Mini Projectors for Indoor and Outdoor Review & Comparison Chart

A projector may become one of the best investments you can make. It has so many benefits for any home, no matter how small. Usually, projectors are power-saving. They last for a long time and will bring you a lot of joy during cozy movie nights.

But usually, there’s one con: bulkiness or weight. A lot of people want to move the projector to other rooms, outside, while camping, or going on a business trip. So, what to do?
Mini projectors come to the rescue in such a situation. They may be not as powerful as home theater projectors, but in most cases, they are an amazing alternative. If this is something you might be interested in, we have a whole TOP-5 list of great projector options for your home and business.

To make it easier to choose the best one, we’ve also created a comprehensive buyer’s guide everyone will understand. Let’s make your investment justified!

ViewSonic M1+ With Great Built-In Speakers

If you’re looking for a portable projector of adequate quality but great sound, the ViewSonic M1+ model should be on your list. Dual Harman Kardon speakers will enhance your cinema experience, in combination with all the other perks of the model.

Portability and Wireless Connection

This is a LED ultra-portable projector. The portability comes at the expense of resolution (which is only 854 x 480), but it’s enough for a dark room. I

t’s mounted on a tripod, so you can place it anywhere.

There’s a Wi-Fi connection in the device, so you can connect to it using your phone and stream videos from your YouTube account and other services.

Projection Capabilities and Features

You can project on a screen up to 100” if the device is placed 8.5-8.9” from the canvas. There’s a convenient Safety Auto-Off feature which makes the light much dimmer if objects are detected in front of the lens. The feature is great if you have pets or small children who can approach the projector and hurt their eyes.

Another great option is a Smart Stand, which allows for a 360-degree setup. You can install the device in a convenient position and enjoy the view.

Battery Life and Warranty

There’s a battery built-in, allowing for more portability and more convenient use. The fully charged battery provides up to 6 hours of work. You can also charge devices if they accept USB Type-C cables. An adapter is needed for that.

The manufacturer offers a 3-year part and labor warranty. There’s an American customer service that will help you resolve any issue.

LG PH550 CineBeam LED Projector With Some Nice Wireless Options

Talking about portability, we can’t stress the importance of wireless connection enough. No wires, no hassle. If a wireless device has a built-in battery, it’s even better. This LG CineBeam projector can become a great addition to your own cinema hub because it has both a Wi-Fi connection and a battery. The latter can work for about 2.5 hours if fully charged, which is just enough for one movie.

Wireless Connection

If you’re using Android OS or Windows devices, there’s a wireless mirroring feature available. If using iOS, you will have to switch to a wired connection and use an adapter. Remember, there are different adapters and you should find out which one is the best for your device.

Anyways, in the first two cases, you can project pictures, video, and other media, including presentations, on the screen. The device also supports USB drives.

Projection Quality

This tabletop-mount projector offers an image resolution of 1280 x 720 (HD). You get up to 100” of an image shown on the screen. The brightness of the lamp is 550 lumens, and its longevity is up to 30,000 hours.

Even if you watch movies every day for 8 hours, you won’t need another lamp in at least 10 years!

Bluetooth Sound Out

While there are no built-in speakers in this model, you can access any sound system with a Bluetooth connection and stream the sound through it. Buy a pair of high-quality speakers to enhance your cinema experience, and you’re ready to go.

A solid piece of equipment, this LG projector is budget-friendly and provides basic capabilities for a small home cinema.

VANKYO LEISURE 3 Great Supported Resolution

If you take the idea of a home theater seriously, a great supported resolution is crucial. VANKYO Leisure 3 projector provides 1920 x 1080 resolution, bringing your home cinema experience to a new level. This device is recommended for watching movies, not for showing presentations using PowerPoint. The LED lighting of the model was upgraded just this year, so you get the freshest innovations right to your home.

Vast Connectivity Options

The projector connects via HDMI, USB, or VGA cable to a wide variety of devices, including:

• Laptops;
• PCs;
• Smartphones;
• PS3/PS4;
• Xbox ONE;
• Wii, etc.

Don’t forget that for a smartphone connection, you don’t need any separate application. However, an adapter (Lighting for Apple devices and MicroUSB or USB Type-C one for Androids) is necessary.

The device is great for photo and video streaming, as well as for gaming. So, there are lots of party possibilities! If there are none at the moment, you can conveniently store the projector in a specially customized bag that comes in the package.

Everything Sound-Wise

This ceiling-mount projector has built-in speakers to contribute to your movie-watching experience. If the sound isn’t enough, you can always connect another sound system to the device.

There are also no worries about the fan sound. The one installed in this model is a brand-new variety with superior heat dispersion and a noise suppression tech. A

s a result, you have a projector that doesn’t evaporate after the first movie, plus is 50% less noisy than the competitors.

Projection Size and Durability

You can bring live images in a size from 23” to 170” at a distance of 3.9ft to 16.4ft. The manufacturer recommends an optimal distance of 6.5ft that will provide the clearest, crispiest image this device can offer.

As to the durability, lamp life is 40,000 hours, which is more than the standard 30K-hour lifespan. Overall, this is a more powerful device than a lot of other options in this price range. High-quality image, sturdy construction, and great built-in speakers are everything you need for a movie night!

Philips NeoPix Easy+ Top Functionality and Light Weight

If you’re looking for a great combination of portability and functionality, Philips is there to help. With their NeoPix Easy+ projector, you get the basic perks of a small projector that can be put conveniently in your bag.

Portability

You can connect to a phone, tablet, or laptop using Wi-Fi screen mirroring. Most probably, if you have an iPhone, an adapter will be needed. If there’s no Internet connection nearby, you can still benefit from an easy connection via an HDMI cable. Bring movies, pictures, and music on a USB drive or microSD, and you won’t need any wires or Internet connection to use the projector.

The device can be controlled remotely and has a built-in player and speakers, making sure you have a small cinema in your pocket ready to be used anywhere.

When using a cable, you have many more connection possibilities to PSC, Mac, Fire Stick, Apple TV, gaming consoles, etc.

Image Quality and Lamp Life

Project up to 80” images in 800 x 480 resolution; for a crispier image, use focus and keystone correction. The estimated durability of the lamp is 20,000 hours, which is a very decent amount of time.

The lamp is power-saving, so you can watch movies all day without worries about the budget.

Built-In Stereo

Another contribution to the portability, built-in stereo speakers provide clear sound. If you need more volume or other sound capabilities, connect external speakers via Bluetooth. Again, no wires means more convenience!

The projector starts quickly and works well for its size and weight. You get all the basics of a cozy movie night, including room-filling sound and vivid images.

YABER V3 For Overall Capabilities

When looking for the best option, you shouldn’t pass YABER V3. This projector has impressive capabilities, including image quality, sound, and lamp life. How about 100,000 hours of lamp longevity for one projector? While the number is estimated, this is decades of use without replacement! Brightness, image adjustment, remote control, and innovative tech are only some of the features the device can offer.

Sound Capabilities

You have two sound options with this device:

• Built-in 3W Hi-Fi speakers;
• Bluetooth-connected external speakers (bought separately).

The first option is for more portable use. The built-in stereo speakers use the SRS sound system for a deep, room-filling sound. The second option is for those who have a separate system for their home theater. You don’t need wires to connect the sound; the latest Bluetooth 5.0 chip will do everything for you.

Image Capabilities

The native resolution of the image offered by the device is 1280 x 720; the supported one is 1920 x 1080. The image is very bright, at 5,500 lumens, and provides 5,500:1 contrast for deeper, crispier tones. You can zoom the image as well with a remote to 50% of its initial size.

Great Compatibility

The device is compatible with TV Boxes, Fire Sticks, Chromecast, regular devices like laptops, phones, tablets, and PCs. Choose the most convenient port for you from the list:

• VGA
• HDMI
• USB

Quality and Warranty

YABER offers an innovative cooling system. There are three quiet fans working at the same time for proper heat dispersion. The projector is eco-friendly when using the SmartEco tech for image projection.

It also helps increase lamp life to a whopping 100,000 hours!

The manufacturer provides lifetime professional support, as well as a 6-month return guarantee. The repair warranty for the details is 5 years. If a problem occurs, contacting customer support will be enough.

A powerful projector for movie parties is the best for dark rooms but will provide sufficient brightness in low ambient light as well. The combination of tech capabilities and manufacturer support makes it one of the best on the market.

Major Things to Consider Before Making the Final Choice. Benefits of Mini Projectors

There are several major things to consider before making the final choice of a mini projector. These devices are quite powerful for their size, but making a decision based on your needs will make the experience much better.

Here’s what to think about:

• Your needs;
• Budget;
• Image capabilities;
• Sound capabilities;
• Connection capabilities;
• Brightness and lamp type.

These are only a portion of questions to ask yourself before even starting the research. Now, let’s get deeper into the criteria of choice.

Estimated Budget

There are mini projectors for any budget. Cheaper ones will lack something (either the image quality or connectivity options), but overall, there are some great options. If you want to invest in a high-quality mini helper, prepare to go big. The price range on these things can go very high.

As you determine the needs and budget, making the right decisions on the other criteria will be much easier. You can narrow down the list very well when you know how much money is OK to spend on a mini projector.

Image Capabilities

People tend to think that mini projectors can’t offer HD resolution, but the tech world never ceases to impress. Of course, devices with 1920 x 1080 HD support will cost more, but they will show an image of the same if not better quality as many bulky projectors.

There are lots of reviews online that compare different projector’s image quality, and we recommend you to check that before the purchase. While the specs might be the same, the pixel position and overall quality of the device might contribute to the crispiness of the image.

Sound Capabilities

When looking for portability, you might encounter lots of options with built-in speakers. Read about the type and model separately to make sure the sound will be of a suitable volume and quality. Surely, you can always invest in a set of speakers with a Bluetooth connection and benefit from them as well.

Connection Capabilities

The best option for portability is a wireless connection. If the projector can be connected via an app or regular Wi-Fi, you’ll have fewer issues with wires, adapters, and cables. But just in case there’s a technical issue or your devices aren’t compatible with the projector, there’s always a wired option using USB, HDMA, VGA, and other cables.

Check for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections, as well as for compatible devices and adapters you might need.

Brightness and Lamp Type

Think about the possible uses of your future projector. Will it be inside the whole time or you’d love to throw some outside movie parties as well? How’s the light in the room?

If you want to use a projector in a room with some ambient light, invest in a brighter option and a high-quality projector screen. Also, pay attention to the lamp type. LED lamps will save energy and last longer, and the image quality will seem better than with a regular lamp.

Why Small Portable Projectors Are a Great Choice

While a lot of benefits might seem obvious, it’s worth listing them all:

• Great visualization. Phone screens are powerful nowadays, but not as powerful as a large image on a projector screen. Weighing a little bit more than your phone, a mini projector can turn any photo-viewing into a fun nostalgia night.
• Budget-friendly. Smaller projectors are usually cheaper than their large, stationary counterparts.
• Easier setup.Heavy, bulky projectors will take a long time to set up and adjust. You may need help if it’s a ceiling-mount type, and the adjustment may take a lot of effort. Using a small projector, even ceiling-mounting won’t be a problem. Due to the weight and portability of the device, you’ll enjoy a hassle-free installation. Wireless connection to devices, Bluetooth connection to speakers, and/or a built-in battery will make the process even easier.
• A very obvious advantage, but a crucial one. You can take a small projector anywhere with you. On a trip, to the office, to a friend’s party, outside to the backyard – take it anywhere and enjoy a movie or show a presentation. You can find projectors as small and light as a regular smartphone now, and they will provide a high-quality image and great sound.
• Power-saving. Smaller projectors use innovative technologies to show great images without consuming too much power. The lumen capabilities of your projector mean a lot in terms of saving energy. As you know, TVs use a lot of power, but modern projectors have higher rates of lumens per watt that will provide a brighter image using much less energy. This is great both for your budget and the environment.

As you can see, the perks are plenty. So, unless you have a super-wide projector screen and want to install a stationary professional home theater, a mini device is an amazing choice.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mini Projectors

If you haven’t found an answer to your question already, maybe this section will help out!

LED vs LCD projectors: what’s the difference?

LCD (liquid crystal display) projectors are brighter and more affordable, but they are less durable and consume more power. LED (light-emitting diode) technology offers a long lifespan, great quality, and lower power consumption. The maintenance is also easier with the latter option.

How to choose a projector for presentations?

Choose a projector with high contrast and brightness. When showing a presentation, chances are you’ll be in a well-lit room, which will make the images and text less visible. Higher contrast provides a better saturation to the darker tones, while decent brightness will make the image visible overall.

Does the room size matter?

Yes and no. Initially, smaller projectors were manufactured only for small rooms. Nowadays, you have to read the specs of a projector to see if it’s suitable for a larger room. But the variety of products online and in physical stores will show you that a small projector can work in a room of any size.

Portable Projectors for the Best Experience

Mini projectors are powerful enough to show your presentation at the office spend or a cozy Saturday night with your loved one or friends. Buying a nice projector screen will enhance the experience, and a high-quality sound system will make it even better!

Choose wisely and consider several options before making the final choice. Reading buyers’ reviews, learning more about the technical details will be great additions to your research. But even if you base the decision on a buyer’s guide like this, it won’t disappoint you!