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iPhone Projectors

 & Jennifer Bergen Features Writer

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Buying Guide: iPhone Projectors

BenQ Joybee GP2

Pico projectors—also known as pocket projectors—have become popular among consumers who want to watch movies while on the go and businesspeople who need to give presentations in small rooms. Connect your iPhone to one of the five projectors below—all weighing in at less than three pounds—and have instant functionality.

Pico projectors have come a long way since they were first introduced in the market about three years ago, increasing their brightness, as well their connectivity options. They're also come to span a range of technologies, with LED, LCOS (liquid crystal on silicon), and laser light sources. Many use Texas Instruments' DLP (digital light processing) chips.

Unless you choose the BenQ Joybee GP2, which has a built-in iPhone dock, you'll also need an Apple VGA adapter ($29 from Apple). Some projectors may come with this cable, so check the projector's box before buying. The adapter allows you to mirror whatever's on your iPhone's screen—including apps, presentations, websites, and more—onto your projector. Of note, the adapter doesn't work with all iOS apps, but it does work with Keynote, Videos, YouTube, Photos, and Safari. Video mirroring is supported on the iPhone 4S, and video-out (only) is supported on the iPhone 4.

If your iOS device is of the iPad persuasion, check out these larger iPad projectors for something more fitting.


FEATURED IN THIS STORY:

ViewSonic PLED-W500

$700 street
Smaller and lighter than lamp-based projectors, and brighter than palmtops, the ViewSonic PLED-W500 is a solid representative of a new category of lightweight projectors. However, it costs a bit more than its competition without offering anything extra. Read the full review ››



ViewSonic PLED-W200

$500 street
The ViewSonic PLED-W200 offers a bright, reasonably high quality image despite apparent scaling artifacts at its claimed native resolution. Read the full review ››



benq joybee gp2

BenQ Joybee GP2

$599.99 direct
The BenQ Joybee GP2 is a versatile palmtop projector that packs an iPhone dock and has a solid suite of connectivity choices. Read the full review ››



Dell M110

$499 direct
The Dell M110 suffers from apparent scaling artifacts at its claimed native resolution, but offers reasonably good image quality otherwise and a bright image for its small size. Read the full review ››



Acer K330

$600 street
Nearly as portable as a palmtop projector, the Acer K330 is aimed primarily at business users who need to travel light, but can also be useful at home for games and movies. Read the full review ››


About Our Expert

Jennifer Bergen

Jennifer Bergen

Features Writer

Jennifer Bergen started as an intern in 2008, writing for PCMag's blog network, and joined the PCMag team full-time shortly after. She has written for Geek.com, Gearlog, AppScout, GoodCleanTech, TechSaver, ZDNet, and ConsumerSearch. She also specializes in finding great deals, both inside and outside the world of consumer tech products. Hailing from Boulder, Colorado, where she also got a degree in news editorial journalism from the University of Colorado at Boulder, Jennifer traded in the mountains for the skyscrapers of New York City. Jennifer was a DJ for three years at her college radio station and continues spinning records in Brooklyn as part of her Monday Night Vinyl Club.

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