The best portable projectors in Australia for every kind of viewing party

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There is something magical about movie theaters that flood us with comfort and nostalgia every time we go. Whether it’s the smell of buttered popcorn, the plush chairs, or the bright light of a flickering projector overhead, it goes without saying that most of us would install a full-fledged home theater in our household if we had the money. Did you know you can get up close with a portable mini projector?

While we’ve all done it to hold our phones over our heads when watching videos in bed, we’re also guilty of dropping it on our faces, maybe once or twice (maybe more). That’s where the beauty of a mini projector comes in.

If you buy one with an adjustable stand, you can attach it to your phone and lift it to the ceiling so you can sit back and relax while watching your favorite shows from the comfort of your bed. Hoyt’s cinemas don’t allow that now, do they? And who doesn’t want to get rid of the crowds?

The bonus of a mini projector is that you can set one up anytime, anywhere, and enjoy high-quality streaming. The possibilities are endless, whether on the roof of your apartment building or the side of your backyard shed.

However, there are a few factors to consider when choosing the best portable projector. Things like resolution, throw distance, brightness, weight, ports, speakers, and battery life are factors to consider when buying the right mini projector, especially if you’re on a budget.

We’ve rounded up some of the best portable projectors you can buy online in Australia.

The best portable projectors in Australia

Best Overall — Nebula Capsule Smart Mini Projector

Aside from its fire color, the Nebula Capsule is a mid-range portable projector that resembles an Ultimate Ears speaker. It sits about the size of a Coke can and is built with a 360-degree speaker, ideal for large gatherings. With its advanced IntelliBright algorithms, you can enjoy a remarkably bright and clear image up to 100 inches in size.

For such an expensive speaker, you might worry that it could be damaged easily, but luckily it’s made of aluminum, which provides better protection against bumps and drops.

Native resolution: 1920 x 1080 Throwing distance: 3.9 meters Weight: 862 g Ports: Bluetooth, USB, Wi-Fi Speakers: Built-in 360 speaker Battery life: 4 hours runtime Additional selling point: Remote control included

Where to buy

Amazon ($213.69) | Catch ($578.91) | eBay ($627.19)

Best for outdoor displays — ELEPHAS Mini Projector

This budget-friendly portable projector is perfect if you want a good quality projector but don’t want to spend $500+. It is compatible with various streaming devices, including the Fire TV Stick, Roku, Chromecast, PS4, and more.

This projector is a great choice if you’re interested in hosting casual outdoor movie nights. It’s 80% brighter than most mini projectors and has built-in hi-fi speakers. This means you don’t have to lug around a lot of equipment outside, and it’s bright enough for outdoor displays.

And the best thing about this particular portable projector? It is often on sale.

Native resolution: 800 x 480 Throwing distance: 70 cm Weight: 1.25 kg Ports: MHL, VGA, SD, AV, USB, HDMI Speakers: Built-in HiFi speakers

Where to buy

Amazon ($149.99) | eBay ($213.69)

Best Budget-Friendly Choice – Clokowe Wi-Fi Projector Mini Portable Projector

This highly affordable projector is a great choice if you want to show off precious memories at the next milestone birthday party or if you want to run through a presentation in the office.

You can wirelessly share videos, photos, or music on this mini projector via your smartphone or tablet.

It’s also very easy to set up as all you need to do is turn it on, connect it to Wi-Fi, and select either “Screen Mirroring” on your device if you’re casting wirelessly or select “Trust” when a pop-up window appears when you connect your lightning cable.

A big bonus is that it also comes with a huge 100-inch projection screen.

Native Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Throw Distance: 3ft Weight: 1.72kg Ports: USB, HDMI Speakers: 2.0 Additional Selling Point: 100-inch projector screen included

Where to buy

Amazon ($149.99 with coupon)

Best for home parties – Anchor Nebula Apollo

Anker is one of the best brands for portable projectors. The Anker Nebula Apollo is one of the most popular projector choices, thanks to the Nebula Connect app. This app lets you wirelessly cast your shows to the big screen for a better movie experience.

But the unique feature is the touch controls that let you adjust the volume or pause what you’re watching with a swipe of your finger. You can even switch to “mouse mode” for pixel-precise control.

Native resolution: 1920 x 1080Weight: 1.6 kg Connection: ‎Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB, HDMISpeakers: 6W speaker Battery life: ‎4 hours runtime Additional selling point: Touch control

Where to buy

Amazon ($699.99) | Bing Lee ($699) | eBay ($699)

Best for travel — ViewSonic M1 Mini Plus Smart LED Pocket Projector

This mini projector is the epitome of portability. Not only is it the lightest projector on this list, but at 4×4 inches, it fits perfectly in your back pocket, so you can take it wherever you go.

It features an integrated smart TV interface enabling Netflix, YouTube, or your streaming platform of choice. This portable projector reflects what’s on your phone via Wi-Fi screen monitoring, and the built-in kickstand comes in handy if you’re the type who prefers to watch TV in bed. Easily adjust the 180-degree stand so you can point it toward your ceiling and fall asleep on your back.

Native resolution: 1920 x 1080 Weight: 280 g Connectivity: ‎Bluetooth, USB, HDMI Speakers: Built-in JBL speaker Battery life: 2.5 hours runtime Additional selling point: Comes with a kickstand so you can project onto the ceiling

Where to buy

Amazon ($329) | Dick Smith ($329) | eBay ($469.95)

Best for Young Kids – Anker Nebula Astro Mini Portable Projector

The perfect choice for the little ones, this portable Astro projector is equipped with eye protection technology that will protect the eyes of the most curious children from the projector’s bright light. If someone gets too close to their internal lamp, it automatically turns iff.

It even comes with parental controls that allow you to easily manage what your kids are watching so they don’t encounter anything they shouldn’t. All adult movies and TV shows can be protected with a password.

Native resolution: 854 x 480 Throwing distance: Weight: 369 g Connectivity: Bluetooth, HDMI, USB-CS Speakers: 3W speaker Battery life: 2.5 hours runtime Additional selling point: Parental controls

Where to buy

Amazon ($339.99) | eBay ($355.99)

Best for Console Gaming – BenQ GV1 Portable Mini LED Projector

With no bright light to distract you from missions, an easy setup for quick battle royale drop-ins, and HDMI to USB-C compatibility, this BenQ portable projector is perfect for gaming when you don’t want to clutter a TV room. It occupies your room, oo you can play anytime, anywhere.

With Bluetooth and dual-band Wi-Fi compatibility, you can magnify any mobile game you play, so you don’t have to stare at your phone and increase the risk of neck strain.

Native resolution: 854 x 480 Weight: 708 g Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB, HDMI Speakers: Yes Battery life: 3 hours of use Additional selling point: Compatible with most game consoles

Where to buy

Amazon ($449.99)