THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO…
You don’t need a home cinema to supersize your viewing. With a portable projector, you can cast gigantic images just about anywhere
Portable projection technology is on the move. Thanks to innovative designs and advances in brightness and battery tech, the latest generation of bijou beamers have liberated the big screen experience.
Whether you’re planning a long overdue road trip, prepping for a big sports weekend, or simply want to treat the kids to a marathon movie sleep-over, portable projectors are changing how and where we can watch.
More brands than ever are pioneering portable projectors, and there’s more content choice that can be easily played by them. You no longer need to run aerial cables, or drag Blu-ray players outdoors to enjoy a movie.
Just like TVs, the majority of projectors are built around familiar smart TV platforms, like Samsung’s Tizen or Android TV. Just download the apps of your choice and stream away. Alternatively, simply pop a streaming stick into their HDMI input.
So how do these new portable projectors compare, and what should you look out for?
We’ve assembled a quartet of promising newcomers for comparison: the Xgimi Elfin, Optoma ML1080ST, Samsung Freestyle 2nd generation SP-LSP3 and Anker Nebula Mars 3 Air. All are quite different, but equally versatile. Which one will suit you best?
THEN AND NOW
Portable projectors are nothing new. The first transportables appeared in the Noughties, but they had limited functionality. Using nascent LED light engines, they really weren’t very bright, and could only run for around an hour or so on batteries.
Today, batteries have far greater capacity, while LED light engines, and their laser equivalents, boast significant improvements in screen brightness, contrast and clarity.
Audio has also been upgraded. The old days of thin, tinny sound are largely over. Modern portable projectors have audio systems akin to those used in Bluetooth speakers.
They can play loud and have the heft to entertain when out and about. Some house multiple drive units, which are able to create a proper stereo soundstage.
Buyers should look for projectors with a cumulative audio output of 5W or more, ideally with a stereo (or 360 degree) presentation. The ability to function as a wireless Bluetooth speaker is also well worth having.
In our featured group, the Anker Nebula Mars 3 has a 2 x 8W audio output, while the Samsung Freestyle SP-LSP3 has a 5W sound system, albeit one able to create a surprisingly wide soundstage.
Not to be outdone, the Xgimi Elfin has a 2x3W stereo sound system, developed by the hi-fi experts at Harman Kardon. The Optoma falls behind here, offering a 3W mono speaker output that’s best described as functional.
If you’re plannin
