Your Android smartphone or tablet is probably your everyday mobile device, but sometimes you want to share the onscreen experience. While you could share a bunch of page links with your pals, there’s nothing like the reveal of a bite-sized projector to earn you showmanship points. Plus, Android-compatible projectors are just about everywhere these days.
Of course, this means you’ll need to sift through page after page of products to find a suitable model. Fortunately, we know a thing or two about AV entertainment and mobile-friendly smartphones. So, this roundup of the best Android projectors should make digging a little easier.
Get started with a top Android projector
Samsung The Freestyle
Built-in smart TV
Samsung’s awkwardly named The Freestyle is a compact, powerful projector with a 180° cradle stand, automatic image correction, and USB-C compatibility. It supports streaming with built-in smart TV tech, two voice assistants, and screen mirroring with smartphones.
- Smart TV built-in
- Multiple voice assistants
- Distinct color accuracy
- Expensive
- Mediocre black levels
- Only 1080p
Samsung’s The Freestyle is one of the more portable projectors you’ll find – while most of these are somewhat portable, even a toddler could carry this one. The Freestyle is small and compact but filled to the brim with power and potential. It sits on a 180° cradle stand to adjust to just about any viewing angle from the wall to the ceiling and automatically corrects skewed pictures for a properly straight screen every time. It’s also USB-C compatible and allows an external portable battery pack to keep it charged, so you can play your videos anywhere.
The Freestyle is everything you need in a projector and more, including your own smart TV powered by Tizen to bring you all your favorite streaming devices without needing any external hardware. You also get access to not just one but two voice assistants with Bixby and Alexa built-in to help you with any and all device needs. If that’s not enough to have you putting The Freestyle in your online shopping cart right now, the ability to screen mirror with your smartphone should be the feature to seal the deal. No matter your needs, Samsung’s Freestyle has you covered.
Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12
High quality
Epson’s EpiqVision Mini EF12 is a high-powered, feature-packed smart streaming laser projector with Android TV built-in. It offers stunning image quality, a 150″ display, and a high-end audio experience partnered with Yamaha.
- Sharp image
- Amazing sound quality
- Compact and portable
- Expensive
- No 3D support
- No zoom
Not only does Epson make amazing printers, but it’s also proven itself with some serious quality projectors, and its latest device is anything but ordinary. The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12 is a high-powered and feature-packed smart streaming laser projector designed for indoor and outdoor use. With built-in Android TV, users can begin streaming immediately, taking advantage of all major services from Hulu, HBO, and other streaming services.
This portable projector showcases stunning image quality up to an epic 150 inches and hits a wide range of brightness settings to suit any genre. Epson has also partnered with Yamaha to deliver the projector’s audio, meaning you should get decent sound even if you don’t own a soundbar to go with it. While it may come with an exorbitant price tag, its portability, functionality, and quality make it well worth every penny.
Aubor Mini Projector
Enjoy movies and shows on a massive 130-inch screen
Whether you need a quick and easy business projector or a massive 130-inch display for your next movie night, the Aubor Mini Projector has got what it takes to deliver big results from a compact device.
- Lightweight and portable
- Android 11 smart TV platform included
- Works with 2.4GHz and 5GHz network bands
- Resolution is capped at 720p
- Not many image correction adjustments
Not every projector has to be as big and bulky as the ones you’d find at your local movie theater. In fact, the Aubor Mini Projector is proof that you can enjoy awesome picture quality from a device that can fit in the palm of your hand. While it’s only equipped with a single HDMI and a USB-A port, the Aubor can project onto screens as large as 130 inches (best results when the throw distance is 13 feet away), and can handle sources up to 1080p.
On top of an Android 11 UI and smart platform, the Aubor is also compatible with 2.4GHz and 5GHz network bands, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.2. The latter is especially convenient when connecting a set of wireless speakers to your projector. You’ll also be able to enjoy automatic keystoning and manual focus capabilities. Even though it’s not as advanced as other models on our list, the Aubor Mini Projector is still a terrific compact peripheral you can take just about anywhere.
Anker Nebula Capsule 3
As small as a soda can
If you’ve been looking for an Android-friendly projector with a built-in Android TV streaming hub and Chromecast capabilities, the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 should more than fit the bill.
- Excellent picture quality
- Delivers up to a 120-inch image
- Great sound for a projector
- Android TV streaming can be glitchy
- Expensive
A tour de force of outdoor performance, the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 is the only beacon of light you’ll need on a dark night. Hyperbole aside, this mini setup gets mighty bright. The projector’s 300 ANSI lumens laser light source brings impressive peak brightness levels, rich colors, and incredible contrast to your viewing experience.
It’s also much smaller than competitively priced projectors and extremely lightweight. Anker even took the time to consider audio, and they’ve done a better job than most other brands. After all, projectors aren’t easy to make speakers for, but the Nebula 3’s 8W Dolby drivers are an exceptional addition. The device projects a 1080p HD image as large as 120 inches, and most HDMI-connected devices can be used with the Nebula 3.
There’s even a built-in Android TV streaming platform, which isn’t something you see every day. To use this feature, place the Nebula 3 as close to your router as possible. Oh, and how could we forget the built-in (optional) battery, which can power the projector for up to 2.5 hours?
BenQ GS50
Integrated functions and features
The BenQ GS50 projector offers a portable, high-resolution, HDR-level viewing experience with a durable design. It’s ideal for outdoor shows and comes with an Android TV dongle, making it easy to use and enjoy any and all shows.
- Excellent picture quality for portable projector
- Durable and stylish design
- Android TV dongle and a zippered case included
- Spotty USB-C charging
- Pretty expensive
- No Netflix on provided Android TV dongle
Don’t let its placement dissuade you, as the BenQ GS50 projector was on the verge of taking our top spot on this list. As a portable projector, the picture quality is extremely impressive, thanks to a higher resolution than most others on the list and HDR-level detail in the picture. Sure, 500 lumens aren’t necessarily worthy of a letter home, but it’s more than enough to manage in low-light situations. The cool, durable design is made to endure bumps, scraps, and even a splash here and there, which is always nice for portable projectors. And with an Android TV dongle included, you’re all set to get your content on without buying anything extra.
BenQ GS50 review: The perfect portable projector for some summer fun
Watch a movie on the deck or by the pool, take it camping, or just let the kids play with it in the backyard
The BenQ GS50 is more expensive, although it’s a bit cheaper than the Xgimi Halo+, so it’s got that going for it. The biggest issue we found in our review was that despite the USB-C charging port, the projector was a bit finicky about what kind actually worked. According to the box, it requires a 45W charger, and we couldn’t get any others to work, so keep that in mind. The Netflix problem also rears its ugly head with this projector, so you’ll have to do without your Stranger Things or find a workaround. Overall, though, if you’ve got the money, the BenQ GS50 is a more than respectable option, boasting great picture quality in a portable projector, which is not easy to come by.
Xgimi Halo+
Fully loaded device
The Xgimi Halo+ is the high-powered upgrade your home entertainment experience has been waiting for. This Android-powered projector brings you high resolution, with a crystal clear picture, crisp colors, and significantly noticeable details.
- Bright and beautiful picture, with minimal color wheel artifacts
- Incredibly fast, automatic picture adjustment
- Reasonably quiet
- Pricey
- Limited battery life
- No Netflix
If you’ve got a bit more money to throw around, the Xgimi Halo+ could be the Android-powered projector you’re looking for. You’d expect the picture to be crystal clear at this price, and that’s exactly what you get with this device. The resolution is high, the colors are crisp, and the details are actually noticeable, even without the optimal lighting conditions. The picture adjustment is also quite impressive, automatically providing the best viewing experience without having to adjust settings on your own. Plus, with the Android TV 10 interface built-in, you can enjoy all that content without navigating an outdated operating system.
Xgimi Halo+ review: A portable projector’s got no business looking this good
With fast auto-keystoning and an internal battery, this projector’s ready to get going in seconds
There is one huge downfall of the Xgimi Halo+, though: no Netflix. Even if you manually download it, the streaming app won’t play its movies and shows, which is heartbreaking. You can attach a casting device to get around the problem, but it’s definitely a big con for this notably expensive device. Combined with the annoyingly low battery life (90-120 minutes), even shorter movies will require a power cable. Still, if video quality is more important than anything to you, this will be one of your best bets for the price.
Kodak Luma 350 Portable Smart Projector
Perfect for on the go
Kodak Luma 350 is a portable, pocket-sized Android-powered projector offering high-quality entertainment at a low price. With Android 6.0 built-in, it supports most programs and media but has a slightly outdated operating system.
- Large image size
- Small, portable design
- Easy to use remote
- Only runs Android 6.0
- Mediocre video quality
- Few controls on projector
That’s right — they don’t just make cameras. Kodak certainly isn’t as popular as it used to be, but the Kodak Luma 350 is not a projector to skip if you’re looking for a deal. It’s definitely on the higher end of the budget options but has many features to warrant the extra cost. For one, it’s got Android built in, although it only runs Android 6, so you might feel like you’re time-traveling a bit when you use it. It also has a larger-than-most image size at 200 inches, but the video quality isn’t great at only 854 x 480 native resolution.
Brightness isn’t terrible either at 350 lumens, which should be enough for most situations, but you could certainly do better if you’ve got a lot of windows and want to watch at noon. Overall, the Kodak Luma 350 is full of trade-offs but none that would be considered serious deal-breakers, particularly at the lower price point.
AAXA P6X
Up to four hours on a full charge
If your traveling projector setup isn’t conducive to wall outlets, the AAXA P6X is the model you’ve been waiting for. It’s portable, easy to use, and has a 15000mAh battery.
- Good battery life
- Several inputs to choose from
- 30,000 LED lamp life
- Capped at 1080p HD
Even though we’re talking about projectors optimized for mobile tech, it’s rare for this hardware type to be battery-powered. The incredible AAXA P6X is an exception to this rule; it has a built-in 15000mAh battery. Power-wise, this translates to about four hours of screen time, although your mileage will vary based on factors like overall brightness and port usage.
Delivering up to 1,000 lumens over battery power, you’ll get an extra 100 lumens pushed to your screen if the P6X is plugged in. As far as brightness goes, those nit numbers are pretty solid for a compact projector. You’ll also be able to take advantage of a few inputs, including HDMI, RCA, USB, microSD, and Bluetooth. And if you don’t have a speaker system to go with your projector setup, the P6X has those, too.
The total projection resolution is capped at 1080p HD, with the maximum supported screen size being 180 inches. The P6X even has an onboard media player and several image correction tools.
Epson Home Cinema 2350 4K Projector
Making every pixel count
One of the more advanced models on our list, the Epson Home Cinema 2350 uses 3-chip LCD technology to achieve some astonishing peak brightness levels and ultra-rich colors. Not to mention it’s also a full 4K Android projector.
- 4K resolution
- Up to 2,800 lumens
- HDMI ARC input
- Expensive
It’s not often that we see an Android-equipped projector that can deliver the type of picture quality that the Epson Home Cinema 2350 is capable of, but here we are! This is a full-scale home cinema projector that uses 3-chip LCD technology to achieve some amazing brightness levels and rich colors. You’ll also be able to enjoy up to 2,800 lumens and terrific HDR102/HLG capabilities, but that’s not why you’re reading this entry, is it?
You’re here for the 4K capabilities, and we must say, the Home Cinema 2350 is one of the best 4K projectors on the market. Whether you’re feeding a 720p source or a full-fledged Ultra HD signal to the 2350, the projector will automatically optimize whatever content you want to watch. Once you start streaming a movie or show from the built-in Android TV 3 platform, you’ll be blown away, but there’s also an HDMI ARC input if you’d like to connect a 4K Blu-ray player or a next-gen gaming console.
Comaogo X10 Mini Projector
Who says you can’t enjoy content casting with a projector?
Whether you’d like to stream apps directly through the projector’s Android TV OS, or prefer casting content from your phone or tablet, the Comaogo X10 is designed to handle both streaming methods in full HD.
- Portable
- Supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity
- Built-in Android TV and mirroring/casting capabilities
- Not the best for bright rooms
This compact projector from the folks at Comaogo is certainly more than meets the eye. Capable of delivering up to a full 1080p picture (also supports and downscales 4K sources), the Comaogo X10 presents a nice combination of many of the best features found on other entries in this roundup.
For instance, it includes several picture correction tools to ensure you’re getting the best picture based on the screen you’re using and the type of lighting environment. It also supports dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity to connect wireless headsets and other audio components without fussing over wires.
And thanks to its onboard mirroring and casting support for both iOS and Android devices, you’ll be able to wirelessly beam your favorite media, apps, and the contents of your entire phone or tablet screen to the X10. The projector is also equipped with an Android TV UI and smart platform, so you’ll be able to stream apps like Netflix and Prime Video directly through the X10.
Can you use an Android phone as a projector?
While smartphone technology has gotten pretty advanced over the years, there still isn’t an Android device on the market that can act as a projector for viewing media on your walls at home. Of course, that can change in the future, but in the meantime, you can still use your smartphone to improve your overall projector experience.
The built-in interfaces of more expensive Android projectors enable you to access content directly from the gadget. However, cheaper projectors frequently work with Android phones, so you can just throw movies to the projector without using the built-in interface if you’re looking to save a little money. Yes, there can occasionally be a connectivity problem as a result of this, and you might have to refrain from using other apps on your phone while you watch. However, this is a fantastic approach to reduce costs while still receiving top-notch projection results and maintaining a fully portable setup.
What’s the difference between a projector and a mini projector?
Mini projectors, as the name suggests, are noticeably smaller than regular projectors, but that isn’t the only distinction. Standard projectors typically provide consumers with a better overall experience in terms of the device’s functionality, greater quality, and improved connectivity. Mini projectors, on the other hand, are designed to be portable and convenient, allowing you to move them around your house and even take them to other places (like your backyard with a hammock and a fire pit burning).
How many lumens are good for a projector?
The brightness of these devices is measured in lumens, and the quantity of lumens you’ll need will mostly depend on where you intend to use the projector. Lumens and brightness won’t matter as much in a gloomy dungeon with few windows nearby, especially if you’re just watching at night. However, you should make sure your Android projector has at least 1,500 lumens if glare worries you and you want to ensure you can watch at any time of day.
Why should you get an Android projector?
There are several situations where a projector would be useful. You can just be an ordinary person who enjoys watching movies and TV shows on a huge screen. You might be an office worker who wants to improve presentations. You might even be a theater employee attempting to protect your skin after an awful incident.
However, it’s safe to assume that because you’re shopping for an Android projector, you’re simply an ordinary person looking for a reliable TV replacement. Android projectors excel in this regard because they let you download your streaming services and other media apps straight out of the box, allowing you to begin watching right away. These projectors are simple to set up, connect straight to your Wi-Fi network, and let you take full advantage of your home movie experience.
The best Android projector for you
Projectors must stay on the cutting edge of display tech to keep up with all the crazy capabilities of our smartphones and tablets.
This is why most folks will love the Samsung Freestyle as our best overall pick. It’s incredibly simple to interface your go-to Android devices with this portable projector. The Freestyle supports multiple voice assistants and includes an ergonomic stand. Most importantly, this tiny titan also offers top-shelf picture quality. Of course, you could always spend a little more dough.
And if you have $1,000 or more burning a hole in your pocket, check out the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12. Beautiful picture and next-level sound quality are just scratching the surface with this model. The EpiqVision is also super-portable, easy to set up, and includes an Android TV streaming hub.
But what if you need to save every penny you can? That still doesn’t exclude you from an Android projector purchase. The awesome Aubor Mini Projector is a great budget selection. Sure, it’s not as advanced as other models, but the Aubor Mini connects to 2.4GHz and 5GHz network bands, includes an Android TV streaming hub, and can deliver a 130-inch HD image. Not too shabby!
Samsung The Freestyle
Built-in smart TV
The fully portable Freestyle projector by Samsung is everything you need and more. With a fully adjustable stand, self-correcting and leveling images, built-in Smart TV features, and two smart assistants, this all-in-one smart Android projector brings everything to the table.
