With budget projectors, something always has to give. But today, we’re looking at the Epson Home Cinema 880, a 1080p projector that promises high-quality performance, good brightness, and simple functionality for little cash. This projector should appeal to movie lovers, gamers, and casual users alike.
In this Epson 880 projector review, we’ll evaluate everything you need to consider-—performance, picture quality, ease-of-use, design, and if it lives up in a projector comparison to others. If you want to purchase a budget projector, this detailed overview will benefit your decision-making process on the Home Cinema Epson 880.
Let’s explore more details about this projector’s claims of “big features at a smart price.”
Before we dive deeper, here’s a snapshot of what the Epson projector brings to the table:
| Feature | Specification |
| Resolution: | Full HD 1080p (1920 x 1080) |
| Brightness: | 3,300 lumens (color & white) |
| Contrast Ratio: | Up to 16,000:1 |
| Lamp Life: | Up to 12,000 hours (ECO Mode) |
| Inputs: | HDMI, USB Type-A, VGA |
| Speaker: | Built-in 2W mono |
| Weight | 5.95 lbs |
| Throw Ratio | 1.21–1.63 |
Unboxing the Epson Home Cinema 880 is an easy and enjoyable process. Upon opening the box, you’ll find:
The projector is nice, compact, and light enough to easily move from room to room. The minimalist design is white and fits easily into any home, with LED lights indicating functionality. The controls are intuitive, which is great for a budget-priced projector; it feels solid and not cheap or plasticky like many in this price range.
Setting up the 880 is straightforward, even for those who aren't projectors. Plug it in, hook up your media source via HDMI (or USB if you're using a flash drive), and you’re ready to go.
The keystone correction is especially valuable here since you can get a squared-off image with little side-to-side adjustment if the projector isn't completely aligned. There is no horizontal keystone, but the projector works well enough for many home cinema Epson setups.
The most remarkable aspect of this projector is its brightness. The 880 is rated at 3,300 lumens of both color and white brightness. It performs well above its weight class.
What We Loved:
If you plan to watch a movie during the day or want a casual viewing experience in your living room with some ambient light, the Epson 880 is much more capable than any others in its class. In short, it's a true daylight-capable budget projector, a rare feature.
To be clear, the internal speaker on most projectors is never the best feature in any model. The Epson Home Cinema 880 has a built-in 2-watt mono speaker; it's okay for a quick presentation or close-range viewing in a small room but not great for movie night.
You should add external speakers, a soundbar, or a Bluetooth speaker. A plug-in soundbar would provide the best sound experience and significantly improve audio quality, even on the low end.
While it does not come with innovative streaming applications like in the case of Android TV, it supports:
The menu is simple and easy to navigate, and the picture modes “Cinema,” “Dynamic,” and “Presentation” provide flexibility for viewing.
You'll also appreciate the low input lag, which allows for smooth gameplay with little to no delay. It's a nice feature at this price point.
Epson projectors have a reputation for reliability, and the 880 is no exception.
At 4 hours a day in Eco mode, you’ll use the projector for over 8 years before you need a new lamp. Replacement bulbs are affordable, and the projector includes an easy-to-clean dust filter—a small detail that adds to the unit’s long-term value.
We scoured Amazon, Best Buy, and projector forums to compile honest user feedback from buyers using the Epson 880 in real-world settings.
Even with these drawbacks, nearly all reviews agree: for under $600, this is one of the best-performing projectors on the market.
Let’s see how the Epson 880 stacks up against two other popular options in the budget space.
| Feature | Epson 880 | BenQ TH575 | ViewSonic PX701HD |
| Resolution | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p |
| Brightness | 3,300 lumens | 3,800 lumens | 3,500 lumens |
| Contrast | 16,000:1 | 15,000:1 | 12,000:1 |
| Lamp Life (Eco Mode) | 12,000 hrs | 15,000 hrs | 20,000 hrs |
| Built-in Speaker | Yes (2W) | Yes (10W) | Yes (10W) |
| Price Range | ~$499 | ~$599 | ~$529 |
While the BenQ and ViewSonic models offer louder speakers and longer lamp life, the Epson projector excels in ease of use, brightness balance, and overall reliability.
If you prioritize setup simplicity and crisp visuals in various light conditions, the Epson 880 is a strong contender.
The Epson Home Cinema 880 is perfect for:
It’s also smart for students, renters, or anyone needing portability and easy storage.
The Epson Home Cinema 880 shows that high-quality projector experiences don’t have to carry a high price tag. With solid brightness, sharp 1080p resolution, and ease of set-up, it outperforms many considerably more expensive projectors. The Epson Home Cinema 880 does not sacrifice where it truly counts for a budget projector. If you are looking to easily and reliably bring the big screen home cheaply, the Epson will deliver and then some!
This content was created by AI