The Best Portable Projectors for 2022

Not too long ago, the concept of having a projector small enough to take with you in your bag, let alone in your pocket, was just wishful thinking. But as projectors have come down in size, portable models have come into their own, making it possible for you to project your data and video anywhere you go. (Even if “anywhere” these days just means around the house.)

Portable projectors encompass a surprisingly wide range in size, brightness, and features. Here, we will help you sort out their differences, as well as highlight our favorite models—all of which weigh less than two pounds. We’ve outlined below our top picks among portable projectors we’ve tested. Read on for our labs-tested favorites, followed by the buying basics you should know when shopping for one. Also note: At the very end of this article is a detailed spec breakout of our top choices.

More About Our Picks

Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12 Smart Streaming Laser Projector

Best Portable Smart TV

Bottom Line:

The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12 is a smart TV masquerading as a portable projector. Its small form manages to contain a long-lived laser light source, Android TV, Google Play Store apps and games, and even good audio.

Pros

• Long-lived laser-phosphor light source
• Native 1080p resolution; supports 4K UHD (3,840-by-2,160) input and HDR
• Three-chip LCD engine (3LCD) for equal color and white brightness and no rainbow artifacts
• Integrated Android TV
• Wi-Fi and two HDMI ports
• Impressive audio options

Cons

• No 3D support
• Only moderate brightness

Best Non-Battery-Powered Mini Projector

Bottom Line:

The 1080p Xgimi Elfin delivers film and video quality easily suitable for casual viewing, and adds surprisingly high brightness for a projector that weighs all of two pounds.

Pros

• Small and light
• Surprisingly bright; rated at 800 ANSI lumens
• 1080p native resolution; accepts 4K input
• Built-in Android TV 10 for streaming via Wi-Fi
• Image quality easily good enough for casual movie and video watching

Cons

• HDR quality issues
• No Netflix app available

Kodak Luma 350 Portable Smart Projector

Best Palmtop Movie Projector

Bottom Line:

The Kodak Luma 350 Portable Smart Projector is an Android-based palmtop that throws a larger-than-usual usable image given its brightness output. It does well in projecting photos, and its video quality is fine for casual use.

Pros

• Android 6 OS lets you download, run apps (including control app)
• Lightweight and portable
• Includes remote control, built-in battery
• Projects a decent-size image for its brightness
• Above-par photo quality

Cons

• So-so video quality
• Mere one-year warranty
• Controls on projector itself are limited

Anker Nebula Solar Portable Projector

Best Mini Projector with 4K Input

Bottom Line:

The 1080p Anker Nebula Solar Portable offers lots of desirable features, including support for 4K and HDR, built-in Android TV, and good brightness for its size and weight. Color accuracy isn’t perfect, but it’s good enough for most people to accept without a second thought.

Pros

• 1080p (1,920-by-1,080) native resolution; accepts 4K (3,840-by-2,160) input
• Supports HDR and copy protection standards used by 4K UHD discs
• Android TV 9 and Wi-Fi built in
• Battery life rated at 3 hours in Battery mode or 1.5 hours in Standard
• Capable autofocus

Cons

• Color accuracy is off by just enough to notice
• Does not deliver improved image quality with HDR material

Best Streaming Stick Companion

Bottom Line:

The Miroir Synq M189 delivers impressive color accuracy and robust audio, plus it packs a compartment big enough to hide your favorite streaming stick. It’s our top pick for portable streaming projectors.

Pros

• Excellent color accuracy for its size and price
• Robust audio for the small size
• Built-in battery lasts up to 4 hours
• Accommodates any streaming stick

Cons

• Only one HDMI port, no other inputs
• Image settings can’t be adjusted

AAXA P7 Mini HD Projector

Best Business-Trip Presentation Partner

Bottom Line:

The AAXA P7 Mini HD Projector is a tiny 1080p model good for business presentations on the road, and it does a decent job at showing video and photos, as well as playing music.

Pros

• Highly compact and lightweight.
• 1080p native resolution.
• Built-in battery.
• Good data-image quality.
• Plays music and displays photos or video from memory cards or USB sticks.

Cons

• Only so-so video quality.

Best Entertainment and Audio Projector

Bottom Line:

The Anker Nebula Apollo entertainment projector can project videos, photos, and Android apps, as well as play music and operate as a Bluetooth speaker. Its long battery life makes it ideal for portable, on-the-go use.

Pros

• Reasonably priced
• Long battery life between charges
• Runs Android 7.1
• Multiple control methods
• Doubles as a Bluetooth speaker

Cons

• Modest brightness
• Oversensitive touch pad
• Occasional audio distortion at high volume levels

Best Bargain Coat-Pocket Projector

Bottom Line:

ViewSonic’s M1 mini is a highly portable palmtop projector that counters its modest brightness with a cleverly designed stand, decent image quality for photos and videos, and the ability to play music files.

Pros

• Highly portable
• Simple yet innovative stand
• Interchangeable top panels in three colors
• Media player handles photo, video, and music files in a variety of formats

Cons

• Can project images only at modest size
• No on-body control panel
• Tiny remote is easily lost

Best Semi-Portable Short Throw 4K

Bottom Line:

The ViewSonic X10-4KE delivers 4K UHD resolution, HDR, and built-in streaming, plus an excellent audio system. It’s semi-portable—call it luggable—and its LED light source will last for years.

Pros

• Long-lived LED light source
• 4K UHD (3,840-by-2,160-pixel) resolution using TI’s XPR fast-switch pixel shifting
• HDR10 support
• Built-in handle for easy portability
• Notably high-volume, high-quality audio
• Integrated streaming, Android OS, and smart home features

Cons

• Perceived brightness is lower than the rated 2,400 LED lumens
• Out-of-the-box color accuracy is somewhat off
• Disappointing shadow detail in dark scenes

How to Buy a Portable Projector

Pico or pocket projectors are a little larger than smartphones. Because most of them can accommodate videos and photos for on-the-go entertainment (in addition to slides and charts for business or classroom presentations), these models can be thought of as multimedia display systems. Though convenient and snazzy, they tend to be of low brightness and relatively expensive for their performance.

How to Buy the Best Projector

So-called palmtop projectors are larger (and generally brighter) than pico projectors, typically a bit too large to fit comfortably in the palm of your hand, even with your fingers outstretched. Still, they are lightweight enough that you wouldn’t think twice about packing one in a bag or a backpack. Most are brighter than pico models, and have more connection options.

The AAXA P7 Mini really does fit in your palm.

Most pico and palmtop projectors can run files from a USB thumb drive and/or SD card, so you don’t need to lug your laptop with them. (If you do want to bring a laptop with you, though, check out our roundup of the best ultraportable laptops.) Some even have up to 8GB of internal memory for storing media files. Many can project content from a smartphone or tablet, either wirelessly or via an HDMI port that supports Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL). A growing number offer USB-C connectivity. Many models come with built-in rechargeable batteries so you can use them away from a power outlet.

Larger (But Still Portable) Projectors

Many manufacturers have introduced mini projectors that are generally a bit larger than palmtops, but considerably brighter. They pack a relatively high resolution, and their larger frames let them include more physical ports than their smaller brethren.

The next step up from these, thin-and-light projectors, are as wide, deep, and bright as standard models but barely an inch thick, and they weigh in at about 4 pounds. They are highly portable, but you pay a premium for their svelteness, and they usually have a limited set of connection choices.

The LG Minibeam LED projector is lightweight, but it doesn’t sacrifice image quality.

Finally, some standard projectors are still small and light enough to be easily portable, whether you’re moving them between classrooms or taking them on a cross-country flight. Many come with soft carrying cases, but they could just as easily be slipped into a travel bag or backpack. Although a few have internal batteries, the majority of standard projectors—as well as most thin and light ones—are limited to AC power.

Understanding Key Projector Specs: Brightness, Resolution, and Technology

Pico projectors have low brightness (from less than 50 to up to several hundred ANSI lumens). They generally have low resolution, often 854 by 480 pixels (aka FWVGA or 480p), with a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio. This combination limits their effective use to projecting onto a small screen in a darkened room, with optimal image sizes ranging from 24 to 48 inches, measured diagonally. If too much ambient light is introduced, or the image is enlarged too much, it will look washed out and detail will be lost.

Although a few palmtop projectors have a brightness of less than a hundred lumens, most fall in the range of 200 to 600 lumens. Some palmtops have 480p or lower resolution, and a few have resolutions up to 1080p (1,920 by 1,080), but most are 720p (1,280 by 720 pixels). Their optimal image size tends to be between 36 and 60 inches, depending on their brightness and resolution. Slightly larger mini-projectors can have brightnesses of 1,000 lumens or more. Thin-and-lights and standard-sized portable models are often in the 3,000-lumen range, use standard projector screens, and can tolerate ambient light.

We have seen a few small laser-based projectors and a smattering of liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) models. However, the vast majority of pico, palmtop, and other small projectors are LED-based, and most use TI’s Digital Light Processing (DLP) technology in their light engines. LEDs have exceptionally long lifetimes and are generally rated for 20,000 hours or more, so the light source should last the lifetime of the projector. Single-chip DLP projectors often show potentially annoying rainbow artifacts (little red-green-blue flashes), but this so-called rainbow effect tends to be more of a problem in standard projectors than in pico or palmtop models.

Larger portable projectors vary in technology, most being either DLP or liquid-crystal display (LCD). An advantage of LCD projectors is that their images are free of rainbow artifacts.

We have lately seen a growing number of small multimedia projectors that can double as Bluetooth speakers. When you switch one of these projectors to Bluetooth mode, it operates purely as a speaker. In that capacity, it can play music streamed from a Bluetooth-enabled device, such as your mobile device or computer. When you want to use it a projector, you just switch it into Projector mode.

The Anker Nebula Capsule II projector can also function as a Bluetooth speaker.

Many recent consumer-oriented small projectors (including some Bluetooth-speaker models) incorporate their own Android operating system. Although most pack standard Android builds, we have also seen ones running the Android TV OS. Android-based projectors let users run pre-installed apps (such as YouTube, Hulu, and Netflix), download more from the Google Play store, and perform other standard Android functions.

So, What Is the Best Portable Projector to Buy?

Of late, due to the pandemic, many of us have been less mobile than our devices. But now is a good time to make sure your tech will be ready to hit the road. Whether you’re a business traveler who makes presentations at multiple venues or you want to share movies and photos with friends in person, there are portable projectors up to the task. Just make sure you pick one that’s designed for the images you’re projecting and the space you’ll be in.

The projectors we highlight here are relatively lightweight, with the heaviest weighing just more than 2 pounds and the lightest right around 3 ounces. They vary considerably in size, brightness, features, and performance. Any one of these could be your favorite travel companion.