Choosing a portable projector can be a tricky task, as there are many options on the market, each offering different features. Whether for business presentations, movie nights at home, or frequent travel, finding the perfect portable projector requires careful consideration of several factors.
Setting up a home theater can be time-consuming and expensive. A projector can be heavy and expensive, not to mention wondering where you're supposed to put it.
This is where portable projectors come in handy. Also known as pico or pocket projectors, they are small, more affordable, and easy enough to move from room to room or bring to outdoor events, like a rooftop party or a barbecue.
Once they are connected to a streaming device, laptop, smartphone or gaming console via Bluetooth or cables, they can play movies, YouTube videos or any other type of media content.
Pico projectors are primarily practical and portable, so they won't be as bright or as sharp as a high-end projector, but for an impromptu movie night indoors or outdoors, they can't be beat.
Choose your video projector
Projection type :
The two most popular types of projectors are:
DLP (Digital Light Processing):
- Smaller and more portable
- More contrast
- Blacker blacks
LCD (Liquid Crystal Display):
- Sharper and more precise image
- Brighter than DLP, even at lower lumens (brightness).
- Cost to raise (around $2000)
As this guide focuses on portability, we recommend DLP projectors.
Choose your video projector
Image quality :
The resolution of your projector will determine its image quality. The highest resolution available in a portable projector is 1080p, but if you want something more affordable, a 720p High Definition or 480p Standard Definition LED projector should suffice in a dark living room, basement, or garden.
For a portable model:
- Full HD 1080p maximum resolution for everyday use
- HD 720p mid-range resolution for frequent use
- SD 480p entry-level resolution for occasional use
Choose your video projector
Brightness :
The brightness of a Video Projector is measured in Ansi lumens and not in Lumens contrary to what one might believe;
- 1 LUMENS = 5 ANSI LUMENS
The higher the lumens, the brighter your projector will be and the more it will be able to work in larger spaces.
A good way to think about lumens is to compare them to the ambient light around you when using your portable projector. The more ambient light, the more washed out the image will appear. Higher lumens can therefore help alleviate this effect if you are using a projector in a brighter space.
Choosing a projector with lower lumens means you'll need to use it in a darker space. This is the case for most portable projectors, which tend to have lumen counts below 1,500, with the most expensive (and largest) portable options reaching around 3,000 lumens (which is still lower than fixed projectors high-end which can start at 5000 lumens). This is to be expected, as portable projectors are small and have tiny bulbs compared to larger, more expensive models.
- Less than 5000 Lumens : Use in a poorly lit space
- 5000 lumens and more : Use in a lit space
Choose your video projector
Connections :
It's essential to think about how you're going to connect a portable projector to the devices you want to use it with.
HDMI required to connect:
- Fire stick or Apple TV
- Game console
- Computer
- Connect a computer, phone, headset or wireless earphones
- To use all built-in streaming apps, such as YouTube, Netflix, Disney Plus, My Canal or Amazon Prime…
Choose your video projector
Power Source and Sound:
The power source is an important factor in portability.
- Less than 2 hours of autonomy , bring an external battery
- More than 2 hours of autonomy , ideal for watching your content without interruption
Most portable projectors come with built-in speakers as well as audio outputs that allow you to connect external speakers, and Bluetooth-enabled projectors can usually work with wireless speakers.
