Anker Nebula Mars II Pro
Best mini portable projector overall
Anker Nebula Capsule
Best mini projector with battery
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I didn’t realize projectors could be so great outdoors until I tried one. The best portable projectors are easy to set up in any room of your home or in the great outdoors (or at least the great outdoors). Don’t worry about image quality: projectors have come a long way.
Whether you’re projecting onto a blank wall or a projector screen, you can capture the picture quality you crave without the bulk. They also offer quite a few connectivity options, incl WifiAnd HDMI port And bluetoothThey usually run on batteries. Several small monitors can give you access to files NetflixAnd Amazon Prime VideoAnd Disney PlusAnd Hulu and others broadcast services without the need to connect a flow device or laptop.
Portable projectors are included with some flaws, althoug. One is that many of them are relatively dim, lacking the traditional brightness home theater projector. Meaning, they can’t project a big picture like adults. Another is that most portable projectors, especially the cheaper ones, often have lower resolutions than their larger counterparts, in particular 4K projectors. If you’re not going to be far from the outlet, a standard projector will give you a much bigger, brighter, and better picture for the same money. But if you want something compact, portable, and possibly battery-powered, here are our top picks for the best mini projector.
The Mars II Pro is our favorite portable projector here because of its light output, overall picture quality, ease of use, and affordable price. This portable device is a bit larger than most of the other portable projectors here, but it’s still small enough to hide perfectly under a six-pack of Coke.
The built-in 12,500mAh battery is good for three and a half hours, which is longer if you run it as a Bluetooth speaker. There are built-in apps, some of which consider the Mars II a portable device, which means you can download content to its 8GB internal memory for offline viewing. And the synthetic leather strap makes holding the outdoor projector in place very easy.
Read our Anker Nebula Mars II Pro review.
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I like the overhead projector better but the AAXA P6X is my pick when money is tight. Not only is it less expensive than the Anker above, it’s also brighter with superior battery life. This mini projector fits in my hand, creates a 720p image, and has a massive 15,000mAh battery. HDMI input and USB connection allow you to connect and play a file running stick. Stick connectivity is important because AAXA lacks built-in apps.
Light output is impressive for its size and price, about 50% more than the Anker Mars II Pro, although its contrast ratio is slightly lower. The internal battery should last about 90 minutes in the mini-projector’s brightest mode, and an impressive 240 minutes in Eco mode—maybe a little less if you’re also powering a streaming stick. The internal speaker isn’t great, but there is a headphone jack that you can connect to a portable speaker.
Read our review of the AAXA P6X.
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The Xgimi Halo Plus is a little big to really be considered “small”, but it is rather small. “Portability” is probably the more accurate description. It displays a 1080p image and has a battery that lasts two and a half hours. It has Android TV built in, so streaming is much easier than on many other mobile devices. It works much better than most mini projectors, but it’s also much larger and costs a lot more.
Read our Xgimi Halo Plus review.
Unlike many of the other projectors on this list, the AAXA P8 can’t run on a battery—you need to plug its own power adapter in—but it’s so small, bright, and cheap it makes it stand anyway. There are certainly less expensive projectors out there, but nothing we’ve seen at this price or less, with the exception of the Vimgo P10, is worth recommending.
The P8 is tiny, about the same overall size as the Anker Capsule (which houses a battery), though it’s rectangular rather than cylindrical. It is noticeably brighter than the capsule. It even has a few streaming apps built in, as well as an HDMI port for connecting an external source. Image quality is ok but for the size, price and relatively high light output it’s hard to pass up.
Anker Nebula Capsule is smaller than a soda can, but it can make a big picture. Well, maybe not “big” but “TV-sized” for sure. It’s neither bright nor particularly loud, but it’s great for something that fits in your pocket. Other options here offer a better, brighter picture, but if size is your main concern, the Capsule looks better than you might expect for its price and stature.
Note that you can save $30 now at Amazon by activating the instant coupon on the product page.
Read our Anker Nebula Capsule review.
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The Vimgo P10 fluctuates between $170 and $270, in the same ballpark as our favorite cheap projector, the AAXA P8. It’s much larger than the P8, the largest cheap projector we’ve already tested, which makes it a little less portable. However, it’s still “tiny” compared to more expensive full-size projectors.
Image quality is better than the P8 in some ways, and worse in others. The Vimgo P10 has a great contrast ratio and decent brightness, but the color is noticeably awful. The center of the image is noticeably sharper and brighter than the rest of the image. It’s not cool.
But the price. Viewable picture perfect, and now you can get it for $230 when you activate the instant coupon on the product page. Plus it has Netflix built in. The main downside is that, like the P8, it lacks a battery.
Read our review of the Vimgo P10.
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Other products we have tested
Anker nebula portable solarWe didn’t like the Solar Portable like the BenQ GS50, Xgimi Halo Plus, or even its sibling, the Mars II Pro. Its main drawback compared to others on this list is its relatively dim image, which means it can’t display a large image and still look good. If you want a sleek, budget-friendly 1080p portable and plan to keep the picture on the small side, this is a solid choice. Read our Anker Nebula Solar Portable review.
BenQ GS50: The GS50 is roughly the same size as the Xgimi Halo Plus, and it’s also 1080p and has a built-in battery. You can even use it as a bluetooth speaker. However, it is weaker than Xgimi Halo Plus for similar money. Read our BenQ GS50 review.
LG CineBeam PH30N: LG PH30N is very small compared to other portable projectors, even smaller than AAXA. However, it’s not particularly bright, and it doesn’t have built-in apps. The battery does not last as long as the AAXA although it is a bit cheaper. Read our LG CineBeam PH30N review.
Samsung Freestyle: an interesting cylindrical little freestyle idea, but it comes in short. About the size of a Bluetooth speaker, and in fact double as one, the Freestyle can pivot on its stand to project an image at any height onto walls and even the ceiling. The built-in broadcast is implemented much better than most portable projectors. However, it lacks a battery and its performance is average at best. Even worse, its price is 50% higher than it should be based on its looks and performance. Read our Samsung Freestyle review.
Xiaomi Mi Smart Projector 2: Another relatively expensive mini-projector we didn’t like, the Xiaomi one at least has a great Apple-like design. We appreciated the small size, 1080p resolution, and built-in Android TV streaming, but the cons outweigh the pros. It’s relatively dim, especially for the price, and it lacks a built-in battery and USB power supply compatibility, so it’s not really portable. Read our Xiaomi Mi Smart Projector 2 review.
Anker Nebula Cosmos Laser 4KIt has a small handle and size, the Cosmos Laser 4K is technically portable, but it’s hardly small at just over 10 pounds. There is also no battery, so you’ll need to plug it in. It’s nice and bright, but the other downsides — lack of zoom, average overall image quality and the steep price for what you get — keep it off this list. Read our Anker Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K Projector review.
BenQ HT2050The HT2050 isn’t technically a portable projector at all, but it’s compact and about the same price as one of the more expensive “portable” options. Its picture is also much better in all respects, so if you’re looking for a projector for use around the house, or maybe in the backyard, and it doesn’t need battery power, it’s worth considering. Read our BenQ HT2050 review.
How we test portable projectors
Every projector we review goes through detailed objective and subjective testing. CNET editors select the products and services we write about based on editorial merit. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.
Read more: How CNET tests projectors
questions and answers
What makes a mini projector different from a full size projector?
The biggest difference is the light output. Traditional full-size projectors can get much brighter than any portable mini projector. Most portable projectors use an LED lamp, while full-size projectors contain either UHP lamps (which are basically high power light bulbs) or laser light sources. Projector light output is measured in lumens. The brightest portable projectors we’ve reviewed measure around 350 lumens, while a traditional home theater projector measures 1,500 lumens or more.
A bright projector can produce a larger image, and it looks better when there is some ambient light. For this reason, dim portable projectors are best enjoyed with smaller images and in as dark an environment as possible.
In addition to brightness, mini projectors are much smaller (of course), can run on battery power and usually include a built-in streamer and decent speakers. Traditional projectors have more lens adjustments, including focus, magnification, and lens shift, and can run louder.
Are all mini projectors portable?
In that you can take them places with you, sure, but some are more or less portable than others. Mini projectors range in size from very small pico projectors like the AAXA P8 to models like the Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K that have a handle, and are described as “outdoor” but are expensive and heavy (10.7 pounds) and require a large backpack to carry around. Many portable projectors contain batteries, but some do not, especially the cheaper models.
Should I connect a mini projector?
It depends. Many portable projectors have built-in batteries that can run for two or three hours before needing to be plugged in. Some can also be connected to external USB battery packs that allow them to operate without plug-in power. On the other hand, many smaller portable projectors, especially the cheaper ones, don’t include a built-in battery or work with battery packs. They will need to be wired to work.
Can you watch Netflix on a portable monitor?
Yes. Many mini projectors have a built-in streamer that allows them to display Netflix and other streaming services when connected via Wi-Fi. For projectors that do not have a built-in stream, you will need to connect another device flow devicesuch as a Roku or Fire TV Stick, to the display’s HDMI input to stream Netflix and other services.
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