5 Best Mini Projectors in 2024: New Models & Current Prices

Affordable and high-quality mini projectors.

The best mini projector can be used to display any content from electronic devices. However, it’s smaller compared to regular projector models and usually weighs 1-2 pounds. The portability, lightness, and compactness of these projectors give you the freedom to take them with you on the go, and you can create your own cinema virtually anywhere.

Such devices fit in the palm of your hand and are great for entertainment, education, and business. The top models come with built-in speakers, decent battery life, and many options for connecting smartphones, streaming devices, or game consoles.

Some models have a screen, but most of them don’t. The same goes for tripods and carrying cases. Also, if you want to connect to certain apps, smartphones, iPhones, iPads or use a wireless connection, you need additional dongles, USB cables and dedicated HDMI adapters.

Resolution: 854x480 | Contrast Ratio: 500:1 | Brightness (Lumens): 120 | Screen size: 1.2" - 40"

ViewSonic M1 Mini has built-in speaker enhancements. For example, the sound is just as good as other models without the extra noise that comes from a bulky projector. It is also portable, which makes it great if you are going to be traveling with it.

This projector under $200 has many features that will make it stand out from the others on the market. It is powered by two AA batteries, which means it will last you quite a while when in use.

As one of the best mini projectors, it comes with a built-in memory that stores your favorite movies, games, and presentations, making it easy to go to the library and pull out what we need.

Resolution: 854x480 | Contrast Ratio: 12000:1 | Brightness (Lumens): 120 | Screen size: 24" - 100"

ViewSonic M1 Portable is a high-end business projector that is specially designed for use with the Sony Pictures Entertainment system. The device is small enough to be easily carried around on one's person, yet large enough to project an outstanding image and sound as well.

A screen viewing range of up to 28 miles is provided on the unit, which is great for people who are planning on taking family vacations. This compact projector also features a built-in speaker port that lets people enjoy the movie or show regardless of whether there is an available speaker.

However, there are also some disadvantages to the M1. While the image quality is good enough for a portable projector, it's not the best out there. The M1 has a 2,500-ANSI lumen brightness, 10bit RGB color depth, dynamic contrast ratio of 120,000:1, and 125% Rec. 709 color space.

Resolution: 1920x1080 | Contrast Ratio: 100000:1 | Brightness (Lumens): 500 | Screen size: 30" - 112"

The GS50 has an Android 9 interface, 500 ansi lumens, and full HD resolution, making it a great choice for those who want a pocket projector that does it all. It's easy to set up and has a streamlined user experience, with an easy-to-use remote controller.

It also supports several apps, including YouTube and Amazon Prime Video, and has a screen mirroring feature that lets you connect your smartphone, laptop, or tablet with one click.

Being one of the best projectors under $800, the GS50 comes with a wide range of connectivity options, and a USB port for storage devices. When it comes to image quality, the GS50 does a good job of retaining image clarity in ambient light. Its built-in speaker also performed well, with rich and clear audio that was good enough for larger rooms.

However, there are some disadvantages to the GS50. Its moderate contrast ratio can be a problem with dark scenes, as its blacks appear grayish, taking away from the overall image quality. The default picture settings are not good, with overly aggressive sharpening that can crush shadow detail to a grey mush.

Resolution: 854x480 | Contrast Ratio: 3500:1 | Brightness (Lumens): 150 | Screen size: 16" - 120"

This mini projector is incredibly lightweight and compact, making it perfect for presentations on the go. It also has a built-in rechargeable battery that can last up to 5 hours, which is a great feature for those who need to use it for extended periods of time without access to a power source.

Being one of the best projectors under $300, it supports both HDMI and MHL inputs, which means you can connect it to a wide range of devices, including mobile phones, media streamers, and even compute sticks like chromebit and vivosticks.

It also features auto keystone correction, which eliminates trapezoidal images that can result from angled projections, ensuring a perfect rectangle every time.

But you should keep in mind that the ZenBeam E1 has a relatively low resolution of WVGA 854 x 480, which may not be suitable for some users who need higher resolution projections.

Resolution: 1920x1080 | Contrast Ratio: 500:1 | Brightness (Lumens): 800 | Screen size: 40" - 200"

The XGIMI Elfin comes with Android TV out of the box, which means you have access to the Google Play Store and all your favorite video streaming services. It also has built-in Chromecast support, making it easy to stream content from your phone or tablet.

One of the best things about this small projector is its automatic keystone correction and screen alignment, which takes the hassle out of setting up. It can project an image up to 200 inches, which is a decent size for a mini projector and is enough to fill most rooms. It's also capable of playing HDR content, providing the most striking visuals possible on a projector this small.

One of the biggest weaknesses of the XGIMI Elfin is that it tends to struggle with dark scenes, and there's noticeable dithering in large areas of black. This means that it's not the best option for watching movies or TV shows with a lot of dark scenes. Another downside is that there's no Ethernet port, which means you can't use it with a wired connection.

If you're a beginner and know nothing about projectors, don't worry, I'm here to help you choose the best mini projector.

Portability. Cheap projectors are rarely as portable as mid and high-end ones. Size and weight are important, especially for travel when you take all your gear with you.

Consider not only the size of the pocket projector but also cables, tripods and external speakers that you also need to bring along. If you’re looking for the best mini projector for outdoor activities or hiking, make sure it has a built-in battery so you don’t have to rely on an external power source.

Screen size and resolution. The screen size of a portable projector means how large an image it can display. Often, it’s measured in inches diagonally. All recommended settings support screen sizes of 80 inches or more, but remember that the larger the screen size, the brighter and less sharp an image will be.

HD (high definition) means a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. Full HD, the current standard for smartphones, has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The difficulty lies in the fact that most models have two resolutions, native and maximum, and the difference is very important.

Magnification range. By using the zoom slider, you can enlarge the image to get the desired size even using projectors under $150. Some zooms are limited. If you use a 2.0:1 lens, 2.0x means that the maximum image that it projects can be enlarged to twice its minimum size.

If you are not sure, check the specs sheets provided by manufacturers as they usually indicate the minimum and maximum size in inches. Keep in mind that if an estimated size is from 60 to 180 inches, there is no guarantee that you will be able to get the clearest image at extreme zoom levels.

Lumen. The brightness of such devices is measured in lumens. It’s the total amount of light visible to the human eye. ANSI Lumen is a standardized measurement that determines the overall brightness or light output. The higher the number, the brighter an image is.