These small entertainment units often include built-in batteries for truly portable play, and some have Android TV functionality for easy streaming. Integrated speakers are common and they all include HDMI and USB ports for external media like Blu-ray players, set-top streaming boxes, or USB streaming sticks. Finding the best mini projector that meets your own priorities isn’t always easy, so we’ve gathered five of our favorites while also providing some insight into what to look for when you’re shopping.
Best overall: Xgimi MoGo ProBest for movies: Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12Best pocket-sized: Kodak Luma 450Best portable: Anker Nebula SolarBest budget: Kodak Luma 150
How we chose the best mini projectors
When selecting the best mini projectors to include in our recommendations, we relied on our own experience with home projectors and also reached out to professionals in the TV and AV worlds to discuss their favorites—as well as the types of specs they care about when shopping. We read trade journals and websites and sifted through online reviews and comments to get the impressions of typical users. We narrowed our selection of projectors down to 10, focusing first and foremost on how the unit balanced image quality against its small, portable size. Color, contrast, and resolution were taken into account, as were size and weight. Price was an important factor, especially in terms of “bang for your buck,” and additional features—like built-in streaming apps, batteries, and speakers—were evaluated as well.
Things to consider before buying a mini projector
It’s not easy for something that potentially fits in your palm (or at least can be easily carried with one hand) to throw a picture that’s around 100-200 inches from corner to corner, in 720p or 1080p, with accurate colors and decent shadow detail. Here are the specs to watch for as you shop:
Brightness
ANSI lumens describe how much light a projector creates and that, in turn, determines how bright and large your picture will be—especially in less than ideal situations where you can’t achieve a completely dark room. Brightness levels of around 200 to 500 ANSI lumens are common, with picture sizes of around 80-120 inches. That said, there are some mini projectors that can achieve much brighter pictures than that.
Chip
Projectors use imaging chips to create a picture and there are three types of them: DLP, LCD, and LCoS. DLP chips find a home in units at all different price points and deliver average contrast and nice color. LCD chips can be found on budget to mid-range projectors and often have better color than DLP projectors, but contrast ratios sometimes suffer. Lastly, LCoS chips are used in mid-range to high-end projectors; they tend to deliver the best picture quality overall but, not surprisingly, cost more and don’t show up in budget units. One last thing to know about chips: Single-DLP projectors, which make up a majority of budget-priced units, sometimes suffer from “the rainbow effect.” This is when bright objects on the screen leave very quick, multicolored pixel trails behind them. With thousands upon thousands of single-DLP projectors sold, it’s obvious that most people don’t even notice them—or simply aren’t bothered. But if you have an opportunity to test out a single-DLP projector at a store, consider doing so in order to gauge how you feel about the rainbow effect.
Pico and palmtops
There’s mini and there’s mini. Pico projectors, also sometimes called pocket projectors, are about the size of a smartphone. They’re extremely portable, of course, but their pictures rarely match the brightness or quality found on bigger machines. Palmtop projectors are larger and brighter than pico projectors, with more connections, but still light enough to drop into a bag for travel or presentations.
Power
Many mini projectors run for at least a couple of hours on internal batteries, making them even more portable. That said, it’s not enough juice to binge an entire series or watch some of the longer Marvel movies. Luckily, mini projectors also come with AC cords so when you’re at home, in an office, or at a friend’s place, you can just plug them in.
Screens
Projectors shine light on a surface and that surface reflects the light back to our eyes. That means using a projector with a plain, white wall isn’t going to deliver the best picture because too much light gets absorbed by the paint. For the optimal viewing experience, you need to buy a screen—which can run from around $25 to a little over $100, depending on sizes, stands, and accessories. These have reflective surfaces that increase perceived brightness, contrast, and color saturation—all of which are especially important when using a mini projector, which is likely already hobbled by a dimmer light source.
Audio
Because they’re built for portability, mini projectors often include speakers. Three or more watts can generally fill a small space, but volume isn’t everything. Make sure the speakers produce audio that’s clear enough to separate voices from background noise or music in busy scenes. Decent bass response will contribute to the sound’s fullness, too. Many mini projectors also include an audio-out jack for using external speakers.
Best mini projectors: Reviews & Recommendations
A little more compact than some portable projectors, while not as limited in features as a pico projector, the best mini projectors are all-in-one entertainment.
Best overall: XGIMI MoGo Pro
Why it made the cut: This small, light projector ticks all our boxes with a native 1080p picture, reasonably bright lamp, built-in battery, and internal streaming apps. Specs
Brightness: 300 ANSI lumensSize: 6.9” x 6.9” x 10.2”Weight: 2 pounds
Pros
Native 1080p pictureTwo-hour battery lifeInternal Android TV
Cons
Could be brighterNetflix app not supported
The MoGo can accept a 4K signal (down-converted to 1080p), and its internal battery lasts for about two hours. Five preset image modes are included and a custom setting lets you tweak the basics like brightness, contrast, and sharpness. Advanced controls access color temperature for fine-tuning. The internal, dual 3-watt speakers sound good, despite being light in the low-end. With a brightness of 300 ANSI lumens, you get a 75-inch picture before noticing any significant loss of quality. One caveat is that the projector doesn’t support the Netflix app in Android TV. And you can’t cast it from a mobile device using Chromecast. To watch content from that streamer you’ll need to either connect a set-top box via HDMI or cast from a Chrome web browser on a computer. It’s frustrating but not a deal-breaker, given how many other excellent features are present.
Best for movies: Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12
Why it made the cut: Superior contrast, a relatively bright lamp, and advanced imaging technology work to deliver what’s by far the best-looking movies you’ll see from any other projector on this list. Specs
Brightness: 1000 ANSI LumensSize: 6.9” x 6.9” x 5”Weight: 4.7 pounds
Pros
Native 1080p resolutionSupports 4K media (down-converted to HD)200,000:1 contrast ratioBuilt-in Android TVExcellent speakers
Cons
A bit heavy by mini standardsExpensive
The EpiqVision Mini EF12 is more expensive than most other mini projectors but that’s the trade-off for a positively cinematic movie-watching experience. With a native Full HD 1080p resolution and 1,000-ANSI lumen MicroLaser light source, the unit projects a sharp 140-inch picture. Three-chip LCD technology displays 100 percent of the RGB color range, while high contrast and adaptive color correction deliver shadows full of detail and saturated colors that positively pop. Built-in Android TV provides access to a full suite of streaming apps, and the EpiqVision Mini has two HDMI inputs for external players. A 5-watt Yamaha speaker delivers robust and clear audio. Unfortunately, Epson’s projector doesn’t have an internal battery, so don’t expect to use it without having access to AC power. It’s also a chunkier piece of gear than many mini projectors on this list—this isn’t dropping into anyone’s pocket. And, again, the price—close to $1,000, compared to all our other sub-$500 choices—might make it a tough buy for anyone watching their budget. But if you prioritize your movies above all else, there’s a reason this is one of our favorite home theater projectors.
Best pocket-sized: Kodak Luma 450
Why it made the cut: With native 1080p resolution, this pint-size player delivers a much better picture than you usually get from such small projectors. Specs
Lumens: 200 ANSI lumensSize: 4.9” x 4.9” 1.26”Weight: 9 ounces
Pros
1920 x 1080 resolution4K compatible (down-converted)Keystoning 3-hour battery life
Cons
Not very brightTinny audio
Kodak’s tiny Luma 450 delivers full 1080p resolution with the ability to accept 4K signals (down-converted to HD). The DLP projector’s 200 lumens aren’t high-performance, but good color management and a 3,500:1 contrast ratio help to achieve a decent picture up to about 100 inches. It’s important, however, to make sure the room is nice and dark, as too much ambient light leads to washed-out colors and a loss of details in the shadows. The Android Smart OS is included and streaming apps can be downloaded directly to the projector. You can also cast wirelessly directly from your smart device or computer, or plug a media player into the projector via HDMI. It also accepts USB streaming sticks. The Luma 450’s battery is reported to last three hours and most users seem to get about 2 1/2 hours of life before plugging in—impressive! Less impressive is the small 1-watt speaker system; the audio lacks any sort of body and clarity sometimes suffers during chaotic scenes (luckily, there’s a 3.5mm jack so you can connect to a beefier sound system).
Best portable: Anker Nebula Solar
Why it made the cut: Lightweight, battery-powered, and featuring built-in Android TV, this projector travels easily. Specs
Brightness: 400 ANSI LumensSize: 7.56” x 7.57” x 2.15”Weight: 2.8 pounds
Pros
Up to three hours of battery lifeBuilt-in Android TVNative HD resolution but can accept 4K inputs
Cons
Picture suffers in ambient lightColor accuracy could be better
This 3.1-pound, rechargeable, battery-powered DLP projector loves life on the road. You’ll get 1 1/2 hours in Standard mode and an excellent 3 hours in Battery mode—albeit with a dip in brightness. The built-in Android TV includes apps to connect to all the major streaming services, so no external media is necessary (you will, however, need access to a Wi-Fi network and a Google account). Built-in dual 3-watt speakers can handle Dolby Digital Plus encoded audio, though the sound quality could be better. The Solar Portable accepts 4K signals and down-converts them to the projector’s native 1080p resolution. In HD mode, colors exhibited a subtle nuance—though they were sometimes a bit off—and shadows maintained their detail even in darker scenes. While the projector is bright enough to deliver a nice 180-inch image, don’t expect to go much larger without the picture softening. Again, it’s about striking a balance. Other projectors deliver a nicer picture but don’t have as much functionality when traveling.
Best budget: Kodak Luma 150
Why it made the cut: This inexpensive and ultra-small projector is a great way to share presentations, photos, or videos. Specs
Brightness: 60 ANSI lumensSize: 3.1” x 3.1” x 0.87”Weight: 7.8 ounces
Pros
Small and lightFull-size HDMI inputmicroSD card slot
Cons
Not very brightNot full HD
Kodak’s Luma 150 is a fun, budget-friendly way to share content from your smartphone. Send video over a full-size HDMI cable, or cast your content from connected devices. The projector also accepts microSD cards. At first blush, the 60-lumen DLP projector doesn’t seem very bright. And its 854 x 480 resolution isn’t the stuff of blockbusters. But this isn’t meant to be your primary projector. The Luma 150 instead makes a convenient, very inexpensive tool for sharing photos at get-togethers, watching movies in the backseat of the car, or delivering presentations at a conference on a screen that’s significantly bigger than the one on your phone, tablet, or laptop. The battery lasts about two hours and the unit can also be plugged in. It has a speaker, but you’re better off using headphones or a small, portable speaker if watching videos with other people.
Final thoughts on the best mini projectors
Mini projectors almost never live up to the specs of larger, more permanent units—but they cost less and travel easily. Anyone looking to purchase a mini projector needs to first accept that reality before deciding which unit suits them best. After that, it comes down to priorities. If you want a great picture and don’t care about much else, Epson’s EpiqVision Mini EF12 delivers a cinema-like picture. On the other hand, the Xgimi MoGo Pro trades off some brightness, and a bit of image quality, for portability. It features a battery, built-in Android TV for streaming, and costs much less. In striking that balance, in embracing what’s great about mini projectors, the Xgimi edged out the Epson for our top pick.
