The best portable projector can fit into your backpack but still offer up a massive picture while you're out and about. Whether you're camping, heading over to a friend's or you simply like to keep your options open, these lenses can keep you entertained wherever you find yourself. Plus, with PCs taking a more portable approach, and the Nintendo Switch still dominating, the best projectors for gaming are evolving as well.
We're rounding up all the best portable projectors available to make sure your year is full of outdoor gaming and video, and you're prepared to set up a projection quickly wherever you’re visiting. There are compromises: unless you really shell out you’ll be in HD quality rather than 4K, and you’ll generally have to wait for dusk to get a good picture outdoors as battery-powered projectors have much lower lumen ratings than those which run off mains power.
But thanks to some recent advances in LCD and laser projection, you’ll be amazed the quality of picture you can get from the best portable projectors.
The quick list
The best portable projector overall
The BenQ GS50 offers up excellent 1080p quality while still running for hours at a time. It's the best in the business right now.
The best budget portable projector
The GV1 manages to pack bright picture and auto keystoning into a small battery powered device - all at a reasonable price.
The best mini portable projector
The Anker Nebula Capsule II is smaller than a pint glass and can offer up an impressive 720p image.
The best portable projector for battery
At five hours, the Acer C250i has one of the largest battery lives you'll find in a portable projector. This is a long lasting powerhouse.
The best portable projector for gaming
Low input lag makes the Anker Nebula Mars II Pro a solid option for gaming.
The best portable projector overall
The BenQ GS50 is easily one of the best portable projectors you can get if you have a healthy budget and want to ensure a great level of quality.
✅ You want a sturdy battery: We managed to squeeze three hours of battery life out of this unit - a massive boost over other options considering the picture quality.
✅ You don't want to rely on streaming: 16GB of onboard storage means you don't need to hunt down a WiFi connection to watch your favorites.
✅ You don't need to pack light: This isn't a large device, but it's certainly not the smallest portable projector on the market.
❌ You want the easiest setup possible: With no zoom or lens shift this one's going to take a little extra time to set up in a new location.
❌ You want a 4K picture: If you're after a higher resolution you're going to be going slightly further up the price scale.
Design: First and foremost, it’s truly built for portability, with a hard-wearing outer case that is splash resistant, is drop tested to about two feet (or "carrying height"), and comes with a smart carry case. We found the battery to last well over two hours, but this can be stretched out to almost three, while you can also charge via a USB-C power brick.
Features: When it comes to sound, the GS50 is likely the loudest portable projector we;'ve heard with the 2.1 Bluetooth sound also being a being a first for a portable smart projector. Volume was kept below 10 out of 50 at home for the most part in our testing, but even when cranked right up to full volume there was no noticeable distortion – so you can listen outdoors without the need for extra speakers.
Performance: The HD picture is crisp with good colour reproduction. There’s no game mode and input lag is measured at 62ms – not noticeable unless you’re a competitive gamer but showing that gaming isn’t the focus of the GS50.
Verdict: You could get a higher-end home projector for this money, and although it’s more than fine for casual home watching, the features mean this has to be, first and foremost, a front runner for the best portable projector you can choose right now.
Read more: BenQ GS50 review
The best budget portable projector
The BenQ GV1 scales things down to offer up a super bright projector in a much smaller portable form factor and - crucially - a low price tag these days.
✅ You don't want to break the bank: The BenQ GV1 is among the brand's cheapest projectors - perfect if you don't need the latest and greatest in features.
✅ You want an easy setup: Auto keystoning and that easy tiltable lens makes for a quick and easy setup.
✅ You don't want to bring extra cables: With wireless screen casting, you just need your smartphone for quick gameplay sessions.
❌ You want to rely on that smartphone connection: Copyrighted content from a massive range of streaming services can't be casted, so this isn't one for those streaming from a smartphone.
❌ You want a gaming first projector: The input lag in here means this isn't going to be one for the more serious gamers.
Design: It’s small enough to be carried in your shoulder bag, with a decent carry case that protects it (although the plastic casing of the projector does feel very robust). The tiltable top section makes positioning the image easier than projectors with fixed lenses, and when it’s run out of batteries you can tilt it quizzically up and pretend it’s a cute Star Wars droid looking at you.
Features: Connectivity to phones is good, although the SmartControl app for easier input is quite outdated. Streaming from home wifi is easy, but connectivity to phones while out and about is through the built-in wifi, which may mean stop you from using your mobile to stream video. Unfortunately, the input lag is noticeable when playing fast-paced games so it’s not ideal for a quick game of MarioKart8 from the Switch, although it’s not bad enough to be a deal-breaker. But for films and TV, it’s a great little portable projector at a reasonable price.
Performance: Crucially, set up is swift: the auto keystoning means that once you’ve pointed it at a wall or made an adjustment to placement, the screen clicks into the correct square automatically. Less easy is the focus control though: a side dial which can feel like trying to crack a safe when looking for the best picture. The image quality is worth it when you get it right though! The picture is really bright and clear, with a good-sized image from quite a short distance.
Verdict: The BenQ GV1 can be found for a lot less than other models due to its age, but its additional keystoning features and bright portable picture keep it relevant today.
The best mini portable projector
Anker has been building a quietly solid reputation over the last few years as a go-to brand for quality affordable entertainment electronics, and that certainly extends to the best portable projector market.
✅ You want as small a projector as possible: With its tiny form factor, this is one for those packing light.
✅ You want a projector for streaming: Android TV comes preloaded so as long as you've got an internet connection you're good to go with a range of apps straight out of the box.
✅ You don't need the best resolution: If you're not particularly fussed about a FHD or 4K resolution there's no point in paying more than this 720p model.
❌ You want the best picture quality possible: There are portable projectors out there with FHD and even 4K resolutions, if you're willing to pay for it.
❌ You want to easily stream Netflix: Netflix isn't included in Android TV's repertoire straight out of the box - you'll need to tinker around a little for it to work.
Design: The Capsule II packs a simple but smart finish, all-black smooth look, and clear interface at the top. It’s the size of a large can but still produces a sharp picture and even 8W of sound. It’s quite impressive to be able to get a great 720p image from a unit this size.
Features: It’s definitely designed for ease, with good autofocus and keystoning meaning you don’t need to fiddle with settings or menus every time you turn it on in a new place - although the fixed lens means that you may have to play with the position of the unit to get the picture where you want it to be. You can even use Google Assistant through the remote, so you don’t have to flick through menus. It runs on Google’s Android TV platform, meaning it has a huge number of streaming apps built-in or ready to download easily. However, Netflix hasn’t certified the Capsule as a usable device, so installing this takes a lot more work or the use of another device connected to the Capsule.
Performance: You’ll get around two and a half hours of video from a single charge, more than enough for a film or a binge of a sitcom. If you want maximum battery life you can try to seek out the original Anker Nebula Capsule (see below) which can run for up to four hours, but you’ll be trading that off against the II’s better image quality and much improved operating system.
Verdict: The Anker Capsule II is a super miniature portable projector that can easily sit in your backpack forgotten until its time to shine. With a solid image quality and more than workable battery life it's backing up its price tag well.
The best portable projector for battery
A unique shape grabs the eye, but that long 5 hour battery life keeps you watching for longer than any other portable projector on this list.
✅ You want to watch for longer: That five hour battery life is a sight to behold - if you're in it for the long haul this is a must-see.
✅ You want to cast from your smartphone: With casting functionality built into the projector itself all you need is a smartphone to get started.
✅ You pack light: The smaller design makes this endlessly portable.
❌ You want an easy setup every time: If you're moving between different locations frequently, the difficulty of getting the picture perfect might be frustrating.
❌ You watch in higher light environments: The Acer C250i works best in a low light setting and can struggle when competing in brighter scenarios.
Design: The Acer C250i is a portable projector with a twisted shape that promises a range of viewing angles. However, the major angle shifts between different sides means it’s not as tweakable as you’d hope and a stand can be necessary.
Features: A fiddly remote and annoying settings menu can cause initial frustration. But quick autofocus, excellent five-hour battery life, and a very decent speaker make this a strong option for taking out and about. While there’s no built-in operating system or apps it connects simply to a wide range of devices through wired or wireless connections.
Performance: The picture is decent in clarity and stands up passably to ambient light, but even in the dark, it doesn’t quite have the brightness you’d expect - whether on battery or mains power. Input lag isn’t particularly noticeable but there’s no dedicated gaming mode to improve it and it certainly won’t satisfy competitive gamers.
Verdict: There’s a lot going for the C250i as a portable projector for long watches far away from power sockets, but it can be more fiddly to set up than is ideal for something which is going to be set up in different places regularly, while the lack of brightness particularly means it won’t be your main home projector.
The best portable projector for gaming
The Anker Mars Pro II is portable in the "has a carry handle" kind of way rather than "throw it in your bag" way, but the bigger size does mean it packs more of a punch for gaming.
✅ You want to take your gameplay outside: It's not too easy to create a truly portable gaming setup with a projector but if you want to take your game to the yard, this is the easiest way to go it.
✅ You have a spare hand when travelling: This isn't a bag-friendly device - you'll need to make sure you can carry the whole device if you're hiking or camping.
✅ You prioritize sound quality: The extra size means you're getting a fantastic sound profile here.
❌ You want the best battery life: This is a large device, but its battery life at full whack can't compete with others.
❌ You just want a projector for streaming: The low input lag might not be worth the extra investment if you just want a portable projector for everyday streaming.
Design: The Anker Mars II Pro certainly isn't an easily portable projector, but its built in battery and handle make it an option for those after something a little beefier. This is a chunky box of a device, though, weighing 1.5kg and relying heavily on that reinforced handle. It's still slick aesthetically, though, with a lens cover to protect everything from the elements and a sturdy design with plenty of heat ventilation.
Features: The Anker Mars II Pro runs an OS built on Android 7.1 and can run Android apps directly, as well as taking HDMI and USB connections. Initial setup on this can take some time, although this is far from the only portable projector to suffer a tricky interface so that shouldn't put anyone off. The autofocus means that at least the picture set up is quick and easy, so you’ll have great looking video when you set up in a new location without going through menus or fiddling with dials.
It’s brighter than its pocket-shaped best portable projector peers and boasts a mighty battery life of up to four hours on battery saver mode (although this will reduce the brightness). It even contains a pair of great 10W speakers for powerful and clear stereo sound, much louder than other battery-powered projectors.
Performance: The image size is great even up to 100 inches and with higher brightness when plugged in this is that rare beast: a reasonably priced portable projector that could become your home unit. It’s good for gaming with its low input lag (measured around 34ms) and 720p resolution, although this isn’t going to give you the most from UHD next-generation consoles. You could get a slightly better image quality with deeper colours from a dedicated home projector at this price, but you wouldn’t be able to grab the carry handle and take it to the park. And you’d also get a good few hours of great-sounding music out of it first before you set up the video at dusk.
FAQ
Are portable projectors worth buying?
The short answer to this is a resounding yes! But, naturally, with a few caveats. The great thing about portable projectors or mini projectors is that you can sling one in a bag, and you have a mobile TV ready to go at all times (power supply dependent). This is great for the summertime, but also the upcoming (at time of writing) holiday season too, as friends and family will be getting together (hopefully, and safely) to hang out and spend time with each other. What better way to enjoy TV or a film together than with a bigger picture that everyone can see?
Now, we wouldn't really recommend a portable or mini projector as your main image provided for your home, so it is likely to be an extra investment, but as these products show, you can get a lot for your money and the options that become open to you are excellent.
What brand of mini or portable projector is best?
The best portable projectors and mini projectors really did use to be such a niche thing that not many brands and manufacturers even made them.
Nowadays, however, there are some brands which specialise in this niche, and the likes of the Anker Nebula line, in particular, have emerged as perennially popular lines.
However, now all the big boys in projector brands are making superb units,. all of which could be the best portable projector for you - LG, Epson, and BenQ are all stalwarts of the projector game and offer exquisite mini and portable options nowadays.
While some contenders will have decent gaming credentials, if you're after something to team with your new-gen console then you'll need to view our dedicated projector for PS5 guide.
If you do prefer your screens TV-shaped then check out our guides to the best TV for PS5 and Xbox Series X, best 120Hz 4K TV, and best OLED TV, and best QLED TV too.
