You Can Trust Our Reviews
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Buying Guide: Laptop Projectors: Take It to Go
Looking for a projector to go with your laptop? Your ultimate choice will depend on the uses you'll put it to, but two prime considerations are portability and connectivity. Portability is the defining characteristic of a laptop. (Sure, some desktop replacement laptops will stay put their entire lives, but even the largest and clunkiest models can be lugged if need be.) A projector suitable for a laptop must also be portable, and thus relatively lightweight.
Suitable models range from pocket projectors such as the Optoma PK301 Pico Pocket Projector on up to data projectors bristling with connections such as the NEC NP-M260W; the latter is still reasonably portable at 6.4 pounds. The Epson EX7210 Multimedia Projector, InFocus IN1503, and several of the other projectors featured here can operate computer free—running presentations from USB thumb drives, memory cards, and/or their own internal memory—but their ability to connect with a laptop via VGA, HDMI, and/or USB cable greatly enhances their versatility.
Budget projectors like the Acer X1261P and InFocus IN114 generally have much fewer connection choices, but do fine running data presentations over a VGA connection from a laptop. Some newer laptops, though, are foregoing VGA connectivity in favor of HDMI, so a growing number of projectors, even lower resolution models, are integrating HDMI-in ports. The BenQ Joybee GP2 can not only connect with a computer by several methods as well as operate computer free, it can play content from an iPhone plugged into its built-in dock.
You needn't sacrifice brightness for portability. The NEC NP64 and Epson PowerLite 1775W Multimedia Projector weigh just 3.7 and 3.8 pounds, respectively, but are both rated at 3,000 lumens. The 1775W has another compelling laptop-friendly feature: built-in WiFi connectivity.
Most of the models featured here are geared to giving business presentations. Not so the Optoma GT750E, even though its data image quality is good. It's primarily a gaming projector that throws a bright image, has loud and smooth audio, and 3D support.
Whether you're a gamer, a business traveler, or someone looking for a way to display movies or photos at large size at home or on the road, some compelling laptop-friendly projectors are available. Here are the best we've found.
FEATURED IN THIS STORY:
Acer X1261P
$415 street
The Acer X1261P is a portable budget XGA data projector that can do justice to typical business presentations and is capable of projecting 3D content. Read the full review ››
BenQ Joybee GP2
$599 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 ››
Epson EX7210 Multimedia Projector
$649 direct
The Epson EX7210 Multimedia Projector is a lightweight data projector with a solid of set of features and ports, and so-so data image quality. Read the full review ››
Epson PowerLite 1775W Multimedia Projector
$1,199 direct
The Epson PowerLite 1775W is an impressive portable WXGA data projector: WiFi enabled and surprisingly bright for its small size. Read the full review ››
InFocus IN114
$399 direct
The InFocus IN114 data projector lets you throw a large, fairly bright data image for a budget price. Read the full review ››
InFocus IN1503
$1,099 direct
The InFocus IN1503 is a highly portable short-throw data projector with solid image quality and user-friendly features. Read the full review ››
NEC NP64
$1,099 direct
The NP64 from NEC Display Solutions of America is an impressively capable XGA (1,024 by 768) data projector, highly portable, and surprisingly bright for its small size. Read the full review ››
NEC NP-M260W
$850 street
The NEC NP-M260W is a WXGA data projector that makes up for its relatively low brightness with a raft of connectivity options plus great data image and video quality. Read the full review ››
Optoma GT750E
$800 street
Optoma's latest game projector, the GT750E offers a short throw, bright image, good quality audio, and 3D support for both DLP-Link and RF glasses. Read the full review ››
Optoma PK301 Pico Pocket Projector
$400 street
The Optoma PK301 Pico Pocket Projector was the brightest pico projector when it was released, but it's a study in tradeoffs between brightness and size, weight, and battery life. Read the full review ››