Anker Nebula Mars II Pro
Anker Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K: Since it has a handle and a compact size, the Cosmos Laser 4K is technically portable, but it’s hardly mini at more than 10 pounds. There’s also no battery so you’ll need to plug it in. It’s nice and bright, but the other downsides — lack of zoom, average overall image quality and a steep price for what you get — keep it off this list. Read the Anker Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K Projector review.
Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K SE: Similar in design to the Laser 4K, it’s a little dimmer but also a little cheaper. That makes its price to performance ratio far more interesting. Still large for a “portable” projector, but the handle makes it easy to lug around. Read the Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K SE Projector review.
AAXA M8: A former pick. Bright and cheap, it’s out of stock and possibly discontinued. Check out my review of the AAXA M8.
AAXA P6X: Another former pick. Super bright with a big battery. Image quality wasn’t great, but for the price and brightness, it was an interesting option. Currently out of stock and possibly discontinued. Check out my AAXA P6X review.
AAXA P8: Also a former pick. Very small and inexpensive. Currently out of stock and possibly discontinued. Check out my AAXA P8 review.
BenQ GS50: The GS50 is roughly the same size as the Xgimi Halo Plus, is 1080p and has a built-in battery. You can even use it as a Bluetooth speaker. It’s dimmer than the Xgimi Halo Plus for similar money. Read the BenQ GS50 review.
BenQ HT2060: While not technically a “portable” projector, the HT2060 is small and light. It’s wouldn’t fit in a backpack, but if you want something for an occasional movie night, it could be stored in a closet and — when it’s time for the movie — can be set up in just a few minutes. It’s one of my favorite projectors. Check out the full review of the BenQ HT2060.
Samsung Freestyle: The small, cylindrical Freestyle is an interesting idea, but it comes up short. About the size of a Bluetooth speaker, and can double as one, the Freestyle can pivot on its stand to project an image at any height on walls and even the ceiling. Its built-in streaming is far better implemented than most portable projectors. It lacks a battery, and its performance is average, at best. Worse, its price is 50% higher than it should be based on how it looks and performs. Read the Samsung Freestyle review.
Xiaomi Mi Smart Projector 2: Another relatively expensive small projector I didn’t love, the Xiaomi at least has a gorgeous, Apple-like design going for it. I appreciated the compact size, 1080p resolution and built-in Android TV streaming, but the cons outweigh the pros. It’s relatively dim, especially for the money, and it lacks both a built-in battery and compatibility with a USB power source, so it’s not truly portable. Read the Xiaomi Mi Smart Projector 2 review.
