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.
