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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XGIMI MoGo 4 laser
Best: portable projector overall
Resolution: 1080p
Brightness: 500 ISO lumens
Throw ratio: 1.2:1
Speakers: 2x6W Harman Kardon
OS: Google TV
Weight: 1.32kg
Why we love it
- Clever integrated gimbal
- Slick Google TV interface
- Compact, one-handed design
Take note
- Not as bright as the cheaper halo+
The best portable projector comes as the pint-sized XGIMI MoGo 4 laser. Small enough to hold in one hand, it takes its size from the MoGo series but swaps out the LED internals for a triple laser projector. This delivers a brightness boost to 550 lumens, as well as better colour saturation and deeper contrast versus the otherwise identical MoGo 4.
Whichever version you go for, the MoGo 4 is a beautifully designed piece of kit. It twists and tilts around a compact, 360 degree integrated gimbal stand that cleverly pops out of the main body of the projector.
There chasis has a 2h and 30m battery life, with the option to double it with the PowerBase stand accessory – essentially an extra battery neatly incorporated into an adjustable stand.
Set-up is truly hands-off, with XGIMI’s ISA technology automatically adjusting the picture to compensate for distance, angle and even wall colour. The projector runs on Google TV software for a slick, app-rich experience out of the box, and the dual 6W Harman Kardon speakers produce decent enough sound indoors and out. It even comes with a set of snap-on filters to create calming or psychedelic lightshows for vibey parties.
Buy now £679, Amazon.co.uk
Soundcore nebula P1
Best: For immersive audio
Resolution: 1080p
Brightness: 650 lumens
Throw ratio: 1:2:1
Speakers: 2 x 10W (detachable)
OS: Google TV
Weight: 2.38kg
Why we love it
- Clever, detachable stereo speakers
- Sturdy, vibration-dampening design
Take note
- Some drop-off in sharpness at extreme angles
The nebula P1 has a genuinely clever party trick that elevates it above the usual portable projector crowd. Resting on top of the unit are two magnetic 10W stereo speakers that you can pop off. Place them on either side of the sofa (or your bed) and you’ll get a proper stereo experience, and they’ll automatically recharge the moment you dock them back onto the main body of the device.
The LED light source pumps out a decent 650 lumens, which is bright enough for a dimly lit bedroom or twilight garden viewing, while the battery has enough juice to comfortably see you through an entire movie. It’s also weatherproof, though I’m not sure I’d insist on finishing a film during a downpour. Still, it’s nice to know the P1 will survive the ordeal if you’re caught out while camping. It also runs on Google TV – still the natural choice for projector interfaces – which feels snappy, responsive and packed with all the apps you actually want.
The integrated gimbal does a far better job of dampening vibrations than other projectors I’ve reviewed, which is great if you’re resting it on a bedside table and don't want your projection jiggling every time you shift your weight in bed. The only real compromise is the lens clarity when positioning the projector too far off centre – at steep angles you’ll notice the sharpness dropping off around the edges of the picture once the auto-keystone correction kicks in. Still, considering the overall value, the P1 is a capable projector and an inventive bit of tech.
Buy now £699.99, Soundcore.com
XGIMI halo+
Best: budget portable projector
Resolution: 1080p
Brightness: 700 ISO lumens
Throw ratio: 1.2:1
Speakers: 2x5W Harman Kardon
OS: Android TV
Weight: 1.6kg
Why we love it
- Excellent brightness
- Class-leading auto-keystone correction
- Speakers offer surprisingly good bass
Take note
- Runs on the older Android TV interface
- Lacks flexible stand
The halo+ is a little larger and less cool than the compact and ready-to-party MoGo 4, but it’s a mature and well-designed portable projector. And, at less than £360, it’s the best budget projector I tested.
While it lacks the fancy gimbal of the newer MoGo, it makes up for it with significantly higher brightness, at 700 lumens. This makes it far more usable in rooms with a bit of ambient light, or for watching football matches in the garden at dusk.
It runs on the slightly older Android TV interface, which is fiddlier than the Google TV software found on newer models, but the auto-keystone correction is still class-leading, snapping the image into a neat rectangle and avoiding picture frames and light switches, even when placed at a jaunty angle.
The built-in battery is good for around 2h 30m of viewing, and the Harman Kardon speakers offer a bit more bass presence than their smaller siblings.
While the halo+ might not be the flashiest, it’s the most reliable all-rounder for the price, with a sleek design that wouldn’t look out of place as a permanent fixture on your coffee table.
Buy now £609, Amazon.co.uk
XGIMI horizon 20 max
Best: premium portable projector
Resolution: 4K
Brightness: 5700 ISO lumens
Throw ratio: 1.2:1 - 1.5:1 (optical zoom)
Speakers: 2x12W Harman Kardon
OS: Android TV 11
Weight: 4.9kg
Why we love it
- Picture quality rivals a high-end TV
- Impressive brightness and contrast
- Optical zoom and lens shift allow for flexible placement
Take note
- As expensive as a premium TV
- Not as portable as others tested
The beefiest and most expensive projector in this list, the horizon 20 max just about qualifies as portable. But, if you want the best premium portable projector with the very best in 4K picture quality, and you’re prepared to pay for it, there’s no better option.
An absolute beast designed to project screen sizes up to 300in, the triple laser engine blasts out a staggering 5700 lumens of peak brightness.
The 4K image is pristine from edge to edge, while Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and IMAX Enhanced deliver exceptional colour and contrast. A wide range of picture adjustment settings – including shifting lenses and optical zoom – gives you plenty of flexibility when it comes to placement, too.
This delivers a cinematic experience that genuinely rivals a high-end TV – provided you have the bank balance to handle it and the biceps to lug it around.
Buy now £2599, Amazon.co.uk
TCL playcube
Best: portable projector for flexible viewing
Resolution: 1080p
Brightness: 750 ISO lumens
Throw ratio: 1.21:1
Speakers: 1x5W
OS: Google TV
Weight: 1.3kg
Why we love it
- Clever twisting design
- Laser light source is impressively bright
- Rugged build with a solid three-hour battery life
Take note
- Google TV software can stutter
Resembling a cross between a Rubik’s cube and the big robot from Interstellar, the TCL playcube is the most cleverly designed option I tested, and the portable projector for flexible viewing. Its boxy chassis is split into two sections, allowing the half that houses the lens to twist and pivot independently of the speaker section, making angling the projector a breeze. Twist it the full 90 degrees and you can project directly upwards for some exceptionally laid back ceiling viewing.
As with the capsule 3, I found some stuttering and delays when navigating around Google TV menus. It’s reasonable that these tiny projectors aren’t built to be computational powerhouses, but the laggy interface takes some of the shine off what is otherwise a premium and slick-looking device.
The laser light source pumps out an impressive 750 lumens, making it significantly brighter than similarly-sized rivals and usable in rooms that aren't completely pitch black.
The speaker lacks the depth of larger projectors, but it’s bassy, dialogue is clear and it does a decent job in a mid-size room. It can even be used independently as a standalone bluetooth speaker. Pair that with a solid 3h battery life and USB-C charging, and it’s a versatile, rugged little projector that’s perfect for parties and camping.
Buy now £799, Ao.com
Your questions on portable projectors answered
What is the best portable projector?
The XGIMI halo+ strikes a great balance between brightness, battery life and ease of use. It’s versatile enough for both indoor and outdoor viewing, and big enough to pump out lots of light while remaining compact enough to be genuinely portable.
If portability is your main concern, the MoGo 4 comes out on top, thanks to its clever design and slick performance. Those who care less about lugging a projector around, and don’t want to compromise on picture quality, should look to the horizon 20 max. It’s an investment, but the 4K visuals are spectacular and could genuinely replace your telly.
How I test portable projectors?
I tested these portable projectors in a variety of real-world environments: a darkened living room, a bedroom with some ambient street light, and an outdoor space while glamping in the woods. I projected onto both dedicated screens and white walls to assess versatility.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Steve Hogarty is the former editor of PC Zone magazine and a technology journalist with more than twenty years’ experience reviewing the latest gadgets, from smartphones and laptops to portable projectors.
As IndyBest’s tech critic, he cuts through the jargon to tell you what a product is actually like to live with. His verdicts are based on rigorous real-world testing, ensuring you get honest, unbiased advice.
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