Portable projectors, despite their relatively young age, have already found their buyers. They allow you to quickly and easily get a large image, can work without a special screen, and prove to be a very convenient option for users who move from place to place.
What do you need to know if you decide to buy a portable projector, and what features should you look for in the first place? We hope this article will help you understand this issue.
Brightness and resolution
If you plan to create a relatively large screen diagonal, these parameters will be one of the most important when choosing a specific model. Usually, portable projectors have a maximum lumen output of 200-400 ANSI lumens, which is enough for a medium-sized screen in complete darkness or with minimal room lighting.
If you plan to view the image on diagonals of 80-100 inches, or in moderate background lighting, it is better to pay attention to more powerful models with a light output of 500-1000 ANSI lumens.
The resolution is simple: 4K is still rare in portable models, and not cheap, so the choice is between 720p and 1080p. The first option is worth considering if the screen diagonal is very small, and the viewer is not sitting close to it. In any other case, it is better to focus on Full HD models.
Distance to the screen
If you plan to use the projector more or less stationary, in one place, it is better to determine in advance the approximate distance to the wall and the approximate size of the image you want to get.
The thing is that portable projectors usually don't have screen size settings, and the diagonal is adjusted by simply moving the projector closer or farther from the wall. It should be noted right away that you shouldn't rely on the maximum distance and maximum diagonal declared by manufacturers in their official specifications: they are usually overstated, and at such values, the image will be frankly dim and uncomfortable to view.
For an approximate estimate of the screen size, you can use the "projection ratio" characteristic - the ratio of the projection distance to the diagonal of the projected image. You just need to keep in mind that the actual usable diagonal will actually be slightly smaller.
If, according to all the calculations, it turns out that the projector will have to be placed in the middle of the room during the movie screening, a model with a standard tripod mount (which you will have to purchase separately) will be a good solution.
Adjust the projector image
The peculiarity of a portable projector is that it is mostly used in unprepared conditions. It is unlikely that the owner of such a model will additionally purchase a special projection screen and install the projector "forever", carefully adjusting its position - in this case, it is better to choose a full-size model for home theaters.
Therefore, a very important feature of portable projectors is automatic image adjustment. If you have such a feature, the projector will estimate the distance to the wall and the angle at which the image is directed at it after switching on and make the appropriate adjustments by performing autofocus and keystone correction.
Of course, in the absence of such functions, you can do all this manually, but "automation" makes the process of initial image settings much faster and easier. In addition, adjusting the color temperature of the image to match the color of the wall on which it is projected can be a useful feature: this will allow you to get adequate colors even if the wall is not neutral white or gray.
Operating system
The best option here would be models running Android TV. In this case, with an Internet connection, the user can watch YouTube, Netflix, and other online streaming services on the projector itself and play content from an Android smartphone.
The "TV" Tizen OS used by Samsung in its own projectors can also be a very good option - it also has a wide range of online services and is very convenient to work with smartphones from this manufacturer.
If the projector is to be used primarily as a "second screen" of a laptop, the presence of a functional OS in it fades into the background: the main thing is that it should be in a language that is understandable to the user (which may have its own nuances in some Chinese models purchased online).
Acoustics
Built-in speakers allow you to fully play video content without connecting additional speakers or headphones. It should be noted that you shouldn't expect really high-quality sound from portable projectors, and when choosing a model, you can only pay attention to the declared power of the speaker system: not only the maximum volume depends on it, but usually also the quality.
If you need better sound than even good built-in speakers can offer, Bluetooth support and the ability to connect an external speaker to the projector should be one of the selection criteria.
Connection options
If you don't plan to use the projector solely as a standalone device on an Android TV with a Wi-Fi Internet connection, you should make sure it has the connection options you need.
It is advisable that it has a full-size HDMI input: some compact models are equipped with only Micro HDMI and do not come with a suitable cable, in which case you will have to buy it separately.
Many projectors are able to play content from USB drives - although the capabilities of their own players are quite limited, mainly in terms of support for different formats and codecs, this option can be very convenient, so having a USB (Type-A or Type-C) will also not hurt. You just need to make sure that the model you choose really supports the connection of USB drives - in some projectors, this can be a service connector for servicing the device.
As mentioned above, with Bluetooth, the projector may be able to connect additional speakers - but it also works the other way around: some models can work as a Bluetooth speaker themselves to stream music from a smartphone.
Battery
The built-in battery allows you to place the projector in a convenient location regardless of the availability of an outlet or power strip nearby - and in Ukrainian realities, autonomy additionally means the ability to have movie shows during power outages.
You shouldn't focus solely on the battery capacity: the projector's operating time will strongly depend on the brightness, so it's better to look at the declared autonomy for typical usage scenarios.
Of course, the larger the battery capacity, the larger the size and weight of the projector - but if you need a miniature model with good battery life, there is still a way out. In this case, it is better to pay attention to models that can receive power via USB Type-C and connect them to an external power bank.
Weight and dimensions
These parameters can be very important if the user plans to take the projector with them frequently, for example, to show presentations in unsuitable office spaces or to visit friends and watch movies together. In this case, you should also pay attention to the availability of lens protection and accessories for easy carrying – bags, protective covers, etc.
If the projector will mostly stand in one place and will be moved only occasionally, you don't have to worry about weight and size (as long as there is enough free space to accommodate it).
That's all – we hope our tips will be useful to you if you're about to buy a portable projector.