Best Portable Projector for Movies and Gaming Anywhere in 2026

Pros

• Great size
• Google TV streaming
• Decent color and contrast for a portable

Cons

• A little pricey
• Shorter battery life

Why I like it:

Most portable projectors are compromised in many ways, but the Mars 3 Air manages to do just about everything right. It creates a reasonably bright, colorful, contrasty image, and the streaming interface works the same as those found in more expensive projectors and many TVs. Its onboard sound is better than you’d expect, too, being able to double as a decent Bluetooth speaker. If you want to connect a gaming console, there’s an HDMI input on the back. The battery is rated for 2.5 hours, though if you run it at max brightness, it becomes a lot less. If you’re not on the go, you can plug it in and use it like a regular projector. While traditional home projectors will outperform the Mars 3 Air in just about every way, they lack its battery and ultraportability. I wish the price were a little lower, but given how much better it is than the competition, it’s worth the premium.
If you're willing to spend a little more, the TCL PlayCube, recommended below, outperforms the Mars 3 Air but at an even higher price.

Who is it for:

Anyone looking for a portable projector that can easily fit in a backpack for the occasional traveling movie night.

Who shouldn't buy it:

Anyone looking for a more permanent projector or who wants a really large image should consider a regular home theater projector. For only a little more money, a home theater projector will be significantly brighter.

Pros

• Clever shape/design
• Decent brightness and color
• USB-C charging

Cons

• A little pricey
• Overactive sensors

The TCL PlayCube is brighter than the Mars 3 Air, sounds a little better and has a bigger battery. It also charges via USB-C, so you can use a battery bank to extend playtime or recharge away from an outlet. It's currently a lot more expensive than the Mars 3 Air, however -- enough so that it doesn't quite justify the price difference for most people. However, if that price difference doesn't bother you, the TCL is the better portable PJ.

Why I like it:

The PlayCube looks great, is reasonably bright for a small portable (none are "bright" compared to larger projectors) and has a big internal battery. The design looks simple, but it's quite clever. It twists like a Rubik's Cube to aim the lens upward toward the wall or screen. It has Google TV built in, too, so you watch any mainstream streaming service.

Who is it for:

Anyone looking for the best-performing small portable.

Who shouldn't buy it:

Anyone on a budget. The Mars 3 Air is nearly as good and much cheaper.

Pros

• Fun-size projector
• Full version of Google TV
• Useful optional accessories

Cons

• Not very bright
• Not very accurate

Why I like it:

The Anker Nebula Capsule Air is nearly the same size as a soda can, yet has Google TV built-in and a battery that should last you the length of a movie. There's even an optional tripod with a built-in battery that doubles its playtime. The projector is not especially bright, but it looks good and isn't hugely expensive. While there are other options that have better picture quality, this offers the best size, price and performance package.

Who is it for:

Anyone looking for the smallest of small projectors, where size and weight are the biggest concerns. This would be great for backpackers, for instance, since it takes up so little space.

Who shouldn't buy it:

Anyone looking for a big projected image. I measured the Capsule Air at 84 lumens, or slightly more in the less accurate Conference mode. This can create a watchable, TV-sized image in a dark space, but it can't compete at all with any amount of light. Price and portability are the Air's strengths. It's best to look elsewhere on this list for better performance.

Pros

• Roughly the size of a 16-ounce beverage can
• Google TV streaming
• USB-C charging

Cons

• Pricey
• Not very bright

Why I like it:

The Anker Nebula Capsule 3 is the size of a 16-ounce can, yet it's capable of a big image. Well, maybe not "big," but its certainly "TV-size." The projector is not particularly bright or loud, but for something that can fit just about anywhere, it's great. It has higher resolution and slightly better performance than the Capsule Air, but it's also larger and more expensive. I do prefer the Air for its size and lower price, but the Capsule 3 has its time and place.

Unlike the AAXA projectors, the Capsule 3 has the full version of Google TV, so you get the regular version of apps like Netflix, Hulu and so on. The far larger and more expensive Mars 3 Air is twice as bright, but the Capsule 3's contrast ratio is very slightly better. So if you don't mind an image that's half the size, picture quality will be similar.

Who is it for:

Someone who wants a little better performance than the Capsule Air and doesn't mind a size and price increase. Also, anyone who doesn't mind a smaller but better-looking image compared to the AAXAs.

Who shouldn't buy it:

Anyone who wants a big, bright image.

Pros

• Great speakers
• Clever handle/stand design
• Relatively bright

Cons

• Lack of upward throw means you need to use digital keystone
• Is it... staring at me?

The TCL A1 is a little different than the other projectors on this list. It's portable in that it's small and has a built-in handle, but it doesn't have a battery. It has some impressive strengths but also some notable weaknesses.

Why I like it:

The A1 is like a scaled-down "regular" projector rotated 90 degrees. It has a fantastic contrast ratio, great speakers and built-in Google TV streaming. The handle on top extends through the body and becomes a stand to prop up the front and let you get the correct angle to project on your wall. So it's fairly easy to install quickly just about anywhere.

Who is it for:

The A1 is a little odd, but it's inexpensive and easy to use. If you don't mind some compromises (see the next paragraph), it offers a clever design plus decent image and sound for the money. If you don't want to spend more and don't mind something a bit bigger than the smallest options on this list (and one that you have to plug in), the A1 is great.

Who shouldn't buy it:

Image quality is quite the mixed bag. While the contrast ratio is great, the brightness drops off significantly at the corners, adding almost a vignette to everything you watch. Color isn't particularly accurate or pleasing. Because there's no upward throw, you either have to use keystone correction or position the projector at the same height as the middle of the image it creates. As in, if you want the center of your projected image to be 3 feet off the ground, the A1 needs to be 3 feet off the ground. Most projectors typically sit at or slightly below the height of the bottom of their projected image. So if you're looking for image quality over all else, the A1 isn't for you.

Pros

• Ridiculously bright
• Impressively quiet
• All you need for an epic movie night anywhere

Cons

• Brutally expensive
• Did I mention it's expensive
• Who is this for, exactly?

The Anker Nebula X1 pushes the boundaries of what qualifies as a truly "portable" projector -- but that’s exactly Anker’s intention, and the X1 even comes with a built-in handle. It's the brightest projector I've ever tested, just an astonishingly bright image. It also has great color and contrast. If you're looking for the ultimate movie night, this Editor's Choice winner will make it happen.

Why I like it:

This projector is almost impossibly bright. Depending on your screen, you might need to turn the X1 down; it's that bright. With Google TV built in, as well as some great speakers, it's everything you need for a movie night just about anywhere.

Who is this for?

I have absolutely no idea. Seriously. Yes, it's portable. Yes, it's bright, but it's also $3,000 ($4,000 if you get one of the packages that includes the separate speakers). That's a lot of money for something that most people would only use a few times a year. It’s not the most convenient option for a permanent or semi-permanent in-home setup, but it can work -- so there’s that.

Who shouldn’t buy it

If $3,000 is a lot of money to you, one of the other options on this list will work just fine.

Pros

• Great design
• Great contrast ratio
• Orange "ears" add character

Cons

• Underwhelming brightness
• Expensive

Like the TCL A1 elsewhere on this list, the X300G is portable in the sense that it's easier to carry and install than most projectors, but it doesn't have a battery. It's the only 4K projector on this list, but that resolution bump comes with a corresponding price bump.

Why I like it

The compact X300G cube is an all-in-one projector with decent speakers, a great contrast ratio, built-in streaming and 4K resolution. It doesn't quite have the light output of some larger projectors, but it holds its own given its smaller size, and it looks great overall.

Who is it for:

If you want something compact without sacrificing image quality, the X300G compromises only slightly on performance for its cube shape and size. If you want something that sets up quickly to play games in a spare room but also works for a more elaborate movie night in the living room, the X300G is easier to move around than most other 4K projectors. It has the best overall picture of the projectors on this list, but it's also larger and far more expensive.

Who shouldn't buy it:

Anyone who wants something with a battery, or who doesn't need this level of performance out of their projector. Though the X300G is smaller than "full-size" projectors, it's much larger than all the other projectors on this list. It's a bridge between categories, if you will. If size and price are important to you, don't stretch your budget for this. A 1080p projector will work just fine, as will one of the smaller projectors on this list.

Yes, but perhaps not in exactly the same way. All the portable projectors we recommend can be easily moved from room to room, and most can fit in a backpack. Some are even small enough to fit in a pocket. While most of the smaller options also have a battery, some require power from an outlet or other external power source.

While portable, no projector can compete with ambient light. No projector can be used in bright daylight, and many can't be used with room lights on. Even higher-lumen home models will struggle to create a watchable image if you have a few lamps on. So outdoor movie nights are probably OK as long as it's a dark area, but sunny backyard football game watch parties likely aren't possible without significant considerations to make the screen as shaded as possible.

Yes, in all cases, but some are easier than others. For instance, all of our picks have an HDMI input with an adjacent USB connection, so you can connect any streaming stick. Most of our picks have Google TV built in, so you have a normal streaming interface and access to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Max and pretty much all other streaming services.

However, a few of our picks either don't have streaming built in at all or include a version of Android and Netflix that works differently than you might be used to. We've noted this in the reviews.

In all cases, you'll need an internet connection, either Wi-Fi or tethered to your phone's hotspot.