10 Best Portable Projectors 2024 | UK Filmmaker Reviewed
Pocket-sized, iPhone compatible and 1080p resolutions, a portable projector allows you to bring the magic of the cinema into your living room, back garden, or even camping in the great outdoors. Not only that, but they're also perfect for children’s sleepovers and making memorable business presentations at work.
Quick List - Top Portable Projectors
Nebula by Anker
Lightweight, Functional and the Size of a Drinks Can
Jani is a professional photographer and filmmaker from Finland with over 15 years of experience in both fields. He has studied at some of the best schools and universities across the globe, leading him to become an expert in creative industries. Today he is the creative director and the owner of JP Harrow Portraits that specialises in portraiture for same-sex couples and families in London, UK.
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Table of Contents
- With Specialist Consultation From Filmmaker Jani Ahonen
- How to Choose a Portable Projector in the UK
- Size Can Affect Sound and Image Quality, so Think About Who and Where You’ll Be Using It1
- High Resolution, Lumens and Keystone Correction Will Give You the Best Image Projection2
- Check That the Sound Output of the Projector Is Around 4 Watts for More Dynamic Audio3
- Cabled Is Best for Static Viewers, but Choose WiFi or Bluetooth if You Prefer the Freedom4
- A Long Battery Life of More Than 4000mah Will Give You Care-Free Viewing on the Go5
- Properly Store and Maintain Your Projector for Years of Quality Viewing
With Specialist Consultation From Filmmaker Jani Ahonen
Jani is a professional photographer and filmmaker from Finland with over 15 years of experience in both fields. He has studied at some of the best schools and universities across the globe, leading him to become an expert in creative industries. Today he is the creative director and the owner of JP Harrow Portraits that specialises in portraiture for same-sex couples and families in London, UK.
If you're looking for an expert in portrait photography, filmmaking, drone flying or anything else technical, make sure to visit Jani's website JP Harrow Portraits for quotes and direct contact, or follow him on Instagram.
How to Choose a Portable Projector in the UK
- Who Will Use the Projector and the Level of Sound and Image Quality Required
- Look For Features Like High Resolution and Lumens for the Best Image Projection
- Check for a Good Level of Sound Output for Dynamic Audio
- Whether You Want a Reliable Wired Connection or the Freedom of Wireless
- For Your Viewing Needs, How Much Battery Life Is Sufficient
Size Can Affect Sound and Image Quality, so Think About Who and Where You’ll Be Using It
For Meetings and Movie Nights Go For a Projector With a Stable Wired Connection
If you intend to use your projector for business or at-home movie nights in the house or garden, then you can afford to opt for the heavier and more robust models. More often than not these models have an incredibly stable viewing experience and higher-quality sound output, not to mention a longer 'throw ratio' for a truly cinematic experience.
It is worth keeping in mind that when travelling with your portable projector, you might have to also carry additional equipment from a portable white screen to extra cables. These combined can mean you carry over ten kilos of weight, so keep this in mind when choosing the projector. While the projector itself might be lightweight, the gear and equipment it requires always isn't!
If You’re Holding a Kid’s Party or Viewing on the Go, Choose a Palmtop or ‘Pico’ Projector
When compactness is a priority, a pocket or palmtop projector will be ideal. However, you will find that the brightness and definition suffer slightly with smaller models. Palmtops are slightly larger but still compact enough to slip into a bag - they also have a better quality projection and more connectivity options.
Although they won't be as light, larger palmtop LED models have a superior image and sound quality and can often stand up sturdily by themselves. The 'throw ratio' will be much shorter in these models, however, keep an eye out for short-throw projectors which will be capable of bigger images at a shorter distance of a couple of metres.
Generally speaking, the image quality does decrease the smaller the projector gets. This is all due to limitations in technology. While kids might not care about the image quality and are okay films shown lower resolution, adults might not.
For this reason, it might be worth investing a bit more money in higher quality projector if the image quality matters to you a lot.
High Resolution, Lumens and Keystone Correction Will Give You the Best Image Projection
A Resolution of 1080p and Over Will Give You a Clearer Image
The higher the resolution your projector provides, the crisper and clearer the image will be. You can also check the resolution by looking at the number of pixels it uses. So if you're projecting a DVD or BluRay, pick one with a resolution high enough, for example, 1080 pixels. However, avoid dipping below 720 pixels.
That said, as technology advances over the years, a better investment may be one that is compatible with higher resolutions since it is likely to outlive laptops, BluRay, and other technology - meaning it should last you for years to come!
Immerse yourself in the home theatre experience with a 4K TV for Under £500!
While it might sound like a 4K projector is always better than a 1080p projector, that isn’t always the case. Just because a projector has FullHD 1080p resolution doesn’t mean it will make movies look good.
Many 720p projectors can produce a much better image and colours than a 1080p projector, and hence you should always read the reviews of that projector before purchase.
Keystone Correction Is Great for Angled Surfaces
However, it does reduce the overall image quality in the process. So if you refuse to sacrifice a crisp, vibrant image, use one with no keystone correction. Also, if you’re lucky enough to have a flat surface for your projector at just the right height, keystone projection won’t be necessary anyway.
Keystone corrections are more prevalent in proper home theatre projectors, but they can sometimes be found in portable projectors too. Just bear in mind that the ideal place for the projector is always right in front of the screen. This allows it to project the image without any distortions, and no digital image corrections are required.
Projectors With 1000-1500 Lumen Will Give Higher-Quality Projections
Projectors with between 1000-1500 lumen don’t require quite as much darkness to produce a clear image, so if you can’t guarantee a total blackout, choose a device with this number or higher. However, if you’re setting up a garden home cinema or you’re able to watch in complete darkness, fewer than 500 lumens will be perfectly sufficient.
Struggling to make the room dark enough? Check out our best blackout blinds.
If you plan to use your portable projector in a bright room during the day, you need a projector with a high Lumen number. Ideally, aim for a projector with Lumen numbers over 1000 or more.
However, if you can always control the light and make sure the presentation room is dark, you don’t need to worry about the projector brightness numbers. A lower Lumen number will produce darker blacks in those situations, making your movie experience a lot better.
Greater Contrast Makes for More Detailed Images
The contrast ratio does not account for the way your projector will display shades of grey in between black and white. Thus, a projector with a ratio of 40,000:1 doesn’t guarantee a ten times better contrast than one with a ratio of 4000:1. Nevertheless, for a rich image, try to find a contrast ratio of at least 1000:1.
The contrast ratio is one of those things that doesn’t instantly tell you how good the projector is. Each manufacturer uses its own measurements, and hence there can be a big difference between two different projects having the same contrast ratio.
My suggestion is to check the reviews of that particular projector and see what people say about the image quality. If people praise the image and its colours, that projector might be good for you.
Check That the Sound Output of the Projector Is Around 4 Watts for More Dynamic Audio
By definition, anything portable means that all you should require will be built into the unit. However, not all portable projectors are built the same and will come with the same sound quality or any speakers at all, so you must check this detail. Though, there's a higher chance that the higher quality projectors will give you high-quality sound output.
Higher power means the speaker can produce a more dynamic sound so you will want to look for built-in speaks with anything between 3 - 6 watts of power, with 4 watts of output being the middle ground for the average user.
While some portable projectors can have built-in speakers, they are usually quite awful. If you genuinely care about the presentation quality, you should consider having a set of separate speakers to produce the sound.
If you are using the projector for Powerpoint slideshows only, then this feature might not matter, but any movie will sound a million times better if you have separate speakers to use.
Cabled Is Best for Static Viewers, but Choose WiFi or Bluetooth if You Prefer the Freedom
To combat poor connectivity, an SD card slot means you can load your media straight onto the projector, whilst still being wire-less. Also, nowadays most projectors have an MHL port that allows you to connect it to your smartphone or tablet, or the ability to cast or 'mirror' your phone screen via technologies such as Miracast or Chromecast.
If you don't have the correct connections, here are some HDMI cables and MacBook adapters.
The biggest drawback with portable projectors is that they aren’t as advanced in wireless connectivity as you might think. While you can get away with making a simple one-slide Powerpoint presentation over WiFi or even Bluetooth, a cabled connection is almost in every other situation a better option.
If you don’t want to experience delays, dropped frames, or video being out of sync, always use a regular HDMI connector port instead.
A Long Battery Life of More Than 4000mah Will Give You Care-Free Viewing on the Go
Make sure that the battery life suits the kind of usage you have planned and for mini or portable projectors, we suggest to go for at least 4000 mAh for normal use or one that has 2.5 to 5 hours estimated run time. However, remember that the brightness and quality of the image are usually much better when plugged in.
Many portable projectors have a built-in battery that allows you to use them without plugging them into the mains. This makes them very convenient to use in places where you might not find a power socket.
If you choose to buy a battery-powered projector, please ensure it has an advertised battery life of at least 3 hours. This way you can even watch longer movies while travelling.
10 Best Portable Projectors in the UK
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ViewSonic Ultra-Portable Projector｜M1 WVGA | | The Foldaway Projector for Movie Marathons Anywhere | |
2 | Nebula by Anker Capsule HD Ready Smart Mini Projector | | Lightweight, Functional and the Size of a Drinks Can | |
3 | Acer LED Projector｜C250i | | Top Pick for Those Who Want to Project From Their Phone | |
4 | YABER Mini Portable Projector | | For Fantastic Contrast Ratio on a Budget | |
5 | Optoma LH200 Portable Projector, | | Unbeatable Performance for Professional Use | |
6 | LG CineBeam Portable LED Projector｜PH510PG | | A Smart Palmtop Projector With Quality Images | |
7 | Kodak Luma 150 Pocket Projector | | A Sturdy Hand-Size Projector for the Casual User | |
8 | Nebula by Anker Mars II Pro Portable Projector | | Aesthetics and Function in One Portable Projector | |
9 | EZCast Portable Projector｜Beam J2 | | A Projector With Tripod to Help Position it Perfectly | |
10 | PVO Mini Projector｜YG300 Pro | | The Small but Mighty Projector Ideal for Kids’ Parties |
The Foldaway Projector for Movie Marathons Anywhere
The keystone correction and dual Harman/Kardon speakers make all the difference sound-wise, providing a fully immersive experience whether you're projecting via the USBC, loading up the micro SD slot, or utilising its incredible 16GB of internal storage. A real winner that won't break the bank!
Nebula by AnkerCapsule HD Ready Smart Mini Projector
Lightweight, Functional and the Size of a Drinks Can
As well as a built-in battery that will provide you with up to 4 hours of mains-free movie magic on any flat surface, there's advanced DLP technology with Intellibright algorithms for rich, clear and bright imagery with stunning contrast. Compatibility with many devices including Apple's Airplay tops off the package.
Top Pick for Those Who Want to Project From Their Phone
With a clear 300 lumen brightness and able to project onto screens of 100 inches, this projector provides some top-quality experiences whether home or away and gaming or streaming. 5 watt built-in speakers also guarantee fine, crisp sound via Bluetooth, and 5-hour battery life means no interruptions.
For Fantastic Contrast Ratio on a Budget
It's also HD-ready with dual speakers and is compatible with any multimedia device you can think of, from laptops and phones to Xboxes and PlayStations. As it works best in no- or low-light environments and has a large screen size of 200", it's perfect for home movie and TV marathons.
Unbeatable Performance for Professional Use
As you would expect, there's a fully-kitted-out remote included, as well as plentiful connectivity options. Connect via HDMI, USB or Bluetooth, or even with the HDCastPro app to present straight from your smartphone.
A Smart Palmtop Projector With Quality Images
Though the resolution of 720p is lower than some, it does make up for it with good data and image quality and great connectivity including Bluetooth, USB, and even a coaxial port to link straight to a TV cable box.
A Sturdy Hand-Size Projector for the Casual User
Another draw is the one-touch operation – eliminating the need for remotes, the controls appear atop the projector with a tap. Perfect for seamless presentations! Plus, it's easily charged after 2.5 hours with a USB plug. 150 lumens is lower than some, but for simple TV or work-related projections, we think it's a good pick.
Aesthetics and Function in One Portable Projector
As well as dual speakers providing sharp, immersive audio, the Mars II Pro boasts Android 7.1, so you can download YouTube, Netflix, and other apps to stream straight through. It’s an investment, but a great pick for top-quality projections both at home and away.
A Projector With Tripod to Help Position it Perfectly
There's an included tripod too, to help you position the projector sturdily at any angle. Even with such a minimal size, the specs aren't too bad – 1080 pixels and five-hour battery life from each charge, for example – although the lumen count is low so you'll need a fairly dark room for the best visuals.
The Small but Mighty Projector Ideal for Kids’ Parties
It also has the ability to run from its own power bank or the mains, so it can be set up either indoors for gaming or TV or outside for a fun outdoor activity. On the downside, whilst it does have HDMI and USB ports, you will need to buy the adapter cables separately.
Properly Store and Maintain Your Projector for Years of Quality Viewing
One of the best things you can do for your projector is buying a sealed case for it if it doesn't already come with one. By storing it away you're protecting the goods from any dust, moisture and potential bumps and scrapes that may compromise the quality of your viewing experience and longevity of the machine.
Projectors also have a tendency to overheat from the use of an LED bulb, so while keeping it well ventilated in use is a must, it's also important that you allow the projector to cool down after you finish using it before you store it away again.
Written and researched by Annie Hopkins
Top 5 Portable Projectors
No. 1: ViewSonic｜Ultra-Portable Projector｜M1 WVGA
No. 2: Nebula by Anker｜Capsule HD Ready Smart Mini Projector
No. 3: Acer｜LED Projector｜C250i
No. 4: YABER｜Mini Portable Projector
No. 5: Optoma｜LH200 Portable Projector,
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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