It’s got everything you need, from a speaker built into the base to a built-in app store—just connect it to a Wi-Fi network and you’re good to go. The projector actually runs on Google’s Android software, so along with the easy-to-use interface you get an app store for downloading apps like Netflix or Hulu, plus you get the added bonus of built-in Google Assistant. You can also control it using Google Assistant or via a smartphone app (or the supplied remote). Overall, we really like the Nebula Capsule II, and think it’s the perfect solution for a pop-up cinema night or even as a bedroom TV for occasional use. It’s not cheap, but it’s got everything you need built in. Resolution: 720p | Brightness: 200 ANSI lumens | Contrast Ratio: Not listed | Projection Size: 40 to 100 inches The projector comes with a 3,400 mAh battery built-in which is good, but it’ll barely get you through a 2-hour movie which is not. You can also charge your phone off the battery but that obviously leaves even less power for the projector. Still, we like to see that kind of versatility in devices. You can connect your devices using the HDMI input or plug in a USB drive to display photos and movies. The included tripod lets you point the projector anywhere you need it to go. Overall, this projector is small enough to fit into a jacket pocket or a small bag making it ideal for campers, hikers, or really anyone who wants to tote their own projector around. Resolution: 1080p | Brightness: 50 ANSI lumens | Contrast Ratio: 2000:1 | Projection Size: 30 to 100 inches The projector itself isn’t terribly bright. It’s also a little hard to set up. There are no feet on the bottom for leveling the projector and there’s only a comparatively short foot in front for vertical adjustment. In short, you’ll probably need to prop the projector up in front to get the image to go where you want it to go. But beyond all that, it’s hard to argue with the price. In short, this projector is a great budget option that will work well in your home, as its name implies. You’ll need a sufficiently dark room, but if you have that, you’ll get a sharp 1080p picture with a good 2000:1 contrast ratio and solid color reproduction. Resolution: 1080p | Brightness: 2400 lumens | Contrast Ratio: 2000:1 | Projection Size: 32 to 176 inches The size becomes even more deceptive when you consider the 700 ANSI lumens and 20,000:1 contrast ratio you get in this powerful machine. It’s ideal for business because it’s bright enough for a conference room and small enough for a briefcase or backpack. You will want to make sure your presentation room is as dark as possible though. The projector is also a little on the expensive side. The lack of wireless connectivity is disappointing, and the fact that Optima sells a dongle to correct that oversight for an additional cost is borderline insulting. But the tiny size, combined with the high contrast picture makes this an ideal companion for business presentations on the go. Resolution: 1080p | Brightness: 700 ANSI lumens | Contrast Ratio: 20,000:1 | Projection Size: 16 to 135 inches On the downside, this projector tops out at 480p, and the keystone adjustment tends to be glitchy. But the projector has an amazing 120,000:1 contrast ratio and a long-lasting battery that can go for up to six hours when the projector is in eco mode. Inputs range from microSD, USB-C, HDMI, and USB-A. It can also output sound with a 3.5mm audio jack. Resolution: 480p | Brightness: 300 lumens | Contrast Ratio: 120,000:1 | Projection Size: Up to 100 inches The sound isn’t very loud, which is something of a theme for AAXA projectors, unfortunately. The battery will last for 90 minutes on a charge which is fine for business presentations, but you’ll need to plug in for a feature-length movie. The projector comes with a tripod for aiming the device, but be sure you have a sturdy base since the tripod isn’t all that good. But you will get 30,000 hours of LED life out of the bulb and our reviewer Hayley says you’ll get “picture quality similar to that of what you see in a modern HDTV…It’s bright and contains a good amount of contrast, so the colors appear vibrant.” This is a projector that can hit the road with you and plug into anything you need along the way. Resolution: 1080p | Brightness: 600 lumens | Contrast Ratio: Not listed | Projection Size: Up to 120 inches The projector has no feet nor mechanism to aim it, so you’ll need to prop it up on something to aim it. That’s not ideal. But you do get dual HDMI ports and USB-A for inputs. There’s an aux output and headphone jack for audio output, which you’ll need because the speakers on this projector are very soft. What do you get is crisp, 4K video with excellent sharpness, so much so that you don’t mind the low contrast ratio. The remote also handles keystone adjustment, but the keystone adjustment isn’t very responsive. You have to adjust it a lot to change the picture even a little. Would like to see more course controls there. But overall, for a 4K picture that you can fit into your bag, you won’t do any better. Resolution: 4K | Brightness: 1500 lumens | Contrast Ratio: 2000:1 | Projection Size: Up to 300 inches At 2,200 lumens, it’s also the brightest projector on our list, so you won’t have to close the curtains when your friends come over for a gaming session. You also get a high contrast ratio meaning your drake won’t be washed out. You can connect up to two HDMI ports, RCA, VGA, and microSD. Though small, the projector is not portable. It doesn’t come with a case, though it will fit into a larger bag. It also doesn’t come with a mounting bracket, though you can buy one separately. But if you want to take your gaming to the next level, this is an amazing projector to take you there. Resolution: 1080p | Brightness: 2200 lumens | Contrast Ratio: 15000:1 | Projection Size: Up to 300 inches The base of the projector is round with rubber feet and a tripod mount in the center. The round base makes propping the projector a little awkward because there’s also no aiming mechanism to allow you to point the projector where you want it to go. But what outshines most other projectors is the auto keystone and auto obstacle avoidance built-in. When you aim the projector at the screen or wall, the projector will automatically fill the largest possible space while avoiding other objects on the wall like shelves or lamps. It’s really slick and makes this projector super easy to set up. Finally, the sound on this projector is loud and clear. It’s tuned by Harmon Kardon, and the dual 3W speakers get as loud as you need them to be. There isn’t much bass here, so if you’re looking for thump, you’ll want to add an external speaker or soundbar, but by itself, the speakers are really solid. The brightness could be brighter for sure, but overall, this projector has a ton of great features in a small package and will serve you very well. Resolution: up to 4K | Brightness: 800 ANSI lumens | Contrast Ratio: unannounced | Projection Size: Up to 150 inches
Brightness
Obviously, how bright your picture is will determine how dark your environment has to be in order to watch. Brightness is measured in lumens or ANSI lumens (See above). A brighter picture is more visible even when there’s a lot of ambient light. Generally speaking, a higher brightness is better.
Battery/Battery Life
One of the benefits you’ll get from a portable projector is the ability to set it down anywhere and go. Batteries ensure you don’t even have to worry about a power source. If you want to get through a movie, look for a battery life that exceeds 2 hours. Obviously, in this case, higher is better, because it gives you more freedom of placement.
About Our Trusted Experts
Adam Doud has been writing in the technology space for almost a decade and is also the creator and host of the Benefit of the Doud podcast, which reviews and discusses popular technology. Hayley Prokos has been writing for Lifewire since 2019, focused on travel-friendly consumer technology. She reviewed several of the portable projectors on this list, including the AAXA P7, ViewSonic M1+, Anker Nebula Capsule II, and others. Benjamin Zeman has written for Lifewire since 2019 and boasts 20 years of experience in the tech industry. He reviewed the Vankyo Leisure 3, a portable and popular projector. Eric Watson has years of experience as a freelance reviewer for tech and gaming websites like PC Gamer and Polygon. He’s written for Lifewire since 2019 and reviewed several of the projectors on its list, particularly the Apeman NM4 and Optomo ML750ST.
