Unless you plan on spending over a grand on a projector that can do it all, knowing exactly how you plan to use your projector will determine which one you should buy. I'll break down the best protectors for streaming at home, for taking on the go, to take camping, and the best for use in bright rooms.
When people think of a portable projector, they probably think of one they can move from one room to another without too much hassle—but what about one you can fit in your pocket? The Kodak Luma 500 Mini Projector fits in the palm of my hand with its 5-by-5-inch size and it can shoot up to a 150-inch projection. It lasts 120 minutes per charge (you can leave it plugged in for longer sessions), has a powerful auto-focus and keystone correction control, and can shoot 1080p with 4K support. Just keep in mind that with 150 ANSI lumens of brightness, you'll be limited to watching in darker rooms to see the image well.
A good portable projector needs to be easy to move around, have excellent auto-focus and keystone correction, and be flexible enough to be set up on the go in almost any setting. That's where the MoGo 3 Pro excels. The projector is very user-friendly, so you can simply cast from your devices, since it uses the Google TV OS. With 450 lumens and 1080p, it's best used in dark rooms, but you can get away with some ambient light (that's how I use it in my backyard). Where this projector truly shines is with the auto keystone focus feature. If you move it anywhere, it'll autocorrect to make the image look its best regardless of where you set it up. One caveat: This projector has no internal battery, which is a huge bummer. You'd need to use a portable charger, plug it into an outlet—or, if you're getting it with the PowerBase Stand, which I highly recommend, it will deliver 2.5 hours of battery life and truly make it portable.
If you're looking to impress with a projector at your next house party, you likely want a home entertainment projector that looks good with the lights on. The AWOL Vision 3500 Pro is a monster of an ultra-short throw projector (you keep it close to your screen instead of across the room), both in size and power, for a hefty price tag. You can shoot up to a 150-inch screen in a completely bright room, which is quite impressive. I can have my windows wide open in the middle of the day with all the lights on, and I can still see the images clearly (although dark scenes don't look as great). It has a brightness of 3,000 ANSI lumens, can shoot in 4K, has Dolby Vision, HDR10+, can handle the most demanding video games, and even shoots 3D content. It has honestly replaced my TV. You can read more details in PCMag's review.
An outdoor projector needs to be portable, have good battery life, be able to shoot in places that are not necessarily pitch dark—and be able to take a few tumbles. The Anker Nebula Mars 3 is up to the task of becoming your next camping partner. Most of the weight and size of the Mars 3 is due to its long battery life, which can reach up to five hours in its ECO mode. The brightness gets up to 1,000 ANSI lumens, so you can shoot in ambient light settings without issue. It is also water-, drop-, and dust-resistant. The video quality will look good with its 1,080p native resolution, and of course, it has its own speakers. You can read more about it in PCMag's review.
I've been loving Ultra Short Throw (UST) projectors, mainly because it means I don't need to drill a stand for a projector behind my couch or be anxious someone is going to trip over the cord while having a projector on the coffee table. A good UST projector can replace a TV, and that's what the XGIMI AURA 2 aims to do. I've been using it for months, and considering UST projectors easily go over $3,000, this one competes with the best ones while staying under that price ceiling. It has 2,300 lumens of brightness, features Dolby Vision, and a beautiful crisp image. It also has some very user-friendly features that make setting up the screen very easy, like Screen Alignment Assist, Auto Keystone, Wall Flatness Adaptation (it auto corrects its image to look flat on uneven walls), and much more that you can read about in PCMag's review.
Most projectors are engineered with a specific use in mind. Think about how you will be using your projector to choose one that will best suit your needs. And don't forget to check if there are power outlets nearby and how far away the screen will be from the projector. You should also make sure there will be enough darkness in that area to see the screen clearly (unless you choose a very bright projector).
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