10 Best Micro Laser Projectors
for December 2023

The Sony VPL-PWZ10 5,000 Lumens WXGA Laser Light Source Projector delivers bright, clear images, and it offers long projection life without the need for bulb or lamp replacement. The Z-Photor laser light source offers up to 20,000 hours of operation, and the BrightEra 3LCD projection engine ensures high, 5000-lumen image brightness with vivid, natural color reproduction. The projector's 16:10 aspect ratio helps projects fill widescreen display monitors. The projector's 720p resolution ensures you won't suffer from blurry or pixelated images, and it features HDMI and 3.5mm inputs for connecting other devices. The projector's compact size and light weight make it easy to carry, and its lens-shift mechanism lets you adjust the image's position without having to remove it from the ceiling. The Sony VPL-PWZ10 5,000 Lumens WXGA Laser Light Source Projector offers plenty of power for presentations, videos, and multimedia signage.

The UO Smart Beam projector is worth considering if you want a projector that pairs with a smartphone or tablet (and can support a compatible iOS device). The projector's small size, light weight, and relatively bright 800-lumen output make it perfect for small to mid-size rooms. The projector is also easy to set up and project from, and it comes with both HDMI and Micro HDMI cables, as well as a USB power adapter. Like the Sharper Image pico projector, the UO Smart Beam's lens and tripod are removable and interchangeable, and you can use either of them with the projector. The projector also has a male USB-C port, which comes in handy when you want to connect the projector to a computer, and you can use the projector's USB port to charge your phone or tablet. The UO Smart Beam's image quality is subpar, and it's plagued by a number of display and connectivity issues. For example, the projector's manual doesn't explain how to turn the projector on and off, and the projector sometimes drops its video feed and requires you to restart it. The projector also doesn't always display the full resolution (such as 1080i or 1080p), and it's particularly blurry at its widest aspect ratio (16:9). While the projector is attractive, it doesn't feel very durable, and we've had to adjust the tripod several times to keep it from wobbling. The projector's mobile app is also disappointingly buggy, and the app doesn't let you adjust the projector's brightness or aspect ratio. The UO Smart Beam's feature set and image quality are subpar, and the projector's brightness and aspect ratio issues make it unsuitable for most rooms.

The Optoma HZ39HDR is our top pick for home theater projectors because it's our top pick for home theater projectors. The Optoma HZ39HDR is nearly identical in design and functionality to its predecessor, the Optoma HZ50, but the new projector has a few key improvements that make it significantly better. The Optoma HZ39HDR has a wider color gamut than either of our previous picks (the HZ50 only supported Rec. 709, while the HZ39HDR supports Rec. 2020), and it supports both HDR10 and HLG, which allows it to play back both HDR10 and HLG- encoded content. The HZ39HDR also has a higher brightness rating (4, 000 lumens) than either of our other picks, allowing it to project images at a size of up to 120 inches (measured diagonally). The Optoma HZ39HDR is also brighter and more energy efficient than the HZ50, which took 2.5 hours to project a 100-inch image. The Optoma HZ39HDR is also much quieter than the HZ50, with 32dB of noise in eco-mode, compared to 50dB in eco-mode and 59dB in bright mode. The Optoma HZ39HDR is not quite as affordable as our top pick for home theater projectors, the Sharp XG-3050U, but it's close, and it offers much better image quality.

The WeMax Nova is a capable 4K home projector that's well worth considering, particularly if you've been looking for a projection screen bigger than 80 inches. The Nova's image quality is among the best we've seen in a short-throw projector, and it's bright enough that it can fill up a 100-inch screen comfortably. It's also got one of the best Android TV interfaces we've seen on a home projector, and it's Alexa-enabled, so you can ask Alexa to play YouTube, Spotify, or a podcast. The Nova's short-throw lens is very effective, and the image it produces is bright enough that it can fill a 100-inch screen without requiring an ambient light filter. (The 100-inch image size is the best results we've seen yet in this size class.) The Nova's image quality and brightness were consistent across all of our testing conditions. It's easy to use and easy to set up, and it comes with a battery-free laser and voice control remote. The Nova's 4K resolution, long throw, and relatively bright lamp make it well-suited for sports, movies, and gaming. However, the Nova doesn't support HDR, so it isn't a good choice for watching TV shows. It's also fairly expensive and a bit heavy, weighing 18 pounds. The WeMax Nova is an excellent 4K home projector, but it's best suited for bigger screening rooms, and its 4K resolution isn't suitable for watching TV shows.

The AnyBeam Pico Mini Projector is an attractively designed, practical, portable device that works well for a variety of uses, but it's best suited for recreational use. Its compact size and lightweight design make it a good choice for watching movies or playing games, and it projects a decent image, especially if the room is relatively dark. The Pico Mini's image quality, however, is not high enough for serious home-theater use, and its brightness is not as high as its other competitors'. It's also not the easiest to set up, as you need an HDMI adapter (and an HDMI cable) in order to connect it to your device. It's also worth mentioning that the Pico Mini's brightness level is slightly lower than its competitors', so it's better to use it in a well-lighted room. The Pico Mini also lacks a microphone and speakers, so you can't use it as a webcam, for example, or use it to project presentations. The Pico Mini Projector is also one of the more expensive options we tested, but we think it's worth it if you'll be using it mostly for recreational purposes.

The Kodak Ultra Mini Portable Projector is an exceptional value, and it's the best projector we've seen in this price range. It's the smallest and lightest projector we've tested, and it's plenty bright for watching video, playing videos and playing games, as well as displaying images. The built-in speaker is loud, and the projection area is about as large as a 40-inch TV. The built-in rechargeable battery lasts for about 2.5 hours, and it's charging through a Micro USB port. It's compatible with most phones, tablets, laptops and gaming consoles. The HDMI input supports audio passthrough, which means you can stream your favorite music or audio from your connected device through the projector. The projector's 16.7 million-color display delivers amazingly lifelike detail, and it's ideal for gaming and watching movies.

The LG HU80KA 4K UHD Laser Smart TV Home Theater CineBeam Projector is powerful enough to fill the largest of rooms with high-quality, bright 4K images. The projector has native 4K resolution, so it's capable of displaying 4K images at native 3840 by 2160 resolution. In addition to 4K, the HU80KA also handles HD (1,920 by 1,080) and standard-definition (854 by 480) video. It supports HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) video formats, and it can also project 2K videos at a 4:3 aspect ratio. The projector supports 3D video and has both HDMI and 3.5mm analog video inputs. Audio support is basic -- the projector has built-in speakers, but, unfortunately, they're not particularly loud or high-quality. The projector supports Bluetooth audio, but we didn't test this feature. The projector's built-in Wi-Fi makes it easy and convenient to connect to your wireless network. And, the projector has an infrared remote control, so you can use the projector's remote to control your smart 4K TV. The HU80KA has 2,500 lumens of brightness, which is bright enough to fill most rooms. The projector's picture is sharp, and the projector's lens has an impressive 16,000:1 contrast ratio. The projector's built-in speakers are surprisingly good, but they're no match for a good, external home theater system. The HU80KA is compact, and it's easy to set up. The projector has a lengthy 2,500-hour lamp life, and it's compatible with both USB and SD cards. The projector has a number of advanced features, including object-based video upscaling, color management, and content protection.

The fangor 230" portable 1080P movie projector has a very good image quality, and it's well worth the $300 or so it costs. It produces bright, colorful images with 2000 lumens of brightness and HD resolution of up to 1080P. The projector has six preset picture modes, including Cinema, Game, Sports, Photo, Text, and Custom, which you can adjust by a simple menu system. The 1080P resolution and 2000 lumens of brightness are impressive, but while the fangor 230" portable 1080P movie projector is bright and produces a clear image, it's not as bright as our top pick, the BenQ W1070, and it's a little dimmer than most of its competitors. The fangor 230" portable 1080P movie projector also takes 6-8 hours to charge, which is much too long to be the only projector you'll need for a movie night or camping. But the fangor 230" portable 1080P movie projector has quite a bit of flexibility, as it can connect to almost any device or laptop with HDMI, AV, or VGA. It's also compatible with most phones, tablets, and laptops, and it supports high resolution audio, which means you can connect it to a subwoofer or pair of speakers. It's also very portable, with a 6-hour battery life and a built-in rechargeable battery. The fangor 230" portable 1080P movie projector also has some connectivity issues, as it's only compatible with Android and IOS phones and pads, but it should work with most phones or tablets that have Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. The fangor 230" portable 1080P movie projector also has some connectivity issues, as it's only compatible with Android and IOS phones and pads, but it should work with most phones or tablets that have Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

The DBPOWER RD828 is a excellent choice for an outdoor movie projector. It's bright, offers a wide selection of viewing settings, and it's easy to use, thanks to its remote control. The projector offers vivid colors and good contrast, and it's even capable of displaying dark scenes in movies with decent detail. Like the previous model we tested, the RD828 has a vertical keystone feature that makes it easier to align the projector on a flat surface. The projector is also easy to use, thanks to an onscreen menu system and remote control. The RD828 can be set up and calibrated quickly, and it offers multiple input options, including HDMI, VGA, and USB. The RD828 is also upgradeable, which means you can upgrade its system software online. If your projector starts acting up, you can also upgrade to the latest version through DBPOWER's website. Of course, all that convenience comes at a price. The RD828 costs more than our top pick, the AAXA AAXAP1, and it offers inferior picture quality. Still, the RD828 offers strong value for the price.

The AAXA Technologies KP-101-01 is a pocket-size projector that's ideal for travel, business presentations, or watching movies at home. This ultra-portable projector weighs less than a pound, and it's light enough to carry with you on trips or throw in a bag. The lamp-life rating is an impressive 15,000 hours, and the built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides up to 80 minutes of projection time. The projector has a relatively thin profile, and it's small enough to fit in almost any pocket or purse. It's easy to use, too, with a manual focus wheel and an intuitive control panel. The AAXA Technologies KP-101-01 is bright enough to make images easily visible from about 10 feet away. The projector's native resolution is 720p, but it supports 1080p resolution as well. The AAXA Technologies KP-101-01 is also 16:9 compatible, and it has a 3.5mm Aux Audio Out, so you can easily connect it to external speakers or a headphone. The projector supports a wide range of media formats, including AVI, MKV, MP4, and H.264 files. The HDMI input also accepts 1080p resolutions. The built-in media player supports MP3, WMA, and AAC files, and it can play movies, TV shows, and videos from a micro SD card. The AAXA Technologies KP-101-01 has built-in speakers, which means you don't need external speakers or headphones if you already have them. The projector also has HDMI and composite A/V inputs, so you can easily connect it to a game console, a DVD player, a laptop, or another device with a video output. The AAXA Technologies KP-101-01 comes with a mini HDMI cable, a power adapter, a USB cable, and a mini USB to USB charging cable.