The Ultimate Guide to Finding the Best Android Projector for Your Needs
A projector is a great investment if you need to watch movies outside. Some compact models are also great for outdoor movie nights under the stars. In fact, they perform even better than traditional projectors.
We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more. Last update on 26th December 2024 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API.
We’ve tested dozens of android projectors over the last several years, and here are our picks for the best android projectors, based on image quality, ease of setup and ease of use.
Best Android Projectors
Image | Product | Our Rating | Price |
---|---|---|---|
Anker Nebula Capsule, Smart Wi-Fi Mini Projector, 100 ANSI Lumen Portable Projector | 9.7 | Check Price on Amazon | |
Epson Home Cinema 2250 3LCD Full HD 1080p Projector with Android TV | 9.1 | Check Price on Amazon | |
BenQ TH685i 1080p Gaming Projector Powered by Android TV | 8.8 | Check Price on Amazon | |
Anker Nebula Solar Portable 1080p Projector, Full HD Smart Projector | 8.6 | Check Price on Amazon | |
Gzunelic Real 9500 Lumens Smart Projector Real Native 1080p Android Projector | 8.2 | Check Price on Amazon | |
XGIMI MoGo Pro Portable Projector FHD 1080P Mini Projector | 8 | Check Price on Amazon | |
AKASO WT50 Mini Projector, 1080P HD Video DLP Portable Projector | 7.7 | Check Price on Amazon | |
DBPOWER 8000L Full HD Native 1080P WiFi Bluetooth | 7.4 | Check Price on Amazon | |
Unicima WiFi Video Projector – Native 1080P Support | 7.2 | Check Price on Amazon |
Last update on 26th December 2024 / Affiliate Links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Our Recommended Android Projectors:
Anker NEBULA Capsule
Smart Wi-Fi Mini Projector,
100 ANSI Lumen, 360° Speaker
Anker Nebula Capsule DLP projector is an affordable home entertainment solution with DLP IntelliBright technology, 360 sound, and Android 7.1. The Nebula Capsule can easily be used as a Bluetooth speaker or an Android mini PC, and it boasts surprisingly good picture quality. The Nebula Capsule s battery life of roughly 2.5 hours in standard mode and up to 4 hours in battery mode are relatively short for a projector in this price range, and it’s louder than it needs to be.
The Anker Nebula Capsule is by far our favorite mini projector. It’s small, inexpensive, and packs more power than you’ll ever need. It’s perfect for a dorm room, a home theater, or an RV. In the home theater mode, it pumps out an 100-inch image with bright, vivid colors and fine contrast, and the audio comes through loud and clear. The Nebula Capsule is also laser focusable, so you don’t have to worry about it not viewing a slide from an angle.
The Anker NEBULA Projector’s big selling points: its portability. It is especially well suited to smaller spaces. This approach, however, doesn’t necessarily pay off. The NEBULA Capsule’s 854 x 480-pixel resolution isn’t great for watching movies, and while it’s bright enough to enjoy a movie in a dim room, its native contrast ratio of just 240:1 isn’t great for watching a video on a bigger screen.
The built-in Android OS allows you to download third-party apps. It connects to the Internet via Wi-Fi, but (as with the other mini projector we tested) it’s not the best performer. The Anker Nebula Capsule projector is one of our favorite projectors. It’s incredibly easy to set up; has incredible clarity, contrast, and brightness; and is remarkably portable. The Capsule has a wonderful design, with smartly placed ports (HDMI, USB, and USB-C) that make this projector much more versatile and usable than its mini competitors.
The Capsule also has Google Cast and AirPlay built in, so you can beam content from your mobile device directly to the projector. And Anker’s customer service is highly responsive. The only drawbacks are the sparse selection on the Google Play Store and limited streaming options, but Anker is working on the latter. Anker’s video projector is a great money option that comes equipped with a built-in omnidirectional speaker that can send sound in every direction thanks to its 360 degrees design.
The Nebula Capsule s battery life of roughly 2.5 hours in standard mode and up to 4 hours in battery mode are relatively short for a projector in this price range, and it’s louder than it needs to be. The projector also lacks support for 4K or HDR content. The Nebula Capsule is worth checking out for anyone looking for a portable projector at budget-friend prices.
You can find the Nebula Capsule in various versions online, so you can pick a model that matches your requirements regarding native resolution, projection size, picture quality, and brightness. Overall a great option for its price that I would recommend to anyone looking for a mobile device running Android.
Features
Hardware CPU: Quad Core A7 Smartphone Chipset; GPU: Adreno 304; RAM: 1GB DDR; ROM: 8GB eMMC; Battery: 5200mAh / 3.85V; Speaker: 5W; Wi-Fi: 802.11a / b / g / n; Dual Frequency 2.4 / 5GHz; Bluetooth: BT4.0 Dual Mode / A2DP; Fan: Under 30dB
OS: Android 7.1; Working Modes: Projector Mode, Bluetooth Speaker Mode; OTA: Supported; App Store: Supported; Movie Playtime: 4 hrs in Battery Mode, up to 2.5 hours in standard mode; Music Playtime: 30 hrs in Bluetooth Speaker; Mode Charging Time: 2.5 hrs with Quick Charge 2.0 9V2A
Height: 4.72 in / 120 mm; Diameter: 2.67 in / 68 mm; Weight: 16.6 oz / 470 g
Focus Adjustment: Manual; Keystone Correction: Auto (vertical 40 ), Manual (horizontal 40 )
Display Technology: 0.2 in DLP; Native Resolution: 854 480; Brightness: 100 ANSI Lumens (recommended for use in dimmer environments); Lamp Life: 30,000 hrs; Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Pros
- Compact design
- Versatile
Cons
- up to 100-inch screen
Epson Home Cinema 2250 3LCD Full HD 1080p with Android TV
The Epson Home Cinema 2250 is a terrific low-cost option that’s ideal for someone looking to set up a home theater system, or in need of a low-cost model for occasional entertainment use. Its picture looks great, and it delivers plenty of brightness, along with vibrant color images, and fine detail.
he Home Cinema 2250 has 1080p native resolution, the same resolution as of most of its competitors.
This home theater projector delivers rich colors, sharp detail, and exceptionally crisp images. Its color brightness is really impressive, and it’s one of the brightest projectors in our tests. The image quality is among the best we’ve seen among home theater projectors, and the black levels are especially impressive.
This 2,700-lumen beast is the brightest model we tested, delivering on our highest brightness expectations. The 2250 is also the most feature-packed streaming device we tested. The built-in Android TV interface is easy to use, with a large, responsive remote control and built-in Google Assistant.
It’s also easy to connect to, and works well with any streaming device, including gaming consoles. The Epson Home Cinema 2250 earns our Editors’ Choice award for the best overall value in a home theater projector.
Pros
- Affordable
- Sharp quality image
- Brilliant image quality
- 1080p native resolution
Cons
- Not ideal for small rooms
BenQ TH685i 1080p Gaming Projector Powered by Android TV
The TH685i offers lots of connectivity options, including HDMI, USB-A, USB-C, and USB-C ports. You also get an ethernet port. This model is suitable for a 100-inch screen at 8.2 feet (2.5m), and it can fill even a 130-inch screen, too. Its excellent image quality, 8.3ms input lag, and easy setup are also key strengths.
The BenQ TH685i is one of the few Android TV-powered projectors with 4K HDR support. Even at 8.3ms, the input lag is tolerable for competitive gamers. The game mode prevents motion blur and cuts down on input lag, but it can’t eliminate it completely. While it doesn’t provide true HDR, the TH685i does show more colors than some other projectors that advertise HDR support.
Its bright image is even more impressive when you consider how portable it is. The TH685i’s clarity also holds up very well in a dark room. Like most projectors, the TH685i isn’t perfect. We experienced a few instances of image retention, which proved noticeable on dark scenes.
The BenQ TH685i is a fantastic gaming option that hits the sweet spot between price and performance. The downside is that, in competitive games, some settings like motion blur and shadow quality are left up to luck with the preset profiles.
The Android TV interface is easy to navigate, and the connection options are extensive, with lots of ports for HDMI, S/PDIF, USB, microSD, and LAN. The built-in Aptoide and Netflix apps add functionality.
BenQ’s TH685i takes everything that made its predecessor, the outstanding TH670, great, and makes it even better. This model has a higher brightness, and lower input lag, plus better color uniformity and a far wider range of adjustments. The only thing it doesn’t have are built-in speakers.
Pros
- 1080p native resolution
- Supports 4K UHD
- Supports HDR
- 120 Hz refresh rate
Cons
- High price
Anker NEBULA Solar Portable 1080p Outdoor Projector
The Anker Nebula Solar is a standout product at this price point, thanks to its excellent portability, long battery life, and superb value. Its flaws are few, and for most people they’ll be minor inconveniences rather than deal-breakers. If you’re in the market for a portable projector, the Nebula Solar is well worth considering.
The Anker Nebula Solar is one of the brightest projectors we’ve tested, delivering around 1,100 lumens of peak brightness and over five hours of battery life in our tests. Its image quality is also excellent, with relatively accurate colors, good contrast, a nice wide brightness range, and nice detail.
The Solar Portable 1080p has relatively strong audio, but it’s a bit tinny, so you’ll definitely want to plug it into an external sound system. It’s got a fairly limited selection of apps, but if you’re after a powerful, bright, portable projector that’s also compact enough to toss in your backpack or suitcase, the Anker Nebula Solar is a great choice.
The Anker NEBULA Solar Portable is a well-built, versatile projector that fits nicely into more entertainment scenarios than most. It performs well outdoors, though we noticed some color shifting in more shade. On its bright side, this model offers better sound and a brighter image than you might expect given its size and price.
Offering all the perks of a high-end projector in a rugged package, the NEBULA Solar is a top pick in this category. This device offers Bluetooth connectivity, as well as support for Google Cast and AirPlay, so it s compatible with virtually any streaming media device. It s also very quick and responsive, responding well to your touch, which makes it easy to maneuver the projector and keep everything looking its best.
Pros
- Built-in speaker
- Great price
- 3 hours of video playtime
Cons
- Limited screen size
Gzunelic 1080p Android Smart Projector
Gzunelic makes a big screen experience possible, it is a smart projector for watching 4K movie, watch sports, play games, watch football match, play games and program, watch movie.
The Gzunelic is one of the most user-friendly projectors we tested—it didn’t need any manual or setup, and works right out of the box, and it’s small enough that it can even be put on a desk, or hung on a wall.
It has good sound quality, and mirror, Android, Amazon, and iPhone content. And like other projectors, the Gzunelic has Android TV built-in, so you don’t have to connect an external player to play media from Netflix, YouTube, and more.
The Gzunelic uses LED technology to produce bright, clear images, while the sophisticated optics and cooling system keep this projector running cool. The device itself weighs about 5 pounds, so it’s fairly heavy, but not so heavy that you won’t be able to carry it around.
The controls on the projector itself are a little unresponsive, but not unusable. The device has Bluetooth connectivity, so it can serve as a Bluetooth speaker or can wirelessly stream music from your phone or laptop.
Pros
- 1080p native resolution projector
- One of the cheapest on this list
Cons
XGIMI MoGo Pro Portable Projector
The XGIMI MoGo Pro is a cost-effective portable projector with support for wireless casting. Its built-in battery provides up to 2 hours of runtime, and it comes with Android TV for streaming content. It delivers bright images and decent audio, and it supports wireless screen mirroring from other devices.
We were impressed by the auto-brightness settings, which make it easy to adjust the projection in ambient light. The built-in speaker sounds great, and for its size, it has a surprisingly robust bass. It’s also easy to use, easy to set up, and beautifully designed.
The 1080p image is bright and detailed, and it was less prone to blooming than many other projectors we tested. The only major drawback to this unit is that it currently does not support the Netflix app, though there are some workarounds.
The XGIMI MoGo Pro is bright, affordable, easy to use, and portable, allowing you to enjoy movies, TV shows, music, games, and presentations anywhere.
The Xgimi MoGo Pro is our favorite portable projector for watching films outdoors (at least until our
Also, because it uses a DLP lamp and up-converts 1080p to 4K (with impressive results), you get better contrast and less image noise than from LCD projector.
The Xgimi MoGo P offers almost everything we could ask for in a mobile movie projector, including 1080p resolution, 300 ANSI lumens, and a rechargeable battery. It’s also compatible with Google Cast, so it’s basically a projector and a full-fledged streaming media player in one. Unfortunately, it’s not as bright or portable as our favorite portable projector, the support for Netflix isn’t as robust, and its design is a bit heavier.
Pros
- Great for outdoor movie nights
Cons
- no streaming via Netflix app
AKASO WT50 wi-fi bluetooth wireless Projector with Android
The AKASO WT50 is a portable projector that packs in a ton of features while remaining fairly affordable. It combines DLP imaging technology with LED lamps for sharp, vivid color, and it delivers strong contrast and a wide color gamut, with accurate, neutral grays, and vivid colors.
The AKASO WT50 Mini Projector is a surprisingly versatile gadget, offering solid performance at an impressive price. It’s easy to use and setup, and it has an HDMI input (as well as a USB and 3.5mm audio port), and a Micro SD card slot, so you can fire up movies.
The projector’s contrast and color accuracy are as good as any model we’ve tested, and it uses the latest DLP technology, perfect for movies.
But its biggest weakness is its relatively short throw distance, which means you’ll need to aim the device pretty close to get a decent picture. And the projector’s menu system is a bit clunky.
The built-in streaming apps include Netflix, YouTube, Pandora, Hulu, Prime Video, Amazon Video, and HBO Go, among other popular streaming services.
The AKASO WT50 is one of the smallest, most portable projectors around. It puts out an extremely vivid picture, and the image quality looks decent. Overall, though, the WT50 Mini Projector has everything that you’d want in a cheap, pocket cinema projector.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Pocket projector, portable, great for small space
- Good price
- Wifi Connectivity Technology
Cons
- Very little additional features
Dbpower Native 1080 P Wifi Mini Bluetooth Projector
DBPOWER promise to deliver seamless HD resolution, high brightness, vivid color, and outstanding color accuracy for home theater and outdoor movie. It can offer an immersive movie watching experience at a budget friendly price.
We weren’t able to test the DBPOWER 1080P WiFi projector in our lab, but the specs look great. The projector has 8000 lumens of brightness, and it supports resolutions up to 1080P. The projector is 4K compatible and can play 4K content.
DBPOWER also promises 99.9% color accuracy and 178° horizontal and vertical viewing angles. The device also supports up to 60Hz refresh rate for smoother gaming. DBPOWER told us that it has an LED light engine, which cuts down on power consumption, as well as noise (it will have less fan noise than other projectors).
The projector can also support wireless streaming and cable-free mirroring, so you can use it to play content from your mobile device.
Pros
- Compact design
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Wifi Technology
Cons
- No mirror compatibility for copyrighted content
- power consumption
Anker Nebula Cosmos Max 4K Home Theater Projector
Cosmos Max is a no-nonsense choice that will impress both casual users and home theater buffs. Cosmos Max is a little bulkier than the Nebula it’s replacing, and it has a more utilitarian design. The Nebula Cosmos Max 4K is a Best Seller in Home Theater Projectors!
The Cosmos Max is a surprisingly capable projector, thanks in part to its clever but rare combination of Dolby Digital Plus technology and HDR technology. The resulting audio is significantly better (both in terms of clarity and loudness) than the Nebula Mars, whose Dolby Atmos technology only supports 360° of 3D sound.
The built-in Android TV software is easy to use, and the built-in Chromecast streaming technology means you can stream video content from almost any application.
The Anker Nebula Cosmos Max is one of our favorite projectors because of its combination of image quality, ease of use, and range of content-streaming options. Its 4K image quality is among the best we tested, with tons of dynamic range, and sharp, clear images.
The model also sports a USB port that lets you play back your favorite video files. But in terms of value, you get more projector for your money, and you get an HDR 10 capability, which is rare on devices in this price range.
Pros
- 4K resolution
- HDR10
- Android TV 9.0 OS
- 360 degrees of true 3D audio
- 3 HDMI ports
Cons
- Could have been cheaper
During the test, we looked at the following things:
- Connectivity options: Are there Wi-Fi options? Are there multiple ports?
- Picture quality: Does the image look good? Is it sharp?
- Brightness: Is the image bright enough to be seen in normal light? And how does the brightness compare with other projectors? Does it have an automatic or manual setting?
- Durability: How well is the projector made? Would it survive a few knocks?
- Cost: What is the price? What’s the warranty and service policy like?
After that, we chose our winner:
The Anker Nebula Capsule Projector is our top pick for the best home projector because of the high quality, reliable performance and low price. This projector has an affordable price tag, excellent picture quality, and has plenty useful features. It can easily be used for a wide variety of purposes such as watching movies, playing video game, and showing presentations, but also just a nice way to relax and enjoy some great entertainment.
With a brightness level of 100ANSI lumens, the Nebula Capsule projector offers an incredible picture quality. It is easy to setup, has a simple user interface, plus you get Bluetooth connection. It is a small, light and portable projector that can easily fit into your bag and use anywhere!
What Factors Should I Consider When Deciding on the Best Location for My Android Projector?
When deciding on the best location for your Android projector, finding the perfect projector spot is crucial. Consider factors like room size, ambient light, and distance from the projection surface. Optimal positioning ensures optimal image quality and viewing experience. Experiment with different locations until you find the spot that satisfies your projector’s requirements.
What Factors Should I Consider When Choosing an Android Projector for High Dynamic Range Content?
When selecting an Android projector for high dynamic range content, there are several factors to consider that can contribute to improving hdr content projection. Look for projectors that support HDR technology, offer high brightness levels, wide color gamut, and excellent contrast ratio. Additionally, consider the resolution, connectivity options, and the projector’s compatibility with different HDR formats to ensure optimal performance and an immersive viewing experience.
How Can I Calibrate My Android Projector to Ensure Accurate Color Accuracy?
When aiming for precise android projector color accuracy, calibrating your device becomes crucial. To ensure accurate color representation, first, find a suitable calibration app for your projector model. Then, adjust the brightness, contrast, and color settings according to the app’s instructions. Regular calibration will maintain vibrant and true-to-life colors in your projected images.
What to Consider When Looking for the Best Android Projector for Your Needs:
A projector is a great upgrade from an old Android TV. Those Projectors that feature Android can even help you reduce your number of devices needed for playing back videos. Who doesn’t like connecting their game console, watching Netflix, and YouTube on a large projected screen. A smart projector can help use respected apps with no need for external device.
There are plenty of models to chose from, making your decision difficult, so we will highlight several things you need to consider when making your final decision.
The first thing you should check is whether the projector has an HDMI input and supports 1080p resolution. If it does, only one HDMI device can be connected at a time.
If you are going connect multiple devices, choose an HD projector with multiple HDMI inputs so you can connect your gaming PC, TV and other devices. If you are connecting a gaming computer, you should also consider screen mirroring, allowing you to enjoy the game on both screens.
The first thing you need to think about when searching for the best android projector, is its brightness. Look at a mini projector that has high lumen output as additional brightness can help use the project in areas with ambient light, such as living rooms. Portable versions usually have fewer lumen output, so if you don’t have a very dark room it may be a problem.
The contrast ratio of the video projection system plays an important role in its ability to reproduce dark areas on the screen. Higher contrast will allow you to create deeper black levels, while lower contrast can cause washed-out images in un-treated rooms.
There are plenty of small projectors if you really wanted to improve portability, but you might need to compromise on brightness and contrast ratio.
If you plan on using the projection system with external playback devices, check whether the projector has the necessary inputs to connect your chosen devices. Most external devices require an HDMI connection, so an HDMI port is a must. Older devices may require VGA, DVI, or composite inputs to be connected, so you should check whether the projector has those connections. If you opt for an HDMI projector, it’s also possible to buy adapters for your older equipment.
Some projectors come with USB Ports, which can be very helpful if you need to play videos from a USB Stick. Moreover, Wi-fi connectivity is essential if you need to use Youtube and Netflix apps that rely on the Internet. Look for a model with a remote control so that you can change settings from your couch. For a home theater, you can even opt for voice control.
Remember that even though some projectors have speakers, they don’t provide good sound quality for cinema experiences. Depending on your demands, the on-board speakers can be plenty for you. If you want a greater audio experience, look for projectors connecting to external speakers via Bluetooth or standard wired audio connectors.
With today’s technology, you could find great Bluetooth enabled sound bars that will drastically improve your audio experience, so I suggest going that route if you want to enjoy an immersive experience with your movies.
Most batteries will last for up to 90 minutes, which is handy for some applications offering great portability but might not power your movie night. If you haven’t made up your mind, I suggest you don’t go for a portable projector, as these models are usually dimmer and in typical applications are not up to the task. After all, if you need a portable android projector, you would already have made up your mind in that direction.
Ensure that focus control is easily accessible, especially if you move the projector from time to time or need to relocate it. Make sure that the focus control provided is also good enough for your needs as the cheaper models usually have poor controls that are a pain to set up, or even worse; they don’t have focus control at all, meaning that you can only set focus by moving the projector back to front, which is quite cumbersome in most occasions.
If you plan to use the projector for movies, make sure it has an aspect ratio of 16:9 for a better viewing experience. Most models give you a choice between 4:3 and 16:9, which is great if you want to switch, for example, between movie modes(16:9) and 4:3 to enjoy some older arcade games via emulators. Just makes sure that the aspect ratio you plan to use more often is the native aspect ratio of the projectors, as the alternative aspect ratio is usually a stretched version of the native one.
If you need to play movies in HD, make sure you pick a model that can output a resolution of at least 1080p. Look for the native resolution as some models are not true 1080p and have a lower native resolution that is not ideal if you want true 1080p. If you are on a budget, I would suggest you look at projectors with a native 720p resolution, which in many cases will be adequate and can save you some bucks. I would suggest you skip lower resolution models as you would be disappointed with your purchase in most cases.
In most cases, users and manufacturers prefer Wi-Fi, so there are very few devices connected via ethernet cables. If you are not sure until you know if you will be using internet connectivity, I would suggest getting a WIFI enabled model to be futureproofed if you decide to get connected to the world wide web. An SD card slot isn’t a must but can be handy if you plan on using SD cards for your media.
Keep in mind that a projector that has a longer throw distance and higher lumen output will be much easier for you to set up in your living room or outside. On the other hand a shorter throw or lower lumen output will limit you from placing your projector closer to the wall, and eventually provide a smaller projection image. Projector calculators can be quite helpful to find suitable lumens, and throw distances given the space available.
Depending upon the quality of your smart project, you may experience a longer or shorter lifespan. A cheap projector that has a long-life lamp may last 500 hours of lamp use, while an expensive projector with a shorter-life lamp may only last 3,000 hours.
The lifespan can vary depending on 2 factors: quality and playback times per day. Be wary of projectors that have “Lifespan Lamps” printed on their packaging. These may not be real and are usually made for rent use or to sell on eBay. Lifespan bulbs can only be used once and then the projector bulb must replace with a new one.
Look for products from Nebula, Epson, Sony or Optoma in order tp pick the best android projector. As technology progresses, many affordable alternatives have been introduced by Chinese manufacturers that may be worth a look at.
First, choosing a lamp that has a high level of energy consumption is crucial. By doing so, you’ll be able tp lower your overall energy expenditures, and guarantee that your plants receive the most light possible.
Just make sure you pick from an established company that you can return the item if you are not satisfied with your purchase. If you were me, I’d probably wait for a little longer until I had enough money to buy a well-known brand instead of going for cheap models, unless you search for models that have received positive feedback from customers in the past.