9 x 2.9 inches
- Weight: 3.39 lbs
- Lamp life: 100,000 hours on Smart Eco mode
Coming at an affordable price, Yaber Y61 displays quality images with high contrast. 720p is an average resolution for projectors in this price range. It supports full HD too.
The image is bright enough to be visible in a room with all the lights on. However, the quality is much better in the dark. This LED digital portable projector has various connectivity options.
Use VGA and HDMI, or go for wireless with USB and wi-fi connectivity.
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It needs at least 4 ft between the screen and the projector. Wireless screen mirroring is ideal for projecting anything from the comfort of your bed. It comes with a zoom of -25%. This, along with the keystone correction of ±15°, helps in aligning any image.
The keystone is limited and not of much use, though. The 3W dual speakers can manage sufficient audio in a dorm room.
The lamp life is long if you use the Smart Eco mode. The projector doe not heat up much and offers dual aspect ratio support.
Pros
- Great brightness
- Wireless connectivity
- Small and lightweight
- Portable
- Multiple connectivity options
- It cannot stream Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu
- It does not come with a carrying case
- Keystone does not work well
- No Bluetooth connectivity
3.ManyBox Mini Projector – Overhead projector for dorm room
Are you looking for a compact projector that works well on the ceiling of your dorm room? ManyBox projector is quiet, has various supported media devices, and comes with decent audio.
- Resolution: 800 × 480, supports 1080p
- Brightness: 3500 lumens
- Contrast ratio: 2000:1
- Projection size: 36 to 150 inches
- Throw distance: 3 ft to 12 ft
- Dimensions: 7.70 x 6.60 x 3.00 inches
- Weight: 3.39 lbs
- Lamp life: 45,000 hours
If your budget is less than a hundred dollars, you can still get this decent projector for your room. The image is brightest in the dark, but it can work in rooms with low light.
It has LCD technology and needs filter maintenance. You can enlarge an image up to 150 inches from 3 to 12 feet away. The contrast and resolution suffice good image quality for smaller screen size.
Try the projectors at number 2 and 3 if you want higher resolution images. It comes with a remote and can connect to almost any device. Wireless projection via Wi-fi, USB, and SD card is available.
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The integrated speakers of 3W could be better. The lamp life is long, and it also supports a dual aspect ratio. The projector comes with a limited 3-year warranty too.
If you want a wall or ceiling projection, it can do both. The device does not heat up much. For image alignment, you can use keystone correction of ±15°.
Pros
- Multiple supported devices
- Speakers produce sufficient audio
- It consumes only 35W of power
- Quiet
- Small and portable
- It does not come with a rechargeable battery
- Lower native resolution
- No Bluetooth connection for external speakers
4.QKK Mini Projector – Popular projector for dorm room
This compact projector, with 720p resolution and a short-throw, is perfectly suited to dorm room usage. This is the most loved projector on different marketplace.
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- Resolution: 720p, supports 1080p
- Brightness: 4500 lumens
- Contrast ratio: 2000:1
- Projection size: 40 to 170 inches
- Throw distance: 3.2 ft to 13 ft
- Dimensions: 9.3 x 9.3 x 6.4 inches
- Weight: 4.09 lbs
- Lamp life: 50,000 hours
The digital projector fits in the palm of your hand and displays a bright image. We could enjoy a sharp image in our room with lights on.
Although the QKK advertises a 1080p resolution, this is not true. In the user manual, you’ll find it at 720p, which is ample for small dorm rooms. Still, it supports full HD.
The contrast works best for smaller screen sizes up to 80 inches. The good news is that the device comes with a 100 inches projector screen for the dorm room. The material is not cheap.
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The connectivity is for multiple devices, including USB, SD cards, and game consoles. No Bluetooth is supported, though. It makes it tricky to connect with external speakers. The dual internal speakers are not enough.
The focus wheel and the keystone correction are a boon. The lamp life of 50,000 hours is much longer than the average. The dual fans help cool it down efficiently.
Pros
- Great value for money
- Compact and portable
- Quiet
- User-friendly interface
- It comes with a projector screen
- It has a noticeable input lag
- No Bluetooth
- The image gets pixelated image at larger sizes
- It needs external speakers for games and movies
5. Meer Projector – Budget projector for small dorm room
If you want to know the lowest you can go without compromising the quality, here’s your answer. Meer offers a cheap projector for a small college dorm room in a pocket-size.
- Resolution: 480 × 272, supports 1080p
- Brightness: 400 lumens
- Contrast ratio: 800:1
- Projection size: 24 to 80 inches
- Throw distance: 3.2 ft to 9.8 ft
- Dimensions: 4.98 x 3.37 x 1.88 inches
- Weight: 0.64 lbs
- Lamp life: 20,000 hours
If you are a beginner trying a projector for the first time, we recommend this beautiful yellow projector. It is a fun little toy with loads of entertainment at an affordable price.
The brightness is not much and needs zero ambient light. The image resolution and contrast works well for a screen size below 80 inches.
You can mount this LCD projector for use on a wall or ceiling. It has many connectivity options, but no Bluetooth is available. You can connect it with an iPad, or iPhone too, using an adapter.
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It works by a remote, and you cannot stream content with Dolby sound. That includes Netflix too. The projection size works for a dorm room, but the speakers don’t. They are only 1W, and you’ll need an external audio setup.
The lamp can last more than a decade, even with heavy use. It is advertised as a portable projector, but it has no rechargeable battery.
Pros
- Easy to set up and adjust settings
- Vibrant colors
- Portable, small and lightweight
- Remote control
- Power usage is only 10-24W
- The sound quality is terrible
- It does not stream Amazon Prime, Netflix, or Disney plus
- It does not come with an HDMI cable
- The brightness is low
How to Select a Perfect Projector for a Dorm Room? (Buying Guide):
Selecting a projector does not need much technical expertise. You just need to know some basic rules before browsing through the devices.
If you’re smart and clear about your requirements, you’ll get what you’re looking for. Let’s focus on the choices you’ve got to make.
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6.QKK Mini Projector – High-quality projector for dorm room
If you are looking for a budget projector with a high-quality display, try this QKK projector. It comes with more than 3200 positive reviews on different online shop.
- Resolution: 1280 × 720, supports 1080p
- Brightness: 5000 lumens
- Contrast ratio: 2000:1
- Projection size: 32 to 176 inches
- Throw distance: 4.9 ft to 16.4 ft
- Dimensions: 9.41 x 9.17 x 4.37 inches
- Weight: 3.09 lbs
- Lamp life: 40,000 hours