Home Smart Home The Best Portable Projectors
TechJunkie Expert Recommendations
TechJunkie is supported by our readers. When you make a purchase through our links, we may earn a commission. Read More.
It seems like only yesterday that if you wanted to enjoy your favorite movie or TV show in the comfort of your own home, you needed to invest in a large and needlessly cumbersome television in order to get the job done. Thankfully, plenty of home theater improvements have come and gone since, and we’re in the midst of another home entertainment revolution that’s putting flat-screen TVs to shame: the home projector revolution. Projectors make it incredibly easy to project virtually any kind of digital content onto any surface in the home, with screen sizes ranging from a few inches to upwards of 100 inches. While most of these devices can only be placed around your home, there are portable options on the market that you can bring on your vacation or road trip with friends. You should prepare to spend a hefty amount if you want a projector with a 4K resolution and features that will make you feel like you’re in your own cinema, but you can also find more budget-friendly options if you look hard enough. These affordable projectors might not have the most premium specs, but they still allow you to enjoy your favorite movies and TV shows at the end of the day. Here are some of the best portable projectors in 2022.
The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12 isn’t an ordinary portable projector because it will also make you feel like you’re bringing an entire smart TV. It’s because it has Android TV built-in, allowing you easy access to famous streaming services. It also has a Yamaha-designed speaker system, so you don’t need to bring an extra speaker with you. You can even treat it as a standalone speaker and connect your mobile devices via Bluetooth. This laser projector features a 1080p Full HD resolution but still supports 4K content. Its MicroLaser Array Technology is responsible for letting its brightness reach 1,000 lumens, but you would still need to use the projector in dark environments for the best quality possible. Users will see the most vibrant and accurate colors with this projector because of its 3LCD technology. The projector can even correct colors automatically no matter what type of content you watch since it has advanced scene adaptive color correction. It’s easy to set up the projector, and its auto picture skew and focus correction ensure you get the best angles and orientation without breaking a sweat. The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12 supports casting content from your mobile phones or computers wirelessly since it has Chromecast built-in. Customers will receive a 2-year limited warranty and free technical phone support upon purchase.
Android TV built-inYamaha-designed speaker system that doubles as a Bluetooth speaker3LCD technologyChromecast built-inAuto picture skew and focus correction
Brightness and contrast could be betterNative resolution is only 1080p 
For those who want a highly portable projector with smart features, the Samsung The Freestyle would be perfect for you. Its design looks like a spotlight, and it features a tiltable stand, so you can easily adjust it and find the ideal angle. You don’t have to stress about its setup too much since it has auto-leveling, autofocus, and auto-keystone technology. The projector can display a screen as small as 30 inches and as large as 100 inches. It has a built-in smart entertainment system, so you can quickly access your favorite streaming apps like Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, etc. It’s easy to navigate through the system thanks to its user-friendly remote, but users also have the option to control the projector using Alexa or Bixby. The projector has a built-in speaker that promises 360-degree audio, making it ideal for binge-watching your favorite shows on a camping trip. The Samsung The Freestyle projector comes with a USB Type-C power cable, but you will still need to purchase an AC adaptor. You can also opt to power the projector using a power bank when you don’t have a power outlet nearby. Customers can buy the projector only or get bundles with a carrying case or sleeve.
Ultra-portableSmart entertainment system built-in100 inches maximum screen sizeTiltable standAuto-leveling, autofocus, and auto-keystone technology
Autofocus and auto-keystone could be betterInterface should be snappier
When you need a projector that doesn’t necessarily rely on being plugged into an outlet, you can opt for the Anker Nebula Solar. This projector has a built-in rechargeable battery, but you shouldn’t expect much because you only get 3 hours of usage per charge. Nonetheless, you can still switch to AC power and enjoy a longer time binge-watching your favorite Netflix series. The projector features a 1080p native resolution, but it still supports 4K content. Its maximum screen size is 120 inches, while its minimum is 40 inches. You can expect impressive detail thanks to its HDR10 capabilities, but this projector is meant to be used in darker environments because it only has 400 ANSI lumens of brightness. The Anker Nebula Solar has dual 3W speakers built-in with Dolby Digital Plus. You can also treat it as a separate speaker and use Bluetooth to play music from your mobile devices. The projector features an Android TV 9 interface, so you can access apps like Youtube, Hulu, etc. You won’t need to buy a tripod for the projector because it has a built-in stand that allows you to position it up to a 13-degree angle. Users can expect to have perfectly squared images at whatever angle they set the projector in since it has quadrilateral keystoning. If you want to stream movies or shows from external devices, you can use the projector’s HDMI, USB Type-C, or USB Type-A ports. Those with Apple or Android devices can also cast wirelessly using Chromecast.
Android TV 9 and Chromecast built-inBuilt-in rechargeable batteryMaximum screen size is 120 inchesHDR10 supportDual 3W speakers with Dolby Digital PlusBuilt-in standQuadrilateral keystoningHDMI, USB Type-C, and USB Type-A ports
Brightness could be betterNo headphone jackNot the best audio quality
The Anker Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K is a suitable choice for those who aren’t tight on their budget and want a portable projector with a high-quality 4K resolution. You will enjoy watching 4K UHD content on this projector, and you can use it even in bright environments because of its 2,400 lumens of brightness. Getting the projector running is quick and easy thanks to its Intelligent Environment Adaptation Technology. It analyzes your environment and automatically makes necessary adjustments like autofocus and keystone correction for you to have the best viewing experience possible. Users can expect a decent audio performance from this speaker since it has two 10W speakers and two 5W tweeters. You can also use its speaker even when you’re not watching anything since they double as a Bluetooth speaker. Its Dolby Digital Plus support and AiFi technology ensure that you get a 3D surround sound experience. The Anker Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K can turn any room into a cinema because it reaches a projection size of up to 150 inches. It has a helpful handle that increases its portability, and since it has Android TV 10 built-in, you won’t have to worry about carrying a laptop, streaming stick, or flash drive with you to stream content. You can also benefit from its built-in Chromecast, allowing you to cast content from your mobile devices or laptops wirelessly. For those who like keeping it old-school, you can still stream from external devices using its HDMI or USB Type-A port.
Modern design with useful handleMaximum projection size of 150 inches4K UHD resolutionIntelligent Environment Adaptation TechnologyDolby Digital Plus support and AiFi technologyAndroid TV 10 and Chromecast
ExpensiveCan't adjust color accuracyLacks optical zoom
Some of you might only need a portable projector for business presentations, and if that’s the case, the AAXA P7 Mini Projector would be your best option. This projector excels in its portability since it’s small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. It features a native 1080p Full HD resolution and uses Digital Light Processing technology, which movie theaters also use. The projector is equipped with a 38W Lithium-Ion battery that promises about 90 minutes of usage per charge. This would be too short for watching a film, but it’s undoubtedly more than enough for a presentation. Users can easily show their powerpoints on the projector’s screen since it has a USB Type-A port. It also has an HDMI port, MicroSD slot, USB Type-C port, and mini-VGA port. The maximum projection size you can get from this projector is 120 inches, while its smallest size would be 16 inches. You would need to mainly use the projector in dark rooms since it only has 600 lumens of brightness. The good thing is that you don’t need to worry about replacing its bulb since its LED light source has a lifespan of 30,000 hours. The AAXA P7 Mini Projector has built-in 2W speakers, but don’t expect it to have the best audio quality.
Lightweight and portableBuilt-in rechargeable battery1080p resolutionMaximum projection size of 120 inches
Not the best video and audio quality
50 Articles Published
We're not just tech junkies, but we're also tech experts. Each and every "Best of.." list on TechJunkie is curated by our content-area subject matter experts to provide a well-rounded, unbiased perspective to help and inform you, our reader. Our lists are constantly reviewed and updated, so you can be sure you're reading relevant and up to date information.
Copyright @2024 TechJunkie
Copyright @2024 TechJunkie
If you don’t see an app that should be here, let us know what it is
