The 4 Best Portable Projectors - Summer 2024 Reviews

The best portable projector we've tested is the XGIMI Halo+. It's a very small unit and weighs only 3.7 pounds, so you can easily throw it into a backpack. Plus, it has an integrated battery promising up to 2.5 hours of uninterrupted playback, long enough to watch most movies. It has many image correction features: full auto keystone, autofocus, intelligent screen alignment, and obstacle avoidance, so it's truly a projector that you can easily take on the go as it corrects its image automatically as you move it. It has the Android TV smart interface, Chromecast and AirScreen support, and Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 capabilities. This makes it very easy to use on the go, as you can connect a Bluetooth speaker to the projector to seamlessly stream music or movies through your phone's wireless hotspot.

Like most portable models, it's slightly dim but significantly brighter than other battery-powered ultra-portables, and it projects a pleasant 1080p image as long as all the lights are off. Fortunately, it does have great contrast, emphasizing its dark room, or dark night, capabilities. It also has a wide color gamut and HDR support but isn't bright enough to truly take advantage of them. It has one HDMI port, which also doubles as an eARC port, and a USB port through which you can play video files directly to the projector.

If you don't need an integrated battery, you can save a bit of money by going for the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12, one of the best mini projectors we've tested. Its cubic shape is small and compact, weighing only 4.7 pounds. While it doesn't have an integrated battery, meaning you still need to plug it into an outlet, it has full auto keystone correction and autofocus, making it easy to set up or move around. It also has built-in Android TV with full Chromecast integration, so you don't need to worry about getting an external streaming dongle. Like the top pick, this model projects a sharp 1080p image.

The projector supports HDR10/HLG, but it's too dim to take advantage of. It's a tad brighter than the XGIMI Halo+, but the XGIMI's brightness is more uniform and has better contrast than the Epson. Where the Mini EF12 truly shines, however, is in its color accuracy; it's impressively accurate out of the box and can be improved even more by simply adjusting its color temperature. This makes it a much more viable option for those who care about accurate colors than the top pick, so colors look as they should when you're using this projector in your friend's basement. Finally, the projector comes with full Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support, so you can quickly connect it to a wireless network when moving it around.

Are you looking for a cheap projector that still offers acceptable image quality? Check out the XGIMI MoGo 2, the best small projector that won't cost you an arm and a leg. It's a very small projector that weighs only 2.4 pounds, so you can easily throw it into a backpack. While it doesn't have an internal battery, it supports external charging via power banks through its USB-C port. It has many image correction features: full auto keystone, autofocus, intelligent screen alignment, and obstacle avoidance. It has the Android TV 11 smart interface, Chromecast and AirScreen support, and Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 capabilities to round up the package.

Unfortunately, the projector is very dim. You need to turn off all the lights to get a pleasant image, and even then, it's not exactly the most vibrant viewing experience possible. Its contrast is mediocre but good enough to provide a passable dark room viewing experience. It also has a wide color gamut and HDR support but isn't bright enough to take advantage of them. Unlike the other picks, this unit only projects a 720p image, so it doesn't look as sharp. Ultimately, you get this projector because of its price, not its image quality. If cheap and portable is what you're after, it's hard to beat the MoGo 2.

If you're seeking the ultimate blend of productivity, portability, and value, the Epson EpiqVision Flex CO-W01 is the best choice on this list. Portable projectors tend to be rather dim; not so with this Epson, as it's extremely bright, projecting vibrant images even when used in bright offices. It projects 1280x800 resolution images, which is a 16:10 aspect ratio and is a better format for office work than what we typically find on projectors. It's also an incredibly cheap projector. Still, it's not perfect. While small and light, it isn't as small as the products above, and it requires a power outlet due to its lack of an internal battery. It also doesn't feature auto keystone correction and autofocusing, so manual adjustments are necessary to correct any geometry issues.

The Epson lacks a smart OS and Wi-Fi, necessitating an external streaming dongle if you want to access any streaming apps. It does include a USB-B port for PC control, and a few file formats can be projected via the unit's USB-A port, emphasizing its productivity chops as it makes it easy to project supported documents directly from a USB key. But what if you want to use this projector for content consumption? Well, in a pinch, this projector performs well for movie viewing, especially in brighter rooms, as its contrast just isn't good enough to provide an immersive viewing experience in dark rooms; just keep in mind that it has only one HDMI port. Ultimately, this projector is truly at its best in bright offices, but it's also a great value for anyone looking for a small yet bright projector.