Why I like it:

Most portable projectors are compromised in many ways, but the Mars 3 Air manages to do just about everything right. It creates a reasonably bright, colorful, contrasty image, and the streaming interface works the same as those found in more expensive projectors and many TVs. Its onboard sound is better than you’d expect, too, being able to double as a decent Bluetooth speaker. If you want to connect a gaming console, there’s an HDMI input on the back. The battery is rated for 2.5 hours, though if you run it at max brightness, it becomes a lot less. If you’re not on the go, you can plug it in and use it like a regular projector. While traditional home projectors will outperform the Mars 3 Air in just about every way, they lack its battery and ultraportability. I wish the price were a little lower, but given how much better it is than the competition, it’s worth the premium.

Who is it for:

Anyone looking for a portable projector that can easily fit in a backpack for the occasional traveling movie night.

Who shouldn’t buy it:

Anyone looking for a more permanent projector or who wants a really large image should consider a regular home theater projector. For only a little more money, a home theater projector will be significantly brighter.

Why I like it:

The Anker Nebula Capsule Air is nearly the same size as a soda can, yet has Google TV built-in and a battery that should last you the length of a movie. There’s even an optional tripod with a built-in battery that doubles its playtime. The projector is not especially bright, but it looks good and isn’t hugely expensive. While there are other options that have better picture quality, this offers the best size, price and performance package.

Who is it for:

Anyone looking for the smallest of small projectors, where size and weight are the biggest concerns. This would be great for backpackers, for instance, since it takes up so little space.

Who shouldn’t buy it:

Anyone looking for a big projected image. I measured the Capsule Air at 84 lumens, or slightly more in the less accurate Conference mode. This can create a watchable, TV-sized image in a dark space, but it can’t compete at all with any amount of light. Price and portability are the Air’s strengths. It’s best to look elsewhere on this list for better performance.

Why I like it:

Though I like the above projectors better, the AAXA P6X is my pick when money is tight. Not only is it less expensive than the Anker at the top of this list, but it’s also brighter and features superior battery life. This mini projector fits in my hand, creates a 720p image and has a huge 15,000-mAh battery. An HDMI input and USB connection let you connect and power a streaming stick. The stick connection is important because the AAXA lacks built-in apps. 

Light output is impressive for its size and price, about 50% more than the Anker Mars 3 Air, although its contrast ratio is a bit less. The internal battery should last around 90 minutes in the mini projector’s brightest mode, and an impressive 240 minutes in Eco mode (probably a little less if you’re also powering a streaming stick). The internal speaker isn’t great, but there’s a headphone jack you can connect to a portable speaker.

Overall image quality isn’t great, but its size, brightness and price are a great combo.

Who is it for:

Anyone on a budget who wants to create a larger image than what’s possible with the Anker projectors. The image quality isn’t better, though. In most ways, it’s worse, but it is very bright.

Who shouldn’t buy it:

Anyone who’s looking for the ultimate in portable picture quality.

Why I like it:

Unlike many of the other projectors on this list, the AAXA P8 can’t run on a battery, you need to plug in its power adapter. However, it’s so small, bright and cheap that it makes the list anyway. There are certainly less expensive projectors out there, but nothing I’ve seen at this price or lower is worth recommending. The P8 is tiny, with roughly the same overall volume as the Anker Capsule Air (which does have a battery), although this projector is rectangular instead of cylindrical. The AAXA is significantly brighter than the Capsule, plus it has a few streaming apps built in and an HDMI port for connecting an external source. The image quality is OK, but for the size, price and relatively high light output, it’s hard to knock it.

Who is it for:

Anyone on a budget who wants a bright image and doesn’t mind running an extension cord to the projector or running off an external battery.

Who shouldn’t buy it:

Anyone wanting something with a built-in battery for off-grid use, or who is a stickler for picture quality.

Why I like it:

The Anker Nebula Capsule 3 is the size of a 16-ounce can, yet it’s capable of a big image. Well, maybe not “big,” but its certainly “TV-size.” The projector is not particularly bright or loud, but for something that can fit just about anywhere, it’s great. It has higher resolution and slightly better performance than the Capsule Air, but it’s also larger and more expensive. I do prefer the Air for its size and lower price, but the Capsule 3 has its time and place.

Unlike the AAXA projectors, the Capsule 3 has the full version of Google TV, so you get the regular version of apps like Netflix, Hulu and so on. The far larger and more expensive Mars 3 Air is twice as bright, but the Capsule 3’s contrast ratio is very slightly better. So if you don’t mind an image that’s half the size, picture quality will be similar.

Who is it for:

Someone who wants a little better performance than the Capsule Air and doesn’t mind a size and price increase. Also, anyone who doesn’t mind a smaller but better-looking image compared to the AAXAs.

Who shouldn’t buy it:

Anyone who wants a big, bright image.

The TCL A1 is a little different than the other projectors on this list. It’s portable in that it’s small and has a built-in handle, but it doesn’t have a battery. It has some impressive strengths but also some notable weaknesses.

Why I like it:

The A1 is like a scaled-down “regular” projector rotated 90 degrees. It has a fantastic contrast ratio, great speakers and built-in Google TV streaming. The handle on top extends through the body and becomes a stand to prop up the front and let you get the correct angle to project on your wall. So it’s fairly easy to install quickly just about anywhere.

Who is it for:

The A1 is a little odd, but it’s inexpensive and easy to use. If you don’t mind some compromises (see the next paragraph), it offers a clever design plus decent image and sound for the money. If you don’t want to spend more and don’t mind something a bit bigger than the smallest options on this list (and one that you have to plug in), the A1 is great.

Who shouldn’t buy it:

Image quality is quite the mixed bag. While the contrast ratio is great, the brightness drops off significantly at the corners, adding almost a vignette to everything you watch. Color isn’t particularly accurate or pleasing. Because there’s no upward throw, you either have to use keystone correction or position the projector at the same height as the middle of the image it creates. As in, if you want the center of your projected image to be 3 feet off the ground, the A1 needs to be 3 feet off the ground. Most projectors typically sit at or slightly below the height of the bottom of their projected image. So if you’re looking for image quality over all else, the A1 isn’t for you.

Like the TCL A1 elsewhere on this list, the X300G is portable in the sense that it’s easier to carry and install than most projectors, but it doesn’t have a battery. It’s the only 4K projector on this list, but that resolution bump comes with a corresponding price bump.

Why I like it

The compact X300G cube is an all-in-one projector with decent speakers, a great contrast ratio, built-in streaming and 4K resolution. It doesn’t quite have the light output of some larger projectors, but it holds its own given its smaller size, and it looks great overall.

Who is it for:

If you want something compact without sacrificing image quality, the X300G compromises only slightly on performance for its cube shape and size. If you want something that sets up quickly to play games in a spare room but also works for a more elaborate movie night in the living room, the X300G is easier to move around than most other 4K projectors. It has the best overall picture of the projectors on this list, but it’s also larger and far more expensive.

Who shouldn’t buy it:

Anyone who wants something with a battery, or who doesn’t need this level of performance out of their projector. Though the X300G is smaller than “full-size” projectors, it’s much larger than all the other projectors on this list. It’s a bridge between categories, if you will. If size and price are important to you, don’t stretch your budget for this. A 1080p projector will work just fine, as will one of the smaller projectors on this list.

How portable do you really need? Pretty much every projector is “portable” to some degree. Many of the projectors on our best projector list, for example, are small enough to fit in a backpack. They might fill that backpack, but that’s their size. If you just want something for the occasional movie night, one of those would be significantly brighter and create a better image. Generally speaking, the smaller the projector, the dimmer it is.

How much battery do you need? Most portable projectors have a battery that will last around 2 hours. Some, though not all, can extend that by connecting to a portable power bank. All battery-powered models can run, usually with greater brightness, when connected to a wall outlet.

What resolution do you need? Most portable projectors are 1080p, or HD, resolution. Only higher-end models are 4K and there aren’t that many. A few are 720p or less. Higher resolution means more visible detail, but also less chance of having the “screen door effect” where you can see individual pixels and it’s like viewing the image through a screen door. However, resolution isn’t everything, especially with portable projectors, since you’re usually making a smaller image compared to bigger projectors. Light output, streaming ability, battery life and overall image quality are all more important than resolution.

Is audio quality important? If you’re hoping to entertain a group of people, you might want to consider a larger portable projector with bigger, higher-powered, built-in speakers. Most models also double as a Bluetooth speaker, which makes them even more useful.

How much should you spend? With all portable projectors you’re paying more for less, so to speak, compared to less portable “full-size” home projectors. As in, you’re getting lower brightness and worse image quality but you’re gaining the smaller size that in some cases can fit in a pocket. You’re paying for that convenience, in other words.

The biggest difference is light output. Traditional, full-size projectors can get much brighter than any portable mini projector. Most portable projectors use an LED lamp, while full-size projectors have either UHP lamps (which are effectively high-powered light bulbs) or laser light sources. Projector light output is measured in lumens, and while the brightest portable projectors we’ve reviewed measure about 350 lumens, a traditional home theater projector measures 1,500 lumens or more. 

A bright projector can produce a larger image and look better when there’s some ambient light around. For that reason, dimmer portable projectors are best enjoyed with smaller images and in as dark an environment as possible.

Beyond brightness, mini projectors are much smaller (of course), can run on battery power and usually include built-in streaming and decent speakers. Traditional projectors have more lens adjustments, including focus, zoom and lens shift, and can run louder. 

In the sense that you can take them with you places, yes, but some are more or less portable than others. Mini projectors range in size from absolutely tiny pico projectors like the AAXA P8 to models like the “outdoor” Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K, which does have a handle but is also expensive, heavy (10.7 pounds) and would require a big backpack to lug around. Many portable projectors have batteries, but some cheaper models do not.

It depends. Many portable projectors have built-in batteries that can run for 2 or 3 hours before needing to be plugged in. Some can also attach to external USB battery packs that allow them to be run without plug-in power. On the other hand, many smaller portable projectors, especially cheaper ones, don’t include a built-in battery or work with battery packs. They will need to be plugged in to work.

Yes. Many mini projectors have built-in streaming that allows them to show Netflix and other streaming services when connected via Wi-Fi. For projectors that don’t have built-in streaming, you’ll need to connect another streaming device, like a Roku or Fire TV Stick, to the projector’s HDMI input to stream Netflix and other services.