When you want to bring the weekly movie or game night out to the backyard or along with you on that camping trip, it’s time to consider a portable projector. Being the seasonally outdoorsy types ourselves, we’ve done considerable research into what we think are the best portable projectors of 2023.
Whether you’re focused on the sharpest, brightest, or longest-lasting image, we have picked the right portable projector for the task. Be sure to also consider your own feelings on the following criteria before you click the “buy” button: your viewing space, your desired resolution and brightness, and how much (if any) battery life you need. We explain each in detail below.
TL;DR – These are the Best Portable Projectors:
Xgimi Halo+
Best Portable Projector Overall
With everything from a battery that lasts up to 2 hours to two 5W Harman Kardon stereo speakers (and more), the Xgimi Halo+ is among the most complete portable projectors available.
The projector is able to produce a Full HD (1080p) resolution that shines at up to 900 ANSI lumens, which is ideal for nighttime outdoor viewing. An onboard Android interface with Chromecast, plus 2GB of memory and 16GB of flash storage, nearly completes the package.
Finally, the automatic keystone adjustment, auto focus, and Intelligent Obstacle Avoidance features together make setting this projector up in just about any environment much easier. It even has a low-latency (26.5ms) gaming mode for portable tourneys. The cherry on top: it’s all just $850.
ViewSonic M1 Mini+
Best Budget Portable Projector
At $170, this ViewSonic model isn’t even the cheapest portable projector, but it's more complete than the most affordable models, which is worth saving up for.
This isn’t a portable projector to play games on or use as an HDTV replacement (unless you’re comfortable in the 720p range). It’s best as a portable presentation aid, a carry-on movie player for long-distance hotel stays, or for as much quality as possible on a tight budget.
We particularly admire the projector’s unique kickstand that helps it reliably display a straight picture from its range of throw distances, helped by automatic keystone adjustment. It also has decent JBL speakers and can last nearly 2.5 hours on its battery, making it a relatively complete package for under $200 (and often discounted).
Anker Nebula Cosmos Max
Best 4K Portable Projector
Unfortunately, a quality 4K projector that also runs on a battery is rare. The Anker Nebula Cosmos Max, complete with its onboard Android interface (backed by 2GB of memory and 16GB storage) and surround sound speakers, is your best bet despite its reliance on DC power.
This model is most ideal for the house, your backyard, or along for a long-term trip. The 1,500 ANSI lumens lens means it will work in most common indoor and outdoor settings, but likely not in raw daylight.
Finally, the Cosmos Max can be enhanced with higher-quality audio ports when in a home theater setting. That altogether makes this a one-stop shop at $1,500 if you’re set on 4K resolution.
Anker Nebula Apollo
Best Portable Projector for Sound
If you’re most concerned with the audio from your portable projector, Anker’s $350 Nebula Apollo has the largest speaker of any portable projector we’ve seen.
While output amounts to an average 6W, it’s the cylindrical surface area of the speaker hardware that matters more for a fuller sound. Also, the Apollo doubles as a Bluetooth speaker when connected to your phone.
When it comes to portability and audio quality, the Apollo strikes both while delivering up to 4 hours of battery life, which is well above average. This might be thanks to the projector’s just-above-720p resolution, but that’s a worthy trade-off for some.
ViewSonic M2w
Best Portable Projector for Brightness
At a whopping 1,700 ANSI lumens, the ViewSonic M2w is dazzlingly bright while remaining relatively affordable at $700. That means you can enjoy this projector from pretty much anywhere, even in spaces with high ambient light.
Of course, the M2w is perfectly portable with a lightweight, compact design and built-in 6W Harmon Kardon stereo speakers that deliver a decently powerful sound to fill up most rooms. And if you’re away from a power outlet, this projector can be powered by a battery bank for big-screen entertainment—up to 150 inches—on the go.
As for picture quality, this projector supports up to Full HD resolutions and delivers immersive, accurate colors for lifelike images, though there’s no HDR support. You also don’t get any streaming functionality, but you can connect to most streaming devices, computers, and phones to enjoy your favorite content.
What to look for in a portable projector
Space: You must consider your most regular viewing spaces before buying a portable projector. Look at the throw range of each model to make sure it reasonably fits the dimensions of your space for the image size that you want. For outdoor spaces, you will need to see whether you have a level enough environment for the projector to sit on, though automatic keystone correction might help with this.
Brightness and resolution: Especially for outdoor viewing, the brightness is hugely important. This is difficult to gauge for indoor environments where it might be in use during daytime hours. Brightness is measured these days in ANSI lumens. We recommend a projector capable of at least 800 ANSI lumens to use outdoors at night. As for resolution, projectors support anywhere from 720p to 4K resolution. Your target resolution should account for your intended image size: the larger your image, the higher resolution you should go. That said, a 60-inch image projected at 1080p resolution, for example, would be just fine.
Battery: If you only plan on viewing in your backyard with access to your home’s outdoor DC power outlets, maybe you don’t need a battery. But, if you’re planning on taking the projector elsewhere without that kind of outlet access, consider one with a battery. Generally, these batteries will last for at least a 90-minute movie, but some can last for hours.
Joe Osborne is a writer and editor with more than a decade of experience in games and tech media. You can find his work elsewhere at Insider, TechRadar, Laptop Magazine, Tom’s Guide, and more.
