A projector can be a crummy little sixty-dollar toy or a $2,000 home theater set, and everything in between. When it comes to shopping for these things, there are really only two kinds of projectors: those that are going to replace your TV and those that ain’t. If you’re looking at something under $1,000, by and large, these are the ones that ain’t.
These projectors are small, portable, and have the option for battery-powered playback. They are long throw, so you place them on a coffee table or bookcase and point them at a screen, or even a blank wall will do, and adjust until the image is the size and orientation you want. These modern ones do all the hard stuff like focusing and keystone correction for you, and pretty much all of them come equipped with the same Google TV or Roku interfaces you’re likely used to.
These five projectors run the gamut from cutting-edge 4K laser projection to the tiniest portable HD projector I’ve seen. Each one is portable in its own right, although some more than others. Wherever on the spectrum you are willing to make the compromise between image quality, battery life, and portability, I’ve found a projector that will strike the balance you want.
The first recommendation is right down the middle, while the others from XGIMI and TCL each have their own strengths. Read on to find the one that is right for you. When it comes to portability, you want something with great picture quality that can run on a charged battery, and it better have a handle.
If you’re doing outdoor movie night you don’t want to be running wires from the house and get scolded because you’re letting in a draft. This projector is the easiest solution. With its 1080p projection, two-and-a-half-hour battery life, and easy access to streaming and apps, the Nebula Mars 3 Air strikes the best balance of any portable projector.
It produces a bright, 400 lumen image perfect for movie nights, either in the living room, the den, or outdoors. Google TV makes it easy to find Netflix and all your other favorite apps. The Dolby speakers are enough to cut through night noise (as well as the noise of the projector itself), so you are really getting the full cinema experience wherever you take this.
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