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Portable Projectors

The portable projectors category includes the latest in portable projectors that are ideal in terms of portability and convenience. Scroll down for a list of our most recent portable projector reviews and more.

Portable projectors are convenient on-the-go solution and are becoming more advanced every day. Practical uses include classic presentations such as PowerPoint and multimedia presentations including videos and sound. Enjoy pictures, videos, and browing the internet from a large projection rather than a small display screen. Portable projectors are now exploring the realm beyond presentation, including gaming, 3D and mobile device integration.

If it is more than 10 lbs., it is not really a portable projector by today’s standards. Granted, this doesn’t mean that you won’t choose a projector weighing 13 lbs., but it does mean that most portable projectors currently weigh 3-8 lbs.

XGIMI-Halo-Sound
Portable projectors typically weigh under 10 lbs.

The lightest portable projectors are Pico projectors – they typically weigh less than one pound and are about the size (give or take) of a pack of cigarettes. They are definitely the least bright projectors almost all with less than 100 lumens. They are limited in use, need a really dark room to do a good job on a small screen – say 40 inches, but are the ultimate in portability.

Pocket projectors are the next size up, and like Pico Projectors tend to have LED light sources. These weigh from roughly 1 lb. to about 4 pounds and are mostly 300 – 700 lumens with the brightest hitting 1000 lumens (2015). These are becoming more and more practical each year.

The vast majority of portable projectors, though, are lamp based projectors weighing in from about 3 pounds to 10 pounds and offering from 2000 to 5000 lumens!

A few Portable projector brands: 3M, LG, InFocus, and Epson.

Portable Projector Reviews

JMGO N1 Projector Review

August 14, 2023

Nebula Capsule 3 Laser Portable Projector Review

February 27, 2023

  Nebula Capsule 3 Laser by Anker.   The Nebula Capsule 3 Laser is a portable compact projector with an integrated battery and retails for $799.99. It can reproduce Full HD (1920x1280) resolution and project images up to 120”. While most portable proje ...

Formovie P1 Pocket Laser Projector Review

February 25, 2023

The Formovie P1 compact Digital Light Processing (DLP) pocket projector features ALPD laser technology in an ultra-portable chassis.

Samsung The Freestyle Portable LED Projector Review

February 2, 2023

The Samsung Freestyle is a portable smart LED projector that retails for $799. At first glance, the projector seems expensive based on its basic specs. However, the freestyle is one of the best thought-out portable projectors that we have ever reviewed ...

LG CineBeam PF510Q Portable Smart Projector Review

December 19, 2022

The LG CineBeam PF510Q is a Full HD, $599.99 portable, 4Ch (RGBB) LED smart projector with 450 ANSI lumens. In addition, the PF510Q is an HDR-compatible projector, and the 4-channel (RGBB) LED light source is rated to last up to 30,000 hours. The ...

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 Dice Full HD LED DLP Portable Projector Review

October 1, 2022

The Wemax Dice is a full HD, portable projector that retails for $699. This projector offers exceptional picture quality at an affordable price.

Philips Screeneo U4 Ultra-Short-Throw 4LED Projector Review

September 1, 2022

The Philips Screeneo U4 is compact with a contemporary look. The Philips Screeneo U4 is a compact 400 ANSI lumen Ultra-Short-Throw (UST) 4LED projector with integrated speakers and retails for $669. Dan Mamane, President of Screeneo Innovation SA, stat ...

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 ...

LG PF610P CineBeam Portable LED DLP Projector Review

December 7, 2021

Portable LED Projector The LG PF610P, which retails for $849 MSRP is a DLP LED home entertainment projector, and it is small enough to be considered transportable. It is also listed as one of the best projectors under $1,000. This LG projector utilizes ...

XGIMI Halo+ Portable Smart LED Projector Review

October 5, 2021

The new XGIMI Halo+ is brighter, smarter, and easier to install than older Halo XGIMI has done it yet again! XGIMI has found a way to improve the already great XGIMI Halo Smart Portable LED Projector. The new projector is called the XGIMI Halo+. The ne ...

BenQ GS50 Ruggedized Portable 1080P Projector Review

September 14, 2021

BenQ has announced another exciting portable projector, the GS50 which is the second generation of BenQ’s GS lineup. The GS50 is a 1080p Full High Definition (FHD) portable LED projector that is rated at 500 ANSI lumens and the first portable projector to have a 2.1 channel Bluetooth speaker with “Extra Bass.”

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.

Best Outdoor Projectors

June 25, 2021

Our picks for the best outdoor projectors and screens for 2021. 

XGIMI Horizon Pro 4K Smart LED Projector Review

May 27, 2021

The XGIMI Horizon Pro is the flagship 2200 lumen 4K home theater focused projector in their lineup.

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 ...

BENQ X1300i GAMING PROJECTOR REVIEW

February 17, 2021

Overview Today I get to talk to you about a cool looking performance projector that BenQ is releasing. I'm talking about the BenQ X1300i Smart Entertainment Home projector. The X1300i is a gaming optimized home entertainment projector packing a ton of ...

EPSON EF12 SMART LASER PROJECTOR REVIEW

January 31, 2021

The Epson EF12, part of their EpiqVision series of Smart projectors, offers all the benefits of a Smart TV with the benefits of a projector.

Elite MosicGO 360 Portable Cinema System Review

December 15, 2020

The Elite Projector offers multiple MosicGO systems, which are a portable home theater system designed for outdoor and indoor entertainment.

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.

Epson PowerLite U50 Business and Education Projector Review

July 27, 2020

The Epson PowerLite U50 is a 3LCD, WUXGA (1920 x 1200) resolution projector with built-in Wi-Fi connectivity for business use.

Casio XJ-F211WN Laser/LED Hybrid Business and Education Projector Review

June 16, 2020

Great for both business and education environments, the Casio XJ-F211WN is their latest in DLP WXGA projectors .

BenQ EW800ST Smart Classroom Projector Review

April 1, 2020

The BenQ EW800ST is a DLP, WXGA (1280 x 800) resolution, short throw projector with smart capabilities. It is primarily positioned as a classroom projector, but is suitable for conference rooms and meeting rooms where its feature set would be useful. B ...

Look Out Competition: It’s Fun Time! Epson Is Shipping Their First, Smart, Under $1000 Home Entertainment Laser Projector – HD Res, and 2000 lumens!

January 6, 2020

Epson's new EF-100 smart home theater projector that can be used in just about any room in your house.

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 ...

Aaxa 4k1 Home Entertainment Projector Review

August 15, 2019

The Aaxa 4K1 mini projector is a 4K (3840 x 2160), 1500 LED Lumen projector for your home entertainment pleasure.

Vankyo Leisure 3 Mini Projector: Our First-Look Review of Key Features and Capabilities

August 12, 2019

The Vankyo Leisure 3 is a portable projector which measures a mere 7.8 x 5.8 x 2.7 inches and weighs in at only 2.4 pounds.

Casio XJ-S400UN Business/Education Projector Review

July 11, 2019

The Casio XJ-S400UN is part of Casio’s new Superior series, which features the next generation of their mercury-free, hybrid laser and LED light engine.

NEC NP-MC382W Business/Education Projector Review

July 1, 2019

The NEC NP-MC382W is a capable LCD projector, well suited for business and education environments.

Epson PowerLite 109W Business/Education Projector Review

January 29, 2019

The Epson PowerLite 109W is a WXGA (1280 x 800) business and education projector claiming 4,000 lumens making it suitable for classrooms and conference rooms where there is little control over the amount of ambient light.

Epson PowerLite 1785W Wireless Portable Projector Review

October 13, 2018

The Epson PowerLite 1785W is a WXGA (1280x800) 3LCD projector intended for the traveling professional, classroom, or anyone who needs to wow their audience on-the-go. 

BenQ MW535A WXGA Business Projector Review

September 27, 2018

The BenQ MW535A is a bright WXGA projector intended for the business and education market. 

Casio XJ-A257 Portable LED/Laser Projector Review

September 17, 2018

The Casio XJ-A257 is a portable laser projector designed for business and education applications.

Acer C200 Pico Projector Review - Travel-Sized and LED

August 20, 2018

The Acer C200 is a DLP projector with an LED light engine and this tiny pico projector can be carried in a large pocket or small purse, and will easily fit into your carry on for traveling.

AAXA P300 NEO Pico Projector Review - Pocket Sized Fun

August 16, 2018

The AAXA P300 Neo is a tiny, portable projector with an LED light engine, as is typical of pico and pocket projectors.

BenQ MH733 Business and Education Projector Review

July 19, 2018

The BenQ MH733 Projector is a compact, 5.5 pound full HD, DLP projector claiming 4000 lumens and potentially 15,000 hours of lamp life.

Optoma W460 Business and Education Projector Review

April 11, 2018

The Optoma W460 is a WXGA (1280 x 800) resolution projector with an outstanding 4,600 lumens.

Epson PowerLite 108 Projector Review

April 9, 2018

The Epson PowerLite 108 XGA, 3LCD projector is a mid-range, small fixed install or portable use projector suitable for classroom or conference room.

InFocus IN2128HDx Business and Classroom Projector Review

April 6, 2018

The InFocus IN2128hdx is a Full HD native resolution, compact portable projector that is built for easy connectivity whether on the go or mounted permanently.

Sony VPL-EW435 Business and Education Projector Review

April 2, 2018

The Sony VPL-EW435 is a WXGA (1280 x 800) resolution business and education projector claiming 3,100 lumens.

InFocus IN116xa Portable Projector Review

March 16, 2018

The InFocus IN116xa is a compact, portable DLP projector that manages to load a ton of ability into a projector that is very reasonably priced at $425.

BenQ HT2550 - At $1499, The Most Affordable 4K UHD Projector Yet - First Look

January 10, 2018

BenQ’s HT2550 is the first 4K UHD projector at this price point, just $1499! 

ViewSonic PJD7828HDL Home Theater Projector Review

January 7, 2018

The Viewsonic PJD7828HDL is an entry level priced 1080p resolution DLP projector, one that provides a lot of value.

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.

AAXA M5 Pocket Projector Review - 720p and LED!

November 29, 2017

The AAXA M5 is a $499 pocket-class projector with LED technology, featuring a “lamp” with three RGB LED lights.

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.

Epson Home Cinema 2100 and 2150 Home Entertainment Projector Review

November 16, 2017

The Epson Home Cinema 2100 and Home Cinema 2150 are two new projectors that replace their venerable HC2040 and HC2045.

Epson Home Cinema 760HD First Look Review

September 18, 2017

The Epson Home Cinema 760HD is one of a trio of projectors from Epson’s new value line.

Epson Home Cinema 2150 First Look Review

August 28, 2017

Epson has just announced two evolutionary projectors to replace a couple of their most popular projectors. The Epson Home Cinema 2150 and its younger brother, the Home Cinema 2100.

AAXA M6 Projector Review - 1080p Pocket Sized and LED!

August 16, 2017

The AAXA M6 is a bright, single chip DLP pocket-class projector with LED technology. Instead of a lamp, the 1,200 lumen M6 features three LED lights recreate the color spectrum.

Epson Home Cinema 2100 First Look Review

August 13, 2017

The Epson Home Cinema 2100 is one of two projectors just announced by Epson that are evolutionary.

BenQ CH100 Portable Business Projector Review

May 19, 2017

The BenQ CH100 is a small, HD resolution, DLP portable business projector with an LED light engine, claiming 1,000 lumens.

NEC NP-ME331W Portable Projector Review

March 24, 2017

The NEC NP-ME331W is one of four similar models in NEC’s ME-series of portable projectors intended for business or education applications.

Epson PowerLite 2265U Projector Review

February 8, 2017

Epson describes the PowerLite 2265U as a portable business projector, it is somewhat larger and heavier than many portable models.

About Portable Projectors

The sweet spot from a value stand point on portable projectors, in terms of weight, would be 5-7 lbs. We say this because projectors in that size class will usually provide higher performance than the lighter 3-4 lb. models, and at a nice price. Therefore, if you don’t need the absolute lightest portable projector, this is the range where you will get the most bang for your buck! Truth is, projectors have gotten small enough and light enough that the full-feature sets normally found in projectors for fixed installation are now often available in low cost, 6-8 lb. portable projectors. A lot of portable projectors, therefore, end up in conference rooms, classrooms, training rooms, permanently mounted despite their small size. The slightly larger models that can still move from room to room, however, dominate the industry.

In many cases, current portable projector models offer as much connectivity as projectors many times their size and price. Portable projectors can offer advanced networking, wireless capabilities, and can, as of recently, even stream directly from the internet without a computer.

Yet not all uses for portable projectors are business anymore. Portable projectors are now coming 3D ready and can be integrated iPad, iPod, Android, or other mobile device technology. Portable projectors also integrate with gaming systems, hand gesture recognition, and webcam technology... The possibilities are endless.

There is something out there for everyone. For example, there are approximately 250 active portable business projectors on the market at any given time. And that doesn't even include smaller pico and pockets projectors.

For portable business projectors, there are often many variations of a single basic model, with each varying in anything from resolution and brightness to extra features and networking capabilities.

Portable projectors cover vast size range, from as low as a few ounces to roughly 10 lbs. Within portable projectors are pico projectorsmini projectorspocket projectors, and the standard portable projectors we've been discussing here.

Let's take a look at the variety of portable projectors available on the market today.

Optoma PK320

Optoma PK320

Above, the Optoma PK320 of the smallest class of portable projector - the pico projector.

1080p resolution, networking, and just over 3 pounds

1080p resolution, networking, and just over 3 pounds

The LG PF85U Pocket projector, (one of the brightest, and highest resolution of its type) the second smallest portable projector class:

The Casio XJ-S57 Super Slim is one of the thinnest projectors available, and can fit conveniently into your briefcase or carry-on luggage.

casio XJ-A250v front view

Casio XJ-A250v - an ultra-slim portable with solid state light engine

The 7 lb. Epson Powerlite 99W portable won our Best In Classroom award last year:

Epson Powerlite 99W - a top winner from last year's report, is still current product with education discounts.

Epson Powerlite 99W - a top winner from last year's report, is still current portable projector with education discounts.

Basically, there are plenty of slightly smaller projectors out there between 2.5-5 lbs. for the hardcore road warrior who is always on the go. If you are constantly traveling – bringing your work life in the car or on the airplane with you – chances are you're taking your portable projector everywhere. This size portable projector is a great compromise between portability and image quality – these models are the smallest and lightest but still have high performance.

But if you're not the type who needs your projector to fit in your briefcase or carry-on luggage, you might not care if your projector is 3 or 13 lbs. Some portable projectors are rarely taken off site or are moved only from room to room, so being the most lightweight is not necessary.

© 2023 Projector Reviews

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