I've tested projectors worth nearly $20,000, but I'll be watching the Super Bowl on this $319 thrower this year

The Super Bowl is a big deal in this house. After spending all year watching Sunday night, and trying to stay up for, Monday night games, seeing the two top teams duke it out is a fantastic excuse to eat a bunch of junk food and scream at the TV. Except this year it won't be LG taking the brunt of my shouts, it's going to be XGIMI.

I've been testing the best projectors for gaming for a few years now, running all the way up the price scale to the ultra-luxury $18,000 offerings from Sony. And yet, ever since I set up the XGIMI Elfin Flip, an unassuming 1080p thrower that easily props up at the head of a bed, on a coffee table, or even angled on a shelf, I've been looking at these high-end lasers a little differently. Considering the Flip is my go-to projector of choice right now, its $319.99 Prime members price isn't looking too shabby at all.

XGIMI Elfin Flip | $499 $319 (Prime members) at Amazon
Save $180 - The XGIMI Elfin Flip is currently $180 off for Prime members at Amazon, dropping the final rate down to a record-low $319. This is only the second time I've seen such a price on the affordable thrower - it's usually sitting at $380. If you're not a Prime member, that's where you'll find yourself today.

Buy it if:

✅ You want a no-nonsense device
✅ You don't want loads of startup hassle
✅ You don't even have a screen

Don't buy it if:

❌ You're building a high-end setup

UK: £339 at Amazon

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$300 isn't an unheard of price point in the projector world. In fact, one of my favorite budget-friendly models, the Yaber T2, started life at this position. Stock is starting to run low on that more portable option, though, and it's currently only available in refurbished condition at Amazon, though that $139.99 rate isn't anything to sniff at.

All that to say, there are plenty of cheap, inefficient hack jobs on various online stores at this price point, which makes finding a gem all the more difficult. For a casual lifestyle projector that can run 1080p Netflix, Amazon Prime, and YouTube (while also casting from your phone), this is about as easy as it gets.

My experience with the XGIMI Elfin Flip

So why have I dropped my 4K TV (and even far more expensive projectors) for a 1080p budget thrower for the Super Bowl? The biggest TV event of the year so far?

Like most of my decisions, it's down to convenience. Yes, the Sony Bravia Projector 8 gave me blisteringly sharp picture with better colors, higher contrast, and smoother motion handling. So then why do I crawl into bed every night excited to watch my shows and YouTube subscriptions on XGIMI's fraction-of-the-price device? Maybe it's Sony's $18,999.99 price tag at Amazon.

Maybe it's because it's surprising how many quality of life features you lose when you prioritize ultra high image quality. I've got it set up in a spot the Bravia would never fit in. It turns on and gives me instant access to Netflix and Amazon Prime without requiring a streaming stick. I don't need to keep wires tangled around for various external speakers (that's all built in). I also don't need to calibrate the living hell out of the thing just to feel like I'm getting my money's worth.

Projector turns on. Projector plays movie. I go to sleep. Projector... uh... stays on until I wake up and turn it off.

Is it better than the Bravia? Hell no. If I had $20K to spend you can bet I'd go straight to the top of the price list. It does, however, work a lot better for me, in a more casual setting - and as most of us don't have the big bucks to spend on a home theatre that's worth its weight in value.

I've missed the best part. I have a whole projecting setup elsewhere in the house, ready to test the brightest bulbs Sony and BenQ want to throw at us. I don't want that in my bedroom. It's time I admit something; I throw this lens on a darker, slightly purple, and badly painted wall. And it does just fine.

Of course colors aren't as bold as they could be, but I just want to watch my shows on the big-screen while cosied up with the dog. I was surprised by just how well the Elfin Flip handled this amateur hour setup.

So, as a UK NFL fan who should really be in bed by the time the halftime show starts, I'm championing the budget-friendly XGIMI Elfin Flip for my Super Bowl viewing this year. I can't guarantee I'll make it to the final quarter but by the time my alarm goes off I know I'll be thankful I didn't spend the night on the couch.

• See all projector deals at Amazon

I'm also hunting down the best projectors for PS5 and Xbox Series X if you're after something a little more turbo-powered. Or check out the best gaming TVs and best gaming monitors for a more traditional setup.