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Whether you’re heading off on an international adventure or to your local campground, a portable projector can be a fun addition to your packing list. I use projectors everywhere from home to hotel rooms to create a movie theater-like atmosphere when it’s time for a quiet night. Most recently, I brought one to Mexico where I was able to create fun and cozy evenings on a girl’s trip.
Portable projectors are usually lightweight and easy to pack in backpacks, totes, and personal items. They can also be set up quickly and allow you to access your favorite streaming site on a big screen (in fact, the screens are as small or as big as you want them to be.) I usually project my movies and shows right onto walls or white bedsheets pinned up, but you can also use home siding, the inside of tents, or even a portable screen to get the perfect experience. No matter what you have on your travel itinerary, you’ll want to pack one of these fun and convenient portable projectors for movie night.
Credit: Amazon
We love this easy to transport projector for its amazing picture quality indoors and outdoors. It’s compatible with just about every streaming service and is easy to connect with Wi-Fi and even Bluetooth networks. While watching, we appreciated the auto focus and image correction, so we didn’t have to adjust the settings ourselves when watching on various surfaces. We especially love the clear picture that was great in low light and dark settings alike. It has a battery that lasts up to 2.5 hours, so we do recommend keeping it plugged in for longer movies, but it’s a great option when you’re on the go.
We also love that it can be paired with portable speakers to create surround sound that’s just like being at the movies. While it’s not the smallest projector we tested, it comes with its own carrying case and has a compact, rectangular shape that is easy to pack. It’s also splash-resistant and drop-proof, so you can set it up outside without worry.
The Details: 5.75 x 7.32 x 6.06 inches | 5.07 pounds | Up to 2.5 hours of video play battery life
Credit: Amazon
This small device is the perfect choice for anyone looking for a portable projector they plan to travel with regularly. I have two portable projectors, but this is the only one I have flown internationally with (and I packed it in a carry-on suitcase.) While it’s not the easiest to set up (you have to pair the remote with the device, which takes some time), it is easy to use once you get the hang of it.
I especially love that it came with its own tripod, so I could maneuver this around as needed to get a great picture when projecting onto hotel walls. The image was clear with true colors in low light and darkness, and the sound quality was impressive as well. Because it can be difficult determining how much battery power you have when not plugged in, I do recommend using this primarily inside or when close to outlets to avoid interrupting your viewing. At one point, this began to die in the middle of a movie with a fairly ominous countdown clock pop up that sent a few of us running to clear a path to the closest outlet.
The Details: 3.1 x 3.1 x 0.87 inches | 1 pound | Up to 3 hours of video play battery life
Credit: Best Buy
I’ve had this portable projector for over two years and I absolutely love it for game night, watch parties, and more. I don’t have a TV at home, so when we want to tune in during awards season, the World Series, or other major events, we set this up against a wall in our apartment for the perfect experience. I’ve also brought it on camping trips and projected movies against building sidings and even on the inside of my tent with impressive ease. It has an autofocus feature, auto keystone correction, and is attached to a swivel base so you can get the perfect image wherever you take it.
While I don’t have a Samsung phone, it was easy to make an account when I first set up the projector and haven’t had to log in to the main device or any of my streaming accounts since initial setup. Since it also works like a smart TV, I can also use the main search function when looking for a show or movie and then I can click the result and go right to the correct streaming platform. I also love that the remote is solar powered, so I don’t have to worry about additional batteries and it has preset buttons for Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and Samsung TV Plus in addition to being voice activated. This is the perfect device for big parties as the games are all family-friendly with varying degrees of difficulty. Although the battery base is sold separately, I highly recommend investing in the addition to improve your power time from about three hours to over six hours.
The Details: 3.7 x 6 x 3.7 inches | 1.8 pounds | Up to 3 hours of battery life
Credit: Amazon
If you’re looking for a high-quality projector to enhance your next watch party, the Epson EpiqVision Mini is the perfect choice. The picture is so clear and crisp, especially in dark settings, it felt like we were watching a home television. Because this projector utilizes Google TV, it does take a minute to set up, but once you’re logged in, it’s simple to watch whatever you want. We also love the sound capabilities, especially for indoor use, but recommend connecting portable speakers for use outdoors.
We love that the remote comes with a button that you can press to automatically optimize the image for your screen. We found it to be sturdy while traveling, too, though we do wish it came with a bag or carrying case. Still, this was a great option for travel and home use alike, and we plan to keep this setup for regular use between travels.
The Details: 7.5 x 9.3 x 7.5 inches | 6.8 pounds
Credit: Amazon
For a simple, starter projector without a lot of bells and whistles, the Happrun Native projector is the best choice. While it doesn’t connect to Wi-Fi for instant streaming on its own, it is Bluetooth compatible and does come with an HDMI cable, so you can hook up other devices (though we recommend also getting a converter to be able to pair with other devices). Because it’s such a simple design, it was also incredibly easy to set up—we had it up and running in a matter of minutes. And, although it comes with an easy-to-use remote, you can also fully control the projector with the buttons built into the device itself.
Considering the simplistic design, we were impressed with the projector’s overall performance everywhere we went. It has some minor blurring around the edges of the picture (which was most noticeable when watching sports), but was overall clear and bright with the same quality inside and out. The largest screen we projected it on was 130 inches x 70 inches and the picture was still clear at that size. Do note that you also must pair the projector with a portable speaker as it does not have a sound system of its own.
The Details: 9.3 x 8.1 x 3.5 inches | 4.5 pounds
Credit: Amazon
This projector is one of the biggest we tested, but also one of the most durable, so you can confidently pack it for any adventure. It’s water-resistant, drop-resistant, and dust-resistant, so you can bring it on your camping trips or into the backyard without fear of damage. It also has a built-in handle at the top so you can carry it wherever you go, though we do recommend getting a carrying case or packing it among soft items if you plan on traveling long distances. The battery also lasts up to five hours without an external battery pack, so you don’t have to think about plugging it in or charging. You can also plug your phone in to charge it using the projector’s power, which is a convenient bonus for outdoor use.
When you’re camping or relaxing for an outdoor movie night, the sound quality is plenty, but if you want more of a surround sound experience, you can also connect external speakers. We also appreciated that the bulb is bright enough that you can clearly see images in dim lighting, so you don’t have to wait until the sun is fully set before you start enjoying.
The Details: 6.3 x 10.2 x 9.8 inches | 9.9 pounds | Up to 5 hours of battery life
Credit: Xgimi
If you want to enhance your theater experience even further, this XGIMI set is an absolute must. It’s the only portable projector we’ve seen that comes with its own pop-up screen, so you don’t have to find a bare wall or hang up sheets to make a flat viewing surface. It even has ground stakes so you can stabilize the screen outdoors and it all comes in a hard shell carrying case with handle, so you can transport it easily (though it’s about the size of a personal item, so keep that in mind when flying.)
Initial setup took less than five minutes and we never noticed a lag after connecting to Wi-Fi. The remote has shortcut buttons for both Amazon Prime and Netflix and both shows and movies came out crisp and clear. We appreciate that its stand is also a backup battery, increasing play time up to 2.5 hours, too. We’ve set this up on rooftops and at home and have even left it set up to replace our home TV for a week at a time since the quality is that great.
The Details: 14.8 x 19.9 x 7.9 inches for full kit | 10.8 pounds for full kit | Up to 5 hours of battery life
Our Testing Process
We tested a variety of portable projectors outdoors and indoors to find the best options for all travelers. We began by following all manufacturer instructions to set up the projectors for the first time. We made accounts to access streaming services and internal projector systems and connected to Wi-Fi networks for service, timing how long initial setup took. For projectors that came with batteries, we plugged them in to charge and timed how long it took.
During our initial three week testing period, we packed the projectors in backpacks, personal items, and carry-on bags to assess their size, weight, and overall portability. We used the projectors indoors and outdoors as possible at different times of day, watching movies and shows to determine visibility in various light conditions. We set up the projectors using their own stands when possible, projecting images onto screens, walls, and homes. We also assessed the speaker levels in different locations.
Throughout our tests, we moved the projectors further from and closer to screens to determine how large and small the images could get while maintaining clarity. We also sat in different locations around the projector to test how far we could get and still see and hear clearly. While traveling, we utilized travel cases and evaluated how lightweight, sturdy, and durable the projectors felt.
Tips for Buying a Portable Projector
Prioritize picture quality
You’ll want a projector with crystal clear images, which includes the correct colors, in varying degrees of lighting. A high picture quality is generally created with a high-intensity lightbulb measured in lumens. The higher the lumens, the more light is emitted per second, leading to crisp images that shouldn’t blur or fade out.
Look for light, compact sizes
Other than a clear image, portability is the most important consideration for a projector. Mine are both compact, but neither came with a case, so I leave them in their original boxes for protection and pack those boxes in tote bags or backpacks while traveling. Your portable projector should be lightweight enough to carry in different travel bags, but you should still make sure to keep them well-padded to prevent breaks or jostling.
Consider usage
If you plan to use your portable projector mainly at home, you can opt with a heavier model with higher picture quality. But if you plan to mainly use your projector outside, you’ll want to think about lighting and sound conditions and look for a model with a high level of lumens that may even be dust- and water-resistant. Travelers planning to take their portable projectors on a variety of trips should just make sure their device is durable and well-packed with plenty of padding.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How do portable projectors work?
Essentially, portable projectors use an LED light or laser to project images onto a wall or screen, this is why projectors work better the darker your location is. Some utilize battery power, but most need to be plugged in in order to access power, so plan to pack an extension cord if you’re unsure of the power access at your destination.
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What settings are best to use a projector in?
I mainly keep my projectors in their automatic settings. All of the projectors we tested automatically adjust images based on the surface they’re being projected on for ease (and to refocus if the projector is jostled.) However, if your lighting conditions aren’t giving you a clear image, you can use your remote’s settings menu to adjust the projector’s brightness, colors, sharpness, and contrast according to your preferences.
Why Trust Travel + Leisure
Taylor Fox is a Travel + Leisure editor where she tests products while traveling, most often on hiking and camping trips. She doesn’t own a TV, but she does have two portable projectors and often uses them at home and on vacation. For this article, she utilized her own experience using portable projectors in Mexico, Chicago, and New York as well as T+L testing insights.
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