Thursday, August 20, 2020

Portable Projectors: Our Recommendations and a Complete Buying Guide

Pick the right one and you get a nifty little device that instantly turns your wall into a screen, without adding clutter to your house.

Not sure which tiny house projector to get for your living room? We rounded up some of the best projectors perfect for tiny house living.  Here are five options with excellent reviews from buyers and tech experts:

  1. Anker Nebula Capsule II
  2. APEMAN NM4 Mini Portable Projector
  3. Kodak Ultra Mini Portable Projector
  4. Optoma ML750 Portable Mini Projector
  5. LG Minibeam LED Projector PH550

In this article, we’ll be sharing some tips on choosing a projector for your tiny homes on top of our own recommendations.

Things To Consider Before Shopping For A Portable Projector

While shopping around for a projector that will work best on your tiny house, you shouldn’t jump on the first thing you see. After all, not all projectors are the same.  Before anything else, consider the space in your tiny house before deciding which one to buy.

Check the wall where you plan to set up your tiny entertainment system. Will you be mounting the projector on a permanent stand or placing it on a shelf and stowing it away afterwards? These are factors that could affect what type of projector you should get.

Here are other things to consider when buying a portable projector:

Wireless Connectivity

One of the main reasons why mini projectors are considered portableis because they don’t require cables. Although USB-C and HDMI wires allow the projector to work with more devices, having all your gadgets connected through a single router is a more convenient (and cleaner) choice.

Ratio and Resolution

Resolution determines the picture quality that your projector shows. A higher resolution translates to clearer and more accurate pictures. Mini projectors with at least 854x480 resolution are already suitable for movie nights at home. 

If you want TV-like resolutions, there are projectors that support 1080p of native resolution. We recommend higher resolutions for the best movie nights and afternoon binge sessions.

Ease of Use

When using a portable projector in a tiny home (or any kind of home for that matter), you don’t want to go through a complicated set up every single time you want to watch something. If you’re not particularly techy, getting a wireless projector is the best option since it doesn’t require a lot of tinkering.

In a tiny house that can hardly fit a queen-sized bed in one room, setting up an entertainment system might seem like an impractical choice. But by choosing the right tech gadgets, you can easily transform one of the empty walls of your tiny home into your own little cinema. 

Portable Projectors: The Best Home Entertainment for Tiny Houses

An entertainment system might not be included in your top priorities when building a tiny house. That doesn’t mean you can’t have a dedicated space to watch and relax with friends and family. With tons of portable projectors on the market, recreating an entertainment area in a tiny home isn’t an impossible feat.

Top Portable Projectors for Your Tiny House

1.    Anker Nebula Capsule II

Why Buy It: If you want a tiny house-friendly “theater system”, an all-around projector with a built-in speaker is your best option.

Pros Cons
The built-in speakers’ highest volume is more than enough to immerse you in whatever you’re watching The projector does not have enough storage for downloading videos, so you might need to save movies on a USB thumb drive first before playing it
The battery has three hours’ worth of charge Netflix does not allow casting through this device, so you will have to download an app on your smartphone that lets you sideload your favorite shows onto the projector

With Anker Nebula Capsule II, you can have a home theatre system right inside your bedroom. This two-in-one projector has a built-in speaker that performs impressively given its size. The upgraded resolution from its previous model makes it one of the best HD mini projectors on the market.

Product Anker Nebula Capsule II
Manufacturer Anker Innovations
Weight 24 oz
Dimensions / Size 3.2” x 3.2” x 5.9”
Brightness 200 ANSI lumens
Resolution 1280x720
Connectivity HDMI, USB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Chromecast
Average Amazon Score 4.3


2.    APEMAN NM4 Mini Portable Projector

Why Buy It: A convenient plug-and-play projector with high-quality audio-visual combination.

Pros Cons
It can support a lot of devices including mobile phones and laptops You would need to get an extra set of speakers to get the most out of the device when used outdoors. 
The device comes with a tripod so you can easily mount the projector The projector does not include a keystone correction feature, so you must find a flat and even surface before setting up the device

Even with only 800x480 resolution, APEMAN NM4 Mini Portable Projector’s playback is still commendable. The low fan noise also allows you to focus on what you’re watching and enjoy hanging out with people. This projector also has convenient connectivity options. With both Bluetooth and wired connection, streaming is as easy as connecting it to your laptop or watching something through Chromecast.

Product APEMAN NM4 Mini Portable Projector
Manufacturer Apeman International Co., Ltd.
Weight 7.04 oz
Dimensions / Size 3.86” x 3.86” x 0.85”
Brightness 100 ANSI lumens
Resolution 800x480
Connectivity HDMI, USB-C, Miracast, Chromecast
Average Amazon Score 4.5


3.
    Kodak Ultra Mini Portable Projector

Why Buy It: You’re looking for a tiny projector screen that can be set up almost anywhere

Pros Cons
The lightweight projector is easy to mount or carry around. Its small footprint makes it easy to stow away when not in use When you are connecting your devices, you can only choose a connection between bluetooth or HDMI because one doesn’t work while the other is in use
The picture display is suitable for other entertainment activities, including online gaming You will need to download an app to connect to certain devices

Kodak met their consumers’ expectations with this portable projector. Despite its small size, it doesn’t fall short on color accuracy, picture quality, and brightness. The compact design also allows you to set the projector just about anywhere. Whether it’s mounted on your bed or in the living room, all you need is a flat surface to start watching a movie. 

Product Kodak Ultra Mini Portable Projector
Manufacturer C&A IP Holdings, LLC.
Weight 5 oz
Dimensions / Size 3” x 3” x 0.8”
Brightness 75 ANSI lumens
Resolution 640x360
Connectivity USB, HDMI
Average Amazon Score 4.0


4.    Optoma ML750 Portable Mini Projector

Why Buy It: If you prefer a pocket projector with consistent colors and high resolution.

Pros Cons
This palm-sized projector is incredibly lightweight and easy to operate When used consistently, the projector can run too hot and activate the cooling fans, which may be a little disruptive during quiet movie nights 
The 700 ANSI lumens allows the device to project clear pictures in the dark. If you want to connect your devices wirelessly, a WPS wireless adaptor is sold separately.


Optoma introduces a palm-sized version of their well-known regular projectors in the form of Optoma ML750 Portable Mini Projector. If you were content with Optoma’s full-sized projectors, we recommend trying their mini counterpart that’s practically made for tiny homes. The device uses DLP technology to guarantee accurate colors and high contrast ratios.

Product Optoma ML750 Portable Mini Projector
Manufacturer Optoma Technology
Weight 14 oz
Dimensions / Size 4.1” X 4.2” x 1.5”
Brightness 700 ANSI lumens
Resolution 1280x800
Connectivity HDMI, VGA, USB-A
Average Amazon Score 4.1


5.    LG Minibeam LED Projector PH550

Why Buy It: A sleek and modern projector with cool features

Pros Cons
It is compatible with several types of devices The speakers are loud enough for a small room, but you might need to find another set of speakers if you are planning to watch movies outside.
It comes with a pouch for easy carrying and storage. The projector doesn’t have a microSD slot, but you can rely on USB drives and connected devices when watching videos


This projector from LG is known for its true HD capabilities: a resolution of 1280x720 paired with 550 lumens. You can share content from your computer or use other people’s devices with the projector’s mirroring function. This product also features Bluetooth sound streaming for better audio quality to match your preference.

Product LG Minibeam LED Projector PH 550
Manufacturer LG Electronics
Weight 23 oz
Dimensions / Size 6.9” x 4.3” x 1.7”
Brightness 550 ANSI lumens
Resolution 1280x720
Connectivity Wireless, HDMI, USB
Average Amazon Score 4.5

Tiny Living, Full-Sized Entertainment 

Just because you’re downsizing doesn’t mean you have to change the way you live. Kicking your feet up on the couch and putting on a good show is anyone’s idea of relaxation. There’s no reason why you can’t bring in your love for movies and shows aboard your cozy little cabin. 

Whether you’re hanging out with people or watching on your own, a portable projector is a great way to make your tiny house feel a little more like home.

The post Portable Projectors: Our Recommendations and a Complete Buying Guide appeared first on Tiny House Bloom.

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