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The 4 Best Portable Projectors of 2025

Updated Apr 09, 2025 at 03:01 pm
Best Portable Projectors

If you're looking for the best portable projectors, many options are available, but unfortunately, most offer inadequate image quality. The smaller the projector, the dimmer it tends to be, with many portable models lacking vibrancy even in the darkest rooms. While no small and portable projector is going to compete with the bigger units when it comes to image quality, some models do provide a decent enough viewing experience. Portable projectors also tend to be fully featured regarding smart features and have a full suite of image correction features, emphasizing their set-up-and-go nature. Ultimately, the best easy-to-carry projectors balance portability and image quality in a small, attractive package.

We've bought and tested more than 45 projectors, and below, you'll find the best small projectors to buy. We only cover consumer models, not high-end products meant for enthusiasts. If you're buying on a budget, check out the best projectors under $1,000 and the best projectors under $500. Or, if you're specifically looking for projectors to take outside, look at our list of best outdoor projectors, or, inversely, if you're mostly interested in using your unit inside, our list of the best home projectors. You can also vote on which ones you want us to purchase and test.

Quick Look

Projector Technology
Best Portable Projector: XGIMI Halo+
Portability
8.5
Movies
6.3
Wi-FiYes
Versatile and colorful unit with an integrated battery pack.
Projector Technology
Best Cheap Portable Projector: XGIMI MoGo 2
Portability
8.0
Movies
5.8
Wi-FiYes
Dim, but small and cheap. Doesn't have a battery.
Projector Technology
Best Bright Room Portable Projector: Epson EpiqVision Flex CO-W01
Portability
6.0
Movies
6.6
Wi-FiNo
Bigger unit but light enough to be carried, and very bright.
Projector Technology
Best Dark Room Portable Projector: NexiGo PJ40 (Gen 3)
Portability
6.0
Movies
6.3
Wi-FiYes
Tons of features and excellent contrast, but lacks accuracy.
  1. Best Portable Projector

    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.

  2. Best Cheap Portable Projector

    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+, but it supports external charging via power banks through its USB-C port; just make sure 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 out 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 this model.

  3. Best Bright Room Portable Projector

    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, but that isn't the case 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. 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 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.

  4. Best Dark Room Portable Projector

    The NexiGo PJ40 (Gen 3) is a great choice if you're looking for a somewhat portable projector that offers better performance than most compact models. While it doesn't have an integrated battery and is larger than ultra-portable options like the XGIMI Halo+ or XGIMI MoGo 2, it's still small enough to carry around from room to room, making it a versatile choice for movie nights, gaming, or casual presentations. The inclusion of vertical auto keystone correction adds a touch of convenience, letting you set it up quickly without fuss. The similarly sized Epson EpiqVision Flex CO-W01 is far brighter, making it better for well-lit spaces, but its poor contrast can result in a washed-out image in darker environments. This is where the NexiGo shines—its excellent contrast makes it a much better option for dark rooms, delivering more vivid and immersive visuals, even if its colors are muted overall.

    This projector also packs many features, including Bluetooth 5.1, Wi-Fi, Miracast and Apple AirPlay support, two HDMI ports (one with ARC), a Game Mode, and HDR10. While its Android TV interface is pretty basic, as it doesn't include any apps, adding a Chromecast or Fire Stick makes it a complete streaming solution. If you're looking for a projector that balances portability with impressive performance for darker spaces, this one is a fantastic value and is a better pick for dark rooms than similarly sized alternatives.

Notable Mentions

  • Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser: The Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser is a portable projector with an integrated battery promising up to 2.5 hours of uninterrupted playback. Still, the XGIMI Halo+ is much brighter for a similar price and has better contrast. Plus, the XGIMI MoGo 2 offers image quality similar to the Anker but at a much lower cost, although the MoGo 2 doesn't have a battery. See our review
  • Samsung The Freestyle 2nd Gen: The Samsung The Freestyle 2nd Gen is an interesting portable projector with an innovative swiveling stand. Unfortunately, it's very dim and doesn't have an integrated battery, so the XGIMI Halo+ is the better overall product. See our review
  • XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro: The XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro isn't as good as its cheaper sibling, the XGIMI MoGo 2. The Pro does project a sharper 1080p image versus 720p for the regular MoGo 2, which matters if you want to project an extremely large image. If not, the regular MoGo 2 has slightly better brightness, contrast, and out-of-the-box color accuracy and is cheaper than the Pro. See our review

Recent Updates

  1. Apr 09, 2025: 

    We made sure that our recommendations are still accurate and available for purchase. The XGIMI MoGo 2 is a bit hard to find now, but we'll monitor its availability.

  2. Dec 09, 2024: 

    Added the NexiGo PJ40 (Gen 3) as the new 'Best Dark Room Portable Projector' due to its relatively small size and excellent contrast.

  3. Oct 08, 2024: Verified that all of our picks are still widely available for purchase.

  4. Sep 18, 2024: Removed some products from our Notable Mentions and made sure that our picks are all still widely available.

  5. Aug 22, 2024: Moved the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12 to the Notable Mentions and clarified some of our picks to emphasize their portability.

All Reviews

Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best small and light projectors for most people to buy. We factor in the price (a cheaper projector wins over a pricier one if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no projectors that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).

If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here is the list of the best projectors that are easy to carry. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no projector is perfect, many are good enough for most uses; however, avoid the worst models to ensure adequate quality.

Comments

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Best Portable Projectors: Main Discussion

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  1. Update: We made sure that our recommendations are still accurate and available for purchase. The XGIMI MoGo 2 is a bit hard to find now, but we’ll monitor its availability.

    What do you think of these changes? Let us know

    Show More Updates