Best Portable Digital Projectors

Epson PowerLite S4 (Around $600)

Best low-resolution business projector. If you mostly need a projector for PowerPoint presentations, reviews say you can get by with a cheaper SVGA projector, which has a resolution of 800 x 600 pixels. Reviewers agree that the Epson S4 is impressive for the price. The light output is bright enough for medium-sized conference rooms. Colors are rich and accurate, although contrast is not particularly good -- a common problem with low-cost LCD projectors. Reviews say video performance is not bad, and at 5.7 pounds, it's reasonably lightweight. Reviews say the remote is easy to use, but this digital projector doesn't include a laser pointer. Password protection is a nice plus, as is the two-year warranty.


Dell 2400MP (Around $1,200)

Best digital projector overall. The Dell 2400MP has resolution of 1024 x 768, so reviews say it's a better choice than an SVGA projector for presentations involving spreadsheets, software demos or training videos. At 5.5 pounds, it’s not the lightest business projector around, but it's not the heaviest either. To make travel easier, Dell includes a "drop-tested" case that's large enough for the projector and some accessories. Reviewers say that this digital projector has more features and better performance many more expensive models. With a light output of nearly 3,000 lumens, it's among the brightest in its class.


Optoma EP719 (Around $815)

Budget XGA digital projector. While this Optoma office projector is not feature rich, and reviewers say that the remote control lacks some functions, experts say image quality is crisp and accurate. Text and graphics are said to be sharp from edge to edge and contrast is high enough for many applications, including decent video performance. The brightness, which measures close to the manufacturer's claim of 2,000 lumens, is sufficient for most presentation settings.


Optoma EP1690 (Around $1,200)

Best dual-duty multimedia projector. Experts say the Optoma EP1690 is best for those who want a business projector that can also deliver good (though not great), home-theater performance. Thanks to its widescreen WXGA resolution, it can display every detail of a 720p HDTV signal, and it has an HDCP-compliant DVI input for use with home entertainment gear. For business users, the projector is on the heavy side (7 pounds), but it produces plenty of light output and has a laser-pointer remote with full mouse controls. Image quality -- including color, black levels and contrast -- is good for a business projector, but it doesn’t match the best dedicated home-theater projectors.


Canon Realis SX50 (Around $3,425)

High-resolution LCoS business projector. When fed with SXGA+ (1400 x 1050 pixels) data and images from a computer source, reviewers say this Canon projector offers the best image quality of any business-class digital projector. According to reports, individual pixels are invisible from as close as two feet from the screen, images are razor sharp, and the colors are fully saturated to create vivid pictures that pop off the screen. Although this digital projector has also found a place in some home theaters, reviewers say that it does not do a great job with video. Its 8.6-pound weight makes it better as a permanent installation rather than a portable projector.