If you’re looking for the fastest, easiest and most portable way to bring the movie theatre experience to your home, a mini projector is the perfect solution. Not only can a mini projector connect seamlessly to your tablet or smartphone, it’s also less maintenance and less expensive than a full-sized projector. From work presentations to movie nights outdoors, mini projectors offer many different options for viewing and streaming videos and gaming content.
One of the best mini projectors for iPhone is the Kodak Ultra Mini Portable Projector. Its intuitive setup, small size and clear image make it a solid choice for a variety of uses at an affordable price.
What to know before you buy a mini projector for iPhone
DLP
DLP stands for Digital Light Processing. This projector technology is the same technology used in most of today’s movie projectors. DLP projectors work by beaming light through a spinning color wheel of red, green and blue, which is then reflected onto tiny mirrors. The mirrors magnify the light as it’s reflected and as video data is received by the projector. The reflection then hits the lens, resulting in an image. DLP technology is favored by many users for its environmental efficiency, clear images and low maintenance. When it comes to mini projectors for smartphones, tablets and computers, DLP projectors typically allow more light to pass through, resulting in a brighter and higher-quality image.
LCD projectors
Liquid Crystal Display projectors use the same technology as LCD televisions and monitors. Just like DLP projectors, it starts with a beam of light, only this time the beam of light splits into three different colors after hitting a series of mirrors: red, green and blue. Then each color passes through a liquid crystal display made of tiny pixels. These pixels either block or allow light depending on the electrical signal passing through them. The three colored images then pass through another prism to combine into one, which reaches the projector lens. LCD projectors are favored by users for their high-contrast images.
Resolution
With a DLP projector, the more mirrors that are used to project the image, the higher the resolution (and the better quality the image). Video resolution is measured by how many pixels of color fit on the screen to create the image and is generally depicted as the height and width of the screen. High-definition video, one of today’s most common broadcast standards, is either 1280 x 720 or 1920 x 1080. 4K video is 3840 x 2160 and is also known as Ultra HD.
With an LCD projector, the principle is the same; the more pixels you have, the higher the resolution. Because their output resolution eventually gets resized onto the projector screen, projector resolutions are slightly different from broadcast resolutions, the minimum being XGA at 1024 x 768 and the maximum being 4K at 4096 x 2160.
Aspect ratio
The aspect ratio is the ratio of the width to height of the frame. Originally, the broadcast standard was a square aspect ratio of 4:3, also known as 1:1. When widescreen cameras and technology became available, the most common aspect ratio became 16:9. Some projectors output at a 16:10 ratio. Any widescreen projector is also capable of viewing in 4:3, it just looks a little different because you’ll see black bars on the top and bottom of the screen.
Brightness
Projector brightness is measured in lumens. Most mini projectors are about 200-500 lumens. The more lumens, the better your projector will perform in extreme lighting conditions, such as outdoors on a sunny day.
Mini projector for iPhone features
Wi-Fi capability
Some mini projectors have Wi-Fi capability, so you can project from your smartphone without having to plug in any cables.
Power and batteries
Most mini projectors have a built-in battery and are “plug-and-play,” meaning you can plug them into your device via USB and they draw power from the device rather than requiring an external power supply. However, it’s important to consider the life of your smartphone’s battery. Some projectors’ internal batteries will charge themselves while your phone is plugged into its charger.
Audio
Some projectors output their own audio through built-in speakers and others have an output to plug in external speakers.
Connections and outputs
Most mini projectors allow you to connect to your device via USB or HDMI. Some mini projectors can project images from an SD card.
Mini projector for iPhone cost
Mini projectors for iPhone typically range in price from about $100-$400.
Mini projector for iPhone FAQ
Can I use AirPlay with my mini projector for iPhone?
A. If you want to connect your iPhone to your mini projector via AirPlay rather than Wi-Fi, you might be able to do so by mirroring your iPhone’s screen, depending on the projector model. There are also adapters available to connect via a cable.
Do I need an app to connect my mini projector to my iPhone?
A. You don’t need an app, but depending on the projector model, some mini projectors for iPhone might include an app with additional features, such as more in-depth image control and product support.
Which mini projector for iPhone should I get?
Best of the best mini projector for iPhone
Kodak Ultra Mini Portable Projector: available at Amazon
Our take: This rechargeable DLP projector from Kodak fits in the palm of your hand and is perfect for watching movies and playing games on the big screen.
What we like: Has speakers and a headphone jack. Has USB and HDMI ports. 2-hour battery life.
What we dislike: Some users find setup with an iPhone to be confusing. An adapter might be needed for certain iPhone models. Output resolution is smaller than true HD.
Best bang for your buck mini projector for iPhone
ELEPHAS Mini Portable Projector RD860: available at Amazon
Our take: This versatile and affordable mini projector has a number of outputs for many different devices as well as a built-in speaker.
What we like: Small, portable size. Projects up to 100 feet away.
What we dislike: Some users report it doesn’t work with some newer Macs. Some find that the focus slider is slightly flimsy.
Honorable mention mini projector for iPhone
LG PH300s LED Minibeam Projector with Embedded Battery: available at Amazon
Our take: This 550 lumen projector outputs 1280 x 720 HD resolution and supports 4K videos.
What we like: Wi-Fi enabled. Works well outdoors or in bright light. Lamp lasts for 30,000 hours.
What we dislike: Some users on a budget might find the price to be high. Some users reported lagging when connecting via Wi-Fi or Miracast rather than HDMI.
Adrian Wengenroth is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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