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Pocket Projectors

The pocket projectors category includes the latest technology in ultra-portable projectors, micro projectors, and pico projectors for laptops and device integration. See below for a list of pocket projector reviews and information pages.

Pocket projectors earn their name from being small enough to fit in your pants pocket, and weigh above 0.75 lbs. (but rarely over a pound). These projectors are extremely convenient and are ideal for portable use.

However, when compared with the smallest size class, pico projectors, bulk is the real difference as opposed to weight. Though a bit larger in size than their tiny competition, pocket projectors pack more punch.

Pocket Projectors weigh in under 2 lbs. and are able to project large images upwards of 65 inches.

Today’s pocket projectors typically offer between 200 and 800 lumens, most have resolutions of WXGA or lower but in 2014 we saw the first of the 1080p resolution pocket projectors.

Broadly speaking, pocket projectors are under 2 lbs., use a solid state light source (LED or laser), and have a small physical footprint. Most use DLP technology, a few have laser rather than LED light engines.

Pocket Projector Reviews

AAXA P400 Portable Short Throw LED Projector Review

November 14, 2022

  AAXA P400   The AAXA P400 is a battery-powered, LED short-throw, DLP projector capable of displaying a Full HD (1920x1080) resolution image which retails for $269. The P400 is one of the newest models from AAXA which is a leading manufacturer of smal ...

Wemax Go Advanced Full HD DLP Business Laser Projector Review

June 24, 2022

8.6" x 4.6" x 0.97" (W x D x H) and weighs just 1.7 pounds The Wemax Go Advanced is a first-of-its-kind, ultra-portable 1080p DLP business laser projector, capable of 600 ANSI lumens of brightness, 1.5 hours of battery life, less than one-inch thick, a ...

AAXA P8 Smart Mini Projector Review

May 22, 2022

The AAXA P8 is an LED-powered, smart, DLP projector capable of displaying a qHD (960x540) resolution image and sells for $249 price. The P8 Mini Projector is one of the newest generations of smart, super small, solid-state mini projectors introduced by ...

XGIMI Elfin Smart 1080P LED Projector Review

August 19, 2021

The XGIMI Elfin Smart LED projector is a Smart LED 1080P projector rated to deliver up to 800 ANSI lumens, and it retails for $649.

XGIMI Halo Portable 1080P Android TV Projector Review

May 5, 2021

The XGIMI Halo is a smart 1080P portable DLP projector with a compact design that is super portable, awarded the Projector Reviews Best in Class Award.

VIEWSONIC M2 SMART LED PROJECTOR REVIEW

March 17, 2021

The ViewSonic M2 Smart 1080P LED projector with Harman Kardon Bluetooth speakers (referred to as “the M2” in the remainder of this review) is a 500 ANSI Lumen (1200 LED lumen), full HD (1,920 x1,080) DLP LED-powered business and home media projector de ...

Philips PicoPix Max Projector Review

November 6, 2020

The Philips PicoPix Max is a Full HD (1,920x1,080) DLP projector capable of producing up to a 120’ image, with built in speakers, and up to a 3-hour battery life.

2019 Holiday Guide To Seven Great Home Theater Projectors Under $2000

November 22, 2019

‘Tis the season to be shopping for your next home entertainment or home theater projector! Welcome to our annual shopping guide, the Holiday Guide for Seven Great Home Theater Projectors Under $2000. In this guide we’ve selected some great projectors f ...

Anker Nebula Capsule Projector – The Crowd Funded Soda Can Projector Review

December 14, 2018

The Anker Nebula Capsule is a DLP projector with an LED light source and is nearly the exact size of a soda can.

ViewSonic M1 Pocket Projector Review – Sleek Pocket Projector with Impressive Sound

November 6, 2018

The ViewSonic M1 is a stylish pocket gaming projector featuring dual 3.0 watt Harman Kardon speakers for impressive audio on-the-go.

Acer K138ST Projector Review – A Pocket Sized Gaming Machine

December 15, 2017

The Acer K138ST is a pocket projector designed for big screen gaming on the go.

Two Holiday Guides, Ten Great Home Projectors

November 28, 2017

We have created two Holiday Gift Guides from our favorite projectors of this year, one for home theater projectors and screens under $2000, and one for those priced over $2000.

About Pocket Projectors

Recently, pocket projectors and pico projectors have been sort of lumped together, but pocket projectors are a distinct breed of their own. Pocket projectors (also known as mini projectors) earn their name because they can fit into a shirt or pants pocket. To put size perspective, a pocket projector is typically about the size of a thick paperback book, though the proportions vary depending on the model. Pocket projectors typically use an LED light source and are smaller than conventional projectors.

If you’re tired of fiddling with a heavy and cumbersome projector for your presentations, pocket projectors and pico projectors are excellent options. Neither can provide the same brightness or image quality as a standard projector, but they’re suitable alternatives.

Compared to the smaller pico projectors, pocket projectors are the more capable choice. They are far brighter than pico projectors, offering 100-300 lumens compared to the current pico maximum of 50 lumens. A pico, therefore, is not bright enough to handle a typical office space, but a pocket project can. Pocket projectors are also higher resolution than pico projectors. These factors make them better suited for presentations.

Pocket projectors normally have a separate power brick with some real weight. One thing to consider about the larger pocket projector is that, while the projectors themselves are always under 2 lbs., the power bricks can approach one pound in weight depending on how large or bright the pocket projector is. Therefore, the required power bricks should be factored into the total weight.

Originally, pocket projectors such as the Mistubishi PK20, which is now several years old, were battery powered like the modern pico projector. Because of their convenience, pocket projectors were very popular with missionaries abroad. They made presentations easy when traveling, for example, across Africa from village to village. Recently, though, we have seen a resurface of the original battery powered pocket projector in addition to the current power brick.

We have seen some big changes in pocket projectors in the second half of 2010. Pocket projectors are moving up to the same resolution as many portable business projectors, including SVGA, XGA and WXGA (with the last two seen in 90% of business projectors). Also, pocket projectors are now as bright as the early portable projectors of 15 years ago, and are definitely capable of projecting a 4-5 ft. diagonal image in a conference room with moderate lighting.

Inputs

The capabilities of pocket and pico projectors are constantly expanding. Recently, we have seen the emergence of HDMI and mini-HDMI jacks. All but the least expensive models now seem to have computer inputs as well, and even the ones lacking those have media players that allow for presentations.

We are also now seeing card slots, USB inputs, S-video inputs, and VGA in addition to the standard composite video source. Let’s examine the differences in input panels between a pico and pocket projector.

First image is the LG HX300G pocket projector, which accepts HDMI, VGA, composite video, DC, audio input, and USB input.

Second image is the Optoma PK301 pico projector, one of the better-equipped pico projectors. It includes VGA, mini-HDMI, DC, micro USB, audio input/output and a MicroSD card slot.

Price

Pocket projectors typically run from $350-800, but the smaller pico projectors are usually around $200-400, with the least expensive starting at $100.

Highlights

  • Smaller and more portable than conventional projectors
  • Brighter than pico projectors and therefore better suited for presentations
  • 100-300 lumens that, while not as bright as “full-sized” projectors, are competent
  • LED light source with no replacement cost
  • Higher resolution than pico projectors, from VGA (640×480) to wide XVGA in its most common form (1280×800)

For information on pocket projectors and their competitors, pico projectors, check out The 2010 Pico Projector and Pocket Projector Guide and Reviews

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