Are Portable Projectors Worth It?

The offer for portable projectors has become more varied in recent years. It’s a beautiful thing to see.

I love the idea of portable projectors, especially for people who go camping and, at the same time, want to enjoy some entertainment when the night falls. Children will be over the moon.

What are portable projectors?

There are plenty of ways to describe portable projectors. We really can’t say that there is only one type of model to describe these wonderful devices.

For example, a portable projector can be a pico projector but that doesn’t mean that only pico projectors qualify as portable.

Pico projectors are palm-sized and are named that way because they can actually fit in the pocket of a pair of pants. They’re incredibly tiny, about the same size as a smartphone so they’re ultra-portable, weighing barely anything. It’s incredible that they can actually project very big, nicely qualitative images.

Pico projectors are also capable of doing something really interesting and amazing. They can help us decorate cookies like professionals. Indeed, pico projectors are an awesome pick for projectors for cookie decorating.

Another category of ashley graham is bit bigger devices that are of higher quality. These ones can’t fit in the palm of one hand but they’re not very big either. Generally, they weigh around 2 pounds but can have better specs than pico projectors. Pretty much all of the portable projectors that fit in this category are LED projectors that have a built-in battery.

Last but not least, I also consider devices that weigh around 5-6 pounds to be portable projectors. A lamp-based projector that weighs around 6 pounds is still portable. The difference is that these don’t have a built-in battery. But that’s not a very big loss because projector batteries don’t last for more than 2 hours. We still need a power source eventually, no matter what type of portable projector we go for.

How can we play content on a portable projector?

Most portable projectors are bought for outdoor activities.

If you watch movies in your backyard, you have access to your WiFi home network and you have a power source that is easily accessible.

However, more and more people are getting portable projectors to enjoy when camping. Let’s talk about what you should expect.

If you go to a campsite, pretty much all will have WiFi. If you camp in a remote place with no internet, then you can turn your smartphone into a hotspot.

Thus, if we have WiFi, we can simply connect a streaming device via HDMI and have access to all our favorite apps and streaming services for all the content that we enjoy. That includes whatever sports games we want to watch.

Pretty much all portable projectors, no matter their price, will also include a USB port. Thus, you can transfer everything you want to watch to a USB flash drive. Test it at home to see that everything works without problems. Camping is all about planning. Using portable projectors away from home is the same.

Another port that most portable projectors feature is a microSD port. Thus, we get yet another option to store and play our favorite movies, TV shows or documentaries.

How do we power a projector when camping?

It actually depends on where you camp and what resources you have for camping.

For example, if you travel in a RV that is equipped with a few tiny solar panels or a generator to take care of your energy needs, you already have the answer to how you can power a projector when camping.

You could even buy a lightweight projector that might not be considered a portable projector but is light enough to be a good choice.

To give you an example, the Epson Home Cinema 880 is not described as a portable projector but it only weighs almost 6 pounds so it’s easy to move it around. ViewSonic PS600X is another similar example of a lightweight projector that can fit in a RV.

Portable projectors come with a built-in battery that can last about 2 hours.

Thus, with these models we get two choices: use the projector on battery and then charge it or use it connected to a power source if you want the continuous operation.

Even if you prefer camping in tents, we still get a few options to choose from. My favorite is camping in campgrounds that offer an electrical pedestal for every delineated camping space.

If you prefer a more remote approach, I recommend traveling with a gas-powered generator or a portable power station.

Power banks can also work for portable projectors but you’ll still need a power source for recharging the power banks if you camp for more than a few days.

Keep in mind that LED portable projectors to have an average power consumption technology of 50 watts. They’re not power-hungry devices, which is another reason for choosing these devices for camping.