How to Choose a Mini Projector
Lightweight, compact, and highly portable, mini projectors are perfect for business trips or use in muliple rooms in the same building. They operate using LED technology and now have sufficient luminosity to project in well-lit rooms.
Frequently asked questions when choosing a mini projector
What other decvices can I connect to a mini projector?
Mini projectors can be connected to other devices via various cables or wireless technologies.
- To connect to a notebook or PC - HDMI, DVI or VGA
- To connect to a mobile or tablet - WiFi
- For multimedia playback on a network - LAN connector
TIP: Before buying, check what types of connection are supported by your device. If the projector has no common connector, use a reduction cable.
For PCs and laptops we recommend mini projectors with a native resolution of at least WXGA (1280 × 800 pixels) and a brightness of 700 lumens. Smartphones can be connected to projectors that support MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link); it is necessary to use a reduction from HDMI to micro USB.
What are mini projectors designed for?
Given their small size, mini projectors fit easily in a laptop bag or even your pocket, making them ideal for business trips or meetings outside of the office. You can also upload films to their internal memory, making them suitable for holidays.
Are mini projectors bright enough to project in daylight?
Mini projectors, especially the smallest models, suffer from lower luminosity - sometimes only tens of lumens. As a result, they are suitable for use in darkened rooms.
Up to 1000 lm - suitable for completely darkened rooms
1000-3000 lm - suitable for dimly lit rooms
Over 3000 lm - clear projection even in daylight
What is the difference between native and maximum image resolution?
Native resolution is often confused with maximum resolution. Maximum resolution is not the resolution of the projector but an indication of the highest possible resolution that the projector can convert to its native resolution. A film with a resolution higher than the maximum resolution of the projector cannot, therefore, be converted and displayed by the projector.
What else should I consider when choosing a mini projector?
Luminous flux (luminosity)
Luminous flux is measured in lumens (lm) and indicates the brightness of the projected image. The darker the room, the less bright the projector needs to be.
Up to 2,000 lm - suitable for darkened rooms with minimal lighting.
2000-3 000 lm - more suited to dimly lit rooms.
Over 3,000 lm - provides highly visible projections, even in daylight.
Projection technology
DLP projectors offer quality colour reproduction, high contrast, and low maintenance. One downside is the occasional presence of the so-called 'rainbow effect'. DLP projectors either have a halogen lamp (larger size and higher luminosity) or LEDs (lower power consumption and smaller dimensions).
LCD projectors provide excellent colour reproduction and high durability, but offer lower contrast than DLP projectors as well as higher maintentance.
Useful functions and features
Remote control - for simple setup and operation of the projector from anywhere in the room.
Keystone correction - a function that corrects the output image if a projector is not placed perpendicular to the horizontal centerline of the screen (too high or too low).
Zoom - changes the image size without moving the projector.
PiP (Picture in Picture) - the projection of two images (video or photo) next to each other from two different sources.
Integrated battery - allows a projector to be used without mains electricity for several hours.
Built-in speaker - offers basic audio. Higher quality sound can be achieved by coupling the projector with a home theatre system.
Accessories
Glossary - Projectors
Keystone correction
Keystone correction is a function that corrects the output image if a projector is not placed perpendicular to the horizontal centreline of the screen (too high or too low).
FOV
FOV (Field of view) is the angle formed between your view and the projected image. The closer you are to the image and the longer the diagonal, the greater the angle, and vice versa.
PiP
Picture in Picture (PIP) means displaying two images (video or photo) from two different sources next to each other.
Glossary
Resolution and optimal viewing distance
Native resolution is based on the basic resolution of the image element (DMD chips for DLP projectors, LCD panels for LCD projectors). However, besides the basic resolution, projectors can display resolution lower or higher than native. In terms of quality, however, the picture will be worse, although this may not be visible to the human eye. The optimum viewing distance is derived from the native resolution; the closer you sit to the projector screen or wall, the higher the resolution should be. If the resolution is too low, the image quality will blur and pixelate.
Read about the difference between native and maximum projector resolution.