The best portable and mini projectors: models and features

In deference to televisions, projectors are one of the most widespread options in recent times thanks to the innovative technologies they have. Today, we can get any of them at really good prices, devices that are capable of emitting more than enough image quality and with which you will not want to use a television again. Or at least that’s what those who try them say. And one of the best models are the portable or mini ones, which are not the same. If you are considering purchasing one, in this article we will guide you through the first steps , issues to consider, home or portable models, etc.

And it is that, as you can expect, before you you have a very wide market and with hundreds of possibilities, from portable projectors with more than enough quality to put in any corner of your house or even mini portable projectors that you can carry even in the backpack. Yes, that’s how complicated the issue begins. Which one do you prefer?

The best portable and mini projectors

You don’t know how to choose, do you? For this reason, the main thing, before embarking on choosing the models and seeing what features we need, as well as the different models that exist, is to know what we want, whether a portable projector or a fixed one, if we want it to see it in our room .

Pocket or portable: they are not the same

In the first place, we must make a differentiation aimed at the article in general. On the one hand, we find pocket projectors. We are talking about a type of mini projector that stands out for its restrained size. It is perfect to be able to take it wherever you want and watch all kinds of content as if you were in a cinema. And the truth is that the variety available on the market is wide enough for you to find the solution that best suits your needs.

On the other hand, portable projectors , which, considering their value for money, are more worthwhile if they are intended to be used in a room or home. It must be said that, as expected, a portable projector is not going to offer the same performance as a more professional model, such as the ideal 4K models to hang on the wall. But, in any case, the result achieved by a device of this type will surprise you.

Yes, you will be able to enjoy the characteristic sensation of immersion of a high-performance projector , and at a knockdown price. The best of all? That, as we have told you, all the models that appear in this compilation are portable, so their versatility is more than guaranteed.

The only thing you have to keep in mind is that a model of this type does not have a high-power bulb . In this way, if you want to see any content in a decent quality, you should use it in an environment completely free of light of any kind. Yes, as if you were in a real cinema.

Issues you have to take into account

If you already know what type of projector you want, now you have to take into account the following parameters:

  • Resolution. The resolution offered by this type of projector is a somewhat controversial issue. Although they offer a limited resolution, some models are capable of reproducing up to Full HD. However, since we cannot ask for pears from the elm, its thing is that it projects at least a minimum resolution of HD, just plain. The optimum will be that it reaches Full HD.
  • projection size. On the other hand, returning to its measured size, we also find another very logical limitation: the size of the projection. There are models capable of projecting an image of 150 inches, but there are also other models that do not exceed 60 inches. Although, the idea of a pocket projector is to take advantage of its moderate size, so that, although the size of the image is a little smaller than in a traditional model, the versatility offered by the brand, and much, the difference.
  • Bulb/lumens . These types of projectors work, for the most part, with an LED-type bulb, information that we will also find defined as ANSI. This will define its luminous power, which, in the case that it is portable, will be around 4,000, and if it is mini, more than 100.
  • Portability. We will have to discern between the portable models that are ideal to have at home and the models to take out of the house, as well as their size, which will define their portability. Then,
  • Throw ratio . In this selection we will find short throw portable projectors, that is, to be used near the wall. We must look at the projection ratio, which, if it is 1.5:1, for example, means that it projects an image 1.5 meters from the place where we project it. Ideally, it should be at least 1.2 meters minimum.
  • Battery. If we opt for a portable mini projector, we must bear in mind that, in addition to being powered, they will also work with an internal battery. In this way, you will not need to connect it to the current, so the possibilities it offers are significantly expanded, but on the other hand, you will need them to have sufficient autonomy. In technical terms, you should pay attention, in the event that it is portable, that it has at least 4,000 mAh so as not to get stuck in the middle of the movie. Ideally, it should reach more than 5,000.
  • Connection. We will have to take into account if we will use the projector to project an image from our Android phone. In that case, you will have to take a look to see if it is compatible, or if it has any other connection socket such as an SD card or a pen-drive.

mini pocket projectors

We start this selection of projectors with the most minis, which will literally fit in the palm of your hand. Their price comes from reducing so much technology in so little space, but they are well worth it.

Philips PicoPix Nano

  • Resolution: 360-1080p
  • Lumens: 100
  • Autonomy: 80 minutes
  • Android TV ?: No

It will literally fit in the palm of your hand. This Philips PicoPix has a vivid display, with a resolution of 360p and supports up to 1080p. It features a small LED bulb that will provide up to 20,000 hours of life and brightness with up to 100 lumens of color.

It has a mirror function, that is, you can reproduce all the content directly from your mobile: presentations, documents, movies … And completely wirelessly, compatible with both Android and iOS. It has a small built-in speaker, and a long-lasting battery that will allow us to play up to 80 minutes in a row .

In addition, its price also accompanies, since we can usually find it for less than 160 euros on Amazon. This is your link:

Kodak Ultra Mini

  • Resolution: 1080p
  • Lumens: 75
  • Autonomy: 2 hours
  • Android TV ?: No

Another reputable model is this Kodak Ultra Mini, rated at 75 lumens. The most amazing thing about this projector is that it has a complete advanced DLP engine, with an exceptional LED bulb and an image quality that gives 1080p HD resolution with good contrast. In fact, the DLP projector is the lightest and smallest in the entire market.

On the back we find built-in speakers, a 3.5mm input, HDMI connection, USB and integrated microSD . Android and iOS compatibility comes as a result of the HDMI connection. In addition, we will enjoy the most vivid colors with up to 16.7 million of them thanks to the sRGB spectrum. Its price is around 250 euros on Amazon.

Artlii

  • Resolution: 1080p
  • Lumens: Unspecified
  • Autonomy: Not specified
  • Android TV ?: Yes

The most updated model that has Android TV 9.0. It’s completely portable, even with a handle to easily carry it from one place to another. The projector can be connected to IOS, Android , Windows10, Macbook and Tablet PC via WiFi to share images and videos. It has two HiFi speakers, with SRS sound system through stereo speakers. It incorporates a tripod, 4D and zoom. Of course, the manufacturer does not specify the lumens in this particular model. We can buy it for less than 250 euros .

Nebula

  • Resolution: 854×480
  • Lumens: 100
  • Autonomy: 4 hours
  • Android TV ?: Yes

Of this model we highlight its 100 lumens, which includes WiFi and which, in addition to being portable, is 360º with the possibility of reproducing up to 100-inch screens . It also includes an Android 7.1 system inside, with sufficient autonomy of up to 4 hours of continuous playback. They have remarkable clarity and contrast, with a DLP system inside. It works at 5 watts and we can also connect mobiles with HDMI. You can buy it for less than 300 euros on offer:

Aucary

  • Resolution: 1080p
  • Lumens: 50 ANSI
  • Autonomy: 4 hours
  • Android TV ?: Yes

Enjoy the most complete experiences and compatibility, with this model with WiFi and Bluetooth that incorporates all kinds of technologies. It has advanced DLP technology, vivid colors and sharp images, with 50 ANSI lumens and an RGB LED lamp that will easily give us more than 10,000 hours of playback.

It is ideal for projecting and sharing multiple screens. The lenses have a range of up to 120 inches, with a 360-degree rotating mount, suitable for both iOS and Android. It is super portable with the following connections: USB, HDMI, 3.5mm AUX and Micro SD port. In addition, it brings Android 7.1 to access all the content directly from the player without having to connect anything. Isn’t that great? Its price is about 280 euros.

Larger models for your home

If you are looking for something more quality, as we mentioned at the beginning, you will enjoy long hours of screen time and several years thanks to LED bulbs.

DR.Q HI-04

  • Resolution: Full HD 1080p
  • Lumens: 7000
  • AndroidTV? : Yes

This mini projector has an unpronounceable name, but in return we get a screen to reproduce as a gift. And its incredible reviews on Amazon, where there are users who praise that it can be connected to the console, Android TV Box or any gadget you can think of, make it a projector that will not disappoint you.

TopVision

  • Resolution: 720p
  • Lumens: 5,000
  • AndroidTV? : Do not

Another of the models that you should not miss is this Top Vision projector. A device that guarantees 60,000 hours of use so you can create a screen of up to 240 inches. In addition, its 5,000 lumens of power guarantee that you will be able to see all kinds of content, even if there is some light. The best? That its 720p resolution is more than enough to enjoy a great multimedia experience.

HOPVISION

  • Resolution: 1080p Full HD
  • Lumens: 5,000
  • AndroidTV? : Do not

Portable projector with Full HD resolution of 5000 lumens that offer a maximum image projection of 180 inches. 60,000 hour lamp life and compatible with HDMI, AV, USB, SD and VGA. It offers low power consumption and is compatible with smartphones, tablets, Fire Stick, Chromecast, etc.

Yaber V5

  • Resolution: FullHD 1080p (native 1280×720)
  • Lumens: 7,000
  • AndroidTV? : Do not

This projector has over 200 reviews , and the vast majority of them are positive on Amazon. It has 5G and 2.4G WiFi function, as well as Bluetooth 5.1, supports wired and wireless projection for any Android or Apple device. Includes a small tripod in the purchase, as well as a cover.

It has a Full HD resolution of 1080p, with an aspect ratio of 8000: 1 , although it natively offers 1280 × 720 pixels. We like its high contrast, and 16:9/4:3 aspect ratio. It also incorporates a zoom function capable of reducing to 75% by adjusting the screen without moving the projector. Its price is about 100 euros.

WiMiUS

  • Resolution: Full HD 1080p
  • Lumens: 6,500
  • AndroidTV? : Do not

We are talking about a more than enough projector for your home that you can move from one place to another comfortably, with 6,500 lumens, which includes WiFi and Bluetooth. Its resolution is Full HD, with support for 1080p. It has an LED bulb to guarantee up to 10 years of life , a wide color gamut and a 9000:1 contrast ratio to guarantee good original video fidelity.

You can connect it wirelessly via WiFi or Bluetooth , and play the same content you need. It also comes with a variety of USB, HDMI, AV and 3.5mm audio connectors. It incorporates an advanced LED light source lamp of up to 90,000 hours, energy saving, almost no light decay, and diffuse reflection imaging design for a more comfortable viewing experience than direct light from TVs.

Its price is close to 120 euros.

The recommendation

Having seen the best projectors, both portable for your home and the most mini, now you have to ask yourself… Which one is the best? Without a doubt, an issue that is not easy to discern, that is why we are going to help you. First in the realm of pocket minis, as our favorite is the Philips PicoPix Nano , for its brightness and amount of lumens, which make it a perfect option to take anywhere in the hand of your hand, literally.

On the other hand, in terms of the most suitable portable projectors for your home, one of the best options is the Hopvision because of its compatibility with all types of platforms and its 5,000 lumens, as well as a good price to fight with the competition.