Investing in a handy portable projector is never a bad idea — they can turn your backyard into a movie theater or can come in really handy if you’re ever rained out on a camping trip and wished you could put on a show or flick for the kids in the tent. Or maybe you’re a business professional with a presentation on your laptop that needs to be shown at a client meeting. In all of these scenarios, everyone crowding around your mobile device isn’t ideal. Instead, you want a bigger screen for a comfortable viewing experience. That’s where a compact portable projector can be a great buy.
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Portable projectors have significantly improved over the past few years, and now it’s easier than ever to get one that doesn’t compromise brightness or picture quality. Our picks for the best portable projectors provide an ideal balance between the best home theater projectors and the best pocket projectors.
There are options on this list ideal for watching movies and others more suited to office or business environments. Whatever your needs are, there is a portable projector on this list for it.
The best portable projectors at a glance
LG PF50KA portable home theater CineBeam projector
Why you should buy it: Loaded with connectivity features and beautiful high-res imaging, the PF50KA also delivers the piece of mind that comes with the LG brand name.
Who it’s for: Those with a wide range of devices they might want to connect.
Why we chose the LG PF50KA:
The LG PF50KA CineBeam Projector is our top choice because it brings the best of both worlds together. It has solid image quality and is significantly brighter than the competition. Combine that with its compact size, and the PF50KA really does feel like bringing a home theater projector with you.
The PF50KA also comes with LG’s Smart TV platform, so you can stream Netflix and Hulu directly from the projector without the need to connect to another device.
If you need to connect to something else, though, there are plenty of options. Many portable projectors are limited on their I/O, but the PF50KA has a plethora of ports. You will find an ethernet port, two HDMI slots, a USB-C port, as well a headphone/speaker jack. It even has a coax port to hook up cable service.
Wireless connections also abound on the PF50KA, with Bluetooth connectivity for speakers and headphones, as well as screen mirroring for viewing whatever’s on your mobile devices.
The LGPF50KA is the portable projector that checks all the boxes.
AAXA P7 Mini Projector
Why you should buy it: Its surprisingly bright and clear image comes in a package that’s about as portable a projector can get for this resolution.
Who it’s for: On-the-go types who like to entertain from anywhere or business professionals in need of portable projection for presentations.
Why we chose the AAXA P7 Mini Projector:
There are plenty of pocket projectors out there. Most of them aren’t very bright and have a pretty low native resolution. That isn’t the case with the AAXA P7.
The P7 runs at a native 1080p resolution and 600 lumens for brightness. It doesn’t quite fit in your pocket; in fact, it barely fits in your hand. But it is the absolute best quality you will find in this compact size.
The I/O is what you would expect from a device so small. There is a USB and an HDMI port, as well as a headphone jack and separate AV port on the side. The tiny projector can cast a 120-inch image, and it has built-in speakers. There is also an optional lithium battery that provides up to three hours of battery life.
For something super compact that still projects a great image, the AAXA P7 is hard to beat.
ViewSonic M1 portable LED projector
Why you should buy it: For its midrange price, the ViewSonic has some high-end features, such as great Harmon/Kardon sound and battery life for true portability.
Who it’s for: Those who are willing to give a little on image quality in exchange for sound and battery life.
Why we chose the ViewSonic M1:
Sometimes you don’t need a projector with off-the-charts image quality. Sometimes you just need to get a presentation up so co-workers can see what you’re talking about. Rather than lugging around a big projector or relying on one at the office, the ViewSonic M1 offers decent picture quality at a midrange price.
With a wide, 854-by-480-pixel WVGA resolution, the M1 can throw a 100-inch image from nearly 9 feet away. It also has an impressive battery life of up to six hours. That’s perfect for binge-watching shows or a long day of presentations at the office.
The ViewSonic M1 is compact and comes with its own stand that folds away when you don’t need it. It also has built-in Harman/Kardon speakers that provide decent enough sound for its size.
If you’re looking for a projector with a wide image that will last through the day, theViewSonic M1 is the best option for you.
Anker Nebula Solar
Why you should buy it: This Android TV-powered projector is easy-peasy to set up, and you can get watching completely wirelessly with ample connectivity options. It also has great Dolby-tuned sound.
Who it’s for: Beginners to the projector world who want to get going with little fuss.
Why we chose the Anker Nebula Solar:
The Anker Nebula Solar is a great portable projector for many reasons. For one, it’s incredibly compact at just 7 inches long and wide, and just over 2 inches tall. Despite its namesake, the Nebular Solar isn’t solar-powered, but it does have a built-in battery for three hours of use. That makes it great for overnight camping trips or taking to a friend’s house without worrying about wires.
The Anker Nebula can cast a screen up to 120 inches, and it has some other features making it great for beginners or casual projector users. The Nebula Solar can autofocus so users don’t have to mess with the settings to get the perfect image. The Nebula Solar also supports 40 degrees of horizontal and vertical keystoning to get the perfect squared-off image.
For a projector you can simply pull out and use, none are quite as simple as the Anker Nebula Solar.
XGIMI Halo
Why you should buy it: The XGIHI Halo has a plug-and-play setup, Android TV for all the streaming services you need, and one of the highest resolution images on our list.