The smartphone projector market is getting crowded, and we’re all seeing the first true step into mainstream home media projection. There are a range of mid-range and high-end products around, and we’re going to help you pick the right one for your needs. And if you’re looking for something cheaper, check out our guide to the best budget smartphone projector.
Whether you want to be entertained at home or in the office, there are tons of options when it comes to the best smartphone projector. Here are the best smartphones with projector apps.
Smartphones are getting better and better these days, and tech companies are always trying to one-up each other with new tech. The latest tech to emerge is the smartphone projector, which allows you to display Netflix or YouTube videos on a wall. The tech is still in its infancy, but there’s no reason you can’t give it a try.
So you want to purchase a projector that you can use with your phone without having to go through any complex procedures or purchasing costly dongles. Most projectors, it turns out, will operate with a phone, but some are built especially to make the procedure simpler.
It’s generally far more convenient to connect a smartphone to a projector than it is to run an HDMI wire from a laptop or TV to the projector. Not to mention capabilities like casting to a projector from your phone, which make presentations and sharing material a lot simpler for everyone while also eliminating the need for cords. The good news is that you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars since there are lots of cheap projectors with excellent smartphone functionality.
I was having trouble finding cheap projectors with decent smartphone connection capabilities, so I did some research and discovered a number of excellent options. Not only will you learn about various smartphone-compatible projectors in this post, but you’ll also discover how to utilize the connection capabilities.
Let’s get this party started.
Smartphone Projectors at Their Finest:
| Lumens: 7500 | Resolution: 1080P | Screen-mirroring Compatible | 2.4/5Ghz Wifi | Connectivity Options: VGA, USB, HDMI, AV, TF Card | Audio: Built-in Speakers, Aux Port
The best feature is that it is portable and supports screen mirroring.
For those wanting to save money while still receiving a high-quality picture, the Elephas W13 is the finest budget projector. Its maximum display size of 120 inches makes it ideal for usage in compact areas or even simply hanging on the wall of your living room! When you see this machine’s cheap price, it’s hard not to be pleased – but don’t let that mislead you into believing it won’t function with higher-quality material like movies from premium streaming services like Netflix or Disney+.
The fan noise is audible on the projector’s left side, although it’s not too loud. I find that viewing movies at 80 percent volume in my studio is a decent compromise between covering up any sound from the fans and avoiding distortion.
Brightness: 6000 Lux | Resolution: 1080P | Screen-mirroring Compatible | 2.4 Wifi | Connectivity Options: 1xHDMI, 2xUSB, VGA, AV | Audio: Built-in Speakers, Aux Port | Bulb Type: LED | Contrast Ratio: 6000:1 | Projection Range: 33 – 200 inches | Brightness: 6000 Lux | Resolution: 1080P | Screen-mirroring Compatible | 2.4 Wifi
Best Feature: Low-cost option that supports screen mirroring.
Are you searching for a low-cost projector to use in a tiny dark room? While the WiMiUS is a low-cost alternative, it is still a high-quality item. This projector is ideal for those who do not need super HD or unique features in their projector.
Surprisingly, the projector has Wifi (standard 2.4 GHz) and screen mirroring, making it very simple to connect your mobile devices.
Built-in speakers, 1 HDMI connector, 2 USB ports, VGA, and audio connections are also included. The resolution is just 720P, and the brightness and colors aren’t very vibrant, but that’s to be expected from a low-cost projector.
I wouldn’t use it as the primary projector in your living room. It’s ideal for presentations or viewing movies in a dark environment when linked to an external speaker for improved audio quality. In a dark room, you could even use it to play games on your phone or console.
In a word, this is a pretty basic projector, although it does enable screen mirroring and has acceptable projection quality for the price. It’s one of the most cost-effective projectors that enables smartphone screen mirroring.
Screen-mirroring Compatible | 2.4 Wifi | Connectivity Options: USB, SD, HDMI, CVBS, IR | Audio: Built-in Speakers | Bulb Type: LCD | Contrast Ratio:800:1 | Projection Size: 0,8 to 2 meters | Brightness: 400 Lumens | Resolution: 1920 x 1080 | Screen-mirroring Compatible |
Budget projector, quiet fans are the best features.
My ancient Phillips PicoPix projector served as a good starting point, but its performance was lacking. I’d been searching for an update in the form of a good portable projector that could withstand harsh conditions and provide high-quality pictures while utilizing smartphone applications like Netflix or Disney+. The YG300 has exceeded all expectations by not only producing clear images throughout the darkest hours of the night, but also by being able to endure any weather condition without leaking water, as other projectors are prone to do.
I have an iPhone, so utilizing my lightning cable adapter/cable to connect this was a snap! A power bank may also be used to power this model, making it convenient for when you want some solitude when out on nature hikes or in any other distant area.
I’ve been using a projector tripod with my older projector. The YG300 has the disadvantage of not being able to be mounted on a tripod, but it can easily be placed on top of a table or on the floor.
Bulb Type: LED | Contrast Ratio:3,0000,000:1 | Projection Size: 100 inches | Brightness: 1000 Lumens | Resolution: 1080P | Screen-mirroring Compatible | 2.4 & 5G Wifi | Connectivity Options: 1xHDMI, 1xUSB-C, 1xUSB, Micro SD | Internal Storage: 10 GB | Audio: Bluetooth, Built-in Speakers, 3.5mm
USB-C, built-in OS, and auto-keystone correction are all notable features.
Looking to treat yourself? The ViewSonic M2E projector is a fantastic device. It’s a higher-end model, but it comes with a lot of cool features. It’s one of the lightest projectors on our list, weighing just 1 kg.
There are many aspects to discuss, but I’ll concentrate on the most essential. To begin with, it offers nearly every connection option imaginable. HDMI, USB, USB-C, Micro SD, Internal Storage, WiFi, and Bluetooth 4.2 are among the features. You may use USB-C to connect your phones as well as to charge the projector.
The M2E’s most noteworthy feature is that it runs an Android version that enables you to install applications directly on the projector, and it comes with about 10 GB of free storage. Aptoide TV is the app store; not every app is optimized, but Netflix works well. It also features screen mirroring capabilities and Bluetooth connectivity for wireless headphones or soundbars.
Another great feature is the auto keystone and 4-corner adjustment. You can also adjust both the vertical and horizontal keystone correction, so you can use the projector at an angle with no problem. I really liked how easy it is to set up, everything is plug & play, and the projector will automatically adjust the keystone correction for you.
This projector, in my view, is extremely futuristic. It’s approximately the size and weight of a textbook, and it connects to all of your gadgets and may be used for a variety of tasks. The M2E portable projector left a lasting impression on me.
2.4 Wifi, Bluetooth | Connectivity Options: 1xHDMI, 1xUSB, | Audio: Built-in Speakers, 3.5mm | Battery Powered | Bulb Type: LED | Projection Size: 100 inches | Brightness: 250 Lumens | Resolution: 720P | Screen-mirroring Compatible | 2.4 Wifi, Bluetooth | Connectivity Options: 1xHDMI, 1xUSB, |
Features to Look For: Extremely Portable, Battery Powered
The LG Electronics CineBeam PH30N seems to be a normal projector at first sight, but it is really the tiniest projector on our list. It lacks sophisticated performance features due to its small size, and the brightness is modest at just 250 Lumens, but it’s enough for viewing movies in a dark room.
However, there are a few interesting things worth mentioning. The PH30N features a built-in battery that lasts approximately 4 hours, which is more than enough time to view a couple of movies. Because it’s roughly the size of a compact book, you can throw it in your bag and start projecting in seconds.
There are also wireless connection options, screen mirroring, and Bluetooth capabilities. The PH30N includes a built-in speaker, but the sound quality isn’t great, therefore I recommend using the 3.5mm connector to connect an external speaker. The greatest thing about this projector, in my opinion, is how portable it is. You just need to switch it on and attach a device to get started.
Guide for Buyers:
Native vs. Supported Resolution: What’s the Difference?
A projector’s native resolution is the highest number of pixels it can display at once. File formats that can be read by the projector but will be downscaled to a resolution that the projector can handle are referred to as supported resolution.
Most projectors with a native resolution of 480P, for example, can display 1080P content, however the 1080P content will be downscaled to 480P. Always check the projector’s native resolution rather than the supported resolution.
What Is the Best Way to Connect a Smartphone to a Projector?
Check the connection options on the projector to discover which ones are compatible with your phone. Some projectors will not function with Apple devices, however most Android phones will.
1 – Mirror Screen
Screen mirroring is available on all of the projectors on our list. The screen mirroring technology used by most projectors is Miracast, which is supported by nearly all contemporary phones. To use screen mirroring on your phone, just pull down the taskbar and touch on the screen mirroring symbol. Then, find the projector’s WiFi network, and the screen of your phone should show on the projector. Rotate your phone to landscape orientation to go fullscreen.
2 – Hardwiring
If you want to display a video on your projector from an Android smartphone but don’t have the appropriate wireless connection or if your region doesn’t have any Wi-Fi service at all, it may be preferable to hardwire the phone. MHL and HDMI cables, which may connect through micro USB, type C input port, and other ports like miniUSB, are the next two most popular connections that are compatible with smartphones and projectors.
Many of today’s newer phones accept one of these connections, so it shouldn’t be too difficult for them to connect their phone using one of these ways!
3 – Sticks for Casting
I typically suggest connecting your projector to a casting stick since it makes casting media from your phone to the projector more simpler, and it also allows you to view Netflix without copyright restrictions. Roku is the cheapest casting stick, although Chromecasts and Fire TV also function nicely.
Technology for Projections:
You may have observed that various projection technologies are used by different projectors. LED is the most popular, although there are also DLP, LCOS, and LCD options.
LED
LED technology is the most popular because it is more durable (bulb lifetime is considerably longer), uses less energy, and produces less heat. LED projectors are often low-cost and intended for occasional usage.
DLP DLP DLP DLP DLP D (Digital Light Processing)
DLP projectors are mostly utilized in commercial settings, such as theaters and other events. The method relies on the use of tiny mirrors to increase the number of pixels in a picture, thus enhancing the visual quality. Although DLP projectors have a short lifetime, their projection quality is brilliant and vibrant.
LCD (liquid crystal display) (Liquid Crystal Display)
LCD projectors are generally divided into two types: one chip and three chip (3LCD). Light is transmitted via a color wheel containing the three basic colors using one chip. There are three separate beams for each color in the 3LCD, and there are no color wheels. The brightness and brilliant colors of 3LCD are well-known.
LCOS (Low-Cost-Operating (Liquid Crystal on Silicon)
Last but not least, LCOS is a hybrid of LCD and DLP technology. It makes use of three-color light beams as well as tilting DLP mirror technology. These projectors have a better resolution and may produce considerably more light than conventional projectors. The disadvantage is that LCOS projectors are very costly, hefty, and difficult to come by.
Why isn’t it possible to screen mirror Netflix to a projector?
Netflix material is copyrighted, and the program prevents content from being transmitted to other displays, thus you won’t be able to screen reflect it to a projector. Screen mirroring is only possible with non-copyrighted material like personal photos. Netflix’s copyright limitations should be bypassed by connecting an HDMI cable or utilizing the USB connected option.
Smartphones and projector apps have been around for a while now, and while they’re quite popular among people who just want to show a slide show to their friends at a house party, most people don’t want to watch a movie on a smartphone — and that’s just the way it is. The good news is that there are plenty of apps out there that can turn your phone into a projector. And most of them allow you to display media from your phone onto a screen or wall.. Read more about mini projector and let us know what you think.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best mobile phone projector?
The best mobile phone projector is the LG SJ8500.
Which is the best Android projector?
The best Android projector is the Epson Home Cinema 2040.
What smartphone has a projector?
The Samsung Galaxy S9 has a projector.
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