The best projectors let you enjoy a cinematic viewing experience at home. The only problem is most projectors are large, bulky, and sometimes require mounting, making them difficult to move around. Not all projectors are so limiting; plenty of portable options exist for a movie night under the stars during a camping trip or some binge-watching in a cramped dorm room.
Many portable projectors come with streaming apps and Wi-Fi built in for simple setup. Even when you’re away from an internet connection, with Bluetooth and HDMI support found on most projectors, streaming from a phone, tablet, or laptop could be a viable option. You might not even need a wall outlet, as the top portable projectors often include a battery ready to last through an entire feature-length film, or can at least be powered by the best power banks.
TL;DR – The Best Portable Projectors:
With all the good, a few caveats come with grabbing a compact option. A smaller projector’s brightness and picture quality typically just can’t compete with their larger counterparts, so it’s best to use these devices in dark environments with minimal ambient light. High refresh rates, low input lag, and specialized modes that come with the best gaming projectors also won’t be available. Still, when you’re tight on space but are after big-screen viewing, nothing competes with a portable projector.
Take a look at our favorites below. Whether you’re after something tiny and cheap or a slightly bulkier option ready to deliver rich details and accurate color, we've chosen some top-tier portable projectors.
1. Xgimi Halo+
Best Portable Projector Overall
With everything from a battery that lasts up to two hours to two 5W Harman Kardon stereo speakers (and more), the Xgimi Halo+ is among the most complete portable projectors available. The projector is able to produce 1080p resolution that shines at up to 900 ANSI lumens, which is ideal for nighttime outdoor viewing. An onboard Android interface with Chromecast, plus 2GB of memory and 16GB of flash storage, nearly completes the package.
Finally, the automatic keystone adjustment, auto focus, and Intelligent Obstacle Avoidance features together make setting this projector up in just about any environment super easy. It even has a low-latency (26.5ms) gaming mode for portable tourneys.
2. ViewSonic M1X
Best Budget Portable Projector
Plenty of portable projectors are cheaper than the ViewSonic M1X, but you’ll find out all too quickly why they were so inexpensive. Slightly upping your budget means you’ll enjoy a complete package that offers tremendous value in a premium, ultra-compact form factor.
Weighing under 2lbs and offering up to four hours of battery life, the ViewSonic M1X is the perfect companion for camping or work trips. It even has a built-in stand to help reliably display a straight picture from its range of throw distances. Horizontal and vertical keystoning along with automated four-corner adjustment also make setup simple. For safekeeping when tucked away in a bag, the stand doubles as a lens cover.
Admittedly, this portable projector won’t be the best option for playing games or acting as a full-on TV replacement given the limited resolution and low brightness. Still, as a presentation aid or portable movie option, it's an excellent choice full of ways to connect to your phone and other devices thanks to Wi-Fi support and HDMI, USB-A, and USB-C ports. What makes the ViewSonic M1X even more special are the outstanding dual 3W Harman Kardon speakers, so this projector can also turn into a great Bluetooth speaker whenever.
3. Nebula Capsule 3 Laser
Best 1080p Portable Projector
Delivering a crisp 1080p resolution through a 300 ANSI lumens lens, the Nebula Capsule 3 Laser may not be the brightest projector, making it best to use at night with little ambient light. But it shines where picture quality is concerned, offering surprisingly excellent color accuracy and great contrast.
It's hard to beat its compact size too, being slightly larger than a can of coke and weighing just 2.1lbs. Somehow, it manages to squeeze in a battery, which should last as long as a 2.5-hour movie, and 8W speakers packing Dolby Digital Plus that can also act as Bluetooth speakers.
It’s also fitted with Android TV 11, making for easy TV and movie streaming or light gaming over Wi-Fi. However, the Anker Nebula Capsule 3’s Full HD resolution and ample functionality do come with an $800 price tag, putting it right on par with the Xgimi Halo+.
4. Nebula Mars 3 Air
Best Portable Projector for Sound
Sound probably isn’t top-of-mind for a portable projectors, but it should be an important factor in your final decision, especially if you’re planning to take the projector on road trips or away from access to other sound systems. Luckily, the Nebula Mars 3 Air lands right in the strike zone, offering up two 8W speakers in a compact package. These speakers deliver rich, well-rounded sound to easily hear dialogue and soundtracks. They also get plenty loud for outdoor movie nights, while the support for Dolby Audio is the final cherry on top. Even if you skip the movie, you can use this projector as a Bluetooth speaker and enjoy up to eight hours of playback compared to its usual 2.5 hours when projecting.
Audio isn’t the only thing the Mars 3 Air got right, as those speakers are packaged into a sleek and durable design. It’s not the smallest portable projector but still easy enough to cart around with a handy little carrying strap. With Google TV built-in and Wi-Fi support, you don’t even need a streaming stick, phone, or other device to enjoy movies and TV shows. An HDMI port, USB port, and Bluetooth are also included for additional connectivity options.
The picture quality of the Mars Air 3 matches its mid-range price point. It hits up to 400 ANSI Lumens, so this projector is best for viewing with little to no ambient light. Still, the Full HD picture remains crisp and detailed with excellent motion handling, even when stretching the image up to 100 inches. HDR modes are supported but pales in comparison to many TVs and brighter projectors.
5. Xgimi Horizon S Max
Best Portable Projector for Brightness
At a whopping 3,100 ISO Lumens, the XGIMI Horizon S Max is dazzlingly bright for easy viewing in just about any environment. Where ambient light wreaks havoc on the picture of most portable projectors, its picture remains vibrant. Solid contrast, accurate colors, and surprisingly sharp resolution ensure everything you watch is rich and detailed. What takes this projector even further is the support for several HDR modes. A dual light source of laser and LEDs can even be adjusted depending on personal viewing preferences.
This projector isn’t as compact and lightweight as our other projector picks, but it should still be easy enough to cart around to different rooms in your home or pack away for road trips to enjoy big-screen viewing from anywhere. A gimbal mount on the Horizon S Max makes it simple to maneuver the projector for perfect positioning. However, a built-in stand along with autofocus, auto keystone adjustments, a screen fit feature, and obstacle avoidance ensure setup is easy from just about anywhere.
Unfortunately, a battery isn’t packed into the Horizon S Max, so this projector is dependent on a wall outlet, unless you’ve got a high-powered power bank. At least Android 11 and Wi-Fi support are included for quick and simple streaming. An HDMI port is available to plug in a gaming console, while two USB ports support other devices. The dual 12W Harmon Kardon speakers sound excellent and can easily fill most rooms, so you don’t have to worry about grabbing any additional speakers.
6. Optoma ML1080
Best Laser Portable Projector
By using RGB laser technology, the Optoma ML1080 can produce accurate colors and rich details for a stunning picture quality that’s hard to find in projectors of this size. It’s also more energy efficient, as laser technology consumes less power than its lamp-based counterparts.
Even so, the projector still manages to crank out pictures at 1,200 Lumens and will shine in almost any setting, including spaces with some ambient light. When you add in a Full HD resolution and innovative features like Time-of-Flight (ToF) and four-corner correction, you’ll enjoy a perfectly projected image almost every time.
Perhaps most importantly, the Optoma ML1080 is easy to take anywhere. It doesn’t come with a battery but has a USB-C power input to use the projector with a portable charger when on the go.
What to Look for in a Portable Projector
Space: Consider your most regular viewing spaces before buying a portable projector. Look at the throw range of each model to make sure it reasonably fits the dimensions of your space for the image size that you want. For outdoor spaces, you will need to see whether you have a level enough environment for the projector to sit on, though automatic keystone correction might help with this.
Brightness and resolution: Especially for outdoor viewing, brightness is hugely important. This is difficult to gauge for indoor environments where it might be in use during daytime hours. Brightness is measured these days in ANSI lumens. We recommend a projector capable of at least 800 ANSI lumens to use outdoors at night. As for resolution, projectors support anywhere from 720p to 4K resolution. Your target resolution should account for your intended image size: The larger your image, the higher resolution you should go. That said, a 60-inch image projected at 1080p resolution, for example, would be just fine.
Battery: If you only plan on viewing in your backyard with access to your home’s outdoor DC power outlets, maybe you don’t need a battery. But, if you’re planning on taking the projector elsewhere without that kind of outlet access, consider one with a battery. Generally, these batteries will last for at least a 90-minute movie, but some can last for hours.
Joe Osborne is a writer and editor with more than a decade of experience in games and tech media. You can find his work elsewhere at Insider, TechRadar, Laptop Magazine, Tom’s Guide, and more.
