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We’ve added info on new portable projectors from Anker, BenQ, and Vava to What to look forward to. Best Portable Mini Projector 2020
A portable mini projector combines the convenience of streaming videos on a phone or tablet with the big-screen appeal of a TV. None of these small, portable projectors rival a good TV or traditional home-theater projector in performance, but the Xgimi MoGo 2 Series delivers the best combination of picture quality, ease of use, and convenience.
We only tested models with a resolution of 720p or better, and we preferred a brightness rating of at least 300 ANSI lumens.
The best portable models offer automatic focus and image-positioning tools that quickly produce a correctly shaped image on a wall or screen.
For convenience and portability, we looked for models with a good built-in streaming platform, as well as battery or USB-C power.
We measured each TV’s brightness, contrast, and color accuracy using Portrait Displays’s Calman software and a colorimeter.
This compact projector offers good image brightness, above-average sound, and easy setup—for less money than similarly equipped competitors. It lacks a built-in battery, but you can run it off a USB-C power bank.
The Pro version’s 1080p resolution produces a slightly cleaner, sharper image than the basic version—but that improvement may not be worth the extra cost for many people.
Xgimi’s MoGo 2 Series offers almost everything we want in a portable mini projector. The series includes two models that share the same core features and design: Both are LED projectors with a compact form, built-in streaming services and speakers, support for Bluetooth audio, and a USB-C charging port. The 720p MoGo 2 is best for most people because it gives you all of that—and surprisingly good performance—for around $400.
The pricier MoGo 2 Pro ups the resolution to full HD (1080p)—which does produce a slightly cleaner, sharper image—and has a few more advanced setup tools. But those improvements come with a fairly significant $200 price increase that may not be worth it for many shoppers, especially if you plan to project the image directly against a wall in your home.
Both projectors measured brighter in our tests than many competitors that cost more, but we wish the black level were better—the darkest scenes in movies looked a bit washed out in a dark room. But with most TV and sports content, the MoGo 2 Series creates a nice-looking image.
The inclusion of Android TV means you don’t have to connect an external video player to enjoy lots of streamed content, though the projector has HDMI and USB video inputs if you need them. The internal speaker sounds loud and full, but you can also connect a speaker via cable or Bluetooth.
The main downside here is that the MoGo 2 Series lacks a built-in battery, though you can run the projectors off a 65-watt USB-C power bank.
I have over a decade of experience reviewing TVs, projectors, and other video devices. I was formerly the video editor and primary TV tester for HomeTheaterReview.com, and previously contributed TV coverage to Home Theater Magazine, Electronic House, and other publications. I am an Imaging Science Foundation Level II Certified Video Calibrator, and I have the full complement of objective testing gear to measure and evaluate the performance of these projectors.
Although this type of projector is a great space saver, it’s important to temper your performance expectations. Nothing we’ve tested for this guide performs as well as a traditional home projector or even a good budget TV.
If your video entertainment comes mostly from streaming services and you don’t want a TV taking up permanent space in your house or apartment, a small, portable projector is a convenient solution that lets you easily (and temporarily) display video on a wall or screen.
Although this type of projector is a great space saver, it’s important to temper your performance expectations. Nothing we’ve tested for this guide performs as well as a traditional home projector or even a good budget TV.
If you primarily watch TV and movies during the day or in a bright room, you’ll probably be happier with a modest-size TV, which can get a lot brighter and do a better job showing new video technologies such as 4K and high dynamic range (HDR) video.
Likewise, these are not the projectors to use if you want a true big-screen home cinema experience—they are not bright enough, and their black-level performance and color accuracy are not up to home-theater standards.
The Hisense U6K is an excellent value, as it successfully incorporates high-end hardware and svelte software from the company’s pricier TVs.
The BenQ HT2060 ’s good contrast, bright output, and impressive color accuracy make it our pick for the best budget home theater projector.
To determine which portable mini projectors to call in for testing, we considered the following elements:
We look for projectors with an HD resolution (720p or better) and a claimed brightness of at least 300 ANSI lumens. You can find a ton of super-tiny projectors costing $200 or less that have, at best, a 480p standard-definition resolution and very low light output (under 200 ANSI lumens), so they can’t deliver a bright, detailed image in a room with any light.
Most projectors in this category use LED light sources instead of bulbs, and some manufacturers list these models’ output in “LED lumens” in order to give a higher number. (For details, read about the difference between ANSI lumens and LED lumens.) As we mentioned above, none of these small, portable LED projectors can get as bright as a traditional home-theater projector.
We look for projectors that are small and light enough to carry with one hand and transport in a backpack, briefcase, or large purse. A carrying handle or included travel case is a plus.
To be considered truly portable, a projector must have either a built-in battery or a USB-C charging port that can run off a portable power bank. Many manufacturers are moving away from the use of a built-in battery, which complicates the brightness specifications. When you run the projector off a built-in battery, it will automatically switch into a dimmer mode to lengthen the battery life. Sometimes you can bypass this dimming, but then the battery life is drastically reduced.
We require all projectors to have a full-size HDMI input, and we prefer ones that have Wi-Fi and internal streaming-video apps (such as YouTube, Prime Video, or Disney+) so you don’t have to connect an external source device. A USB slot for playback of personal media files (or charging an HDMI streaming stick) is also a plus.
We did not set any price restrictions. However, projectors that meet our minimum resolution and brightness specs generally start at around $350. On the other end, we’ve tested mini projectors that cost as much as $1,000. We’ve found that, once the price climbs above about $750, you can get much better performance if you’re willing to give up the smaller form and go with a budget home-theater projector.
We begin each evaluation by testing the projector’s objective performance. We use Portrait Displays’s Calman color calibration software with a Murideo Six-G test-pattern generator (shown above) and a C6 HDR2000 colorimeter to measure all the available picture and brightness modes to determine which provides the best combination of light output, contrast ratio, and color accuracy. For these measurements, we display a 55-inch-diagonal image onto a Silver Ticket STR Series 0.95-gain, matte-white screen.
Then we spend time using each projector, evaluating the picture quality of both the internal apps (if they exist) and connected sources.
We use the following criteria during our evaluations:
This compact projector offers good image brightness, above-average sound, and easy setup—for less money than similarly equipped competitors. It lacks a built-in battery, but you can run it off a USB-C power bank.
The Pro version’s 1080p resolution produces a slightly cleaner, sharper image than the basic version—but that improvement may not be worth the extra cost for many people.
Of all the small, portable projectors we’ve tested, Xgimi’s MoGo 2 Series delivers the best combination of performance, features, and user-friendliness. The series includes two projectors (standard and pro versions) that are very similar: They are identical in size and connections, both have built-in streaming services and Bluetooth, and both use LED lamps that are extremely quiet in operation.
We like the more affordable MoGo 2 for most people because it far exceeds the features and performance you normally find in its price class, but the improved specs of the step-up MoGo 2 Pro may appeal to some shoppers.
The main difference between the basic and pro versions is resolution. The MoGo 2 Pro has a full HD (1920×1080) resolution, while the MoGo 2 is limited to basic HD (1280×720). In our side-by-side comparisons, the Pro version didn’t produce a significantly more detailed image at a screen size of 55 to 65 inches, but the pixel structure was much less visible, resulting in a cleaner, sharper-looking image—especially in text and large patches of solid color.
The 720p MoGo 2 still renders a nice amount of detail overall, but the pixel structure will be visible if you sit close or project a large image. Basically, you can see the grid of tiny little squares (aka the screen door effect). If you plan to project the image directly on a wall or use a supercheap, low-quality screen, that surface will likely hinder the clarity and cleanliness of the image more than the projector’s resolution, so there’d be little benefit to spending more for the MoGo 2 Pro. But if you plan to invest in a good screen, the upgrade may be worthwhile.
The MoGo 2 Series is brighter than many competitors. Better brightness allows you to go bigger in screen size (within reason), and it helps brighter TV and sports content have nice pop in a room with some ambient light. Some of the more expensive models we’ve tested—like the BenQ GS50 and Xgimi Halo+—can get a little brighter overall, but in the most accurate picture modes, their brightness is comparable to what you’ll get from these projectors.
Both projectors measured respectably well on our test bench in the Cinema brightness mode and Custom picture mode, with the brightness and contrast controls set properly. We were particularly impressed with the results of the lower-priced MoGo 2. It actually measured slightly better in both contrast and color accuracy than the Pro version.
The overall color balance of both projectors is fairly neutral—not as accurate as you’ll get from a good home-theater projector, but the image doesn’t skew too blue, red, or green. The colors themselves are a bit off the mark from the HDTV standard, but this is true of most portable mini projectors we test.
Image adjustment is automatic. Both projectors automatically focus the image and make sure it’s presented in the proper rectangular shape (this is called keystoning), so you don’t have to fuss with these things when you set up or move the projector. (You can turn the functions off, if you’d prefer to do it manually.)
The pricier MoGo 2 Pro uses the most advanced version of Xgimi’s Intelligent Screen Adaption (ISA) technology, so it will perform keystoning without cutting away to a setup screen the way many competitors do. The basic model uses an older version of ISA that does cut away to a setup screen and does not include eye protection (which turns off the LED lamp when someone passes in front of it). But in our tests, both versions worked quickly and effectively to get a clear, properly shaped picture.
Android TV is built in. While not quite as tailored and robust as Google TV, the Android TV streaming platform still makes it easy to access streaming services like Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV+, Hulu, and YouTube TV. Netflix is not directly supported, but Xgimi provides instructions to sideload it, which adds just a couple extra steps.
The projectors come with a Bluetooth-based remote that has the core buttons you’ll need and supports voice search through Google Assistant. Chromecast support means you can wirelessly transmit audio and video from your mobile device.
If you want to connect a cable box, Blu-ray player, or standalone media streaming device, there’s one HDMI input, plus a powered USB-A port. Through HDMI, the projector will accept a 4K video signal and down-convert it to its native resolution. This projector also supports high dynamic range video (in the HDR10 format), but it’s not bright enough to effectively display HDR. It also supports 3D playback.
The built-in speakers perform well. The audio system uses dual 8-watt speakers and a passive radiator to produce better dynamics and a more balanced sound than you’ll hear from a lot of competitors. Dialogue had a less beaming, “cupped hands” quality. This is especially true for the lower-priced MoGo 2, which really blows away many of the $400-and-under projectors we’ve tested in its dynamic ability.
Because of this, the MoGo 2 Series will work better as a Bluetooth speaker, though you won’t get as much bass as you can with even a modestly priced portable Bluetooth speaker. You can also send the internal audio out to Bluetooth speakers and headphones.
It uses a USB-C charging port. While lots of mini projectors still rely on DC power and come with bulky external power supplies, the MoGo 2 Series is powered via USB-C and can run off a portable USB-C power bank for true portability. Xgimi recommends a 65-watt power bank.
The projector runs very quietly. Minimal fan noise is another big differentiator. Some mini projectors’ fan noise can be so loud, it drowns out the tiny built-in speakers. But the MoGo 2 Series is surprisingly quiet, even at maximum brightness.
Both projectors have a fairly compact form that measures 6.33 by 4.68 by 4.25 inches, and weighs 2.42 pounds. That’s a bit larger than the previous (now-discontinued) MoGo Pro, but it should fit in most backpacks and travel bags—but maybe not in a thinner briefcase.
The MoGo 2 Pro comes in a brushed-aluminum finish that looks a bit more upscale than the matte gray of the MoGo 2. Both lack a carrying handle and case, but there’s a threaded insert on the bottom to mount them on a tripod.
The MoGo 2 Series is not made for big-screen movie watching. While it’s a solid performer for more casual TV, sports, and movie watching, this projector doesn’t have the brightness, color accuracy, or deep black levels needed to produce a satisfying big-screen (80 inches or more) movie image. For that, you should look at our budget home-theater projectors.
Also, both models we tested had a brightness-uniformity issue where the left edge of the image was darker than everywhere else. It wasn’t that evident in brighter scenes, but we noticed it in darker scenes and fade-to-black transitions.
If you plan to use your projector mostly for movie-watching in a dark room, you may prefer the Nebula Capsule 3 Laser described below, which isn’t as bright but looks better with darker movies.
It’s not ideal for serious gaming. We measured over 40 milliseconds of input lag in the game mode, which—when combined with the 60 Hz refresh rate—means these projectors are not responsive enough for serious gaming.
You can’t turn off the HDR function when using built-in Android TV streaming apps. Since the projector isn’t bright enough to display HDR video at its best, we would prefer to turn it off (and we recommend you do so if attaching external sources via HDMI).
If you mostly watch movies in a dark room: You may prefer Anker’s Nebula Capsule 3 Laser projector. This 1080p Android TV projector has better image contrast and color accuracy than the MoGo 2 projectors, and its improved black level helps movies look good in a dark room. The cylindrical shape feels quite compact, it has both a built-in battery and USB-C charging, and the speaker sounds decently full and balanced.
Unfortunately, the Capsule 3 Laser is not as bright as similarly priced competitors, and the pixel structure is a lot more visible than it should be for a 1080p projector, which can be distracting depending on how close you sit or how large the projected image is. Plus the auto keystone correction did not work properly, and we found the remote’s response to sometimes be sluggish. Overall, $800 is too much for what you get here—but when it’s on sale, it’s definitely worth a look.
If you want a more rugged, battery-powered projector for outdoor use: BenQ’s GS50 and Anker’s Nebula Mars 3 are both 1080p projectors with a built-in battery and a splashproof, drop-resistant design. Both come with Android TV and fairly robust-sounding speakers, as well as Bluetooth support and USB Type A and C inputs. From a design and features standpoint, they deliver everything you need to set up an outdoor movie night quickly and easily. Just add a screen.
Neither of these projectors is “mini,” but the 5.1-pound BenQ (shown below) seems downright petite next to the 9.9-pound Anker. That larger cabinet does include a larger battery that can run at the projector’s full brightness for two hours or in the dimmer eco mode for five. The BenQ maxed out at 2 hours and 24 minutes in eco mode.
Speaking of brightness, the Anker is the brightest battery-powered projector we’ve measured. It’s twice as bright as the BenQ (which was previously one of the brightest we measured), but the measured contrast is pretty much identical (because the black level is higher). Both have lower contrast and worse black levels than our Xgimi picks. The BenQ’s color is more accurate, and there are more options to fine-tune the picture quality.
Your choice will depend on what you value most in an outdoor projector—and how much you’re willing to spend. The Anker generally sells for about $300 more than the BenQ, and we think that’s too much for the level of performance you get. The BenQ’s lower price is a little easier to stomach. That said, our favorite budget home-theater projector is priced in between both of these options, and it outperforms them in every way except portability.
But if you really need a battery-powered projector, or something more rugged to take RVing for the summer, either model is a solid choice.
If you want a smart, mini projector but don’t like Android TV: The LG PF510Q runs LG’s own WebOS smart-TV platform (but there’s no Netflix app in the US), and it supports AirPlay 2. But this model lacks a built-in battery and USB-C charging, so it’s not portable by our standards, though it is small in form.
It has similar brightness, contrast, and color performance as our top pick, but the sound quality isn’t as good and it’s not as user-friendly overall. The step-up LG PF610P 1080p LED projector is better by every performance metric—but it’s also larger and more expensive. You can read more about the PF610P in our guide to the best budget projector for home theater.
Anker has announced the $600 Nebula Mars 3 Air, the long-awaited followup to the Mars II Pro. This portable DLP projector has a 1080p resolution, an LED light source, and a claimed light output of 400 ANSI lumens. It runs Google TV (with native Netflix support) and includes a built-in battery. The Mars 3 Air will go on sale November 20.
BenQ has introduced two new portable projectors: The GP100A ($800) and GV31 ($550) are both 1080p DLP projectors with LED light sources, built-in Android TV (including Netflix), and support for AirPlay and Chromecast. The larger, pricier GP100A has a claimed light output of 1,000 ANSI lumens and a more robust speaker system, but lacks a built-in battery (though it can run off a portable USB-C power supply). The smaller, more portable GV31 does have a battery but claims just 300 ANSI lumens of light output.
Vava has entered the portable market with the MiniCima 1080p ($550), a 1080p DLP model with an LED light source and a claimed light output of 400 ANSI lumens. It has Android TV and a built-in battery.
Since 2013, we’ve auditioned more than 25 projectors for this guide and considered even more. Below are a few of the most noteworthy competitors:
AAXA P6X: The P6X is one of the brightest mini projectors we’ve tested. It’s also small and light, and the battery can charge other devices. Unfortunately, in our tests the P6X performed more like a business projector, prioritizing brightness over accuracy. Colors (especially green) were exaggerated, the color temperature was excessively greenish-blue (so the picture had a sterile, “digital” look), and this 1200×800 model produced a softer image than the 1080p projectors we tested. Also, the fan noise was quite loud.
AAXA M7: The M7 is even brighter than the P6X and can be more color-accurate, so it’s better for TV and movie watching. But it lacks Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and internal apps, the fan noise is extremely loud, and two different samples we tested had a problem where the picture settings locked into their default (and less accurate) state and could not be adjusted.
Anker Nebula Mars II Pro: A former top pick, the 720p Mars II Pro can’t keep pace with some of the newer 1080p projectors we’ve tested. Though this model has good light output, its contrast and color accuracy are only average. But most importantly, its older, Android 7.1 operating system doesn’t support as many apps and isn’t as user-friendly as Android TV.
Anker Nebula Solar Portable: This model has the same core features as our top pick and delivers a generally pleasing image. Plus it offers both a built-in battery (we got 2 hours 47 minutes of run time) and USB-C charging. But it has a larger form, the speaker sounded thin and less dynamic, the fan noise is much louder and the supplied USB-C charging cable is only 3 feet long.
Kodak Flik HD10: This under-$300 projector has a claimed light output of only 200 ANSI lumens, but we tested it anyhow—and as expected, it was way too dim compared with the projectors we recommend. Plus, the color was undersaturated and inaccurate, the build quality wasn’t terribly robust, and the HD10 has a larger form that’s not really portable.
Samsung Freestyle: We decided not to review this uniquely designed 1080p LED projector because early reviews (both professional and consumer) were lukewarm at best. The general sentiment is that the design is cool and the video performance is decent, but the light output is only average. You can power it off some USB-C power banks, and there's an optional battery base and light-socket adapter, but those will add to the price. Plus, the Freestyle uses a less common micro-HDMI port, and Samsung doesn’t even include an adapter cable.
Wemax Dice: The Dice is similar to our top pick in many ways and adds a built-in battery. But the picture quality is a mixed bag: The image is very bright (when the projector is plugged in), has good overall contrast, and looks sharp and detailed. But if you care about color accuracy, you may be distracted by the too-blue color temperature, the exaggerated colors (especially green), and the tendency for lighter skin tones to look sunburned. Within the Android TV interface, you can make a few picture adjustments that help a little, but you can’t adjust the HDMI input at all—and we also got some handshake issues via HDMI. At the Dice’s normal asking price of $700, these flaws are hard to overlook. But the Dice does go on sale a lot, and at $500 to $550 this projector is a little more compelling as an alternative to the MoGo 2 Pro, if you value brightness over accuracy.
Xgimi Elfin: We used to recommend this one as a good option if you didn’t need a built-in battery, but the newer MoGo 2 Series has similar performance and features, and adds a USB-C charging port. The Elfin is still a solid choice that sells for a bit less than the MoGo 2 Pro if you don’t need complete portability.
Xgimi Halo+: The Halo+ puts the same core features and user interface as the newer MoGo 2 Series in a larger, battery-powered cabinet. It has a much higher claimed brightness rating, but it doesn’t measure that much brighter than the MoGo 2 Series, especially in its more accurate picture modes. Plus it lacks USB-C charging. Unless you really need the built-in battery, there’s no reason to spend more on this one.
This article was edited by Grant Clauser.
Adrienne Maxwell is the supervising editor of Wirecutter's audio/video team, covering everything from headphones to TVs. She has been a writer, editor, and reviewer in the consumer electronics industry for 20 years, and previously served as the executive editor of Home Theater Magazine and the managing editor of HomeTheaterReview.com.
We reviewed every type of projector to find the best projector to fit your needs, whether it’s for a home theater or a home office.
by Grant Clauser and Adrienne Maxwell
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Cheap Mini Projector Uk Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time).