The XGimi Mogo Pro mini projector offers the best performance and picture quality of all the projectors we’ve looked at, and if you can get it at its recently reduced price then it’s a bargain. So let’s take a look at some of the best mini-projectors we found for Campsite Cinema entertainment. They’re very small, come with a remote control and have an HDMI connector which means it will connect directly to all the projectors on test. the cheaper ones!), we recommend buying a device like the Amazon Fire TV Stick which gives you streaming access to a wide-range of TV and apps for not a lot of money. Make sure it is sturdy enough to hold up to 1 kg at a non-vertical angle though – some of the small plastic tripods will struggle with this.įor the projectors without integrated Android TV (i.e. Using a tripod such as the Crosstour Mini won’t break the bank and it allows a wide range of orientations to be used without involuntary cursing. All of the tested units were able to stand unassisted without a tripod, but it means you can only project out horizontally unless you tilt the projector somehow. You may need a tripod to fine-tune the orientation of your projector – some come pre-supplied with one so check the specifications closely. However in a caravan or campervan, a screen hung between the front seats (as shown in the title photo above) is a great option for viewing if you don’t have a pop-top canvas or an available flat surface to project onto – it also means you can use a projector in a tent – just be aware of your neighbours! We wanted to mainly explore using natural features of the vans (such as the pop-top canvas) to project onto rather than bringing along a dedicated screen which incurs extra cost (and space). The mini projectors we have reviewed below were tested in both a Mercedes Marco Polo campervan and an Eriba caravan with both the internal lighting on and off. Keystoning is another great feature on the more expensive projectors – it means that the projector will automatically square the screen image when projecting at an angle on to the screen.Auto focusing is a great feature on the more expensive models – cheaper projectors need to be focused manually via an adjustment wheel.Android TV – some of the high-end models include this which means you can stream content directly from the projector – all it needs is a data connection via a phone hotspot or campsite WiFi.HDMI port to connect to a Firestick or laptop and project the image.SD card or USB stick – allows films to be preloaded before your camping trip and not rely on phone signal in the middle of nowhere!.Ability to connect to your phone wirelessly and project the phone screen itself (casting) – this effectively allows you to watch content without plugging in.Often Bluetooth or an aux socket can be used to play sound through an external speaker. Integrated loudspeaker – the sound quality of the built-in speakers can vary considerably between models.Integrated battery – very useful for camping because the projector can run for several hours without plugging in – this gives flexibility to where you watch.This is so much better than straining your eyes to look at a small TV or laptop screen. Image size – if you can find a large flat surface to project onto, you can easily obtain an image size of >1m across.This is the key reason for considering a camping projector as you can sell the TV you usually use and save valuable packing space. Size – at their largest, the projectors are not much bigger than a can of baked beans.So what are the key features of the best camping projectors which make them so useful for life on the road? You therefore can get a dark environment without incurring any extra hassle. Space is at a premium, and most viewing is done in the evening when the blinds and curtains are normally drawn anyway. When camping it is a completely different story. They also don’t need the curtains drawn to produce a stunning picture! However it’s clear you can’t easily fit a 50” TV in a VW campervan! Using projectors at home has never really caught on with the mainstream because large flatscreen televisions screens don’t really take up much space against a wall in the lounge and don’t need moving much. Camping projectors can effectively replace a TV, a laptop and a Bluetooth speaker in one discreet package. From the units we’ve tested it has become clear to us that the best camping projectors marry the latest technology with small size, saving space while delivering entertainment in spades. In this article we explore the growing use of mini projectors for watching TV and movies in campervans, tents and caravans.
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