A strange thing happened in the world of projectors. About half a decade ago, nobody had heard of Pico Projectors, but now they’re one of the most popular categories of projector hardware. But what are they, and how are they different from “normal” projectors?
Pico Projectors are small, portable, battery-operated projectors that are designed to project content from your phone or laptop, or even play video files from USB or SD storage, no matter where you are.
These units are popular not just because you can take a massive video around with you in portable form, but also because of the flexibility offered by being able to set up anywhere and work off battery (think camping, or the back porch on a summer evening), and the low barrier of entry offered by their approachable prices.
Basics of a Pico Projector
First off, if you’re new to the concept of a Pico Projector, you might be wondering what the basics of this niche of video projection hardware are. If your only experience is with normal, full-sized projectors, you know that bigger projectors are more expensive, take up more space, and are more likely to be stuck in one place. Not portable. Not even close.
Well, Pico Projectors are at the other end of this spectrum. They’re small, ultra-portable even to the point of running off battery, and some literally fit in your pocket. It’s a new concept: an industry that is now saying you should have the ability to throw up a 100 inch screen wherever you are, whether it be for presentations, kicking back to watch the big game, or even to play a video-game on the road when away from your screen of choice back home.
What you can expect to find down this rabbit hole of technology is the cutting edge of projecting, with all it’s advantages and disadvantages (more on that later), but one thing is for certain: it’s never been easier to have a portable projecting solution so that you can make the home theater experience come to you.
How Does a Pico Projector Work?
There are two technologies that power most Pico Projectors: DLP and LED. DLP, or Digital Light Projection, uses a combination of mirrors and color wheels to cleverly generate an image that’s then projected by the power of a bulb. In an LED projector, though, the image is first generated on a liquid crystal display inside the projector then beamed out with an LED light source. These technologies are basically interchangeable for the purposes of discussing Pico projectors, except that LED technologies are basically always going to be a bit cheaper and more power-efficient while also offering typically less brightness.
Past those details, though, the more important idea behind how a Pico Projector “works” is the magic of getting whatever you want on the screen. While some Pico projectors actually have inputs for AV cords that you could hook up something old-school like an N64 or DVD player to, most of the options nowadays allow you to do some combination of HDMI in, WiFi streaming (like a Chromecast), screen-mirroring from your phone via Airplay or custom apps, or even input through USB or playing video files from on-board storage or an SD card.
This breadth of options leads to a problem, though, which is that most Pico Projectors get away with advertising many ways to connect when, in reality, you’re probably going to only use one or two of those methods regularly. For this reason, it’s critical that you figure out what you’re going to use the Pico Projector for before you go shopping. If you’re wanting to throw your laptop screen on the wall, you’ll want a projector that has HDMI in or a robust screen-mirroring solution (and note that most screen mirroring options require setup through WiFi, meaning getting setup where you don’t have WiFi might be a problem).
Pros and Cons of a Pico Projector
As always, the advantages of Pico Projectors are balanced by some disadvantages. Based on your needs, the following list of Pros and Cons of Pico Projectors might help you determine if they’re the right solution for you.
Pros
- Location location location. Pico Projectors are ultra-small, ultra-lightweight, and designed to be taken with you. This means you have a sort of digital superpower of making whatever's on your phone or computer as big as a wall wherever you are
- The low price of Pico Projectors (relative to “normal” mid-size/large projectors) means that you might be able to get a projection experience without breaking the bank. There are even some options in the double-digits, but as with most home theater hardware, you get what you pay for. Always read the reviews and compare functionality against your use case, and keep the receipt.
- A wealth of connection options like WiFi, Bluetooth, and screen mirroring might keep you away from cords, but even if they don’t the standard fare of HDMI and even traditional AV cable connections can be found on Pico Projectors, so you probably won’t struggle to get connected.
Cons
- Brightness will likely be an issue. Small battery-op projectors don’t have traditional bulbs, instead of relying on DLP or LED technology that requires power as a function of brightness. And since they typically operator off a battery, not plugged in, that means the brightness has to be set low to allow for long use-time. In a bright space, Pico Projectors might not work at all.
- The low prices in this product category are enticing, but they’re also a race to the bottom among manufacturers. If you see a price that’s too good to be true, it probably is. Remember, you almost always get what you pay for!
- Although many of these units run on Android and offer their own screen mirroring apps for iOS and Windows, remember these are hardware manufacturers when it comes to the core business, so some of these in-house apps may not be very elegant, and they may not be supported for the long term.
Recommended Pico Projectors
If you’ve read enough and you are ready to move forward, here’s a list of the Pico Projectors we recommend:
- Cutting-edge DLP technology projects a 720p, 200-ANSI-lumen image up to 100 inches, ideal for low-light environments
- Instant clarity with keystoning and one-second autofocus for a sharp, rectangular image from almost any angle
- Perfect for home use, providing a 100-inch image for movies, online classes, and entertainment
- Smart OS allows downloading and streaming from YouTube, Netflix, and more via Nebula Manager Store
- Control Netflix using the Nebula Connect app on your phone; note that copyrighted content cannot be mirrored or screencast, and Chromecast is not supported
- Update to the latest firmware for peak performance
The Anker Nebula Capsule (on Amazon) has a unique design among Pico Projectors. It’s the size and shape of a soda can, boasts 4 hours of projection time on its battery, and even has a built-in speaker that can function separate from the projector (a standalone Bluetooth speaker). The brightness of 100 lumens isn’t the lowest or highest on our list, but it’s perfectly serviceable, and if you need an upgrade the slightly larger Nebula Capsule Max (on Amazon) goes up to 200 lumens…for a price.
Best for: putting Netflix on your ceiling without having to leave the bed
- Advanced DLP Optical Engine offers superior LED brightness, exceptional color accuracy, and pristine picture quality (best in dark to dim-lit rooms)
- Palm-sized, lightweight DLP projector fits easily into a handbag, briefcase, or back pocket for home, work, or play
- Onboard media player with built-in speakers, 3.5mm input, and integrated HDMI, USB, and MicroSD connections; compatible with Android, tablets, and other HDMI devices
- Easy setup with no complicated buttons or menus; just connect to PC, Mac, cable box, gaming console, or HDMI video player
- Displays 16.7 million colors for rich, lifelike detail in games, movies, and photo slideshows
The Kodak Ultra Mini Portable Projector (on Amazon) is another great option. It has resolution of 1080 pixels and it's cheaper option than Anker Nebula. This pocket size projector has different types of connectivity: USB, HDMI and MicroSD
Best for: movies, gaming and photoslides show.
- Brighter Max Version with 100 LED lumens, 1080p HD native resolution, and 25,000-hour LEDs
- Ultra-portable with a 2.7-hour built-in rechargeable battery, charged via the included cable
- Wireless screen mirroring for Android and iOS devices (Note: DMCA content like Netflix and Amazon Prime cannot be mirrored)
- Multi-input interface includes mini-HDMI, 3.5mm audio out, Bluetooth audio output, composite A/V, Micro SD, and USB readers (supports up to 512GB)
- Includes mini-HDMI cable for easy setup; Apple Mac and PC compatible
- DLP 1080p native resolution with Texas Instruments DLP technology based on real cinema standards
On the budget side, there’s the AAXA Technologies Pico Projector (on Amazon), a small LED unit that can literally fit in your pocket. The brightness listed is at 100 lumens. It also has a built-in speaker, and comes with a tripod in the box.
Best for: a console LAN party with hardware from the last decade.
