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The BENQ GV1 Pocket Projector Is As Impressive As Its Larger Counterpart

At Men’s Gear, we’re lucky enough to review a lot of impressive products. However, it amazes us when we get our hands on something truly special. That was how things felt when we got our hands on the BENQ GV1 Pocket Projector. It may seem like a weird concept, but don’t think this projector is meant for your pocket.

The concept behind the projector was for it to be smaller and more mobile than what you might see from other projectors. It clearly has done just that, offering a better concept than that of normal projectors. You won’t need any cords lying around, nor scramble for an outlet.

This projector works completely on a battery. As insane as it seems, this projector is capable of extreme power. We only needed to let it charge about an hour before it was completely charged. This is pretty good for any device, especially one that is capable of remaining powered for around 3 hours.

One handy extra feature is that it can capably run for much longer than this when you play just music on it. The device is capable of using up to 11 languages. This comes with some closed captioning for certain applications but will be in the complete language of your setting on the majority of the device.

The languages it uses are Arabic, English, French, German, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, and finally Traditional Chinese. It even comes with a handy carrying bag for when you plan to take it on trips.

The BENQ GV1 And Its Speaker

When we were evaluating the BENQ GV1, the first thing we wanted to know was how it worked opposed to normal projectors from the BENQ brand or anywhere else. The first is obvious, it is much smaller and more mobile. This allows us to take it anywhere we want.

The brightness it has allows us to have it show on any surface we want without much of a problem. However, you won’t be able to shine it on an area directly in the path of any bright light. It’ll be drowned out by the normal lighting, which is not uncommon among projectors.

Since the battery can last around 3 hours, this is enough for any normal film. Well, unless you’re trying to watch Gone with the Wind or The Titanic, both over 3 hours in runtime. Since the charge to get halfway is about 30 minutes, you can be up and going with a small intermission if you wish to see one of these films on it.

The speaker on the device encompasses the entire thing, meaning you can hear what you’re watching without any real struggle. A lot of projectors force you to get a surround sound or speaker system as an attachment. Meanwhile, with the BENQ GV1, you’re ultimately going to hear with ease.

This is due to it working on a 360 speaker that allows it to be heard all over any given room you’re in. Also, regardless of what you lay it on or where you place it, the speaker will work. It officially workers on a 5W Chamber x1 speaker system.

The BENQ GV1’s Incredible Wi-Fi

The best part about the device is its ability to connect to WiFi, anywhere you take it. This means you can download applications like YouTube, KODI, and much more. This makes it similar to that of a Smart TV, with all the apps one might use from one that you can merely gather up and add yourself.

Then you can access and play things from them with nothing more than a click of the remote.

It works on what BENQ claims is dual-band (2.4G/5G) WiFi technology. This includes its ability to work on a direct hotspot as well. This allows you to use the device on literally any type of internet connection imaginable. Even one from your mobile phone, due to its ability to work on a hotspot.

To top it off, it is able to connect to any Bluetooth technology you need it to as well. That includes a Bluetooth speaker or even something like your phone, computer, etc. That gives you the ability to not have to worry about much at the end of the day.

The Minor Problems

While we are certainly not going to say much bad about the device, the BENQ GV1 does have some issues that need to be considered. Since it is a pocket projector, this does mean you’re reliant on a battery system only. Not much of an issue really, but we have seen some pocket projectors with slightly more time on the battery.

The record thus far is up to 5 hours.

This goes to around 3, so it is not that problematic but worthy of note. It should also be mentioned that you need a darkened room for it to work at its fullest. We found that the lighter the room was, the harder it became to see the images.

The projector works on just 200 ANSI Lumens with its brightness, which is likely why it needs the darker rooms to work to its fullest ability.

The image runs on the older high definition model. This means it won’t come across in the kind of high definition you might be used to from other projectors or televisions. The official picture goes from VGA(640 x 480) to Full HD(1920 x 1080).

Officially, it works on nothing worse than 480p resolution. In this, you’re getting a good image. Yet it’s not as High Def as other projectors. The picture still looks very impressive, but you should not be expecting a 4K type of image out of the BENQ GV1.

When this is all we can find an issue with, we call that a really good device. It works beautifully, has no real issue with set-up, and offers a perfect display system. Plus, the other cool stuff we already mentioned above.

How To Buy The BENQ GV1

Likely one of the other cool features about the BENQ GV1 is that you can adjust where the images go by merely moving the head of the device up or down. You won’t need a setting to do this for you, even though it does offer proper keystone settings. Rather, you’re literally moving it up or down with your hand.

It also offers a do-it-all USB-C^TM port, which allows us to connect it to just about anything without worry too. This specific port allows us to connect to all the latest devices, giving this projector a long life ahead.

This pocket projector also lives up to its hype regarding its small stature. It only ways 1.6lbs, which makes it one of the lightest projectors in the world.

We also should not forget to mention it manages to do so much and yet this is only added to the impressive DLP Technology the projector uses. For those unaware, this tech allows for the overall picture of the device to be 10x better.

All of this only makes it easier to operate. It also just makes it more worthy of your attention. If you want to buy the BENQ GV1, simply click the link below. The link will take you to the BENQ website where it’ll show you a list of places you can buy the device from.

The price is not the same on them all, so we suggest looking at each until you find the price that best fits you.

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE BENQ GV1 POCKET PROJECTOR

April 29, 2019 / Comments Off

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Check Out The PIQO: The World’s Most Powerful 1080p Pocket Projector

The PIQO Projector had us intrigued when we came across it, understanding that it was a newer model projector. Instead of a big projector that would take a lot to move it from place to place, the PIQO fits in your pocket. It is true that pocket projectors are becoming the new “thing” for projector companies, but could this device be worth the investment?

The PIQO brand put its product on IndieGoGo to see the intrigue it might have. The concept was nothing new, but could it deliver all the things that other pocket projectors or larger projector models could not? It seems that people feel it could, allowing the company to more than surpass their goal monetarily.

Today, they have gathered over $2 Million for their project on their campaign. In fact, they hit their goal back in January of this year and immediately began production on the PIQO device. The plan is to begin launching the product for shipping in May.

It is quite impressive to see how far they have come, but what about this projector makes it worth your time? Let Men’s Gear guide you through the impressiveness of this device.

The PIQO Projector Is Revolutionary

As mentioned, the PIQO Projector is not considered new in theory. There are other pocket projectors currently in development or already released. However, what they have done with the projector makes it stand out. Pocket projectors, to begin with, are quite useful, however.

They are capable of being moved around without much effort due to their size. You also don’t need to plug them in, as they work on a battery. In the case of the PIQO, the battery lasts for 5 hours. That is enough to watch the entire Toy Story franchise from beginning to end. Well, before the 4th comes out. The battery can also charge up in an hour!

The PIQO is one of the smallest pocket projectors we’ve seen as well, coming in with dimensions of 2.25 inches all the way around its cube structure.

It can be used on any structure, so you won’t need a white screen to show it on. This means you can adjust it to show on a wall or even the ceiling! The picture comes in at 1080p, which is still the main pixel strength that most television and movies come in.

The fact that something so small can project 1080p in its picture is respectable for sure. If that’s not enough to sway you, perhaps its large picture will.

The PIQO’s picture reaches 240 inches, larger than any television currently on the market. Due to its use of Keystone Angle Correction, the picture can also be adjusted to fit the place you shine the projector.

The PIQO Has Some Big Connections

The PIQO Projector also comes in with a 200 ANSI lumen display. This display does not come off too bright, which allows for those with light sensitivity to not have any issues with the picture. While the device does not shine too brightly, do not assume it’ll be tough to see.

The ANSI Lumen display allowed for the brightness to be distributed in the proper way, thus allowing it to not come off too dark nor too bright.

The company partnered up like many others with Texas Instruments to use their revolutionary DLP Technology for the PIQO too. It also used Android Software to fully develop the core of their pocket projector.

Due to its Android software, it is compatible with Google Play and already has applications set up to play YouTube and even Netflix upon arrival. If the connection to Google wasn’t enough, the device is also touchscreen. This allows you to handle everything at the device itself, but a remote does come included if you prefer that instead.

PIQO also needed to have proper speakers, as one would like to hear a good sound when watching things on the go too, right? While the Android software was a big asset, the Hi-Fi Speakers are also impressive. They were developed by Harman Kardon and Bose engineers, which is pretty huge.

You should know by now how impressive Bose is with their audio software, as they do have some of the absolute greatest audio products on the market. Yet Harman Kardon should not be overlooked. They happen to be a U.S. based subsidiary division of Samsung Electronics, a South Korean company.

Having basically Samsung and Bose engineers make your speakers is a HUGE get in our opinion. It also uses Bluetooth technology that helps to give it even more freedom from the audio and visual standpoint.

The PIQO Is Great For Any Entertainment Activity

Due to being so mobile, it can really go anywhere and work. This is really essential and makes it well worth having around we think. While its mobility should be commended, it should also be commended for its complete compatibility too. The PIQO Projector is universally connectable and can work with iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows products perfectly.

Computer, tablet, or phone, it does not matter. The universal connectivity allows it to do everything you need it to do. You could literally be watching a YouTube video on your phone and a minute later, watch that same video on the PIQO. Set up is a breeze and makes the device even more valuable to have around.

Gaming will never be the same, as video games can also be played on the PIQO Projector with amazing clarity. Since it works on every device, you can also hook your game system to it and play off the PIQO like you would with your television. Imagine playing X-Box One’s Halo on the PIQO. It could be legendarily awesome!

While the battery for the PIQO is great for video at 5 hours of life, it is also capable of music play for 50 hours straight without a charge. The main technology of the visual uses the battery a great deal. Meanwhile, the audio engineers who worked on the projector were able to make the tech’s audio impressive while also helping it take up less battery.

This allowed or the visual to take up most of the battery up, thus allowing the 5-hour battery life. However, if JUST the audio is used, the audio was made to quite literally last a long time. This is how the 50-hour battery life on music play was possible.

How To Buy

Clearly, you can do just about anything on the PIQO Projector. We now know we can play music, video games, or watch television and films. Entertainment wise, what can this thing not do, right? The partnerships and engineers used on the PIQO went on to make it well worth your time and money.

Since this pocket projector is very new, you can pre-order it right now. If you pre-order before the campaign on IndieGoGo ends, you’ll be able to buy the PIQO for around $350. This is insanely low for such an incredible device. We advise you to take advantage of the opportunity!

To buy today, go to the link below:

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE PIQO PROJECTOR

April 11, 2019 / Comments Off

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The BENQ Business Projector Is Perfect Presentations, Movies, And More

One of our favorite things to do is to review products in person. We love getting our hands on the stuff and seeing how easy it is to use and how cool the features are. We particularly enjoy technology products that allow us to go into full investigator mode. Recently, we got our hands on the BENQ Business Projector and we were pleasantly surprised by it.

The first thing we wanted to do is check into the product online to see what other reviews from real customers said about the product. We do this with each and every tech product, because everyone may have different experiences compared to us. For the BENQ Business Projector, we were looking for some key things that an average customer may or may not know.

When it comes to projectors, we knew what to look for and how to fix any random issue. Meanwhile, others may not. Some are also new to projectors and do not expect some of the things that come with them. All of this is common with new users and even some veterans to the industry.

For the BENQ Business Projector, we put it through a few grading challenges. This came down to what it includes, how it works, how easy it is to use, and some unknown things that you find out when using it. Let’s get down to grading!

Ease Of Use: Grade A+

The BENQ Business Projector is designed to do as it seems, to use in business meetings. However, it has several settings we’ll get to later that removes that concept. In any case, the first thing we like to do is open the box and look at the projector to see certain signs.

We check to see if we can answer these questions positively:

Is it really light or heavy? Do you need to know much about it to start it? Are the directions easy to comprehend? Could you even use this without directions? Are there any unexpected things that make this product different?

We’re proud to give the BENQ Business Projector a passing grade on this. We were quite pleased with how easy it was to use. Since we know a little about projectors, we were able to open it up and turn it on right away. However, you don’t need to know a lot. Everything is given to you to succeed from step one.

You can see it all on the projector itself or the included remote. Meanwhile, the directions highlight exactly what goes into what and how you need to start it up. They even tell you what to do when you have it on. Partially the directions could use an update with more words around the images to give detailed direction to those that might need it. However, this was the only flaw in there to us.

From opening the box to the start of watching something took us less than 5 minutes. That is impressive for sure!

The Picture: Grade A++

One really big issue with projectors over the years is that they rarely looked good. We all still assume projectors will be like those we had in high school. However, this could not be further from how they operate and look today. The reason for this has to do with DLP and its Full HD status.

DLP stands for Digital Light Processing, and this has a lot to do with why the picture looks so good. Basically, the brightness and overall look are improved over standard projectors. Essentially, it was as important an addition to the at-home projector as HD was to television years ago. In essence, it’s massively different.

Not every projector is the same in its use of DLP Technology, however. Some include more impressive versions of the tech while others use lesser types. However, they can all look good. In the case of the BENQ Business Projector, we found the picture looked impressive from the start.

We decided to try it out on various surfaces to see if it could work anywhere. Not only did it work on randoms walls and floors, but just about anywhere else you could think of. It manages to be capable of this due to the brightness level it has. Truly, you could shine it onto anything and it can work perfectly.

Heck, you could use it for big backyard movies in the summer, on a camping trip, and obviously in-doors with your family on a Sunday evening. You’ll no longer need to worry about getting some fancy screen for your projector to shine onto. BENQ made it possible to watch anywhere, anytime you choose.

Due to what it brings to the table, it looks good no matter what. This is spectacular.

The Key Specs: Grade A

The BENQ Business Projector has a lot of specs to keep in mind. We know BENQ is the #1 DLP Technology Projector company out there. However, we did not know they were capable of such amazing work.

First and foremost, you need to notice a few key things. It is capable of connecting to the computer, so whatever imagery your monitor or laptop screen sees, the projector can see the same. This gives it a picture appearance of 1080p most of the time, but also basic 4K as well. They even have a 3D mode if you’re feeling like using it.

The front of the projector is where the real magic happens. It is here that you can zoom and/or make sure to focus the picture. This will allow you to go from the blurry image you see initially to the perfect image you expect. While you can listen to the video via your computer speaker(s), you can also attach speakers to this.

The BENQ Business Projector is capable of attaching several speakers and can especially hook up to a nice surround sound system.

They give you a nice VGA cable with the projector’s purchase, but you can also use an HDMI cable as well as USB drives or connections. This versatility is something we love to see out of BENQ.

Also, remember that brightness adjustment we mentioned BENQ fixed up. Due to this, it adjusts to the room it is in. This means you don’t need a dark theater room to watch. It could be sunny out and you’ll get just as good a picture on this as you will on your TV during the same time periods.

The Temperature And Eco Control: Grade A

We’re big fans of the BENQ Business Projector because it can do just about anything we want. It can be adjusted to fit wherever you might put a projector in your home. However, one of the key things to remember about this projector is its temperature control.

When it’s first coming on, it is not only adjusting to the light but it’s getting warmer and getting better in its picture. This is essential to the working of the device, so you need to keep that in mind. On top of this, it has an area where the heat comes out only on one side. This is useful for a few reasons.

The first is that you can always sit on the other side or away from the heat. Second, you don’t have to hear the loud dual fan system during your movie or TV watching experience. On top of this, the lamp is impressive as well. They even have an Eco-Control on the system that allows you to turn it off to save the lamp’s power.

Called the “Eco Blank,” the screen goes blank during the show or film you’re watching when you use this. It may not seem like much, but turning it off a few times during use of it can save you money long term. This is useful, as you’re literally saving tons of money over a long period of time.

The utilization of the SmartEco™ Mode allows you to save up to 70% of the lamp’s actual power while still getting the best possible picture. It also turns itself off when not in activity for around 20 minutes. All of this helps to eliminate unnecessary radiation or electrical waste, thus saving energy.

It’s hard to score the BENQ Business Projector any lower than an A! We give it such a score because we feel it is hard to make a perfect projector. Yet they achieved it, as we can get whatever we want out of this thing. We know what we’re watching WrestleMania on this Sunday for sure!

How To Buy

If you’d like to buy the BENQ Business Projector, you can CLICK HERE to go straight there. Upon arrival, you’ll have the option to pick through several different types. All of which has various portions of power behind them, all to make the image better.

They even offer a 3-year warranty on your device. When you get the device in the mail, it dictates to you what type of warranty you have based on the continent or country you’re in. If you want to learn more about the warranty for the devices and what to expect with your warranty regarding each individual project, click here.

April 1, 2019 / Comments Off

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Top 13 Portable Mini Projectors

here’s something magical about sitting in a darkened movie theater and watching the action of the latest blockbuster unfold on the big screen. Whether it’s Jason Statham punching his way through several bad guys or the Rebel Alliance battling the evil Galactic Empire. The cinema sucks you right into the drama and excitement. We cannot get this from even the largest of televisions, which is why portable mini projectors are so well-liked.

Before we get into those, let’s be honest here. Who was a nervous wreck during the water cup in the car scene in Jurassic Park? On a huge screen, that scene with the people hiding from the T-Rex is incredibly intense and unnerving. The first time you experience it, it’s actually really thrilling.

Perhaps you’ve always wanted to recreate the cinematic experience from the comfort of your own home. Who can blame you? While the movie theater is the best place to experience Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson taking on large monsters or large burning skyscrapers, it does come at a price. Tickets can be expensive, but it’s more than that.

They are incredibly loud, messy eaters are all over the place, and then you have those horrible people who talk in the theater during the film.

Portable mini projectors have become a viable option for people looking to enjoy movies and even TV shows on a big screen from the comfort of their own home. There are a ton to choose from, so in this guide, we’re going to help you out. Men’s Gear has found the best of the best, to deliver you the 13 best portable mini projectors on the market today.

Before we dive into our top picks, however, there are some important questions that need answers.

What are the Main Things to Consider When Buying a Portable Mini Projector?

As noted above, there’s a greater variety to choose from when it comes to portable mini projectors these days. There are far more today than there was in the past. They can also get relatively expensive. This is why we’ve realized people needed to know of the best ones.

We want you to get a good experience, such as great visuals and overall working ability out a projector. We’d hate to see you waste a dime on a bad one, bringing a bad name to a device that can be amazing.

To find the best portable mini projector for you then, you need to understand some of the main considerations to think about. We’re going to cut through the jargon and technical spec and discuss the most important things you should be aware of and why.

Size/Portability:

When it comes to size and portability, there are two options. Those are pico and palm-top. It’s important to understand the confusion that exists between the two sizes. Many palm-top manufacturers refer to their models as pocket projectors.

However, they have dimensions of around 2.5-5.0 inches, so the term pocket is metaphorical rather than actually a real size.

With the mini models, also known as pico, they have a cellphone-size and weight and are actually pocket-sized. This can be confusing, when one claims to be something it’s completely not. Yet if you know the difference between the two, it’s much easier to buy what you need.

Portable mini projectors might be great, but getting the wrong one can suck. Especially when it’s not the right size for you.

Type of Display Technology:

There’s currently two main kinds of projector display available, LCD and DLP. DLP or Digital Light Processing uses light that is passed through a color wheel. It is then reflected off tilting mirrors onto whatever screen you’re using.

While LCD or liquid crystal display projectors take the light and guide it through three colored chips, blue, green and red and onto a screen.

This is more of a technical thing, but it’s basically the same as your television. LED and LCD are the main ones there outside of 4K. These displays have to use certain light to get the picture they are going for. This means that portable mini projectors are doing the same thing a television does.

The difference comes down to the visual in the end as well as the ability to make an incredibly large picture. A TV, meanwhile, holds its picture inside its device.

Resolution:

Generally, to get the best quality, the native resolution of the projector should be paired with the resolution you normally use. A native resolution happens to be the number of physical pixels the projector’s chip has. The issue with portable mini projectors, like Picos and Palm-Tops, is that you don’t have the choice.

All palm-tops, for instance, are SVGA (Super Video Graphics Array) often not even the standard of 800 by 600. They’re often 850 by 600. As a palm-top projector needs to scale even VGA (Video Graphics Array) images, the quality can be impaired.

While pico models provide more flexibility with the resolution though, they max out at around 640 by 480.

To help this, you can get something known as a Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) under their DLP chip. It’ll officially be called a DMD-DLP Chip when you’re looking for it online or at a store. The addition of this to portable mini projectors can take their picture from a low video appearance to a resolution of 1280×720.

Of course, this will fall under two points where you might see a “p” or “i.” The P in this stands for “progressive” and the “I,” stands for integrated.

This is the pixel type a system is. Progressive is more of an open type that has pixels run up and down, allowing more color and freedom for bigger images with coverage of all. While Integrated is sharper and focused, with pixels running side to side. Yet they ignore some of the colors they could have in order to bring that sharp image for the important stuff.

Despite this, higher resolution of either pixel type will make the picture better overall.

Brightness in Lumens:

The curious thing about brightness though is that brighter doesn’t always mean better in standard projectors. This rule doesn’t apply to portable mini projectors. They don’t have a high enough number of Lumens to qualify as too bright. So, brightness with these is always better.

Basically, if you’re worried that projectors will come off like a television, they won’t. That is really the beauty of what they bring to the table. This allows them more freedom with their color, so brightness is always good for those who want certain types of images.

Contrast Ratio:

This is something that’s always mentioned alongside mini projectors. What does the contrast ratio refer to? The ratio of darkest and brightest areas that a projector can produce. Brighter higher ratios produce blacker blacks and whiter whites.

It’s important to note as a projector may produce a high number of Lumens, but the images will have a washed-out look if the contrast ratio is too low.

Those who have used cameras will understand contrast ratio and you can even find what they do on your own television. Find the contrast ratio you like there, and then try to use it for the projector. It’ll likely be a little darker than you want it. However, this will be a good starting point. You can then brighten it up to get to the level you want.

What are the Common Mistakes People Make When Buying Portable Mini Projectors?

There are a lot of pitfalls you need to try and avoid when buying a portable mini projector. Learn from the mistakes others have made. For instance, if you look at the portable projector listings on Amazon, you’ll see some ‘great’ bargain prices. Although these prices may look good, it’s worth remembering that looks can be deceiving.

Many of these are fake product descriptions promising more than the projector you actually receive is capable of.

A great example of this is when you see a projector with a reported 1000 Lumens that is seemingly available for just under $100. This should always ring alarm bells. The phrase “if something seems too good to be true, it probably is”, comes to mind.

Aside from buying into the big promises at basement prices, other mistakes people tend to make involve putting too much priority on the brightness without considering the contrast ratio. Even if you have a projector with an astonishing Lumen count, and the contrast ratio is too low, all that brightness won’t make the display produced by the projector any better.

Another huge mistake people buying portable mini projectors often make is not paying for a quality item from a reputable brand. Obviously, keep your mind open to the possibility of buying one that’s not BenQ or Anker. However, you need to appreciate that the bigger brands are more reputable and popular for a reason.

Don’t just look at the price, the brightness, size, portability or even the contrast ratio. The best thing to do is to take it all into account and find the one that meets your needs and budget best.

How do I set up my Portable Mini Projector?

This is a justified question because in the past portable (and to be honest, their larger cousins) were known to be tricky to set-up. That’s on top of being incredibly expensive, bulky, and not nearly effective as you’d hope. Seriously, they were nothing short of a nightmare to get working.

However, those days are long gone. We’re incredibly happy about that ourselves. Many of the portable mini projectors we’ve included in our list can be used straight out of the box.

The only problems we can foresee with some of these projectors is that they can get a little fiddly. Of course, this depends on the connection options and the kind of devices you are looking to use with them. Most come with instruction manuals that should fully explain what you need to do and how.

It’s also recommended that you pay close attention to what’s included with the projector you’re interested in buying. This is because you may have to buy additional cables.

By and large, we selected many of these great products because they’re easy to use. No-one really wants to fuss with cables and complicated settings when they want to chill in front of the big screen.

We want to get that popcorn out, some cheesy nachos, and enjoy the latest Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson or Jason Statham movie. There’s no time for a horrible setup experience due to this. You’ll want to watch them in their own film or against each other from that comfy sofa you’ve got.

These projectors will just that. Goodbye uncomfortable cinema seating, hello recliner! Without further ado then, we’ll kick things off with the first portable projector of the pack…

1) Optoma ML750ST Ultra-Compact 700 Lumen LED Projector

First on our list are these awesome short-throw portable mini projectors from Optoma. Texas Instruments are behind that DLP technology we mentioned earlier. It is used in this projector to produce razor-sharp images with stunning brightness and a beautiful mix of colors.

With 700 lumens, what would you expect?

Unlike projectors of old, this one relies on a LED-based light source, consisting of three modules – blue, green and red. Therefore, a color wheel is not required.

One of the major selling points of this pico projector is the fact it’s easy to connect to not just via HDMI and MHL, but wirelessly too. Therefore, it doesn’t matter if you’re interested in relaying some footage you recorded on your phone. You could even see your glorious battles in Clash of Clans on the big screen with the Optoma ML750ST.

At under one pound in weight, this palm-sized triumph from Optoma will blow you away. It’s also incredibly easy to use, so you won’t have a war on your hands trying to calibrate and get it working. Let’s leave the warring to the miniature-made-massive battlefields of CoC or COD (if you prefer) shall we?

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2) BenQ WXGA Wireless LED Internet Portable Projector

Next up we have these pricier, but nevertheless efficient wireless portable mini projectors. You can use this device to project a screen as big as 75-inches from a distance of 3.3 feet away. Its brightness of 500 Lumens may not be as good as others on the market or this list.

However, it still helps this portable projector produce stunning images.

Thanks to its awesome plug-in and play technology, there is no need to connect the device to a separate Blu-Ray player or PC. You can just use the USB 3.0 or USB 2.0 ports and connect your mobile or flash drive. This small, but feature-filled projector offers so many different ways to view content.

This is not just via your own device as above, but also online using the built-in Android launcher. This launcher allows you to watch YouTube videos, surf the web, and stream the content you want.

Unlike many others out there, you don’t have to invest in a cumbersome set of external speakers, as the BenQ has its own 10W Bluetooth speaker. That means you’ll hear every punch, lightsaber swoosh, and witty one-liner.

Along with the shiny skin of Gal Gadot or Margot Robbie popping out at you or the shiny yellow paintwork of Bumblebee, you’ll also have the sounds to go along with it.

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3) APEMAN Mini Portable Projector

The APEMAN Projector is much lower in price than the previous two models and therefore has a considerably lower brightness rating. It does rely on cutting-edge DLP technology though. This allows it to produce brighter projected images than LCD devices.

It may only be 1.2lbs in weight and fit right into your pocket, but it can support full HD projection of 1080p. It also benefits from a 1000:1 contrast ratio that ensures the image has a crisp quality to it.

Another awesome feature of these APEMAN portable mini projectors is that it gives you the option to use either the mains adaptor or the rechargeable battery. This means you can enjoy your favorite movies, games, and any other content you like to watch, wherever you are.

Think about the next time you want to watch something spooky like The Conjuring or a classic like Blair Witch Project. If you’re ever out in the middle of nowhere, you can do it with this portable mini projector.

You can connect just about any device you can think of to these portable mini projectors. That includes things like your smartphone, TV stick, camera, tablet, and even laptop. That’s all thanks to the MHL and HDMI ports. Whether it’s the aforementioned witch you’re wanting to watch or the big game on Monday Night, APEMAN provides plenty of options.

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4) Anker Nebula Mars II Portable Projector

The Nebula Mars II is an upgraded version of the original Mars and has an incredible array of excellent features. Like most others in our guide, these portable mini projectors utilizes cutting-edge DLP technology for more vibrant and detailed images. The colors really pop out at you.

This truly helps make the experience even more authentic to that you’d get at the movie theater. Connectivity is obviously important and this is compatible with a wide variety of devices.

Would you like to fully immerse yourself in a blood-soaked COD campaign, experiencing the victory and defeat on your games room wall? Perhaps you want to snuggle up with your better half and enjoy the latest Game of Thrones episodes from the comfort of your bed?

You can do all this and more with the Mars II projector.

The flexible connectivity is made possible by the Mirrorcast software, and the Bluetooth, USB, and HDMI ports. It can be powered through the mains adaptor or the built-in rechargeable battery. This means you’ll have a full 4-hours of video playback, without the burden of cables.

Why not surprise your partner to a meal and movie under the stars or host the big match from your backyard? It’s easy to do with one of these Anker portable mini projectors.

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5) APEMAN Upgraded Portable Projector

As an alternative to the DLP portable mini projectors above, the second APEMAN device on our list utilizes LCD image technology. It provides an impressive brightness level of 2200 lumens, which is among the highest around. The relatively low price with a high contrast rate cannot be ignored.

You would be best using it in a completely dark space, to get superior quality images.

The thing that really stands out about this is the multimedia connectivity. Whether you want to use your TV, laptop, Chromecast, Amazon Stick, smartphone or iOS device, you’ll be able to do so with this fantastic projector. There’s an SD card, USB port, and HDMI port.

Thanks to the 15 degrees manual keystone correction it’s easy to fix distorted images.

The remote control ensures you can control everything from the comfort of your lazy boy, gaming chair, or king-size bed. All in all, for the price and what it’s capable of doing, this is an ideal mini projector. Especially when trying to create a magical cinematic experience wherever you want.

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6) Asus S1 200 HDMI/MHL Short-Throw Projector

Asus is best known and respected for their laptops, but this is a good entry into the portable mini projectors market. At just 1m away it can produce a 41-inch image with a brightness of 200 lumens. Although this is not the highest on the market, it is bright enough to bring out those vibrant colors.

Like others, it also benefits from DLP technology.

Remarkably, considering its capabilities, it’s extremely lightweight at under 1lb and fits nicely into the palm of your hand. There’s also no need to connect a speaker, as the Asus-branded Sonic Master enhanced speaker reproduces the sound authentically.

What’s more, it also features a 6000mAh rechargeable battery that provides 3-hours of projection time.

Connectivity-wise there is an MHL/HDMI port that enables you to connect a plethora of different devices. Maybe you’re looking to stream Deadpool 2 or Avengers: Infinity War on a long car journey. Perhaps, you just want a way to enjoy the dancing and team battles of Fortnite on a larger screen.

Regardless, the Asus S1 is perfect.

Although the USB port is not used for connecting devices. Interestingly, this allows your projector to double up as a power bank for charging devices. Ideal when you’re on the road.

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7) ZTE Spro 2 Smart Projector

If you’re looking for Wi-Fi-only portable mini projectors, the ZTE Spro 2 might be what you’re after. It comes with a 5-inch touchscreen display that is capable of producing a viewable screen of anything between 20-inch to 120-inch. Like others, it uses the great DLP technology for smooth running and sharp images.

The brightness of 200 lumens along with the amazing 4000:1 contrast ratio helps to ensure the picture quality is as detailed and authentically reproduced as possible.

When and if there are any issues with the quality of the image or distortion, the keystone correction and autofocus can fix it in a matter of seconds. That means, there’s no need to fiddle around too much with confusing settings that you don’t really understand.

You can connect and project anything with this device, whether it’s from the cloud, or mirroring a device using Miracast or the USB and HDMI ports. There’s also no need to worry about the sound, as there are dual JBL speakers on-board, that is capable of producing a powerful and rich sound.

Once you’ve used this projector, you’ll find it hard to watch something like Game of Thrones without it again.

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8) APEMAN DLP Mini Projector

The third of the APEMAN portable mini projectors on our list is an exceptional device, to say the least. The manufacturer claims it is brighter than around 65% of rival projectors. The reason is due to its production of images with 4000 lumens and its contrast ratio of 1000:1.

With this, we are inclined to believe it’s certainly possible to have a brightness edge over rivals.

Utilizing advanced DLP technology, the colors are as vivid as you’d want them to be. Those decomposing corpses in The Walking Dead have never looked more chilling.

If you get this projector, you’ll be buying a very versatile device. You can connect various devices including Blu-Ray/DVD players, laptops, cameras, Firesticks, and PCs. Unlike some portable mini projectors, this actually comes with the HDMI cable. Though you’ll have to buy your own HDMI converter if you’re looking to use a smartphone or tablet.

It’s not just the brightness that this projector claims to outclass other models with, as it’s also 1/3 of the size of similarly priced devices. Even at such a small size though, it can still project an image as big as 100-inches.

Perfect for all those battle scenes in Westeros or while you watch Daryl survive another day after the Zombie Apocalypse.

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9) Vankyo Leisure 3 Portable Projector

These Vankyo Leisure 3 are an update on the previous portable mini projectors from the manufacturer. It’s extremely affordable for the contrast ratio and brightness rating. Truly, your Netflix or Hulu streamed movies and shows will look crisp and smooth using this projector.

However, we do not advise using this for a school presentation.

You can enjoy all the action and suspense of the latest Man in the High Castle or let your girl enjoy Poldark smoldering on a bigger screen than ever before. Bigger is accurate as the Vankyo can project screens from 32-inches to 170-inches at distances of 4.9ft to 16.4ft away from the surface.

Are you planning a huge Fortnite party or do you have plans to campaign through Ironforge, and want to really feel part of it all? You need to consider Vankyo Leisure 3. It doesn’t matter whether you want to use your Amazon Firestick, your games console, or any one of numerous other devices, the Vankyo supports most.

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10) Anker Nebula Capsule Portable Projector

Looking like a slick or can of body spray or Pepsi, the Nebula Capsule is reminiscent of the Amazon Echo. Although this won’t tell you jokes or tell you the temperature in Mozambique, it will provide you with a crisp projected image as big as 100-inches.

The great picture quality is possible thanks to its use of the DLP technology and the 100 lumens of brightness it provides.

With a 4-hour run-time on a full charge, these insanely portable mini projectors are the perfect companion for camping trips. Possibly great for times when you want to enjoy playing games, streaming content, and watching the latest blockbusters on a big screen on your own too.

Its external sound system will enhance your experience even more. Anker made sure sound is covered by the Capsule too. There’s an onboard 5W speaker that provides 360-degree sound, allowing you not to worry about sitting close, directly behind, or in front of the projector to benefit best.

Anker has also ensured that this projector will connect easily with virtually any device or service. This is perfect for big screen experiences with Fruit Ninja or Clash of Clans. It’s even better for streaming the latest episode of The Walking Dead, Anker has provided HDMI and USB ports to help.

This is on top of the ingenious Screen Mirror technology for projecting your smartphone, tablet, or laptop.

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11) LG PH550 Minibeam Projector

LG Electronics are the manufacturer behind the next portable mini projectors on our guide. They produce popular smartphones and televisions among other electronic devices. That means they’re suitably experienced to create an excellent portable mini projector that can be freaking awesome to use.

With the PH550 Minibeam projector, we definitely feel they have delivered.

It may look very unassuming, but trust us, this is a fantastic device. Capable of providing a projected image with a high-definition resolution of 1280 x 720, the brightness rating of 550 lumens ensures there are a crispness and sharpness to the images.

Although it’s not a short-throw projector, it’s still capable of a large display of 100-inches. This little beauty definitely packs a punch suitable for any blockbuster viewing. Maybe the Fast and Furious franchise is your thing or you want to get down to some modern warfare with Call of Duty.

Regardless, this projector is a great device to use for either.

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12) AAXA Technologies P300 Pico Projector

AAXA Technologies have marketed the P300 Pico Projector as a true pocket projector and at only 5.9 by 3.9 by 1.6-inches. It’s energy-efficient and compact, only consuming under 25W. Positioned as a complete all-in-one system and will fit comfortably into your laptop bag, briefcase or purse.

It’s capable of projecting high-res videos and pictures.

There’s also plenty of options for connectivity. That includes VGA, Composite, and the standard HDMI.

It peaks over the others in terms of screen size 120-inches. Many of the others listed in our guide are not suited to professional presentations at work or in a school environment. Yet the AAXA Technologies projector is ideal for it.

Along with the mains power, there’s also a powerful built-in Lithium-ion battery. You can sit back and enjoy the football in a full high-definition display on a wall in your yard. You could even enjoy a more immersive gaming experience. Both are easy and possible with this device.

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13) ELEPHAS LED Movie Projector

At under 2lbs, this is a lightweight projector that still manages to feel substantial and robust enough that it won’t break easily. Providing projected images of between 50 and 130-inches, it actually works best at 100-inches.

The contrast ratio of 1000:1 helps to ensure that the colors and images are crisp and clear. It is not perfect for all lighting setups, as it’s obviously best in darker settings. However, it can work in most of them without an issue.

The ELPHAS offers a wide array of options with VGA and HDMI ports to provide ultimate compatibility. An audio port is also included to add an extra dimension to your experience. Headphones can be hooked to this for personal experiences too.

We don’t recommend watching A Quiet Place with them on, that’ll be terrifying.

It’s also perfect for binge-watching Game of Thrones alone, or watching the big game and/or fight with your buddies. Your girl will love it too, as she can watch a soppy rom-com with you as you build brownie points. You’re welcome in advance.

This will give you that full movie theater experience wherever you want it. Even if you’re going on a camping trip to the middle of nowhere, you’ll still be able to enjoy it all. You’ll love the betrayal, intrigue, titillation, and dragons of GoT as much as you would at home on your TV.

Of course, we can’t mention the dragons enough. Think of the dragons, Carl.

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Lights, Camera, Action!

There you have it guys, our picks of the 13 best portable mini projectors on the market today. 10 years ago, we probably wouldn’t have been able to provide such a diverse range of prices and devices. We hope you find the best projector for your needs from our selection, we’re sure you will though.

For us, there’s nothing better than sitting back and enjoying a movie from the comfort of our own homes. Especially without the hassle of ‘other moviegoers’ ruining the experience. With these, you have the power and flexibility to turn virtually any surface into a cinema screen.

Ready to see just how big and mighty those Jaegers are in Pacific Rim, or just how big and mighty The Rock is in general? You’ll be able to do that with one of these small and wondrous devices. Even if you’re looking to just enjoy the pleasure of ending your friends in Splatoon. you’ll love it.

These screens will almost make you feel each and every hit you give and take. Who could hate that?

More than anything else, we hope we’ve shown that purchasing a portable mini projector is not quite the minefield it used to be. There’s more than enough great devices to choose from across a wide spectrum of price points.

Although they can’t hope to compete with a full-size thing, for a more manageable price tag you can have a similar experience that is close enough to knock your socks off!

December 5, 2018 / Comments Off

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