(PCMag/Amazon)
I think everyone should have a projector. As someone who owns several, I can't express strongly enough how fun and convenient these devices are. Unfortunately, many are quite expensive, with widely varying feature sets. If you don't own one yet (or if you own just one), check out the TCL C1 Smart Google TV projector. It's on sale during Amazon's Big Deal Days, marked down from $249.99 to just $199.99. This TCL model offers a compelling feature set that matches its attractive, discounted price.
Not a Prime Member?
You can still shop and save during Big Deal Days, but to get the best prices, you must sign up for Prime. Don't worry, though: You can grab a free 30-day trial during the sales event.
Why You Need a Projector...and Why It Should Be This One
You'll find that a projector is both fun and convenient in ways that you wouldn't expect. The first use that jumps to mind for most people is recreating a cinema-esque movie-watching experience. Naturally, this is one of the best uses for a projector, but it's far from the only one.
Many projectors, including the TCL C1, are relatively compact and easy to move around. After all, the idea of carrying a TV with you from place to place, even a flat screen, is laughable. A projector is a lot easier. You can set one up basically anywhere you have power, making it ideal for indoor and outdoor parties. My family has, on more than one occasion, used one outdoors for graduations and birthdays. They are awesome for gaming too, giving you and your friends a larger screen to share.
You can also take one with you on vacation. Forget about using the tiny, low-quality hotel TV: Set one of these up to immediately improve the experience. They are also suitable for camping trips. Although a backdrop is ideal for the best experience, it’s definitely not required. Besides, you'll find that many walls and objects with large, flat surfaces work well as a stand-in backdrop.
Modern projectors offer a wide variety of features, but the TCL C1 has everything I want in one. It supports 1080p resolution on backdrops measuring between 40 and 120 inches diagonally. It's also based on LCD technology, which is typically long-lasting. The brightness is also decent at 230 lumens.
You can plug anything with an HDMI port into the TCL C1. It also has its own built-in hardware that runs Google TV, so you can stream movies and TV shows without a connected device. The TCL C1 also supports Bluetooth, which is useful for connecting it to a wireless speaker or other devices (if you do the latter, you can use the projector as a Bluetooth speaker). It has an 8W built-in speaker, which should be adequate for many occasions, but you may want something with a bit more oomph for parties.
Recommended by Our Editors
So, don't pass on this opportunity to grab the TCL C1 during Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days sale, while it is marked down from $249.99 to $199.99. It's a $50 discount.
You'll find more Big Deal Days savings on projectors, TVs, and more today and tomorrow, so keep checking our Prime Day page.
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Who Has the Best Deals on Projectors Right Now?
The projector market, like the TV market, is highly contested between several different companies. TCL has a strong foothold in both camps, and it offers some of the best deals on projectors.
What Is the Best Month to Buy a Projector?
It’s never a bad time to buy a projector, but you often find the best deals in the fall. Historically, the best deals have popped up during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but this has been shifting as Amazon pushes to rival these deals holidays with its own Prime Day and Big Deal Days events.
Are Things Actually Cheaper on Prime Day?
As with all things tech-related, projectors see a regular influx of new products and an outflow of old ones. This tends to peak in the fall as companies prepare for next year’s models. While we can’t say with certainty that you'll find the best price during Prime Day, right now is definitely one of the better times to shop for a projector.
About Our Expert
I have been interested in science and technology for as long as I can remember, spurred on by a fondness for video games. I learned to work in Windows and manipulate files to get buggy games to work, and I learned to build and upgrade PCs for better performance.
In my role at PCMag for the past four years, I’ve deeply enjoyed the opportunity to share my knowledge and expertise. Before PCMag, I wrote for Tom's Hardware for three years, where I covered tech news, deals, and wrote some hands-on reviews. After working as a PCMag contributor for a time reviewing desktops, PC cases, budget processors, and motherboards, I now focus on testing and reviewing processors and graphics cards and sharing my insights on the industry.
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