The 2 Best Portable Mini Projectors of 2025

Since 2013, we’ve auditioned more than 30 projectors for this guide and considered even more. Below are a few of the most noteworthy competitors:

AAXA M7: The M7 is respectably bright and has good detail, but it lacks Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and internal apps, the fan noise is extremely loud, and two different sample units we tested had a problem where the picture settings locked into their default (and less accurate) state and could not be adjusted.

AAXA P6 Ultimate: This small, under-$400 LED projector is loaded with connection options, has good light output and battery life, and comes with a snap-on handle and carrying case. The picture quality is solid, but the P6U isn’t as color-accurate as the lower-priced Xgimi MoGo 2 Pro, and its 1280 x 800 (WXGA) resolution is not ideal for TV/movie watching (it stretches the image slightly). The main drawbacks involve user-friendliness: To cut costs, AAXA cuts convenience features like automatic focus, a Bluetooth-based remote, and full Android or Google TV support. There are some apps built in, but the streaming was choppy. Overall, this one just isn’t as simple and pleasant to use on a regular basis.

BenQ GP100A: We tested this 1080p LED projector that comes with an Android TV dongle. In features, form, and brightness, it’s similar to the Nebula Mars 3, but it lacks that projector’s built-in battery and weatherproofing for outdoor use. Though it can run off USB-C power, it needs at least a 100-watt power bank to run at full brightness. Overall, its performance is solid but not worth its higher price tag. The BenQ GV31 is smaller and has a battery, so it’s more portable — but it claims just 300 ANSI lumens of light output. That’s too low for its asking price, so we chose not to test it.

BenQ GS50: This 1080p projector used to be our main recommendation for outdoor use, thanks to its compact form, built-in battery, solid brightness, and weather-/drop-resistant design. However, it’s now several years old, and the performance does not keep pace with the newer and more affordable Nebula Mars 3 Air. Its battery life is shorter, its image contrast is much lower, and the black level and black detail are not as good — so movies looked flatter and more washed-out. Also, the supplied Android TV dongle does not support Netflix, and its streaming performance was glitchy.

JMGO PicoFlix: This capsule-shaped 1080p projector has a built-in battery, an integrated rotatable stand, Google TV, and support for USB-C charging and power. We opted not to test it because the customer reviews have been lukewarm.

Kodak Flik HD10: This under-$300 projector has a claimed light output of only 200 ANSI lumens, but we tested it anyhow — and as we expected, it was way too dim in comparison with the projectors we recommend. Plus, the color was undersaturated and inaccurate in our tests, the build quality isn’t terribly robust, and this projector’s larger chassis is not really portable.

LG CineBeam PF510Q: If you don’t like Google TV or Android TV, you might be interested in this projector, which runs LG’s own webOS smart-TV platform (though there’s no Netflix app in the US) and supports AirPlay 2. It offers solid picture quality, but it lacks a built-in battery and USB-C charging, so it isn’t portable.

LG CineBeam Q (HU710PB): This 4K projector has qualities that pit it against both pricier, dedicated home theater projectors (a 4K resolution and laser light source) and mini models (a very small form and built-in smart TV platform). Its picture quality is decent, but we found the user experience to be sorely lacking compared with other portable models. Its connection options are limited, its speaker is terrible, the user interface is clunky and dated, and there’s no built-in battery or USB-C power.

Optoma ML1080: This projector lands in an awkward middle ground between a portable model and a traditional model. It uses a laser light source and supports HDMI 2.1, both of which are rare in portable projectors priced under $1,000. This 1080p model is petite and runs off USB-C power, but it has no built-in battery, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or smart features. So, even though it measured decently in our tests, it really doesn’t compete with our picks in terms of the user experience — and it’s not bright or accurate enough to compete with similarly priced picks in our guide to budget projectors for a home theater.

Samsung Freestyle: We did not review this 1080p LED projector because other reviews (both professional and buyer) were lukewarm at best. The general sentiment is that the design is cool and the video performance is decent, but the light output is below average for the price. You can power it off some USB-C power banks, and Samsung offers an optional battery base and light-socket adapter, but those extras add to the price. Plus, the Freestyle uses the less common micro-HDMI port. The newer Freestyle 2nd Gen has the same core design but adds Samsung’s Gaming Hub.

Wemax Dice: The Dice is an older model, and its picture quality is a mixed bag. In our tests, the image was very bright (when the projector was plugged in), had good overall contrast, and looked sharp and detailed. But if you care about color accuracy, you may be distracted by the too-blue color temperature, the exaggerated colors (especially green), and the tendency for lighter skin tones to look sunburned. Within the Android TV interface, you can make a few picture adjustments that help a little, but you can’t adjust the HDMI input at all — and we also got some handshake issues via HDMI.

Xgimi Halo+: The original Halo+ puts the same core features and user interface as in the company’s MoGo 2 Pro in a larger, battery-powered cabinet. Though it has a much higher claimed brightness rating than our budget pick, it didn’t measure much brighter in its more accurate picture modes during our tests. Plus, it lacks USB-C charging. Xgimi has introduced a newer version of the Halo+ that switches to Google TV instead of Android TV, but otherwise it’s the same as the original. We think our top pick is the better buy, but this is a solid option.

Xgimi MoGo 3 Pro: This capsule-shaped, Google TV, 1080p projector comes in a rotatable stand, and the base houses the built-in speaker system. It’s a fun design. When you aren’t using it as a projector, the MoGo 3 Pro doubles as a Bluetooth speaker; point the lens down at the base, pair the projector with your phone, and enjoy a colored light show. In terms of performance, this projector is solid, but it’s not as good as our top pick or the similarly designed Dangbei Freedo. It has lower contrast, a higher black level, and less accurate color. It also uses a micro-HDMI connection and doesn’t have an integrated battery.

Yaber T2: This model has a built-in battery, a 1080p resolution, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support — but not a directly integrated smart platform. You can get it bundled with a Google TV dongle as the T2 Plus for an additional $50. Overall, the T2 is a solid performer in the under-$400 price range, but it’s just not quite up to the level of our budget pick. It’s not as bright, the color is a little undersaturated, it’s much larger in form, and it’s not as user-friendly. As with previous Yaber projectors we’ve tested, the projected image is much lower than average, so you have to set it on a higher surface to position the image higher on the wall.

This article was edited by Grant Clauser.