The cylindrical design captivated us upon unboxing, and then the setup and super-intuitive interface screen won us over. Read our BenQ HT2050A review.The Nebula by Anker Capsule Max is slightly bigger than a soda can (OK, maybe a tall boy), but it packs a tremendous punch. Its picture is also much better in pretty much every way, so if you're looking for a projector for use around the home, or maybe backyard, and you don't need battery power, it's worth considering. Read our Anker Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K Projector review.īenQ HT2050A: The HT2050 isn't technically a portable projector at all, but it is compact and roughly the same price as one of the more expensive 'portable' options. It's nice and bright, but the other downsides - lack of zoom, average overall image quality and a steep price for what you get - keep it off this list. There's also no battery so you'll need to plug it in. Read our Xiaomi Mi Smart Projector 2 review.Īnker Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K: Since it has a handle and a compact size, the Cosmos Laser 4K is technically portable, but it's hardly mini at more than 10 pounds. It's relatively dim, especially for the price, and it lacks both a built-in battery and compatibility with a USB power source, so it's not truly portable. We appreciated the compact size, 1080p resolution and built-in Android TV streaming, but the cons outweigh the pros. Xiaomi Mi Smart Projector 2: Another relatively expensive small projector we didn't love, the Xiaomi at least has a gorgeous, Apple-like design going for it. Worse, its price is 50% higher than it should be based on how it looks and performs. It lacks a battery and its performance is average, at best. Its built-in streaming is far better implemented than most portable projectors. About the size of a Bluetooth speaker, and can double as one, the Freestyle can pivot on its stand to project an image at any height on walls and even the ceiling. Samsung Freestyle: The small, cylindrical Freestyle is an interesting idea, but it comes up short. The battery doesn't last as long as the AAXA either, although it's a bit cheaper. It's not particularly bright, nor does it have built-in apps. LG CineBeam PH30N: The LG PH30N is tiny even compared to other portable projectors, even smaller than the AAXA. It's dimmer than the Xgimi Halo Plus for similar money. You can even use it as a Bluetooth speaker. Read our Anker Nebula Solar Portable review.īenQ GS50: The GS50 is roughly the same size as the Xgimi Halo Plus, and is also 1080p and has a built-in battery. If you want a sleek, budget-friendly portable with 1080p and plan on keeping the image on the small side, this is a solid choice. Its main disadvantage compared to others on this list is its relatively dim image, which means it can't project as large a picture and still look good.

If you want something portable, compact and maybe battery-powered, here are our top picks for the best mini projector.Īnker Nebula Solar Portable: We didn't like the Solar Portable as much as the BenQ GS50, Xgimi Halo Plus or even its sibling, the Mars II Pro.

Since they mostly run on batteries, if you're going to be near an outlet, a standard projector will get you a much brighter, bigger and better image for your dollar. Secondly, most portable projectors, specifically the cheapest ones, often feature lower resolution than their larger peers, especially 4K projectors. The picture can end up looking dim since they can't project as large an image as the big guys. For one, many small projectors lack the brightness of a traditional home theater projector. Most portable projectors come ready to stream Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video and other streaming services without needing a connection to a laptop or streaming device.Īll this being said, portable projectors do come with a variety of drawbacks. Not to mention, they typically run on batteries. The best mini projectors on the market today also feature a bevy of connectivity options, like Bluetooth, HDMI and Wi-Fi. These devices are amazing for outdoor movie sessions, and the best portable projectors are easy to set up, have bright output, and can be used in any room of your house are great in the outdoors (or at least your great outdoors). You no longer need a big space to keep a projector.

Super bright small projector