The best portable projectors offer cinema-quality entertainment wherever you want it, whether you’re hosting a movie night in the garden or camping in the middle of nowhere. Forget the bulky projectors of old – the latest generation of portable projectors are compact and can be set up in minutes, and, here, I take a closer look at the best models on the market.
Powered by long-lasting LEDs, which run cooler and quieter than their older, bulb-based ancestors, most portable projectors also come with built-in batteries. Fortunately, this means they last more than long enough to watch a full movie or football match outdoors (or on the ceiling of your bedroom if you’re feeling particularly lazy).
Most portable projectors run on Google and Android software, meaning you not only get the most common streaming apps built-in, but you can wirelessly stream to them from your phone or laptop.
They’ll also automatically handle keystone – that is, reshaping the projection so that it lands squarely on your wall or screen – for the perfect image any time they’re moved. That means virtually no faffing around with settings while your audience twiddles their thumbs.
As The Independent’s tech expert, I’ve been testing the latest models to see which ones are bright enough, sharp enough and smart enough to deserve a spot in your suitcase.
The best portable projectors for 2026 are:
- Best portable projector overall – XGIMI MoGo 4 laser: £679, Amazon.co.uk
- Best budget portable projector – XGIMI halo+: £609, Amazon.co.uk
- Best for picture quality – XGIMI horizon 20 max: £2,599, Amazon.co.uk
Read more: Best projectors, tried and tested by a tech expert
How I tested
Three arenas were chosen for my portable projector supertest. My living room, which, with a bit of rearranging, has just enough space to push the screen sizes to their maximum. Also, my bedroom, which doesn’t have as much space so is well-suited for testing the projectors’ short-throw capabilities. And, a rented cabin in the woods, which gave me a chance to test outdoor portability, battery power and practicality. For my full testing process and criteria, including set-up picture and sound quality and more, scroll to the bottom of this review.
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