The 3 Best Portable Projectors - Black Friday 2024

The best portable projector we've tested is the XGIMI Halo+. It's a very small unit and weighs only 3.7 pounds, so you can easily throw it into a backpack. Plus, it has an integrated battery promising up to 2.5 hours of uninterrupted playback, long enough to watch most movies. It has many image correction features: full auto keystone, autofocus, intelligent screen alignment, and obstacle avoidance, so it's truly a projector that you can easily take on the go as it corrects its image automatically as you move it. It has the Android TV smart interface, Chromecast and AirScreen support, and Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 capabilities. This makes it very easy to use on the go, as you can connect a Bluetooth speaker to the projector to seamlessly stream music or movies through your phone's wireless hotspot.

Like most portable models, it's slightly dim but significantly brighter than other battery-powered ultra-portables, and it projects a pleasant 1080p image as long as all the lights are off. Fortunately, it does have great contrast, emphasizing its dark room, or dark night, capabilities. It also has a wide color gamut and HDR support but isn't bright enough to truly take advantage of them. It has one HDMI port, which also doubles as an eARC port, and a USB port through which you can play video files directly to the projector. Overall, this is a versatile portable projector, both in terms of image quality and feature set.

Are you looking for a cheaper portable projector that still offers acceptable image quality? Check out the XGIMI MoGo 2, the best mini projector that won't cost you an arm and a leg. It's a very small projector that weighs only 2.4 pounds, so you can seamlessly take it with you on a trip. It doesn't have an internal battery like the XGIMI Halo+ does, but it supports external charging via power banks through its USB-C port; just make sure that your power bank can deliver at least 65 watts of power via a USB-C connection. It has many image correction features: full auto keystone, autofocus, intelligent screen alignment, and obstacle avoidance. It has the Android TV 11 smart interface, Chromecast and AirScreen support, and Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 capabilities to round up the package.

Unfortunately, the projector is very dim. You need to turn off all the lights to get a pleasant image, and even then, it's not exactly the most vibrant viewing experience possible. Its contrast is mediocre but good enough to provide a passable dark room viewing experience. It also has a wide color gamut and HDR support but isn't bright enough to take advantage of them. Unlike the other picks, this unit only projects a 720p image, so it doesn't look as sharp. Ultimately, you get this projector because of its price, not its image quality. If budget and portability are what you're after, it's hard to beat the MoGo 2.

If you're seeking a bright yet still portable-friendly projector, the Epson EpiqVision Flex CO-W01 is the best choice on this list. Portable projectors tend to be rather dim, not so with this Epson model, as it's extremely bright and projects vibrant images even when used in bright rooms, such as a bright office or loft. It projects 1280x800 resolution images, which is a 16:10 aspect ratio and is a better format for office work than what we typically find on projectors. Still, in a pinch, this projector performs well for movie viewing, especially in brighter rooms, as its contrast just isn't good enough to provide a truly immersive viewing experience in dark rooms.

Even though it isn't as small as the products above, and it requires a power outlet due to its lack of an internal battery, it's still quite portable due to its small size and light weight. Keep in mind that it doesn't feature auto keystone correction and autofocusing, so manual adjustments are necessary to correct any geometry issues. It also lacks a smart OS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, necessitating an external streaming dongle if you want to access any streaming apps or wireless features. Ultimately, it's a great value for anyone looking for a small yet bright projector, as it's far brighter than both the XGIMI Halo+ and the XGIMI MoGo 2, even if not quite as portable.