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Home entertainment systems have never been so impressive, yet it remains a fact that not too long ago, owning a colour television was beyond the means of an average family. Indeed, it was only in the middle of the 1970’s that such devices became commercially available in terms of price, and even then the trend was to rent.
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| Name | Screen Size | |
|---|---|---|
| Artlii Mini Projector | 1.5m | |
| IxunGo P1 Mini | 1.5 to 3m | |
| Build Excellent Mini LED Projector | 60 inches | |
| Philips Pico PPX4010 | 15 inches to 150 inches | |
| DLP Home Theatre Projector | 200 inches |
Tell this to the current younger generations – those who spend half their life playing games or watching TV on the iPads and smartphones – and they will find it very hard to believe. It’s no surprise as, in the past ten or twenty years, the home entertainment revolution has taken hold of many households.
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A colour TV is the norm these days – or, in fact, more than one as most households have – and you likely own a smart TV that can access the internet. This gives you access to streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon, where you can watch – for a small subscription – films, TV series and more, and play games too.
The size of our TV’s has been growing, too. It’s not unusual to see screens of 50inches and more in homes across the UK. Then there is the home theatre system, in which you can screen films on a large screen – or a blank wall – in your own home. These have caught on in big style in the USA and are now becoming ever-more popular in the UK, too.
A home cinema requires a projector and, up until recently, these have been large, noisy and expensive. There’s a new kid on the block, however, and it’s the fresh generation of ‘pocket projectors’, and they are taking the market by storm.
So, let’s talk about the 10 best pocket projectors on the market today, and look at the pros and cons of each one.
Best Pocket Projectors
1: Artlii Mini Projector
We begin this list with a short warning: not all of the models reviewed will fit in a pocket! Some will, however, and this one is one of them. This quite amazing mini projector measures approximately 13x8x5cm and weighs just 280g, so you could easily carry it around with you. However, we must also say that it is perhaps not one for a dedicated home theatre system, but more for occasional use. It would be great for camping or holidays, for example, as it can be powered by a power bank, so we reckon this is its primary intention.
It is an LED projector that has HDMI, USB, AV and SD connectivity, so can stream from a DVD player, laptop, smartphone or any number of games consoles. It displays on a screen up to 1.5m, and requires a throw distance of under 4m. It is easy to use, comes with a 3-year warranty and – quite simply – is a nice bit of kit to impress your friends! It may not be a serious home cinema device, but at around £40, we like it.
- Very small
- Very light
- Not a serious projector
2: IxunGo P1 Mini
There is something immediately more substantial with this projector, although it is still very small at 8x15x2cm so would easily fit in a larger pocket. It comes with many impressive features, not least that it runs on a platform that is compatible with Android devices, and offers genuine 1080p HD projection. This one is very popular for home use and for business projections, and provides very clear and impressive images.
You can project an image up to 120-inches, with a projection distance of anywhere between 1.5 to 3m, so you don’t need too much space in which to operate. It is also compatible with Mac products, with iPhone and iPad, and with a variety of other devices. It supports HDMI, USB and some dedicated movie projection platforms such as Miracast and Airplay, and has a lamp that is guaranteed for 30,000 hours. It’s easy to use, there are no fiddly apps to download, and it is the real deal, but will cost you around £200 – that’s not bad for something of this quality.
- 120-inch projection
- Guaranteed long-life lamp
- Compact
- None
3: Build Excellent Mini LED Projector
When selecting the models for our review, we came to the conclusion there are two distinct types of pocket projector: those that are budget modes for occasional use, and those that are more serious cinema projectors. This is one of the former. It’s a very simple device that measures just 12x9x4cm, so you should be able to find a pocket to fit it in, and it is designed for home movie use – and notably, not recommended for business presentations. This is because it’s simplicity means it is not as precise and sophisticated as some others.
It can work with a powerbank or battery, so is great for camping, has various slots including HDMI and USB, so will stream from a laptop, phone or other device – but not directly, and is easy to use. It will project up to 60inches wide, from a distance of 0.6 to 2.4m, so is easy to use in limited spaces. The sound is basic, the vision is not HD, but it does not make those claims; it is a simple, portable projector for occasional and travel use. If that’s what you want, at around £30 it’s far from a waste of money.
- Great for travel
- Light and small
- Uncomplicated
- Requires a dongle
4: Philips Pico PPX4010
It’s always reassuring to see a big brand name when you are looking for something such as this, and there are few bigger than Philips when it comes to consumer electronics. This projector, from the Pico range, is a very neat one, and has some interesting attributes. First, it offers full HD quality at up to 120inches, and is very easy to set up and use. It also uses SmartEngine technology to provide excellent, clear images and colour, so you get the full movie effect.
This one weighs in at a quite incredible 83g; that really is featherlight and you will not notice it is there if you are carrying it around. It measures approximately 7x7x2cm, which is very, very small indeed. You can only connect by HDMI and USB, which is limited when compared to others, but it projects at up to 120inches, and can be powered by the USB connection. It can cast from 15” to 150”, so you have full scope there, and has met with a great many favourable reviews. For a truly miniature projector it doesn’t get much better than this for the best pocket projectors.
- large projection area
- Incredibly light
- Impressive quality
- Limited connectivity
5: DLP Home Theatre Projector
This is one of the more interesting of our selection and a truly portable one at that. It is a clever design in the shape of an approximate 5cm cube, and comes with a tripod stand. In total, the whole set up weighs around 500g which while not heavy, is more so than some of the others on this list. Nevertheless, this one is worth a look, not least because it offers up to 200inches in projection size – amazing for a device of this compactness – and is also entirely wireless when needed, so can connect to your smart TV and other devices in the home.
It can use Micracast and Airplay, plus various other networks, will stream via WiFi from your phone, and is simple to use. It has a built in battery offering enough time for a movie – but not a lot more – and is very impressive in terms of image quality for the size, with 1080p HD capability. We like it, it’s very neat, very usable, perfect for travel – but perhaps not up there with some when it comes to home theatre.
- Tripod
- Wide screen
- WiFi
- Limited battery life
6: Pico Smartphone Projector
This is another of the very compact models, at approximately 13x8x5cm and weighing just 280g, so you could easily carry it around with you. However, we must also say that it is perhaps not one for a dedicated home theatre system, but more for occasional use. It would be great for camping or holidays, for example, as it can be powered by a powerbank, so we reckon this is its primary intention. In other words, if you want occasional use, this could be for you.
It is an LED projector that has HDMI, USB, AV and SD connectivity, so can stream from a DVD player, laptop, smartphone or any number of games consoles. It displays on a screen up to 1.5m, and requires a throw distance of under 4m. It is easy to use, comes with a 3-year warranty and – quite simply – is a nice bit of kit to impress your friends! It may not be a serious home cinema device.
- Fun
- Very small
- Connectivity
- Not a serious projector
7: Deeplee Portable LED Projector
This is another of what we term the budget models; it is a perfectly good projector for occasional use, but is not going to impress you or your friends if used as a dedicated home cinema device. What you do get is full connectivity using HDMI, USB and just about every other option, and it is quite small at around 13x9x5cm, which is not as small as some but should be easy to carry around. It weighs just 290g, which is easily light enough for camping or travel use.
This one is most definitely not HD, with a resolution of just 320*240P, and a screen size of 60inches is far from the biggest, and you cannot stream from a smartphone as the USB port is only for memory back-up. Those are downsides that will certainly influence the choice of the buyer, but should really be among the expected when looking at devices of this type. So, it’s a good model for occasional or travel use.
- Easy to use
- Great for holiday use
- Not the smallest
8: IxunGo P1 Pico Mini Projector
This is another from a brand we have already reviewed, and is equally impressive. It is quite small at 8x15x2cm although you would need a larger pocket. It comes with many impressive features, not least that it runs on a platform that is compatible with Android devices, and offers genuine 1080p HD projection. This one is very popular for home use and for business projections, and provides very clear and impressive images.
You can project an image up to 120-inches, with a projection distance of anywhere between 1.5 to 3m, so you don’t need too much space in which to operate. It is also compatible with Mac products, with iPhone and iPad, and with a variety of other devices. It supports HDMI, USB and some dedicated movie projection platforms such as Miracast and Airplay, and has a lamp that is guaranteed for 30,000 hours. It’s easy to use, there are no fiddly apps to download, and it is the real deal.
- 120-inch projection
- guaranteed long-life lamp
- Not the smallest
9: Deeplee Black Portable LED Projector
This one is another from Deeplee, and is a black version of the one we have already reviewed., So, we can say it is a good occasional use machine, but not one that is going to set the world alight when it comes to quality. What you do get is full connectivity using HDMI, USB and just about every other option, and it is quite small at around 13x9x5cm, which is not as small as some but should be easy to carry around. It weighs just 290g, which is easily light enough for camping or travel use.
This one is most definitely not HD, with a resolution of just 320*240P, and a screen size of 60inches is far from the biggest, and you cannot stream from a smartphone as the USB port is only for memory back-up. Those are downsides that will certainly influence the choice of the buyer, but should really be among the expected when looking at devices of this type. So, it’s a good model for occasional or travel use.
- Easy to use
- Great for holiday use
- Not the smallest
10: Philips PPX3240 Traveller
Our final choice is another from industry giants Philips, who have been at the very forefront of home entertainment systems for some time. This one, however, we feel fair to say is aimed at the business user who wants to show slides or videos as a presentation. It is very small – it measures just 6x10x2cm approx – and suitably light, and is easy to use with one hand, so perfect for when giving a talk in front of a room.
It can project up to 60”, can stream from your smartphone, and provides excellent images but is not full HD, although it does have a built-in MP4 player which is an interesting touch. It comes with a microSD slot and multicard reader, and while we can recommend it for occasional use, it is not going to satisfy you if you want quality cinema broadcasting. At around £150, it’s a good choice for a business user or occasional travel use as one of the best pocket projectors.
- Easy to use
- Small
- Only 60” projection
That’s our list of the ten best pocket projectors, but which is for you? Before we give you our summary, here are some important features to look for when choosing one of these.
Best Pocket Projector Features to Consider
What you need to look for in the best pocket projector:
- Size – if you want a truly pocket-sized projector, some of these offer that, while others will need a very large pocket indeed!
- Definition – if you want a real home cinema effect, you need full HD clarity, and only a few of these offer this so check carefully before you buy.
- Connectivity – you really want a device that offer excellent connectivity across a range of formats, and not all of these can gibe you that, so check carefully again.
- Screen Size – the range of screen projection sizes with these covers everything from 60inches to a massive 200 inches, so choose wisely.
That’s really about it if you are looking for the best pocket projector, so all that is left now is to sum things up!
How Do Pocket Projector’s Work
The concept of home cinema is not a new one; those of us of a certain age can easily remember settling down to watch the inevitable home movies of holidays, birthdays, Christmas and the like, screened via a Super-8 or other cine camera. Connecting the spools of film was something of a ritual, and they made a terrible noise too.
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The modern home cinema system is a different breed – even to those of a few years ag0 and allows you to stream movies from a variety of sources. Those that are big enough can play DVD’s, but we are more concerned with portable models that access the content via external sources such as a laptop, DVD player, iPad or smartphone, and many more.
The development of sophisticated and even-more impressive optics has helped, with affordable portable projectors now being a reality, and providing impressive results. This has led to the ability to watch movies on a larger scale in HD resolution, and often with surround-sound audio systems that add to the effect.
The beauty of a pocket projector is in its portability. If you want to screen a movie at a friend’s house, use it in a business meeting, perhaps screen something for a class of students, it’s simple to do: you just take it where you need it, set it up, and screen onto an available blank space or portable screen.
Let’s Sum It Up!
Your choice depends upon what you want from the best pocket projector. If you want a small, cheap projector that will be fine for use when camping, for example, then either of the very cheap Deeplee models will do the job. They are not great quality, but they will be fine for use in a caravan.
If you are looking for a model for business use, then there are a couple here that will do the job, perhaps most of all the last one on the list from Philips. It is clearly designed for the purpose, and has all the features you need.
For a true home cinema experience, just a few on this list will come close, so you need to choose carefully. We like the IxunGo models, which offer genuine 1080p HD capability, excellent connectivity and fine quality images in a very compact size, but be prepared you have to pay around £200 for anything this good.
So, that’s our review of the best pocket projectors, choose the one you need and enjoy your viewing wherever you may be!
